Capital Sounds
Musical happenings in and around the Capital City
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Toolbox
Published: May 15, 2009
I don't normally do reviews in this column, but I have to comment on the Fela Kuti Tribute Ensemble's surprise show last Tuesday night in Montpelier. I'd seen a blog post where someone said they do not do justice to the late African composer/bandleader's material, but nothing could be further from the truth. The local who's who of a group plays Afro-beat music with authenticity and enthusiasm, and the outstanding vocal harmonies stand out as much as the impressive musicianship. An absolute powerhouse of a band that I highly recommend checking out.
But, now, on to this week's offerings. Up at the Black Door tonight, local fiddler/vocalist Katie Trautz brings her group Wooden Dinosaur up the back stairwell to play the third floor lounge on Main Street. The group combines Katie's standard old-time style with an indie sensibility to create a varied new-folk sound that's sure to please a wide range of listeners. Saturday night up at the Door, reggae-jam group Bossman, led by Brandon Klaridge, also one of the lead vocalists in the aforementioned Fela Kuti tribute ensemble, plays standards by Marley, Tosh, Toots and the like, in a straightforward style that's sure to get the dance floor moving. Both shows start at 9:30 for the usual honor cover.
Around the corner at Langdon Street Café tonight, longtime Vermont group The Eames Brothers plays its brand of blues, soul and funk starting at 9 p.m. They are preceded by the weekly happy hour at 6 p.m., this month featuring the ever-popular Mark LeGrand and friends. The highlight of the weekend, however, takes place Saturday night when North Carolina's The Stereofidelics return to LSC. The genre-busting, alt-everything duo is like six bands in one, with Melissa McGinley playing electric fiddle, drums and vocals, and partner Chris Padgett playing guitar, keyboard, foot synth bass, loops and vocals. Perhaps the most impressive thing about them is that they do it all phenomenally well … and they are both super-cute ta boot! A not-to-be-missed show starting at 9 p.m. for donations. Finally, on Sunday at LSC, local guitarist and blues-man Dave Keller hosts a showcase for his guitar students starting at 4 p.m. Come on out and check out some of the next generation of local talent!
Meanwhile, the newest venue in town – though it's certainly off the beaten track – has a full weekend of programming planned. Tonight at The Lamb Abbey in Pioneer Center (just off Pioneer Street behind the VFW), Waterbury-based Steel Rail kicks off the weekend with a couple of sets of high-energy bluegrass. Saturday night, Ann Whiting and Friends take the stage at 8 p.m. Ann's "friends" for this gig happen to be Susannah Blachly, Patti Casey and George White of the local folk group Wagtail. Expect singing, fiddling and dancing in the New England/Canadian folk tradition. Later on in the evening, an avant-theater performance takes place. "Dali's Liquid Ladies" is "a dark and subversive comedy about three mermaids who hatch a plot to kill Salvador Dali." I'm willing to bet it only gets more bizarre from there.
Finally, on Sunday, Singers of United Lands perform at 4 p.m. at the Abbey. The project focuses on "developing international and cultural relationships through vocal music from around the world." To that end, four singers from four different continents came together to perform and teach their native songs. They'll also perform at Bethany Church in Montpelier on Tuesday evening. Covers vary throughout the weekend, so for more information and to view upcoming events, visit www.thelambabbey.com.
Back over on Main Street in the capital city tonight, at Charlie O's World Famous to be exact, local alt-grass group The Snake Mountain Moonshiners take the back of the barroom with the cowboy-hat clad Elijah Kratz leading the way on vocals. Saturday night, pop/soul/folk group The Brothers McCann take a ride up the highway from Boston to play the dive for nice people. Both shows start at 10 p.m. for no cover.
Outside of town tonight, there's a great show in Waitsfield at the Valley Players Theater when the Mad River Unplugged series presents Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem, a highly accomplished, multi-genre folk band that delivers "a sparkling, high-energy show marked by breathtaking musicianship." They'll kick off at 8 p.m. For more information, call (802) 496-8910 or visit www.valleyplayers.com.
Later on in the week in Ol' Montpeculiar, a couple of good shows are happening at Langdon Street Café. On Wednesday, a new local group makes their debut when old-time folkies Didymo take the coffeehouse stage. Folk artist Jesse Peters, who's on a "bike-tour," riding from town to town to play (can't get much greener than that), kicks off the evening at 8 p.m.
And finally, on Thursday, one of the most unusual shows of recent memory in the capital takes place at LSC when gothic folk bands What Time Is It, Mr. Fox and Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys play at the corner of Elm and Langdon. Gothic folk is not a genre that's often heard of, but both these bands revel in it, and have been lauded for their unique musical offerings. Elements of cabaret and carnival music combine with dark folk styles in both bands to provide a thoroughly original musical product, with lots of visual artistic elements (such as a plethora of "broken toys") as well. They'll kick off at 8 p.m. for donations. Spooky!
Hope to see you all out and about at our various venues this weekend … Cheers!
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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