Saturday, June 30, 2012

The Music Note underling...

...How could he leave out Ray Davies at the Aladdin?  Oh, sigh, because it costs $50?!  But if you can afford it, it's worth every penny....and I know a great chick you could take...
On a more serious note and as a side bar to the Blues Festival news; apparently Curtis Salgado is again fighting a cancerous tumor in his lung.  It won't stop him from playing the Blues Festival, but of course, as an American and a musician, he needs help with his medical expenses.  Donations can be made online or at US Bank locations:  online @ bit.ly/salgado_fund - at US Banks (ask for the Curtis Salgado fund c/o Odaglas LLC Donation Account - by mail @ US Bancorp, 2550 NW 188th Av, Hillsboro 97124.
My first run of picks for Blues Festival - all the Pete Krebs incarnations, Duffy, Scott Pemberton (what he does to his guitar is amazing and keeps a guitar tech in a lifetime job...), Reggie Houston, BOOKER T., for the love of dog!, Toots and the Maytals, Bettye LaVette, Bobby Rush....so many more...and come say hi Thurs. through Sunday...I'll be working the Music Millennium booth....
Also - some great singer/songwriters coming up - Steve Poltz, July 12 at Mississippi Studios and Alejandro Escovedo at the Doug Fir Aug. 13.
...and now that I am a precinct captain...y'all better be registering to vote!!!..I have the forms....

Friday, June 29, 2012

Jim's Kinda Sorta Maybe Complete Summer Outdoor Music Guide

Here it is ... finally ...

Recycle, edit, add, repeat ... here ya go  ... I have collected a bit of info about live and outdoor music you can catch in and around Portland this summer - in the parks, plazas, and other outdoor venues. It's already started and will begin to pick up a full head of steam in the next week. As I've said in the past (in fact, using some of this exact wording as in years past!), when it comes to live music outdoors in summer, we really do have an amazing number of choices, so there's no excuse for not catching some great music outdoors throughout the summer. 

There is free music and ticketed shows ... but let's begin with ...

The Free (much of it paid for by generous sponsorships of local businesses who you should thank and support)
Portland Parks and Recreation's Summer Concerts in the Parks:  A dozen or so city parks, including Washington Park, will have evening concerts throughout the summer. These concerts kickoff on July 6th at Fernhill Park and are one of those summertime treasures around town. Grab a picnic dinner (or patronize the food vendor/sponsors), bring a blanket or chairs, and enjoy.  Nothing better on a summer's eve. I've been a part of organizing the Sellwood Riverfront Park shows that will run four consecutive Mondays, beginning on July 9th. That series kicks off with the Patrick Lamb Band, and will be outstanding every week. Hope to see you there!

For all of you who are downtown in Portland for your work week (or if you just like slacking downtown), there a some fine musical opportunities ...

Music on Main is a great Wednesday series that begins July 11th on Main Street between the Schnitz and the Performing Arts Center. As usual, it has a fine lineups of bands this summer.

Pioneer Square has another year of Noon Tunes - every Tuesday and Thursday beginning on July 10th.

And not to leave out those lunching on the east side - there's noon Lunchbox Concerts in the Oregon Square Courtyard (Lloyd District) every Wednesday until the end of August.

In its second year is the Sundown@Ecotrust Concerts (721 NW 9th) - on five consecutive Thursdays beginning July 5th at 5:30 pm.

A new one on the eastside this year is Plaza Palooza in the Oregon Convention Center Plaza on Thursday evenings at 5 pm, beginning on July 12th and running through the end of August.

Then there are street fairs - for instance, Mississippi Street Fair (Saturday, July 14th), the Alberta Street Fair (Saturday, August 11th), and the Hawthorne Street Fair (Sunday, Aug 26th) ...

There's the annual Cathedral Park Jazz Festival - three days of great music ... free in St John's - July 20th - 22nd.

Speaking of St John's, there also NoFest the weekend of June 30th.

But Portland isn't the only city in the area that has an abundance of free music ... check out these summer concert schedules:

Milwaukie has noon concerts in Scott Park.

Lake Oswego has four concert series at Millennium Plaza Park, Foothills Park, and Westlake Park.

Hillsboro has music every Tuesday night at the Hillsboro Marketplace starting at 5:30 pm.

Tualatin has two series of parks concerts on Thursdays and Saturdays, including Los Lobos (yes, Los Lobos!) for free on Saturday, Aug. 11th.

West Linn's has a Thursday night series at Tanner Creek Park.

