The Jason Isbell Trio
The way I hear tell, the last time this member of Athensí Americana superstars the Drive-By Truckers played an acoustic set at this funky Lazaretto Creek eatery, he and his band got so plum tore up they had to cancel the next nightís show in Augusta on account of what folks in Vernon, Florida might call ìthe Saturday morniní after a Friday night.Î
Iím also told the packed house had one helluva good time, and this repeat engagement aims for the same outcome.
Isbell, who wrote the title track for the Truckersí 2003 LP Decoration Day (as well as plenty of other well-received cuts since joining the group), is doing the same thing bandmate Patterson Hood does when he needs a break from his band ñ heís going out with another one.
So whatís the difference? Well, Isbellís own material is much more straight-ahead rock and less traditionally country than the Truckersí repertoire, and heís not afraid to let his affinity for power-pop shine through. He also calls the shots, in a compact band that includes his wife (and DBT bassist) Shonna Tucker.
Much of this show will draw on his soon-to-be-released solo CD Sirens of The Ditch, but heís also been known to let his hair down and slog through a few hoary covers by such influences as Neil Young, Waylon Jennings and Tom Petty ñ and some Truckers songs as well.
For those who havenít been able to make the trek to Charleston or Jacksonville the last few times his main band have been in our neck of the woods, this should be the next best thing. 18 and up are admitted with proper ID. Get there early for a good seat. Sat., 10 pm, CafÈ Loco (Tybee).
"Georgia Kyle" Shiver
Born in the Peach State, this acoustic songwriter cut his teeth on the Harvard folk circuit and spent years busking and touring around the Northeast both as a solo act and with a small band. He landed in Savannah a few years back and has earned a solid rep in our area as an intense and talented artist with a knack for country, folk and blues-based rock.
No stranger to the recording studio, heís released 3 indie albums and sang backup vocals on one of Shawn Mullinsí major-label efforts, but now heís celebrating a no-frills live disc that captures one of his bread-and-butter gigs. Itís a nice snapshot of his show, which finds the agile guitarist (and member of The Back River Ramblers) working his way through a mixture of originals and covers.
The celebration of this latest album lasts all weekend long, with his own headlining shows bookending an opening slot for The Jason Isbell Trio. Anyone interested in hearing one of our finer local songwriters and vocalists would do well to catch at least one of these gigs. Fri. - Sun., 10 pm, CafÈ Loco (Tybee).
Lisa Moscatiello
This Washington, D.C.-based guitarist and songwriter is known for a pure and beautiful soprano singing voice, and a knack for retaining the spirit and flavor of the folk revival within a decidedly contemporary approach.
Currently promoting her latest effort, Second Avenue, sheís won the praise of everyone from Dirty Linen Magazine (a major force in the acoustic folk scene), to the Washington Post, to Billboard. She appears regularly at some of the most prominent events and in some of the most respected listening rooms in America ñ such as The Newport Folk Fest and New Yorkís Fez nightclub.
With roots in Celtic folk, British folk-rock (think Fairport Convention, and while youíre at it ñ think Sandy Denny) and jazz balladry, she has the chops and the experience to pull off all sorts of material.
As one critic once said of her work, ìCall it folk, call it blues, call it jazz, call it torch, call it Celtic, call it New Age... call it sublime." Fri., 7:30 pm, Oatland Island Educational Center - ALL AGES.
The Elk-Tones
Surf music is a little like bluegrass, in that those who are interested in playing it properly must do a great deal more than merely learn the structure and study the greats. They must immerse themselves into another world entirely.
In either genre you can tell the posers from the real deal in a flash. Not that thereís anything wrong with dabbling. In fact, some of the most vibrant popular music of the past half-century has been the result of such cross-pollination. However, Iíd rather know that someone can truly play by the rules before they show me they can break them.
This Delaware quartet can play by the rules. And while theyíve thrown some of the spacey elements of psychedelia and some of the skiffle beats of early rockabilly into their hopper, what comes out the other end is a modernist take that still pays reverent homage to Dick Daleís beastly instrumental creation.
Less of a Ventures redux than Los Straitjackets, but not quite as peyote-fueled as The Mermen, The Elk-Tones sound like Link Wray on a Mexican radio at 3 am. This is a great, serious band that have found a sweet spot in a style that is far too often peopled with part-timers. Steve Hoffman and Frosty Horton would be proud. Fri., The Jinx.
