Friday, January 20, 2012

Here comes the weekend ... music picks

Have you noticed I'm down to posting mostly once a week? Damn, thought you might have missed that. Glad Marychris has jumped in with a couple of posts this week (and gave you a hint at what's on the horizon for me - yep, New Orleans for a couple of months).  But, in the meantime, what do I see as solid live music choices this weekend ...

Friday
Some fine 6 pm happy hour picks to kick it off with the wry and country rockin' (Texas style) of Ron Rogers & The Wailing Wind at the Hawthorne Theater Pub (no cover) - Ron has a free download of one of his tunes here; the vintage 20s sounds of AnnaPaul & The Bearded Lady at the Secret Society (no cover); or, as a change-up from the usual Hamdogs' Friday at Duff's, catch the soulful country of Paula Sinclair, a fave voice of mine around town who's had a fairly light performance schedule as of late ($2) ... stay at Duff's for more fun with The Hamdogs and Keeter Stuart for the late show.

A little later there's some excellent choices for no cover - like Matt Brown and Michael Jodell at Al's Den (7 pm), Lisa and Her Kin at the Bipartisan Cafe (7 pm), Duffy Bishop at Halibuts (8 pm), or James Low and Lewi Longmire at the Press Club (8:30 pm).

A great weekend of shows at the Alberta Rose starts tonight with the venerable folkie and wonderfully entertaining Peter Yarrow ... and Kris Deelane opens ... 8 pm, $28 ($15 if you're 17 and under - okay, probably does not apply to anyone reading this).  Tomorrow at ART is the Renegade Saints' 20th Anniversary show (8 pm, $12), and Sunday it's the Celtic sounds of Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Hass...(7:30 pm, $22) ...

The funk meter will be pinned at Ted's (at Berbati's) with Philly's Phunkestra leading a three band funk attack ... check out Seattle's Eldridge Gravy & The Court Supreme who are on the bill ... 9 pm, $8

It's a soulful weekend at Mississippi Studios with Joey Porter's Tribute to Stevie Wonder ... two nights of Wonder-fullness ... 10 pm, $18 (or $25 for both nights)

... and at Touche tonight it's saxophonist Rob Scheps and pianist Dave Frishberg ... story here at OMN ... killer jazz show for just $5 cover ... 8 pm

Saturday
Besides what's already been mentioned ... there's a fine Louisiana Zydeco band in town for a Cascade Zydeco dance at the Eagles Lodge (49th & Hawthorne) - Jeffrey Broussard & the Creole Cowboys ... 8 pm, $15

The gypsy cabaret sounds of Padam Padam will fill Tabor Space ... 7:30 pm, $8

The very knowledgeable blues music scholar and performer, Steve Cheseborough is at the Muddy Rudder ... 8 pm, no cover

Loch Lomond's Ritchie Young and the Young Brothers are at the Press Club ... 8:30 pm, no cover

The Tezeta Band bring their Ethiopian inspired jazz/funk/soul to the Secret Society ... 9 pm, $6

OK ... get out to some live music!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Couple more options...

Jan. 19, Jacktown Road at the World Famous Kenton Club...and for those planning ahead...Lost Lander CD release party at Doug Fir, Feb. 4.  If you order quickly, you can get the special mini planetarium packaging of the record...it's really cool...and their music is pretty awesome too...produced by Brent Knopf.

Monday, January 16, 2012

The other one will slip in here while Jim prepares to go to New Orleans, where he will be too busy listening to music than writing about it....oh, yeah, and teaching occasionally....
Tuesday at the White Eagle, Brad Creel and the Real Deal will play at 8:30 PM.  They were referred to in last week's Willamette Week as "amusing Americana"....and they play real good, too....
Paula Sinclair will be at Duff's Garage for a solo gig from 6-8 PM (although Kenny Sawyer will be accompanying her, on drums, I presume...) She hasn't done a solo gig in a while, so she needs our love and support.  Her recent work on the Joni Mitchell songbook is really amazing.
Chris Mayther will play Sip d'Vine on the 28th at 7 PM.  One of our finest soul and blues singers...
For those of us who rock on...Concrete Blonde at The Star and Fitz and the Tantrums at the Roseland on January 24th...you can hop back and forth across the street, but use the crosswalks!....and then, my personal gods and fellow Chicagoans, Wilco, Feb. 8....I can hardly contain myself!!  I love Jeff Tweedy and I will not apologize for my obsession...









Friday, January 13, 2012

Only my highlight shows

Really busy and way behind ... so here's just a couple to note for this weekend ...

Friday
The Too Loose Cajun/Zydeco Band will make happy feet at the Hawthorne Eagles Lodge (at 49th Ave) ... 8 pm, no cover
Stay all evening at the Secret Society with Pete Krebs & his Portland Playboys doing a CD release show at 6 pm (no cover), followed by the Shook Twins and more at 9 pm ($10)

Billy D will be at Vino Vixens ... 8 pm, $5

David Grisman and Frank Vignola are at the Alberta Rose Theatre(sold out!) ... 8 pm, $25

But if you can't see Grisman, you might want to check out the Portland Old-Time Music Gathering at the Scottish Rite Center ...