Vancouver has an evening and a noon series downtown in Esther Short Park.

Ticketed shows:
Of course starting Wednesday, July 4th, its the 25th Annual Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival - once more with an outstanding lineup of national headliners, regional acts, and locals tearing it up for five days in Waterfront Park. Stay tuned to a post devoted to the festival and a few acts not to be missed.

Head to Kruger's Farm Market on Sauvie Island for Farm Tunes - excellent bands every Thursday at 6:30 pm through September 1st. $10 per car and shows kick off this coming Thursday.

Check out the lineup at The Oregon Zoo summer concerts ... always a fun venue with solid acts. 

Then there's the McMenamin's Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn, which include some of the bigger national touring acts this summer - Bonnie Raitt, My Morning Jacket, Norah Jones, Ringo Starr, The Avett Brothers, and more. 

There's also the Maryhill Winery's summer shows that will have some of the other big summer acts that will be out and about including Chris Isaak, and Alison Krauss. And it's in a beautiful setting on the Washington side of the Columbia River.

The annual Bite of Oregon (Aug 10-12) in Waterfront Park has a very solid local music lineup.

OMSI gets into the act this year with their After Dark program adding music - last Wednesday of the month. 

There's a couple of music festivals within minutes of the city ... complete with camping and a feel-good vibe that's hard to resist. The first weekend of August (3rd-5th) brings the annual Pickathon  out at Pendarvis Farm ... combining an eclectic mix of touring and local artists - roots music, folk, bluegrass, and indie pop in a beautiful setting just outside of Portland. Then there's the annual Northwest String Summit at Horning's Hideout in North Plains the following week (August 9th - 12th). 

I'll bet someone could go to live music outdoors every day this summer! No, it isn't going to be me ... but I'll do my share ... and I'm sure you'll do yours!  See ya out and about ....

 .... and be sure to add other events you know about via the Comments or email them directly to me.

This weekend's picks, 6/30

So what's up for the weekend?

It's the fifth annual NoFest in St Johns all weekend ... free music outside and at a number of venues around the neighborhood ...

Friday

Leo Kottke and Jake Shimabukuro will dazzle and dance over their respective strings at the Oregon Zoo ... 7 pm ...

One of the best and blusiest voices around, Duffy Bishop, will blow the doors off of Halibut's ... 8 pm, no cover

The Bridgetown Sextet brings their trad jazz sound to Tony Starlight's ... 8 pm, $12

For a little more contemporary jazz, Devon Phillips will be at Ivories ... 8 pm, $10

Naomi Hooley, Justin Jude, and Brian Copeland make for a fine songwriters triple-bill at the Secret Society ... 9 pm, $10

Catch Ron Rogers & The Wailing Wind and The Steady Boys for some honky-tonkin' at Duff's ... 9 pm, $??

Saturday
Artichoke Music hosts Alexander's Real Time Band and Mary Flower ... 8 pm, $15

The Chicago Afrobeat Project will be at The Goodfoot ... 9 pm, $10

A bunch of Portland bands come together at the Wonder Ballroom for a tribute to the Beastie Boys ... 9 pm, $10

Sunday
Guitarist Bill Kirchen (from Commander Cody, but so much more) will bring the twang to Duff's ... 8 pm, $??

k.d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang headline the weekend's second concert at the Oregon Zoo ... 7 pm

Reggie Houston and an all-star band will be rockin' Jim Flynn's house party series on Sunday. Its Reggie's annual birthday bash and a ton of fun ... for directions, contact Jim Flynn ... music begins at 6 pm, $10, BYOB (and a dish to share if you like) ... and the food barrel will be out for the Oregon Food Bank, so bring a can or two to contribute.

All for now ... my summer music post will be out later or tomorrow and stay tuned for my picks for the Waterfront Blues Festival that begins on Wednesday ... hey, summer is here ... get outside for some music!

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Thursday quick picks for live music

A very good set of music options for tonight ...

Wish I could get to the Laurelthirst tonight for Lewi Longmire's happy hour at 6, but it's going to probably need be a coming Thursday ... but you should consider this in your live music schedule as a regular dose of smile-inducing rock and roll ... believe me, by Thursday you need this ... 6 pm, no cover

Lewi is busy tonight as he heads right over to the Doug Fir to open for Brokedown in Bakersfield ... if you're a fan of Merle and Buck and the gritty honky-tonk signature sound out of California's Central Valley, you should check out this show ... 9 pm, $15

At the Alberta Rose, it's a Last Thursday Swing Time tribute to Tom Waits ... its family friendly vaudeville, dance and circus in the early evening ... add burlesque and cabaret after 9 ... 7 pm, $10

The Bunk Bar hosts Bobby Bare, Jr ... and it's his birthday show ... 9 pm, $12

Looking for a fine jazz show ... Javon Jackson and soul-jazz icon Les McCann are in town at Jimmy Mak's and are joined by the outstanding Portland trio of Ed Bennett on bass, guitarist Frank Tribble, and the venerable Mel Brown on drums ... 8 pm, $20/25 ...

