Albany Times Union – In the Spotlight

Chandler Travis Philharmonette

The curiously named Chandler Travis Philharmonette is from Eastham, Mass. (Cape Cod) and led by the aforementioned Chandler Travis, who many know from cult band the Incredible Casuals.

The group is a fun-filled nine-piece “Alternative Dixieland omnipop band” born basically on a dare in 1996 at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge, Mass., and have been dazzling audiences with zany sights and sounds ever since.

The band includes (according to its website) Rikki Bates (drums, party gown), Mark Chenevert (clarinet and tenor sax, muck boots), Dinty Child (mandocello, accordion, mandolin, vocals, paisley tights), Keiichi Hashimoto (trumpeterino, bunny ears), Bob Pilkington (trombone, tall hat), Phil Clements (keys, flights of fancy) John Clark (string bass, high ideals), Chandler Travis (guitar, vocals, bathrobe) and Fred Boak (vocals, valet).

From the sing-along party anthem “That’s What She Said,” bare-bones and raw, to the “I’ll Simonize your parents, if you don’t Simonize them first” straight-ahead Kinks, Replacements rock vibe of “Wireless,” or the lush “I’m Chandler’s Butterfly,” you know you’re going to have a good time.

You might want to wear protective gear.

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Caffe Lena, 47 Phila St., Saratoga Springs

Tickets: $20

Info: 583-0022; http://www.caffelena.org/

— David Malachowski

original online version

Albany Times Union – In the Spotlight