Saturday
My pick show is Stephanie Schneiderman at Jimmy Mak's ... great venue to hear Steph's blend of folk and electronica - it's sonically adventurous and very satisfying. She'll be joined by Keith Schreiner & the 45th Parallel String Quartet. And, as a very nice bonus, Naomi Hooley will open the show. Hear a performance of them together at KINK-FM ... 8 pm, $12

The venerable bluegrass veteran Peter Rowan will make a rare small venue appearance at Beaterville Cafe ... 8 pm, $25

Keegan Smith and Sneakin' Out team up for a show at the Alberta Rose ... 9pm, $12

The Stolen Sweets will be at the Secret Society ... 9 pm, $12

The Press Club hosts Casey Neil, Ezra Holbrook, and Matt McDonald for some Celtic-tinged songcraft ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Guitarist Alan Hagar is at the Muddy Rudder ... 8 pm, no cover

The Ty Curtis Band is a Vie de Boheme ... 8 pm, $??

Friday, January 6, 2012

For your weekend live music listening pleasure

It's January's first Friday, which means a few choice happy hour (6 pm) picks to get your Friday evening started (and maybe ended, too, for those of us whose eyelids get heavy by 9 pm) ...
The James Low Western Front at the Laurelthirst ...
Wendy & the Lost Boys at the Hawthorne Theater Pub ...
Swing Papillion at the Secret Society ...

... and you also might check out pianist Dave Fleschner at Ivories Jazz Lounge (5:30 pm) or for some classic country rock and swing, The Hamdogs at Duff's Garage.  There's no cover for these shows, except $2 at Duff's (but feeding the tip jar is always encouraged).

For music later in the evening ...

The River City Music Festival I posted about yesterday kicks off today and runs through Sunday with some great acts up at the Red Lion in Janzen Beach. Check out this story at Oregon Music News (also has some excellent preview performance videos), and this story in the Oregonian for more info .... Two of my favorite acts from last summer's Pickathon - Ray Wylie Hubbard and Joy Kills Sorrow play tonight ...

Linda Hornbuckle and her band will be at Duff's for your dancing pleasure ... 9 pm, $??

Rich Layton & The Troublemakers dial back the volume a bit and focus on the lyric side of the tunes in the comfy backroom of Vino Vixens ... 8 pm, $5  ... but they'll amp it back up for a swamp-a-delic evening at the Trails End Saloon on Saturday (8 pm, $7)

Were you a fan of Frank Zappa? One of the bands that keeps Zappa's music in front of folks, Pojama People, is at the Star Theater. The band includes former Zappa guitarist Ike Willis ... 9 pm, $15

The Lewi Longmire Band is at Biddy McGraw's ... 9:30 pm, no cover

Vocalist Laura Ivancie is at Touche ... 8 pm, $5

The Bridgetown Septet host a CD release show at Tony Starlight's ... 8 pm, $12

Saxophonist Hailey Niswanger with special guest, Thara Memory are at Jimmy Mak's ... pianist Janice Scroggins is part of the band too ... 8 pm, $12

Saturday
Tonight marks the end of the line for a great venue that I've been happy to have in my 'hood - The Woods. Congrats to Ritchie, Vivian, and the rest of the crew who made a great go at creating a quality small venue. I've seen some excellent music there over the last couple of years.  They'll go out with a celebration that will include lots of friends tonight (AgesandAges, Brothers Young, and more)... and it will be packed ... 8 pm, $??

Casey Neill & The Norway Rats and Sasspirilla are at the Doug Fir Lounge. And Casey will be premiering songs from the upcoming CD ... 9 pm, $10

Vocalist Rebecca Kilgore is at Ivories ... 8 pm, $??

The Curtis Salgado Band is at Jimmy Mak's ... 8 pm, $15/$20 reserved

Anne Weiss, Steve Cheesborough, and Lauren Sheehan form a great acoustic triple-bill at Artichoke Music ... 8 pm, $15

Catie Curtis is in town at the Alberta Rose Theatre ... 8 pm, $15

... and The Lonsomes, Wilkenson Blades, and Rich West Blatt will be at the White Eagle Saloon ... 9:30 pm, $6

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Thursday is "National Live Music Day"

Who knew?  So ... what better day to get out to see live music ...it's your civic responsibility!

Check out my calendar page and pick something!  I'll get back to recommendations tomorrow.

But one that should be on your radar for the weekend is the River City Music Festival that starts tomorrow at the Red Lion at Janzen Beach.  This festival has evolved from a bluegrass to a more encompassing Americana music format.  Some notable artists that are performing this year include Rodney Crowell, Peter Rowan, Sierra Hull, Jim Lauderdale, Ray Wylie Hubbard, David Lindley, Tony Furtado, and the Hot Club of Cowtown.  Tickets can be purchased for the entire 3-day festival or by individual days. It's also family friendly with special prices for kids under 12. And, there are workshops and jams for folks of all skill levels going on throughout the weekend.  I'll be there doing a volunteer shift on Saturday and taking in a pretty full day of music. Hope to see ya there!