|
Longwave
Valentine’s,
Thursday
The Strokes cast a very long shadow. To wit: Brooklyn’s Longwave
found themselves caught up in the NYC signing boom of the
early ’00s, on the strength of one excellent indie effort,
1990’s Endsongs. A Dave Fridmann-produced RCA debut,
The Strangest Things, followed, but to little public
fanfare—remember, RCA was the same label that scooped the
Strokes. 2005’s There’s a Fire found the band shuffling
members, and taking their ethereal rock sound to reverberant
new heights. Longwave are an interesting and inventive band,
and well worth checking out—luckily, you’ll have your chance
when they play Valentine’s tonight as part of a warm-up for
their next studio outing. Kings Highway will open. (Sept.
13, 8 PM, $7, 17 New Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572)
Grainbelt
CD release
O’Brien’s
at the Garden Grill, Friday
Here’s what you need to know about Capital Region Americana
torchbearers Grainbelt: They’re the new band from former Coal
Palace Kings leader Howe Glassman. If you were at all familiar
with CPK, you should have an idea where this is going; if
not, they offer Hank Williams and Joe Strummer as two signposts.
This latest Glassman project features a few former CPK members,
guitarist Jason Hughes and drummer Tim Hurst, plus bassist
Chris Blackwell, a well-respected songwriter in his own right.
The music is, in turns, raucous and heartrending, as any good
country music should be, and their Brent Gorton-produced debut
CD, Trouble Coming Down, will see the light of day
tomorrow (Friday) at the Garden Grill. Do it. (Sept. 14,
8 PM, $2, 276 2nd Ave., Albany, 462-0571)
Gary
U.S. Bonds
Revolution
Hall, Saturday
What better way to psyche yourself up for Bruce Springsteen’s
November appearance than to go check out one of his idols?
Rhythm and Blues Foundation honoree Gary U.S. Bonds had his
only No. 1 hit back in 1961 with “Quarter to Three.” On the
strength of that song and a few other lesser hits, Bonds headlined
a 1963 European Tour—over the Beatles. Bonds’ career simmered
through the ’70s, then had a brief resurgence in the early
1980s thanks to a collaboration with Springsteen and Steven
Van Zandt. He all but disappeared until mid 2004, when Back
in 20, his first studio release in 20 years, was announced.
Called the maker of “some of America’s best rock & roll”
by Rolling Stone, Gary U.S. Bonds isn’t one of the
greats; he’s one of the originals. Let his old-school R&B
and rock & roll take your mind off the $30 service charge
you had to pay for your Springsteen tickets. (Sept 15,
9 PM, $23, 425 River St., Troy, 274-0553)
The
Figgs, The Gravel Pit
Valentine’s,
Saturday
Surely you already know about the Figgs, who just celebrated
their 20th year as a band. (If not, see “To Be Continued,”
Aug. 30.) What really has us in a nostalgic froth is the other
band on this bill: New Haven-via-Boston rockers the Gravel
Pit. The Pit were an Albany club favorite during the power-pop
boom of the mid- to late-1990s; they even shouted out our
fair city in a song on their excellent ’99 disc Silver
Gorilla. The band, known for their high-energy, Farfisa-organ-fueled
rock, all but broke up several years back, with the four members
all moving on and away to other projects, but they’re back
together for a handful of shows, one of which happens to be
right here in Albany. Lucky you/us. (Sept. 15, 9 PM, $10,
17 New Scotland Ave., Albany, 432-6572)
 |
|
Mandy Moore |
Mandy
Moore, Paula Cole
The
Egg, Tuesday
Mandy Moore and Paula Cole may be on opposite ends of your
pop-culture radar, but they’ve joined forces on stage. Moore
is taking some time off from the big screen to rekindle her
music career, and Cole is taking some time off of, well, taking
time off. Cole won a Grammy in 1998 for Best New Artist, but
you probably haven’t heard her music recently—unless you watch
Dawson’s Creek in syndication. Cole says she’s done
with the hiatus and taking baby steps back into the music
industry, touring with Moore to promote Courage, her
first album in eight years. On the other end of the spectrum
is Moore, who you may have seen recently along side funnyman
Robin Williams in the film License to Wed. The singer-turned-actress
is showcasing her fifth album, Wild Hope, Moore’s virgin
endeavor into songwriting. (Sept. 18, 7:30 PM, $32.50,
Empire State Plaza, Albany, 473-1835)
 |
| Also
Noted |
 |
|
Ashley
Pond |
Tonight
(Thursday) at Pearl Street in Northampton, Mass.,
catch Broken Social Scene offshoot Do Make
Say Think plus regional indie-pop collective
Spouse (8:30 PM, $15, 413-584-7771). .
. . Meet the new Nickelback: Daughtry will
play a sold-out show at the Palace Theatre tonight
(8 PM, 465-3334). . . . This month’s installment
of the Garage Bands in the Garage series at the
main branch of the Albany Public Library tomorrow
(Friday) features Ashley Pond and Swamp
Baby (6 PM, free, 427-4313). . . . The Sense
Offenders release their self-titled debut
disc at their favored haunt, Tess’ Lark Tavern,
on Friday (10 PM, $5, 463-9779). . . . We are
so hair-metal geeking-out right now: Lillian
Axe still exist, apparently, and will play
the Chance in Poughkeepsie on Friday (8 PM, $20,
845-471-1966). . . . The Irish 2000 Festival takes
over the Altamont Fairgrounds this Friday and
Saturday; featured performers include Enter
the Haggis and the Tossers, plus such
locals as Kevin McKrell and Flynn 529
(11 AM, $20, 888-414-3378). . . . Buffalo Tom
will headline the main music stage at Larkfest
this Saturday on Lark Street in Albany; other
acts include L.A. rockers Astra Heights
and Texan guitarist Ian Moore (10:30 AM,
free, 434-3861). . . . Sarah Pedinotti
leaves Saratoga for a big show at the WAMC Performing
Arts Center this Saturday (8 PM, $23, 465-5233
ext. 4). . . .You can just call me Mike: No-talent
ass-clown Michael Bolton is at the Turning
Stone Resort and Casino on Tuesday (8 PM, $65-80,
877-833-SHOW).
|
|
|
Site
Search 
