WEDNESDAY 11.30
Bill Mallonee — Former leader of under-the-radar, alt-country honkers Vigilantes of Love, Mallonee now tours by his (high) lonesome. In recent years, Mallonee has steered his strong, supple songwriting back toward his Athens, GA, roots — see R.E.M., Pylon and the dBs — to great effect. His most recent effort, Dear Life, is a suitably stripped-down affair that works equally well as paean to hanging on or an epistle to a life well-lived. With Barnhill Station. Double Door Inn (Davis)
THURSDAY 12.1
Doria Roberts — Black lesbian folk singer? Doria Roberts knows what it’s like to be marginalized, but it hasn’t stopped her from carving a career out of her own DIY passion. This charming singer/songwriter melds the melodic folk-pop of Tracy Chapman with the thought-provoking, understated delivery of The Weakerthans — plus dashes of R&B, jazz and soul. Roberts recently wrapped up work on her second full-length release. The Evening Muse (Parker)
FRIDAY 12.2
Robbie Fulks — Robbie Fulks’ latest, Georgia Hard, is a postmodernist country classic, the kind Shel Silverstein and Roger Miller used to make. It’s political while not being a Rockwellian “Built Ford Tough” commercial; it’s funny without resorting to, oh, “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk;” and it has real feeling as opposed to the bullshit, epigrammatic “live like you were dying” variety. Like I said: real country music, delivered with fire, verve, and conviction. In an alternate universe, perhaps ol’ Robbie’s married to Faith Hill instead. With Arlington Priest. The Evening Muse (Davis)
SATURDAY 12.3
Baby Anne — Orlando’s Baby Anne was given a foot up by legendary breaks DJ Icey, a move she’s more than vindicated, becoming one of the most popular nu breaks DJs. Full of throbbing Miami bass, swirling synth and snapping snare breaks, Anne’s sound is fused with newcomer Jen Lasher’s electro-industrial mixes and live vocals on their new, double-CD mix compilation, Assault & Battery. The sexy Lasher’s got something of a buzz thanks to a leaked sex tape of her and drum ‘n’ bass DJ Dara. Sky (Parker)
Doc Watson — Look, you can’t say you are a music lover and not have seen Doc Watson. It doesn’t matter if you’re a pimpin’ gangsta rapper draggin’ half your pants on the ground or a DJ specializing in electronica remixes. The legendary Watson has been making warm American music for about a half-century. Go see ’em and learn. With Jack Lawrence and Richard Watson. Neighborhood Theatre (Shukla)
Modey Lemon — Drummer Paul Quattrone and singer/guitarist Phil Boyd, along with lead guitarist Jason Kirker — if this garage-borne trend keeps up, you bassists might need to pick up a second instrument — are a punishing Pittsburgh crashnburn trio who made countless “Artist to Watch” lists when everyone had Strokes/Stripes mania a few years back. They’ve never really gotten that big break, but consider yourself fortunate to catch them in such an intimate locale as the World Famous Milestone — their considerable talent has never waned, only the attention. With The Apes. Milestone (Davis)
X — Post-punk, thy name is signed with an “X.” Along with fellow Angelenos Los Lobos, X (John Doe, DJ Bonebrake, Exene Cervenka and Billy Zoom) have continually purveyed the primal, shadow side of LA, with all attendant ghosts and gatekeepers and liars and lovers — a magical melange that has long since set them apart from countless other bands of the same vintage. If you haven’t caught one of their live performances — if you’re under a certain age, it’s more than probable — this is about as must-see as it gets. Sign off Myspace.com for a few minutes and go see who spawned that Next Big Thing you’re currently listening to (and probably dressing like). With Juliana Hatfield. Tremont Music Hall (Davis)
MONDAY 12.5
MC Chris — Like Kevin Smith (if he were a rapper), MC Chris is a product of 80s commercial pop culture from Weebles to Star Wars, with wacky, high-pitched raps, such as the underground fave, “Fett’s Vette,” which explains how Boba Fett works for Jabba the Hutt to pay for his Corvette. Chris (aka Chris Ward) is also a writer for several Adult Swim shows, which has led to recurring appearances as characters on SeaLab 2021 and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Milestone (Parker)
TUESDAY 12.6
GWAR — Stand near the stage at your own peril. These costumed geezers unleash death metal mayhem with giant penises spewing foam and blood, evoke pagan ceremonies, bring on horror and sci-fi shenanigans, and top it off with bombs bursting in air. And that’s just in the first song. A Dozen Furies and Mensrea will open. Tremont Music Hall (Shukla)
XIU Xiu — Jamie Stewart and Xiu Xiu are pop music gone astray. An acoustic song can explode into a deranged carnival-like vibe with damaged guitars, spastic drums, electronica overlays, and Stewart going from melodic singing to jarring screams, while awakening the rest of the band. Sure its artsy fartsy, that’s the point. With The Dead Science, Bo White and Boa Narrow. Milestone (Shukla)
This article appears in Nov 30 – Dec 6, 2005.
