Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Lots of choices!

Couple of weeks of big shows in and around town . . .

Tonight
The terrific New York-based singer Catherine Russell is at the Zoo. Catherine sings blues, jazz, R&B, tin pan alley . . . a knockout voice and stylist - if you've never heard or heard of her, this is a great opportunity . . . 7 PM, $10.

Thursday
The Blasters are at Berbati's . . . 9 PM, $18

Ashleigh Flynn at Kruger's Farm Market on Sauvie Island . . . 6:30 PM, $10 per car

Friday
The number one show tonight is, of course, Toby Keith! Wait, did I just say that . . . sorry, what I meant to say was:

The legendary, amazing, and former Kink Ray Davies is doing a special acoustic show at the Crystal Ballroom. As Ray is a great storyteller with a huge catalog of songs (and a new CD to boot), I am sure this will be a most entertaining evening. David Bazan of Pedro the Lion opens. . . 8 PM, $52.50

Los Lobos & Los Lonely Boys will be at the Zoo . . . this could be one Los too many, but I'm thinking the boys will keep us entertained while we're waiting for the wolves . . . .who, for my money, are the absolute best performing band anywhere. Okay, I'm biased . . . so sue me. 7 PM, $25

Fernando is at the Laurelthirst. 9:30 PM, cover

It's the first night of the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival. Free jazz (as in no cost, not dissonant honking and tweeting) in a beautiful location below the St. Johns Bridge. Music starts at 6 PM on Friday and at noon on Saturday and Sunday. This is the 28th year of this fine event.

And out at Hornings Hideout in North Plains is the kickoff night of the Northwest String Summit. Three days of camping and bluegrass jams . . . grab your instruments and head on over - a lot of pickin' goin' on off the stage too. Ticket prices from $50 to $150 depending on how many days you attend.

Saturday
Aimee Mann is at the Aladdin Theater on tour supporting her new CD, Smilers. The new CD has received excellent reviews (some consider it her best solo effort to date). Blind Pilot opens. 8 PM, $35

Our best local rockabilly family band, Lisa & Her Kin will be at Duffs Garage. . . 9 PM, cover

Thad Beckman will be at the Muddy Rudder in Sellwood. 8 PM, Free

Sunday
Casey Neill & Jenny Conlee and Adam Shearer (of Weinland) do the 2nd of the Doug Fir's Pickin' on Sundays . . . 3 PM, free (I've edit this post, as I originally had last week's show posted for this week)


and next week . . .
Monday's Sellwood Riverfront Park show will be Cana Son, a fine Cuban band (6:30 PM)
Emmylou Harris at the Zoo on Tuesday the 22nd
Amelia at the Classical Chinese Garden also on Tuesday
Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi at the Rose Garden Theater in the Clouds on Thursday the 24th
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings at the Zoo on Friday the 25th
The Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival begins on Friday out in Stevenson, WA
The Hold Steady will be at the Crystal on Sunday the 27th
Lyle Lovett and his Large Band at the Edgefield on Sunday, too . . .

lots o' choices . . . . . get out and see some live music - and most of it outside in the glorious summer weather!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

We leave in a great city that gets a lot of musical arts. Jim gave you a great list of fabulous shows coming up over the next week but I had to throw this one in. The Zombies Wednesday the 23rd at the Wonder Ballroom. Colin Blunstone is one of the greatest singers ever and if you saw them at the Aladdin a few years ago or Musicfest NW, you know he still has the voice. Rod Argent is one of the underated artists ever and still can knock out amazing stuff on his keyboard....probably why Ringo had him on the last all-star tour. OK, the rest of the Zombies are not original but they are fine players including Jim Rodford (Argent, The Kinks) Jim's son on drums and Keith Airey (brother of Don Airey of Rainbow, Deep purple fame). And you can't beat the material. Some of the best written material of the 60's.

Jim Friscia said...

Excellent addition . . . thanks!

Nan said...

Nice... but I was very disappointed in your comment about Los Lobos & Los Lonely Boys. I love LL myself and LOVE LLB even more. It's The Boys' Brotherhood Tour and I'm thrilled that they paired up LL. It's a great collaboration - just sorry to hear you say "could be one Los too many"! LLB is fantastic.

Jim Friscia said...

Nan . . .
Thanks for the comment. I was being a bit glib at the expense of LLB - it's not that I don't like them, just that my preference would be for a show of only Los Lobos, particularly with the Zoo's curfew. Truly, both bands should do a great show and I'm looking forward to hearing LLB.