The music of Megadeths Dave Mustaine and Son Volts Jay Farrar couldnt sound less alike. However, the two share a unique kinship. Since being sacked from Metallica for hard-livin which begs the question: How hard does one have to live to get sacked from early-80s Metallica Mustaine formed Megadeth, a metal band which reached great heights, but never as great as Metallica. Farrar, whose wound was more self-inflicted, was the co-leader, with Jeff Tweedy, of Uncle Tupelo. Once Farrar sparked the dissolution of that seminal Americana outfit in the mid-90s, he went on to form Son Volt, which has enjoyed a rock-solid career that has nonetheless been dwarfed by the commercial and critical superstardom of Wilco, the more adventurous band formed by Tweedy. But dont feel too bad for Mustaine and Farrar the success theyve enjoyed still puts them in the top half-percentile of folks whove ever strapped on a guitar. And despite Wilcos deified status, there exists that rare species of Uncle Tupelo fan who swears by Son Volts adherence to the slide-guitar aesthetic over Wilcos stylistic polygamy. Son Volts new album, American Central Dust, is relaxed and solid, but doesnt quite reach the peaks of 2007s The Search, which featured one of the best tracks, Methamphetamine, recorded by any artist of any genre in any year. Add Cowboy Junkies to this Zoo Tunes bill, and youve got a match made in melancholic heaven. All ages.
Wed., July 22, 6 p.m., 2009