Club notes, Dec. 31, 2009

Paul Dagnello of Huck, photo by Duncan Arsenault

Tonight, it’s champagne, confetti, champagne and rock ‘n’ roll with The Grift and the Weight of Gravity at the Cannery; new cover band Mood Disorder rocks City Lights; The Dive’s hopping with Troy and Duncan; Huck’s back at Ralphs this year, along with Castine; Lietrim’s has a modified open bar for $25; Black River Sound jams at Jillian’s; Fuzion does pop tunes at Sakura Tokyo with new lead singer Dan Gorman; Mourning the Dead is part of Dirtnap Entertainment’s metal bash at London Billiard’s; Sam James is singing at the Lucky Dog; Guns of Navarone are at Beatnik’s; Jubilee Gardens hits the Sahara Restaurant; Auntie Trainwreck ties one on at the Kaz Bar; Mack the Knife’s in Hotel Vernon’s Shiproom; and doors open at 2 p.m. today at Dr. Gonzo’s condiments on Main Street for Knights of the New Year Colander party – it’s potluck, though plenty of dips and cheeses are provided. Oh, and wear a colander on your head. If you know Dr. Gonzo, you won’t even question this. And of course it’s First Night Worcester – you can find anything and everything you need to know on firstnightworcester.org.

Friday, Bill McCarthy leads a “hair of the dog party” at the Old Post Office Pub; The Grindhouse Takeover headlines Tammany Hall, joining the Dave Rivers Group; The Sift’s got Ralph’s; The Doctors Fox makes its debut at Vincent’s;

Saturday, Sasquatch, Growlers and the Polecats join forces at the Lucky Dog Music Hall; the Racky Thomas Band returns to Gilrein’s; Five Hole rocks JJ’s; Glenn Stewart leads South Station at Ralph’s; The Roosters reunite at Greendale’s; Jason James is ripping it up at Irish Times; Whalebone Farmhouse does its eclectic mix at Vincent’s; and Silhouette of a Small Town headlines Mill Street Brews.

And Sunday, Ryan Cabrera is at Tammany Hall.

Club notes, Thursday, Dec. 17

Thursday, there’s an opening reception for Home for the Holidays at Salisbury Mansion; Mike Lynch blows the harp at Squire White’s; The Dive Bar’s got its holiday party going on; and the Drunken Uncles perform live on WICN 90.5 FM at 8 p.m., putting a spin on classic Christmas classics.

Friday, Gabe Rollins heads his own supergroup for “its my birthday and I’ll rock the hell out if I want to” to celebrate his birthday at the Lucky Dog Music; Britney’s Spear joins Short Ride and others at the Raven; Driving Rain splashes the Hotel Vernon; Ript tears up Irish Times; performances of A Christmas Carol start at the Hanover Theatre and continue through the following Wednesday; also Friday, it’s the Dirtnap Entertainment Holiday Spectacular with God’s Green Earth, This Burning World, Widow Sunday, Fallen Shall Rise, Name in Vein and Rite of Passage at London Billiards; BYO Blues is at Greendale’s; 8 Amp Fuse fires up the Blue Plate; Mass Elite opens for White Chocolate at the Cannery; Bacchus King releases a CD, joined by The Series and Bonfire Bandit at Ralph’s; The Stream Rollers Band is led by Jack Kelly at Gilrein’s; SPF4 debuts at Beatnik’s;

Saturday, The Leicester Town Band performs in the afternoon at Tower Hill Botanic Garden; Skullfunked headlines Tammany Hall; Bad Dog’s up before 16 stitches at The Raven’ Buggs Moran and the Silver Weasels pay tribute to Gary O with a show at JJ’s; Sunlea opens for Mocha Java at Beatnik’s; Full Tilt’s ahead at Creegan’s; Clamdigger returns to the Galway; the Matt Shwachman Band debuts at the Lucky Dog Music Hall; BLOWW (which stands for Boston League of Women’s Wrestling) is joined by Route 44 and Whitey at Ralph’s; Auntie Trainwreck rolls in to the Wheelock Inn; Loose Salute’s back at Vincent’s; Five Hole rocks Jillian’s; and Old School goes back to the classic covers at Greendale’s.

Sunday, the All Saints Choirs performs at the Worcester Art Museum. Jim Perry’s jam session focuses on drums at Greendale’s with Drummerpalooza; Tammany Hall hosts a battle of the bands.

