metropolis | february 2008

Even though the doldrums of winter are starting to wear us all a bit thin, the local music scene has enough spice and variety to help warm up your weekends. Check out some of February’s best:

February 15th — The Temptations and the Four Tops at the Roanoke Civic Center
What better way to celebrate your undying love for your Valentine than with the soulful R&B of two of Motown’s most classic acts? Though it’s cold outside, The Temptations will make it feel like the month of May. The tickets to this night out are a bit of an investment, but well worth it when you consider the musical history that you’ll witness first hand. These bands have been playing music together all over the world for five decades—that’s close to 300 years collective experience per-band. Mind-boggling mastery of a craft that helped redefine music, civil rights, and “cool” in the United States deserves a sold-out crowd in Roanoke.

February 21st – Red Clay River, Mason Dixon Disaster, and Friends
Come out to Martin’s and start your weekend early with the blues-based southern rock of Richmond’s Mason Dixon Disaster and the powerfully raw roots music of locals Red Clay River. MDD’s latest record, Two Doubles, is chocked full of energetic country-rock songs that some people have described — and only halfway jokingly — as “punktry”. The live show is even better, thanks in part to a touring schedule that’s seen them honing their craft throughout the country. Start developing a gross disregard for sobriety now in preparation.
Red Clay River, the pet project of former Blackjack and the Longhaulers front-man Dan Bivens, are currently creating some of the best original music in the Roanoke Valley. Though the music is deeply seeped in old-time Appalachian sound and themes, there is an urgency to the songs that is undeniably modern. Their debut album, Too Poor to Die, manages to call up a great rustic pride with its reminiscence and reference to the back breaking work that goes into making a family and a community but it will break your heart in the moments the where the work still isn’t enough.
www.myspace.com/themasondixondisaster
www.myspace.com/redclayriver

February 29th — Poorfarm at Fork in the Alley
Poorfarm started out as a weekend tradition of grilling in the backyard, polishing off a case or two, and grabbing whatever instrument was close at hand to play songs to which everybody knew the words. It turned out to be so much fun that these folks left the backyard and brought the act out to share. The musicians in this band hail from all over southwestern and central Virginia and have been involved in a wide variety of original acts, and their set of mostly covers pays tribute to the music that inspires them. The casual atmosphere at Fork in the Alley combined with Poor Farm’s “of harmonica, mandolin, electric or acoustic guitars, tambourine, washboard, bass, snare drum, drum set, and stomp boxes” will make this a night out that feels like the best of backyard get-togethers.
www.myspace.com/poorfarm

Red Clay River. Photo / Cricket Powell

Posted: February 1st, 2008 under Performing Arts.

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