SAT. 5/17
9:00 PM
CARRIE RODRIGUEZ
with special guest
ASPETUCK RIDGE
Five
years ago, singer, songwriter and violinist Carrie Rodriguez
had a simple goal: “To get a gig playing fiddle with somebody
great, be on the road and make a living.” But ever since
she was spotted at Cheapo Discs in her hometown of Austin, Texas,
backing outsider country act Hayseed at an in-store gig during
the 2001 South By Southwest music convention, Rodriguez has far
exceeded her all-too-modest expectations. Through her unique
collaboration with veteran songwriter Chip Taylor, which began
after that in-store and has yielded three critically acclaimed
albums of duets, Rodriguez has enthralled record buyers and concert
audiences throughout North America and Europe. She’s become
an evocative vocalist and compelling composer now ready to take
center stage on her own.
Seven Angels on a Bicycle,
her solo debut, puts an urbane, seductive spin on alternative
country and bluegrass, with artfully minimalist production that
features melancholy echoes of pedal steel, finger-plucked fiddle
strings, brushed snare, a whisper of saxophone and plenty of
wide open space for Rodriguez’s remarkable voice to fill.
Rodriguez boasts an affecting twang and brings a wonderfully
lived-in quality to her vocal performances. There’s an intimacy,
honesty and sexual frankness within them that makes Rodriguez’s
every breath worth hanging on to. Her listeners immediately become
her confidantes. All the while she and co-producer Taylor push
musical boundaries, stripping country-style tunes to their emotional
and melodic essence. There’s an Austin-style warmth on these
tracks, counter-balanced with New York City sophistication.
More about Carrie Rodriguez
Aspetuck
Ridge members Susy Marker, Pat Walker, and Doug Mathewson perform
a variety of tunes in the Bluegrass/Country/Western Swing genres.
Featuring original material as well as covers. The group was
formed shortly after the members met in a local song swap. They
had similar musical tastes and loved singing together. Soon songs
took on arrangements and the group started singing in local venues
often with mandolin, guitar or bass accompaniment. Susy Marker's
strong vocal is backed up by her fiddle. Pat Walker grew up
singing with family and is a master at harmony. Pat provides
the banjo rhythm. Rounding out the vocals is Doug Mathewson on
dobro.
More about Aspetuck
Ridge