Monday, June 25, 2012

Help fund The Winding Stream, the Carter-Cash Documentary by Beth Harrington

A good friend and colleague - filmmaker Beth Harrington - is in the homestretch of her campaign to fund post-production of her fabulous film about the Carter and Cash families and the roots of Americana music. I'd like to encourage my friends and blog readers to contribute.


Take a look at her Kickstarter page and see more details about the project. Beth is an outstanding documentary director with a personal passion to tell the story of American music and the stories of the people who've been integral to its development .... This is something near and dear to me, too, so I hope you'll consider helping ... 

Friday, June 15, 2012

Correction on the Chris Mayther Memorial date

MaryChris (xmass) posted this earlier in the week ... but I wanted to be sure you had the right info for the memorial show ... Tuesday, June 19th, 7pm, Melody Ballroom

Jim's picks for the weekend

Soooo ... what's looking good this weekend? How about channeling your inner Dolly Parton on Friday at the Alberta Rose, or funking it up with a powerhouse trio from New Orleans Saturday at The Goodfoot ... or hearing a dynamic poetic duo spinning tales of tough growing up and redemption at the Aladdin on Sunday?

But before I begin I just want to say that if you have something I've missed and really want to tell folks about it, just add it as a comment at the end of the post ... maybe consider this more of a conversation then a broadcast of only what I think is worth checking out. I miss stuff and certainly am not familiar with every live music option going on at any given time.

OK, here's what I've got:

Friday
The Alberta Rose Theatre hosts the annual Dolly Parton tribute benefit for Siren Nation. Some of Portland's finest songwriters and singers honoring an American music icon ... it's way fun, too ... 9 pm, $12

The Strange Tones invade Duff's with their particular blend of good time rock, blues, and surf music ... or just call it Crime-a-billy!  .... 9 pm, $??

The White Eagle has a very fine triple bill with Ryan Sollee (of The Builders and the Butchers), the Lewi Longmire Band, and Mike Midlo ... 9:30 pm, $6

Saturday
My pick show tonight is the New Orleans powerhouse blues/funk trio of keyboardist Joe Krown, guitarist "Wolfman" Washington, and drummer Russell Batiste, Jr. at The Goodfoot. These guys play in a number different bands and configurations so typical of the New Orleans music scene, but this trio just kills at a packed weekly gig at the Maple Leaf, one of the oldest, funkiest clubs in the Crescent City. Check out more about the band at Oregon Music News ... and don't miss this one ... 9 pm, $12

Former Portlander, now Austinite, Raina Rose is at the Alberta Street Pub ... 7 pm, $??

The very fun Box Set (Jim Brunberg and Jeff Pehrson) finish a week of "reunion" shows at Al's Den in the Crystal Hotel with special guest Jenny Conlee ... 7 pm, no cover

Solid early and late choices at the Secret Society Lounge with Dominic Castillo at 6 pm (no cover) and The Tezeta Band at 9 pm ($8)

Padam Padam bring their European cabaret sound infused with Latin, klezmer and tango to the cozy atmosphere of TaborSpace, a community center and coffeehouse at the base of the belltower of Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church (5441 SE Belmont) ... 7:30 pm, $9-12 sliding scale

If you head up to St John's, you can catch Miriams Well at Plew's Brews ... 9 pm, no cover

There'll be some fine sax blowing with Devin Phillips at The Blue Monk ... 9 pm, $10

The dancers will swingin' to DK Stewart Sextet with the Soul Survivor Horns at Duff's ... 9 pm, $??

Sunday
While she's in town, Raina Rose has a second gig outdoors on the patio at Mississippi Studio's Bar Bar ... along with Hunter Payne ... 3 pm, no cover

... and a few touring shows to note ... first, the Tedeschi Trucks Band will be at the Schnitz (7:30 pm, $32-75) ... second, the first of the Edgefield summer shows begins with John Fogerty ... 6:30 pm, $47 (though reportedly sold out) ...

