Jim's Music Notes

Here comes the weekend ... music picks

2012-01-20T12:35:00.000-08:00

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!

Couple more options...

2012-01-19T00:36:00.000-08:00

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.

2012-01-16T11:30:00.000-08:00

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...

Only my highlight shows

2012-01-13T15:21:00.000-08:00

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, $??

For your weekend live music listening pleasure

2012-01-06T12:09:00.000-08:00

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 is "National Live Music Day"

2012-01-05T13:00:00.000-08:00

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!

NYE picks

2011-12-30T15:17:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'm going to cheat ...

Go to this post at Oregon Music News ... it's a pretty comprehensive list of NYE music options ... but first a few they missed in the list:

My pick show is sold out! .... The Two Beers Veirs' New Years Celebration at the Laurelthirst. Once again, Laura Veirs will be hosting this annual New Years' Eve party. This year's show will feature: Laura Veirs, Black Prairie, Israel Nebeker from Blind Pilot, Willy Vlautin from Richmond Fontaine, Sallie Ford, Ritchie Young from Loc Lomond, Kevin and Anita from Viva Voce, Scott McCaughey from Minus 5, John Moen from Decemberists and more!

But that means you can pick from the following:
Mary Flower with band at Brasserie Montmartre - here's what Mary has to say about the gig: I'll be playing some lap steel and a big old ES 125 Gibson with the Mighty Band: Carlton Jackson (drums), Dave Fleshner (piano) and Kevin Deitz (bass). We'll be ringing in 2012 starting at 10:00PM downtown at the Brasserie Montmartre.

Rich Layton & The Troublemakers at Vino Vixens ... I'll let Rich describe it: This New Year's Eve, we'll be rockin' the Vino Vixens Lounge (at a reasonable volume, of course) for your listening and dancing pleasure. You can also spread out to one of 3 other rooms for some intimate conversation, enjoy the free pool table or play some serious foosball. The kitchen features a hip new menu along with some special dishes. We guarantee an evening of good friends, good music and good cheer. Cover is just $15 or $25/couple and includes party favors, snacks and a decent glass of bubbly for the midnight toast.

...or, the Jack McMahon Band at O'Connors Vault ... 9 pm, $10

Now here's my picks from the OMN list:

The Caleb Klauder Country Band and The Foghorn Stringband at The Spare Room

New Year’s Eve Bash at Secret Society Ballroom: Saloon Ensemble, The Ukeladies

The Sultans of Slide at Vie de Boheme

The Weinland Supergroup featuring The Fruit Bats at the Doug Fir

Langhorne Slim and the Law and The Builders and the Butchers at the Bagdad Theater

Soul Vaccination at Jimmy Mak's

The Shanghai Woollies’ Roaring 20s Havana New Year’s Eve at the TA Event Center

The Quarterflash: 30th Anniversary Show with Jon Koonce at the Aladdin

Leftover Salmon at the Roseland

The Rev. Horton Heat at the Crystal Ballroom

Or, you can avoid the public festivities entirely and just stay home for a quiet evening waiting for the ball to drop (really, that's a great option, too!) ....

Happy New Year everyone! Wishing you a wonderful 2012! And get out to some live music!!!

Pre-NYE music picks

2011-12-29T15:49:00.000-08:00

My NYE thoughts for live music will be coming in the next post ... but don't overlook tonight or tomorrow ...

Thursday
Happy hour? I'd head to the Laurelthirst for Lewi Longmire at 6 pm ...

Other cheap (but quality!) choices ... Mel Brown's B3 Organ Band at Jimmy Mak's (8 pm, $5), Steve Kerin on the Chapel Pub organ (8 pm, no cover), Sarah Gwen Peters & Scott Weddle, Mike Midlo at Mississippi Pizza (9 pm, $??), or the Alan Jones Jazz Jam at The Blue Monk (8 pm, $5)

The sublime vocal/piano duo of Rebecca Kilgore and Dave Frishberg are at Touche ... (8 pm, $5 plus $10 food/drink minimum)

Kicking of a NYE weekend of shows at the Alberta Rose tonight is a fine double bill of Black Prairie and Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons ... 9 pm, $15 (sorry, but tomorrow and Saturday's Storm Large/Holcomb Waller shows are sold out!)

Casey Anderson & The Honkies and Star Anna & The Laughing Dogs are at Mississippi Studios ... 9 pm, $10

Friday
Lauren Sheehan and Terry Robb make for an excellent string-bending duo at the Muddy Rudder ... 8 pm, no cover

The Linda Hornbuckle Band checks into Jimmy Mak's for some soulful pre-NYE tunes ... 8 pm, $10

Nothing fishy about Lloyd Jones playing at Halibuts ... 8 pm, no cover

The Pete Krebs Swing Trio will keep things mellow and swingin' at the Press Club ... 8:30 pm, no cover

If your a fan of Johnny Cash, you should check out Get Rhythm at Duff's Garage ... 9:30 pm, $??

Rock hard at the Doug Fir with Ants In The Kitchen, Morgan Grace, and Ramble On (Led Zep tribute) ... 9 pm, $8

Trio Subtonic and The Ocular Concern are joining forces for a pre-NYE show at The Blue Monk ... 9 pm, $??

Excellent show at Mississippi Studios with Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons (who are also at Dante's on NYE) and The Minus Five ... 9 pm, $15

More on NYE later or tomorrow! Stay tuned!

