WAXING BRAZILIAN

Have you folks been to Club Metronome lately? As I’ve reported a few times now, the long-overlooked cousin of Nectar’s has been undergoing a facelift. While the changes aren’t as dramatic as the urban chic design downstairs, they are a marked improvement on the venue’s previously dingy confines. It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint and a door on a men’s-room stall can do. But the renovations aren’t strictly physical — for example, there’s next week’s throwdown with indie-rock stalwarts The New Year and hermetic local Pitchfork darling Capstan Shafts. More on that next week.

This Tuesday, the ’Nome welcomes NYC club sensations Brazilian Girls for a night of ass-shakin’ debauchery. The high-octane trio has gained world renown for its potent brand of electronic dance music blending exotic influences as far-flung as jazz, tango and lounge music. While their two studio albums have sparked no small amount of indie-dance buzz, the Girls are truly in their element in a live setting, so a chance to see them should not be passed up. Also, the current tour will be their last for the foreseeable future, as lead singer Sabina Sciubba prepares for the birth of her first child. I told you their music was potent.

Also on the bill is a curious little outfit from upstate New York called Charlie Everywhere. Claiming influences as disparate as J Dilla and My Bloody Valentine, the Saratoga Springs duo trades in a delicious brand of hip-hop-infused psych-rock that kind of sounds like Feist backed by, um, J Dilla and My Bloody Valentine. So there you go.

Local turntablist and resident Tick Tick DJ Mike Device opens the show.

I’M NOT THERE: VT STYLE

I generally try to stay out of political stuff in this here music-ish column (Sarah Palin is the anti-Christ!). Ahem. But every now and then, a show comes along that, despite obvious ulterior motives, really deserves mention. That’s the case with this Thursday’s “Just Like a Woman” all female — and all local! — tribute to Bob Dylan at the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge.

In reality, the show is a fundraiser, er, “voter-registration drive” — wink, wink — for Progressive-turned-Independent-turned-virtually bankrupt gubernatorial candidate Anthony Pollina. But, to say the least, it seems the financially challenged politician knows how to throw a party — even if he’s not sure which one he belongs to.

Featuring a slew of the finest musicians — female or otherwise — that central Vermont has to offer, the night should be one for the ages. Among those scheduled to appear are rockin’ R&B singer Sara Grace, Latin jazz diva Miriam Bernardo, sweetheart of the outlaw country rodeo Rachel Rice and a host of others. The show’s first incarnation packed Montpeculiar’s Langdon Street Café to the gills. So expect a similar turnout this time around.

Tune in next week when Jim Douglas counters with “Bridge Over Troubled Water: An A Cappella Tribute to Art Garfunkel.” And yes, I made that last one up.

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

Just kidding about that headline . . . unless she says “yes.” But speaking of Ms. Bernardo — Mrs. Bolles? I’ll stop now — the wickedly talented Amapola and Magic City vocalist has a few other musical projects on tap this month that bear mentioning.

The first is a month-long residency every Friday at Langdon Street Café entitled “Happy Heartbreak Hour.” The gist is that Bernardo and a remarkable cast of revolving characters, including trombone ace Andrew Moroz, exiled-on-Church Street clarinetist Zoe Christiansen, Spanish guitar whiz Jairo Sequira and free-jazz guru Michael Chorney, gather and perform . . . well, whatever the hell they feel like performing. Latin. Jazz. Latin-jazz. You name it. Seriously though, with such a diverse array of musicians, these sessions will get pretty wild and feature music from all over the map. By the way, if you’re wondering what happened to the jazz heads in Burlington, it seems they’ve all moved to Montpelier. Sheesh.

Then, on Saturday, October 11, Bernardo brings the party to Burlington’s Parima Acoustic Lounge — a.k.a. the best listening room in town — with a rare appearance by Sister Ann Perpetua. Along with the aforementioned Chorney and cellist Polly Vanderputten, Bernardo will perform songs written by acclaimed composer Paul Bowles, offerings from Kurt Weil and Nina Rota and a few originals to boot.

And I really was kidding about the marriage thing. Unless . . .

POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE

Folks tend to take a lot of pride in their alma maters. And music writers are no exception. This Saturday, mine is having an open house and I strongly urge you to attend.

For those who don’t remember, last winter, I graduated at the top of my class from The Lab Turntablism and Urban Music Production Center. OK, I was the only student in my session. And I really sucked. But still, theirs is the only diploma currently hanging on my wall.

Since I was trained by turntable guru DJ ZJ, the school has moved to new, luxurious digs just down the hall from its old spot at 19 Church Street. To celebrate, the center is doing what any self-respecting group of DJs would do: throwing a party. You can check out demonstrations, get free schwag and, if you sign up for classes that day — again, I recommend it — your first session is free.

BITE TORRENT

New band alert! Indie-rock fans will want to swing by Wasted City Studios this Friday and check out earlgreyhot, a brand-spankin’-new local quartet who, despite having no previous shows, already have more than 1100 MySpace friends. That has me beat by roughly 1100 friends. WTF? The demos on said MySpace page sound promising enough. And the show is serving as a 7-inch-vinyl release party for local rockers Maneuvers, with support from local indie-pop faves In Memory of Pluto.

Speaking of all things indie, Brooklyn outfit The Dig is back in town this week for two shows: Thursday at Red Square and Friday at Radio Bean. The coolest thing about these guys? They’re from Brooklyn, they’re totally retro-rock and they’re not ironic at all. But does that, in fact, make them ironic? Whatever. They rock.

Those headed to the Toubab Krewe show this Thursday at the Higher Ground Ballroom should put down the bong and plan to get there early. Local hip-pop ensemble Strength in Numbers is opening and will seriously funk you up.

Lastly, it’s officially fall, which means it’s time for Harvest Fest in Enosburg. This year, the Enosburg Food Shelf is throwing a bash at the Enosburg Falls Middle School and has invited some great local bands to participate. First up are instrumental prog-rock whippersnappers War Elephants, who are now in the running for best local band name. Americana-noir trio Farm is up next. The boys recently sent me an advance of their new album, The Cave, and it simply kicks ass. Bluegrass vets Big Spike close out the night. All proceeds benefit the food shelf.