Well, the draught is over, and I’m not talking about the weather. Thankfully, we are back to a full calendar of music this week, so that should make everyone happy.
At the last minute, I changed my mind about going to see Ralph Stanley last Friday, opting to stay closer to home and taking a chance on Jackie Greene at The Bearsville Theater, and I was not disappointed. Jackie rocked pretty good, and even though half his set was Grateful Dead songs (not a bad thing), he made them all his own, playing “Sugaree”, “Deal” and others with an aggressiveness that The Dead rarely did. The guitar playing was tasty and inventive, and all in all, I would now highly recommend Jackie, especially if you’re a Grateful Dead fan.
My store, Reservoir Music Center, just celebrated it’s 5th anniversary, and I’m planning a party sometime in July to thank the community for their support. Details will be announced here as they become available.
Since we have such a full calendar this week, let’s get right to it.
TONIGHT, Thursday, May 12
NEKO CASE AT The Bearsville Theater. Neko is one of the Americana Queens-in-Waiting, along with Elizabeth Cook, Allison Moorer, Joy Lynn White, and quite a few others. Of course, the reigning Queen of the genre is Lucinda Williams, but that’s another story. Neko’s got good songs, sings great, and contributed heavily to the last Jakob Dylan album, so her bona fides are firmly in place. She’s appeared on Leno, Letterman, Conan, Fallon, and Elvis Costello’s TV shows, and has sung with (other than Dylan) Roseanne Cash, Nick Cave, and Costello. I probably shouldn’t even mention this, but she was also voted the sexiest babe in indie rock by the readers of Playboy.com, and was invited to pose for the magazine, but, to her credit, declined.
ROSS RICE at Market Market in Rosendale. Best known for his keyboard playing with local faves, Voodelic, this transplanted Memphian (that is, Memphis native) seems to be everywhere and plays every style equally well. Don’t know if this is a Very Sexy Trio gig, solo, or what, but whatever it is, you will be entertained.
Friday, May 13
RHETT MILLER at Market Market. Rhett is the man behind the Old 97’s, a really good Americana group, and I believe he lives in New Paltz, which is probably why he’s playing this tiny venue instead of the larger clubs and theaters he usually plays. A great opportunity to catch him in a very intimate venue. This has to be one of my Weekly Picks.
LEVON HELM BAND with ARLO GUTHRIE at Ommegang Brewery in Cooperstown. Nobody here needs an introduction. This is an anti-fracking benefit, and if you don’t know what fracking is, check out the movie, “Gasland” for more info.
SHEMEKIA COPELAND at Club Helsinki in Hudson. Shemekia, daughter of the late, great Texas guitarslinger, Johnny Clyde Copeland, is crown princess of the blues, following in the footsteps of Koko Taylor and Etta James. If you dig the blues, you’ll dig Shemekia.
Saturday, May 14
MIDNIGHT RAMBLE with KINKY FRIEDMAN. Kinky was a fixture at the old Lone Star Café in Manhattan when I used to hang out there. The former head of Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys, he’s now best known for his mystery novels and his campaign for Texas governor, which was unsuccessful, but was endorsed by Willie Nelson and just about every other Texas musician. Kinky’s music combines great songs with comedy, with titles like, “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews like Jesus Anymore”, “Asshole from El Paso”, and “Waitret, Please Waitret (come sit on my face)”. He ain’t been around for a while, so I’m really looking forward to this. Might even bring him a cigar, if I can fit it into the budget.
Tuesday, May 17
TONY TRISCHKA at The Linda in Albany. In keeping with this week’s royalty theme, let’s call Tony one of the Kings of Banjo. More traditional than Bela Fleck, but equally talented, he’s been all over the bluegrass world for 40 years. Pick of the Week.
Thursday, May 19
JOEY RAMONE BIRTHDAY PARTY at Irving Plaza, NYC. Technically, this belongs to next week, but since it’s not nearby, I thought I’d give you a heads up this week, in case you needed to get a babysitter or something. This annual event, a tribute to the dearly departed lead singer of The Ramones, is always great, always rockin’, and always has a great line up with special guests the norm. If you like rock n roll, make the trip.