Last post before Christmas

2011-12-22T15:26:00.000-08:00

... and all through Portland are definitely a few shows worth checking out:

Thursday
Looking for a holiday themed show tonight? Try the Alberta Rose Theatre for the Magical Strings Celtic Yuletide Concert for some Celtic-inspired holiday music, dancers, caroling, storytelling, and more ... 7:30 pm, $18/$12 (under 12)

Or, at the Muddy Rudder, it's Lauren Sheehan's Soulstice Show, with holiday songs, old carols, audience requests, and even some singing along ... the fire will be lit and it will be a cozy neighborhood gathering in Sellwood ... 8 pm, no cover

... and Steve Kerin will take your (holiday) requests to play on the very cool pipe organ at the Chapel Pub - and won't mind a bit if you sing along ... 8 pm, no cover

Pianist Andrew Oliver and his trio are at the Camellia Lounge in the Pearl (510 NW 11th) ... 8 pm, $5

... and drummer Alan Jones leads his weekly jam at The Blue Monk ... 8 pm, $5

Friday
Paul Brainard and friends check into the Spare Room for some night before the night before Christmas fun with the Fun Machine - and with a new CD, Another Fun Machine Christmas ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Excellent set of Portland folk-rock bands at the Doug Fir Lounge with AgesandAges, Old Light, and the 1939 Ensemble ... 9 pm, $10

The Devin Phillips Quartet is at Wilfs ... 8 pm, $??

And that's all until after Christmas ...

Wishing all who read this a very happy holiday weekend!

Live music picks for the weekend before holiday weekend...

2011-12-16T16:10:00.000-08:00

Just a few to note for this weekend ... hope you're all not too busy to stop and relax with friends and some great live music around town ...

Friday
It's the first of two nights of two sold-out holiday shows with the Portland Cello Project and special guests at the Aladdin ... can always try to just show up and find an extra ticket or two ...story at OMN ... 8 pm, $15

But don't be sad, you can also head to the Alberta Rose Theatre for the fabulous Holcomb Waller and his special guests ... should be a wonderful evening of music from this most adventurous singer/songwriter ... 8 pm, $20

Looking to dance ... try pianist DK Stewart and his sextet (with horns) at Duff's ... 9:30 pm, $?? ... or Ty Curtis at the Trails End Saloon (8:30 pm, $??) ... or Linda Hornbuckle at Halibuts (ok, a bit harder to dance in that space!) .... 8 pm, no cover

Something a bit more mellow ... it's a fine triple bill at the Press Club with Naomi Hooley, Rob Stroup, and Lara Michell ... 8:30 pm, no cover ... mellow, but bluesy - try Bill Rhoades at Vino Vixens (8 pm, no cover)

Need a little Christmas - Vegas style? ... well, head to the Tony Starlight Christmas Extravaganza at Tony Starlight's ... 8 pm, $15

Saturday
It's the final Live Wire Radio Show! recording of the year at the Alberta Rose ... 7:30 pm, $20

Three of the very best acoustic blues (and more) players combine talents at O'Connors - Mary Flower, Thad Beckman, and Alan Hagar - my idea of an outstanding low-key quality night of music in Portland ... 7:30 pm, $12

Miz Kitty puts on a Christmas vaudeville show at the Mission Theater ... 7 pm, $12

Singer and bassist Kate Davis is home from NY and doing a couple of shows ... tonight it's a home for the holidays show at Wilf's (8 pm, $??) ... and a special show with a new project, Itsy, with pianist Ben Darwish, on Sunday night at Rontoms ...which you can read about at Oregon Music News.

All for now ... see ya out and about!

No Fernando show tonight....

2011-12-16T00:43:00.000-08:00

..just saw that Fernando's fund raiser at the Laurelthirst on Friday night has been canceled....Fernando is having some throat issues. Hopefully his voice will recover soon!

Thursday quick picks

2011-12-15T17:58:00.000-08:00

Got busy and distracted, but if you're still paying attention ...

Thad Beckman & Kurtis Piltz at O'Connor's ... 8 pm, $5

Lauren Sheehan at the Muddy Rudder ... 8 pm, no cover

The Damian Erskine Project at the Mission Theater, 8 pm, $8

Rae Gordon at the Trail's End Saloon ... 8 pm, $??

or ... check out:

A Celtic Christmas with Molly's Revenge and Christa Burch at the Alberta Rose ... 7:30 pm, $20

Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter at the Doug Fir tonight (headliner Howe Gelb had to cancel) ... 9 pm, $10

Reva DeVito and Allan Stone are at Mississippi Studios ... 9 pm, $10

We can't go off to The Woods today....

2011-12-14T14:06:00.000-08:00

..see that The Woods, our local mortuary/music venue, will be closing down. I have to admit, that even though within long walking distance and an initial excitement over that fact, I seldom was drawn in by the bookings (and the fact that in the beginning, there was no hard liquor...never got the beer thing...) The few standouts I did manage to catch, however included Robyn Hitchock and Joe Boyd and Sean Lennon....both were amazing shows!! Hopefully someone will step in and make it work as a music venue. Friday night holds many opportunities - Holcombe Waller at The Alberta Rose and if that don't work for you - Fernando will be at the Laurelthirst trying to raise money for a new record. His last one was brilliant...so help a guy out! And for the head bangers, I just saw that Anvil is playing Dante's in February...you know you secretly want to go.....

Weekend picks ... Dec 9 & 10

2011-12-09T14:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a few as you plan your weekend ...

Friday

Where I'll probably end up tonight is at Duff's Garage for the Texican double bill of two of my local faves - Ron Rogers & the Wailing Wind and Rich Layton & the Troublemakers. Texas natives - one a dry wind from west central, the other Gulf coast swampified .... but they meet with a common music vocabulary ... and you definitely can dance to it. The bands will alternate sets through the evening and do a little collaboratin' ... 9 pm, $8

What else? Well, Christmas/holiday are events in full swing - couple to call attention too include the annual Holidays With The Trail Band at the Aladdin. These shows always sell out, but there's probably a few tickets left to the remaining performances tonight, and matinee and evening shows on Sunday. This is an outstanding production from Marv and Rindy Ross and the fine musicians of the Trail Band. Musically rich, warm, cozy, fun for the holidays .... Or, over at the Alberta Rose it's the White Album Christmas with the Nowhere Band and the Wanderlust Circus ... the performances on Friday and Saturday unfortunately are sold out ... so you might want to put this on your radar for next year - its a very cool mashup of Beatles, circus, and holidays. Finally, there's a free event in Pioneer Square at 1:30 pm on Saturday afternoon - it's time for the 21st annual Tuba Christmas Concert ... 200 tubas playing holiday tunes ... ok, definitely beats Mariah Carey.

