This weekend, it’s The Truth, and not just Kyle’s Two-Chord Truth, or in a quasi or rumors type of way.
— The band Truth & Rumors, consisting of a female lead singer and three guys on instruments, specializes in rock-a-billy, roots music and blues, and they will play at the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt on Friday evening, Aug. 7. In case you want to know more about what they might play that night, there are available on online web sites 17 cover tracks and dozens of photos. The group also plays fairly frequent gigs at another inn, The Village, in North Hudson.
— The band Quasimofo, playing at The Village a few Saturdays back, had some of the most funked up jazz you will ever hear. It was largely and crazily keyboard fueled, and during a several-minute run, the man seated behind the electric piano had to stand on two occasions to belt out his groove. Look for them at various places in North Hudson, including Season’s Tavern, throughout the year.
— The lead singer of Smokescreen, which played the Smilin’ Moose recently, bears a resemblance to another vocalist who has had a look-alike around town in recent times, Scotty Ian of Anthrax, (you have to look a bit with your creative eyes, as the Smokescreen singer has a longer not stringy beard, but overall, this is not just blowin’ smoke). As far as the band’s lead guitar, they have a ways to go before cranking it up like Anthrax, but featured some pretty creative textures to their riffs, on “Centerfold” and also with the grinding treatment given to the last part of “Walk This Way.” And also give them kudos for going beyond overplayed classics, when diving into “High Infidelity” by REO Speedwagon. That last choice really got the attention of my good friend Tom, who said he has all their albums.
(As far as these look-alikes, I swear, singer Ian of Anthrax walked into Dick’s Bar and Grill a while back with reality TV star Bruce Jenner, who — since then — has become Caitlin. Maybe they will be there amongst the dozens displaying at the Brit car club show that goes on 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, on adjacent Walnut Street).