Event Notes, Thursday, Dec. 10

Thursday, Isador’s in Oxford hosts a food event in celebration of Terra Madre, a network of sustainable food communities; Cowboy Matt’s having a listening party to celebrate his new CD, Viva Psychedelia, at The Q; speaker John O’Toole is at the Worcester Hibernian Center; Inhale Mary joins Horse at the Palladium; David Wax Museum is at Nick’s; Addison Station opens for Brothers McCann at Tammany Hall; they’re showing the movie MASH at the Shrewsbury Public Library; and Nuncrackers continues through the weekend at the Calliope Theater.

Friday, The Weight of Gravity is at the Wheelock Inn; chamber folk trio The Accident That Led Me to the World is at the Harvard Café; the Tom Yates Group is at the Bull Run; From Sky to Sea headlines the QVCC with Coalmine Canary and the Sharpest; Summoning Hate rocks Ralph’s; Monique and Fingers, Subculture Stereo and Lonewolf James split the bill at The Raven; Ken Tracy Jr. sings at Dinny’s on Lincoln Street with the debut of the Regal Beagles; Umelt opens for Uncle Billy’s Smokehouse at Tammany Hall; Pantera tribute Trendkill leads the Dimebag Darrell memorial show at the Lucky Dog Music Hall; the Speakeasy Combo is back at Nick’s; the Coyotes howl at Greendale’s; Graveheart joins the Soul Remnants at Ralph’s; Hat On, Drinking Wine debuts at Beatnik’s; Hot Sauce spices up Squire White’s; Lori Brooks leads her band at Mill Street Brews; Stone Lily’s rocking the Cannery; Fingercuff does covers at City Lights; Jason James tears up the Blue Plate; Organ Eyes jams at Vincent’s; and Stone Soup celebrates its third anniversary with a big party at the Woo Church with performances by Salsa Storm, Mack the Knife, DJ Juami and Lucelia DeJesus.

Saturday, Powerline opens for Counter Attack, the Zeppelin tribute doing its annual reunion show at the Lucky Dog Music Hall; Whalebone Farmhouse returns to Vincent’s; Bret Talbert does his final show of the season at Tavern on the Common; The Cosby Sweaters do an all ages show at Junior’s; Mike O’Connell returns to the area, playing the Galway Bay; Herra Terra, Sleep Alive and Ghost Ocean share the bill at Ralph’s; Composted decomposes at the QVCC; meet a 14th century knight at Higgins Armory; Clark takes on Nichols in basketball at Clark’s gym; the Master Singers of Worcester sings at the Boar’s Head Festival at Wesley United Methodist Church; Chris Reddy sings at the Nines while Bret Talbert is out at the Tavern on the Common; Patty Keough’s doing her originals at The Q; benefit Hearts for Heat in Princeton at Norco Sportsman’s Club for a contra dance; Bill McCarthy’s bringing his acoustic to the Old Post Office Pub; the Breakfast jams with Oak Street at Tammany Hall; 7 Minute Stagger is with Rite of Passage and Lesions at The Raven; No Alibi’s back packing Greendale’s; Mike Crandall’s bluesing up Gilrein’s; The Ed Melikian Ensemble is back at the Sahara; and there is a benefit for Debbie Audette's family at the Canal Sports Pub. Debbie is struggling with terminal cancer and not expected to make it through Christmas.

Doctor Robert’s returning to Sakura Tokyo both Friday and Saturday night.
Santa’s at the Hebert Candy Mansion Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

Other events: The Gifts of the Magi is being performed at the Statton Players Theatre in Fitchburg throughout the weekend.
Cirque du Soleil continues at the DCU Center through Sunday.

Event Notes, Thursday, Dec. 3

Thursday, Andy Cummings sings and plays the acoustic at Hooligan’s; it’s a First Thursday celebration at Fitchburg Art Museum early evening that includes tours and refreshments; Worcester State takes on UMass Dartmouth in hockey at Auburn’s Horgan rink; Troy Gonyea and Jeremy Curtis join Duncan Arsenault at the Dive; there’s a holiday open show at the Post Road Art Center in Marlboro; Calliope Productions’ Nuncrackers opens and continue throughout the weekend at their theater in Boylston; Brooks Milgate’s trio is at Nick’s; Dana Lewis sings at Beatniks’; Black Pyramid and Space Train join metal night at Ralph’s; Brett Brumby’s at the bar at Point Breeze (as he is every week);

