Trampled by Turtles CD-Release

A quintet of nouveau bluegrass adventurers way too wily and quick on their feet to actually fall victim to slow-moving reptiles, Trampled By Turtles is an untraditional traditional band that runs as much on punkish adrenalin as pure musical starts. "Shenandoah," for example, the only traditional tune on TBT's brand new album, is loaded with requisite lyrical forays on fiddle, mandolin, and banjo that draw out the aching melody, but sly, rock-spawned twists in vocal phrasing give it a distinctive spunky vitality. Elsewhere on Duluth (Banjodad), named for TBT's hometown, the band runs a thin line among blazing breakdowns as much indebted to the Ramones as Flatt & Scruggs, teary country blues, and brittle folk, all laced with stray shards of jazz and rock. Chief songwriter Dave Simonett, meanwhile, continues to impress as a lyricist who probes the intriguing shadows of human relationships. This performance marks the release of Duluth and will include an opening set by fellow north-country bluesman Charlie Parr. 18+.
Fri., Nov. 21, 8 p.m., 2008