Other shows tonight include:
Naomi Hooley is at the Beaterville Cafe - playing as duo with Rob Stroup ... 8 pm, no cover

Thad Beckman and Kurtis Piltz are at Vino Vixens ... Thad is one of the best guitarists in town - plus a pretty fair singer and songwriter to boot ... 8 pm, $5

Some fine uptempo blues will be rockin' Knuckleheads with Kevin Selfe ... 8 pm, no cover

The psychedelic pop rock of Portugal The Man will fill the Crystal Ballroom ... 8 pm, sold out - but maybe tickets can be found at the door.

... and there's some fine jazz with the Devin Phillips Quartet at Jimmy Mak's ... 8 pm, $10

Reminder for this weekend (Xmas gift alert!) - the annual Voodoo Catbox poster sale takes place at Music Millennium on Saturday and Sunday ... from one of the best (and my favorite) poster artists anywhere, Gary Houston.

Saturday
Just a couple of shows I want to mention ...

My pick show of the evening is again at Duff's, with The Strange Tones' Christmas Album release show ... yep, it's a Crime-A-Billy Xmas ... with musical mayhem from the rockin-est crimefighting band anywhere ... direct from the secret volcano hideout with the Volcano Snow Vixens, special musical guests, and more ... 9 pm, $10 ($2 discount for CBA members) ... doors at 7:30 to grab a seat

Alan Hagar is at the Muddy Rudder for some outstanding acoustic blues ... 8 pm, no cover

Get out and enjoy the weekend!

And into December ...

2011-12-02T15:56:00.000-08:00

OK, I'm back ... hope you all had a great Thanksgiving weekend and have buckled your safety belts for the too fast ride to Christmas and New Years ...

So what's up for tonight?

Starting early? There's three great choices ... all at 6 pm and no cover -
It's first Friday, so it's time for the James Low Western Front happy hour at the Laurelthirst. Hear there are new Whiskey Farmer tee shirts tonight too. Think holiday gifts!
Or head to the Hawthorne Theater Lounge for Wendy & The Lost Boys and some lively acoustic tunes to start the weekend.
And Swing Papillion brings its gypsy jazz to the Secret Society.

... and one more for just $2 is Honey & the Hamdogs doing classic country rock and more at Duff's Garage ...

My pick show of the night is a really fun double bill is also at Duff's with the roots jazz of the Bridgetown Sextet and can't-stay-off-the-dance floor sounds of the Too Loose Cajun/Zydeco Band ... 8:30 pm, $10

Attend a taping of Live Wire Radio at the Alberta Rose ... with musical guests Viva Voce and Telekinesis (plus Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBobSquarePants) ... 7:30 pm, $20

Deadheads and percussion fans can get a rhythmic fix at the Aladdin with the Micky Hart Band ... 8 pm, $25

Typhoon plays the first of three shows over two nights at Mississippi Studios ... come out and hear why one more fine Portland band is getting national attention ... tonight with Mimicking Birds opening ... 9 pm, $12

Rich Layton & the Troublemakers quiet it down a bit for the back room at Vino Vixens ... a very relaxed, yet swampy, harmonica-fueled hang ... 8 pm, $5

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

Lisa Mann & Her Really Good Band are at the Trails End Saloon ... 9 pm, $??

The Lewi Longmire Band is at Biddy McGraws tonight ... 9:30 pm, no cover

Alright ... that's in for tonight ... a little late ... but there ya go ...

Giving thanks for great live music - this week's picks

2011-11-23T09:47:00.000-08:00

Don't have to say much about how thankful we all should be about the amazing musical community in this city. The level of quality of live music in Portland is recognized nationally and deservedly. We should be thankful so many wonderful artist are willing to play on some nights for way too little money and to way too few people. So get out to some live music - it will support the artists, support the venues, and do your soul some good ...

This could be my only post of this weekend, so I'll hit the highlights of the Thanksgiving week/weekend ...

Wednesday
Always seems to be a Thanksgivings eve of some pretty cool shows in town ...
Blind Pilot does a hometown show in the midst of touring to support their fine new CD, We Are The Tide, at the Crystal ... Point Juncture, WA opens ... 8 pm, $20

Steve Wilkinson is mid-way through his week at Al's Den ...tonight with guest Rob Stroup ... 7pm, no cover

Swing Papillon is at the Press Club .... 8:30 pm, no cover

Nancy King and Steve Christofferson will be at Touche ... 8:30 pm, $5

Redwood Son are at the White Eagle ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Jay Koder & the Soulmates are at Vie de Boheme .... 8 pm, $5

Lewi Longmire and Denver will play to a packed pre-TG crowd at the Laurelthirst ... 9 pm, $7

Billy D & The Hoodoos will be on the west side at the Rock Creek Tavern ... 9 pm, no cover

Candye Kane will be bringin' the blues mama blues to Duff's Garage ... 9:30 pm, $12

And now on to a few shows of note for your post-TG weekend ...

Friday
Cascade Zydeco Association dance with the Bay Area's Mark St Mary at PPAA (618 SE Alder Street) ... 8 pm (dance lesson at 7), $15

At Mississippi Studios Tony Furtado and band will be doing a live video recording for what will be a DVD release. Tony raised almost $20k via Kickstarter to fund this project ... 9 pm, $15

Tracy Grammer makes a quick and welcome trip into town for a gig tonight at The Space in Beaverton ... 8 pm, $??

Fernando is throwing a fundraiser to finish his new CD at the Blue Monk ... 9 pm, $10-20 sliding scale

Miss Michael Jodell and Matt Brown will play the Press Club ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Paris Slim is back in town and at Duffs tonight (and at Halibuts on Sat) ... 9:30 pm, $?