Friday, it’s the Holiday Open Studios at the Sprinkler Factory; New Pilot, Gutta and Crumb open for Marcy Playground at Mill Street Brews; Last Call rocks the Gaslight Tavern; garage rock hits Ralph’s with the Crybabies, the Time Beings, the Commandos and Musclecah; the Great Whiskey Rebellion’s at Beatnik’s; the third annual Holly Berry Craft Fair hits the Fitchburg Art Museum; the Assumption College Flute Choir performs in La Maison Francaise; Tower Hill holds its annual Holly Days party; the Lucky Dog Music Hall’s the home to Santapalooza, which raises money and toys for Toys for Tots, and it includes performances by Shotgun Blues (the GnR tribute), The Sift, The Dave Rivers Group and Castine; a big band and hors d’ouevres is part of the Winter Starlight Gala at the Southbridge Community Center; the Blackstone Valley Community Concert Band plays at Northbridge High School; as part of their film festival, the Shrewsbury Public Library shows “Casablanca”; the Gateway Players performs the holiday play “A Candle in the Window” at its theater; Ed and Dave sing at Greendale’s; the Nutcracker, by Ballet Arts Worcester, is presented Friday and Saturday at the Hanover Theatre; the Chorus and Chorale of Worcester State College performs a holiday concert at Our Lady of Angels Church; Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson wails on his axe at Mechanics Hall; the Barre Players Theatre puts on the classic “It’s a Wonderful Life”; the Worcester County Light Opera performs the musical “She Loves Me”; Bill Kirchens goes honky tonk at the Bull Run; Mount Wachusett Community Theatre puts on Peter Pan Friday and Saturday; Dan Burke’s back with the Speakeasy Combo at Nick’s; Out of Sequence rocks The Cannery; Chillset is out at the Blue Dog; the Delta Generators return to Gilrein’s; the Killdevils rumble at Vincent’s; and the Rhythm Party returns to the Sahara.

Saturday, Hat On, Drinking Wine returns to Nick’s; Indobox headlines The Cannery at 12 Crane; The Weight of Gravity is at the Fifth Amendment with MSB and Jediah; Leicester High School holds a craft fair; the Shamrock and Holly Fair hits the Hibernian Center; the town of Sutton holds its Chain of Lights; the second annual Fitchburg Chowdahfest bubbles at the Fitchburg Senior Center; “Barre’s Got Talent” brings together many artists of Barre performing in talent show style at the Barre Players Theatre; Larry Kangas joins local author day at Barnes and Noble in Worcester; Tom Rush sings at the Bull Run; Bill McCarthy’s strumming it at the Whistle Stop; Huck joins The Curtain Society, New Pilot and Gutta at the Lucky Dog Music Hall; Barefoot Bob’s with the Monkeyfish at Squire White’s; Orange Diesel opens for Demon’s Alley at The Raven; the Silverbacks do blues and classic rock covers at the Emerald Isle; the Fools get crazy at Firefly’s; the Racky Thomas Band is back at Gilrein’s; The Wandas join Sandal Foot Machine at Ralph’s; Jubilee Gardens pile in to the Sahara Restaurant; and Ron Stone puts on his fantastic annual big band Christmas show at Point Breeze Restaurant.

Sunday, Millbury joins Grafton for their Chain of Lights celebration. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. take the trolley around the towns and visit businesses and sites, enjoying music, refreshments and much more. Tammany Hall holds Bloodfest ’09 – donate blood, and enjoy live bands. Also, it’s stART at the Station at Union Station – 100s of vendors gather for stART on the Street’s annual holiday extravaganza.
Other Events:

Moments in Time continues through the end of the month at the Jewish Community Center. The show features original drawings in colored-pencil and in mixed-media by Elizabeth Freed. A Miniature Milestone: The Marianne E. Gibson Portrait Miniature Gallery at 20 opened this week at the Worcester Art Museum.

Club/Event Notes, Thursday, Nov. 19

Thursday, Goosepimp Orchestra headlines Tammany Hall; Sean Ryan sings at Beatnik’s; Duncan Arsenault is with Scott Ricciuti and the boys at the Dive.

Friday, Fear Nuttin’ Band is releasing a new CD at the Lucky Dog Music Hall; Fourth Gear rocks the Blue Plate in Holden; Johnny Press Mess headlines the Cannery in Southbridge; it’s progressive rock with Sky Blue Mind at City Lights; Guns of Navarone return to Beatnik’s; Hat On, Drinking Wine’s sipping tunes at Biagio’s; the Pamela Hines Duo is the Chloe Bistro; Bill McCarthy’s strumming his acoustic at Old Post Office Pub; Bret Talbert is solo at Applebee’s in Sturbridge; Double Take does covers at Classic’s Pub; Lori Brooks leads her band at Mill Street Brews; the Bubbleheads burst at Squire White’s; Undercover rocks Irish Times; and the Dan Lawson Band debuts at Gilrein’s.Saturday, American folk rocker Tony Bird is at the Bull Run in Shirley; The Empire Shall Fall releases a CD with a show at London Billiards; Dan Kirouac is singing at the Spruce Street Tavern; The Matt Schwachman Band’s getting down at The First Amendment; Floyd tribute Gilmour’s Breakfast does its last show of the year, at Tammany Hall; Whalebone Farmhouse headlines Beatnik’s; Rockhouse 6 blasts the Cannery; Jason James returns to the Galway Bay; Johnny Dollar jazzes up the Dzian Gallery (also enjoy shopping, a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres) and The Balls are back, joining JetSet, The Time Beings, Tony Jones and the Cretin 5 at Ralph’s.

