Jesse Colin Young
The Van Dyck, Friday

Jesse Colin Young has been singing and performing since before the golden age of peace and love; his former band, the Youngbloods, recorded the ’60s flower-power anthem “Get Together.” (As in “everybody get together, try to love one another right now.”) This incredibly innocent and straightforward plea for tolerance landed Young in the news last year when, in the wake of Sept. 11, “Get Together” was on radio conglomerate Clear Channel’s list of songs deemed “inappropriate.” Young is no stranger to controversy, however; he was one of the guiding forces behind the “No Nukes” antinuclear movement of the early 1980s. Touring on the strength of two recent albums on the BMG/Liquid 8 label, Walk the Talk, a 2001 collection of originals, and Songs for Christmas, his new holiday release, Young will no doubt bring a mixture of old and new to the Van Dyck tomorrow night. He has a new album in the works, too, and a slew of Youngbloods and solo-album reissues slated for 2003. No telling if he’ll bring samples of the organic coffee he and his family grow at their Kona, Hawaii, mountaintop home—but you can ask. (Dec. 6, 7 and 9:30 PM, $20, 381-1111)

The Charms

The Charms, the Erotics
Artie’s Lansingburgh Station, Friday

Boston-based garage rockers the Charms have been together only for about a year, but they have certainly caused a stir among local Boston radio stations and fellow garage-rock bands. Lead singer and main writer Ellie Vee was part of Goth group Flexie, and thought that the Charms would be a mere side project. However, she had no idea that she’d find success by hooking up with guitarist Joe Wizda and drummer Dennis Burke, who were playing together in a rockabilly outfit. Wizda and Burke also had collaborated with keyboardist Kat Kina and bassist Pete Stone for a few side gigs the year before. Together, they made the Charms, and they just released their four-track debut disc, Listen to the Charms, showcasing the group’s high-energy songs. Though record labels have expressed interest in producing a full-length album, the group have decided to release their first album independently. The 11-song CD, which is in postproduction, is slated for an early January release. The Charms take the stage at Artie’s Lansingburgh Station tomorrow night, with the Erotics rounding out the bill. (Dec. 6, 9 PM, 238-2788)

Hot Tuna, Ramsay Midwood
The Egg, Sunday

There are many reasons to dig Jorma Kaukonen, the leader of Hot Tuna: his guitar work, which incorporates a wealth of American folk and blues elements in an organic, distinctive fingerpicking style; his willingness to take on unusual projects, such as his collaboration with Paul Simon in Simon’s musical, Capeman; the fact that, much to his label’s dismay, the original name of his band was Hot Shit; the fact that he runs the Fur Peace Ranch Guitar Camp, the aim of which is not just to provide guitar instruction but to promulgate an appreciation of traditional Appalachian culture; and so on. But, just between us, we like this Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee most because he had the good sense to bolt from Jefferson Airplane back before they became just plain freakin’ goofy. Since cutting from the Airplane with lifelong friend, bassist Jack Casady, Kaukonen has maintained a consistent, if low-key, career—both with Casady in Hot Tuna and as a solo performer. On Sunday at the Egg, it’ll be Jack and Jorma, acoustic again. They’ll be joined by Ramsey Midwood, whose album Shoot Out at the OK Chinese Restaurant was described in Time Out London as “rough-hewn and bluesy—bluesy like Beefheart, Dylan and Waits.” (Dec. 8, 8 PM, $24, 473-1845)

Fred Eaglesmith, Coal Palace Kings
The Ale house, Sunday

Rumor has it that troubadour Fred Eaglesmith’s latest release, the wistfully titled Falling Stars and Broken Hearts, finds him working a more traditional country vein than past rockin’ neo-country efforts—which is just fine with us, as few Americans have the same handle on Americana as this Canadian. In fact, Eaglesmith’s personal familiarity with the hardscrabble life—he grew up one of nine children on a farm in rural southern Ontario—has invested his songs with such conviction and authenticity that he’s gained himself a loyal cadre of fans who travel with him show to show (“Fredheads,” of course) to get a taste of that poignant, powerful stuff. You may not have the free time to follow their example, but the opportunity to catch Eaglesmith performing songs with titles like “Big Hair,” “White Trash” and “Alcohol & Pills” in a venue with a name like the “The Ale House” should prove a decent consolation. Coal Palace Kings open. (Dec. 8, 7 PM, $10, 272-9740)