Saturday

The show that I really want to feature this weekend is The Next Waltz at the Alberta Rose Theatre. Putting this together has been a labor of love for local songwriter and music journalist Jeff Rosenberg (along with about 60 contributing musicians). It is a celebration of the 35th anniversary of The Band's final concert at Winterland that was immortalize in Martin Scorsese's The Last Waltz. To raise money for the Jeremy Wilson Foundation and the Oregon Food Bank, an all-star contingent of Portland's amazing music community are coming together to play all of the songs (and in order) that The Band and their friends performed in that legendary concert. You can check out a full description of the show here. ... 8 pm, $17 advance/$20 door

And if you're feeling blues and really need to dance, check out the Lloyd Jones Quartet at the Trails End Saloon ... 9 pm, $?? .... or the Robbie Laws Band at Duff's ... 9:30 pm, $??

If The Next Waltz wasn't happening, I'd probably check out three very popular roots rock bands from 90s Portland - Haymaker, Thrillbilly, and Gravelpit - who will do a reunion show at the Someday Lounge ... 9 pm, $??

Here's a little preview of one of the many tunes you'll hear on Saturday ...

Saturday and Sunday picks

2011-11-19T14:24:00.000-08:00

Going to be quick ... already Saturday afternoon!

If you're reading this before 3 pm and want to catch a taste of The Next Waltz show that will be happening a week from today at the Alberta Rose Theatre, there's a free 45 minute performance of some of tunes at Music Millennium at 3 pm today.

Speaking of the Alberta Rose, tonight they host an evening of Bohemian style dance, music, and comedy with SwingTime & Wanderlust Circus: A Night At The Moulin Rouge ... looks like a pretty cool show (plus there will be a matinee of the show tomorrow ... 8 pm, $20

Another excellent show tonight is the Dirty Martini, Stephanie Schneiderman, McKinley, and A Simple Colony show at the Secret Society Ballroom ... DM doesn't perform together very often, so it's a great opportunity to catch Steph, McKinley, and Lara Michell separately and ensemble in one night ... 9 pm, $12

Artichoke Community Music has guitar wizards Doug Smith and Brooks Robertson ... this looks like a fantastic show ... 8 pm, $18

The Devil Makes Three are at the Roseland Theater ... 9 pm, $20

Noah & The Whale are at the Wonder Ballroom ... 9 pm, $18

Rio Con Brio will be at Tabor Space ... 8 pm, $15

Meester Meester (a 3 Leg Torso duo) and the Old Yellers will pack the cozy Press Club ... 8:30 pm, no cover

The Quick and Easy Boys will be rockin' at The Goodfoot ... 9 pm, $8

DK Stewart will be at Duff's Garage ... 9:30 pm, $??

Sunday
I mentioned this the other day, but one of the best of Texas' songwriters (actually one of the best from anywhere) is in town for a solo show at the Aladdin - Joe Ely. Deep writing, story songs both tight and expansive, passionate deliver, and a sense of humor shine through Ely's significant body of work (and his judicious choice of tunes from other amazing writers) ... really, if you've never seen Joe, you should head over to the Aladdin ... 8 pm, $25

The legendary and venerable BB King will be at the Keller Auditorium ... time to go ridin' with the king ... Curtis Salgado opens ... 8 pm, $43-$85

Steve Wilkinson begins a week residency at Al's Den at the Crystal Hotel ... 7 pm, no cover

Some great show choices for tonight!

2011-11-18T11:22:00.000-08:00

What a great evening last night at the Old Church! Raised a whole lot of cash to help out Reggie Houston ... and everyone had a ton of fun in the process. But now on to the weekend ... or in this post, at least tonight!

Friday

One that is probably way under your radar is songwriter/musician/engineer Steve Postell at Plews Brews in St. John's. Check out is work on his site ... his solo work and his work with a myriad of artists - he is David Crosby's music director and band mate, Jennifer Warnes music director and band mate, Jackson Browne's go-to guy ... one of those people you never heard of who seems to be connected to everyone. Miriam German (of Miriams Well) opens (with Steve on guitar) .... 9 pm, no cover

Start your evening early with Ron Rogers & the Wailing Wind at the Hawthorne Theater ... and you can welcome Ron back from his triumphant tour of the Netherlands ... 6 pm, no cover

Evan Way of the Parson Red Heads has been holding down a residency week at Al's Den at the Crystal Hotel ... continues through tomorrow night ... 7 pm, no cover

Thad Beckman and Kurtis Piltz are at Vino Vixens ... good chance to catch Thad on breaks between his touring with Tom Russell ... 8 pm, $5

Live Wire Radio! records tonight at the Alberta Rose Theatre with musical guests Fruit Bats and Crooked Fingers ... 7:30 pm, $20

Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside do a hometown show at the Wonder Ballroom ... 9 pm, $15

At Mississippi Studios it's the very trad country sounds of the impressive Elizabeth Cook ... 9 pm, $12

At the Secret Society it's the Caleb Klauder Country Band and WC Beck and the Valiant Swains (CD Release show) ... 9 pm, $12

Rock buoyantly with the My Oh Mys, Redray Fraiser, and Jeremy Wilson at the Ash Street Saloon ... 9:30 pm, $8

It's classic country and swing with Los Cowtones at Beaterville ... 8 pm, $3

Mississippi Pizza has Funk Shui and San Franciso's Con Brio ... 9 pm, $8

Told you there's lots of great stuff tonight! More for Saturday and Sunday soon ...

Reggie Houston Benefit Tonight at the Old Church!

2011-11-17T11:00:00.000-08:00

I mentioned this in my blog post on Tuesday, but wanted to remind everyone that this is tonight.

Hope you can drop by - great music, food, and silent auction items to help raise money to help Reggie.

Read more about it here. Hope to see you tonight!

