Metroland Online - Noteworthy

Some of us in the Metroland offices are more than a little obsessed with Deadboy and the Elephantmen. It started more than five years ago when ex-Acid Bath lead singer Dax Riggs began haunting Louisiana clubs with the first incarnation of Deadboy, playing their epically orchestrated, gothic, bayou dirges full of soul and pathos. Riggs since re-formed the band as a bluesy-glam-garage-rock-two-piece with drummer Tessie. They signed to Fat Possum, and the hailstorm of critical praise started: four stars in Rolling Stone, gushing pieces in The New York Times, interviews on NPR. We admit we feel a tad bit silly that we spent hundreds of dollars traveling to Deadboy shows around the Northeast only to have them wind up in our backyard, but we are grateful to WEQX for bringing the band to the area for a free show. To show our gratitude, we are willing to give up our no-foot-massages-before-the-first-date rule. (Aug 10, 9 PM, free, 388 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 584-2283)

Voicst, the Churchills

Skyline, Saturday

Taking some time between their Warped Tour dates to play select one-offs, Dutch indie-rock trio Voicst will hit downtown Albany this weekend to play a set at the Skyline. These guys are stateside this summer to support their debut release, 11-11 (which, by the way, was accompanied by a toy robot when it came into the office—boy, those publicists sure know how to win us over). 11-11 already have had some rave reviews from Rolling Stone and CMJ (those pubs undoubtedly revieved much larger toy robots—we’re not implying anything, we’re just sayin’). The disc’s official release date is Sept. 26, but until then, catch their live act, which is likely to feature the new material. (If you can’t get enough of them, Voicst are also slotted to play AmsterJam in New York City at the end of their tour, on Aug. 19.) Also on the bill: the Churchills. (Aug. 12, 10 PM, $5, 90 N. Pearl St., 472-7150)

Grant Lee Phillips

Iron Horse Music Hall, Sunday

Grant Lee Phillips is one of those singer-songwriters who you think you don’t know, but you kinda do know, even though you can’t really place him. Remember the haunting falsetto chorus from the song “Mockingbirds” about 12 years ago? That’s him, with his old band Grant Lee Buffalo—they’re also responsible for “The Whole Shebang,” a musical highlight from the 1998 glam-schlock flick Velvet Goldmine. His most recognizable gig—as an actor, playing the town troubadour on Gilmore Girls—isn’t too far removed from his real-life exploits as a first-rate storyteller and crooner. (His voice is, truly, a wonder.) Phillips’ latest solo release, Nineteeneighties, finds him telling other people’s stories—those of R.E.M., New Order, the Cure, Echo and the Bunnymen, etc.—in his own inimitable way. Expect a little of everything at his Sunday night performance. (Aug. 13, 7 PM, $18, 20 Center St., Northampton, Mass., 413-584-0610)

Eighteen Visions

saratoga winners, tuesday

Eighteen Visions used to be metalcore. They used to be metalcore in the way perhaps the Red Chord used to be metalcore before becoming new-death grind, tech-metal or whatever subgenre they have evolved into. But Eighteen Visions didn’t evolve in the direction the Red Chord did. If you listen to Eighteen Vision’s records in progression, it seems that somewhere along the line one of them started listening to Stone Temple Pilots records religiously. On their latest album, 18V (as they like to refer to themselves, interestingly a lot like Avenged Sevenfold’s A7X) have reached the pinnacle of the Guns N’ Roses-meets-metal fad, purveyed by the likes of the aforementioned Avenged Sevenfold. Eighteen Vision’s change has been so drastic that it’s amazing that the band are still able to fit into the hardcore/metal scene—however, some of their songs are so catchy and radio-friendly that no audiences would be hard-pressed to deny them. (Aug 15, $5, 1375 New Loudon Road, Latham, 783-1010)

The Fabulous Thunderbirds

Revolution Hall, Wednesday

Even after all these years, Kim Wilson is still at the helm in the Fabulous Thunderbirds. The T-birds, probably best-known for their 1986 album Tuff Enuff, helped “kickstart a blues revival” during the 1980s, and though the original lineup is long gone, the ’Birds are still spreading the blues gospel. In fact, Wilson, the sole original member of the group, recently was awarded the honor of Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year at the 2006 Blues Music Awards in Memphis. Through stints at solo careers, breakups and reassemblages, the Fabulous Thunderbirds have in their canon about 10 albums, material from which you’ll be sure to hear when they play Revolution Hall on Wednesday. The Alan Peyette Trio open. (Aug. 16, 9 PM, $28, 425 River St., Troy, 274-0553)

Also Noted

Dion

Tonight (Thursday), catch the last Alive at Five of the season—it’s Latin Night with the Tito Puente Jr. Orchestra and the Latino All-Stars (5 PM, free, 434-2032). . . . Tomorrow (Friday) at Valentine’s, it’s the annual—and, we’ve been told, final—Hawaiian Rawkfest, and the music indeed will be plentiful: Gun Christmas, Great Day For Up, the Luxury Flats, the Karaoke Hearts, Kitty Little, Sugar Eater, Evolution Revolution, Complicated Shirt, the Wasted, To Hell And Back, Michael Truck Pile, Aficionado, Chinese Delivery, Thousands, and (deep breath) Evixxion are all scheduled to perform (7 PM, $8, 432-6572). . . . Alt-rockers Kingscastle play Northern Lights on Friday, along with and the Renowned Army (7:30 PM, $8, 371-0012). . . . On a Plane: Psychobilly-swing act Slick Fitty are heading back across the pond for another German tour; this Saturday, they’ll hold a going away party—and celebrate the release of their brand new CD—at Savannah’s (9 PM, $5, 426-9647). . . . Legend in the house: Dion, who celebrates his dual heritage (the Bronx, and the blues) on the new album Bronx in Blue, comes to the Egg on Saturday night; the equally legendary Persuasions will also perform (8 PM, $34, 473-1845). . . . The Belleayre jazz series kicks into high gear on Saturday night with a performance from Branford Marsalis and the Doug Wamble Quartet (8 PM, $45-$65, 800-942-6904). . . . This Saturday at Tess’ Lark Tavern, the Kamikaze Hearts play their last area show prior to the release of their new album Oneida Road (10 PM, $5, 463-7875). . . . In case you didn’t feel like showing up early to the Petty concert, you can catch the Derek Trucks Band in a headlining show at the WAMC Performing Arts Studio on Monday night (8 PM, $25, 465-5233 ext. 4).

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