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Tarbox
Ramblers
Club
Helsinki, Great Barrington, Mass., Saturday
Those
with the good fortune to have seen the Tarbox Ramblers on
their last visit to Club Helsinki raved about the acoustic
combo’s serious-as-a-heart-attack roots music. Specializing
in pre-World War II hillbilly, country blues, and gospel music,
the Ramblers have pleased (and frightened) audiences with
their traditional sound. And the critics? Big-time papers
have given them nothing but raves: “At once reminiscent of
the past, yet wholly original,” sayeth The Washington Post,
and “intoxicatingly original,” quoth The Boston Globe.
As Michael Tarbox put it, “I want to put folk music back in
the barrooms—where it really belongs.” This ain’t your hippie
grandad’s folk music, either—it’s sinnin’ and death and the
devil himself (you’ll be more likely to hear “Oh Death” or
“Devil Got My Woman” than “Mr. Tambourine Man”). Now that
sounds like a hell of a time. (Sept. 28, 8:30 PM, $15,
413-528-3394).
50
Man Machine CD-Release Party
Caffe
Lena, Saratoga Springs, Saturday
If
you’re at all like us, the term “world music” sends shivers
through you the way the term “new age” once did. Seems any
hack with formless songs and a didgeridoo can lay claim to
the term, and for marketing purposes does. On Saturday, however,
Caffe Lena will host a CD-release party for 50 Man Machine,
who can use the tag with head held high: Singer-songwriter
Collier Hyams, though American-born, grew up in Thailand and
Bavaria, and his bandmates—a DJ from Barbados, a steel-pan
player, a gospel drummer, Patti Labelle’s bassist, and a bagpiper
(Neil Anderson, the cofounder of Celtic roots-rockers Seven
Nations)—add even more international elements. And the global
vibe isn’t confined to the lineup’s personal histories. The
band cites as influences “pop, scots, jazz, rock, funk, gospel,
hiphop, afropop, soca, reggae, calypso . . . and, um . . .
Jimi Hendrix.” (Sept. 28, 9 PM, $10, 583-0022)
Riverfront
Jazz Festival
Hudson
Riverfront Amphitheater, Corning Preserve, Saturday
You
probably thought that with the arrival of fall, there would
be nothing left to do outdoors except leaf peeping—until all
the leaves hit the ground, anyway. Not so. The outdoor festival
season is not over yet. The city of Albany presents the Riverfront
Jazz Festival this Saturday, and the lineup is truly impressive.
Diane Reeves is the headliner, and, simply put, she’s one
of the best jazz singers around. Having effortlessly traversed
musical territory from jazz to soul to pop and back, Reeves
is riding high on her recent album, The Calling, a
tribute to the legendary Sarah Vaughan. (Reeves can sing “Lullabye
of Birdland” in the same class as the divine Sarah—she’s the
real deal.) There will also be an all-star tribute to Nick
Brignola, featuring Randy Brecker, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Heath,
Cedar Walton, Tootie Heath and Dave Williams. Also performing:
Two Siberians, an electric guitar-electric violin duo actually
from Siberia; smooth-jazz saxman Euge Groove; and flute virtuoso
Nestor Torres. Last but certainly not least, there’s Albany’s
own Adrian Cohen Trio—the only local group invited to perform.
(Sept. 28, noon-7 PM, free, 434-2032)
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Victoria
Williams, Mark Olson and the Creekdippers
Iron
Horse Music Hall, Northampton, Mass., Sunday
The
family that plays together stays together, they say. And the
family that plays together in a home studio on property adjacent
to Joshua Tree national park in Southern California stays
together mellow. Victoria Williams and hubby Mark Olson lead
just such a life, but the idyllic and peaceful setting hasn’t
prevented them from being productive: They’re on the road
now (stopping in at the Iron Horse on Sunday), celebrating
the releases of Williams’ album Sings Some Ol’ Songs
and Olson and the Creekdippers’ new one, December’s Child.
