Capital Sounds
Musical Happenings in and around the Capital City
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Toolbox
By ED DUFRESNE Arts Correspondent - Published: May 8, 2009
It's a predominately local music weekend around these parts, with the majority of artists playing in and around the capital city this weekend hailing from our neck of the woods. We've got some darn fine musicians around these parts, and this weekend's lineup will showcase some of the best of 'em.
Check it out: Up on the third floor of The Black Door on Main Street in Montpelier tonight, fusion trio Gravel, featuring local boy Tommy Morse on trumpet and flugelhorn, plays Freddy Hubbard-meets-Pat Metheny style jazz for your listening pleasure beginning at 9:30. Saturday night, Sister Ann Perpetua, featuring locals Polly Vanderputten on cello, Michael Chorney on guitar, and Miriam Bernardo on vocals, plays an ethereal mix of "art songs" beginning at 9:30. Both shows are for the usual honor cover.
Down the street at Charlie O's tonight, a local brother from another mother takes the stage when Brandon Klaridge and his group Bossman take the back of the barroom with their fun, reggae-laden sets of tunes. The band plays covers by the likes of Marley, Tosh and Toots in a loose, dance party-inspiring style that is sure to get the Ol' World Famous rockin' ... irie mon! Saturday night at the dive for nice people, an exception to the local trend this weekend takes place when the Boston Molasses Disaster comes to town. The talented Beantown jam-rockers have been visiting of late courtesy of Halogen Records, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last night at Positive Pie II with a whiz-bang hip hop show (hope you all made that one). But I digress ... both shows at O's this weekend start at 10 p.m. for, as always, no cover.
Around the corner at Langdon Street Café tonight, uber-popular local group Sara Grace and the Suits and their soul-folk sound rock out for your dancing pleasure starting at 9:30. Those in the know will want to arrive a bit earlier to catch Tiffany Pfeiffer and the Discarnate Band at 8. The ultra-talented Brooklyn-to-Vermont transplant plays a soulful style of eclectically influenced music, with influences spanning from folk to hip hop, and has a great voice to deliver it all. The great co-bill of female-led bands can be had for the low, low price of $5 - awesome!
Saturday night, another Vermont based act takes the LSC stage when alt-Americana rockers the Bow Thayer Band play their rootsy, country and blues-influenced material. Bow is one of the finest songwriters and performers in the genre around these parts, so I heartily recommend checking him out. Albany, N.Y.-based Red Haired Strangers open the show with their Delta blues, country, and bluegrass-influenced tunes starting at 8 p.m., for donations - yeehaw!
And speaking of Saturday night, another concert happens in town at the Unitarian Church on the corner of Main and School Streets when locals, the Earthman Band, plays a show for donations starting at 7:30. The band features Adamant's Pitz Quattrone on the didgeridoo, the Australian Aboriginal instrument that creates a vibrating sound that the band combines with bass and percussion to form their "space-wave" style - groovy!
Outside of the capital tonight, a great folk show happens at the Chandler in Randolph when New-England singer-songwriters Catie Curtis and Cheryl Wheeler join forces for a powerhouse double bill. The two are some of the best in their genre and well worth seeing for fans of charismatic fem-folk. The show starts at 7:30 and is $25 for adults, $20 for students and seniors. For tickets or more information, visit www.chandler-arts.org or call (802) 728-6464.
In the opposite direction, up Route 12 in Morrisville to be exact, glam-folkie Josh Panda brings his band to The Bees Knees tonight, while Saturday night features eclectic folkies Broken String. On Sunday, the Johnsontown Whisky Collective plays myriad folk styles. I have no idea if they're any good, but ya gotta love the name! The real treat of the week at the Knees, however, is Tuesday, when the Motel Brothers play. The newish-to-the-area acoustic duo has some solid cred under their belt, and play a blend of Americana featuring country, blues and bluegrass influences. All shows at the B.K. start at 7:30. Go Mo-Vegas!
As for the rest of the week, there are some good shows goin' on in Ol' Montpeculiar for the weeknight musical faithful. On Wednesday, local roots-country-Americana singer-songwriter Abby Jenne brings her down-home guitar and voice to Charlie O's for a solo set starting at 9 p.m.
Around the corner at Langdon Street Café the same night, hopped-up country blues group The Heckhounds join Dan Haley and the Developments ("Dangerous Dan's" newest project) for a night of rootsy fun beginning at 8 p.m. for donations. On Thursday, New Orleans-based folk troubadour Louis Ledford returns to LSC. The dude is a cohort of local superstar singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell (who recently recorded one of his tunes with fellow folkie Rachel Riese for their country album), and is an excellent performer and showman in his own right (he's also one heckuva great guy!). Soulful Austin, Texas-based songwriter Molly Venter opens up this great weeknight double bill starting at 8 p.m. for donations.
There are many opportunities to go out and support our local artists this week, so get out there, show 'em some love, 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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