Saturday, August 28, 2010

More music for the weekend

Saturday
Bob Dylan & John Mellencamp bring one of the biggest shows of the summer to Edgefield tonight and tomorrow ... tonight sold out, but still tickets for tomorrow ... 6 PM, $80

Blue Cranes do a CD release show at the Alberta Rose Theater (a perfect venue to hear this band!) to celebrate the upcoming release of Observatories and latest tour, their well received new recording. Good story here on Oregon Music News ... 9 PM, $12

A drummer with broken bones forced the cancellation of the Kolvane gig tonight at the Trails End, so Kolvane keyboard player Steve Kerin stepped in with a band for tonight that includes guitarist Bob Shoemaker and Franco Paletta on harmonica ... should be a lot of fun ... 9 PM, $6

Brethren Thread with special guest Scott Pemberton will be at the Spare Room. This band doesn't play many performances, but they are worth the wait ... very adventurous and original ... 9:30 PM, no cover

Linda Hornbuckle and Soul Vaccination  are at Jimmy Mak's (whoops) Mississippi Studios ... 9 PM, $12

Philly's Phunkestra will funk things up at the Goodfoot ... 9 PM, $??

Sunday

Lewi Longmire Band, Quiet Life, and The Dimes are doing 2 sets each outside at Mississippi Studios from 2 - 8 PM ... and it's free.

John Hiatt and the Combo will at the Aladdin. John is touring to support his latest CD, The Open Road. One of my very favorite artists for a long time, John's new recording has been getting a lot of listening - some of his best work in a body of great work.  He's got a crack band (Doug Lancio on guitar, Patrick O'Hearn on bass and long-time drummer Kenneth Blevins) with whom he also did the recording.  Ashleigh Flynn will open .... 8 PM, $60 (yeah, a bit pricey)

Friday, August 27, 2010

Forgot one for the weekend! Vancouver Wine and Jazz Festival starts tonight

With a very solid lineup of music including Mavis Staples tonight!

The Vancouver Wine and Jazz Festival runs through Sunday ... music highlights also include John Hammond and David Sanborn tomorrow and the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band and Stanley Jordan on Sunday (schedule here).  Good article from Oregon Music News about the festival here.

Friday live music picks

So maybe you're headed to the Oregon State Fair tonight to catch ZZ Top ... or to Bend for the Dylan/Mellencamp show ... or not ... so if home is where your music is ...

Kick it off early with Ron Rogers & the Wailing Wind at the Hawthorne Theater Pub (at SE 39th Ave) ... great band to check out (and Ron is giving away free sampler CDs while they last)... 6 PM, no cover

Looking for a rockin' blues house party?  Jim Flynn's  In The House shows are a ton of fun and tonight will host the Thad Beckman Band with Bryce Shelton, Denny Bixby and Kurtis Piltz  ... it's a $10 admission and BYOB (and maybe even a dish to share if you're so inclined). Jim's place is in SE - call him at 503-784-6824 or email for details and directions ... 7 PM, $10

Two opportunities to catch one songwriting's best - Peter Case. He'll be at Music Millennium at 6 PM for a short set and signing to support his new recording, Wig! ... then for a full performance at the Alberta Rose Theater. Up and coming songwriter from Austin, BettySue, will open.  If you haven't been to the ART yet, you really should catch a show here - intimate theater, great sound, comfortable seating  ... 8:30 PM, $20

The Robbie Laws Bigger Blues Band will be wailin' large at Jimmy Mak's ... 8 PM, $10

More blues? ... Duffy Bishop is at Halibuts ... 8 PM, no cover ... and a mostly acoustic Terry Robb will be at Vino Vixens ... 8 PM, $5

Like cabaret music from the far corner of the world? Then catch Padam Padam tonight at the Muddy Rudder in Sellwood ... 8 PM, no cover

Speaking of cool cabaret music, there's also the Pete Krebs Trio at the Press Club ... 8:30 PM, no cover

Have an appetite for fun, high-energy, acoustic bands, then check out Keep Your Fork There's Pie at The Woods tonight ... 9 PM, $6

Roots jazz from the 20s-40s your thing?  Then you must catch the Bridgetown Sextet at Duff's Garage ... 9 PM, $7

