Friday, March 28, 2008

Saturday . . . what to do? what to do?

Ever have a situation where you had too many choices so you chose none of them? Saturday is beginning to feel like that. Here's the rundown:

Rachael Harrington and Audrey Auld Mezera @ Mississippi Studios, 7 PM $12
Two very fine songwriters and performers . . . and Audrey has the most excellent Andrew Hardin supporting her on guitar.

Jim White @ Lola's Room, 7 PM $15
An evening of traveling the dark backroads of the gothic South with Jim who's touring with his new CD, Transnormal Skipperoo.

X , @ the Crystal Ballroom, 8 PM $20
John Doe, Exene, Billy Zoom, & DJ Bonebrake are back as part of their 31st Anniversary Tour. These guys can still rock with abandon. (maybe you can run up and down stairs between Lola's and the Ballroom?)

Asylum Street Spankers @ the Aladdin Theater, 8 PM $18
"The decade-old band is a roots-rock riddle, nestled in a satirical Vaudeville enigma, packaged in an old-timey radio-show puzzle and slathered with hippie-fied mystery sauce." - Tampa Weekly Planet
"...inspired, lunatic brilliance.!" - Rolling Stone
Think that says enough . . . .

Bob Schneider @ the Doug Fir 9 PM $15
The eclectic and undefinable one from Austin is back for one of his frequent visits to the NW. An engaging and quirky songwriter and performer, you never quite know what Bob has up his sleeve.

Jeffrey Foucault and Kathleen Haskard @ Mississippi Studios, 10 PM, $14
It's a great doubleheader tonight (okay, you'll have to pay twice) at MS with Signature Sounds recording artist, Jeffrey Foucault doing the late show. A respected songwriter and compelling singer and player, he always sells out the room, so get your tickets . . . .

As I said, too many choices . . . . maybe I'll just stay home and read a good book.


Nahhhhhhhh .................

PS . . . And don't forget Lloyd Jones, Janice Scroggins and Carleton Jackson at Mississippi Studios tonight - 7 PM.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Lots of great choices this week . . . the early edition

Snooze, you loose . . .

Really, some great opportunities for music around town . . .

Tonight (Tuesday) the buzz band of the moment - Vampire Weekend - will be at the Doug Fir. Show is sold out, but if you just must catch the indie darling of the year to date, you could check craigslist or show up and pay a premium for a ticket from the re-sale merchants.

Though it promises to be a full house Wednesday night at Mississippi Studios, you should still be able to get a ticket for the Casey Neill / Mike Coykendall show. Casey will be backed by Jenny Conlee (of the Decemberists) on keyboards and accordion. And a bargain for two really outstanding local acts. 8 PM, $8

Also on Wednesday, Teddy Thompson will be at the Doug Fir. There's high expectations when your parents are Richard and Linda Thompson, but Teddy's career has been steadily developing since release his debut recording in 2000. His latest recording, Up Front and Down Low, is a distinctive and very fine interpretation of classic country tunes. Another great choice for a Wednesday evening in P-town. 9 PM, $15

Jeremy Peterson at the OPB music blog also has a useful summary of his picks this week . . .
Mine cross over with recommendations for the Springsteen show on Friday, and X and Jim White on Saturday. Jeremy's focus leans to "indie" bands - both local and touring (as is the tendency of OPB's musical programming), though by no means restricted to it. Check out the blog - Jeremy and David Christensen are trying to encourage a listening community via blog comments, but so far it doesn't seem like a whole lot of people are chiming in.

More thoughts coming tomorrow or Thursday . . .

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Quick pics for Friday

Wasn't going to post again until next week, but tonight's choices are many and really, really fine . . .

Lloyd Jones, Janice Scroggins and Carleton Jackson will be doing their trio thing in Multnomah Village at Sip D'Vine from 7-10 pm . . . $2 cover at this cool little wine bar.
Two solid shows at Mississippi Studios - the early one has New York songwriter Richard Julian with Alan Kanning opening - 7 pm, $12 . . . then a late show of the duo Robb & Crockett (Jimmy Robb & Lincoln Crockett) with Michael Sheridan (National Flower) opening.
Stephanie Schneiderman and friends are at Jimmy Maks. 8 PM, $12
The Felice Brothers and Justin Townes Earle at the Doug Fir Lounge. FB has quite the buzz in the Americana music world and Justin is Steve's son (and the apple's fallen pretty close to the tree). 9 pm, $10
The Strangetones are at Duff's Garage . . . the fun starts at 9:30 pm, cheap cover ($6?)

I know it's Friday after a long week, but hey . . . it's spring - gather your energy and get out to some live music! Maybe see you at Sip D'Vine, or Mississippi Studios, or Jimmy Maks, or Duffs . . . or . . . .

