“I have no kick against modern jazz/ Unless they try to play it too darn fast/ And change the beauty of the melody/ Until it sounds just like a symphony/ That’s why I go for that rock ‘n’ roll music/ Any old way you choose it/ It’s got a back beat, you can’t lose it/ Any old time you use it/ It’s gotta be rock ‘n’ roll music/ If you wanna dance with me.” Examples of lyrics from a song by Chuck Berry, a 20th century musician credited with advancing the genre.There are lots of great concerts coming to Albuquerque this week. As the weekend approaches, you certainly should consider going out and supporting your local scene. With genres from emo to Americana and jazz to metal on the docket, you are sure to find an entertaining musical diversion. And don’t forget, these aren’t the only shows available for your consumption. Our Weekly Alibi events calendar is a great source of information and details about many of the musical events happening in this town, now, this week and in the future, too.Anyway, before I start digressing about any number of subjects that may or may not relate to the subject at hand, take a look at these wonderful show previews!
Show Up!: Thursday
Right On, Kid!
courtesy of the artist
On Thursday night, Jan. 17, The Yellow Tour hits town with a youthful flavor guaranteed to get anyone who goes to this magnifcent jam session into that sublimely good mood known to some as rocking the heck out.The Jam Spot (405 Central Ave. NW) is the place for these stellar happenings and it’s a good thing too. Long known for attracting an all-ages crowd capable of discerning the heppest sounds happening right now, amigos. This particular concert will feature performances by Laramie, Wyo., pop punkers Not My Weekend, Albuquerque’s answer to emo, Right On, Kid!, the poptastic D20, scary good Voodoo Kid, Decent Exposure and Cheshire. This concert promises to be both tuneful and toothsome, so be there, nerds. 6pm • $10 • All-ages.
Show Up!: Thursday Part Ii
That 1 Guy
Fally Afani
One man bands seem to be a unique form of American musical expression. But that’s just my opinion; you might want to check out Wikipedia to make sure. Ahem. In other news. That 1 Guy, a classically trained bass player known in real life as Mike Silverman will be demonstrating his proclivity to play many instruments at once on Thursday, Jan. 17 at Launchpad (618 Central Ave. SW). Silverman has a very interesting set of influences and one can just about hear the complex sounds in his head as his sound verges through bits of what might be related to Zappa and Beefheart. His sense of rhythm is awesome too, a thing he supposedly gets from listening to Rush. Damn. That 1 Guy has a musical instrument called the Magic Pipe as well as jamming to a self-curated collection of plumbing pipes and electronic contraptions. It will be funky, jazzy and probably bizzare as hell, too, so we urge you to attend. 9pm • $10 • 21+
Show Up!: Friday
hONEyhoUSe
courtesy of the artist
Americana acoustic trio hONEyhoUSe will soon be releasing a new CD. The folksy trio, which features singer Hillary Smith, guitarist Yvonne Perea and multi-instrumentalist Mandy Buchanan plan a celebration to make musical note of a recording called Kick Up The Dust on Friday, Jan. 18 at the Barelas Event Center (907 Fourth Street SW).Long considered one of the most authentic and harmonious American music ensembles to grace Albuquerque, hONEyhoUSe blends the R&B vocal musings of Smith with earthy folk and blues inflections of Perea and Buchanan, whose lilting voice provides contrast and counterpoint to Smith’s smoky tunefulness.Consistently award-winning and excellence driven, this gig will give listeners the opportunity to hear startling songwriting and magical musicianship. 7pm • $20 • All-ages.
Show Up!: Friday Part Ii
Let us go then, you and I, to a place in Burque where the night is spread out against the clubs of Central Avenue to Sister (407 Central Ave. SW) to get a glimpse and a listen to Ether Island, a rocking, yet some how still anonymous duo from somewhere in the United States. The two of them—plus hopefully you all—will be getting down on Friday, Jan. 18 with a peculiar blend of electronica-sparked pop with an edgy punky aftertaste. This duo has tuneage like “Season of Caesars” and “Wound” to help you get to their level—which is either pretty lofty or pretty lissome—depending on your mood when yo enter said hipster heaven. Supporting all this glorious noise will be local noisy psych-masters Nuzzzle and Carrier Waves. I’m telling you, this could be tight! 9pm • $5 in advance, $10 day of show • 21+.
Show Up!: Saturday
Kevin Burke
courtesy of the artist
Kevin Burke doesn’t play the violin. He plays the fiddle. If you are keen to know the difference, we highly recommend that you attend a concert to be given by this gifted artist. It’s all happening at the Outpost Performance Space (210 Yale Blvd. SE) on Saturday, Jan. 19.Burke’s played with luminaries as distinct as Arlo Guthrie and Kate Bush, so he can handle the reach between electric folk and folky prog just fine. Besides that, dude can also grok classical and bluegrass, but is world-renowned for his renditions of traditonal Irish fiddle music as well. If you are interested in this player’s output, then check out his classic solo effort, If the Cap Fits. You’ll be hooting and hollerin’ for ages afterwards. 7:30pm • $27 to $65 • All-ages.
Show Up!: Sunday
Do you really love that rocanrol music—just like Mr. Berry, above—but are hankering for something, anything new? New directions in the form are what Sister (407 Central Ave. SW) is all about and on Sunday, Jan. 20 the club will make that abundantly clear with a performance by Neon and Red, a for realz couple out there in the universe making massively modern beats accentuated with lush vocals, metallic guitar work and super-fantastic, searching for light songwriting. I know folk-punk duos are a thing, but in this case, works like “N R City” and “Heart 8” provide a path to striking yet subtle places on the rocanrol roadmap. Synthwave exercise maniac Kevin String and the outer space disco emanations of Sailor Genesis open up this night of new wonder and surprising melodic twists. 7pm • $5 in advance, $10 at the door • 21+.
Show Up!: Monday
Why watch football on Monday night—it’s still football season, amirite?—when you can get your metal on at the home of all heshers past, present and future, Launchpad (618 Central Ave. NW) on Monday, Jan. 21. That’s the night that Tetrarch, an alt.metal band who have relocated to El Lay after spending their formative years in a Georgia Swamp play a very noisy and very satisfying gig at this legendary venue. Diamond Rowe’s lead guitar slays and the rhythm section composed of Ryan Lerner and Rubén Limas will shatter your bones, even after repeated exposure. With tuneage like “Disciples of Sorrow” and “Final Words,” listeners are practically guaranteed a fist-shaking, head banging, damn good time. Better yet, local heavy rock gods Ashes of Jupiter are also on the bill, ready to kill. WolfPack Weekend opens. Get thee out, Satan, get thee out! 9pm • $8 • 21+.
