Quick picks for Friday night

Here's a couple of quick hits for tonight ... (yes, I'm trying to pay attention to what's going on) ...

Tonight ...
It's always a special evening at O'Connor's when Thad Beckman comes back to town. Denver's gain has been our loss, so catch him while he's around this weekend. Tonight with Curtis Piltz and Sunday reuniting with the Country Side of Sunday gang at O'Connor's. ... 8 pm, $10

The Sportin' Lifer's will keep the dancers' feet happy at the Secret Society for happy hour ... 6 pm, $5

If you're not going to see Patty Smith speak tonight at the Newmark Theater, there's always the Garcia Birthday Band at the Mission Theater ... 8 pm, $10
or:
Ozomatli at the Aladdin ... 8 pm, $30
Karl Denson's Tiny Universe and Nikki Bluhm at the Wonder Ballroom  ... 8 pm, $25
Jaycob Van Auken, The Frequence, and Freddy & Francine at The Secret Society ... 9pm, $10

Lot's of good stuff coming next week over the Thanksgiving weekend ... some great post-TG shows ... including Tony Furtado at Mississippi Studios, The Next Waltz at the Alberta Rose, and Blitzen Trapper at Revolution Hall, 

Thursday riches ... Thompson, Smither, and a Celtic house concert

Thursday is (to me at least) a day of very rich choices in live music ... Chris Smither with special guest Mary Flower at the Alberta Rose, and Richard Thompson at Revolution Hall are two "don't miss" shows.  But I'll miss both 'cause I'll be out of town ... making my choice very easy.

But there's also an excellent house concert at Abbie Weisenbloom's featuring Winifred Horan (fiddle), Johnny Connolly (Irish button accordion), Cary Novotny (guitar) ... seats were going fast, so check with Abbie to reserve a spot.

No excuses ... get out to a great show on Thursday!

    --Jim

And one I missed when I wrote this - CMA award winning Chris Stapleton (album of the year, male vocalist, and best new artist) at the Wonder Ballroom. There's not much I like coming out of mainstream Nashville - but this guy is the real deal.