Two benefit events you should know about this week

2011-11-15T09:42:00.000-08:00

The role of music as a tool to raise money for causes that are meaningful to me is close to my heart - many of you know that. So I want to let you know about three events - two this week (in fact, one today) that I hope you'd consider attending.

The first, that you can read about here is raising money for Parkinson's Disease awareness and research with the release of the CD, the Shaker's Sessions, that comes from a partnership between songwriter Rob Barteletti, the Brian Grant Foundation, and Burgerville. Rob, with the creative assistance of producer, musician, and engineer Rob Stroup recorded twelve songs of Rob's that featured a different vocalist on each ... I'll let the following explain more:

“Shakers Sessions” is a compilation CD benefiting the Brian Grant Foundation. The album was created by local singer and songwriter Rob Barteletti, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2002. Wanting to make a benefit album for Parkinson’s patients, Barteletti recruited 12 Northwest vocalists to record the songs he wrote for the CD including Storm Large, Pete Droge, and Mike Coykendall.

“Shakers’ Sessions” will be sold exclusively through Burgerville’s 38 restaurants for $10 with 100 percent of profits being donated to the Brian Grant Foundation.

Burgerville, the Brian Grant Foundation, and Rob Barteletti will cohost a CD launch party for Burgerville Records’ first album, “Shakers’ Sessions”. The event is free and open to the public.

The event is today from 3 - 7 pm at the Hawthorne Burgerville (1122 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd). Hope you can drop by to hear some music, find out more about the project and buy a CD.

The second is happening this Thursday and is a benefit for local musician and music educator Reggie Houston. Reggie is one of the most beloved New Orleans transplants living here in Portland. I can't begin to tell you how much I like and respect Reggie's musical abilities, his deep knowledge of roots of American music, and his warmth and humanity. Reggie is recovering from successful cancer surgery, but has medical bills and a loss of income for a while (he's one of the busiest musicians I know in town). Friends and family have come together to put together a benefit concert this Thursday at the Old Church. There will be food from Cannon's Rib Express, a silent auction and raffle, and a parade of amazing talent in support of a dear friend and collaborator. Read more about Reggie and the benefit at Oregon Music News. If you can't come, you can also donate on Reggie's site. See ya there!

Oh, I should mention one more ...

I'll be posting more soon about this one for the Jeremy Wilson Foundation and the Oregon Food Bank that will be happening at the Alberta Rose Theater on November 26th. It's called The Next Waltz:

A lineup of Portland all-stars sing and play the music from The Band's classic concert, movie and album as a benefit for the Jeremy Wilson Foundation and The Oregon Food Bank. Scheduled performers include Lewi Longmire, Holcombe Waller, Al James, James Low, Kris Deelane, Dan Haley, Joe McMurrian, Darrin Craig, Jim Brunberg, The Don of Division Street, Shook Twins, Jeremy Wilson and many more!

But you might want to get your tickets to this one soon, as it's expected to sell out.

11/11/11 live music picks

2011-11-11T10:44:00.000-08:00

A most excellent number ... feel like there should be 11 picks here ...

Need some happy hour tunes? There's Woodbrain at the Laurelthirst ... or Swing Papillion at the Secret Society ... both at 6 pm.

The multi-talented singer/songwriter and author (under his given name, Wesley Stace), John Wesley Harding, will be performing at the Aladdin with the King Charles Trio & Thee Minus Five - essentially, the Decemberists minus Colin Meloy, along with Scott McCaughey and Peter Buck. JWH has a set of very good Portland friends/collaborators, having recorded his last two CDs here and finding the music community and Portland vibe much to his liking ... so this very welcome visitor is back with what should be a fine evening at the Aladdin ... Read more about the show and JWH in this story from Jeff Rosenberg at the Willamette Week ... 8 pm, $17.50

The Portland FolkMusic Society presents one of folk music's masters, John McCutcheon at the Alberta Rose Theatre ... 8 pm, $20

Herbie Hancock will be playing with the Oregon Symphony at the Schnitz tonight. The much anticipate show will feature solo piano work and a performance of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. Should be a delightful performance ... story here ...7:30 pm, $30-$125

And am very please to see that one of my local faves, Ron Rogers & The Wailing Wind, will be at Eugenios (3584 SE Division) tonight. Ron just got back from a grand tour of the Netherlands where I understand he's treated like one of the Beatles ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Lots of great picks for tomorrow and Sunday too (will try to get another post up later or Sat morning) ... but I want to note the Honeyboy Edwards tribute show at the Alberta Rose at 5 pm on Sunday (good story here) ... and Frank Fairfield at Duff's Garage on Sunday night.

Also ... a great project that is a collaboration between local musicians, the Brian Grant Foundation, and Burgerville to support Parkinson's Disease research will be happening this coming Tuesday from 4 - 7 pm with live music at the SE 12th and Hawthorne Burgerville to celebrate the release of The Shaker Sessions, the first release from Burgerville Records ... read more about it here.

And, a heads-up for next Thursday's fundraiser concert for Reggie Houston (recovering from cancer surgery) that will be at the Old Church ... I'll have more details on that one next week.

Busy four days of music - lets start with Thursday

2011-11-10T11:52:00.000-08:00

Wasn't paying that close attention to all that was happening until I look at music schedules late yesterday and was blown away by how much great music we have to choose from between today and Sunday. Here's a quick look at today and a preview of some of the most notable choices this weekend. I'll follow up tomorrow with more ...

Early-ish "no cover" music tonight... of course Lewi Longmire at the Laurelthirst (6 pm) ... but also Jared Mees at Al's Den (tonight with Pancake Breakfast's Mike Midlo) at 7 pm, and the Freak Mountain Ramblers at the Kennedy School - also at 7 pm. And the usual Thursday at Jimmy Mak's with Mel Brown's B3 Organ Group at 8 pm.

Excellent touring show tonight is Rickie Lee Jones at the Aladdin ... 8 pm, $35

Another at the Crystal Ballroom is Brooklyn's They Might Be Giants who are celebrating 30 years of making their creative and quirky brand of rock ... Jonathan Coulton opens ... 9 pm - show is sold out, but you know the drill - if you show up, you'll probably find a ticket.

