Preview and Now-view: Up Ensemble @ Waterloo Cafe; Unsparing Sea & Walk On Waterloo

Cracker, Looking Up

This electronic candygram is coming your way fast: open the door, get your prize, and look inside. Waterloo awaits this week.

Say you’re looking for a “date night” spot, and oh, this might be the first time around for both of you? We can’t think of a better spot for the both of you to bask in than the Waterloo Cafe, right down the corner from the Beachland.  Good food, refreshing beverages, mellow company, and the sexy, swingin’ sound of acclaimed Cleveland jazz trio Up Ensemble.  The Waterloo Cafe, located at 15601 Waterloo Road, starts this informal but classy musical affair at 9 pm. If your dates goes well, request the standard “Embraceable You”; if things turn sour, ask Up to play the entirety of Ornette Coleman’s This Is Our Music, and lose yourself in ecstatic hollerin’ while your date’s droning voice fades into the distance.

If you’re not feeling the miracle of bop but would rather feel the mystery of Lake Erie in sound, dig on Unsparing Sea, who open for The Rural Alberta Advantage, tonight in the Beachland Tavern.  This group, whose moaning slide guitars and rumbling cello bring to mind bands like Slint and The Dirty Three, are making a splash (I know, sorry) with their latest EP, In the Crystal Canyon (reviewed here at WeHateYourHate).  Meanwhile, Unsparing Sea is preparing its newest full-length, entitled In The Diamond Caverns, slated for an October release.  Here’s “Wolves At A Wedding”:

If you’re looking for a Thursday night pick-me-up, to restore your faith in all things Cleveland, make plans for Walk All Over Waterloo, an informal crawl of the block featuring galleries, shops, food, booze, and yes, even music. Isn’t that a shock?  Us? Music, food, drink?  Yep.  And down the street from us, electro-funque duo Arte Povera will perform at Exit Stencil Recording Studios, while ArtsCollinwood throws a mini-benefit starting at 5 pm, featuring artwork by Scott Radke, Dott Schneider, Niko Angelis, and–guess–food!  At the rate we’re going, somebody will have to step up and put a gym on this block.  Hell, a proper bike trail will do.  Somebody call the County!

Now, for your pleasure, a thrilling preview of this weekend’s upcoming rock action with Cracker and those Cleveland cads of cowpunk, the Whiskey Daredevils.  This slice of excitement is brought to you by the good people at Addicted To Vinyl and Cleveland Bachelor.  Take it away, gentlemen!

EAS