Backbone > Ear Whacks
Nightlife Highlights 3-03
by Wavy Davy

Me & Mario
March 7 and 21. No harder-working, more talented trio of minstrels has ever blessed a makeshift stage than these acoustic heroes. Mario and John strum and belt out those lyrics everyone knows, from “Heart of Gold” to “Brown Eyed Girl,” while Pete plays that fiddle with every tendon. These guys don’t just breathe this music, they perspire it. Have another free Buffalo wing and cheap cocktail at the West Strand Grill’s classic Friday happy hour, and you’ll be dancing by the time they play “Good Lovin.” 6pm. No cover. Kingston. 340-4272.

Corner Stage Jams/Jeremy Baum Trio
March 8. The Corner Stage has “quick-ly” turned into a hot jam spot for the grooviest of local musicians, thanks to proprietor and guitarist Mike Quick. On March 8 master-blaster Baum lets his Hammond do the talking backed by guitar ace Chris V. and new funky drummer Brian Wolfe. Or, catch the vibe weekly during any one of three live jam nights: open mike blues jam on Thursdays (hosted by Quick and his band), a Wednesday acoustic jam, and jazz Sundays with drummer Ernie Colon (featured on Baum’s Lost River Jams cd.) 10pm. Cover varies, best to call. Middletown. 342-4804.

qb3
March 8. Yet again the next wave rolls up the mighty Hudson and breaks the shore at Rhinecliff. nyc’s qb3 beautifully meld Scofield guitar funk with Roni Size drum and bass breakbeat for (at last) something new and different. Guitarist Fred “G”, drummer “Root” Heinz, and bassist Emek Rave sound like a much bigger band on their latest cd The Form of Space, but acid-jazz is best heard live and the full sound of the Rhinecliff Hotel loves an acoustic bass line. 10pm. $4. 876-8688. www.qb3music.com.

George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic
March 9. You may not be worthy of the funk, but if you dance away all four-plus hours of this party, there’s hope for you yet. George Clinton was put on this planet by the Mothership to save your stifled soul, and he never stops re-bootying the message. Each reunion of Parliament and Funkadelic is a righteous experience that testifies the gospel of Uncle Jam: “Free your mind and your ass will follow.” To the Paramount Theater, that is. 6pm. $45/$43/$40 plus student discount. Middletown. 647-3821. www.locoloboevents.com.

The Joe Giardullo 4tet
March 15. A recording session planned months in advance, that happened to fall on 9/11, went ahead and the resulting cd (Shadows and Light, on Drimala Records) was a meaningful expression of the musicians’ convergence that day. This heavyweight combo (Giardullo and Joe McPhee on reeds/horns, Mike Bisio on acoustic bass, and Tani Tabbal on drums/percussion) will recreate some of that feeling at The Uptown, where Giardullo also hosts a weekly Free Jazz series each Thursday. With talent like this The Uptown has raised the bar for any area venue that is serious about live music. 8pm. $10. Kingston. 339-8440. www.joegiardullo.com.

Christine Spero Group
March 21. Promoting their new cd We Call it Music, the Christine Spero Group takes a break from the nyc scene to gig closer to home. Blending Latin and Brazilian jazz with husky R&B vocals, Christine keeps her band under control with solid presence and well-trained chops. The rest of the group, on sax, bass, drums, and percussion, always has plenty of room to strut their stuff. The intimate “Vines” at the Windham Arms Hotel holds the monopoly on bistros in town, with an excellent cellar, of course. 8pm. Free with two-drink minimum. Windham. (518) 734-3000. www.christinesperogroup.com.

Richard Julian
March 21. Richard Julian is one happening singer-songwriter. He just came off a North American/uk tour opening for Norah Jones, he writes songs with Marshall Crenshaw, and Art Garfunkel just covered one of his tunes. Unlike Crenshaw, Julian seems to relish the odd instrument or sound scrambling his no-nonsense lyrics. The vignerons of Benmarl love a civilized party so one can assume that Julian’s appearance there is yet another example of their good taste. 7:30pm. $12. Marlboro. 236-4265.
www. richardjulianmusic.com.

—Wavy Davy