When this lifetime listener of college radio first heard (Sandy) Alex G, his music felt new but comfortably familiar, with elements of Elliott Smith, Pinback and Built To Spill in his melodic and mesmerizing songs.
He put out another strong album this year, House of Sugar, and (Sandy) Alex G appears at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke on Saturday, November 16, at 8 p.m. Tomberlin and Indigo de Souza open the show.
Alex Giannascoli is the full name of the Philadelphia singer/songwriter, who was a preteen when he started recording music at home on his computer. He eventually released his music on Bandcamp and then got signed by a prominent international indie label, and he’s been continually on the rise ever since.
“Kicker” was my (Sandy) Alex G introduction, a song with woozy Pavement guitars and a cyclical, hooky melody that doesn’t let go. That was in 2015, and the main thing to change on Giannascoli’s new album is higher fidelity. He’s still as melodic and stylistically free as ever, but now everything sparkles. Highlights include the swingy “Southern Sky” and the darkly groovy “Gretl,” with ominous guitars that make you feel like you’re slow-motion falling backwards into a chasm.
The album ends with “SugarHouse,” one of his most simple, powerful and accessible songs, named after an old casino near his Philly home. “Gotta roll the dice, now / You gotta gimme a kiss for luck / I wanna be there with you somehow / But the SugarHouse calling my bluff,” Giannascoli sings, his voice starting in angelic falsetto but coming down into ragged reality. The song was recorded live, sounds great, and packs an emotional punch.
Singer/songwriter Willie Nile plays two nights at the Iron Horse in Northampton — Friday, November 15 (with opening act Dan Zukergood and the Mostly Happy Band), and Saturday, November 16 (with opener Brad Ray), both at 7 p.m.
Indie faves Palehound, led by vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Ellen Kempner, takes the stage at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke on Friday, November 15, at 8 p.m. Opening the show is Easthampton band Lost Film.
The Fab Faux (an all-star Beatles tribute with bassist Will Lee, guitarist Jimmy Vivino and others) perform the Meet the Beatles LP in its entirety (and other Fab Four faves) at the Academy of Music in Northampton on Friday, November 15, at 8 p.m.
Drummer/composer Colin Hinton has a new record just out, Simulacra, on which every track is inspired by a different composer (including such adventurous folks as Ingrid Laubrock, Muhal Richard Abrams, Anthony Braxton, Morton Feldman and Alexander Scriabin). Hinton appears at the 121 Club (inside Eastworks) in Easthampton on Friday, November 15, at 8:30 p.m.
Ray Mason plays a solo set at this week’s edition of the “Saturday Night Rise” concert series at Bread Euphoria Bakery and Cafe in Haydenville on Saturday, November 16, at 5:30 p.m.
Dom Flemons, one of the founding members of Carolina Chocolate Drops, appears at the Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield on Saturday, November 16, at 7:30 p.m.
Valley legends the Young@Heart Chorus will be joined by members of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and the SciTech Band, at the Academy of Music in Northampton on Saturday, November 16, at 7:30 p.m.
Local “all-inclusive funky band” Free Range Cats, joined by special guest vocalist Frank Padellaro, appears at the Luthier’s Co-op in Easthampton on Saturday, November 16, at 8 p.m.
Michigan singer/songwriter Joshua Davis’ biggest visibility so far was as a top-three finalist on season 8 of NBC’s “The Voice,” but he’s been making lifetime fans since the early days of his spirited band Steppin’ In It. Davis takes the stage at the Iron Horse in Northampton on Tuesday, November 19, at 7 p.m. Starting off the night is Alex2e.
Bassist/composer Avery Sharpe brings his Quintet and the Extended Family Choir together to perform “400: An African American Musical Portrait” at Bowker Auditorium on the campus of UMass Amherst on Thursday, November 21, at 7:30 p.m.
Ken Maiuri can be reached at tunedincolumn@gmail.com.