Seven Days: Vermont's Independent Voice

Labor Savors

Besides marking union victories and the closure of the traditional window for wearing white shoes, Labor Day heralds the end of summer. Those in need of a hoedown pick-me-up to soothe its passing can head to Charlotte, where the truth-telling Defibulators put paddles to the heart of hillbilly music. The Brooklyn-based band has made mountain folk hipster-chic in the Big Apple — trucker hats and all — with original tongue-in-cheek tunes touting the merits of hooch and honky-tonk. Due to gas prices, the Defibs’ signature ’77 Dodge “vanbulance”-turned-tour-bus stays at home. (Guitar-and-banjo player Bug Jennings notes: “We might as well pour whiskey in the tank.”) Expect colorful lyrics to match the percussionist’s red union suit, along with some local flavors: Vergennes-based teen heavyweights Busted Brix open, and harvest veggies and a roasted hog complete the seasonal send-off.