Friday, April 17, 2015

April showers us with music

Busy work life has meant less time to scan the live music radar. However, today, instead of a lunchtime walk on a beautiful warm spring day, I will stay at the keyboard and bang out some thoughts for tonight and the weekend (we'll see how far I get) ...

Always a pleasure to let folks know when Thad Beckman returns to Portland for a show at O'Connor's. Tonight it will be a special treat because it's a CD release party! Come and get 'em while they're hot ... 8 pm, $10

It's the passing of a band tonight at Mississippi Pizza - will be the last time you can find Wendy and the Lost Boys playing anywhere, as they've decided to do one final show and big thank you to their wonderful fans ... 6 pm, no cover

A couple of other early show option are:
The Sportin' Lifers at the Secret Society ... 6 pm, $5
Mary Flower & Spud Siegel at Edgefield ... 7 pm, no cover

The Soul'd Out Music Festival began earlier in the week and continues through April 20 with some great shows (both touring and local acts) at multiple venues around town, including the amazing Vieux Farka Toure at the Wonder Ballroom on 4/20. Tonight's shows include the Quick & Easy Boys (Dante's), and Yasiin Bey and Bad Brains (Roseland).

There's a new spot for jazz in Portland - Alberta Abbey - with a killer PDX Jazz event tonight - The MPP All-star Quartet featuring Bobby Watson. Opening will be Devin Phillips & Darrell Grant ... 7:30 pm, $16-28

Acoustic guitarist masters Alex de Grassi and Andrew York are at the Alberta Rose ... 8 pm, $25

Fun local Americana triple-bill at Duff's tonight with Once In A While Sky, Stars of Cascadia, and Miller & Sasser ... 9 pm, $??

And it's the grand opening of Revolutions Hall this weekend with two sold out Neko Case shows (tonight & tomorrow). If you really want to go, you might find a ticket or two outside the venue (patience - someone always ends up with an extra). A Sunday show with The Von Trapps has tickets available. I like the addition of this 800-seat theater to the mix of Portland venues - looking forward to shows by Drive-By Truckers, Portland Cello Project, The Mavericks, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and more in the coming months.

Ok ... outside is call me ... Now get yourself out to some live music!

No comments: