Friday, October 31, 2008

Frighteningly good weekend options . . . .

Think we can scare up some great local music treats for the weekend . . .

Tonight (Friday, Halloween)
The early pick to get your Friday started is Lisa & Her Kin doing their Honky Tonk Happy Hour at the Laurelthirst. 6 PM, Free (but feed the tip jar with treats!)

Lloyd Jones will be doing his always entertaining funky blues thing as a trio with DK Stewart on keys at Halibuts. 7:30 PM, Free

Funkmeisters Dr. Theopolis will be doing a Halloween show at the Kennedy School. 8 PM, $10

In fact, there are Halloween shows at most of the McMenamin's venues - check the schedule here for bands, times and locations . . . including the Portland Erotic Ball at the Crystal Ballroom (that one is sold out!) and the Freak Mountain Ramblers at the White Eagle. 8:30 PM, $8

Saturday
The Little Sue Band will hold down happy hour at the Laurelthirst. Sue has a new CD out and it's always a treat to hear her with a full band. She'll be rockin' the 'Thirst. 6 PM, Free

The Linda Hornbuckle Band will be at Jimmy Maks. 8 PM, $10

Two tuneful local indy bands - The Dimes, and Derby will be at the Doug Fir. Matt Sheehy opens. 9 PM, $8

The Stolen Sweets and Pete Krebs' Gypsy Trio will perform a swinging evening of music at the Laurelthirst. 9:30 PM, $7

Fernando and Celilo will be at the White Eagle. Lewi Longmire will be hightailing over from Sue's gig to be part of Fernando's great band for some impassioned music. 9:30 PM, $6

. . . and, the DK4 (that's DK Stewart's quartet with Carleton Jackson, Peter Dammann & Don Campbell) will be at Duff's Garage. 9:30 PM, cover

Finally . . . . did you get your ballot in yet? If not, what are you waiting for? VOTE!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Midweek Music

It's a good night for music . . . (a good reward for getting your ballots filled in and mailed off!)

Little Feat are in town at the Aladdin. 8 PM, $35

It's the last Two Beers Veirs happy hour at the Laurelthirst with Laura Veirs, Chris Funk and Annalisa Tornfelt. 6 PM, Free

. . . and The Starlings (from Seattle) follow at the Laurelthirst with a 9 PM show. I saw this band at Mississippi Studios and thought they were quite good - beautiful rootsy folk music. Also FREE

The Brothers Young, Rachel Taylor Brown, and Kaitlyn Ni Donovan are at the Doug Fir . . . 9 PM, $8

. . . and Nancy King does her regular Wednesday show at The Cave . . . 8 PM, $5

Oregonians . . . did you get your ballot in yet?

This week the election is more important than music . . .

If your ballot is still sitting on you kitchen table, or buried under a pile of unopened mail . . . stop waiting and fill it out. Every vote is needed and counts in this truly momentous election . . . and not just for president - we have a tight senate race and ballot measures that need your attention!

If you don't mail it in, here's where you can drop your ballots. And, if you have any time this weekend, help get out the vote. . . . and here's an interesting analysis of the voter turnout pattern this year in Oregon.

Why do I feel a sense of hope that I haven't felt in a very long time? Why do I believe that this election really matters?



Vote . . . . . . . 'nuff said.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Great music for baseball fans!

Given it's World Series time, I direct your attention to Steve Wynn and Scott McCaughey's The Baseball Project. Enjoy!



And this story from NPR . . .

A few recommendations . . .

Politics, World Series, music . . . wow . . . a lot of choices about where to place our attention this week! Mine is divided among all three . . . but just so you know a few of your music choices, here's a few (besides Randy Newman tonight) worth noting:

Thursday
If you're in the mood for some solid rootsy country music - Texas style - Hayes Carll will be at the Doug Fir. Carll has been getting good press and steadily building an audience around the country. Check out this column from Peter Carlin of the Oregonian. Canadian singer/songwriter Corb Lund opens. 9 PM, $12

Nick Jaina, Chris Robley and These United States are at Holocene. Couple of our finest locals joined by a band that's getting some buzz . . . sounds like a show worth checking out.

