5 Live Music Musts - February 5, 2016
Ken Abrams, GoLocalProv Music Critic
5 Live Music Musts - February 5, 2016
Dar Williams at Greenwich Odeum Saturday
Singer-songwriter Dar Williams plays the Greenwich Odeum tomorrow night, kicking off a month of great shows scheduled for the intimate East Greenwich venue. A 20+ year veteran of the folk circuit, Williams released the well-received album Emerald, last May. She’s the first of several top artists coming to the Odeum and will be followed by Southside Johnny, Leon Russell, and Jorma Kaukonen. Show begins at 8PM – tickets are $30.
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Traditional Irish music will be front and center tomorrow night at the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland. The venue regularly hosts folk, roots, and international artists and this week welcomes The Vox Hunters with Lyndsey Straw along with Torrin Ryan and Kyle Forsthaff. Expect a variety of traditional Celtic sounds for the 8PM show. Tickets are $13 in advance and $15 at the door.
Schemers at Courthouse Center Saturday
35 years burnin' down the road, the mighty Schemers play a rare date tomorrow night at the Courthouse Center for the Arts in West Kingston. The legendary band, 2015 inductees in the RI Music Hall of Fame, only plays a few times a year these days, so get out there and “have some fun, for once in your life.” Show is at 8PM – tickets $15.
Lee Brice at Ryan Center Saturday
Country star Lee Brice comes to the Ryan Center at URI Saturday night on his “Life Off My Years” tour. The South Carolina native has had several top 10 hits in recent years and released I Don’t Dance in 2014. He’s also a noted songwriter, and has collaborated with Garth Brooks and Tim McGraw among others. A few tickets remain at $49 for the 7:30 show. Maddie & Tae and Dylan Scott open.
Joe Louis Walker at Chan’s
Blues great Joe Louis Walker returns to Chan’s in Woonsocket tonight. Walker has received numerous awards and is a member of the Blues Hall of Fame. Expect him to share some classics along with tunes from his recent release Everybody Wants a Piece. Tickets are $22 for the 8PM show.
Top Winter Concerts
NRBQ at Narrows Center
Two “new” bands appear next week at our America’s best roots venue, The Narrows Center. Actually neither band is a new act, they just have the word “New” in their name. The New Riders of the Purple Sage are one of the original psychedelic country rock bands going back to the early 70’s. NRBQ (New Rhythm and Blues Quartet) might sound like a jazz band and the latest offering from keyboardist and band leader Terry Adams (Talk Thelonius) is in fact an album based on the work of jazz legend Thelonius Monk. Two shows not to be missed! Details here. Check out our interview from a year ago with Adams here.
Deer Tick at Lupos
Ring in the new year Saturday night January 2nd at Lupo’s with a homecoming show from RI natives Deer Tick. As their national presence continues to grow, we see less and less of Nashville transplant John McCauley, so its pretty much guaranteed he’ll be leading the boys through a major blowout at Lupo’s. As DT fans know, anything can happen at a Deer Tick show - with special guests a strong possibility. Tickets are $25 in advance and $28 at the door. Last Good Tooth opens. More details available here.
Drive-By Truckers
The Drive By Truckers are a southern rock band that have been defying stereotypes for almost 20 years. The songwriting of Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley is some of the best around and their three guitar attack of straight up rock and roll will leave your ears ringing. They return to RI and make their debut at the Columbus Theatre on March 9. For a preview, check out their recent live album It’s Great to be Alive. Tickets available here.
Sarah Potenza at The Met
RI native and The Voice veteran Sarah Potenza will be playing a homecoming show on January 24th at The Met. We’ve watched Potenza move from open mics, to Chicago and her band the Tall Boys, to Nashville, and then to the national stage on NBC’s The voice. Expect a full show of classics and maybe some tunes from her new album Monster expected in early 2016. Tickets for the January 24 show available here.
Beach Boys at the Park
The Beach Boys in February? You bet! The touring band led by original member Mike Love (with Newport native John Cowsill on drums) will be stopping by the Park Theatre on Valentine’s Day for what promises to be a great night of classic hits. Most nights, the band plays a 30+ song set and never disappoints. Click here for our interview with Love from 2014 here and get your tickets here before it sells out. Tickets are still available here or at the Park Theatre box office.
