Backbone > Ear Whacks

Nightlife Highlights 4-04
by DJ Wavy Davy

The Assad Family
April 2. Unison Arts Center brings Sérgio and Odair Assad to suny’s Studley Theater with three generations of their extraordinary family. Last year, Brazilian television aired a documentary about the Assad Family that generated so much excitement the family was persuaded to embark on a limited us tour. They’ll perform everything from traditional folk music to Brazilian standards and contemporary interpretations of native rhythms 8pm. $25, $30. New Paltz. (845) 255-1559.
www.unisonarts.org

The Kiss-Ups/Ambience of the Nightly Newswatch
April 3. The red-hot Forum Lounge lives up to its name by offering only the area’s most innovative bands and DJs. Hip young owners Chris and Dugo have dressed up a vintage Broadway building to host funk, reggae, and hip-hop with equal aplomb. Tonight sample jazz-rock improv with ANN followed by hyper-pop duo the Kiss Ups, who take no prisoners. “Power Hour” means $1 cocktails from 9-10pm seven nights a week. (Wet Paint appears April 10.) 10pm. $5. Kingston. (845) 331-1116.
www.forumlounge.com

The Toasters
April 9. Toasters founder Rob “Bucket” Hingley emigrated here from the uk in 1980, flush with the heady sound of Britain’s ska-punk craze. Unable to find a ska scene in Manhattan, he started his own band (and label, the late Moon Ska) and still burns the torch today. Go to www.toasters.org to see the latest line-up for this Chance show, and a list of 34 (!) alumni musicians. (Reggae rebel Eek-A-Mouse appears on April 10 and Goblet pours into the Loft April 24.) 8pm. $10 advance, $12 day-of-show. Poughkeepsie (845) 471-1966.
www.thechancecomplex.com

Howland Cultural Center Open Mike
April 9, 23. Calling all troubadors and architecture students to the 1872 HCC in Beacon, designed by Richard Morris Hunt and listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Beacon is a hotbed of artistic expression so expect some real talent here the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month. Refreshments available. 7:30pm sign-up. $3. Beacon. (845) 831-4988.
www.howlandculturalcenter.org.

ZenFest 2004
April 16, 17. Here’s a made-to-order combo of great music in the great outdoors. The Zen Tricksters (with Hope in Time, Black and Sparrow, and others) bring ZenFest back to the bucolic Full Moon Resort. The bands perform Friday and Saturday night and host a big acoustic jam Saturday afternoon. Grateful Dead bassist (and fan) Phil Lesh said “The Tricksters are more than just a cover band, they have their own stuff and they are brilliant!” No surprise that Trickster alums have gone on to play with the Dead and Susan Tedeschi. (The New York New Music Variety Show, aka Beefstock, returns April 23-25.) 7pm. Weekend packages from $135. Oliverea. (845) 254-5117.
www.fullmooncentral.com

Socks and Sandals: An Evening of Shorts
April 17. Impressarios Tim Sutton and Matt Senzatimore, who brought us Lost In the Sauce and Wooden Rope, pool their talents for a night of new music and film shorts at The Children’s Media Project. Sutton, an instructor at the center, has infectious enthusiasm for new music and art. Senzatimore knows from cool tunes since he books the stage at Oasis Café in New Paltz. Their latest project, RatBoy, will perform after the screenings. 6pm. By donation. Poughkeepsie. (845) 485-4480.
www.children’smediaproject.org

Jazz Guitar Summit with Diehl, Dziuba, Finck
April 24. Clear your calendar for this convergence of the finest jazz guitarists in two generations. Jazz legend Diehl, from Poughkeepsie, played on vintage recordings by Hank Mobley, Sonny Stitt and “Brother” Jack McDuff. Mark Dziuba, head of jazz studies at suny New Paltz, sways from rock to jazz in a New York minute. Matthew Finck of Accord has jazz in his blood and mercury in his fingers. This trio, even without a rhythm section, will fill The Uptown stage with more talent than one club should be allowed to have, 8pm. $10. Kingston. (845) 339-8440.
www.uptowngathering.com