Funk/punk/twang? How about the Quick and Easy Boys at the Mt. Tabor Theater ... 9 PM, $8

It's country/roots music at the White Eagle with Truckstop Darlin', Rubella Graves, and Rich, Payne, and Pennyless ... 9:30 PM, $6

The Freak Mountain Ramblers have the late slot at the Laurelthirst ... 9:30 PM, $6

More coming for the weekend including Blue Cranes CD release show at the Alberta Rose and John Hiatt at the Aladdin ... (oh, and those guys Dylan and Mellencamp at Edgefield) ...

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Thursday, Thursday

Always fine music choices on Thursday ...

Pink Martini does the first of two shows at the Zoo ... still tickets for tonight, but tomorrow's show is sold out ... 7 PM, $32

Crowded House is the next big show tonight at the Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn ... 6:30 PM, $58 reserved/$43 general

The usual great assortment of happy hour shows includes Lewi Longmire (6 PM) at the Laurelthirst, Morgan Grace at Biddy's (6 PM), and Will West at the White Eagle (5:30 PM) ... no cover (but feed the tip jar!)

Devin Phillips and Chance Hayden are at Wilf's ... 7:30 PM, no cover

It's Blues Room Thursday at Jimmy Mak's with Robbie Laws joining the Mel Brown B3 Organ Band (btw, Robbie will also be there on Friday with his Bigger Blues Band) ... 8 PM, $5

Thad Beckman will be doing a solo show at the Muddy Rudder (Thad also will be playing with his band tomorrow night at Jim Flynn's blues house party - email Jim for details) ... 8 PM, no cover

The Garcia Birthday band will get jammy at the White Eagle ... 9:30 PM, no cover

... and it's Last Thursday on Alberta ... so if you're headed that way, check out the Everyone Orchestra at the Alberta Rose Theater ... 9 PM, $12

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Tony Furtado with special guest Kenny White tonight at The Secret Society

Hopefully this isn't a secret ... but Tony Furtado is playing the last of a four week residency at The Secret Society Ballroom.  Since the beginning of the year, Tony has done over a dozen shows - first at The Woods, and now at Secret Society - and they have been really stellar performances with a host of guests.  With a format that showcases Tony for some tunes, then each guest for a few (often with Tony accompanying) ... and including some never heard before collaborations - it's a loose, fun evening that's been hard to miss.  I've become a big fan of Tony's guitar, slide, dobro, banjo, songwriting, vocals .... he is one of the most talented and generous musicians in town.

Most of Tony's guests are the cream of the talented Portland music community, but sometimes there's out of town guests, like last week's South Carolina-based Dangermuffin, and this week's special guest, Kenny White. A New Yorker who spends a fair amount of time in the Northwest, he absolutely knocked out the audience last spring with Tony at The Woods. A consummate wordsmith and pianist, Kenny's tunes are wry, sophisticated, perceptive observations of the human condition (often his) - simultaneously funny and deep ... that he pulls off in a highly entertaining fashion.  Kenny spent years writing and producing music in advertising (now that will hone your cynical bone) and might best be know as a producer/arranger for a host of notable artists. Kenny's latest CD, Comfort In The Static is one of my favorite's of this year.

If you can come out tonight, you shouldn't miss this show ... 8 PM, $7

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Busy Portland music weekend continues ...

More, more, more ...

Saturday
The Portland Folk Festival focuses on Mississippi Ave today ... free daytime music and ticketed evening performances ...

There's a great triple bill of string benders at Duff's Garage -  Mary Flower, Steve James and Ken Emerson -  a Wizards of Slide trio who play blues, jazz, folk, Hawaiian slack key, ragtime (though not simultaneously)...  8 pm, $15

Award-winning songwriter Darrell Scott is at the Alberta Rose Theater ... 8 PM, $18

Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven are at the Aladdin ... 8 PM, $22

The Duffy Bishop Band is at Jimmy Mak's ... 8 PM, $15

Devin Phillips is at The Blue Monk ...  9 PM, $5

Kevin Self and the Tornadoes are at the Trails End Saloon in Oregon City ... 8 PM, no cover

