Herman's Picks | Jackson Free Press | Jackson, MS

Herman's Picks

It's Goner Records international night of party jams at Martin's Wed., Jan. 26, beginning at 10:30 p.m. Mark Sultan (ex-Spaceshits/Les Sexareenos) from Montreal will turn his one man band BBQ into a duo with the Germany based King Khan for a genuine red hot '50s Motown Rock and Roll party. They blend Ritchie Valens, Eddie Cochran, and Little Richard into a soul jam of R&B rockabilly. Rounding out the show are the Milwaukee head-banging metal-punk garage band The Night Terrors, with members of The Mistreaters, and The Black Lips. Atlanta DIY do-wop punkers, The Black Lips bridge the perfect Clash influenced gap between the Chuck Berry party vibe of BBQ and the throw down intensity of The Night Terrors. As always, you'll find links to sample most bands on my JFP music calendar online. If I don't have a link to your band on there, hit me at [e-mail missing] .

New to Jackson on Wed., Jan. 26 is the Austin modern jazz trio, Tucker Rountree Sound at Hal & Mal's, and the progressive Nashville post-rock of The Whole Fantastic World at W.C. Don's.

Thursday, Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m. the Mississippi Academy of Ancient Music will host a harpsichord concert with John Paul in the St. Philip's Church sanctuary, 5400 Old Canton Rd. Winner of the 2002 Governor's Excellence in the Arts Award for Artist's Achievement, John Paul grew up in England, and won entrance to the Royal Academy of music in London in 1961. Since 1965 he has served as Organist and Choirmaster at St. Andrews Episcopal Cathedral. He will be performing the haunting and beautifully immersing French Baroque harpsichord music of Jacques DuPhly. Jacques DuPhly, a relatively obscure teacher in Paris in the mid 1700s. His music is some of the last for the instrument--the French loved the harpsichord--and its richness and depth are fitting farewell not only the instrument but to the entire period it represents. Indeed, to the people in the French revolution, the harpsichord seemed to symbolize the aristocracy, and most were burned for firewood. Very few survive. Dr. Paul plays a replica of a French instrument. If you've not heard a good harpsichord well played, with beautiful, soulful music to boot, this is your concert! For further information call evenings at 852-4848 or daytime at 594-5584. Thursday, January 27, at 7:30 p.m. St. Philip's Episcopal Church, 5400 Old Canton Road. at Westbrook, opposite the Synagogue. $10 at the door, $5 students. Enjoy. http://revolvingpaintdream.com/ancientmusic

It's a great way to start the new year to have two new clubs open, and a third, the Mardi Gras having its grand opening on S. State St. set for Feb. 3. You may remember the spoken word jazz art café Seven* from its old Capitol St. location. Jazz artist eZra Brown and WMPR DJ C-Lecta will be bringing you a Caribbean reggae celebration, each Friday, starting at 8 p.m. in the new Seven All Arts Café, 147 Millsaps Ave., Across from Pearl River Glass Studio. It's behind Millsaps College, Between West and Mill St. By strange circumstance a second new singer/songwriter club has just opened right next door to Seven. Studio Two at 133 Millsaps Ave., has opened in the old Mosquito club. The New Orleans based club owner will be bringing in regional and national folk, acoustic, and roots rock performers that generally have never played Jackson. Performances will be on weekends, $5-$10, with private gated and secured parking provided.

W.C. Don's kicks off their free Thursday night singer/songwriter series with a solo set by Josh Little of Grocers of Despair, and Jeff Lewis of old school W.C. Don's Radio London and Windbreakers fame, at 10:30 p.m. If you haven't heard Josh, he's one of the most original and creative musicians on the Jackson scene. The phrasing cadence of his vocals and cerebral style is like a young Lou Reed.

Old school Mississippi Bluesman Willie King returns to the 930 Blues Café on Friday night. Jackie Bell and Ironing Board Sam will open for the guitarist, in support of his new live CD, "Jukin' at Bettie's." You can hear everything from Curtis Mayfield to R.L. Burnside in this R&B master. Long time Subway Lounge houseband, King Edward featuring Dennis Fountain, will join Jackie and Sam on Saturday. Jazz, Blues & More will have their monthly installment at the Alamo on Farish this Friday, 7:30 p.m. $5. The legend of the Subway Lounge continues on Saturday, as Jimmy King continues to draw regulars with The Houserockers at Schimmel's.

Martin's will host Mouserocket and The Eunuchs on Friday night. This begins Martin's two month tribute to the Memphis Garage Punk scene. On the calendar you will find many of the most accessible groups on Memphis' Contaminated and Goner Records. Mouserocket is Alicja Trout of Lost Sounds' indie rock side project. It's a bit like Yo La Tengo with a penchant for a catchy garage-rock jam. Contaminated Records co-stars The Eunuchs are a bit less synth and straight on Indie Garage Rock.

The Mississippi Symphony Orchestra will host their beautiful "Mozart by Candlelight" annual concert Saturday, 7:30 p.m. at the Belhaven Center for the Arts on Riverside Drive. $15, 960-1565. You'll hear choice compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus, while sounded by hundreds of flickering candles. Why wait for Valentine's Day? This is the perfect romantic date to surprise your loved one with.

Saturday night the Bloomington, Indiana power pop-punk band, The Coke Dares will be at Martin's, at 11 p.m. The Coke Dares are Songs: Ohia (aka. Magnolia Electric Co.) without Jason Molina. Two of the Coke Dares have also performed at Martin's with The Impossible Shapes and John Wilkes Booze. The Coke Dares blend all these projects into a "30-songs in 30 minutes" mainline injection of Descendants and AC/DC whiskey-a-go-go.

Herman Snell

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