Clasiq CD-release party

Red Square, thursday

Clasiq is a player’s playa. He knows when to spruce up his soulful, hiphop-flavored R&B tracks with as many “ooh baybaaay’s” as it takes to get the ladies’ attention. However, he’s not afraid to start his tracks with flashy hiphop-styled commands like “Turn my mic up!” or “Now come here shorty . . . ” Clasiq may be a smooth player but he does not play around. According to his Web site, “His ultimate goal is to be an icon in the industry and to be known as a legend in the entertainment arena while, at the same time being a hero and giving back to his community.” Let Clasiq be your hero tonight and you might even get to hear some material off his new album, Fetish. (Jan 19, 8 PM, $22, 388 Broadway, Albany, 462-9190)

pipeline

Pipeline

WAMC Performing Arts Studio, Thursday

Prepare for an evening of traditional and original Celtic music by a new-ish pair of musicians who have made quite a splash in the Celtic-music pond. Pipeline is a duo comprised of Dermot Hyde (uilleann pipes, tin whistle, low whistle, small pipes, vocals) and Tom Hake (bouzouki, guitar, harp), two very accomplished Celt musicians. For example, Hyde wrote a number of pieces for Royal Shakespeare Company director Michael Bogdanov. Pipeline’s Web site—which can be accessed in English and in German, for those interested—says that the band’s repertoire “comprises both traditional and brand new music from Ireland, Scotland, Galicia and Brittany.” (Jan. 19, 8 PM, $15, 339 Central Ave., Albany, 465-5233)

Nogoodnix

Valentine’s, Thursday

It seems like we’ve been saying goodbye to Nogoodnix for some time now. The Duane Beer project (pre-Blasé Debris, post-Trauma School Dropouts) was, like all things Beer, a high-concept affair: drunken punk rock with an Irish brogue. (Or, pogue, if you will.) Their live shows, always steeped in tradition and soaked in whiskey, were an awful lot of fun, we must say. The group hung it up after playing together for only a few years, but we’ve been lucky enough to see the original “Pub Punx” reunite on several occasions. Tonight, the band will hoist their mugs (and guitars) for one more go-around, this time bidding farewell to drummer Dave Randford, who will soon relocate to Boston. Also performing on tonight’s bill are post-Nogoodnix projects Three Black Hats and Hot Cousin. (Jan. 19, 9 PM, $5, 17 New Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572)

Evan Dando

Iron Horse Music Hall, Friday

It’s not every songwriter who can craft a pop record so damn-near-perfect as the Lemonheads’ 33-minute 1992 release It’s a Shame About Ray. So cut Evan Dando some slack, will ya? His name is all too often thrown about in tandem with the term “disappointment,” and that’s the real shame: So what if Dando and his band never reascended to the lofty heights of that early classic?. Take another listen to Ray’s follow-up, Come on Feel the Lemonheads, and realize that he came pretty close to nailing it twice in a row. And his well-documented tumble into addiction and, later, relative obscurity may have actually worked to his advantage: Dando’s 2003 solo debut, Baby I’m Bored, was a smart collection of country-tinged pop that proved the one-time Spin cover boy still has a lot of hooks in him. Word has it he’s working on a Lemonheads “reunion” album; in the meantime, catch this solo performance tomorrow night. (Jan. 20, 10 PM, $15, 20 Center St., Northampton, Mass., 413-584-0610)

Matt Mirabile & Alison Jacobs CD-release party

Van Dyck, Saturday

Nineteen-year-old Matt Mirabile has been playing the blues guitar for seven years. Already, he has shared bills with Bo Diddley and Deb Coleman, and he is a veteran of the Northeast Blues Society’s weekly jams. He’s celebrating the release of his debut disc (featuring vocal contributions from Alison Jacobs, who has worked with Tony Markellis and Kevin Maul) this weekend at the Van Dyck. The Van Dyck suggests that those interested in attending this show call ahead and make reservations since last time Mirabile played the venue, they sold out. In case you can’t make it to Schenectady, Mirabile will celebrate the release of his new CD Albany-style at Savannah’s on Friday (Jan. 20). (Jan. 21, 8 PM, $6, 237 Union St., Schenectady, 381-1111)

Ska Brawl Tour

Saratoga Winners, Sunday

We hope you’ve been working on your skanking, because the Ska Brawl Tour is rolling through town and they are looking for a few good skankers. What? Don’t walk away all insulted—we don’t mean skanking a la Britney Spears’ latest foray into “fashion.” No, we’re talking about the dance style forged in the dance halls of Kingston, Jamaica. Come out and skank to the big boys of ska the Toasters and pay your respects to up and coming skatastic-skasters Hollywood Funeral. These Albany boys will be celebrating the release of their new CD Cob Gobblers. The first 50 through the door will receive a copy so as to be able to perfect their skank moves in the privacy of their own home. (Jan. 22, 5:30 PM, $14, 1375 New Loudon Road, Latham, 783-1010)

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