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Hot Picks: Nov. 5-11
Published on 11/05/2009
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Nov. 5–11
Thursday, Nov.5
Buskers With Gigs
Sedona funk trio Busker Eaton comes up to town pretty often these days—often enough to be considered a great new element to local music. Busker features bassist Dylan Jung, also of party band Yin Yang and Zen Some, as well as keyboardist David Vincent Mills and drummer Lou Moretti. Check them out at Flag Brew at 9 p.m. 16 E. Rte. 66 . 773-1442. www.myspace.com/buskereaton
Photo by Jason Vargo
Friday, Nov. 6–Saturday, Nov. 7
Six Strings to Freedom
Flagstaff fingerstyle guitarist Steve Reynolds is by far one of the most seasoned players in town. A veteran of the venerable Austin music scene, he’s shared the stage with Delbert McClinton, Lucinda Williams and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, and has displayed his virtuoso playing around the country. Late last summer he released his excellent new disc Shut Up & Play, a dazzling collection of 13 classic covers, partially recorded in Flag by Chris Donnelly. Catch him Friday and Saturday solo acoustic at Altitudes, 2 S. Beaver. 214-8218. www.stevedreynolds.com
Photo courtesy of Steve Reynolds
Friday, Nov. 6
Cleansing the Church of Funk
You didn’t get enough funk from Busker Eaton on Thursday you say? Well, don’t miss Flagstaff’s Infidelics tonight. The band, formerly called Showbot and now a trio, specializes in all shades of down and dirty grooves playing a ton of classic covers and several originals.
For a good time, see them at Flag Brew, 16 E. Rte. 66, 10 p.m. 773-1442. www.myspace.com/infidelics
Photo by Wren Tremaine
Twisted? Yes. But Entertaining and Salty
It didn’t take long for us to be intrigued by the Peculiar Pretzelmen. Their name hooked us right away. But, the L.A.-based folk-blues band turned out to be pretty cool. The Pretzelmen have a distinct vaudevillian-sideshow vibe with lots of old, beat-up instruments and some great rootsy influences. Go see them Friday at the Monte V, 100 N. San Francisco. 10 p.m. 774-2403. www.myspace.com/pretzelmen
Photo by Julie Klima
Grinding the Blues Away
Funky grooves are no doubt in the air this weekend. One of Flag’s premiere bands, Lowcash, is a huge ensemble of local musicians including members of the fabled band Lobe as well as several other top-notch players. Don’t miss one of the biggest downtown parties of the weekend at Mia’s Lounge, 26 S. San Francisco. 10 p.m. 774-3315. www.myspace.com/lowcashflagstaff
Photo courtesy of Lowcash
Saturday, Nov. 7
Productivity Personified
It’s true, Nolan McKelvey is the Octo-Mom of the Flagstaff music scene. And by that, we mean he’s busy as hell, and quickly gathering quite a collection of adorable little musical offspring (a.k.a. albums). Less than two months ago, McKelvey released a record with his acoustic band Muskellunge Bluegrass and now he’s putting out A Matter of Time, his fifth solo effort and one that has expanded his sound further into pop and rock territory along with his always-poignant, Americana-based songwriting. He’ll be playing the official CD release party with his band, the Civilian Contemplation Corps—featuring Tim Hogan, Jeff Lusby and Ethan Rea—Saturday night at the Green Room, 15 N. Agassiz. 8–10 p.m. 226-8669. www.nolanmckelvey.com
Photo by Jill Torrance
Chi-Town Funny Man
Chances are you know who Craig Robinson is. And chances are you think he’s freakin’ hilarious. He has mastered playing comically vital parts in films like “Pineapple Express,” “Walk Hard,” “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” and “Knocked Up,” as well as key roles in hit shows like “The Office” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” But Robinson has also honed his standup chops and he’ll be bringing his trademark hilarious hard-edged sensitivity to NAU’s Ardrey Auditorium (West Riordan Road, central campus) Saturday. But think twice before you pack the kids into the mini van for the show. Adult themes will pervade—just the way we like it. $25. 523-5638.
Spud-Grass
Folky acoustic punks Tater Famine like to play with their food—at least that’s what we learned as we researched the band. The Santa Cruz, Calif., trio incorporates rock into their decidedly Americana-based sound, but carries themselves like the Sex Pistols armed with acoustics guitars, mandolins and a standup bass. Along for the ride will be the Phoenix-based rowdy acoustic trio the Haymarket Squares, who are making quite a regular thing of cruising up to the mountains. At Mia’s Lounge, 26 S. San Francisco. 774-3315. 10 p.m. www.taterfamine.com. www.myspace.com/haymarketsquares
Tater Famine photo by Adam Thomas
Sunday, Nov. 8
That’s Mr. Blues to You
The music world is full of badasses (see our article on “Cowboy” Jack Clement a few weeks ago). Charlie Musselwhite is a true living legend—a link to some of the most influential and legendary blues musicians in history: Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, Sonny Boy Williamson, among many others. He is also rumored to have been Dan Aykroyd’s inspiration for Elwood Blues from “The Blues Brothers.” Originally from Memphis, Tenn., Musselwhite learned the finer points of blues harmonica on Chicago’s South Side in the ’60s and has been a powerful songwriter and bandleader traveling the world ever since. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. at Orpheum Theater, 15 W. Aspen. Tickets to the all-ages show are $19 in advance and $22 at the door. The Chuck Hall Band will open. 556-1580. www.charliemusselwhite.com
Photo by Alex Thomas
Tuesday, Nov. 10
Yo no lo Puedo Evitar
In 1990s, guitarist and musicologist Ry Cooder and famed German director Wim Wenders set out to find the legends of Cuban music who had reached an artistic zenith in the pre-revolution years during the ’40s and ’50s. “The Buena Vista Social Club,” (released in 1999) is the filmed result of years of work locating, recording and reviving the aged Havana musicians like Ibrahim Ferrer and Rubén Gonzáles, among many others, who were masters of the rhythm-intensive Afro-Cuban style. The highly praised film won multiple awards and continues to be a classic work about the universal joys and eternal nature of music. See the movie on Tuesday night at the Orpheum Theater, 15 W. Aspen. 556-1580. 8 p.m. $5. All ages.
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