Win FREE TIX to Todd Nelson’s TN3 @ Sanctuary for Independent Media, 6/4/11

It took guitarslinger Todd Nelson quite a while before he finally got around to releasing a record of his own. Nelson has been a major player on the Nippertown music scene for years – from the crackling country-rock of Silver Chicken to the bristling new wave of the Units (later renamed Fear of Strangers) to the groove-gurgling swamp-rock of Rumdummies, to name just a few of the stops that he’s made over the years.

Last year, he released “Here,” credited to Todd Nelson, but actually a stellar trio album that featured the slippery fretless bass of Kyle Esposito and the percolating percussion of Manuel Quintana. And once again, Nelson had a few changes up his sleeve. It’s an all-instrumental album, and while it isn’t jazz per se, there are jazzy elements that bubble up in the music. And he revisits – or completely re-invents – a few tunes culled from his rich musical back pages.

Nelson’s TN3 doesn’t play around live all that frequently, so it’s always a treat to see them on stage. But Saturday night’s performance at the Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy promises to be extra special. First of all, as the Sanctuary’s annual Live from Lock One concert, the show will be captured on video with a three-camera crew. Secondly, the concert is a benefit for the Youth Media Sanctuary Project. And thirdly, Nelson will be beefing up the trio’s already sparkling sound with a few very special guest musicians, including trumpeter John Hines (Downtime, the Ed Palermo Big Band), percussionist Bob Resnick (the Backburners) and harmonicat Pat Conover (Rumdummies).

Todd Nelson’s TN3 (and special guests) plays the Live From Lock One concert at the Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy at 8pm on Saturday. Admission is $10.

BUT WAIT A MINUTE… Have we got a deal for you!?! We’re giving away a pair of FREE TIX to this concert. To enter the contest, just post a comment below. Please leave your email address, too. We won’t publish it, but we’ll use it to contact you if you win. The winners will be selected at random and notified on Friday. Good luck! Congratulations, KC!