Groove jazz with Trio Subtonic and a Seattle band, The Schwa, will be at The Goodfoot ... 9 pm, $6

The Blue Monk has the weekly Alan Jones jazz jam ... 8 pm, $5

Kathryn Claire and the My Oh Mys are at the Laurelthirst ... 9 pm, $??

Weekend preview:
Friday -
John McCutcheon at the Alberta Rose
John Wesley Harding at the Aladdin

Herbie Hancock at the Schnitz

Saturday -
Willie Porter at the Aladdin
Blitzen Trapper at the Crystal Ballroom
James Low & Lewi Longmire at the Press Club
Stolen Sweets at the Alberta Rose
Vie de Boheme's First Anniversary

Sunday -
Honeyboy Edwards Tribute at the Alberta Rose
Frank Fairfield at Duffs
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings at the Aladdin
Craig Carothers at the Kennedy School

A couple of shows I should have included

2011-11-04T15:57:00.000-07:00

In my haste, I left a couple of really good choices off the last post:

Tonight, Nancy King and Friends at the Bijou Cafe (132 SW 3rd) ... 7 - 10 pm, $10 ... Supper and full bar begin at 6pm ...vocalist Nancy King will be joined by Cheryl Alex, flute, Dan Gaynor, piano, Scott Steed, bass, and Alan Jones, drums

Also tonight at 7 pm, there's an excellent show at the McMenamin's St John's Theater & Pub with Miriams Well and Redwood Son ... $5

And tomorrow night at the Mt Tabor Theater, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe with special guest Anders Osborne, will perform the entire Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers album ... heard this show is a blast ... 9 pm, $22

ok ... now back back to your regularly scheduled Friday afternoon ...

A few quick weekend picks

2011-11-04T12:56:00.000-07:00

Think I could be paying better attention, but need to be brief this weekend, though there are a couple of shows of note that you should definitely check out.

It's first Friday, so the James Low Western Front has their monthly happy hour at the Laurelthirst. James is one of the very best songwriters around this town and the band has really become a wonderful vehicle for his tunes ... 6 pm, no cover

Speaking of the Laurelthirst ... it's esteemed booker and Thursday happy hour mainstay, Lewi Longmire, brings a very cool project to the Alberta Rose tonight. It's his Acoustic(esque) Orchestra that will feature some of Portland's best players augmenting Lewi's trio to present a listening experience ... which is generally impossible when the trio is rocking the 'Thirst. Lewi is a really fine songwriter and the expanded band that includes horns keys, and strings will do ample justice to the ballads and slower tunes that shine a bright light on his songcraft. And as an added treat Fernando and Michael Hurley will open ... 9 pm, $12

This weekend is also the annual Siren Nation Festival. Check out some of the excellent shows focusing on the women who make some of the best music in Portland and beyond. Tonight's show at the Doug Fir features the Corin Tucker Band and Kelli Schaefer ... tomorrow's shows have Kimya Dawson at Mississippi Studios and Laura Gibson, Y La Bamba, and Led To Sea at The Woods ... check out the music schedule for details ...

Tonight you might also want to check out:
Rich Layton & The Troublemakers at Vino Vixens ... 8 pm, $5
Wayne 'the Train' Hancock at the Star Theater ...
Bill Rhoades at Halibuts ... 8 pm, no cover

Also Saturday you might want to check out:
Live Wire Radio at the Alberta Rose ...
First Saturday Swing at the Secret Society Ballroom ...
Joey Porter's Herbie Hancock Tribute at The Goodfoot ...
Deer Tick at the Mission Theater ...
Jay Farrar and Bobby Bare, Jr at the Doug Fir ...

That's it! See ya!

Whoa - where does the time go?..

2011-11-04T11:52:00.000-07:00

...seems like forever since I had a minute to chime in here. Tonight, Friday, at The Buffalo Gap, Lincoln Crocket and David Brothers play, Wednesday the 9th at the Alberta Rose, The Joni Mitchell birthday tribute (I'm thinking a can't miss night...), Nov. 17, a benefit for Reggie Houston ($25) at The Old Church and The Posies at the Doug Fir. Oh and on the 12th, Blitzen Trapper return from their cross-country tour to play The Crystal. And, on the 19th, besides it being my birthday, Jon Koonce plays a house party at Jim Flynn's and Dan Reed plays The Star Theatre for those of us who want to drink champagne and remember the rock scene here of the '80s....

Friday and Saturday picks ... and Halloween tunes

2011-10-28T10:25:00.000-07:00

As Halloween is Monday, there's a passel of (naturally) Halloween-themed music events all weekend ... here's a great list from Oregon Music News ...

There are some solid local music out and about tonight, including ...

Music on the cheap (but worth a lot more ... so feed the tip jar!):
~~Ron Rogers & the Wailing Wind doing their monthly Friday happy hour at the Hawthorne Theater Lounge ... 6 pm, no cover~~ Whoops, Ron is in Europe! No happy hour this month!

Sasspirilla's monthly Friday happy hour at the Laurelthirst ... 6 pm, no cover

AnnaPaul & The Bearded Lady at the Secret Society ... 6 pm, no cover

Jon Koonce and friends at Al's Den at the Crystal Hotel ... 7 pm, no cover

La Rhonda Steele at Clyde's Prime Rib ... 8:30 pm, no cover

The Don of Division Street and Morgan Geer at the Press Club ... 8:30 pm, no cover

For a few dollars more ...
Looks like an excellent night at The Woods, with Blue Cranes and Alison Miller's Boom Tic Boom. Alison is a drummer from NYC (Ani DeFranco, Brandi Carlile) with a very fine band ... Blue Cranes will be introducing some new music before going into the studio to record .... 8 pm, $12

Bon Ton Roulet and the New Iberians will bring a bit of Cajun and zydeco to Duff's ... 9 pm, $??

