Finally. Summer is arriving.
And while May has been a bit disappointing as far as spring weather is concerned, I have high hopes for the month of June. Days are longer. Nights are warmer. And, thankfully, we’ve got a great slate of musical performances lined up, too.
So let’s make a commitment to grab hold of all the wonderful opportunities the month has to offer. A nice cocktail enjoyed outside at Cork & Fork or Home 231. A cold coffee at Little Amps or Elementary. And some excellent live music at one of the many venues we are so lucky to have here in the capital of the commonwealth.
CHROMA, 6/10, 6:30PM, LITTLE AMPS DOWNTOWN, $5 SUGGESTED DONATION:
As someone who married into a family of jazz performers, I can attest to the amount of skill, creativity and practice required to be a truly successful jazz performer. Considering that Chroma is made up of local high school students, the band’s ability to improvise around a fusion of jazz and hip hop grooves is even more impressive. A tight rhythm section sets a foundation for funky progressions that are simultaneously laid back yet complex. Come check out some local up-and-coming virtuosos so you can tell everyone how you saw them before they were famous.
J AND THE 9s, 6/11, 9PM, STAGE ON HERR, $5:
J and the 9s are one of those quintessentially New York glammy punk bands turned up to 11. Taking inspiration from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, they combine thick and danceable hooks with the kind of sensual power vocals that only a female singer can deliver. Elaborately costumed, lead singer J9 adds flute to her performance repertoire, inflecting punk riffs with a taste of Jethro Tull. The result is a definite party atmosphere, with a heavy backbeat and just enough messiness to back up their garage credentials. They have recorded one EP, “Birth,” and their live antics will fit in perfectly at the always-eclectic Stage on Herr.
PRAIRIE EMPIRE, 6/23, 8PM, MAKESPACE, $5 SUGGESTED DONATION:
Prairie Empire is the type of gentle, pastoral band that somehow finds a home in the dense urban landscape of Brooklyn, N.Y. Perhaps that’s part of the charm, as they offer a musical respite from the honking of Ubers and the sounds of construction trucks. Musical accompaniment is sparse, leaving plenty of space for lead singer and primary songwriter Brittain Ashford’s powerful and emotive voice. The band is slated to release its latest LP, “The Salt,” in July, and, presumably, the latest songs will make up the bulk of the show. So swing by the MakeSpace as Ashford and company look to transform our small city into a quiet retreat for an evening.
Mentionables: Steve Wilkins, 6/3, Little Amps Downtown; Mountain Road, 6/4, Whitaker Center; The Ellameno Beat, 6/16, Stage on Herr; Hackensaw Boys, 6/17, Abbey Bar; Indigo Girls, 6/19, Whitaker Center; The Toasters, 6/21, Abbey Bar
