Not since Beck played a surprise gig at the Iron Horse decades ago can I remember area music fans so excited to see a big-stage talent in a small-stage space. The cause of the giddy expectation is Australian singer/songwriter Courtney Barnett — she’s embarking on her first-ever solo tour of the U.S., and one of the dates is at the Iron Horse on Friday, January 24, at 7 p.m.
At press time, the official word was that advanced tickets for the show were sold out, but a limited number of tickets will be available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis.
Barnett’s songs are rockers with wordplay and charm. The fan favorite “Avant Gardener” is about a mundane day going haywire, with Barnett speak-singing a story with the refrain “I’m having trouble breathing in” — the song chugs along on an easygoing groove a la the Velvet Underground or Galaxie 500, the first feel-good roll-down-the-highway song about being “anaphylactic and super hypocondriactic.” Her tune “Pedestrian At Best” comes off like a riled-up Bob Dylan backed by Elastica, as Barnett’s word torrent tumbles over stomping, ‘90s-esque indie rock: “Gimme all your money and I’ll make some origami, honey / I think you’re a joke but I don’t find you very funny.”
If none of that rings a bell, you’ve probably heard “Over Everything” from her popular record with fellow laid-back rocker Kurt Vile. The six-minute jangle-strum epic was one of The River’s Top 10 songs of 2017; the two trade chummy verses like a June and Johnny Cash for a generation raised on Neil Young, Lou Reed and Pavement.
Opening the show is Melbourne-via-Germany musician Hachiku (aka Anika Ostendorf) who’s put out music on Barnett’s label Milk! Records.
Vocalist/composer Fay Victor is said to have created “her own hybrid of song and spoken word, a scat style for today’s avant-garde.” She brings her group SoundNoiseFUNK3 (where she’s joined by guitarist Joe Morris and drummer Reggie Nicholson) to Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield on Friday, January 24, at 7:30 p.m. It’s the latest show in the Pioneer Valley Jazz Shares concert series.
Free Range Cats (with special guests Joe Boyle and others) and a solo performance by Lisa Palumbo make up the bill at Progression Brewing Company in Northampton on Friday, January 24, at 8 p.m.
Model Home (the experimental D.C. vocal and electronic duo of emcee NAPPYNAPPA and Pat Cain) joins forces with locals Mal Devisa and Pussyvision at 10Forward in Greenfield on Friday, January 24, at 9 p.m.
Unpredictable Valley punk legends The Pajama Slave Dancers (10:30 p.m.) are sandwiched between Beasthampton (11:45 p.m.) and Grey Matter (9:30 p.m.) at the 13th Floor Music Lounge in Florence on Friday, January 24.
Shokazoba turns 15 this year. The local funk nonet started as a Fela tribute band but decided to use its horn section and fusion jazz to make original songs with topical lyrics. Their mission is to create “high energy music designed to move feet, inspire minds, and activate souls.” The band’s “Anniversary Bash at the Bish” takes place at Bishop’s Lounge in Northampton on Friday, January 24, at 10 p.m.
Brooklyn musician/songwriter/composer Matt Bachmann shares the stage with Katie Shlon and Nick Bisceglia at 10Forward in Greenfield on Saturday, January 25, at 9 p.m.
Oona Robertson hosts FireSLIDE Chats — “a night of unrepentant slideshows” — at 10Forward in Greenfield on Sunday, January 26, at 8 p.m. The all-ages event will be relaxed, “with many intermissions.”
Brazilian singer-songwriter Sessa brings his minimalist sound to New City Brewery in Easthampton on Wednesday, January 29, at 8 p.m. DJ Quils does an all-Brazilian vinyl set before and after the live music. All ages welcome, handicapped accessible, mixed seating/standing room.
The Thursday Experiment celebrates its 37th edition with performances by Craig Douglas (Easthampton ambient/psychedelic loops/guitar artist), Androo Wang (Northampton electric guitarist) and, from Windham, Maine, id m theft able (that’s how you spell it), who traverse “the realms of noise, avant-improvisation, sound poetry, performance [and more], using voice, found objects, electronics, and whatever else is available.” At Gateway City Arts in Holyoke in Thursday, January 30, at 7:30 p.m.
Ken Maiuri can be reached at tunedincolumn@gmail.com.