December 7 - December 13, 1995

IF YOU LEAVE ME CAN I COME TOO? Caitlin von Schmidt moved to Tucson in 1980 to attend the UA and soon found herself hitting the clubs instead of the books. The heady romance of music temporarily fogged all academic notions and von Schmidt went on to establish herself as an intrinsic part of the local music scene, first as a founding member of the River Roses, and then in Caitlin and the Stickponies.

On Sunday, December 10, at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St., Caitlin and the Stickponies will perform one last time before von Schmidt moves back to Boston at the year's end. In addition to her bandmates, Julia Mueller-Groves, Peter Catalanotte and Sean Murphy, some of her dearest musician friends will be there to assist in the festivities for rockin' goodbye.

Ex-River Roses Chris Holliman and Gene Ruley will be there with their current bands, 35 Summers and The Drakes, respectively, along with Al Perry and the Cattle and Shoebomb. All of this should provide ample distraction for those of us who will be teetering on the verge of tears.

"There are a lot of other people I would rather see move out of Tucson," drummer Tom Larkins (Jonathan Richman, Naked Prey, et al) told me recently.

Many of us would agree with that sentiment.

Make plans to join Caitlin and her friends to help write the last paragraph in this chapter of local music. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $3. There could be a few surprises in store....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KXCI: Our blessed community radio station KXCI has been bringing us truly alternative music--everything from polkas to Muslim Shiite punk--for a dozen years now, so it's time to celebrate.

The little radio station that could brings Alligator recording artists Little Charlie and the Nightcats to the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St., on Saturday, December 9. This band is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary with a new release, Straight Up!

For two years running, the British Blues Connection's Blue Print magazine chose Little Charlie and the Nightcats as the "Best Touring U.S. Blues Band." The Nightcats play hot enough to kill your soul and run your hide up a tree, but it's Rick Estrin's songwriting that really sets this band apart. Koko Taylor, Robert Cray and John Hammond all recorded Estrin originals on their 1995 Grammy nominated albums.

Playing a fiery combination of blues, jazz, swing, rockabilly and rhythm and blues, Little Charlie and the Nightcats garnered high praise from John Lee Hooker, who warned guitarist Little Charlie Baty, "You're dangerous with that guitar, man. They're gonna put you in jail."

This will also be your chance to see the Rialto before the renovation is completed. Don't worry, though--there will be a bar, plenty of seating and, most importantly, room to dance in front of the stage.

The show starts at 9 p.m.; tickets are $5 and $6. Call the Rialto at 795-1420 or KXCI at 623-1000 for more information.

VOLUME DISCOUNT: Itchy Foot Moe's Skateboard Park, 127 S. Fourth Ave., presents an all-ages show with four bands on Friday, December 8. In order of appearance the bands are: M.A.C., Wicker Man, Stuck Mojo and Machine Head.

Roadrunner recording artists Machine Head's way of doing things is, in general, extreme. Their live show is loud and intense, bonding alternative with metal for their own brand of steamrolling groove. Not to be overshadowed by the sheer force of the music, singer/guitarist Robb Flynn writes lyrics that are just as in-your-face.

"The ultimate goal is to use my words as a means to instill some visual impressions and to open some eyes," says Flynn. "People tend to freak over my lyrics, but I'm actually trying to create something positive from a very negative environment."

Stuck Mojo describes their music as "groove rap with a metal edge" with crunchy, thick guitar, bottom- heavy groove and a machine-gun rap attack served with determined back-up vocals and hooky riffs.

Oh yeah, they're loud, too.

Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 day of show, and are available at Zia Records, Dillards and Itchy Foot Moe's. For more information call 622-5002 or 747-7719.

LAST NOTES: Tucson's own Then Tingari with ¡TCHKUNG! from Seattle visit the The Institute for Creative Studies (formerly the Downtown Performance Center), 530 B. N. Stone Ave., at 9 p.m. Monday, December 11. Both bands are heavily rhythm based and use a lot of audience interaction. Unlike Then Tingari, ¡TCHKUNG! is very political.

Overall, this show promises an evening of incendiary rythmic revolution.

Tickets are $4, available at the door. Call 628-1650 for more information.

See the inspiration incarnate for Nanci Griffith's song "Ford Econoline," as folk singer and storyteller Rosalie Sorrels visits Tucson for a solo performance at 8 p.m. Tuesday, December 12, at the Southwest Center for Music, 2175 N. Sixth Ave.

The personable performer and accomplished musician celebrates 30 years on the road with a new release and a nomination for the 1995 Folk Arts National Heritage Fellowship from the NEA. Tickets are $10, $8 for seniors, TKMA, TFTM and KXCI members, available at Antigone Books, Loco Records, Hear's Music and The Folk Shop. Call 884-1220 for information.
--Jennifer Murphy

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