Rogovoy Report 12/16/16

The weekend’s cultural highlights in the region include a superstar rock drummer; a roots-rock trio; several “Messiah” sing-alongs; a party for butter, and a whole lot more.

Stockbridge native and superstar rock drummer Kenny Aronoff returns home to sign copies of his brand-new memoir, “Sex, Drums, Rock ‘n’ Roll: The Hardest Hitting Man in Show Business,” at No. Six Depot Café in West Stockbridge, Mass., on Sunday at 3:30pm. The memoir includes tales from Aronoff’s youth growing up in the Berkshires, playing in local garage bands, and performing under the baton of Leonard Bernstein at Tanglewood, before heading off to fame first as a member of John Mellencamp’s, Melissa Etheridge’s, and John Fogerty’s bands and then as an on-call drummer recording and performing for the likes of Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, Smashing Pumpkins, Meat Loaf, Bon Jovi, Stevie Nicks, the BoDeans, Paul Westerberg, Celine Dion, Elton John, Alice Cooper, Brian Wilson, Joe Cocker, and members of the Beatles – the group that first inspired him to play music.

Known as much for his fierce work ethic and dedication as he is for his powerful and musical technique, Aronoff is widely regarded as a member of the pantheon of utility rock drummers – those who don’t belong to a particular band - alongside Jim Keltner, Jim Gordon, Steve Gadd, Al Jackson Jr., and Manu Katche. He is included on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time. He’s also a really great guy. Say hi to him at No Six Depot Café on Sunday at 3:30.

‘Tis the season of the Messiah – as in Handel’s Messiah, replete with professional performances and audience sing-alongs. The Hudson Valley Philharmonic will perform Handel’s “Messiah” under the baton of guest conductor Christine Howlett at the Bardavon in Poughkeepsie on Sunday at 2pm. Guest vocalists from Cappella Festiva will join the HVP, for a total of 100 instrumentalists and singers on the Bardavon stage. Audience members are invited to sing along. A pre-concert talk with Maestro Howlett and members of the orchestra will take place one hour before the concert for all ticket-holders.

And Gwen Gould will conduct “Messiah” for Classics on Hudson at Christ Church Episcopal in Hudson, N.Y., on Saturday at 4pm. Gould will conduct a string quartet and a quartet of vocal soloists from the Bard’s Graduate Vocal Arts Program. Audience members are encouraged to sing along, and scores will be provided.

Also in Hudson this weekend, award-winning food writer Elaine Khosrova will appear at Talbott & Arding Cheese & Provisions on Saturday at 2pm, to celebrate the publication of her new book, “Butter: A Rich History”. After traveling across three continents to stalk the modern story of butter, Khosrova serves up a story as rich, textured, and culturally relevant as butter itself. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

And on Saturday night at 9, roots-rock trio Ballroom Thieves brings a batch of new songs from its just-released album, “Deadeye,” to Club Helsinki Hudson. The trio plays a captivating mélange of acoustic styles, blending folk conventions with modern hymnals, classical textures, and Delta blues grit with rich harmonies. They describe themselves as “a rock band disguised as a folk band.”