Greetings readers! Once again, we lost two pretty important people this week. Fred Milano of the original Dion and The Belmonts passed away January 3rd at 72, and we also lost Tommy Ardolino, the drummer for NRBQ. Two great groups that lost original members this week. I guess everybody’s getting to that age.

I have nothing profound to propound about this week, so I’m just going to get straight to my live music picks.

Wednesday, Jan. 11 – The great ROBERT GORDON returns to BB King’s in Manhattan. He’s older, grayer, and paunchier, but he stills rocks out with the best of them! If you go, request “The Way I Walk”. KENNY VANCE AND THE PLANOTONES carry the doo wop torch into the City Winery in Manhattan. Kenny was an original member of Jay and The Americans and is still singing great! ROSS RICE AND THE VERY SEXY TRIO are at The Catamount in Mount Tremper for their regular biweekly Wednesday night gig. There’s also an unusual gig this evening in that it’s a spoken word reading, but it’s music related. Inquiring Minds Book Store in Saugerties hosts RAUNCH AND ROLL, readings by authors Howard Massey, Robert Burke Warren, and Jeremy Wilber from their original writings. Massey will read from his recently published book “Roadie”, inspired by the life of the immortal Ian Stewart AKA the sixth Rolling Stone; Wilber from his book, “Miles From Woodstock” about the heady days in Woodstock back in the day; and Warren from his original writings. Should be quite interesting!
Thursday, Jan.12 – The inimitable BOOTSY COLLINS, late of P-Funk and James Brown’s band, stops by to funkify BB King’s in Manhattan.
Friday, Jan. 13 – My friend, TODD WOLFE, formerly Sheryl Crow’s guitarist, brings his electric blues band to the Roundout Music Lounge in Kingston, but I will have to skip Todd this time around, as I will be at The Bearsville Theater for this week’s Pick of the Week. THE BEARSVILLE SESSIONS BAND, in their fifth installment of the series, focuses on The British Invasion. Now, this is the music I cut my teeth on, the band is great, so I gotta be there! But for those of you seeking something a little less raucous, RHETT MILLER, frontman of Americana rockers, The Old 97’s, makes a rare local appearance at The Orient in Poughkeepsie (He lives in New Paltz). Also tonight is the (usually) weekly jam at the home of Stephen and Dona Crawford. All are invited. The address is 49 Webber Lane, Olivebridge.
Saturday, Jan 14 – If you’re upstate, THE BEN ROUNDS BAND rocks The Catamount in Mount Tremper. If you’re downstate, SKOLLIE, a great band consisting of Blondie Chaplin, Anton Fig, and Keith Lentin, is at The Rock Shop in Brooklyn. Blondie has spent the past couple of decades singing and playing guitar with The Rolling Stones, and before that, toured with Rick Danko and was a member of The Beach Boys. Anton Fig has been playing drums in the David Letterman Late Show Band since forever. Keith has played with Chris Spedding and a host of others.
Monday, January 16 – Last week, when I recommended STEVE EARLE at City Winery, I didn’t realize that his gig there was a residency that runs every Monday night from now until Feb. 6, but that’s what it is, so it’ll be here again next week and every week through Feb.6. Catch at least one of them. If you dig Jazz, there’s a great club in Manhattan on Broadway and 105^th called Smoke, and they do! Some of the hottest jazz guys in New York call this club their home, and every Monday night, they have THE SMOKE BIG BAND. Ellington, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Count Basie. You get the picture? Smoke’s jam session will blow your mind!
Tuesday, Jan. 17 – The new version of NRBQ is at The Iridium in Manhattan tonight. Piano player, Terry Adams is the only original member, but I’m sure they’ll still rock as hard as ever. For you upstaters, check out the open mic at The Catamount in Mount Tremper, hosted by Ben Rounds.

Have a great week!

Fred Perry is the owner of Reservoir Music Center on Route 28 in Shokan, and founding member of Alt-Country supergroup, The Brooklyn Cowboys, is from a 3rd generation musical family and lives in the Hudson Valley, where he does what he can to promote live music.