Capital Sounds
Musical happenings in and around the Capital City
Toolbox
By ED DUFRESNE Arts Correspondent - Published: December 18, 2009
Happy Holly-Daze! In general, I'm kind of down on the Christmas season, or at least Christmas as it is contemporarily practiced. I'm as into family, food and celebration as much as anyone, but generally hate the pressure of gift-giving, the rigamarole of shopping, and the like. However, this being a column about live music, I don't have to concentrate on that right now – I can focus on the celebratory aspects, of which there are plenty of options to escape the fam for awhile (or bring 'em along) in the live music department this week. Check it out!
Does anyone know what durians are? I'll save you the Google search and let you know that they are exceedingly odd fruits of Southeast Asian origin, shaped somewhat like an over-inflated football covered with large spikes. A distinct characteristic is their overpowering odor, of which comparisons to many a foul-scented thing are numerous. Durians is also the name of an equally unique local band, which will play an even more unusual two-night stint at The Black Door on Main Street in Montpeculiar tonight and Saturday. The live-electronica trio is putting out some of the most intriguing new music around, with innovators Nick Kerschnit, Eli Chalmer and Simon Plumpton creating intricate soundscapes using live samples combined with instrumental multi-tasking. Let's hope they don't cut open an actual durian as they did in an appearance last month. I was there and they could have thrown a rotting animal carcass in the room and it would have smelled better. Hopefully they'll bring one though, as it does look really cool on stage. A highly recommended pair of shows for fans of new music starting at 9:30 p.m. for the usual honor cover.
A double shot of great local shows is happening around the corner at Positive Pie II on State Street this weekend as well. Tonight, the 11-piece juggernaut known as The Motortown Revival rolls into downtown's clubbiest venue with their tribute to the Motown sound. Bandleader/bassist Ryan Case has put together a local who's who of players to reproduce the distinct sound that made the Detroit studio famous, and they do an admirable job of it. The horns and vocals are particularly strong, the latter featuring local femme fatales Miriam Bernardo and Lisa Raatikainen and front man Mark Hughes, a newcomer to the scene who simply oozes the soul that the material demands. If you like Motown (and who doesn't?), this one's worth staying up for. The fun kicks off at 10:30 p.m. for an undisclosed door cover at press time. Saturday night, local soul-folk favorites Sara Grace and the Suits will test their drawing power by playing the large resto's prominent stage. One of the areas most popular acts, my bet's she'll fill the place with loyal fans itching to dance to her powerful vocals and percussive guitar style. Being that she's backed by a top-notch band, the dancing part will be easy. Another late start at 10:30 for a nominal charge at the door.
Langdon Street Café has a powerhouse lineup this weekend as well; the sheer number of bands playing will be challenging to cover in this limited column space, but try I shall. It all kicks off at 6 p.m. tonight with Ben Roy's Sonic Sampler for the first half of happy hour. They'll be followed by Sweet Hound, a new local indie act that purveys in straightforward, guitar-based rock on a foundation of simple, solid songwriting. Slide player Asa Brosius adds a Wilco-ish feel to the proceedings. A young act with a lot of promise, I recommend fans of smartly played indie rock to check this one out. They'll be followed by a shadow puppet show at 8:30 by Northampton, Mass.-based The Royal Frog Ballet. After that at 9, The Suitcase Junket, which is actually Matt Lorenz of Rusty Belle fame, does his one-man band act which I am sure will be nothing short of awesome. After indie-folkers The Proud Flesh play at 10, the evenings piece de resistance takes place when Montreal's quickly rising freak-folk act The Crown Vandals take the stage at 11:30. The band's quirky pop-rock-esque sound has caught the ear of a number of music aficionados, and catching them in such a small venue this early in their career should be a real treat. No word on a cover at press time, so it may be for donations, but folks should certainly not shy away at any rate for such a plethora of diverse entertainment for one evening. Saturday night at LSC features singer/songwriter Chris Velan at 8 p.m., a dude who's been receiving a fair amount of critical acclaim himself for his brilliantly effortless delivery. Finally, at 10 p.m., "American highlife" band Full Tang blends the sounds of Africa with contemporary American styles for your dancing pleasure. That's an awful lot of music for one weekend in one small venue – kudos to LSC for packing a week's worth of quality acts into one weekend!
But wait, there's more! Back over on Main Street tonight, Charlie-O's gets into the act when local favorites Abby Jenne and the Enablers bring their rootsy, rockin' sound to the back of the barroom. Saturday night, psychobilly band The Murder Weapon return to town to rock out the local dive for nice people. Itinerant miscreant old-timey punkers The Prodigal String Band open the show. Head on down starting at 10 p.m. both nights, and make your whiskey a double!
Finally, on Sunday, a special holiday show takes place at The Lamb Abbey in Pioneer Center when critically acclaimed storytelling duo Jennings and Ponder present "The King and the Thrush; Tales of Goodness and Greed" as part of the Abbey's Sunday shows for families series. The "hypnotic and utterly captivating" show starts at 2 p.m. for a nominal door charge.
Until next time, give the gift that keeps on giving – take your loved ones out to go see live music!
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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