upcoming shows you should check 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 jam-band 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.
…ONCE AGAIN PROVING THAT THE DUTCH LOVE MALCOLM HOLCOMBE
The next installment of the Garage’s superb American Music Showcase series is an Asheville native who, oddly enough, is pretty big in Europe. You won’t find an English Wikipedia page on Malcolm Holcombe (www. malcolmholcombe.com), but you’re good to go if you speak Dutch, or at least know how to click the translate link. Holcombe will perform at Garage in Winston-Salem this Saturday before heading back to Europe for an extensive tour that will see him through March 2010. Holcombe’s sound, according to David Fricke of Rolling Stone, is “not quite country, somewhere beyond folk” and has been compared to greats such as Tom Waits and John Prine. That’s not bad company at all, if you ask me. He’ll be joined by Brian Doub and Lee Terry & the Near Strangers (www. myspace.com/leeterry). The show starts at 8:30 p.m and tickets are $10.
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, NOW WITH MILK AND COOKIES
If it weren’t for “A Prairie Home Companion,” the art of the radio play might be lost to us entirely. Good luck getting tickets to that though. Fortunately, arguably the all-time greatest holiday movie ever will be presented in a similar forum, as the High Point Theatre will present the Joe Landy radio play interpretation of Frank Capra’s classic tale It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s happening as a one-time performance this Tuesday, Dec. 22. A small group of actors out of Asheville will portray over 30 of Bedford Falls most beloved characters to the tune of live sound effects. Pack your imagination and prepare to feel like a kid again, so long as you were born between 1930 and 1940. The milk and cookies served afterwards should take care of everyone else. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m., but you should definitely arrive early. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $1 for kids under 12.
