The
Crooked Jades are all over the map, as long as the map is an ancient, yellowing scroll pointing to treasure. Heavily inspired by pre-radio music of the U.S. and Europe, the band is full of howlers and pickers of the highest quality, all of whome are able to switch to cooing and delicate strumming at a moment's notice. We first fell for
The Unfortunate Rake, Vol. 2 with its shimmering, weird covers, then
World's On Fire, an intelligently explosive bonfire singalong. We're currently loving
Spring Darkness, which is a bit mellower than those other records, but still bears bandleader Jeff Kazor's love for the solemn absurdity of old-timey music, whether he wrote it himself or lifted it from a geezer.
Lady A and Her Heel Draggers open.
Tue., Aug. 11, 9:30 p.m., 2009
