Saturday - Early start to St Pat's

So much to tell . . . hard when you aren't a guy of few words . . . but here goes.

Choices, choices . . . . It's the 5th Anniversary of LiveWire Radio . . . . if you want to be in on the taping the only way to get a ticket is to show up and see if there's a few at the Aladdin, 'cause it's sold out. Dan Savage, Storm Large, Asylum Street Spankers and Stephanie Schneiderman are guests. . . . 8 pm, $20

The DK4 joined by the Heart Attack Horns will keep the toes tappin' at Duff's . . . . 9:30 pm, $8

The harmonica fueled, swampified sounds of The Troublemakers will keep the crowd movin' at the White Eagle . . . . 9:30 pm, $6

More music to move you at the Goodfoot with the afrobeat sounds of Jujuba. Dare you to sit. . . . 9 pm, $10

For something a bit more cerebral, Loch Lomond, The Old Believers, and Brothers Young will grace the stage of Mississippi Studios . . . . 7 pm, $12

Keeping to the quieter side, the fine songwriter and guitar picker Thad Beckman will be doing a solo show at the Muddy Rudder in Sellwood . . . . 8 pm, free

Jim Walker and Tim Ellis do their cool weekly thing at Hayden's Lakefront in Tualatin . . . 7:30 pm, free

A fine high-energy Celtic band, Circled By Hounds, will be at Biddy McGraws . . . . 9:30 pm, free

And that's a good segue into the musical festivities in place for a Portland celebration of St. Patrick's Day. For me the highlight is Saturday's annual KMIRA show at the Crystal Ballroom. A full night of Pogues music from a band of some of Portland's best - Casey Neill, Jenny Conlee-Drizos and Chris Funk of the Decemberists, Ezra Hollbrook, Hanz Araki, Scott McCaughey, Jesse Emerson and Derek Brown. This can be an insanely fun night if you're in the right mood. Scott's fine band, The Minus 5 open.

If you want to start early, head over to the Edgefield in the afternoon for full day of St Pat's celebrating with all sorts of acts and activities, finishing with the Freak Mountain Ramblers. . . . 3 pm, free . . . and this is day one of the celebration - day two is Tuesday.

Kell's annual shindig also gets into full swing on Saturday - lots of Irish celebrating with bands, pipers, dancers, food and libations - check Kells' site for details.

Will report on a few more St. Pat's options and some good choices for Sunday in the next edition . . . . Hope to see you at a show. Remember, it's good for you!