Friday, Jan. 8

Boulder Acoustic Society

Where: Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center
When: 8 PM

If Boulder Acoustic Society had a commercial on local television, its tagline would be this: “Appalachian folk with a Talking Heads attitude.” That’s the cheesy 2-bit version of BAS, a description they might just take well to. As the perceptive reader has already guessed, this Boulder-based four piece are partial to acoustic instruments: accordion, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and what have you. The sounds they make will be familiar to the initiated St. Louisan, as echoes of the Big Muddy world abound. Subtract the love for the Mighty Mississip’, add a slightly deranged attitude, move it down the street a few blocks to the Lemp, and there you have it: a show to be reckoned with.

Saturday, Jan. 9

The Bad Plus

Where: The Bistro
When: 8:30 PM and 10:15 PM

So here it is, all ye music-loving but self-loathing hip young people: your chance to see something called “Jazz.” You’re right, your parents DID listen to that noise. And so did their parents. And I know deep down inside you’ve always wanted to get into it, but those deep-seated memories of smooth-jazz christmas albums have kept you from really taking the plunge. Well fear no more; The Bad Plus will make you feel right at home. A jazz trio that can cover Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Lithium,” then turn around and do “Long Distance Runaround” is right up there with the Girl Talks of our nostalgia-crazed era. Though, to be honest, some of your parents listened to that music too. (psst: they also play originals that could make Basie giggle in elation.)

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