Backbone > Ear Whacks

Nightlife Highlights 1-04
by DJ Wavy Davy

RACHEL SAGE
JANUARY 3. Certainly a child of the muses, Sage brings to her music an incredible resume. Enrolled young in the School of American Ballet, she would bang on the pianos after class “until they kicked me out of the building.” After earning a drama degree from Stanford, Sage dropped out of the Actors’ Studio master’s program to pursue her musical gift. She was on to something as she won the 2001 Grand Prize in the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Check your snow tires and truck up to the bucolic Full Moon Resort to catch this shining star. 8PM. Call for cover. Oliverea. (845) 254-5117.
WWW.RACHELSAGE.COM

NEWPORT JAZZ ALL STARS
JANUARY 18. What is it about Newport, RI that makes it a musical mecca? From the legendary folk festival (where Dylan first strapped on his Stratocaster) to George Wein’s Jazz-Fest, the seaside resort’s effects still ripple. Now after 50 after years, the Newport scene goes on tour and cruises into the Bardavon. This esteemed line-up includes tenor great James Moody, with Randy Brecker, Cedar Walton, and others. The swing’s the thing and no sunscreen required. 7PM. $38.50, $35.50, $33.50. Poughkeepsie. (845) 473-2072. WWW.BARDAVON.ORG

CHAR JOHNSON
JANUARY 24. The healthy music scene in New Paltz has spilled over the sidewalk, past Oasis and Snug’s into Kingston with a vibrant and talented new artist. Johnson exudes low-key righteousness, with the payoff hitting those who really listen. Recently affiliated with Great Dames Productions of Kingston, Johnson and his conscious lyrics and vibrant presentation remind us we can still learn from the new school. Intermezzo tunes at Spada’s Uptown Lounge by yours truly, DJ WD. 8PM. $5. Kingston. (845) 340-0221.

GALUMINUM FOIL AND COMPANY
JANUARY 24. Thanks to scene-breakers like WVKR’s Marc Stuart (Wednesdays 6-9PM), these groundbreaking artists have built a traveling road show without the snake oil. Chris Cubeta and crew re-write the rules with great production, hip tunes, and spoken word courtesy of court jester Danny Lanzetta. Parlor’s John Passineau has the best singing voice in the valley, Xoch is zooming to the top, and xpect good stuff from 3Up 3Down, together at the Loft in the Chance complex. 8:30PM. $5. Poughkeepsie. (845) 471-1966.
WWW.GALUMINUMFOIL.COM

AN EVENING WITH BRUCE COCKBURN
FEBRUARY 4. Years ago there was a Cockburn fan who enthusiastically spoke to the artist after a small-venue performance. For years after Cockburn would send him handwritten postcards from many locales around the world. Cockburn fans are a devoted bunch, with thousands logging on to their dedicated Web site, www.cockburnproject.net. Here the duet of Cockburn and Julie Wolf return to the Bearsville Theater for a very special WDST show. (Also stay tuned to the station’s Web site for the re-scheduled Waterboys/Crash Test Dummies show this month.) 8PM. $25. Woodstock. (845) 679-7266.
WWW.WDST.COM