Also in Oregon City - outside on the patio at the Falls View Tavern at 6 PM -  is Rich Layton & The Troublemakers ... no cover

... and Drunken Prayer is at Biddy McGraw's ... 9:30 PM, no cover

Sunday
Two great choices tonight of touring artists ... can't go wrong with either ...
One of my favorite songwriters, Lucinda Williams will be at Roseland. Seattle's Sera Cahoone opens ... 8 PM, $35

...and up from Austin is the amazing Carolyn Wonderland with a show at the Alberta Rose ... 8 PM, $18

The Portland Folk Festival finishes up with shows mostly on the SE side of town - Doug Fir, The Woods, Holocene all have shows today and tonight ....

Mississippi Studio's Summer Sessions has Chris Robley and Blitzen Trapper's Marty Marquis out on the patio ... 3 PM, free

There's a fine jazz show at Blackbird Wines - bassist Glen Moore with Dan Gaynor and Gary Hobbs ... 8 PM, $20

Friday, August 20, 2010

Friday music picks ...

Tonight is the big Jeremy Wilson Foundation benefit at the Wonder Ballroom with Casey Neill, Dr Theopolis and special guests, and James Low's 40th birthday celebration (and 10th anniversary of his first CD, Mexiquita) at the Secret Society Ballroom (a few doors down) with a host of present and former band members and friends.  James' show is free and he'll be donating his percentage of the bar to the Jeremy Wilson Foundation, so you should at least drop by for a drink and a few tunes ... it will be a fun and noisy night on N. Russell.

Competing for you dollars and music pleasure tonight are some other great shows ...

The Swell Season featuring Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova will be at the Zoo tonight. Former Pixies front man, Black Francis (Frank Black) will open ... 7 pm, $24

Mississippi Studios has an early show with Chuck Prophet ... outstanding songwriter and performer ... catch this show first!  ... 7 pm, $15

It's an Alberta Street night for the Portland Folk Festival with shows at the Alberta Rose Theater, the Alberta Street Pub, The Know, and Star E Rose ...here's the schedule ....

Curtis Salgado will soulfully tear it up with his band at Jimmy Mak's ... he'll have Lloyd Jones on guitar tonight too ... 8 pm, $20

The Laura Cunnard Trio with Dick Berk will be at Doc George's Jazz Kitchen ... 9 PM, no cover

DK Stewart and the Soul Survivor Horns will be at Duff's Garage ... 9:30 PM, $??

... and guitarist Alan Hagar and harmonica wizard (and blues musicologist) Bill Rhoades will be at Vino Vixens' new Friday night unplugged blues series ... 8 pm, no cover

Lots more music tomorrow, but want to give you a heads up about a show at Duff's to check out on Saturday -
The Wizards of Slide Guitar will feature Mary Flower, Steve James and Ken Emerson ... Each is more than a master of the slide, but complete guitar players who come at it from perspectives of folk, blues, jazz, Hawaiian slack key, ragtime and can tackle a host of stringed instruments in the process ... this will be an aural treat ...  8 pm, $15


Will have lots more for Saturday ... told you, this is a busy weekend!




Thursday, August 19, 2010

More Thursday live music choices

I said this is a very busy stretch of stellar live music choices .... so what else, you say ....

Besides the Gulfsongs Oregon benefit show at the White Eagle and the opening shows of the Portland Folk Festival I mentioned earlier, tonight you can catch any of the following 6 PM happy hour shows:  Lewi Longmire at the Laurelthirst, Morgan Grace at Biddy McGraw's, or the Portland Playboys at Duff's Garage.

The Kennedy School hosts The Builders and The Butchers and Pancake Breakfast as part of the Great Northwest Music Tour ... why does that bill make me hungry? ... 7 PM, no cover

Stephanie Schneiderman does a 7 PM set at Jimmy Mak's with special guest Tony Furtado (no cover) ... followed by the Mel Brown B3 Organ Band at 8 PM ($5).

