Piebald

Boston-based Piebald have been kicking ass and taking names of late, but it’s hard to get those names to say the same damn thing. “Emo” is the way many a weekly rag describes the band; whatever you do, don’t call them “emo,” insist a few others. “They’re like Weezer, no Ween; too punk for rock, too rock for hardcore. . . .”

And so on. But one thing’s for sure: The kids just love ’em. So much, in fact, that in attempting to appease all who wanted to witness the almighty Piebald over the past year, singer-guitarist Travis Shettel blew his voice right out (well, developed blood blisters on his vocal chords, but that doesn’t sound nearly as cool) and had to be repaired surgically. Which was unfortunate because the steadfastedly rising rockers had a tour booked, which included opening for Dashboard Confessional, among others. (You can purchase a shirt at the show to help Shettel with his medical bills if’n you’re so inclined.)

But Piebald are back, fresh off a December tour that included gigs with New Found Glory, Andrew W.K. and Ted Leo/Pharmacists, among others, and they’ll be coming to Valentine’s on Sunday to share their humorous, emotional (we can use that word), indie-rock songs to a likely adoring crowd. They came out with a CD earlier this year, We Are the Only Friends We Have, which was recorded at Boston’s Q Division studios with producer Paul Q. Kolderie—who has worked with Hole, the Pixies and Radiohead—a release that has the critics swooning. They just don’t know what to call the cause of it.

Piebald will be joined by Fairweather, My Chemical Romance and Food on Sunday (Jan. 5) at Valentine’s (17 New Scotland Ave., Albany). The show will start at 7:30 PM, and tickets are $10. Call the club, 432-6572, for further information.

New Year, New Paintings

Start the New Year right with an exhibit of abstract expressionist paintings at the Carrie Haddad Gallery in Hudson. Opening tomorrow (Friday), with a reception to follow on Saturday, the show features four artists from the Hudson Valley region: Shawn Snow, Jerry Teters, Ruth Edwy and Ragellah Rourke.

Saugerties-based Snow, whose work suggests the influence of Basquiat, has tapped into the subconscious for this show. This series of paintings was created with a eye toward spontaneity—Snow did not begin these works with a specific plan, but relied on a process of intuition and free association. The gallery notes explain that they “are purposely made to evoke associations with primitivism, graffiti, and Art Brut.”

Teters, who earned his MA in painting at SUNY New Paltz, is having his first solo show at the Haddad gallery. A drummer, Teters expresses rhythm and motion in his paintings. Edwy’s work is concerned with light, color, and landscape. Edwy has been painting for 38 years and has exhibited with the Woodstock Artists Association, Kleinert Gallery, and Ann Leonard Gallery in Woodstock, as well as exhibits in Saugerties, Florida, Rhinebeck and New York.

“The healing, restorative power of nature, in all its beauty and mystery is the force that inspires Ragellah Rourke,” according to the gallery’s description. Rouke’s paintings (pictured) are acrylic on thick, plaster-coated wood, altered with incisions and markings. Rouke studied at the University at Albany, and her exhibits include the New York State Biennial and several Mohawk-Hudson Regionals.

New Year, New Paintings will be shown at the Carrie Haddad Gallery (622 Warren St., Hudson) beginning tomorrow (Friday, Jan. 3) through Feb. 9. Gallery hours are Thursday through Monday 11-5. The opening reception is Saturday, Jan. 4, from 6 to 8 PM and is open to the public. Call 828-1915 for information.

The Odd Couple (the Female Version)

The TV version of Neil Simon’s play The Odd Couple was so much a part of growing up in the 1970s that, even now, at the mere mention of the show, we whistle the theme song and picture the fidgety Tony Randall honking through his sinuses at the slovenly Jack Klugman.

Simon’s play had a life before TV, of course: Walter Matthau and Art Carney were the original couple—and, it turns out, it has a life after. In the ’80s, Simon reworked his play to feature women in the lead roles, figuring what was good for the gander was good for the goose, apparently. And next week, on Wednesday and Thursday (Jan. 8-9), folks interested in this switcheroo will have the opportunity to check it out when The Odd Couple (the Female Version) hits Proctor’s Theatre.

Diehard fans of classic TV sitcoms needn’t worry, though—you’ll still get your fill: Playing the role of the neurotically tidy Felix Unger, now Florence Unger, is none other than I Dream of Jeannie’s Barbara Eden. (And Georgia Engel, Georgette from The Mary Tyler Moore Show, turns up in a supporting role. As does Larry Thomas, Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi.) Eden plays opposite Rita McKenzie, who transforms the unkempt Oscar Madison into the unkempt Olive Madison.

The Odd Couple (the Female Version) plays Proctor’s Theatre (432 State St., Schenectady) on Wednesday and Thursday (Jan. 8-9). Tickets for the 8 PM shows are $42-$29. For more information, call 346-6204.