Sunday, Sinfonia performs at Clark’s Razzo Hall; and there’s a new blues jam happening out at Trumbull’s in Spencer.

And next Wednesday, the night before Thanksgiving, we’ve got Lyle Pierce at Carmella’s Italian Kitchen; Fourth Gear at the Blue Plate; The Allens at Speakers in Marlboro; Probable Cause at the Fifth Amendment; Miss Tess and the Bon Bon Parade does the noontime Brown Bag Concert at Mechanic’s Hall; Patty O’Brien joins Patrick Egan at the Hibernian Cultural Center; Hitmen take ‘em out at Irish Times; the Silverbacks belt it at Greendale’s; the Duke Robillard Band packs Gilrein’s; Wilbur and the Dukes returns for its traditional show at Ralph’s; New Pond Fondle jams at Partner’s in Fitchburg; New Pilot pops at Mill Street Brews; and Uncle Billy’s Smokehouse at Beatnik’s.Other Events:

On Friday, there’s a mystery dinner theater called the “Doo-Wop Murders” at Salem Cross Inn; learn about dessert wines at Fitchburg Art Museum; it’s college women’s hoops at its best as Holy Cross takes on UConn at the DCU Center; watch All Quiet on the Western Front for free at the Shrewsbury Public Library; there’s a poetry slam at Clark with featured performer Jamaica Osorio, star of HBO’s Brave New Faces; the Seven Hills Symphony puts on their fall concert at UMass on Plantation Street; Jim McGovern’s 50th birthday and fundraiser are being held, simultaneously, at 55 Pearl Restaurant on Friday. Also Friday, WCCA TV-13 hosts its Harvest Moon Dinner Dance at the Knights of Columbus in Worcester. The Clark University Concert Choir and Chamber Choir presents “Music for the Ages: European and American Treasures” at St. Peter’s Church at 8 pm. Sima Kustanovich is on the piano for that one.

Saturday, the Jewelry, Gem, Mineral and Fossil show rocks the National Guard Armory; the UMass International Craft Fair happens at the EcoTarium; Katie Green hosts the annual Worcester Tellebration of storytellers at the Green Rooster Coffeehouse; and there’s a Zip Trip tour focuses on Norman Rockwell at the Worcester Art Museum.

Club Notes, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009

Thursday, New Pilot rocks at The Mill, and it streams online, live, on evolvingartist.com at 8 p.m. Brooks plays the keys with Duncan at The Dive; Jason James does rockabilly piano at Beatnik’s;

Friday, Trumystic pairs with the Alchemystics, Mafia Bong Hit and Orrin Slips at the Lucky Dog; singer Keri Anderson leads Whalebone Farmhouse at the Belfont Hotel in Millbury; the Holy Ghosts, Mack the Knife, The Terribles and the Numbskulls make it an ideal Friday the 13th show at the Hotel Vernon; the Delta Generators put a new spin on blues at the Cannery in Southbridge with opener Jon Short; Holmes does a free show in the Foundation Room at the House of Blues; The Pathetics do an acoustic set at Beatnik’s; The Ten Foot Polecats are out at the End Zone in Mendon; the James Montgomery Band is blaring at Mechanics Hall; Orange Diesel helps open for Brand New Sin at London Billiards; Elizabeth Lorrey and the Rafters celebrate a new disc with a release party at the Bull Run in Shirley; the Speakeasy Combo returns to Nick’s; Sun Jones joins Gary Backstrom at Tammany Hall; the Right Band is back at Squire White’s; the legendary Swinging Steaks resurfaces at Firefly’s in Marlboro;

Saturday, the Dust Bunnies and Dopapod open for BioDiesel at The Cannery; Before the Fall helps open for Sonic Disorder at the Lucky Dog; the wonderfully talented Sam James is back at Tammany Hall with Boston band Garlic and Moonshine; the Scissormen headline the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge; the Matt Schwachman Band returns to Irish Times; No Alibi rocks Beatnik’s; Bret Talbert sings at the Spruce Street Tavern in Clinton; Brett and Lisa from She’s Busy sing at Chuck’s Steakhouse; B&E’s the duo at The Nines; Richie Havens performs in Percival Hall at Fitchburg State College; Babe Pino blow the blues harp and sings at Nick’s; the Bruce Marshall Band gives it another whirl at Greendale’s; The Ed Melikian Ensemble plays the Sahara; and On the Rocks rocks the Emerald Isle.

