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Thursday, February 14, 2013

What's going on / Music Friday To-Do: Jimbo Mathus & The Tri-State Coalition album release show

Posted by Robert Bell on Thu, Feb 14, 2013 at 8:45 AM

Jimbo Mathus & The Tri-State Coalition play at White Water Tavern Friday pic

Jimbo Mathus & The Tri-State Coalition play at White Water Tavern Friday.

JIMBO MATHUS & THE TRI-STATE COALITION
10 p.m. White Water Tavern. $10.

We mentioned this a while back in a feature about him, but Jimbo Mathus and his band The Tri-State Coalition have a fantastic new album out on Fat Possum. It's called "White Buffalo," and Times contributor Joe Meazle, who wrote the feature, had high praise for it.

"Found within the album's 10 tracks are blistering Southern rock riffs, heartfelt reflective ballads, back-road pop tunes and eerie midnight highway dirges," he wrote. "The record really seems to show off Mathus' songwriting and the Tri-State Coalition's versatility, while Eric 'Roscoe' Ambel's production keeps them reined in just enough. Ambel's relationship with Mathus is a new one and I hope it continues."

Well, I just got word that Ambel, who lives in New York (and has performed alongside heavies like Steve Earle) will be flying in to play with the band at this album release show. Also, it should be noted that Ambel was one of the owners of The Lakeside Lounge, an East Village joint that was probably the best bar in the city and certainly had the best jukebox. Sadly, Lakeside closed last year on account of the vicissitudes of capitalism — a.k.a., the rent is too damn high. Mathus went up there to play for the bar's last hurrah, so Ambel is returning the favor and it's happening at White Water. Seriously, that place was a great bar, and it (along with Rosemary's Greenpoint Tavern) was where I spent an unhealthy amount of time during my brief tenure in the big city.

Mathus shows are always a good time, but this here is not one to miss.

Tags: Jimbo Mathus & The Tri-State Coalition, Eric 'Roscoe' Ambel, Joe Meazle, Lakeside Lounge