It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues

Capital Repertory Theatre is hosting the regional premiere of this acclaimed musical, which traces the history and development of the blues from African rhythms through spirituals, country blues, gospel and postwar electric blues. The show is described as “a spiritual journey, demonstrating how this true American art form allowed people to transcend pain and find . . . a commonality in music.”

The Cleveland Plain Dealer said that “it ain’t nothin’ but electrifying!” Judging from this image of Julie Tolivar singing “Fever,” we’re not inclined to disagree.

It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues begins previews tonight (Thursday, March 8) with a pay-what-you-will performance at 7:30 PM (tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis at the box office at 5:30 PM) at Capital Repertory Theatre (111 N. Pearl St., Albany). Previews continue tomorrow (Friday, March 9) through Tuesday (March 13); opening night is Wednesday (March 14) at 7:30 PM. Previews are $32-$27; regular prices are $42-$34. The show runs through April 7. For reservations and showtimes, call the box office at 445-7469.

Pete Yorn

New Jersey-born Pete Yorn is on tour supporting his long-awaited new release, Nightcrawler. It’s taken three years for Yorn to put out the disc, which includes some notable guest appearances on the album by the likes of Dave Grohl, the Dixie Chicks’ Natalie Maines and Martie Maguire. In addition to the new material on Nightcrawler, Yorn revisits “Undercover,” which was featured on the Spider-Man soundtrack in 2002.

The Syracuse University grad’s 2001 debut album, musicforthemorningafter, received great critical praise and went gold. His next album, Day I Forgot, sold more than 300,000 copies. Nightcrawler finishes the full-day trilogy—morning, day and night. On his Web site, Yorn says that the new record “is not so much for the night, but for a later period in my life. The perspective I have comes from having lived more and experienced more.”

Paste magazine’s Jason Killingsworth said that Nightcrawler is “more daring and challenging than anything Pete Yorn’s done up to now.” Opening the show are Birmingham, Ala.-based Moses Mayfield, and Minibar—who will also serve as Yorn’s backup band.

Pete Yorn will perform at the Egg (Empire State Plaza, Albany) on Tuesday (March 13) at 8 PM. Tickets for this show are $25. For more information, call 473-1845.

The Filmmaker Soiree

“Meet and network with the area’s actors, directors, writers, producers and musicians.”

That’s the invitation put out by Red Square, MoBetta Films, Spectrum 8 Theatres and Collar City Soul for their Filmmaker Soiree, an event with seven performers in celebration of the local film scene—and, also, a benefit for an in-preproduction independent film.

Actor Kevin Craig West, who’s performed at Capital Repertory Theatre and is a member of the board of Upstate Independents, organized the event: “I invited some very talented . . . musicians and actors I’ve worked with in New York, and who’ve performed all around the world,” to participate.

And an impressive lineup of performers it is: Brooklyn jazz-funk chanteuse Maya Azucena (pictured); hip- hop collective Spokinn Move ment; Danish singer-songwriter Annekei; poet, spoken-word artist (and Albany-raised performer) Caitlin Meissner; classically trained nu-jazzer Patrizia Ferrara; R&B diva Rhonda Denet; and crooner Ron Peterson.

The Soiree is a benefit to raise money for West’s next film project, The Masquerade. Local author Gerald Malcolm’s first screenplay, this is the story of “a couple dealing with their relationship.” As West lays it out, The Masquerade sounds intriguing, with its political overtones and infidelities.

Before the Soiree, there will be a screening of the locally produced indie thriller UnCivil Liberties (which West also appears in) at the Madison Theater at 6 PM; you’ll get half off your admission to the Filmmaker Soiree with your UnCivil Liberties ticket stub. The film, West says, is about “government spying and how we deal with it.”

The Filmmaker Soiree takes place Saturday (March 10) at 8 PM at Red Square (388 Broadway, Albany). Tickets are $20 at the door. The screening of UnCivil Liberties is at 6 PM on Saturday at the Madison Theater (1036 Madison Ave., Albany); call 438-0040 for prices. For more information about the Soiree, call 432-8584 or visit www.collarcitysoul.com.

—Shawn Stone