Friday
Jaina and Robley figure in another recommended show at the Doug Fir - a benefit show for (or musical tribute to) Lone Fir Cemetery. We don't often here odes to cemeteries, but we will tonight (it must be getting near Halloween) with an allstar cast of Portland musical characters that includes Jim Brunberg, Matt Sheehey, Adam Shearer, Amelia, Storm Large & the Balls, Pete Krebs, Richie Young and Courtney Hameister (host of LiveWire Radio). This project began with putting together a CD called (D)early Departed: True Lies in Song Unearthed from Lone Fir Cemetery. It's described as 15 origninal songs from local musicians inspired by the untimely departures of "residents" of Lone Fir Cemetery. I think this show will be a lot of fun. 9 PM, $15

The sublime duo of vocalist Rebecca Kilgore and pianist Dave Frishberg will be at Jimmy Maks. This is a CD release show for them and I understand that OPB's Oregon Art Beat will be there to record the event for a future show. 8 PM, $10

And Ms Michael Jodell and the Dim Sums (Matt Brown & Alan Hunter) will be at the Press Club on SE Clinton. If you've never checked out a show here, you should - it's a cool and casual little neighborhood bar/restaurant with excellent music on the weekends. 8:30 PM, Free

All for now . . . maybe more about Saturday and beyond tomorrow (or not . . . we'll see) . . .

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

I'm back & looking forward to Thursday

Why? . . . . because I'm going to the Randy Newman show at the Aladdin. Here's a great review from No Depression of a recent show. One of the best songwriters . . . ever. Show is sold out, but maybe some of you have tickets. There should be a few available at the door (get there early and have patience - someone will show up with an extra ticket - it always happens) . . . or check Craigslist. Hope to see you there.

Will catch up with what else is going on and post about it soon.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Political fundraiser and music

One show I left out is on Sunday evening at the Doug Fir . . .
Colin Meloy and Chris Funk of the Decemberists, and Thomas Lauderdale and China Forbes of Pink Martini will be part of "Rock Against Republicans", a fundraiser for Jeff Merkley.
doors at 7 PM, show at 8 . . . $25 at the door

Picks for the weekend

Gotta try and do this fast, but there's a bunch . . . so no waxing poetic about any of the shows . . . all good . . . just get out to one or some . . .

Friday
the subdudes with Colin Lake opening@ the Aladdin. I am so there. 8 PM, $25

Tony Furtado and Renegade Saints @ the Doug Fir. Would be there if it wasn't for the 'dudes. 9 PM, $15

Portland FolkMusic Society presents long time folk singer Bill Staines at Carvlin Hall-1636 SE Hickory St (Enter on SE 16th just north of SE Division. 7:30 PM, $12

Linda Hornbuckle and Janice Scroggins @ Halibut's. 8 PM, Free

Brothers of the Baladi will be at the McMenamins' Grand Lodge in Forest Grove as this month's band on the Great Northwest Music Tour. 7 PM, Free

Young blues hounds Gavin Wahl-Stephens and The Moondoggies rock the White Eagle @ 9:30 PM, $8

Seattle's premier rockabilly band, the Roy Kay Trio, will be doing a CD release party at Duff's Garage. 9:30 PM, cover

Saturday
The 6th Annual International Harp Guitar Gathering is happening Saturday and Sunday at Marylhurst University. It's two days of rare instrument displays, demonstrations, presentations, performances and workshops for registered attendees, plus two concerts open to the public. Concert tickets will be available at the door, $18 general. For more info go to www.harpguitars.net.

The Leo Kottke/Loudon Wainwright III show at the Aladdin is sold out . . . but you can always try just showing up and see if there's any available tickets. 8 PM

Speaking of Loudon Wainwright III . . . he'll be making an appearance on the KMHD's Mississippi West at 3 PM . . . . KMHD is in its Fall Fundraiser, so if you're not a member consider becoming one . . . and listen in to an engaging, funny live guest this afternoon @ 89.1 FM on the dial (does anyone still have a "dial"? . . . just musing.)

The Insomniacs will be rocking The Cave. 8 PM, $5

The Wonder Ballroom hosts a benefit for Portland's Raphael House featuring Casey Neill & the Norway Rats, Caleb Klauder and Leigh Marble. Fine music for a great organization. 9 PM, $12

Add to the list via the comments if I missed anything . . .

Enjoy the weekend!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

New CD from Lucinda Williams

You may or may not know, but Lucinda Williams has a new CD being released next week called Little Honey and all previews and reviews so far indicates it rocks. She's also touring to support it, but unfortunately won't make it to Portland (at least on this leg) . . . but she will be doing two shows at the Showbox in Seattle next month (Nov 13 & 14) if you want to check out the live show.