My pick of the night though, is an intriguing show at the Aladdin with singer/songwriter(and author) Rodney Crowell and poet/memoirist Mary Karr who have teamed to release the CD, Kin ... looks like it could be a tremendously rewarding evening of music - good preview here.... 8 pm, $25 advance, $30/door

OK, that's all for now ... but stay tuned for the my summer compendium of musical options (mostly outdoors and lots for free!) ... it's summer in Portland ... something to celebrate!  Now get out to some live (and local) music!

Free is a very good price...

..I have a free ticket to see Temper Trap on Sunday at the Roseland.  Band out of Australia with a great singer....check the You Tube or they were on Letterman last week....contact me at:  xmass@comcast.net if interested.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

In brief....

Chris Mayther memorial/birthday bash at Melody Ballroom....Chris Mayther posted in Celebrating the life of Christopher Mayther
   
Chris Mayther     3:38pm Jun 13
Just so everyone knows, the memorial will start at 7p-ish.

...and though our hearts our heavy, a little Dolly will help...Siren Nation Dolly Parton Hoot at Alberta Rose on Friday.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Music for the first weekend of June!

Thanks to MaryChris for getting out a couple of posts since my last .... Sooo, ok ... I'm trying to get back in the swing of things after my New Orleans sojourn and it's not being easy. Doing my music recommendations takes some discipline and rhythm - neither of which I've really recovered yet  ... 'nuff said ...

So what do I note for this weekend?

Friday
Couple of shows you should think about checking out ...
First (as in first Friday of the month) there's great happy hour choices - my faves being the James Low Western Front at the Laurelthirst and Swing Papillion at the Secret Society. Music with no cover, good food and drink choices at both ... and remember to tip the band and your servers...

One of the bluesiest, soulful, and funky cats in town (and my good buddy) Lloyd Jones, has a CD release celebration at Jimmy Mak's tonight. On the heals of his excellent acoustic CD, Doin' What It Takes is his first full band recording in way too many years. He's got the Atlas Horns and LaRhonda Steele backing the Struggle, so this will be big fun ... Here's a preview interview (with a very funky tune) from Oregon Music News ... 8 pm, $10 ... or $22 with the new CD or $25 for CD and reserved seating.

Couple of touring shows to mention ... the gritty Texas songwriter, Ray Wylie Hubbard, is at Mississippi Studios. I loved his set last summer at Pickathon, and he's back to support his latest recording, The Grifter's Hymnal ... Here's a little taste from a few years back ... 9 pm, $25

In recognition of those souls who can't seem to get enough of New Orleans, actor Hugh Laurie has immersed himself in the city's deep musical and cultural groove. So much so that he produced a PBS concert special last year, a CD, and is now touring with a crack band of players showcasing his focus on his love of the city and it's musical traditions. Not a bad singer (in the tradition of those Brits who can sing American) and piano player, he'll be at the Schnitz tonight ... 7:30 pm, $25 - $90

Speaking of New Orleans inspired music, our own Bridgetown Sextet focuses on traditional jazz and swing of the 1920s and 30s ... and you can check them out tonight at The Blue Monk ... 9 pm, $?

 ... and, there's a great evening of local indie music at the Rose Festival at Waterfront Park, beginning at 5 pm with Lost Lander, followed by And And And, Y La Bamba, and Black Prairie ... 5 bucks for all! That's your bargain show of the weekend.

Saturday
First I want to mention that the Mysti Krewe of Nimbus will be representing for the first time in the Starlight Parade! We'll be providing a little taste of Mardi Gras at the Rose Festival ...

Speaking of NOLA (again), one of the more non-traditional musical artists who makes the city her home is Theresa Andersson. I love her adventurous pop that is inspired by the musical depth of New Orleans, but is something entirely different ... she'll be at the Mission Theater tonight - a rather intimate venue to hear and see her and well worth checking out! And here's a video directed by Portland's Alicia Rose to support Andersson's lasted CD, Street Parade ... 8 pm, $15

Sunday
Music outdoors on a Sunday afternoon? Mississippi Studios begins it's Sunday afternoon summer series on the Bar Bar patio with the Lewi Longmire Band and The Darlin' Blackbirds ... 3 pm, no cover

A fave Austin-based band for years has been Asleep At The Wheel ...and they're in town for a show at the Aladdin and an in-store appearance (3 pm) at Music Millennium. Western swing at its best!  ... 8 pm, $25

Okay ... get out to some live music! Sheesh ... that was hard, but good practice!