On Wednesdays, B3 funk night fills The Dive.

Other Events:

The play Columbinus opens at the Little Theater at Clark University on Thursday and continues throughout the weekend. There are also performances next weekend.
People, Places & Things, photography by John Nunziato will be on display and for sale through November 30 at Booklovers' Gourmet in Webster.

On Thursday, there is a wine tasting from 5-7 p.m. at 55 Pearl Restaurant.

Friday, the Pink Floyd laser spectacular beams into the Hanover Theatre; Worcester Storytellers meets at Vasa Hall, as they do the second Friday of each month.

On Saturday, Buddha Hut holds its monthly buffet and fundraiser for VegWorcester. Drop by any time between noon and 7 p.m. and $10 gets you an all-you-can-eat vegan buffet, which is donated to VegWorcester. Visit vegworcester.org for more info. From 1-3 p.m. percussionist David Curry puts on a demonstration and hosts a drum circle at Union Music. The Sharks take on the Hartford Wolf Pack at the DCU Center in the afternoon. Two local authors, Christopher Burton and Jason Lamountian, read their work at Acoustic Java at 4 p.m. Old Sturbridge villages hosts an Evening of Illumination, which includes a guided candlelight tour. A few performances of
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest occurs at Assumption College, with afternoon and evening performances.

At 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dr. Gonzo holds his no mistake steak grilling challenge at the Emporium on Main Street.

Throughout the month, those in active duty and their families get free admission to the Higgins Armory Museum.

Fall Events at Union Music

And the best part...all of these events are free at Union Music, Worcester, MA.

Visit unionmusic.com for directions and info.

Monday, November 9th, 7:00 PM, Martin Guitars and Union Music present an Evening with Kenny Sultan. Kenny will play and demonstrate his many styles on his signature model Martin guitar. Acoustic Blues is his specialty and I hope you can join us to hear Kenny play and talk about anything guitar. Kenny is a noted teacher based in Santa Barbara and has agreed to offer Private Lessons during the day on Tuesday. Please call 508 753 3702 or email to make a reservation for the workshop or private lessons. http://www.kennysultan.com/

Thursday, November 12th, 7:00PM, Hometown Guitar Hero Cliff Goodwin will be joined on the Union Music stage with drummer Billy MacGillvray, bassist Wolf Ginandes, and vocalist Mike Lynch for some great music in our casual setting. Cliff will share some of the things that have made him a sought after lead guitarist and the important role the guitarist plays in supporting the singer and the band. Maybe he’ll share some of his highlights while touring the world as the lead guitarist with The Joe Cocker Band. http://www.myspace.com/cliffgoodwin

Saturday, November 14th, 1:00PM-3:00PM, Dave Curry returns with his “Drums for one and all” Drum Circle to the Union Music Performance Space. This event is open to all age beginners and players and always brings musical knowledge and fun for all. Bring your own drum or hand percussion instrument or use one of ours. http://www.drumsforoneandall.com/

Sunday, November 15th, 7:00PM, Enjoy the 21st Annual Union Music Sawyer Saxophone Student Solo Workshop Concert in Webster at Point Breeze on the Lake Restaurant. Resident master teacher and arranger Ken Sawyer writes the charts, teaches the students, and the leads the band. This year the big band plays his special arrangements by Jimmy Dorsey, Chicago and Mozart. Thanks to the professional sidemen, Richard Pro Sound Gaudette, Dave Guitar Dick, Bunny Bass Price and Dave Drums Karacius for donating their time and effort. Call Point Breeze for dinner reservations. http://www.pointbreezeonthelake.com/

Friday, November 20th, 3:00PM-8:00PM, Union Music brings the Taylor Guitars Sales Event to Worcester. Sales Manager Guitarist Monte Montefusco will be on hand with some one of a kind and limited edition Taylors, Taylorware gift cards with many Taylor guitar purchases, Free restringing of your Taylor guitar, and 12 month 0%/no interest financing on Taylor Electric guitars.

For the November Sales Event take another 10% off on purchases over $100* (excludes consignment, rentals, repairs and already on sale items). And new this season, for new Union Music students, receive 4 free private lessons with your Electric or Acoustic Guitar, Bass guitar, Keyboard or Drum set purchase during November and December 2009.