GetOut Magazine

Local spins
By THOMAS BOND
Get Out
March 6, 2003

Cold Shott and the Hurricane Horns featuring Small Paul
If You Got the Blues . . .
These local blues mainstays offer up a perfect memorial to late founder/ bassist Ted Kowal: a rollicking live album recorded at the Rhythm Room. Mixing standards including an inspirational take on Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come with originals penned by Kowal and other band members, the nine-piece group is in top form. Horns augment the wailing vocals of Small Paul Hamilton, and the disc cooks from start to finish. A-
Next show: 8 p.m. Saturday at Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino Resort, 15406 Maricopa Road, Maricopa, . Free.
Web site: http://here.at/coldshott

Jeff Dahl
Street Fighting Reptile
After cutting his teeth with Los Angeles punk bands such as the Angry Samoans two decades ago, singer/ songwriter/multi- instrumentalist Jeff Dahl moved to Cave Creek in the early 90s and has been cranking out solo albums ever since more than 20 to date. Dedicated to the spirit of trashy glam and garage rock, most of his songs are fast and loose (much like the characters in them), but Dahl can also slow things down for a nice acoustic ballad such as Road to Madrid. B+
Next show: Nothing scheduled at this time.
Web site: www.lastbandit.com/jeffdahl

Ember Coast
From the Mood Room
With musical savvy that belies their youthful ages, the members of Ember Coast have made a big splash on the local scene in a very short time. From the Mood Room, with rocking tunes that showcase equal parts power and melody, shows why. Much of the band's strength comes from the interplay of guitarists Nate Hardy and Nick Westby, which ranges from delicate to distorted, while singer Sean Brennan's bright, clear voice sits nicely on top. B+
Next show: 8 p.m. March 28 at The Hard Rock Cafe, 3 S. Second St., Phoenix, . $5, all ages.
Web site: www.embercoast.com

Kenn Harris
Amadeo
Should you ever need a brain operation, go see Dr. Kenn Harris. If the West Valley neurologist handles his medical instruments the way he does an acoustic guitar, your surgery will be a work of art. Amadeo consists of 12 of Harris original instrumental songs, which he cumbersomely calls postmodern classical compositions, and impeccable playing. Forget stylistic labels and call them simply beautiful. With only scarce accompaniment here and there, you'd think hearing a single guitar would grow tiresome after a while, but this disc is entrancing for its full 74 minutes. A
Next show: CD release party 8:30 p.m. March 22 at Cave Creek Coffee Company, 6033 E. Cave Creek Road, . Free.
Web site: www.kennharris.com

Pistoleros
Live Bars & Guitars
Recorded last May at Nita's Hideaway as the Pistoleros celebrated 10 years as a band, Bars & Guitars shows the sweet fruits of a decade the group has dedicated to both words in the title. Singer Lawrence Zubia's vocals are exquisitely soulful, as always, and the sextet injects the enthusiasm of a garage band into its seasoned chops a winning combination. Here's to another 10 years. A
Next show: 10 p.m. Friday at Long Wong's, 701 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, . $5.
Web site: www.thepistoleros.com

Redfield
The Hellfire Club
Blending punk energy and catchy hard-rock riffs, Redfield pack a wallop in instrumentation alone. Add singer/ bassist's Alfie Lucero's cathartic- yet-melodic vocals, and the band's music is incendiary. With terrific packaging based on a book of matches, The Hellfire Club could easily spark the first flames of a blazing career for Redfield. A-
Next show: 8 p.m. March 15 at The Bash on Ash, 230 W. Fifth St., Tempe, . $13.
Web site: www.redfieldcounty.com

Sharla Shore
The Road of Life
After kicking off the album with growling blues rocker Leavin You Behind, Sharla Shore downshifts to more traditional singer/songwriter fare thereafter. Subtle percussion touches and a mincing flute enliven The Monkey Song, a sly environmental desecration protest song. Other tunes keep the politics to a personal level with Shore's powerful voice going from husky to falsetto often in the space of one line shown off to great effect. B+
Next show: 8 p.m. March 13 at Undici Undici Art Gallery & Coffeehouse, 1111 S. Longmore, Mesa, . Free.
Web site: www.sharlashore.com

Jennifer Spector
Ahead of the Game
With her beautiful voice, singer/ songwriter Jennifer Spector is a pleasure to listen to. That her songs are also first-rate makes Ahead of the Game appropriately titled. The songs here are mellow, and Spector's acoustic guitar playing is augmented by diverse instrumentation including flute, oboe, banjo, trumpet and a terrific xylophone on Humor. Lyrically, she turns nice philosophical phrases such as A grain of salt goes a very long way in life's smorgasbord. This album is one game worth playing over and over again. A Next show: 7:30 p.m. at Coffee Plantation, 1555 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert, . Free.
Web site: www.jenniferspector.com