LIVE IN AUSTIN Escovedo, Prystrowsky, Miller, and Patti Scialfa
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On THURSDAY (the 22nd) head to Mardi Gras in Cranston and welcome back hard-rock quartet KANERKO; Al, Kev, Nick, and Anthony just returned from a goodwill trip to Kosovo where they rocked out for our troops — nice work, guys. PISTOL SHOT GYPSY rounds out the bill, call 401.463.3080. Bracket-busting action FRIDAY (the 23rd) at the Met as WBRU's final four take the stage for the Rock Hunt Finals; best of luck to THE RICE CAKES, NORTHERN LANDS, KINGSTON 530, and SIC VITA. The cover is $5 at the door and the battle begins at 8:30 pm sharp, call 401.729.1005. Kick back and start your SATURDAY (the 24th) with the MICHELLE CRUZ QUARTET at Sidebar Bistro (401.421.7200). And how about this pair of rap shows going down Saturday: Firehouse 13 delivers Wu-Tang's GZA with very special local guests STORM DAVIS, JUAN DEUCE, and ROMEN ROK— this show is limited to about 150 heads, so snoozing is losing; call 401.270.1801 for availability. Rap fiends can also head to JR Bean's in Bristol and catch rhyme-slinger META P with an all-star cast including 8TH WUNDUH, NIGHT ENDERZ, SWANN NOTTY (yes!), and plenty more. This one also should be certified bananas, call 401.253.7526 for details.
A big weekend at the Met includes all-star Neil Young tribute band FOREVER YOUNG on Saturday, followed by a special benefit show on SUNDAY (the 25th) saluting the late Thom Enright (see details above). Ahead to MONDAY (the 26th), Woonsocket rockers THE STILTS headline at the Apartment with guests VALENCOURT and NORTHEAST TRAFFIC (free, 401.228.7222). A pair of weekly freebies on TUESDAY (the 27th): the Whiskey Republic (401.588.5158) continues its weekly Unplugged sessions featuring local singer/songwriters, and Roots Café presents the Strictly Jazz Jam with the MANGO TRIO starting at 7 pm, call 401.272.7422. And next THURSDAY (the 29th), LOVE POWER and BLIND FAITH play a benefit show at Village Haven Restaurant in Forestdale. Both bands were formed at Resources for Human Development (RHD), a program that provides services for individuals with disabilities. Tickets are $20 with proceeds benefiting the John E. Moran Foundation, which provides grants for individuals with disabilities.
And it was just another busy week for THE LOW ANTHEM, as the quintet (Mike Irwin and Tyler Osborne have joined fellow multi-instrumentalists Ben Knox Miller, Jocie Adams, and Jeff Prystowsky) shared the stage with the Chieftains on The Late Show with David Letterman, delivering a gorgeous rendition of "School Days Over" from the Irish folk legends' new 50th anniversary album, Voice of Ages (released last week), which also features Bon Iver and the Decemberists and many more.
Then they headed to SXSW in Austin, where they opened a show for Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band. The encore was a stunning rendition of Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land," with the stage filled with Bruce and his bigger-than-ever band (he's touring with a horn section and backup singers), along with Alejandro Escovedo (who also did an opening set), Tom Morello, members of Arcade Fire, and Eric Burdon of the Animals (Miller took a verse when Springsteen said, "Anybody wanna take it?"). And then they returned to NYC and joined the Chieftains for a sold-out performance at Carnegie Hall on St. Patrick's Day.
TLA also contributed a song to The Hunger Games soundtrack (released Tuesday), also produced by Burnett.
They've come a long way from that pasta sauce factory . . . .
