THE BEAT
Jim's Big Ego and Fat Bag: Hip-hopping in Housatonic
by Seth Rogovoy(WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., April 10, 1997) -- The roots of rap go back nearly 20 years. For much of that time attention has been focused on rap's struggle for mainstream dominance, while all the while it has been simultaneously and quietly waging an underground battle by planting well-dug roots of influence into other styles of music. Coincidentally or not, the Macano Inn in Housatonic hosts two bands this weekend that demonstrate how hip-hop's influence is felt far from its urban nucleus.
Jim Infantino, for example, started out as a solo, folk singer- songwriter with an arty, spoken-word bent out of the Laurie Anderson school of ironic cool. Now with his trio, Jim's Big Ego, Infantino has expanded his sonic palette, and aided by the deft use of triggered samples, drummer Hillary Koogler's bad-ass rhythms, and John Kiehne's miraculous Chapman stick -- a kind of guitar-synthesizer -- the group now boasts a wide-ranging, cutting-edge musical vocabulary worthy of the Beastie Boys or Beck.
These elements, in combination with Infantino's engaging, articulate, witty presence, make for one of the hottest club acts you are likely to see this year. Catch them while you can in the intimate confines of a local club on Friday night at the Macano Inn, because by this time next year, Jim's Big Ego will likely follow in the footsteps of soulmates like Soul Coughing and Luscious Jackson and be opening up arena-rock shows for R.E.M. or the Beasties. Mark my word.
In honor of Jim's Big Ego's show, guerrilla artist Nick Thielker of Egremont will be creating an event-specific installation inspired by the band's music. Thielker's various credits include art direction of rock videos for the likes of the Ramones, Bootsy Collins, Sepultura and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Opening Jim's Big Ego show at 8 will be Joanne Spies, with an excerpt from her original performance piece, "Me and Melville," which opens next Friday, April 18, as part of the Berkshire Women's Performing Arts Festival at Searles Castle in Great Barrington. The piece is "a personal and provocative view of one artist's relationship with Herman Melville," said Spies, and includes original songs and artwork.
For two years running, Fat Bag has been named the Outstanding Local Rap/Hip-Hop Act at the Boston Music Awards. So called because they are a "fat bag" of music, incorporating funk, hip-hop, rap, jazz, soul, reggae and blues, the six-piece group comes to rap from the jazz world -- specifically the Berklee College of Music, where lead singer/rapper and saxophonist Alexander studied. Judging from the group's demo tape, it plays an exciting blend of hip-hop-laced funk. The group sports three saxophones, drums, percussion, a bass and a guitar, in addition to the antic Alexander. Fat Bag is at the Macano Inn on Saturday night.
Call (413) 274-6636 for more information on both shows.
Bob Malone: New Orleans in North Adams
The Berklee-trained pianist and singer-songwriter Bob Malone has more in common musically with Dr. John than Bob Dylan, although he mixes the two with a funky, boogie-woogie style version of Dylan's "Highway 61 Revisited" on his CD, "The Darkest Part of the Night" (Delta Moon). Malone's original compositions, which also remind a listener of Randy Newman and Bruce Hornsby, are often as clever as such song titles as "I Know He's Your Husband (But He Don't Know That I'm Your Man)," "It Took an Older Woman (To Make a Man Out of Me)," "Drinking for a Living" and "Just 'Cause I Came In Here Alone (Don't Mean I Want to Go Home With You)" suggest. He also mixes songs by the Neville Brothers, Little Feat and the Band into his live shows. For a bit of New Orleans in North Adams, head over to the raspy-voiced Malone's free show at the campus center at North Adams State College on Saturday at 9, sponsored by CC's Cafe.
Merrie, not merry
Her first name belies her music, which is anything but giddy. As heard on her solo debut, "Season of Rain" (Q Division), Boston singer- songwriter Merrie Amsterburg paints quiet, ghostly pictures with her delicate, acoustic-rock compositions. The Michigan native moved to Boston in the mid-'80s, and is perhaps best known as leader of the erstwhile pop band the Natives. "Season of Rain" is a haunting, atmospheric collection of intimate songs, featuring Amsterburg's achy, vulnerable vocals and her multi-instrumental talents on guitar, mandolin, bass, Indian banjo, cottage organ, trumpet and bouzouki. Amsterburg warms up the crowd for the Nields at the Iron Horse in Northampton tomorrow night at 7; the Nields are also at the Iron Horse tonight at 7 with Love Riot.[This column originally appeared in the Berkshire Eagle on April 10, 1997. Copyright Seth Rogovoy 1997. All rights reserved.]
Seth Rogovoy
rogovoy@berkshire.net
music news, interviews, reviews, et al.
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