Yohimbe Brothers -- After several years in apparent seclusion, guitarist Vernon Reid is finally going public again. His rock band Living Colour is preparing a new CD and tour, and he's been working a lot lately with old friend DJ Logic. He toured with Logic's band Project Logic earlier this year, and now comes their crazy collaboration Yohimbe Brothers. The new CD, Front End Lifter, resists description, but words relating to insanity keep coming to mind. It's electronic/dance music, but not like any you've heard before. Vernon plays guitars and effects, and Logic plays turntables, samples and sounds. They'll bring a band, too, with keyboards, drums, bass, and two vocalists. The CD cover has a warning that the music may cause extreme sexual excitability, so be careful if you bring a date. Visulite Theatre (Brian Falk)
THURSDAY 11.7
Carrie Newcomer -- Newcomer, a newcomer no more, has come into her own with her new record, The Gathering of Spirits, a lush blend of folk/Appalachian music with strings. The record features Alison Krauss on one track, an artist Newcomer comes pretty darn close to equaling vocally (and probably surpasses musically). The record, incidentally, was produced by local mainstay Mark Williams, and also features Jim Brock on percussion. With LJ Booth. Neighborhood Theatre (Davis)
FRIDAY 11.8
Cyril Lance Band -- Lance pursues quaint blues using acoustic and electric guitars while blending southern boogie, funky New Orleans R&B and shreds of Latin jazz. It's not a bad combo, especially if he can come up with more twisted takes as what he did with Rev. Gary Davis' "I am the Light of this World." Lance has the seasoned gruff vocals and musicianship, especially on lapsteel, to keep things interesting. Mojo Restaurant & Spirits (Shukla)
Gran Torino -- The colorful funk-R&B outfit returns with a polished new disc called One and Only. The band bulges at the seams and on stage, with nine members taking bricks from the foundations of smooth soul to jazzy intros and straight up funk. The sound weaves 70s-90s elements in a contemporary brand and adds the feeling of a brightly lit party. Although the new record is quite a bit more tuned up, the extra flavor GT brings along is a respectful tip of the hat to classic jazz twists, so the funk has an element of warmth. The Knoxville outfit is a show band of many layered colors and sounds. Visulite Theatre (Shukla)
Shemekia Copeland -- A new generation blues singer who uses her impressive pipes to present contemporary blues on the pop and rock tip. OK, so she's related to blues legend Johnny, but she holds her own nicely with her recent third disc on Alligator records, and each album has enough goodies on it to pump up a rocking show. She's on the short list for the crown of new 'Queen of Blues.' With Robin and Tony Rogers. Double Door Inn (Shukla)
SATURDAY 11.9
David Childers -- Fresh from a tour of Great Britain, where he was received like a visiting dignitary (and why not?), Childers returns to the familiar haunts of the North Carolina Piedmont that helped make his music what it is today -- haunted, honest, and pure. Pure, that is, as the boiled-down essence of the man himself, equally at home with seemingly disparate emotions, and relaying them unapologetically in his music. Heaven seems a little too far off, and hell's a bit too hot. Childers, God bless him, is relegated to the infernal purgatory of the stage. (Also appearing Nov. 13 at The Evening Muse with Guy Workman.) Comet Grill (Davis)
David Singer -- A wide ranging, intellectual pop-song spinner with a knack for writing caustic, yet insightful tunes. He's got a couple of killer records on Charlotte's Deep Elm label and gives a nice demo in melodic twisting and spiraling. The evening is a benefit for Tori Amos' organization RAINN (Rape Abuse and Incest National Network), a top-notch charitable outfit. Also on the bill are assorted folkie and country-folk gals including Eva Gael, Kid Sister, Tesser and Wall of Jules. The Evening Muse (Shukla)
Tim Reynolds -- "Will Dave be there? Maybe Dave will show up! Wouldn't that be something if. . ." Nope. Ain't gonna happen. Tim Reynolds, longtime Dave Matthews sideman and co-conspirator, will be appearing with his guitar and not a whole lot else tonight, which will not offend anyone who bought a copy of the Luther College discs. For the uninitiated, the music is nothing like Dave, except in spirit -- Reynolds comes from the same freeform musical background, seeded in the jazz/rock/worldbeat capital of the world, Charlottesville, VA. Reynolds' guitar exhibitions are a virtual kaleidoscope of colors and textures, veering from Nine Inch Nails to real-thing funk in the blink of an eye. Worth checking out for sure, but to repeat: Dave Matthews will NOT be there -- though it would be interesting if he did. . .hmmmm. . . Visulite Theatre (Davis)
SUNDAY 11.10
Atreyu / Shai Hulud -- Atreyu are a hardcore band with a level of depth in the playing and yes, screaming. The vocals are classic guttural sore throat shouts while the drums pound on incessantly and, with songs like "Someone's Standing on My Chest," they stand uncontested. The good news is their ability to tone down into shades of melodic hues and tuneful singing. Shai Hulud are also balls to the walls hardcore crooners who'll make sure bones keep crunching well into the night. Also playing are Remembering Never and Sadie Mae. Tremont Music Hall (Shukla)
India.Arie -- Her Acoustic Soul was the latest in the line of organic urban songstresses, and one of the very best. Like Jill Scott and Erykah Badu, she deftly blends the realistic problems of relationships and society with a strong belief in self-worth as a cure to such ills. Arie differs with the two in pairing such tales with lush, often acoustic instrumentation, taking more from Bob Marley than she does, say, Mary J. Blige. With Floetry, Slum Village, DJ Rogers Jr. & K-OS. Ovens Auditorium (Davis)
Kate Campbell -- Folkie/Americana singer with a gentler-but-not-wimpier touch than most in the genre. Campbell is a dyed-in-the-wool Southerner who revels in the intimacy of regional traditions, but without the overlay of aggressive, Skynyrdesque yee-haw regionalism -- a great song about the wonders of community as revealed in "Funeral Food" is more her speed. Campbell has a way with a melody, a downhome lilt in her voice, and populist instincts. Wedgewood Baptist Church (John Grooms)
TUESDAY 11.12
Jerry Cantrell -- By God, if you were ever a fan of Alice in Chains (and there's a hell of a lot more of you than care to admit it), this is about as close as you're gonna get. Cantrell wrote most of those songs, see, and sang on a number of them, as one often is called to do when your singer is ravaged with a heroin addiction. Cantrell can still bring the goods, however, being a certified master of riffology, Seattle-style, and boasting a fine backing band. With Mad at Gravity, Udora, Comes With The Fall. Tremont Music Hall (Davis)
WEDNESDAY 11.13
Good Charlotte -- While it is cool they got Tenacious D's Kyle Gass and lo-fi god Mike Freakin' Watt to appear in their video (Watt the hell?), I'm still not sure how a band can make a "satirical" video called "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" while exhibiting just that. These kids and their cuddly "punk rock." Sheesh. Aside: Tim Armstrong wants his hair wax back. With Home Grown & Halo Friendlies. Tremont Music Hall (Davis)