Franco & The Stingers are at the Trails End Saloon ... 9 pm, $??

Jay Koder and the Soulmates are at Vie de Boheme ... 8 pm, $5

Saturday scary-good options includes ...
The Transylvanian Voodoo Ball with Vagabond Opera and Chervona at the Star Theater
The Midnight Serenader's Halloween Bash at the Secret Society
Mood Area 52 doing a live score for a screening of Nosferatu at the Mission Theater
Cascade Zydeo Association's annual Halloween dance featuring Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic
The Strangetones create some crime-a-billy Halloween mayhem at the Trails End Saloon

But Saturday choices also include:
Jeff Beck at the Schnitz ... 8 pm, $45 - $65

Bassist Phil Baker (Pink Martini) and band at Jimmy Mak's in a benefit for the Jazz Society of Oregon ... 8 pm, $15

DK Stewart is at Duff's ... 9:30 pm, $??

Kelly Shannon at Touche ... 8 pm, $??

There's probably more ... but gotta run! See ya out and about!

Oh wait ... also remember for Monday and Tuesday - Richard Thompson at the Aladdin! He's playing solo and opening are the Webb Sisters (who were wonderful as part of Leonard Cohen's touring band last year)

Thursday live music picks for 10/27

2011-10-27T16:41:00.000-07:00

A few quick hits for tonight ....

Early ... there's Lewi Longmire at the Laurelthirst ... dependably rockin' your Thursday evening! ... 6 pm, no cover

Or check out the free performance at Music Millennium of Paula Sinclair at 6 pm (hey, do both!) ... Paula is getting ready to do an ambitious show covering Joni Mitchell tunes at the Alberta Rose on Nov 9th. Catch a preview of the show tonight!

I received a great recommendation on this band from Brooklyn that's in the middle of a three-night residency at the Edgefield - Miss Tess & the Bon Ton Parade ... 7 pm, no cover

There's an excellent jazz show at the Old Church that's a benefit to help pianist Darrell Grant raise funds for the Jazz Bridge Project that will take musicians on a cultural exchange trip to Russia ... read about it here ... 7 pm (but with a reception that begins at 6), $25

The Ruth Moody Band is at the Alberta Rose tonite. Ruth is from the Wailin' Jennys and her recent solo CD was nominated for a Juno award (that's the Canadian version of the Grammy) ... 8 pm, $15

Lauren Sheehan will be at the Muddy Rudder with some death-tinged tunes for Halloween ... 8 pm , no cover

Rebecca Kilgore & Dave Frishberg bring their sublime voice/piano duo to Touche ... 8 pm, $??

And ... Steve Kerin will take you requests on the pipe organ at the Chapel Pub ... 8 pm, no cover

Wednesday night picks for 10/26

2011-10-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

OK ... I think I'm back. Maybe not completely, but working on it. Life's distractions ... what can you say.

But it's time to get right down to the nitty gritty ...

Oregon Music News celebrates its second anniversary with a free show at the Secret Society Ballroom that features a host of acts, including the Renato Caranto Project, Auditory Sculpture with special guest Stephanie Schneiderman, and Sunbeam ... music starts at 7 PM and it's free. I'm planning to drop by for a bit and help OMN celebrate ... hope to see ya there!

It's the last October Wednesday happy hour with Black Prairie ... 6 pm, no cover (if it wasn't the 6th game of the World Series tonight, this is where I'd be)

Jon Koonce holds down a week of shows at Al's Den at the Crystal Hotel ... 7 pm, no cover

The Press Club has Swing Papillion ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Nancy King will be at Touche ... 8 pm, $??

Dave Friesen and band will performing at Vie de Boheme Winery ... 8 pm, $7

Austin's roots-rockers, The Gourds, are at the Doug Fir Lounge tonight ... 9 pm, $17

And there's a very fine jazz show at Jimmy Mak's with the Javon Jackson Band featuring the legendary Jimmy Cobb on drums ... 8 pm, $20

More about Thursday and the weekend soon! See ya out and about!

Tony Furtado's Kickstarter campaign

2011-10-26T14:03:00.000-07:00

Kickstarter is a great tool for musicians (and other artists) that want to raise money from their friends and fans for an upcoming project. For instance, James Low just successfully raised the money he needs to do a proper release of his new CD, Whiskey Farmer. Pre-funding not only helps the artist but gives the contributors valuable gifts from the artist depending on what is contributed - like an early download of the CD to a full concert in your living room (along with posters, tee shirts, etc, etc).

Another of my favorite artists in town, Tony Furtado, launched a campaign last week to raise money to put together a live video for DVD distribution. Check out the video and head over to Tony's Kickstarter page to help him meet his goal.

Maybe he'll even make you some cupcakes!

..more music fun...

2011-10-14T19:02:00.000-07:00

Addenda to Jim's notes...Lincoln Crockett at the White Eagle on Saturday, electrified. And of course, excitement builds for the John Doe show at Dante's next Saturday, the 22nd, featuring our neighbor girl, Paula Sinclair opening as well as acoustic Dead Rock West filling the middle slot. And I will be sneaking away for my personal addiction, David Ryan Adams in Eugene on Thursday...

Friday and Saturday music picks

2011-10-14T12:50:00.000-07:00

Here's a few for the weekend (sorry for the lack of links ... time crunch) ...

Friday
Need somewhere to start the evening? Try Woodbrain at the Laurelthirst for some great roots/blues, or Brad Creel at Mississippi Pizza for some cool country. Both at 6 pm.

