This Week In Music - November 13-19

Monday, Nov 13th
Joanna Newsom
Webster Hall
$20

From the so-called current, "New Weird America" movement (I’d always thought Led Zeppelin in an L.A. Hotel with a groupie and a swordfish was ‘weird’ but what do I know), Joanna Newsom’s intriguing folkie pensioner-meets-elementary-school-child vocal style is one to be appreciated as is her finesse behind the harp.

Tuesday, Nov 14th
Tenacious D
Virgin Megastore, Union Square, 7pm
FREE

Taking the joke just that little bit further, Jack Black (Actor, Comedian, Style-guru, Musician) and Kyle Gass (um...) return to blow your eye-balls out of their sockets with their latest offering, the soundtrack to the film, “The Pick Of Destiny” which they’ll be signing copies of from 7:00pm. Don’t be a drop-kick. Get there early in the day and buy your copy in advance because (hello!), that’s what they’ll be signing. If you rock up at 7:00pm hoping for a look in, you’ll be disappointed. They’re cool. They’re funny. But they ain’t there to get a hair-cut, you get me?

Wednesday, Nov 15th
Detroit Cobras
Mercury Lounge
$15

Those no-fuss rock n’ rollers are back and lucky the flight over from Michigan is a quick one because they’ve got some things to tell you. If your idea of ‘cool’ and ‘edgy’ is the Simpson sister with the nose-job, stay away. These lasses and lads mean it and deliver with 100% power. Style-up.

Thursday, Nov 16th
Xavier Rudd
Webster Hall
$20

Australian singer/ songwriter/ surfer in the vein of Ben Harper/ John Butler Trio/ Donovan Frankenreiter returns to New York with an armful of new songs. Don’t like tree-hugging surfers? Music Editor defies you to wrap your listening gear around “The Letter” and not get hooked enough to stop wearing deodorant and trade your Chuck Taylor’s in for a pair of hemp flip-flops. Winter is here but the warmth hasn’t escaped our grasp.

Friday, Nov 17th
Ben Folds
Beacon Theatre
$30

The difficult-to-dislike Folds plays covers from the just released “Supersunnyspeedgraphic” album, a compilation of 3 existing EPs, Ben Folds returns to play the Beacon Theater. Alert! Alert! Never try covering a track if the original is already perfect. Having a stab at The Cure’s “In-Between Days” is trumped only by SQ2’s cover of The Verve’s Bittersweet Symphony. Rod Stewart, take note.

Saturday, Nov 18th
Jose Feliciano
Iridium Jazz Club
$40 cover/ $10 minimum

An ex-fixture of the Greenwich Village coffeehouse circuit, Feliciano broke through with his re-interpretation of The Doors’ “Light My Fire” in 1968. Though he never quite topped this success, he has remained a cult figure, even landing a role in the 1996 film “Fargo”. See this performance with urgency.

Sunday, Nov 19th
Leon Russell
BB King’s Blues Bar & Grill
$25

An artist worthy of the “Legend” status he often receives, Russell has worked with the best. From supporting Jerry Lee Lewis as a teenager to penning the classic “Delta Lady” which delivered Joe Cocker a massive hit (and arguably his best) to session playing for Bob Dylan, The Byrds and Eric Clapton. Though quieter in recent years, this promises to be a thrilling performance by one of the all-time greats. Beg, borrow, steal.

Tags:   Ben Folds, Blues, Bob Dylan, Detriot Cobras, Greenwich Village Coffeehouse circuit, Jack Black, Joanna Newsom, Joe Cocker, Jose Feliciano, Led Zepellin, Leon Russell, New Surf Folk, New Weird America, Rock N Roll, Tenacious D, Xavier Rudd

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Posted on 11/13/2006 ( Permanent Link )
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