Here's Lucinda on David Letterman last week. And yes, some of you might recognize Portland's Chet Lyster on rhythm guitar (it's the fabulous Doug Pettibone on lead) in her very tight band.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Wednesday night shows

An early post the week with a couple of recommendations for tonight.

Laura Viers hosts the second of her Wednesday Two Beers Veirs happy hour shows at the Laurelthirst. Joining her are Chris Funk and Annalisa Tornfelt . . . and special guests each week through the end of the October. 6 PM, Free

Chris Funk will be a busy guy, because he's also playing with Blue Giant, a project of Viva Voce's Kevin and Anita Robinson. They'll be playing tonight with Norfolk and Western at Backspace . . . and tomorrow at the Doug Fir with the Portland Cello Project . . . plus they'll have some special guests (looks like guests are going to be pretty special all around town this week). 8 PM, $10

Plus, in case I haven't mentioned it before, renowned jazz vocalist Nancy King does a regular Wednesday show at The Cave. Nancy has a worldwide reputation for a reason and we're lucky that she makes her home here in Portland. 8 PM, $5

Catch some midweek music . . . . will help get you through the work week! And there's no baseball tonight either.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Couple of sites to check out

Couple of interesting places to visit on the web if you have some time:

No Depression has finally launched it's new website. I was sad to see this wonderful music magazine stop publishing, but they are in the process of transforming themselves into a solid web presence. Check it out.

NPR has a preview of the new Bob Dylan - it's the eight in Columbia's series of "bootleg" Dylan and covers the last 20 years of Bob's recording career. Two CDs worth of music will be available here until Tuesday's release date, so check it out this weekend.

Picks for a rainy weekend in October

Not too much this weekend, but a couple of interesting ones . . .

Friday
Lisa & Her Kin will be doing the happy hour show at the Laurelthirst. 6 PM, free

Thad Beckman will be at the Muddy Rudder. 8PM, free

Horsefeathers, Delorean, and Matt Bauer will be at Holocene to support Horsefeather's album release. 9 PM, $10

Saturday
The fine songwriter and guitarist Kelly Joe Phelps will be at the Aladdin. 8 PM, $22

Little Sue will be holding down happy hour at the Laurelthirst this week with band. Sue has a brand new CD you can pick up too. 6 PM, free

The Troublemakers will be roadhouse rockin' at the Cascade Bar & Grill in Vancouver. 9 PM, cover

Sax player John Gross, accompanied by pianist Dave Frishberg, will be at The Cave. 8PM, $5


Sunday
Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile will be performingat Reed College as part of Chamber Music Northwest. These virtuosos (Thile on mandolin, Meyer on bass) are blending classical, bluegrass and original work. Should be a marvelous performance. 7:30 PM, $30

Though not a musical performance, there's a talk you might be interested in at Powells (downtown). Music industry veteran Danny Goldberg will be speaking about his book, Bumping Into Geniuses, that has been getting some very positive reviews. This is a guy who's been deep into the business, but always a fan at heart. Could have some very interesting stories to tell. 7:30 PM, free

And, Paula Sinclair will be performing two of her William Stafford poem-songs this Sunday, October 5th, with the 56-piece Starlight Symphony at the United Methodist Church in Tigard. 6 PM, $8

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Photos from the Allison Krauss/Robert Plant show

Here's a few shots from the Oregonian of the Krauss/Plant show on Tuesday night.

I went. I enjoyed. I didn't pay $150 to be there.

Instead of (or after) the VP debate

Some good shows to recommend for tonight (Thursday) . . .

Tracy Grammer will be in town tonight and playing a solo show in Hillsboro at the Walters Cultural Art Center. The short drive out on Rt. 26 will definitely be worth it. 8 PM, $17

Singer/songwriter Mark Geary will be at the Alberta Street Pub. Mark splits time between Ireland and New York, and it's been a couple of years since he's been out to the Northwest. Great chance to catch another fine performer who was very impressive when I saw him at Mississippi Studios. 7PM, $12

And there's also a late show at Alberta Street with another excellent Austin-based songwriter, Michael Fracasso. 9:30PM, $10

Mickey Hart and the Global Drum Project will be at the Aladdin. 8 PM, $42

The fine blues of Colin Lake and Wellbottom can be heard tonight at the White Eagle. 8 PM, free

And Lauren Sheehan will be at the Muddy Rudder in Sellwood tonight. 8 PM, free

more on the weekend tomorrow . . . .