Miss Tess scored a coup last summer, when she won an "open-mic shoot-out" in Georgia. As part of her first-prize package, the Boston-based singer-songwriter bagged a gig opening for headlining troubadours Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, Shawn Colvin, and Patti Griffin on the Cayamo music cruise through Mexico, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands. Tess is now touring with her Bon Ton Parade backup band — which includes Paul Dilley on upright bass and Alec Spiegelman on sax and clarinet — to pimp her third CD,
Modern Vintage, recorded at Massachusetts studio Hi-N-Dry. The 12-track album spotlights songs about the down-on-their-luck, like "Child of the Devil," "I Don't Need That Man," and "I Only Really Miss You When I'm Stoned." Tess and company perform at 8 tonight at the Beachland Tavern, 15711 Waterloo Road. Tickets are $7. Call 216-383-1124 or visit
www.beachlandballroom.com.
Mon., April 21, 8 p.m., 2008
