WEDNESDAY 6.4
Marc Broussard — The Louisiana native has taken a layered R&B approach, tipping hats to contemporary urban singers from the 80s. Simply said, the dude croons contemporary R&B with a touch of Crescent City jazz and flowing keyboards that add on gospel truths. Opening for Jay Clifford, guitarist and vocalist for Jump, Little Children. Sylvia Theater, York (Shukla)
Tommy Castro — The San Francisco-based guitar slinger is on the road pumping his new covers record, Gratitude. It’s a tribute to Sam & Dave, Ray Charles, Howlin’ Wolf, among others. You get the picture — a firebrand guitarist who knows a blues lick, delivers it in soul-drenched vocals and sticks around long enough for a pat on the back from the old boys. Double Door Inn (Shukla)THURSDAY 6.5
Beth Wood — Wood is about as good as it gets if you appreciate the singer/songwriter genre. She’s originally from Texas and started out on the Austin music scene but then decided to relocate to Western NC where she had previously studied at Brevard College. This show is a Release Party for her fifth independent record titled, You Take The Wheel. It’s also a co-bill with Jimmy Landry. The Evening Muse (Farris)
Israel Vibration — Skelly and Wiss are continuing to spread the good vibes. The pair, who initially began recording together back in ’76, harmonize exceptionally well together and are helping to keep roots reggae alive and well. With both suffering from Polio as children, which is actually how their paths crossed in a rehabilitation center long ago, the two write songs with deeply spiritual messages. With Roots Radics, Zion Ites and Livewire. Amos’ Southend (Farris)
Schleigho — This NYC-based quartet is quite adept at interplanetary jazz-fusion. Schleigho, pronounced Shlay-ho, can clock some cuts at 25 minutes plus, but they obviously know the subtle give and take needed for proper improv. They’ve gone pure instrumental in recent years and can probably groove with Weather Report in their prime. Not too shabby with the funk either — check their version of Wayne Shorter’s “Witch Hunt” on Live at Ho-Down 2000 for the right reference. With Modereko. Visulite Theatre (Shukla)
FRIDAY 6.6
Big Bill Morganfield — That last name on Big Bill Morganfield sound familiar? It oughta. He’s the son of one McKinley Morganfield, better known as Muddy Waters. Along with AJ Croce and Rufus Wainwright, he’s one of the few second-generation songwriters who would still be worthy were they not knighted with their lofty surnames. He’s influenced by his dad (who the hell isn’t?), but he has his own distinct style, especially in his tastefully chorded guitar work — figure more moan than howl. Double Door Inn (Davis)
Jenifer Jackson — Her voice isn’t unique, but her delivery — reminiscent of a nicely toasted 70s soul crooner — gives her sound the zip while keeping it out of the retro rut. Shades of jazz, subtle pop and eclectic R&B rhythms round out the sound. If her new record, So High, on veteran forward-thinking imprint Bar None Records, is any indication of foresight, she’s gonna be around quite a while. With Richard Julian. The Evening Muse (Shukla)
LTJ Bukem — Perhaps not as well known as the Oakenfolds, Sashas and Digweeds of the world, but no less a titan in the world of ambient breakbeat, jungle, and drum ‘n’ bass. Chilled out stuff sometimes, but most of it’s eminently danceable. Even rarer, the shit’s eminently listenable, too, even drug- and alcohol- and dancefloor-free. Mythos (Davis)
Red Hot Chili Peppers — Chili Pepper live shows are said to be at their tightest ever on this tour, and they’ll need to be to replicate the intricacies of their latest effort, the excellent By The Way. Whether or not you’ll get a “naked show” is unknown, but the band does still doff the duds on occasion to keep things fresh. Hopefully not naked will be the King of Kronic — The Don of the Dirty-Dirty — Mr. Bigg Snoop Dogg. Yep, Snoop will come on ahead of Flea and company (isn’t it always like a Flea to jump on a Dogg?), but will play after what will no doubt be a blistering opening set by The Mars Volta, the new band of Omar and Cedric from At The Drive-In. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (Davis)
Snagglepuss — This is the first of two warm-up shows leading up to their CD release party that takes place in August. The multi-hued and multi-textured band has some of the most colorful and accomplished musicians in town. Hell, it’s punk, funk, jazz, and carnival show taking part in a glam parade. And that’s just in the first song. The incoming record should provide the added muscle to pair up nicely with the Don Dixon produced record from a couple years ago, The Country Club Sessions. With Bullship. Fat City (Shukla)
SATURDAY 6.7
Bessie Mae’s Dream — The Dream team are in the midst of a big radio push and at press time over 60 stations nationwide (with at least eight reporting to CMJ) had added their Blind Man Sunset in to rotation. In conjunction with the radio push, they’re also heading up a spring/summer tour with about 20 dates on the books. Great progress for a grassroots bunch with no record label or Clear Channel connection. With Columbia’s King Hippo. Visulite Theatre (Farris)
Hatebreed / Agnostic Front — Fans of no-nonsense metal-infused hardcore, meet your makers. There’s the legendary New York-based brutality of Roger Miret and Agnostic Front and the new kids on the block (so to speak), Hatebreed, who might just be the biggest-selling hardcore band of them all. I mean, I’ve run out of violence references at this point, for chrissakes — imagine what the show’s going to be like! Did I mention the two other acts on the bill? With Throwdown and Full Blown Chaos, who I’m guessing aren’t the strong silent types, either. Tremont Music Hall (Davis)
WEDNESDAY 6.11
Henry Rollins — Hank and band are in town along with Keith Morris, yet another ex-Black Flag vocalist, to do a big ol’ two-hour set of Black Flag tunes. Rollins has promised in print to lay the hammer down on this show, with a minimum of stage patter and other nonsense. The whole thing’s an effort to raise awareness for the West Memphis Three (www.wm3.org), as was Rollins’ all-star Black Flag covers album of last year, Rise Above. It won’t be like seeing the band with Greg Ginn and Co. back in the day, but I’ll bet it can still raise a hackle on the old timers and learn the young’uns all at the same time. With Antiseen. Tremont Music Hall (Davis)
Verbena — Damn! What a day for fans of good old-fashioned straight-ahead alt.rock, eh? Yes, Magic City’s own Verbena — the pride of B-ham, Alabama — will be in town promoting their new CD La Musica Negra, the follow-up to 1999’s Dave Grohl-produced Into The Pink. A little more textured in scope than Pink, Negra‘s also a step up musically, with the Delta-fied arrangements matching the soul-selling/searching bent of the lyrics to a (tight-as-hell, three-quarter sleeve, babydoll concert) T. If this is what Southern rock has come to, we’re in good hands. Fat City (Davis)
This article appears in Jun 4-10, 2003.
