Capital Sounds
Musical happenings in and around the Capital City
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Toolbox
Published: April 24, 2009
There is a plethora of live music to be had in and around Montpelier this weekend, with something for everyone's taste. Americana, folk, rock, jazz, electronica, punk, and vaudeville … this week has it all. Some highlights:
The High Ledge Farm Relief Party (a benefit for fire victims) with Sara Grace and the Suits and Hot Flannel, Sunday, April 26, 3 p.m. at Lamb Abbey, Pioneer Center, Montpelier.
My byline in this column says I occasionally produce concerts; this Sunday is one of those occasions, and I'm not leading off with it to shamelessly promote – it's for a great cause. Many of you may know that High Ledge Farm in Woodbury, one of our cherished local organic farms, tragically burned to the ground a few weeks back, leaving proprietors Paul Betz and Kate Camiletti and their family homeless in the process. I've organized this benefit concert on their behalf, featuring two of central Vermont's finest acts. Sara Grace and the Sara Grace and the Suits have been packing them in of late with their ever- tighter brand of soul-folk. Hot Flannel is new to the scene, but features Patrick Ross on the fiddle, an undeniably world-class player, along with longtime veteran flat-picker Doug Perkins. Their brand of progressive acoustic jazz-grass puts the "Hot" in their name, for sure. All proceeds (donations of all amounts are to be accepted) go to Paul, Kate and family as they try to get back on their feet. The show is BYO beverages and food. Please come out and support two of the sweetest, most hard-working people around and our local agricultural community while you have FUN with some of our area's premier bands.
"The Entertainment Stimulus Package," Saturday, April 25, 8 p.m. at Hardwick Townhouse, presented by Vermont Vaudeville.
It's rare that something happens in Hardwick entertainment-wise these days, but if you're looking for something out of the ordinary, this is it! The performance will feature local talents Leo the Human Xylophone, Brent McCoy: Clown at Work, Maya Curvelo and Modern Times Theater, with special guest Chuck Meese, and more. Admission to the family-friendly, vaudeville style event is a $10 suggested donation, $5 for kids. For more information, call (802) 533-2589.
There's a lot to do around the capital this weekend as well. Tonight at Langdon Street Café, Vermont banjo master Gordon Stone kicks off the happy hour with his band at 6 p.m. He's followed by a great double-bill including troubadour Sarazin Blake (formerly Robert Blake – he's been forced to adopt his middle name due to threats of legal action from the former "Baretta," acquitted of murderer, of the same name – yikes!). The Bellingham, Wash.-based songwriter is said "to be one of the finest entertainers of the modern folk movement." He'll be joined by The Powder Kegs Old-Time Duo, featuring members of the old-time-gone-indie band, who will be plumbing material that won them "A Prairie Home Companion's" "People in their 20s" music contest a few years back. For those who long for the old Kegs, this is a not-to-be-missed show starting at 9 p.m., for donations.
Saturday night at LSC, the aforementioned Hot Flannel (fans of awesome acoustic musicianship really need to catch this band) plays with folk-bluegrass trio Three Tall Pines opening starting at 8 p.m., once again for donations. And finally on Sunday, a very special noontime event takes place for donations when Manu Delago Handmade plays a brunch show. The Swiss percussionist is a master of the hang drum, a melodic instrument resembling an upside-down wok that has a holistic and euphonic sound. He and his trio are bound to be a unique treat. Later in the day, the spring concert series wraps up with California-based indie-pop duo Go-Kart Mozart at 3 p.m.
For even more virtuosic stuff, head on up to The Black Door on Main Street in Montpeculiar tonight to catch the Kasiewicz/Jarrett/Revetto Trio kickin' improvisational jazz of the finest kind. Saturday night, local rockers Generous Thieves head up the back staircase to the swanky third floor lounge. Both shows start at 9:30.
A few doors down at Charlie O's, a new act takes the back of the barroom when The Horseshoe Lounge Playboys make their debut at the Ol' World Famous. The self-proclaimed "hillbilly dance band" plays a blend of acoustic bluegrass, old-time and country originals as well as covers exhumed from musical tombs stretching from Appalachia to Memphis. Saturday night at O's marks the triumphant return to gigging for Abby Jenne and the Enablers. The local songstress/bandleader recently gave birth to a nearly 10 lb. baby boy, and barely a month later, she's back on "stage" with her band playing their brand of rockin' Americana. Both shows start at 10 p.m. – woohoo!
For those looking for a different kind of dance party, head over to funky-town (otherwise known as Plainfield) to catch MadDub Saturday night at the Plainfield Community Center (above the co-op) starting at 8 p.m. The local dubtronica outfit headed up by local sound-tech extraordinaire Bennet "Madtech" Shapiro plays hard-driving dance music that is sure to bring out your inner Euro-trash raver. The BYOB show is all ages and $5 at the door.
As for the rest of the week, a rare punk-rock show happens at Langdon Street Café on Tuesday, when Toronto's Rehab for Quitters bring their hard-driving rockabilly-influenced sound to town at 8 p.m. On Wednesday, local all-around good guys Dave Keller and Mark LeGrand join forces for an evening of soul, blues and country song swapping. Finally, on Thursday, the Lipbone Redding Orchestra takes the diminutive coffee house stage. With a bandleader who uncannily mimics trumpet and trombone with his mouth, the group is said to have a sound that "lies somewhere between Jack Johnson and a New Orleans jazz band." Hot stuff on a Thursday night, for donations.
Until next week, support your local venues, and go see live music!
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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