(Photo by Ross Halfin)
April 16 & 17
Huntington
Jeff Beck @ The Paramount
370 New York Ave. 8 p.m. $145.25, $103.75, $92, $71.75, $65.25. 631-673-7300
www.theparamountny.com
In an already legendary career, Jeff Beck has become that rare double Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, for work in both the Yardbirds and solo. Always one of the world’s most incendiary guitarists, Beck’s musical wanderlust and solid chops found him easily changing gears between rock, fusion and funk. Even though Beck’s last studio outing was 2010’s Emotion & Commotion, 2015 is shaping up to be a pretty busy year. Not only is he prepping for the release of next month’s Jeff Beck Live+, which will feature 14 of his seminal songs recorded during his 2014 tour along with two new studio tracks, but he working on two different books, the first official documentary focused on his career and a forthcoming 17th full-length studio project later in year. With Tyler Bryant.
April 18
NYC
Johnette Napolitano @ The City Winery
155 Varick St., 8 p.m. $40, $35. $32, $28. 212-608-0555
www.citywinery.com
Even though its been a decade plus since Concrete Blonde released 2004’s Mojave, Johnette Napolitano has remained busy, eventually reuniting the band in 2010 following the group’s announced 2006 retirement. Nowadays more known for her soundtrack work on films like Wicker Park and Underworld, she currently resides in Joshua Tree, where the California native works as a gallery artist and takes care of rescue horses, making this a rare foray east for her. Napolitano’s latest project is an EP called Naked in between delving into acting with a Canadian filmmaker. With Laurie Sargent.
April 18
Bay Shore
Barnaby Bye @ the YMCA Boulton Center for the Performing Arts
37 W. Main St. 8 p.m. $45, $40. 631-969-1101
www.boultoncenter.org
Twin singer-songwriters Bobby and Billy Alessi, whose major claim to fame is “Savin’ the Day” off the Ghostbusters soundtrack, are at the core of the resurrected Barnaby Bye. Thanks to the duo’s solo success and a healthy sideline writing commercial jingles, this local outfit took nearly three and a half decades to follow up its 1974 sophomore bow Touch with 2008’s Thrice Upon a Time.
April 18
Patchogue
Patti LuPone @ The Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts
71 E. Main St. 8 p.m. $45 plus fee. 631-207-1313.
www.patchoguetheatre.com
In what’s essentially one of her homecoming performances, the Northport native will be bringing a show she calls “Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda” to the Patchogue stage. The set features songs from musicals which she could have played, should have played, did play and will play. The list of shows includes Hair, Bye, Bye Birdie, Funny Girl, West Side Story, Peter Pan and her Tony Award-winning performances in Evita and Gypsy. Suffice it to say, there’s plenty for lovers of live musical theater to sup on here.
April 19
Bay Shore
Jack Licitra @ the YMCA Boulton Center for the Performing Arts
37 W. Main St. 11 a.m. Free. 631-969-1101
www.boultoncenter.org
The local singer-songwriter who normally plays under the name Jack’s Waterfall will be putting on this very special performance in honor of Earth Day. In a day that’s all about protecting the environment, Licitra will be a master of ceremonies who, in addition to singing and playing, will lead kids in an interactive drum circle, help teach them about re-purposing everyday things as well as becoming aware of what they consume and how to develop a sense of being an earth keeper. Environmental educators will also be on hand from Seatuck and cresli with information on whale watches and seal walks. Peconic bay keeper Brady Wilkins will also be empowering kids with ways to protect the Great South Bay as well as pass out copies of 52 Ways to Love Your Bay. This program will open your child’s heart and give them tools to be good stewards of the earth.
April 20
Brooklyn
John Brown’s Body @ Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Ave. 8 p.m. $12. 718-963-3369
www.brooklynbowl.com
Named after the battle hymn written in honor of the revolutionary abolitionist of the same name, John Brown’s Body is an American reggae octet that’s survived despite losing major members to creative differences and cancer. A regular presence on the jam-band circuit, JBB has returned at full force and will be trotting out numbers from 2013’s Kings and Queens and reworking it as the most-recently released Kings and Queens In Dub. With Ticklah and The Brooklyn Attractors.
April 21
NYC
Lee Ann Womack with Amanda Shires @ The City Winery
155 Varick St., 8 p.m. $32, $28, $25, $22. 212-608-0555
www.citywinery.com
Even though Lee Ann Womack wound up being embraced by Music Row for the crossover success of hits like “I Hope You Dance,” “Ashes By Now” and “I May Hate Myself in the Morning,” there’s always been a touch of traditional country music influence in anything she’s done. With country music radio having turned its back on her in the quest for more pop-like flavors of the month, Womack has gone the indie label route. Last year saw Womack make her Sugar Hill Records debut with The Way I’m Livin’, her first studio outing in six years. Opening the show is fiddle-playing phenom Amanda Shires, who’s made quite a name for herself on the Americana music scene as a solo artist and in collaboration with husband Jason Isbell.
April 21
NYC
Roomful of Blues @ B.B. King Blues Club and Grill
237 West 42nd St. 8 p.m. $20 adv. $25 DOS. 212-997-4144
www.bbkingblues.com
Even though Roomful of Blues (ROB) has been tagged as a blues and swing revival big band, this ensemble has in fact been in existence since 1967, predating any ‘90s trends inspired by the film Swingers by quite a number of decades. Along the way, six-string aficionados like Duke Robillard and Ronnie Earl have passed through this Rhode Island crew’s ranks while they’ve made quite a bit of history themselves, recording with the likes of the late Big Joe Turner and Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson along the way. With roughly 48 band members being able to claim membership at one time or another, ROB continue to crank out the tunes with an occasional visit to the studio with the latest being last year’s With Roomful of Blues.
(Photo by Jim McGuire)
(Photo by Michael Wilson)
April 22
Huntington
Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt @ The Paramount
370 New York Ave. 8 p.m. $103.75, $92, $82, $71.75, $60.25. 631-673-7300
www.theparamountny.com
Not the first time these two premier singer-songwriters have shared the stage, Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt show no signs of slowing down. As he celebrates 40 years of recording, John Hiatt was once again at it last year via the release of Terms of My Surrender, the Indiana native’s 23rd studio album. While the blues serve as an inspiration on these 11 self-penned originals, Hiatt avoided being a traditionalist and instead uses the blues as a spice instead of being the main musical course. Meanwhile, Lyle Lovett has moved away from being a country-music singer-songwriter to more of a genre-hopping mad scientist along the lines of fellow Texan (and Western swing legend Bob Wills). His 14th and most recent album, 20012’s Release Me, signals the end of his relationship with Curb Records. As such, he’s recorded a hodgepodge of songs and while only two are Lovett originals, the alt-country icon does readings of songs penned by Townes Van Zandt, Chuck Berry, Jesse Winchester and Frank Loesser.
April 22
NYC
Mary Chapin Carpenter @ Town Hall
123 W. 43rd St. 8 p.m. $65, $55, $39.50. 212-307-4100
www.the-townhall-nyc.org
Eleven studio albums in, Mary Chapin Carpenter continues to be one of the more consistently solid singer-songwriters on the scene today. Last year’s Songs From the Movie reaffirmed this thanks to its highly confessional vibe infusing Carpenter’s typically well-crafted fare. With Lunasa.