Williams’ album is notable in that it’s the first she’s released
without an original track: She covers pop classics such as
“Moon River,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and “Do You Know
What It Means to Miss New Orleans.” Olson’s album has some
trivial appeal as well: For the first time since the 1995
breakup of the Jayhawks, Olson has collaborated with former
bandmate Gary Louris. (Sept. 29, 7 PM, $11, 800-THE-TICK)
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Kristin
Norderval
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Kristin
Norderval
Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute, West Hall, Wednesday
Though
classically trained as a singer and composer, Kristin Norderval
is anything but traditional. Just take a look at the lineup
for her performance—which she developed in residence at RPI’s
iEAR studios—at West Hall on Wednesday: Norderval will stage
an evening of “interactive music for voice, electronics and
other instruments” with the assistance of trombonist Monique
Buzzarté and poet Barbara Barg. Honestly, when was the last
time you saw a concert for trombone, poetry and electronics?
Norderval’s eclectic, genre- defying work has won her the
attention and praise of commentators such as The New York
Times and The Village Voice, which chose Norderval
as one of “new music’s best.” After the performance, Norderval
and other artists will participate in Awakening, an all-night
peace vigil that will happen simultaneously with a related
vigil in Nevada City, Calif., organized by Terry Riley, Utah
Phillips and Mikail Graham. (Oct. 2, 8 PM, $5, 276-4829)
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Aimee
Mann
Calvin
Theatre, Northampton, Mass., Wednesday
One reviewer of Aimee Mann’s recently released album, Lost
in Space, approvingly noted her “seductively droll delivery.”
No kidding; Mann’s sense of humor comes through in her music
and in person. When asked what she thought about having made
music for almost 20 years, she laughed: “That’s horrifying.
No wonder I’m so tired.” Ever since her long-ago days in ’Til
Tuesday, Mann has been writing and performing lacerating-yet-thoughtful
songs about everything from love to the music business to
addiction—with Mann, those three topics amount to the same
thing. Her gorgeous sense of pop songcraft has put her outside
the mainstream, but has also helped attract a devoted fan
base and numerous critical plaudits—as well as an Oscar nomination
for her soundtrack to Magnolia. She’s touring with
a full band, in support of a new album. What more could you
want? (Oct. 2, 8 PM, $22.50, $27.50, $35, 800-THE-TICK)
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noted |
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Brand
New
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Amy
Ray and Emily Saliers, aka folk-rock
duo Indigo Girls, will stop in at Schenectady’s
Proctor’s Theater tonight (Thursday) as part of
the tour behind their newest release, Become
You; K’s Choice will open the show
(8 PM, $27-$33, 476-1000). . . . Joan Osborne
just released How Sweet It Is, a Sept.
11-inspired album full of ’60s and ’70s soul and
R&B covers, and she’s playing tonight at Pearl
Street Nightclub in Northampton, Mass., with Willie
King & the Liberators opening, and tomorrow
(Friday) at Clifton Park’s Northern Lights, with
Margaret Valentine opening (Thu: 8:30 PM,
$17.50, 800-THE-TICK; Fri: 7:30 PM doors, $14,
12 advance, 371-0012). . . . In the “show to make
your ears ring and your assholes bleed” department
this week, Small Axe, Glitter of Cohoes,
the Sixfifteens and Bible Study will
play Saratoga’s Club Caroline Friday (9 PM, $7,
580-0155). . . . The all-female Brazilian country
band (you know, that one), Iabas,
will perform in Hudson Valley Community College’s
Maureen Stapleton Theatre Friday; the group’s
sound is described as a “mix of urban and country
music with rhythms of Yoruba, Amazon and Portuguese
traditions.” Where else can you get that? (8 PM,
$10, 629-4TIX). . . . The first in a series of
concerts at the Junior Museum’s Lally Planetarium
takes place Friday: Evidence, laptop musicians
Stephan Moore and Scott Smallwood
will play in accompaniment to the simulated stars
(7 PM, $5, 235-2120). . . . Brand New, Armor
for Sleep, Little Yellow Box and the Flying
Bobbz will play a punk-pop show at Union College’s
Old Chapel on Friday (7:30 PM, $5, 388-6118).
. . . Bystanderfanzine will put on a DIY hardcore
show at Miss Mary’s Art Space on Saturday, with
After the Fall, Celebrity Roast, the Funeral
and Slugworth performing (7 PM, $5,
439-0041, http://missmarysartspace. tripod.com).
. . . Singer-songwriter-pianist Bruce Hornsby
will open the American Roots & Branches
2002-03 concert series at the Egg with a show
on Sunday (7 PM, $29.50, $32.50, 473-1845).
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Columns
& Opinions
