THURSDAY 4.8
Alan Rhody — Despite corny song titles like “The Wind in Her Hair,” Rhody manages to keep the kitsch at bay while creating memorable music. Rhody’s talent lies in writing simple tales that manage to cover wider territory. The Kentucky native’s latest recording, Journey, is another fine effort in his oeuvre and features guests John Prine, Maura O’Connell and others. Rhody’s original compositions have been recorded by many country, folk and bluegrass artists, including Del McCoury, Tanya Tucker and George Jones. The Evening Muse (Shukla)
Dean Fields — The former Miami, FL, graduate student put his studies on hold to concentrate on his music, which you can find in the earnest singer-songwriter aisle at your local music superstore. Florida critics have raved, enough so that Fields was voted “Best of Miami” at the Billboard Live showcase. It’s nothing earth shattering, but Fields does possess a nice voice and the lyrics manage to avoid that “Dear Diary” feel that plagues so many in this field. The Evening Muse (Schacht)
Marah/The Gold Coast — Once upon a time Marah were considered one of the great live Americana acts, and a recent appearance at The Room as a trio suggests they’ve still got the goods. (See our story in this issue.)/Ex-First Night on Earth-er Vance Carlisle’s new project combines chiming Byrds-like guitars and Brian Wilson-esque harmonies, with Rodney Lanier’s pedal steel adding a pinch of A.M.-era Wilco twang to the proceedings. But the Gold Coasters (including Bruce Hazel, keys/gtrs., Chris Lonon, bass, and Chad Wilson, drums/vox) can also kick it into overdrive when called upon, recalling the louder side of GBV or Grandaddy. The Room (Schacht)
FRIDAY 4.9
International Orange — The Triangle-based, three-headed pop monster known as International Orange features guitarist/vocalist Snüzz Uzzell (Ben Folds, Bus Stop), bassist Robert Sledge (Ben Folds Five), drummer “Jason Faggotron” (I’m assuming this is a stage name…check that, I’m hoping this is a stage name) and the one and only Django Haskins, whom you may know from his work with the late NYC-based Django and the Regulars. The band has a new record coming out in April, Spoon Box, which was recorded with John Plymale (Meat Puppets, Squirrel Nut Zippers). Early demos suggest this will be one of those rare pop records you can listen to all the way through. With The Talk and Conshafter. The Room (Davis)
The Butchies — Kaia Wilson, Melissa York and Alison Martlew create one hell of a big noise when the amps are cranked, but they’re loved because they speak just as loud when the plugs are pulled. Their newest, Make Yr Life, might be the band’s most assured start-to-finish record yet, which is saying something. While Make Yr Life is a little more streamlined than past Butchies stompers like 3, Population 1975 and Are We Not Femme, the knob-twisting only serves to place the band’s trademark blend of longing and laughing in greater relief. To boot, they’re even better live. The Steeple Lounge (Davis)
SATURDAY 4.10
Black Market Radio — Featuring veteran QC rockers Carey Sims (vocals and guitar), Andy Seets (guitar and vocals), Derek Young (bass and vocals) and Chuck Lee (drums), Black Market Radio sound pretty much black market radio-ready to these ears. Sims has a surprisingly agile voice that manages to recall both Chris Robinson and Paul Rodgers, and the band keep it between the lines with a rock-solid musical and harmonic base — think Counting Crows, perhaps — for Sims’ soul-searching. Double Door Inn (Davis)
Snake Oil Medicine Show — The North Carolina quintet have a great new record out called Bluegrass Tafari, and the album’s title pretty much sums up their sound: bluegrass tinged with tropical reggae, the exuberant picking eventually slowing into an island groove. Neighborhood Theatre (Shukla)
SUNDAY 4.11
Withstand — Withstand, a Charlotte-based modern-rock and alt-metal band, will play this night as part of an ongoing series called East Coast Showcase Battle of the Bands. Every Sunday night, The Money gathers a posse of regional bands into a showcase of varied rock & roll. Also playing this particular evening are Access Denied, Team Discovery, Edward Morbius and Southpaw. The Money, Rock Hill (Shukla)
TUESDAY 4.13
Frank Gambale Trio/Ohm Trio — Gambale, another guitar god, has played with Chick Corea and Jean-Luc Ponty, among others, and is equally adept in jazz, rock, classical or fusion styles. This evening will find Gambale in a trio setting but he’s just as convincing at nimble picking as he is at the sustained riffs-thing. Gambale’s newest, Raison d’Etre, is slated to be released a couple days after this gig. / Ohm is a like-minded fusion outfit consisting of Chris Poland (Megadeth), Kofi Baker (son of Ginger) and Robby Pagliari. Visulite Theatre (Shukla)
Sean Hayes / Burd Early — Transplanted North Carolina rocker Sean Hayes is now a San Francisco-based folk/junk songwriter who might be described as something of a bastard child of Peter Rowan and Tom Waits. (See our story in this issue.) / Burd Early, despite the unwieldy moniker, is worth arriving early for. His M. Ward-style acoustic laments are simple and unassuming enough on first listen, but are saved by a savvy lyricism — “I stand atop origami mountain/about to fold” — that instantly bookmarks itself into your subconscious. With the Strugglers and The Virginia Reel. (See our story on Hayes in this issue). The Evening Muse (Davis)
WEDNESDAY 4.14
Crash Test Dummies — Ah, the “big voice.” A blessing and a curse, really. It can be a lightning rod for attention, leading to immediate stardom. (See: Rick Astley.) It can also be a curse, rendering people unable to listen to a single song outside of the artist’s “hit.” (See: Rick Astley.) Now something of a traveling Brad Roberts solo excursion — he would be the guy with the big voice that either fascinated or disturbed you with “MMM MMM MMM MMM” — The Crash Test Dummies do a bit more of the acoustic thing these days. Amos’ Southend (Davis)
This article appears in Apr 7-13, 2004.
