Assuming you didn’t grab your copy of the paper and skip directly to this column — Monkey House stalker, I’m looking in your direction — you might have noticed that this week’s installment of the music section features a lengthy article on mandolin makin’ marvel Joe Cleary and his innovative approach to the instrument’s design. If you haven’t read it, I’d suggest you do before we continue. It’s really pretty good. I’ll wait . . .... Read more

Whether you’re married or otherwise seriously involved romantically, or pathetically alone and lacking significant prospects, Valentine’s Day simultaneously blows and sucks. If you are lucky enough to call someone “darling,” VD — not that VD, though there’s a parallel in there somewhere, right? — comes laden with unrealistic, materialistic expectations: chocolates, flowers, little chalky heart-shaped candies with inane messages, dinners and, for showboating jerks, jewelry. Every kiss-my-ass begins with “Kay.”... Read more

Unless you are really into Gypsy jazz, you’ve probably never heard of Denis Chang. However, If you were lucky enough to catch guitar virtuoso Lollo Meier’s performance last year at Parima’s Acoustic Lounge, you’ve actually already seen him. Despite otherworldly chops and a reputation as one of the finest guitarists on the planet, Chang stepped back from the spotlight to accompany Meier during his last Vermont appearance. Nice guy, huh?... Read more

Sometimes, I’m really glad I fire my shots from behind the relative safety of a keyboard. I can envision few scenarios more truly terrifying than standing onstage in front of a roomful of inebriated strangers and trying to make them laugh. To those brave few who willingly put their lives and wits on display in the flesh for all the world to judge — and in some cases, harass — I salute you. Heartily.... Read more

It’s not something I think about very often — believe it or not, I’m actually a pretty modest fella, and it’s not like I’m Tom freakin’ Messner or anything. But every now and then, and usually completely out of the blue, I’m forced to confront my local pseudo-celebrity face to face. Sometimes quite literally, as was the case last Friday.... Read more

Hey, did you hear that Phish are getting back together? Oh, you did. And you entered the ticket lottery for their three Hampton, Virginia, shows roughly 342 times using various names — including that of your dearly departed Pomeranian/pit bull mix, Fee.... Read more

Well, it’s all over. No, I don’t mean Dubya’s presidency. Still a shade under two weeks to go there, I’m afraid — and yes, I’m counting. But he couldn’t possibly fuck up anything else in the next 13 days, right? Um . . . moving on.... Read more

For Vermont music fans, there’s not much left to say about Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. As the song goes, “If you don’t know me by now . . .” While the rest of the world is only now discovering our leggy siren and her merry band of insomniacs, at this point, local folks either love ’em or they don’t. So the band’s upcoming three-night New Year’s Eve stint at the Higher Ground Ballroom isn’t exactly newsworthy ’round these parts.... Read more

Before we delve into the issues of the day, I should point out that because Christmas Eve falls on a Wednesday this year, the December 24 issue will actually hit newsstands on Friday, December 26 — even newspaper delivery elves don’t work on the holidays. I think it’s a union thing. Therefore, this column will cover events happening through said Friday, December 26. So, if I refer to “this” Friday, I mean Friday, December 19. “Next” Friday, means the following Friday, December 26. Make sense? Good. Moving on . . .

HO-HO-HOEDOWN... Read more

So, have you seen Death tribute band Rough Francis yet? In a word: “whoa.” To my recollection, there hasn’t been this kind of buzz about a local band since . . . um, well, I’m not even sure, really. But judging by the fact that I had to wait in line for almost half an hour to see them at The Monkey House last Saturday, it is safe to say it’s been awhile.... Read more