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Queens
of the Stone Age, Turbonegro
Northern
Lights, Thursday
When
early-’90s stoner-rock band Kyuss called it quits in ’95 after
years of hard work and less-than-satisfying public reception,
singer-guitarist Josh Homme was so disappointed, he didn’t
pick up his guitar for an entire year. Then, after being recruited
for a few stints on tour with Screaming Trees, Homme reunited
with another former Kyuss bandmember, bassist Nick Oliveri.
Together they formed Queens of the Stone Age, and have since
been joined by a revolving cast of musicians filling in the
different roles that make up the hard-rock band, including
Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and Screaming Trees’ Mark Lanegan.
The Queens signed with Stone Gossard’s Loose Groove label
in 1998 and released their self-titled debut, followed by
Rated R in 2000. Tonight (Thursday), they take the
stage at Northern Lights; Turbonegro will open. (March
27, doors 7:30 PM, $20, 371-0012)
John
Cowan Band
Troy Savings Bank Music
Hall, Friday
Note
to the uninitiated: “New grass” is not always a horticultural
term. When used in a sentence that contains phrases such as
“blazing bluegrass hybrid,” it refers to a singular style
of music that took flight in the mid-’70s, thanks to a band
called New Grass Revival. Blending bluegrass, jazz, folk and
pop—while still showcasing traditional bluegrass instruments
such as banjo and mandolin—the band rocked a once-staid genre
to its core. John Cowan was a founding member of New Grass
Revival, driving the band’s sound with his soaring tenor and
multi-instrumental prowess (mandolin, fiddle and electric
guitar, for starters). Cowan brings his band to the Troy Savings
Bank Music Hall tomorrow (Friday). Revered bluegrass icon
Peter Rowan and Leftover Salmon mandolin hotshot Drew Emmitt
come along for the ride. (March 28, 8 PM, $22 and $25,
273-0038 or www.troymusichall.org)
Marwood,
the Suggestions, Kitty Little, Rockets and Blue Lights
Valentine’s, Sunday
The
last time New York City-based Marwood came through our little
town, they were known as the Ben Rogers Band. They’ve since
gained a bassist and a drummer, pumped up the volume a bit,
and recorded their second self-released longplayer, Regular
Fips. London-born Rogers, who first worked in the field
as a roadie for the likes of Def Leppard and Genesis, fronts
the band, who have caught the ears of NYC’s live-music fans
and radio DJs alike. They play in the city to packed crowds,
recently selling out a new East Village venue, and one radio
personality chose Marwood as one of his 10 favorite bands.
Lead guitarist Rob Overbey, who’s been with Rogers since the
days of BRB, claims, “This is what we love to do and we don’t
really have a choice; we’re not good at anything else.” Kitty
Little, the Suggestions and Rockets and Blue Lights share
the bill. (March 30, 8 PM, $5, 432-6572)
Cyrus
Chestnut Trio
The Van Dyck, Saturday
Cyrus
Chestnut has been an influential jazz pianist and bandleader
for almost a decade. After apprenticeships with such legends
as Betty Carter and Jon Hendricks, and a stint with the Jazz
at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Chestnut launched his career
with Revelation. This disc topped both the jazz charts
and the critics’ polls. Since then, he has recorded with an
ever-changing trio lineup—of late, Chestnut’s combo has featured
drummer Al Vistar Garnet and bassist Steve Kirby—and has done
fascinating collaborations with opera diva Kathleen Battle,
and albums of classically inspired music, jazz, originals,
and gospel tunes. (He still found time to play in the hard-swinging
all-star band featured in Robert Altman’s Kansas City.)
His most recent disc, Soul Food, mixes (as the title
implies) soul with jazz, on both originals and covers—including,
again, a hymn. It’s worth pointing out that Chestnut made
his first connection to music in the church: “I heard my father
playing piano and I heard the congregation singing. . . .