At the East End there's four bands including From Words To Blows (Little Sue, Jesse Emerson, Steve Drizos and Jenny Conlee-Drizos) and Mike Coykendall & The Golden Shag ... 9 PM, $8

Lloyd Jones and Dover Weinberg are at the Blue Monk throwin' down a little organ trio action ... 9 PM, no cover

Not exactly live music, but Rosanne Cash is in town tonight speaking at the Bagdad Theater about her new memoir, Composed ... 7 PM, $26.95 (includes copy of the book)

Lots more for Friday including Chuck Prophet at Mississippi Studios, The Swell Season and Black Francis at the Zoo, The Hold Steady at the Crystal, and Curtis Salgado at Jimmy Mak's .... wow ... stay tuned.

Gulfsongs Oregon and Jeremy Wilson Foundation benefit shows

Tonight is the sixth of twelve scheduled Gulfsongs Oregon fundraising shows for two organizations in Louisiana that are providing assistance to people on the Gulf Coast dealing with the economic and environmental effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster.  Thursday's show at the White Eagle Saloon is a distinctly country-tinged affair with Palatine Hill (sporting their original line-up of James Whelan on vocals and acoustic guitar, Tucker Jackson on pedal steel guitar, Jeff Jordan on bass guitar and vocals, Bryan McGenney on drums, and Jeff Koch on lead guitar and mandolin) that reformed specifically to play this Gulfsongs show.  Also on the bill is the gritty and charismatic songwriter Morgan Geer and Hearts of Oak featuring the songs of Nate Wallace accompanied by Andy Sheie and fine fiddling of Marilee Hord .... 8:30 pm, $5-$10 suggested donation.

On Friday night there's an outstanding show at the Wonder Ballroom to support the Jeremy Wilson Foundation.  This grew from long-time Portland musician (Dharma Bums) Wilson's financial needs for heart surgery into a foundation that will advocate for and assist uninsured and under-insured musicians and their families. The show will feature funk-master Dr. Theopolis, Casey Neill and the Norway Rats and all-star guest appearances, as well as a silent auction from sponsors and supporters like R.E.M., Music Millennium and Kill Rock Stars. You can read more about the goals of the foundation and Friday's show at Oregon Music News and in the Oregonian  .... 9 pm, $20

In addition, James Low will be doing a show simultaneously at the Secret Society Ballroom - just a door or two down from the Wonder.  James his celebrating his 40th birthday with a free show (including members of all of his various band incarnations over the past 10 years) ... and will be taking donations for the Jeremy Wilson Foundation too .... nice!  .... 9:30 pm, no cover

Two very worthy causes ... hope you can make one or all of the shows!

Portland Folk Festival begins tonight

This is a wonderful weekend to catch some great shows in town .... choosing is going to be the most difficult part.  Don't get paralyzed and go nowhere ... it's all too good to miss .... I'll spread the choices over a couple of posts.

The inaugural Portland Folk Festival begins tonight and runs through Sunday. A $40 ticket will get you into all of the events that are spread throughout venues - large, small, indoors, outdoors - in four neighborhoods. There are free shows, cheap shows and higher ticket shows if you want to purchase individually.  There are shows that honor the past of folk music, and those that look to the future.  Some of the shows are simply typical Portland club shows - we have a lot of what I see as modern "folk" music - if you can define it as acoustically-based and lyrically driven (guess that covers a lot of territory around here).  I hope this is successful for the folks who put it together ... there's more info at the festival website, on Oregon Music News and in this article by Ryan White from today's Oregonian. 

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Wednesday - Alejandro Escovedo, Quebe Sisters and more

Quick heads up for tonight ...

One of my fave's, Alejandro Escovedo will be at the Aladdin, touring to support his new CD, Street Songs of Love. For the past 20 years he's produced some of the most consistently inspiring, adventurous, and heart-felt music ... and is an amazing live performer. Fellow Austinite Amy Cook opens ... 8 pm, $20

At the Zoo, it's the Quebe Sisters with their engaging mix of country, western swing, jazz, and classic cowboy music ... 7 pm, $10.50

On the local scene, Sassparilla will be pretty darn sassy at the Laurelthirst for happy hour (6 pm, no cover) .... Alice Stuart will follow (9 pm, no cover).

