December 2007

The Messiah cometh

Eddie December 14, 2007 0 Comment

Christmas is here and so is the inevitable run of interpretations of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah. Fortunately, the American Bach Soloists more than do justice to the piece; they’ve even released a CD of their Mondavi Center performance from 2004. The group, under the direction of UC Davis music professor Jeffrey Thomas, will perform Messiah at the Mondavi Center’s lovely Jackson Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday. The two-hour live show is sure to please both the aficionado and the seasonal concertgoer. This year’s production features a staggering 32-member orchestra and 33-member choir. Ticket prices range from $29 to $39, with discounts for UC Davis students. The ultimate Christmas carol couldn’t be any more welcome to the Sacramento Valley.
(SN&R)

Liars

Eddie December 6, 2007 0 Comment

Liars

Unfortunately, the overwhelming glut of new releases tends to overshadow the finer offerings by more obscure, experimental musicians. But Liars, the Berlin-via-New-York-based noise outfit, has proven itself a formidable sub-genre force in the international scene. On the evidence of the album’s cymbal-crashing opener, “Plaster Casts of Everything,” and its closer, “Protection,” and, actually, everything in between, the Liars’ latest sounds like an essential collectible. Whether it’s misguided genius or simply dumb luck, this energetic trio has stumbled upon a sound that lies somewhere between raucous punk and introspective rock. They’re just now finishing up a tour with fellow New Yorkers Interpol, and one can only wonder how the pairing has worked. Not that the Liars would even give a damn.
(SN&R)