upcoming shows you should check out
SUMMER COLD SPELL MEANS GREENE STREET GETS ICEY
If you’re a fan of pretty lights, thumping beats and grinding up on strangers, then Greene Street Club is the place to be this Friday. The man born as Eddie Pappa and later came to be known as DJ Icey (www.myspace.com/djicey) has been killing the club scene all over the country since the mid-’90s. Though he’s not the pure turntablist that peers DJ Logic or DJ Spooky are, he’s still an amazingly adept electronic composer and mixer who consistently turns out some of the most original remixes of popular music on the DJ circuit. Focusing primarily on breakbeats, his work is highly uptempo with a range of influences from old-school hip hop to Europop. The jet-setting Icey will hit Greensboro on his way back from Spain, before playing Florida and finally heading out west for a run of dates. With a nearly three week break in between his last show on Jan. 31 and this date, expect great things to happen. DJ Frenzy (www.myspace.com/frenzydjgso) is hosting and will also open the show. Doors open at 10 p.m. and the event is ages 18 and up only. Tickets are prices are TBA.
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL AT SOLARIS?!
This is why you should always pick up YES! Weekly the day it hits the stands. North Carolina rock luminary and all-around musical iconoclast Dexter Romweber is playing tonight, Wednesday, at Solaris in downtown Greensboro.
While he normally tours with his sister Sara as the Dexter Romweber Duo, this particular show will feature his big band the New Romans (www.myspace.com/ dexterromweberandthenewromans), a 13-piece ensemble that he generally only employs within a short vicinity of his Chapel Hill home. Thirteen is a pretty large number, even if it is somewhat inflated by the three backup singers and a trio of burlesque dancers that he counts among the numbers. The music is still typical Dex: dark and pulpy tales of love and despair, accented by his distinctive voice and guitar style, bolstered by layers of sax, organ and percussion. Dex isn’t alone on the bill, but will be performing first since some of his bandmates have other obligations. The show starts at 10 p.m. and there’s no cost for admission. Even if Dex wasn’t on the bill, this one would be worth checking out as a trio of great local acts will follow.
Pinche Gringo & the Lovely Sarita (www.myspace.com/pinchegringoband), the Matt Kurz One (www.myspace.com/mattkurzone) and finally Eating the Invaders (www.myspace.com/eatingtheinvaders) will finish out.
JAM BAND VIRTUOSO PLAYS THE BLIND TIGER
As a founding member of pioneering jam bands Aquarium Rescue Unit and Leftover Salmon, Jeff Sipe has had his hand deep in the cultivation of a music scene that has exploded over the past 20 years. It’s arguably his rock and jazz fusion style that has influenced the rhythmic grooves that have come to define much of the jamband community. Acclaimed guitarist Jimmy Herring calls him his first choice of any drummer to perform with and even if ARU and Leftover Salmon are currently defunct, Sipe still tours regularly as a part of Keller Williams’ backing band, but it is his trio (www.myspace.com/jeffsipetrio) that will be performing at the Blind Tiger this Thursday. As the leader of the group, Brevard native Sipe has the opportunity to play tunes that feature strong melodies and interesting rhythms to showcase the group’s tremendously talented musicians. Rounding out the band is guitarist Mike Seal, who is currently in his final semester of study at UT’s Music school in Knoxville, Tenn. and Vince Ilagan on bass, who is also from Knoxville and a UT Alumni. The show starts at 10 p.m. and ticket prices are TBA.
