Forever Young 

Big news for rock fans this week, as "alternative" legends Sonic Youth are finally making their way to Vermont. They'll be playing the Higher Ground Ballroom on Sunday, February 18, with bi-coastal drifters Wooden Wand.

Most folks already know something of the SY story - how the band was forged in the fires of the New York No Wave scene, then, over two decades, grew from gnarly post-punks to purveyors of textured art-rock. Though they've mellowed with age, their music still has plenty of bite, and their live sets always seem to include more than few full-on freakouts.

Sunday's show seemed to come out of nowhere; I'd assumed SY had pretty much wrapped up touring in support of their most recent studio album, Rather Ripped. Turns out they're now gigging behind The Destroyed Room: B-Sides & Rarities, which collects audio detritus from their years with Geffen Records. Actually, it's not really a very big tour - a few New England dates and two shows in Mexico - which makes their Green Mountain pop-in that much more exciting.

It's hard to gauge what songs will comprise their set list - will it be new stuff or a selection of classics? Since the band plays in unconventional tunings, they have the tendency to stick to more or less the same numbers for entire tours. So what we hear in South Burlington should be similar to what the kids in Guadalajara will rock out to later in the month. But it'd take a hell of a road trip to confirm this. Or maybe just the Internet.

And what of Wooden Wand? Well, they're pretty out there, even for, ahem, "freak-folk." I really dig their '05 release, Buck Dharma, and not just because it's named after the guitarist for Blue Oyster Cult. Wow - I can't believe I managed to work another BOC reference into this column. They should totally give me a cut of their royalties. Anyway, WW seem to release an album every weekend, so it's pretty hard to keep up. I'm sure they'll have a whole new batch of discs at their merch table; maybe I'll load up.

HOLDING STEADY

I was recently tipped off to a contest being held by Magic Hat Brewing Company that might just help local musicians gain some exposure. "Solid Gold on Hold" offers tunesmiths a chance to provide the music for the Hat's next "on hold" message. That's definitely a hell of a lot cooler than listening to an automated voice tell you that "your call is important to us." Which, in my experience, is never true.

The beer slingers are inviting interested musicians of all genres to compete for the top honor. That means that death metal bands aren't excluded! I'd personally love to hear "all representatives are busy" delivered in a Cookie Monster growl. With a blastbeat behind it.

Here's how the actual contest works: Head to http://www.MagicHat. net/gold to sign up and upload your ditty. Once enough submissions are gathered, the public will vote for the winner. Sort of like "American Idol," minus the inevitable recording contract. But who needs superstardom, anyway? The chosen champion will not only go down in Hat history, but will also be awarded a $1000 shopping spree at Small Dog Electronics. That's it - I'm in.

An aside: The logo for the competition is modified from the artwork that graces Magic Hat's spring seasonal ale, hI.P.A. Why should you care? Because Stanley Mouse - the artist who created the Grateful Dead's iconic "skull and roses" graphic - designed it. Far out, man.

BEAD 'EM UP

Speaking of Magic Hat, how can we forget their sponsorship of downtown Burlington's annual Mardi Gras event? That's right, this Saturday is your yearly opportunity to stand in the freezing cold and get beads flung at you. For more info on this curious ritual, see guide in this issue. PARADE POSTPONED TO SAT. FEB. 24 [details]