Little Sue will be doing her regular Wednesday happy hour at Biddy's (6 pm, no cover), followed by Stringed Migration (9 pm, no cover)

Blues? Big Monti and the Precious Darlings are at the Trails End Saloon ... 8 pm, no cover

More tomorrow on some big shows for the weekend.


                           

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Tuesday music choices and looking ahead ...

There some fine music choices tonight with a lot more coming this week ... including Alejandro Escovdeo tomorrow at the Aladdin, the sixth Gulfsongs Oregon benefit show at the White Eagle on Thursday, the Jeremy Wilson Foundation Benefit at the Wonder Ballroom on Friday, the Portland Folk Festival all weekend, Lucinda Williams on Sunday ... but more on those later (and lots more) ... it's getting late, so here's tonight ...

A band in town I've recently come to enjoy is Miriams Well ... they do a regular Tuesday night gig in North Portland at LV's ClubTwelve 22 (N. Vancouver & Fremont)... 7pm, no cover

Nancy King and Steve Christofferson do vocals and piano oh so well at Tony Starlight's ... 7:30 pm, $7

It's the third of four weekly gigs this month for Tony Furtado at the Secret Society Ballroom ... tonight with North Carolina's Dangermuffin as guests. Great venue and outstanding music ... 8 pm, $7

And there's a benefit tonight at the Crystal Ballroom -Phil's Fire Fund: The Great Northwest Bookstore Demolition Assistance - which will be headlined by Rebecca Kilgore & David Frishberg ... 5:30 pm, $18

Monday, August 16, 2010

2010 No Depression Festival this coming Saturday


If you are looking for for a great one-day festival this weekend check out the 2010 No Depression Festival at Marymoor Park in Redmond, Washington.  Tickets are just $45 in advance and $50 at the door.Definitely worth the drive up  ...





Saturday, August 14, 2010

Tunes for a hot Sunday ...

Could hit 100 on Sunday  .... time to find some cool tunes  ....

How about brunch at EaT with Reggie Houston's Box of Chocolates ... 11 am, free (except for the tasty menu items you'll want to order)

Mississippi Summer Sessions at Mississippi Studio's side patio ha Casey Neill and Leonard Mynx ... 3 pm, free

Over at the Doug Fir's Pickin' On Sundays it will be the Alialujah Choir, MBilly and John Vechiarelli ... 3 pm, free

Chris Cain plays a second show in town this weekend at Jim Flynn's In The House house party Sunday at 5 pm - $10 and BYOB  ... email Jim or call 503-784-6824 for more info .... if you haven't been to a house party, you're missing a really fun experience.

It the Big Old Bodacious Blues Jam and BBQ with the Catillacs at the Ponderosa Lounge ... this is an every Sunday event until October ... 7 pm, $2

What better music for a hot sweaty summer night than New Orlean's Dirty Dozen Brass Band at Dante's ... one of the best of the brass bands that will have your body movin' no matter ... 7:30 pm, $17

Friday, August 13, 2010

Lots of weekend choices ... all in one post!

Separate posts? The whole enchilada? Going for it, so I can enjoy the rest of the weekend ...

Friday
Find show at the Alberta Street Theater with Lincoln Crockett joined by his friends Alexa Wiley, Brad Creel, Garett Brennan and Will West ... a fine gathering of songwriter/performers ... 6:30 pm, $12

It's battling gigs of two young jazz players in Portland who demonstrate maturity and depth way beyond their years ... you can check out bassist/vocalist Kate Davis tonight at Wilf's in her last show before returning to school in NY (7:30 pm, $8) ... or you can head to Jimmy Mak's for sax player Hailey Niswanger (8 pm, $10).

Looking for an aural adventure? "Trio Subtonic Plays Radiohead" tonight at the Alberta Rose Theater. This should be a very cool show ... 8:30 pm, $12

Want to dance like crazy with the animals? It's the B-52's at the zoo! Time to rock lobster at the love shack ... 7 pm, $27

The Quick & Easy Boys get the McMenamins' Great American Music Festival kicked off tonight at the Grand Lodge in Forest Grove ... you can even camp out overnight to get a head start on the music tomorrow ... 7:30 pm, no cover

It will be a jammy string-centric night at the Laurelthirst with the Garcia Birthday Band and the Sugarcane String Band ... 9:30 pm, $6

The White Eagle has Audie Darling and Ellen and the Felons ... will be criminal if you don't show up ... 9:30 pm, $6

Blues guitarist Chris Cain and his band are in town and will be rockin' the house at Duff's Garage .... 9:30 pm, $10

More blues?  Lloyd Jones is at Halibuts (8 pm, no cover) and Lisa Mann is at the Trails End (9 pm, $??)

