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The
Kennedys, Sons of the Never Wrong
WAMC
Performing Arts Studio, Thursday
If you dig that rootsy Americana sound—and we hear that the
kids just can’t get enough of it—then this double bill at
WAMC’s “the Linda” is just for you. The Kennedys, featuring
ex-Delta Ray Maura Kennedy and ex-Nanci Griffith lead guitarist
Pete Kennedy, will bring their “exuberant mixture of folk,
rock, country, pop and their own brand of secular gospel”
for your musical edification. (We’ll be interested to discover
exactly what “secular gospel” is, anyway—a Unitarian-type
deal?) Also on the bill are Chicago’s Sons of the Never Wrong.
Technically, two of the three Sons are daughters, as the trio
consists of Bruce Roper, Deborah Lader and Sue Demel. While
they deploy familiar folk-oriented instruments like the guitar,
banjo, mandolin and dulcimer, we are assured, by the band
themselves, that “their work is decidedly eccentric.” We can
all get behind that. (Nov. 16, 8 PM, $15, 339 Central Ave.,
Albany, 465-5233 ext. 4)
Albumen
Valentine’s,
Friday
Saratoga Springs-based rock band Albumen (we’re not quite
sure how they chose their name, though we do know albumen
is egg white) are an up-and-coming group that got together
last year (through Craigslist) to make some music. The band
cite Nick Drake, the Swans, the Minutemen and Iron & Wine
as some of their influences, and so far, it seems their muses
have served them well. Their first (and, so far, only) CD,
Lake Desolation, has gotten some very positive reviews
on some indie-music Web sites, like smother.net, which says:
“The song writing throughout Lake Desolation is brilliant
with arrangements that are smart and witty without being too
over the top.” The band promise to debut a bunch of new material
(in addition to songs from Lake Desolation, we’d imagine)
at tomorrow night’s show at Valentine’s. Also on the bill
are Elrod-Hotter (the glorious pairing of local mainstays
Mitch Elrod and Mike Hotter), and Colin Carry and Magog. (Nov.
17, 8 PM, $5, 17 New Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572)
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| Laura
Boggs |
Laura
Boggs CD-Release Party
Lark
Tavern, Sunday
Honey-voiced
folk songstress Laura Boggs (Metroland’s 2006 Best
Female Singer-Songwriter) has finally released another
CD. We say finally because her first, Live at Professor
Java’s, was released many moons ago, and she’s been playing
the local open-mic and gig circuit for years since, showing
off her new songs, and newer songs, and newer songs . . .
prompting frequent requests of “Where can I get this on CD?”
So, needless to say, this project has been in the works for
a while, and we’re glad to see that it has come to fruition.
The disc itself is the first release on local arts advocate
Harith Abdullah’s brand-new label, the Rev Records, and will
be available at the CD-release party this weekend at the Lark
Tavern. Special guest Jared Funari will open the show. (Nov.
19, 8 PM, $5, 453 Madison Ave., Albany, 463-9779)
Putumayo’s
Acoustic Africa
Troy
Savings Bank Music Hall, Sunday
The Acoustic Africa tour brings together prominent African
singer-songwriters Habib Koité, Vusi Mahlasela and Dobet Gnahoré
for an evening infused with melody and rhythm, as well as
message. In addition to being performers, each is also a social
activist, seeking to increase awareness about the issues affecting
their home country. The artistic identity of Koité and Mahlasela
was particularly impacted by Africa’s vast social and political
changes during the 1980s and ’90s. Expect a performance characteristic
of the African acoustic tradition, but with a contemporary
flair. The evening is a sampling of Putumayo’s Acoustic
Africa CD, which features additional African artists.
(Nov. 19, 7 PM, $25-$28, $15 students, 30 2nd St., Troy,
273-0038)
Sugarcult
Northern
Lights, sunday
Sugarcult had one goal with their new album. “We talked early
on about wanting to make a concise 11-song album.” Exciting,
isn’t it? Sugarcult are hard to write about. Why? Because
they don’t have a clearly manufactured, wacky back story;
they don’t wear masks or makeup; their music isn’t emo, screamo,
devo, hardcore, barcore, or trendcore. Their songs are poppy
little ditties that don’t necessarily stand out for anything
other than their well-produced studio sheen. The song “Do
It Alone” is reportedly about “loveless sex.” Leave it to
Sugarcult to take the fun out of anything. The band’s bio
speaks of their work ethic, and says that their new album
Lights Out “is an album that covers diverse sonic territory,
but always remains on course; with a distinct balance between
classic songwriting and forward thinking.” So, to translate,
when you think Sugarcult, think “Stay the course!” (Nov.
19, 7 PM, $17, 1208 Route 146, Clifton Park, 371-0012)
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Noted |
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Fear
Factory
|
So,
uh, are you afraid? No? How about now? Still not?
Then try this: Fear Factory will churn out a hearty
dose of the heavy at Revolution Hall tonight (Thursday),
along with Suffocation, Hypocrisy and Decapitated—scary
stuff, indeed (7:30 PM, $20, 274-0553). . . .
On the local side, catch two of our area’s
most-durable original acts—the Decadent Royals
and Phillips Head—along with guest Cassandra
Bacon at Red Square tonight (9 PM, $5, 465-0444).
. . . A man with a mandolin: The David Grisman
Quintet will play the Calvin Theater in Northampton,
Mass. tonight (8 PM, $22.50-$35, 413-584-1444)
and the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on Saturday
(8 PM, $29, 273-0038). . . . Find out what’s
guiding Robert Pollard these days when he plays
Pearl Street in Northampton, Mass., on Saturday;
Richard Davies and the Heartless Bastards round
out an excellent bill (8 PM, $18, 413-584-7771).
. . . Chris Knight, a singer-songwriter described
as an “angry John Mellencamp,” performs
at the Ale House in Troy on Saturday (10 PM, $5,
272-9740). . . . How in the hell are Hinder selling
so many records? And did the world really need
a cut-rate Nickelback? (We just threw up in our
mouths a little bit as we wrote “cut-rate
Nickelback.”) Maybe they’re, like, an
awesome live band or something; find out this
Monday when they play a sold-out Northern Lights,
along with Eighteen Vis ions and Lynam—a
band who may or may not feature the love children
of Ronnie James Dio and Stevie Nicks (7:30 PM,
371-0012).
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Classifieds
