The Local Spin: Space Monkeys and Monkey Jungle

By GEORGE V. NOSTRAND

“Bruce! Bruce! Bruce!” That was the chant going up for new Paramount Executive Director Bruce Bouchard before last Friday’s fantastic Floydian experience with The Machine.

A good “opening night” for the new guy, and hopefully a good start for a new era at the Paramount.

I talked to Bruce and he was eager to tell me he had already booked a show featuring local acts — The Freakers Ball — for Halloween.

It will feature Duane Carleton & The Backwoods Messiahs, The Jim Gilmour Band, The Bona Fide Dregs and Crazyhearse! Quite the lineup, I must say.

He also mentioned an interest in moe., but that’s a story for another time … (I hope).

Kudos also for another very successful Friday Night Live that featured a real all-star local lineup.

It’s great to see so many people turn out for that, as well as the Wednesday night summer series in Main Street Park.

We really are creating a scene here folks — music almost every day of the week, and not just music, but really good music.

I’m going to give a quick shoutout to the open mics in town, and one a bit outta’ town.

Tuesday nights at CJs, Wednesday nights at Sidelines, Thursday nights at 3Ds, as well as The Clear River Tavern — open mics galore.

They are all run by great musicians and great folks trying to give everyone their 15 minutes of fame. Support the cause and go out and play yourself. You honestly can’t be any worse than I was when I started “open mic-ing” it back in the early ’90s. (I once had someone offer to buy me a beer if I promised not to play).

Don’t get me wrong, open mic is not just a bunch of hacks, but a real feeding ground for up-and-coming musicians.

Start your weekend early with The Space Monkeys tonight at the Red Moon Saloon.  The lineup in this band includes Chris Pallutto and Steve Audsley and they’ll keep the rock ‘n’ roll Thursday trend going for sure.

The Clear River Tavern is one of my favorite places not only to play and hear music, but also to just hang out. I admittedly don’t get out there much but here’s two good reasons to make the trip: Duane Carleton, every Wednesday on the deck from 6 to 9 p.m., and this Saturday he’ll play the famous barbecue that happens every summer at The Clear.

The Clear is just outside of Pittsfield and the Tavern is ’round back of the Inn. Worth the trip, especially if Duane is playing.

If you are looking for something a little different music-wise on the Fourth, you can celebrate with the Rutland Curbstone Chorus, a men’s barbershop chorus.

They will perform at the Brandon Fourth of July parade festivities, which will be from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Saturday.

They will do their thing in the Main Street park gazebo, singing patriotic songs and the old familiar barbershop standards.

They will also perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 10, at the Granville, N.Y., summer concert series at Veterans Park. This will be a complete program of the many songs in their repertoire. Both concerts are free and open to the public.

Have a great weekend and make sure to get out and do some digging on your own — there’s a lot out there that doesn’t make the Spin every week, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go check it out. Call some friends and get on out there.

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

George Nostrand is a man of many words — many, many words — some wise, some better (but not often) left unspoken. Somehow he continues to write a weekly column about the local music scene, interspersing what’s happening with what he thinks about it. Let him know what you think at localspin@gmail.com.

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