Teton Summer Shows: Don't Miss These...

By Aaron Davis (for JHWeekly.com)With more summer options than ever before to see the concert of a lifetime in the shadows of the Tetons, it’s time to sharpen your decisiveness. With respect to shows in clubs, theaters and festival atmospheres, here are JH Weekly’s top- four picks in each category. But trust me—this only scrapes the surface and there’s something for everyone. Check the all-inclusive summer calendar to pick your pleasure.Club landSeeing music in a club has a sense of intimacy, grit, and at times, rowdiness. Often you can get close enough to touch the performers. (not that you would, or should), but it’s a front porch vibe that can’t be matched.307 Live presents Hayes Carll, July 29, at Town Square Tavern ($10 advance; $15 day-of-show). For those that don’t know Carll, he’s not up-and-coming anymore—he’s laying down the path of post-Robert Earl Keen, Texas alt-country that doesn’t get much more sharp-tongued than this. Carll’s duet tune explaining how stereotypes of polar opposites really do attract, “Another Like You,” was American Songwriter’s No. 1 Song of 2011. That album, KMAG YOYO, was the Americana Music Association’s No. 1 Album in the same year, not to mention making Best-of Lists for Rolling Stone, SPIN and The New York Times Critic’s Choice. He’s the real deal, and won’t be at this price point for much longer.James McMurtry with The Gourds, Sept. 21, at the Knotty Pine in Victor (price TBA). Two of Austin’s greatest staples in the same night? It’s hard to beat a club bill that’s stacked like so. McMurtry is a fine wordsmith and story-through-song artist. Telling it like it is over heavy electric guitar chords and backed by drums and bass, this is singer-songwriter country at its gritty core, unwashed and blue-collar. The Gourds are an all-out party band that has been logging road miles for the better part of two decades. They just released album number 10, Old Mad Joy, though this is a band that must be seen to be appreciated.307 Live presents Dirty Dozen Brass Band, July 12, at Town Square Tavern ($20 advance; $25 day-of-show). Not just a band, Dirty Dozen is an institution. Celebrating its 35th year, this project was born straight from the second-line, funk and bebop rhythms you’d find on the streets of New Orleans. There’s power in numbers, and you’ll feel every nuance of this septet that stages trumpet, saxes, drums, guitar, flugelhorn, and sousaphone. This is uplifting dance music. All you have to do is let it in.God Bless America Fest featuring Katchafire, B-Side Players, Mike Dillon Band, The Lonesome Heroes, Gary Newcomb Trio, and Greg Creamer with Ted Wells, July 4, outside at the Knotty Pine (free). Very rarely are there this many acts on a club bill, much less this much eclectic talent. From 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. you can celebrate America’s independence with reggae, Latin funk, experimental fusion, psychedelic country, folk, and Americana. BBQ will be the fare of choice and a backyard vibe will be the icing on your day.Festival landSaturday of the three-day, 8th Annual Targhee Fest features The Wood Brothers, Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears, Railroad Earth, Chris Robinson Brotherhood and Drive By Truckers, July 14, at Grand Targhee Resort (Saturday-only is $55 early bird or $65 week-of, three-day festival pass is $119 early bird or $169 week-of). Yes, by all means go all three days if you can, but Saturday would be the go-to day if only one is feasible. I like this day because it incorporates all of the key elements of hearing many different genres of music —roots/rock, alt-country, soul/R&B, bluegrass/jamgrass, and folk/blues. Aside from Railroad Earth, Saturday’s lineup also showcases all new acts to the Targhee stage, which is certainly appreciated by locals who attend this, the greatest little festival on Earth!Teton Valley Foundation’s Music on Main series featuring Blitzen Trapper with The Shook Twins, July 5, at Victor City Park (free). Hopefully you don’t go too big on 4th of July because Blitzen Trapper could be at the peak of its 12-year career. The experimental folk-country-rock quintet stole Jackson’s heart at a packed Pink Garter Theatre last winter, and it all spurs from a genuinely singular approach to songwriting while maintaining the melodic elements that make us all feel good.JacksonHoleLive! presents Justin Townes Earle with Screen Door Porch, July 25, at Snow King Ball Park (free). For some, “Townes” and “Earle” ring a bell, but not combined with the Justin part. Son of singer-songwriter/country artist Steve Earle, Justin Townes Earle received an Americana Music Award for Emerging Artist of the Year, nominations for Album of the Year (Midnight at the Movies) and for Artist of the Year in 2009. And last year, he received the Americana Music Award in the Song of the Year category for “Harlem River Blues,” from the album of the same name. And all for good reason—he’s a quirky treasure of a songwriter and performer that will some day surpass his father in name recognition.Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers with Benyaro, July 29, at Concert on the Commons in Teton Village (free). Hearing Bluhm sing in person was one of my favorite concert moments in recent memory. She’s going big places and it’s worth perusing the band’s YouTube “van sessions,” which have gone viral in recent months. Indie/acoustic/soul duo Benyaro is your best reason to not miss the opening band.Theater land Caldera Festival featuring Andrew Bird, Sharon Van Etten, and Kelly Hogan in Center Park, August 18, at the Center for the Arts ($20/GA, $75/VIP). Indie prince Andrew Bird is highly prolific, and few artists can handle guitar, whistling, violin, and songwriting with such grace and considerable thought. Brooklyn singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten has taken the music world by storm, receiving near unanimous praise from Rolling Stone, New York Times, Spin, Paste, Pitchfork, and many others. Bonus: this outside show is priced right for everyone.Heartless Bastards with Little Hurricane, August 7, at the Pink Garter Theatre ($15/advance, $18/day-of-show). Defined by singer/guitarist/songwriter Erika Wennerstrom’s remarkable voice, Heartless Bastards bring confidence and creativity in the form of a multi-dimensional rock band that has honed to a razor’s edge since forming in 2003. Think The Black Keys, with a female edge. Wennerstrom can sound primal and pleading, heartfelt and heroic, with a straight-ahead approach to her music that raw rock fans are in love with.Los Lobos, July 30, at Center Park ($25/single, $75/family). When enough people tell you that this is one of the best live shows they’ve ever seen, it’s worth taking notice. A multiple Grammy-winning American Chicano rock band, Los Lobos is more than three decades into their career. From Tex-Mex, country, folk, R&B and blues, as well as the traditional Mexican songs from their roots, the band fuses sounds from Southwest culture.Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, August 3, at the Pink Garter Theatre ($15/advance, $18/day-of-show). When Isbell left Drive-by Truckers in 2007 to pursue a solo career, it was a bold move for the up-and-comer to ditch the huge crowds and go it alone. But look now—Isbell leads the pack of 2012 Americana Music Honorees with four nods including Artist of the Year.