Caleb Klauder Country band is at the Spare Room ... 9:30 pm, no cover

Ezra Holbrooke and James Low are at The Press Club ... 8:30 pm, no cover

.... and unplugging for the night over at Vino Vixens is Rich Layton & The Troublemakers ... harmonica fueled, swampified, and acoustic!  ... 8 pm, no cover

Saturday 
The aforementioned Great Amerian Music Festival will go from noon to midnight at the Grand Lodge in Forest Grove.

It's the annual Customer Appreciate BBQ at Music Millennium ... food, beer, and free music! 

Chris Isaak will be playing his wicked games at the zoo ... expect a fine show from Chris and his crack band ... 7 pm, $37.50

Rodrigo y Gabriela are at the Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn ... 6:30 pm, $38/$50

Rob Stroup and the Blame are at Biddy McGraw's. The more I hear Rob and his band, the more impressed I am by his songwriting and performing  ... 9 pm, no cover

The Thara Memory Superband is at Jimmy Maks ... 8 pm, $10

The Angry Orts, The Ascetic Junkies, Nucular Aminals are at the Doug Fir ... 9 pm, $5 

Sweetjuice plays the Spare Room ... 9:30 pm, no cover

The Stolen Sweet's Lara Michell celebrates her fourth solo album AND the debut album by new duo A Simple Colony (consisting of Lara Michell and Michael Dodson) tonight at The Woods ... 9 pm, $10

Will follow up with a post about more on Sunday .... including the Hawthorne Street Fair ....

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Some cool choices for beautiful Thursday

Yesterday it was Main St, today it's a Freaks show in the park ... Couch Park (NW 20th & Gilsan) - Freak Mountain Ramblers ... 6 pm, free (one more Summer Concert in a Portland park!)

While you're in the vicinity, you might check out the Deschutes Brewery Street Fare - music and some of the best of Portland's food carts ...and the proceeds go to benefit Morrison Child & Family Services.  Admission is $5 and you can buy more food and drink tickets to sample tasty treats from the carts. Music by Langhorne Slim, Loch Lomond, Sallie Ford and more ... 5 - 9 pm

Of course there's always happy hour at the Laurelthirst with Lewi Longmire (6 pm, no cover) ... or you can catch happy hour at Biddy's with Morgan Grace tonight (6 pm, no cover).

The fine duo of bassist/vocalist Lisa Mann and pianist Mark Simon are at Wilfs ... 7:30, no cover

... and it's battling B3 gigs ... at Jimmy Mak's with the Mel Brown B3 Organ Band laying it down soulful and bluesy (8 pm, $5), or at the Blue Monk on SE Belmont with Organ LeRoi & The Donors (alter ego of The New Iberians) doing their weekly set now on Thursdays ... 9 pm, no cover

Great blues show at the Alberta Rose tonight with Chemekia Copeland.  Joe McMurrian opens ... 8 pm, $25


Choices ... always choices .... 

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Just another Wednesday with too many great choices

Need some early mid-week music?

It will be a Freaks show on Main Street ... yep, the Freak Mt Ramblers will playing downtown at Music On Main ... 5 pm, free

Kate Davis does the 2nd of two nights recording live at Jimmy Mak's ... 6 pm, $5

Sasspirilla holds down happy hour at the Laurelthirst ... 6 pm, no cover

Little Sue does the same at Biddy's ... 6 pm, no cover

... as does the Chris Miller Band at Duff's ... 6 pm, $2

The Builders and The Butchers and Pancake Breakfast are part of McMenamins Great NW Music Tour at Edgefield .... 6 pm, no cover

