The Local Spin

by George Nostrand

Friday night will be all right if you make your way down to “The Cellar That Rocks Rutland” (aka Sidelines).

The Vegas Brothers will be there to entertain. I’ve seen these guys progress over the years as they worked their way from the Cadillac Lounge to the stages here in Rutland, and heard good things about their last show. Go show ‘em some love.

Also Friday, Cafe Terra features two acts: Jesse Lawrence from 6 to 8 p.m. (acoustic guitar) and Los Microbios (folk/country/early punk) from 8 to 9 p.m.

I usually wait until the last minute to do my Christmas shopping, but if you’re up at the mall this weekend, you can kill a few birds at once.

Carnival Hill will be playing at Sports Legends Bar in the mall Saturday night from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Do some shopping, catch a game and heckle the band if you get bored.

New name, same great sound, as The Jake Geppart Band transforms into Beyond Further. You can catch this transformation with your own eyes at the Three Peaks Inn in Winhall on Saturday. The show starts at 9:30 p.m. If you’ve never seen a band change names you should really check it out. It’s quite an experience. I’m sure Jake will be in a state of total confusion while Nature Man will be at peace in the chaos.

Aaron Audet continues his busy schedule. He’s back at the Lakehouse in Bomoseen from 8 to 11p.m. Friday.

On Saturday, A.A. teams up with Jeff Poremski to play Happy Hour acoustic-rock style at the Outback on Killington from 5 to 9 p.m. Will there be snow?

Speaking of busy, Duane Carleton’s song “The True American” is featured on the HBO documentary “Dirty Driving-Thunder Cars of Indiana.”

I’m not sure what Duane is driving to his gigs this week, but he’ll be at South Station on Thursday for the Martinis, Munchies and Music series from 5 to 8 p.m., then at Jax in Killington Thursday night 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. On Saturday he’ll be at Charlie B’s at The Stoweflake in Stowe from 8 to 11p.m.

On Wednesdays, you can catch him at Center Street Saloon. On the 26th he will have with him old pal and special guest Jim Gilmour.

Speaking of the 26th, it’s gonna be a big night of music here in Rutland with The Bona Fide Dregs at Saints ‘N Sinners and Shutefurmunde at Sidelines.

Three great acts within a block of each other — you’d be foolish not to catch them all. Only my mother’s birthday (the next day she’ll be the Big 6-0), could keep me away from these three great shows … (Oh, I am sooo in trouble with mom now — Happy Birthday Mom!).

There are some things that come my way that are way too good to pass up, and this next one is one of those … I got an e-mail announcing “Starline Rhythm Boys — Girl Howdy honky-tonk hoedown.” The next thing I read was, “Venison dinner.”

Girl Howdy honky-tonk hoedown? Venison dinner? This is too good to be true. Well, it’s true all right, and one of my favorite bands, The Starline Rhythm Boys, seems to be in the thick of this venison hoedown.

Somebody get me some dancing shoes and a few extra napkins for my beard … This all takes place Saturday at The Old Lantern, located on Greenbush Road in Charlotte, Vt., and a percentage of the proceeds from a $25 ticket (which includes the venison) will go to benefit WARMTH, the Vermont heating fuel assistance program. Call 425-3739 or 425-2120 for more information, and for the performing bands, go to www.starlinerhythmboys.com and www.girlhowdyband.com.

… and by George, keep supporting live, local music!

George Nostrand is a local musician with no shortage of words, who rambles weekly to let you know what’s happening in the local scene.

Give me some Spin! What’s going on with your band, your venue, or your cousin’s uncle’s brother’s band? If it’s musical and it’s happening in the Rutland area I want to hear about it. Send me an e-mail at localspin@gmail.com.