Musical happenings in and around the Capital City
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Toolbox
Published: November 27, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving! Hopefully everyone is recovering from their turkey hangover and is ready for the great lineup of live music that's on tap this weekend. All your friends are in town, and our local venues are ready for you to get your party on. Here's what's happening.
Saturday night, at City Hall in downtown Montpelier, a very special event takes place when the fifth annual Bob Dylan Wannabe Contest happens at 7 p.m. Thirty (that's right, 30!) aspiring Dylans will compete to see who can best emulate the iconic singer-songwriter. Yours truly has been given the honor of being one of the judges of this year's competition, and I, for one, know the competition will be stiff. I've seen some darn good Bob imitations around town in the recent past, so I'm sure some of 'em will be up for the challenge. Being that the show usually sells out (as any Dylan concert should), folks are being urged to purchase tickets in advance at Bear Pond Books or Riverwalk Records in Montpelier, or at Exile on Main Street or LACE in Barre. $10 gets you more Bob than anyone has a right to handle. Who will win? The answer my friend, is blowin'… oh never mind – see ya at the show!
Montpelier should be hoppin' tonight with all the folks back in town for the holiday weekend, and The Black Door has a stellar lineup this weekend to help you shake off all the calories you put on Thursday. Tonight, those junkyard songbirds from Amherst, Mass., roll into town when Rusty Belle climbs the back stairwell to play the third floor lounge. A unique band, the multi-tasking foursome creates fun, feisty folk music that ripples with energy and enthusiasm. To see 'em is to love 'em, and being that they are a favorite around these parts, expect a packed house at the Door tonight.
Saturday night, local string-masters Hot Flannel take the stage high above Main Street in ol' Montpeculiar. Featuring stellar fiddler Patrick Ross alongside prodigious fingerpicker Doug Perkins, their acoustic fusion (call it "funk-grass" for lack of a better term) is some of the hottest stuff being laid down around these parts. A not-to-be-missed show for fans of high-energy acoustic music. Both shows start at 9:30 for the usual honor cover.
Down the street at Charlie-O's, a great double bill happens tonight when In This Century teams up with Kufui for a night of serious rockin'. ITC purveys in rootsy Americana and never fail to put on a great show.
The band rarely plays out, and that ensures they never get played out, always delivering a fresh, high-energy performance. Opener Kufui is the brainchild of Montpelier's own Jesse Gile, who has teamed up with local drummer Andy Suits and axe-of-all-trades guitarist Jay Ekis to create some of the more unique instrumental music around. Expect bass-pyrotechnics with psychedelic and metal elements from one of the most original local acts on the scene.
Saturday night at O's brings a triple bill of psycho-billy bands when Wicked Whiskey, Murder Weapon and Elsa Cross return to the Ol' World Famous to take the back of the barroom. The groups have become house favorites at the new-school Charlie-O's, the venue having thankfully switched up their format of late with some much more adventurous bookings. Both shows kick off at 10 p.m. for the price of a drink at the bar.
Have you been to The Lamb Abbey yet? Though the venue/studio space has been around for awhile now, it's off the beaten track location has kept many from checking it out. Which is a shame as it is probably the best stage and dancing space for moderate sized shows in town. Saturday night brings another opportunity to check the place out when Santa Cruz, Calif.-based Hammond-organ driven funk group On the Spot Trio performs. The band has an upcoming studio session with drummer Alan Evans of Soulive fame. That dude's a heavy hitter who doesn't play with just anyone, so my guess is that the soul-funk-groove trio is for real. The show has a 6 p.m. start time on the poster, but my guess is it will start at a more traditional time, like say, 8 p.m.
On Sunday, family friendly fare rules at the Abbey as this week kicks off their Sunday series for families with acoustic duo Rik and Bec at 2 p.m. Both shows are for a suggested donation of $5-$10, and more information (including directions for those of you who cannot find Pioneer Center) can be found at www.thelambabbey.com.
Back in downtown Montpelier, The Langdon Street Café features Vermont-based trio The Eames Brothers Band tonight. The longtime local group plays a bluesy brand of soul and funk that has stood the test of time around these parts for as long as I can remember. They'll take the café stage at 10 p.m. for donations. Earlier this evening at 8 p.m., local boy Harris Shper introduces his duo The Hoof and the Heel, described as a "less dour, more danceable Bright Eyes."
Saturday night brings a rootsy, experimental double-bill to the coffeehouse stage when South China and Brown Bird roll into town from the great state of Maine. Expect haunting lyrics with Appalachian and Gypsy influences creating music that is a bit on the dark side starting at 8 p.m.
Finally, on Tuesday, start out the darkest month of the year right by catching The Shanty Rats at LSC. The new local group purveys in sea-shanties and pirate-ish tunes that are a hoot to hoist a pint to. They'll set sail at 8 p.m. for donations.
Until next week, enjoy the leftovers and go see live music – see ya out on the town!
Ed DuFresne is the former talent coordinator at Langdon Street Café, occasionally produces concerts, and books at various venues in the area on a freelance basis. He lives in Montpelier with owners of a local vintage clothing franchise and an annoying bird named Lucy.
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