At the zoo is the soulful Seattle-ite songwriter Leroy Bell & His Only Friends along with Tahoe Jackson - nice double bill! ... 7 pm, $10.50

... and Swing Papillon does their weekly Wednesday at the Press Club ... 7:30 pm, no cover

For a little later this evening:
There's a couple of great bands out of Mali at the Aladdin tonight - Vieux Farka Toure (the son of the great Malian guitarist Ali Farka Toure), along with his cousin, Ibrahim Kelly and the Dusu Mali Band.  This will be a soaring evening of pan-African sounds ... 8 pm, $15

It's jazz tonight at the Alberta Rose Theater with vocalist Lucy Woodward. Pianist Ben Darwish opens ... 8 pm, $16

Big Monte & The Precious Darlings are at the Trails End Saloon ... 8 pm, no cover

... and The Piano Throwers are at the Laurelthirst ... 9 pm, no cover

Dang, wish I wasn't working this evening ... I'd be somewhere!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Couple of shows tonight ...

Heading out tonight? Two shows I want to note ...

Kate Davis does a live recording tonight and tomorrow at Jimmy Mak's ... it's an early set both nights (6 - 7:30 pm) ... along with a show at Wilf's on Friday, these are the last chances to catch Kate before she heads back to NYC to resume school ... $5

At the Mission Theater tonight it's a memorial tribute to the late cartoonist, musician and Portland icon, John Callahan .... with live music (Terry Robb assembled a great set of folks to play), video, and remembrances that will celebrate an extraordinary life  ... should begin around 7 pm ... free

Monday, August 9, 2010

Levon Helm @ Oregon Zoo - a few photos

Who Is Duffy Bishop? And Why Is She Not World Famous? - Tonight at Mission Theater!

Missed this one in my earlier post ...

Who Is Duffy Bishop? And Why Is She Not World Famous?

The Cascade Blues Association will screen this locally produced documentary as a benefit for breast cancer research. The film will be followed by a performance by the one-and-only Duffy Bishop.

Who is Duffy Bishop? Well, she's one of the best Northwest singers to ever belt out the blues. Why isn't she famous? Come see the movie and find out! A portion of the proceeds benefit breast cancer research, and after the movie you can catch on of Duffy's blistering sets.

... 7:30pm, $15

Monday night

Been occupied with Monday park concerts the last couple weeks, but back looking at Monday night in the clubs and have a couple of quick picks for ya ...

An extra day in town for Pickathon, brings the Stone Mountain Boys (the project of Hacienda Brothers' Dave Gonzalez and Austin's Mike Barfield) to Duff's Garage .... expect some rockin' rave up tunes to get your week going .... 8:30 pm, $10

A treat at Jimmy Mak's tonight will be Portland native Jay Collins playing sax with Dan Balmer's band.  Jay has been an integral part of Levon Helm's horn section for the past few years (and family - he's married to Levon's daughter Amy) ... and with a night off from Levon's tour (who, btw, did a fantastic show last night at the zoo!), he's going to sit in with some of his old friends and musical compadres.  Should be fun .... 8 pm, $5

Bob Shoemaker is at the Rock Creek Tavern ... 8 pm, no cover

 ... and of course, Lloyd Jones will be doing his always entertaining Monday sets at the Muddy Rudder ... never know who might drop by!  ... 7:30 pm, no cover

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Levon Helm tonight at Zoo

What can I say ... the show I've been most looking forward to all summer.  Levon ... 'nuff said.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Friday ... kickin' off a busy music weekend

Where to start?

How about Pickathon?  Three days (and late nights) of music at Pendarvis Farm, just outside the city on the southeast side ... the farm becomes a wonderful alternative universe for the weekend. It is something to be experienced - multiple stages with an eclectic mix of roots rock, indie, acoustic, country, bluegrass comprised of local, regional and national acts. Lots of opportunities to see the artists you want ... in meadows, woods, and barns; jamming in the campgrounds; great food; eco-friendly as possible (solar power, no plastic cups or water bottles this year) .... one of the coolest vibes for a festival anywhere ..... if you've been there you know what I mean. Great story and preview at Oregon Music News. Music begins this afternoon at 3 pm ... tickets are $85 ($80 for today) per day or $155 for the weekend (cash only at gate).