Have a great week.
At the last minute, I changed my mind about going to see Ralph Stanley last Friday, opting to stay closer to home and taking a chance on Jackie Greene at The Bearsville Theater, and I was not disappointed. Jackie rocked pretty good, and even though half his set was Grateful Dead songs (not a bad thing), he made them all his own, playing “Sugaree”, “Deal” and others with an aggressiveness that The Dead rarely did. The guitar playing was tasty and inventive, and all in all, I would now highly recommend Jackie, especially if you’re a Grateful Dead fan.
My store, Reservoir Music Center, just celebrated it’s 5th anniversary, and I’m planning a party sometime in July to thank the community for their support. Details will be announced here as they become available.
Since we have such a full calendar this week, let’s get right to it.
TONIGHT, Thursday, May 12
NEKO CASE AT The Bearsville Theater. Neko is one of the Americana Queens-in-Waiting, along with Elizabeth Cook, Allison Moorer, Joy Lynn White, and quite a few others. Of course, the reigning Queen of the genre is Lucinda Williams, but that’s another story. Neko’s got good songs, sings great, and contributed heavily to the last Jakob Dylan album, so her bona fides are firmly in place. She’s appeared on Leno, Letterman, Conan, Fallon, and Elvis Costello’s TV shows, and has sung with (other than Dylan) Roseanne Cash, Nick Cave, and Costello. I probably shouldn’t even mention this, but she was also voted the sexiest babe in indie rock by the readers of Playboy.com, and was invited to pose for the magazine, but, to her credit, declined.
ROSS RICE at Market Market in Rosendale. Best known for his keyboard playing with local faves, Voodelic, this transplanted Memphian (that is, Memphis native) seems to be everywhere and plays every style equally well. Don’t know if this is a Very Sexy Trio gig, solo, or what, but whatever it is, you will be entertained.
Friday, May 13
RHETT MILLER at Market Market. Rhett is the man behind the Old 97’s, a really good Americana group, and I believe he lives in New Paltz, which is probably why he’s playing this tiny venue instead of the larger clubs and theaters he usually plays. A great opportunity to catch him in a very intimate venue. This has to be one of my Weekly Picks.
LEVON HELM BAND with ARLO GUTHRIE at Ommegang Brewery in Cooperstown. Nobody here needs an introduction. This is an anti-fracking benefit, and if you don’t know what fracking is, check out the movie, “Gasland” for more info.
SHEMEKIA COPELAND at Club Helsinki in Hudson. Shemekia, daughter of the late, great Texas guitarslinger, Johnny Clyde Copeland, is crown princess of the blues, following in the footsteps of Koko Taylor and Etta James. If you dig the blues, you’ll dig Shemekia.
Saturday, May 14
MIDNIGHT RAMBLE with KINKY FRIEDMAN. Kinky was a fixture at the old Lone Star Café in Manhattan when I used to hang out there. The former head of Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys, he’s now best known for his mystery novels and his campaign for Texas governor, which was unsuccessful, but was endorsed by Willie Nelson and just about every other Texas musician. Kinky’s music combines great songs with comedy, with titles like, “They Ain’t Makin’ Jews like Jesus Anymore”, “Asshole from El Paso”, and “Waitret, Please Waitret (come sit on my face)”. He ain’t been around for a while, so I’m really looking forward to this. Might even bring him a cigar, if I can fit it into the budget.
Tuesday, May 17
TONY TRISCHKA at The Linda in Albany. In keeping with this week’s royalty theme, let’s call Tony one of the Kings of Banjo. More traditional than Bela Fleck, but equally talented, he’s been all over the bluegrass world for 40 years. Pick of the Week.
Thursday, May 19
JOEY RAMONE BIRTHDAY PARTY at Irving Plaza, NYC. Technically, this belongs to next week, but since it’s not nearby, I thought I’d give you a heads up this week, in case you needed to get a babysitter or something. This annual event, a tribute to the dearly departed lead singer of The Ramones, is always great, always rockin’, and always has a great line up with special guests the norm. If you like rock n roll, make the trip.
Have a great week.