Uncle Rock aka Robert Burke Warren.
February 4. The Arts Society of Kingston at 97 Broadway presents a sampler of the region’s finest songwriters the first Sunday of each month (following their hip First Saturday art gallery walks). Hosted by gad-fly girls Elly Wininger and Elise Pittelman, this session also features the contemporary original music of Dorraine Scofield, Ralph Legnini, and Joe Veillette. February is a short month, so get out now and hear live music! 2pm. $10/$8 ASK members. Kingston. (845) 338-0331. www.askforarts.org. Reality Check
February 9. Local band buzz, part one: This veteran Hudson Valley power trio—Anthony Nisi (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Frank Russ (bass), and Guy Elluzzi (drums)—plans to rock the starch out of the Silo Ridge Country Club on Dutchess County Route 22. Seriously, come early to have dinner in their Bistro on the Green, then stay for Reality Check’s mix of modern and classic dance-rock hits. 1, 2, 3, Fore! 9:30pm. No cover with dinner. Amenia. (845) 373-7000. www.rcband.net.
Uncle Rock/The Phantoms (a capella)
February 11. Uncle Rock is singer-songwriter, actor, Chronogram scribe, and professional child wrangler Robert Burke Warren. Before being dubbed Uncle Rock by his nephew, Warren was bassist for The Fleshtones and spent a year portraying Buddy Holly in “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” in London’s West End. But his most rewarding role to date has been as stay-at-home dad to his son, Jack (seven). When Jack headed off to kindergarten, “Unk” happily ended up a teacher’s assistant at the School of the New Moon outside Woodstock, where he brought his guitar to play rock ‘n’ roll, country, and folk for the kids. Drawing inspiration from icons like Maurice Sendak, Shel Silverstein, and Roald Dahl, Uncle Rock faces the dragons in your closet. Dorraine Scofield lends a voice to the a capella Phantoms for this kids’ and parents’ show at the Bearsville Theater. 2pm. $8 adults, $5 kids, toddlers free. Bearsville. (845) 679-4406. (Uncle Rock returns to the Woodstock Library on February 24 at 5pm and to Taste Budd’s in Red Hook on March 3 at 10pm.) www.unclerock.com.
Anthill Mob
February 17. Local band buzz, part two: We love Anthill Mob for spreading the love from Dutchess County to Manhattan to Austin music fest South by Southwest for almost 20 years. The band (lead vocalist/keyboardist Stephanie Gallo, guitarist Ed Lotz, bassist Rob Nastasi, and drummer Dave Mucci) fills the void between new-edge bands and classic rockers, playing high-test vocal rock and power country at hot spot Michael’s Sports Bar (which just added an actual beer-pong table) on Route 9. 10pm. No cover with dinner. Fishkill. (845) 896-5766. www.myspace.com/anthillmob1.
Fantom Frequency
February 17. Fantom Frequency’s members are the reigning ambassadors of Hudson Valley/New York City crossover hard-emo and one of the most polished units around. Tonight at Cabaloosa the group headlines an outrageous roster of live bands cemented by cutting-edge DJ Claw spinning some of the most exclusive dubplates from emerging artists around the world. Joined by This Level Is Clouds! (from Ohio), Gregory Farley, and Pontious Pilate Sales Pitch (featuring experienced and longtime members of the Kingston-Woodstock rock scene), FF presents absolutely something for everyone at this synth-rock-dance-punk-drum’n’bass throwdown. Let’s get ready to you-know-what! 10pm. $8. New Paltz. (845) 255-5400.www.myspace.com/fantomfrequency.
Rusted Root
February 17. Any show by Rusted Root is a party, from here at The Chance to dancing in the aisles during WDST’s 1999 holiday concert at UPAC. Despite the name, RR stays fresh year-in and year-out. Take note: Jambase is running a contest to give away tickets to the upcoming February tour at www.jambase.com/contests. New York City-based jam unit Quintus is psyched to be added to this tour, having just posted the news all over the band’s MySpace page (www.myspace.com/quintusmusic). 7:30pm. $25. Poughkeepsie. www.chancetheater.com. (845) 471-1966.
Pete Levin Organ Trio
March 3. Woodstock-based keyboard legend Levin has performed and recorded with hundreds of jazz and pop artists, including Paul Simon, Miles Davis, David Sanborn, Robbie Robertson, and John Scofield, not to mention his 15-year association with legendary composer/arranger Gil Evans. Says Levin, “What I got from Gil was the unshakable notion that playing music was to create from a place where there are no boundaries. If it can be imagined then it can be done.” With a new CD, Deacon Blues, about to drop this spring, Levin embraces his roots and first love, the Hammond organ. Since he’s been working with a heavy group of sidemen (including Joe Beck, Danny Gottlieb, Tony Levin, and Mike DeMicco), don’t be surprised to see who shows up at this “trio” gig at the Rosendale Cafe. (The cafe now hosts a community singer-songwriters night every other Tuesday at 7:30pm, call for February dates.) 8pm. $10. Rosendale. (845) 658-9048. www.rosendalecafe.com