Also starting today is The Bite of Oregon .... though it used to have a more national draw of musical acts, the organizers have emphasized the focus on food, and are relying on the great pool of local talent for the two stages of music.  Though I've missed some of the bigger acts that have delivered amazing performances in years past (Patti Smith, Dave Alvin, Dr. John, Todd Snider, Blind Boys of Alabama, Derek Trucks, North Mississippi Allstars), the local lineup is pretty strong for the weekend (I love the last three acts on the Garden Stage on Sunday - Atomic Gumbo, the Strangetones, and Curtis Salgado). Proceeds benefit Special Olympics of Oregon and tickets are $8 per day or $10 for the whole weekend.

Just tonight?  Okay ...
It's the first Friday of the month, and that means a happy hour at the Laurelthirst with the James Low Western Front ... 6 pm, no cover

It's a Zydebilly Fais Do-Do at Duff's Garage with Portland's Too Loose Cajun/Zydeco Band and Corvallis' Bon Ton Roulez ... you know there'll be some dancin' tonight at Duff's!  ... 9 pm, $8

The number one band on the Americana airplay charts is Austin's Band of Heathens, and they'll be playing tonight at the Alberta Rose Theater. Ashleigh Flynn will open ... 8:30 pm, $15


Though somewhat of an acquired taste (but obviously acquired by many!), Joanna Newsome brings her distinct vocals, songwriting, and harp to the Aladdin for the first of two sold-out performances ...you can read about her here. And you can always check at the door for spare tickets - patience has its rewards ... 8 pm, $25

Katie Sawicki & the Cabin Project and Star Anna & the Laughing Dogs will be at the White Eagle ... 9:30 pm, $6

Billy D & The Hoodoos will be rockin' the Rock Creek Tavern for you westsiders ... 9 pm, no cover

 ... so get out to some live music!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Thursday quick picks


Cindy Bullens does a free show at Music Millennium ... and it's MM owner Terry Currier's birthday! Come out to hear Cindy and help Terry celebrate #55 ... 6 pm

More 6 pm early music fun - the Lewi Longmire Band at the Laurelthirst (no cover) and Sweetjuice at McMenamins Edgefield (no cover)

Tonight at Jimmy Mak's hear The Kate Davis Band ... catch this fine jazz vocalist and bassist before she heads back east for her second year at the Manhattan School of Music ... 8 pm, $10


Maui-based singer/songwriter Gail Swanson (who doesn't make if often to the mainland, but is here to celebrate the release of her new CD, Simple Truth) will be at the Alberta Rose Theater ... 8:30 pm, $25

Adn at Lola's Room tonight it's The Watson Twins and Ferraby Lionheart ... 9 pm, $12

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Steve Riley tonight at Zoo and more ...

If I was to go anywhere for music tonight, it would be to the Oregon Zoo for the outstanding Cajun band from Lafayette, Louisiana - Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys ... 7 pm, $11

Shawn Colvin is at the Aladdin Theater with Ashleigh Flynn to open ... 7:30 pm, $35

If you're downtown, Music on Main Street has the Shanghai Woolies ... 5 pm, free

Sassparilla will rock the happy hour at the Laurelthirst ... 6 pm, no cover

Big Monti & The Precious Darlings are at the Trail's End Saloon ... 8 pm, $??

The Tony Pacini Trio with Dan Balmer is at Jimmy Mak's ... 8 pm, $5 at the door

.... and pianist Andrew Oliver will play tonight at the Brasserie Montmartre ... 8 pm, no cover

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Tony Furtado tonight at The Secret Society Ballroom

Just a quick reminder that the fifth Gulfsongs show is tonight at The Secret Society Ballroom (116 NE Russell Street) with Tony Furtado and Friends.  Tony's very special guests tonight are Thad Beckman, Lewi Longmire and Jim Brunberg.  

Gulfsongs extends a big thank you to Tony and his guests for making this first night of his August residency gig at The Secret Society a benefit for Gulfsongs.  Music starts a 8 pm and admission is $7.

Hope to see you there tonight!

You can find the full schedule of upcoming Gulfsongs Oregon benefit shows here.