My whole spirit of joy started right there.” (March 29,
7 and 9:30 PM, $22, 381-1111)
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MARSHALL
CRENSHAW
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Marshall
Crenshaw
Linda Norris Auditorium,
Saturday
Marshall Crenshaw is the anti-fad: For nearly 20 years, the
Detroit native has been producing pop gems in the tradition
of the masters—the Beach Boys, the Beatles, Motown—all the
while remaining current and accessible. If he’s never quite
blown up (he’s never been called upon to perform the halftime
show at the Super Bowl backed by half-shirted hotties, for
example), it’s only because his work is so solid and enduring
that it would seem insulting to present it as the next big
thing: Crenshaw writes new songs that sound as if they’ve
always been here. The last couple of times the Brooklyn resident
has made the trip upstate, he’s banged out those tunes solo-acoustic
style; this time, he’s got an electric guitarist and a stand-up
bassist in tow to help him fill the space at WAMC’s Linda
Norris Auditorium with all his pop-music goodness. (March
29, 7:30 PM, $22, 800-323-9262)
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THE
FIGGS
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We
can’t pronounce their name, but we’re print, so
we don’t have to: SNMNMNM will roll down
the Thruway from Rochester, tuba and accordion in
tow, for a show at Valentine’s tonight (Thursday).
Also on the bill are North Carolina girl-rock trio
the Pinkslips, and Tasteless Groove
(9 PM, $5, 432-6572). . . . NYC modern lounge
group Dave’s True Story will make a return
trip to Great Barrington’s Club Helsinki tonight
(9 PM, $10, 413-528-3394). . . . Tomorrow
(Friday), local multi-instrumentalist and jack-of-all-genres
Kevin Maul will share his broad musical knowledge
in a workshop at Mother’s in the RPI Student Union.
Maul will gear the workshop to the audience; preregistration
is encouraged (8 PM; RPI and Sage students free,
other students, seniors, RPI faculty, staff and
alums $1, general public $2; 276-8585). . .
. Also Friday, Maria Muldaur will pay tribute
to Peggy Lee in two shows at the Van Dyck (7
and 9:30 PM, $20, 381-1111). . . . At the Larkin
Lounge Friday, the Knothouse Trio—featuring
local-music mainstays Mitch Elrod, Albie and knotworking’s
Mike Hotter—will display the fruits of their on-the-side
jam sessions, with another knotworker, Ed Gorch,
opening the show (10 PM, $5, 463-5225). .
. . NYC’s the Master Plan (featuring members
of the Fleshtones and the Dictators) will play Artie’s
Lansingburgh Station on Friday, with our very own
Lawn Sausages opening (9 PM, $5, 238-2788).
. . . Spa City boys-made-good the Figgs will
return to the source Saturday for a show at Falstaff’s
on the Skidmore College campus; fellow Saratogians
the 1234’s will open (8 PM, $5, 580-5787).
. . . It’s a songwriter showcase at the Larkin Saturday,
featuring Karen Kosowski, Andrea Florian, Brian
Bassett and Laura Boggs (8 PM, $5,
463-5225). . . . Also Saturday, EMI recording
artist Sev Statik comes to Valentine’s; sharing
the bill for the 18-and-up event are Funkshop
Loomis and the Bufftones (9 PM, $7,
432-6572). . . . The Kennedys (as in
couple Pete and Maura), whose musical palette ranges
from roots rock to ambient etheria, will perform
at Caffe Lena Saturday (9 PM, $14, 583-0022).
. . . On Sunday, the String Trio of New York
(that would be a violin, a guitar and a bass) will
bring jazz improvisation and other string things
to the WAMC Performing Arts Studio (2 PM, $15,
465-5233 ext. 4). . . . Monday, Tim McGraw
and the Dancehall Doctors will bring their mainstream
country to the faithful at the Pepsi Arena (7:30
PM, $60-$40, 476-1000). . . . Finally, Project/Object
will aim to re- create the Frank Zappa experience—complete
with three Zappa/Mothers of Invention alums—at Valentine’s
on Wednesday (8 PM, $10, 432-6572). |
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