Capital Sounds
Musical Happenings in and around the Capital City
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Toolbox
ED DUFRESNE Arts Correspondent - Published: April 3, 2009
It seems spring has sprung here in central Vermont, and though the weather still is a bit chilly and unpredictable (the pessimist in me says there'll be one more snowstorm), there are crocuses up, a sure sign that we're almost there. It's also this time of year that some of our more upscale venues start presenting shows again. Here are some highlights:
Canadian Nuevo Flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook will perform at Chandler Music Hall in Randolph Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The concert is $30 for adults, $25 for students and seniors. The Toronto-based artist's Latin-jazz fusion has been featured in two Olympic games and on HBO's hit series, "Sex and the City," and word has it one of his songs is currently on Barack Obama's playlist! His live shows are renowned for drawing enthusiastic crowds who find it impossible to sit still during his performance, and being that he's playing this one with a three-piece band, it'll be even more likely that folks will be dancing in the aisles. A pre-show Latin themed dinner is also available. For more information, call (802) 728-9878, or visit chandler-arts.org.
The Barre Opera House has shows tonight and tomorrow night, as well, but they are not musical events. Tonight, Los Angeles-based comedian Lauren Weedman performs "Bust," a chronicle of her time volunteering in a southern California jail while simultaneously navigating the mean streets of Hollywood, auditioning and pitching projects to film and television producers. It may not sound like comedic stuff, and there's a fair amount of drama, as well, but mixing the two is what she does so well in this critically acclaimed show. The performance starts at 7:30 and tickets are $20, $10 for students.
Saturday night at 8, comedy legend Gallagher returns to the opera house for a follow-up to his successful appearance last year. Though known for his sledgehammer smashing antics, this "no-sledge" show will highlight his razor-sharp observations, hilarious dead-on insights, and incredibly creative word play. Tickets are $25.50-$27.50, with a $1 discount for seniors and students. The show is recommended for mature audiences, and more information is available by calling (802) 476.0292, or online at barreoperahouse.org.
For those looking for something a little less pricey, the Langdon Street Café has a great lineup tonight for the low price of a donation. At 6 p.m., Vermont banjo aficionado Gordon Stone plays the happy hour slot and is joined by Senegalese percussionists Modou Ndione, Jhiokho Diangne and Papiss Badji "Bayefall." Should be quite a treat of world-grass fusion. They'll be followed by the acclaimed female led honky-tonk act Girl Howdy, who'll be kickin' the old-school roadhouse tunes starting at 9 p.m. Head on down to the corner of Elm and Langdon and kick up your heels!
And speaking of honky tonk, after catchin' the Girls early at LSC, head around the corner to Charlie O's to catch the Boys – The Starline Rhythm Boys, that is – as they once again grace the back of the barroom in our favorite local dive with their as-authentic-as-it-gets honky tonk in tow. They'll start you swingin' at 10 p.m.
To complete the honky-tonk trifecta, local tonk-and-rollers Rusty Romance will climb the back stairwell at The Black Door on Main Street Saturday night. They'll bring the fun starting at 9:30. Tonight up at the Door, Sara Grace and the Suits bring their soul-folk tunes up the back stairwell. They brought the house down last week at LSC with their upbeat sets, including a smokin' rendition of "Lovelight" that warmed the heart of this ol' Deadhead. They'll get the third floor rockin' at 9:30.
Saturday night over at Langdon Street Café, an "alternative" puppet show titled "Wood to Stone to Sea," which includes a retelling of the classic tale "Pinocchio," will take the stage at 7 p.m. That will be followed at 9 by local Latin-folk/jazz group Amapola, led by the lovely Miriam Bernardo and featuring Spanish guitarist Jairo Sequira and trumpeter Tom Morse. No comprende' Espanola? – no matter, the music is beautiful whether or not you understand the lyrics, and it's for donations. Caliente!
On another note, I recently got some negative feedback from a prominent local musician regarding my treatment of the blues in this column. While I try to mainly stay positive, and I have nothing against the classic American musical idiom, I gotta' call it like I see it sometimes, and my opinion is that the majority of bar-band blues that's being played around here's time has passed. Said musician pointed out that those bands "were the foundation of the music scene around here for the past 20 years," which was a good point. At any rate, just so no one feels left out, here's a "blues roundup" for this weekend:
The Bees Knees on Lower Main Street up Route 12 in Morrisville has a double shot of blues tonight and Saturday. The Heckhounds, featuring prominent local artist Hal Mayforth, bring their brand of acoustic country blues to the highly regarded resto tonight. Saturday night, longtime local ax-slinger Blue Fox and His Rockin' Daddies bring an electrified version of blues-rock to the Knees. Both shows start at 7:30 for donations.
Finally, Saturday night Charlie O's World Famous on Main Street in Ol' Montpeculiar presents blues rockers Jive Attic. Head on down at 10 p.m. to see if you agree with my take on this brand of the genre.
Ed DuFresne is the talent coordinator for the Langdon Street Café and occasionally produces concerts. He lives in Montpelier with an aspiring lawyer, a budding artist, a bird named Lucy and a clutter of submitted CDs that are steadily being replaced by web links.
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