Stone Sour, Chevelle, Sinch
Northern Lights, Tuesday

The last time Stone Sour came to town, a band-member injury kept them from performing. But the hard-rockers kept in the audience’s good graces by hanging out with the crowd and signing autographs. Lead vocalist Corey Taylor even offered up an acoustic performance of the band’s hit single “Bother” so devoted fans wouldn’t have to go home feeling quite so unfulfilled. Barring any unfortunate accidents, illnesses, or hexes, Stone Sour will return for an all-out performance at Northern Lights on Tuesday night. The band are supporting the release of their new self-titled album, which Taylor describes as “raw, emotive, rock in its purest form.” (Dec. 10, $18, 371-0012)

also noted

Joe Bonamassa The Arts Center of the Capital Region hosts an Impulse/Response show tonight (Thursday) with the Space Between, a unique improvisational trio made up of avant-garde composer Pauline Oliveros (accordion), improv pianist Dana Reason (piano) and Philip Gelb (shakuhachi) (8 PM, $5, $3 students, 273-0552). . . . Metal mongers Shadows Fall, who released the critically acclaimed The Art of Balance this past September, will play Valentine’s tomorrow (Friday), with Killswitch Engage, Every Time I Die and the Takeover (8 PM, $12, 432-6572). . . . Florida-based darkwave ensemble Crüxshadows will play an 18-and-up show at the Power Company Friday, followed by a goth/industrial/new wave dance party (11 PM, $12, 465-2556). . . . Glenville club Old Allen’s is now the Glenville Spot, and on Friday the club hosts a Hepatitis C benefit, and part of the nationwide GoGirlsMusicFest tour, with C. Jane Run, Sirsy, Goddess Is Human and Atraphin providing the tunes ($10, 399-1299). . . . RPI’s student-run coffeehouse, Mother’s Wine Emporium, closes out the fall semester with multi-instrumentalist-songwriter Mark Rust performing on Friday and Saturday (8 PM, $7, $3 students, free for RPI students, 276-8585). . . . For your “punk folk soul experimental meltdown” pleasures, head to Changing Spaces (306 Hudson Ave., Albany) on Saturday, and experience the reel-to-reel and guitar mastery of Jason Martin (of Brown Cuts Neighbors, Denim & Diamonds), Thomas Falk (of the Switched On) and Enoch Asecovine (of Rockets and Blue Lights) (7 PM, $5, 433-1537). . . . New area arrival alt-country artist Hayseed will play with old area cowpunks Coal Palace Kings and Crawdad (9 PM, 272-9740). . . . At Valentine’s on Saturday, out-of-towners Supermodel Stalker (NYC) and Levittown Louie and the Linux Punx (Long Island) will play a show with local luminaries the Wasted and Struction (9 PM, $5, 432-6572). . . . The Bluz House Rockers will play the Watervliet Ancient Order of Hibernians on Saturday to benefit the Watervliet Youth Civic Center, which recently lost a bunch of funding. Ticket price includes food, beer and soda; cash bar on hand also (7 PM, $10, 274-0316). . . . Garage-rock king Johnny Rabb will play a show with Atlanta-based the 45’s at Artie’s Lansingburgh Station on Saturday (9 PM, 238-2788). . . . Head to Valentine’s on Sunday for a pop-punk-splosion with Catch 22, F-Timmi, Third 2 None, and the D.A.’s (7 PM, $12, $10 advance, 432-6572). . . . On Monday at Valentine’s, eN~DoR~PhiN, who will debut some new songs for an upcoming EP, will open up for Bile and Nocturne (9 PM, $10, 432-6572). . . . It’s avant-garde night at the Larkin on Wednesday, with local groups Amazing Plaid, the Highsocks and Bible Study performing an acoustic blowout (8 PM, $5, 463-5225). . . . The All Thumbs Trio, featuring Chuck Garvey (moe.), Johnny Hickman (Cracker) and Gibb Droll, will perform Wednesday at Savannah’s (9 PM, 426-9647).

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