Seven Days: Vermont's Independent Voice

High Voltage

There are two kinds of people in this world: fans of alt-country legends Uncle Tupelo who prefer the Jeff Tweedy-fronted Wilco and those who prefer Jay Farrar’s Son Volt. It is a schism eliciting fiery emotions not unlike other great cultural divides of our times: Democrat/Republican, Yankees/Red Sox, Jon/Kate. While Tweedy’s band has inarguably gone on to wider popular acclaim, his onetime UT cohort Farrar has quietly built a sterling career around plaintive, visceral song craft and remains among the country’s most highly regarded songwriters. This Monday he brings his newly reconstituted Son Volt — featuring ace B-town axe man Mark Spencer, no less — to Higher Ground in support of their excellent new album, American Central Dust. Sera Cahoone opens.