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Looking ahead

As I look ahead through the end of March and beyond, I see a number of shows - some local, but mostly touring acts - that are going to be on my radar and maybe should be on yours . . .

Near . . . Some recommended shows in the coming week include:
Ladysmith Black Mambazo at the Aladdin Theater on Thursday - 8 PM, $31
Also on Thursday, Irish band Flogging Molly at the Crystal Ballroom - 9 PM (For ticket information visit www.jdstudiono7.com)
LiveWire Radio taping at the Aladdin on Friday with musical guests Amelia and the March Fourth Marching Band - 8PM $15
James Low and Caleb Klauder on Saturday night at Mississippi Studios - 7 PM, $10
A three day run of shows at the Schnitz (as part of the Symphony's Pops program) is called Women in Blues and features Betty LaVette, Shemekia Copeland and Marcia Ball. Understand they will play separately and together - great opportunity to see and hear three of the best "blues divas" . . . . Saturday and Monday at 7:30 PM, Sunday at 3 PM. $15 - $80.

Further . . . . March goes out like a lion with all of the great live music choices during the second half of the month.

Monday, March 17 - KMRIA at Crystal Ballroom. What's become a St. Pat's tradition, KMRIA (an allstar Portland band - singer Casey Neill, Chris Funk and Jenny Conlee of the Decemberists, Ezra Holbrook of Dr Theopolis, Scott McCaughey of Minus 5 & REM sideman, Hanz Araki of The Whyos & Paperboys, Jesse Emerson of Amelia, and Derek Brown of Eels and James Low & the Wreck) fills an evening with beer and Pogues music. A tribute to the Irish punk rockers that often sounds better than the original. This is a ton of fun if you're going out to celebrate the Irish (or whatever your excuse is to stay out late and drink on a Monday night).

Wednesday, March 19 - Now a New Yorker, Steve Earle, with Allison Moorer opening, brings his Washington Square Serenade tour to the Aladdin 8 PM $35 (sold out, but that shouldn't stop you from showing up if you really want a ticket)

Friday, March 21 - Richard Julian, the very fine NY-based singer and songwriter at Mississippi Studios - 7 PM, $10

Sat & Sunday, March 22 & 23 - kd lang at the Aladdin (sold out - but give it a try if you really want to go)

Wednesday, March 26
Casey Neill and Mike Coykendall @ Mississippi Studios, 8 PM, $7
Teddy Thompson at the Doug Fir, 9 PM, $15

Friday, March 28
Lloyd Jones w/Janice Scroggins and Carleton Jackson @ Mississippi Studios. Great trio doing a live recording! 7 PM $12
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band 8 PM, Rose Garden $75 & $100 (sold out, but often tickets available day of show)

Saturday, March 29 (go ahead, try to pick something . . .)
Jim White @ Lola's Room, 7 PM $15
Rachael Harrington @ Mississippi Studios, 7 PM $12
X , doing their 30th Anniversary tour @ the Crystal Ballroom, 8 PM $20
Asylum Street Spankers @ the Aladdin, 8 PM $18
Bob Schneider @ the Doug Fir 9 PM $15
Jeffrey Foucault @ Mississippi Studios, 10 PM

Even further . . . coming in another post . . . sometime, but probably not this week.

Let me know if you have anything to add to this impressive March show list. I'm sure I missed a few and I didn't include a lot of the rich local scene that you can find almost every day somewhere in the city. So get out and support live music!

Thursday, March 6, 2008

This weekend's picks

A few quick thoughts and then more over the weekend about the rest of the month . . .

Friday
Looks like a great free show at Mississippi Studios - A Tribute to Neil Young with Dolorean, Matt Sheehy, Mbilly and Adam & Kris. A Free First Friday show at the studio. 8 PM and it's gonna get crowded, so come early.

Some good slighty off-kilter americana at the Laurelthirst with Sneakin' Out and Baby Gramps. 9:30 pm, cheap. Sassparilla plays some fine jug band music at happy hour. 6 PM, free

Imbibe has the Freak Mountain Ramblers at 9:30 and Little Sue at 6 PM for happy hour.

Devin Phillips and New Orleans Straight Ahead at Tony's Starlight 9 PM (also at the Goodfoot on Saturday).

Saturday
Fine show (as I sent earlier on Thursday) at Mississippi Studios - Kris Delmhorst with the Winterpills. Two shows at 7 and 10 PM . . . . (more seats available for the 10). $15

Interesting indie folk artist from Canada at Lola's Room - Matthew Good. Check out his story and music. The delightful and talented Stephanie Schneiderman opens. 9 PM, $17.50

All I've got at the moment . . . but some fine shows coming soon and beyond.

more soon . . . .