5 Live Music Musts - January 1, 2016
Ken Abrams, GoLocalProv Music Critic
5 Live Music Musts - January 1, 2016
Aretha Franklin at Mohegan Sun
Aretha Franklin needs no introduction. The "Queen of Soul" has been blowing away audiences since the 1960’s with hits like "Respect," "Think" and the Carole King gem "(You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman," which she performed to great fanfare earlier this week at the Kennedy Center Honors. She plays Mohegan Sun tonight at 8PM - tickets are only $39 and some tickets are still available. Click here for details.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTDeer Tick at Lupo’s Saturday
Coming off a two night stand at the Brooklyn Bowl in New York, hometown heroes Deer Tick arrive at Lupo’s for a "Holiday Bender" New Year's show Saturday night. The band is an RI success story, with a growing national following and friends like Stevie Nicks, who joined them on stage on New Year’s Eve a year ago. Their music runs the gamut from heartfelt alt-country ballads to alternative grungy rock and roll. Get your tickets early – this one will sell out! Tickets $25 in advance, $28 at the door. Last Good Tooth opens at 9PM, and both share the bill with Narragansett Beer, celebrating its 125th anniversary.
Girls, Guns, and Glory at Narrows Center Saturday
Cowboy rockers Girls, Guns and Glory return to the Narrows Center in Fall River tomorrow night for their annual “Tribute to Hank Williams” gig. The award winning Boston based band has been recognized in Rolling Stone and other national publications and their show in honor of the Godfather of country music is always a knockout. Tickets are $22 in advance, $25 day of show. The Ghosts of Paul Revere open at 8PM.
Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish at Chan's Saturday
Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish are undoubtedly the best band ever to come out of Martha’s Vineyard. The hard rocking blues rock band who have toured extensively will begin their 25th year together at Chan’s in Woonsocket tomorrow night. The show is billed as an “Island Dance Party from Martha's Vineyard to St. Bart’s!” Sounds like a recipe for fun. Tickets are $12 for the 8PM show and should be available at the door.
Bresler and Edmonds at Sandywoods Saturday
Also tomorrow night, a unique show at Sandywoods has Mike Fishel Bresler and Phil Edmonds performing originals and traditional Irish and Jewish melodies with a comic touch. Bresler is an accomplished Klezmer clarinetist and Edmonds, Phil, a native of Killaloe, County Clare, Ireland, is a gifted musician, writer and community activist who plays with the Gnomes. The two first played together a year ago at Sandywoods and return to the Tiverton venue tomorrow night. Show is at 7:30, tickets $12 in advance, $15 at the door.
Lastly, a sincere thank you to all readers of this column over the past year. Each week, I enjoy seeking out the best local and national artists playing “the biggest little state” and beyond. The Providence music scene is as good a scene as anywhere, and the community of musicians it nurtures is top-notch. Here's to more great shows in 2016!
Ken Abrams reviews Roots, Rock and Blues at GoLocal. E-Mail him here.
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.
