Regional Concert Preview; The Story of Chess Records
(WILLIAMSTOWN, Nov. 13 1998) -- With the exception of a few holiday-themed shows, Berkshire concert venues are pretty much in hibernation mode through the end of the year. But those willing to drive an hour in either direction to the Albany Capital District or the Pioneer Valley are looking at a full, rich menu of concerts from which to choose. The newly-renovated Calvin Theatre in Northampton has enhanced that city's already hopping music scene. In addition to pop concerts, the venue is also being used for dance, classical concerts, children's shows and spoken-word performances. Upcoming popular artists include Irish folksinger Mary Black this Sunday, Nov. 15, Southern rock band Widespread Panic on Wednesday, Nov. 18, and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis on Friday, Dec. 4. Over at the Pearl Street Nightclub in Noho, Southern-fried boogie band Black Oak Arkansas makes a stand tonight, followed by British trip-hopper Tricky tomorrow night. Tricky's latest album, "Angels with Dirty Faces" (Island), is an innovative, sonically adventurous blend of rock, hip-hop, dub and dance music. On Dec. 13, English folk-rock singer Billy Bragg brings his "Mermaid Avenue" program to Pearl Street, featuring songs based on a cache of newly-discovered lyrics by Woody Guthrie. Bragg's tour takes its title from the impressive album of the same name he released earlier this year, recorded with American roots-rock band Wilco. The cornerstone of Northampton's music scene, the Iron Horse Music Hall, continues to present live music every night of the week, ranging from nationally-known acts to local up-and-comers. Superstar Irish-American outfit Solas is at the Iron Horse tonight for two shows at 7 and 9:30. Other recommended acts coming to the Horse include Texas folksinger Guy Clark this Sunday, contemporary singer-songwriter Dan Bern on Dec. 12 and avant-klezmer outfit Hasidic New Wave on Dec. 14. The five-college area also boasts concerts open to the public at its various campuses, including Tori Amos at the Mullins Center of U-Mass, Amherst this Sunday, Grateful Dead spinoff band Ratdog and Alana Davis at Smith College on Nov. 19, and Candlebox and Soul Coughing at the Mullins Center on Nov. 30. Singer-songwriter Jennifer Kimball returns to her alma mater, Amherst College, for a show at the campus center on Dec. 12.
The Albany area has an unusually active concert scene in the next couple of
months, including a concert by Neil Diamond tonight at the Pepsi Arena.
Diamond is touring behind his new, two-CD set, "The Movie Album: As Time
Goes By" (Columbia), featuring 20 classic movie songs, including "The Look
of Love" from "Casino Royale," the Beatles' "And I Love Her" and the title
track from "Casablanca." The Van Dyck Hotel in Schenectady is fast becoming the Iron Horse of Albany, presenting top folk, jazz and blues acts every weekend. Loudon Wainwright III performs tonight. Marty Balin and Paul Kantner of Jefferson Starship perform unplugged on Nov. 21, and Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett of Little Feat do the same on Nov. 22. Rick Danko, bassist and vocalist of The Band, performs solo on Nov. 28. Northern Lights, the nightclub formerly known as Park West in Clifton Park, N.Y., presents Eddie Money on Nov. 19 and cult favorite Todd Rundgren on Nov. 24. Over at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, the Jerry Douglas Band with Tim O'Brien and Maura O'Connell performs this Sunday at 7:30. Other shows coming to Troy include the Diana Krall Trio on Nov. 20 and the Berkshires' own Arlo Guthrie on Nov. 22. Further afield, the offerings get even more enticing. Patti Smith is at the Webster Theatre in Hartford on Nov. 15, and Billy Joel is at the Civic Center in the same town on Dec. 9. Checkmating the blues What do Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rogers, Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Buddy Guy and Etta James all have in common, besides the blues? They all recorded for the Chicago label Chess Records. The remarkable story of how Chess came to be the most influential R&B label, thereby laying the groundwork for the rock 'n' roll revolution that followed, is told in a marvelous new book, "The Story of Chess Records" (Bloomsbury) by John Collis. The lavishly illustrated book details how black bluesmen from the South and the Chess brothers, immigrants from Eastern Europe, combined forces -- not always amicably -- to create a powerhouse of recorded music that would go on to influence the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and everyone who came afterwards. But more than just a story about a particular label and style of music, the book profiles a bygone era, when the same few individuals hired musicians, produced their records, manufactured them and pitched them to radio stations and retail outlets, long before multinational entertainment conglomerates began manufacturing and marketing "product," as recordings are now known in the industry.
Seth Rogovoy rogovoy@berkshire.net music news, interviews, reviews, et al.
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