Nippertown Music News

Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius & Heard’s latest album, “Karibu,” has been steadily climbing the JazzWeek charts, recently cracking the Top 20 – landing at No. 15 on the World Music Chart. (Read our review here.)

Punk-rockin’ Hot Cousin is rising from the ashes with a re-vamped line-up. With guitarist-vocalist Bill Bichteman and bassist-vocalist Charlie Monroe still at the helm, the quartet now also features new recruits Luke Maland on drums and Nicole K. at the microphone. Catch ’em in action at Valentine’s Music Hall in Albany for a happy hour ’80s throwdown at 6pm on Friday, May 20.

Sure, you know Jessica Layton from her high-profile slot behind the news desk, on WNYT-TV (Ch. 13). And you might also know her as one-third of the Singing Anchors, when she steps into the spotlight to sing alongside Benita Zahn and Jerry Gretzinger. Now, Layton is stepping out on her own with her solo cabaret show, “Somewhere Out There: Lesson Learned While Looking for Love.” Layton and musical director Jay Kerr will explore the music of the music of Madonna, Jewel, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon and Celine Dion when the new show premieres at the Fort Salem Theater at 8pm on Saturday. Tix are $20.

Congrats go out to garage-rockin’ kingpins the Mysteios. Their tune, “Cemetery High Sam,” has included as the closing track on the new compilation disc, “Twisted Rico: The Scandalous Years,” on the Boston-based Red Car Records label.