The Score
: Hot Buttered Rum mixes it up next week
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.05.2009
There's a touch of the tropics on the title song of Hot Buttered Rum's new record, "Limbs Akimbo" — a reggae beat peeking from popping lyrics and a toe-tapping tempo.
It is the latest chapter in the evolution of the San Francisco Bay Area quintet, which JamBase predicted is "part of the next evolutionary phase" for the bluegrass jam genre.
Taking its lead from Belá Fleck, David Grisman, Sam Bush, String Cheese Incident, Leftover Salmon and the Grateful Dead, Hot Buttered Rum has morphed from the "high-altitude bluegrass" of its genesis to "a highly matured, impressively listenable, stirringly rocking and pleasantly poppy sound" on "Limbs," press materials state.
Witness the evolution live at 9:30 p.m. next Thursday at Plush. Tickets $12 at plushtucson.com
Country/rocker Tom Russell plays Club Congress tonight
With 25 albums under his cowboy hat, legendary Tom Russell is a little bit country and a little bit rock with a dash of Tex-Mex.
Russell has become a David Letterman favorite, having appeared on the "Late Show" five times, most recently last month.
"You listen to this CD once, and you'll saddle up and you'll ride up to Babb and knock off a liquor store," said Letterman of Russell's 2004 effort "Indians Cowboys Horses Dogs."
Russell will be at Club Congress tonight. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $23.
Kaplansky brings sounds of folk to Old Town Artisans
Singer/songwriter Lucy Kaplansky drips with folk singer authenticity.
She got her start performing in Chicago, then Greenwich Village in New York, playing with a stable of rising stars, including Suzanne Vega and Shawn Colvin.
After taking time off in the 1980s to earn a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, Kaplansky found herself drawn back to music.
Today, she celebrates a full repertoire of material, with six albums released since 1994.
She plays Old Town Artisans at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Kathleen Williamson opens the show. Tickets are $20 in advance through Antigone Books, Enchanted Earthworks and Plaza Liquors. They're $23 at the door.
Weekend Celtic-Scottish gathering to feature Brother
An Australian-born Celtic band will help ensure a kilt-lifting good time at the 2009 Tucson Celtic Festival & Scottish Highland Games this weekend. Brother, a group that blends bagpipes with didgeridoos, will appear on both Saturday and Sunday, including as part of the 6 p.m. Saturday Celtic Fire celebration.
The festival — complete with Celtic cuisine and clan booths — runs from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at Rillito Raceway Park, 4502 N. First Ave. Admission $12; tucsoncelticfestival.org
New local group Drama Club debuts this weekend
"Act I: The debut."
So began the press release announcing the first-ever performance for Drama Club, a 1960s soul, '70s funk and rock cover band.
The band is helmed by Jennifer Fordney on lead vocals and longtime KXCI DJ Susan Banes on drums. Brandon Phillips takes lead guitar, Ryan Anderson chimes in on guitar and harmonica, and Georgia Taylor handles bass.
Banes, one of Tucson's rare female drummers, put the band together after stints with other bands. She said Drama Club will specialize in songs not normally tackled by cover bands, including works by Etta James, Joan Osborne and Rare Earth.
Guests joining the band for the debut at 7 p.m. Saturday at Club Congress will be Heidi Wilson on sax and Matthew Reed on piano. Drama Club opens for Batucaxé, Tucson's premiere high-energy Afro-Brazilian band. Admission: $5 at the door.
Warning: You may lose your shoes at Greek comic's show
Basile will make you laugh your papoutsia off.
Unless, of course, your papoutsia are laced-up boots. That might be a bit tricky.
Papoutsia is Greek for shoes, so wipe that smirk off your pucker.
Or, maybe keep it right where it is. You'll be in the perfect mental mode for Basile's stand-up show Saturday at St. Demetrios Church's Hellenic Center, 1145 E. Fort Lowell Road.
The evening begins with cocktails at 7, followed by the concert at 8:30. Tickets are $65 and $75, or $500 for tables of eight (food included). Proceeds benefit the church. For reservations, call 888-0505.
Record show will have all things vinyl on Sunday
The Fifth Annual Tucson Record Show is Sunday at Las Cazuelitas, 1365 W. Grant Road.
More than 20 vendors from California, Phoenix and Tucson will be selling classic vinyl from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission is $4. Call 622-0104 for more information.
Yes, Hanson is back and set to play the Rialto on Tuesday
So, what have the brothers Hanson been up to since making 'tween girls swoon and making the world go "MMMbop" in the '90s?
Isaac, Taylor and Zac have since started their own indie label, released their fourth studio album and ventured into humanitarian work, all while raising seven children among them.
Their most recent album, "The Walk," released in 2007, shows the band's versatility, with songs ranging from the blues-infused, piano-heavy title track to the uptempo dance track "The Running Man."
The band Sherwood opens for Hanson at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Rialto Theatre. General admission tickets are $22 in advance, $24 at the door. Reserved balcony seats are $25. 740-1000.
Roots rocker Chuck Prophet returns with new release
Chuck Prophet, a roots rocker who honed his craft with Tucson's own Green on Red, returns to the Old Pueblo for a show at Club Congress on Wednesday. Artists varying from Alejandro Escovedo to Solomon Burke have covered his songs.
Prophet comes to town with his brand-new release, "¡Let Freedom Ring!" on Yep Roc Records. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show are $10 in advance, $12 the day of the show.
Mickey Avalon bringing his profane rap to DV8
In recent years, Los Angeles rapper Mickey Avalon's songs have been featured in TV shows like "Hung," and in the movie "Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay." Unfortunately, we can't print the names of those songs.
Avalon will perform Wednesday at DV8, 5851 E. Speedway, with Beardo, Silver Medallion and DJ HolmWrecker. Tickets are $17. 877-840-0457.
Tickets on sale Friday for Lewis Black show in January
Comedian Lewis Black will unleash his anger-tinged rants of disillusionment at Tucson Music Hall on Jan. 3. It's a night of stand-up that promises to be cathartic.
Tickets ($43.50) go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at livenation.com
Cathalena E. Burch
Veronica M. Cruz
Gerald M. Gay
Gerald M. Gay
Cathalena E. Burch
Cathalena E. Burch
Gerald M. Gay
Veronica M. Cruz
Gerald M. Gay
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