The Portland Soul All-Stars do a tribute to James Brown at Jimmy Mak's ... gonna be a very funky celebration of the Godfather of Soul ... 8 pm, $12

Sassparilla will celebrate the release of their latest CD, The Darndest Thing, at the Kennedy School ... 7 pm, no cover

Annie Clark, aka St. Vincent, is at the Crystal Ballroom ... 9 pm, $19

Lloyd Jones is at Sip d'Vine in Multnomah Village ... 7:30 pm, no cover

3 Leg Torso and Meester Meester will be at Touche ... 8 pm, $??

Ty Curtis Band, DK Stewart and Peter Dammann are at Peter's Room at the Roseland Theater ... 8 pm, $10

The Lisa Mann Duo is at Vino Vixens ... 8 pm, $5

Kevin Selfe and the Tornadoes are at Halibuts ... 8 pm, no cover

Petunia & the Vipers snake their way into Duff's ... the High Flyers, too ... 9 pm, $??

Rob Stroup & The Blame are at Biddy McGraws ... 9:30 pm, no cover

Saturday
My pick show tonight is the joint CD release at the Aladdin featuring Naomi Hooley and Jake Oken-Berg ... 8 pm, $15

Pete Krebs & the Portland Playboys do happy hour at the Secret Society ... 6 pm, no cover (followed by Trashcan Joe at 9 pm)

Billy D & The Hoodoos are at Mississippi Pizza ... 9 pm, $??

Soul Vaccination is at Mississippi Studios ... 9 pm, $10

Ethiopian funk-jazz anyone? Check out the Tezeta Band with Toque Libre at The Woods ... 9 pm, $10

... and there's a benefit for local jazz pianist Mark Simon (alas, another musician dealing big illness) at Vie de Boheme ... 8 pm, $??

I've probably missed a few ... but check out the calendar links for more ...

Thurs (10/13) live music picks

2011-10-13T12:09:00.000-07:00

If it's Thursday, it's probably a killer night of music .... and it must be time for Lewi Longmire's happy hour set at the Laurelthirst (as if you need reminding)... 6 pm, no cover

In the midst of a week residence at Al's Den, it's Michael Dean Damron - tonight with special guest James Low ... 7 pm, no cover

Thad Beckman, on a break from the road with Tom Russell (supporting tour for Tom's excellent new CD, Mesabi), is back home in the friendly confines of O'Connors - tonight playing a duo gig with harmonica wiz Kurtis Piltz ... 8 pm, $5

There'll be nowhere to run or hide (cause the place will be packed!) at the appropriately named Jimmy Mak's when Miss Martha Reeves hits town tonight to play with her old friend, Mel Brown ... there should be dancing in the streets for this Motown legend ... 8 and 10 pm shows, $20 ... might be best to get an advanced ticket at Tickets Oregon.

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks are at the Crystal Ballroom ... 9 pm, $20
Now in there 40th year, the band Oregon will perform at the Aladdin Theater tonight ... Excellent story about the band at Oregon Music News ... 8 pm, $30

Vocalist Lara Michell's new band, A Simple Colony, will be joined by Sarah King, and Miss Michael Jodell at the Alberta Rose Theatre ...7 pm, $8

The Red Hot Blues Sisters with Lisa Mann will be at Duff's ... 9 pm, $??

Alan Jones' jazz jam is at the Blue Monk ... 8 pm, $5

Reel Music Festival, a loss in the music community, and weekend picks

2011-10-07T13:00:00.001-07:00

Kind of a three part post ...

First, sad news.

Last week we lost one of the finest voices and beloved member of the Portland music community - Teisha Helgerson. The distinctive voice of Amelia, she was an immensely talented, smart, warm, and giving presence. Teisha succumbed to lengthy battle with leukemia. She will be greatly missed. Here's more from the Willamette Week, Oregon Music News, the Oregonian, and OPB Music. There will be a memorial service at Peace Lutheran Church (2201 N. Rosa Parks Way). 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

........................................

It's not January, but, yes, it's time for the now re-scheduled NW Film Center's Reel Music Festival. Moved to October, we get to enjoy a few weeks of some of the most intriguing documentary films about music in the fall. This is truly a music junkie's delight. So check out the schedule - it opens tonight with Martin Scorsese’s “George Harrison: Living in the Material World” ... a three and a half hour bio-pic about the quiet Beatle. More about the festival and Oregon Music News' picks for must-see films here ...
.........................................

Now on to some music picks for Friday and Saturday ...

Friday
Kickstart the evening with the monthly first Friday happy hour from the James Low Western Front ... you also should check out James' Kickstarter campaign (with a great video!) to help with the release of his latest and long-awaited CD, Whiskey Farmer (which is outstanding!) ... 6 pm, no cover

Richmond Fontaine debut their 10th studio recording, The High Country, tonight at the Star Theater (13 NW 6th). This looks like a fascinating new work (a story in song and prose) from Oregon Book Award winner and RF songwriter Willy Vlautin. Excellent article about the project from Ryan White at the Oregonian ... this should be a very cool show ... 8 pm, $10

Lloyd Jones will have it fun, funky, and bluesy at Duff's ... horns and all ... dancing shoes required! ... 9 pm, $10

Curtis Salgado and band are at Jimmy Mak's ... 8 pm, $20

Kevin Selfe & the Tornadoes are at the Trail's End Saloon ... 9 pm, $??

Rich Layton & the Troublemakers turn the amps down a bit (not to cause any trouble) at Vino Vixens - call it harmonica fueled and swampified, but slightly unplugged ... 8 pm, $5

Loch Lomond will be warmly welcomed at Mississippi Studios tonight ... it's an excellent triple bill with Lost Lander (new Matt Sheehy project) and Lewi Longmire ... now that's a bargain for $10 ... 9 pm.

The Midnight Serenaders are at the Alberta Street Public House ... 9:30 pm, $8

Saturday
Kick off the 10th year of Miz Kitty's Parlour - the modern monthly vaudeville show that regularly sells out the Mission Theater. Should be a fun night ... and you can read more about it here ... 7 pm, $12

Wendy and the Lost Boys can be found at the White Eagle ... 9:30 pm, $6

The Devin Phillips Band is at Jimmy Mak's ... 8 pm, $10

Big Monti and the Precious Darlings are at Duff's ... 9:30 pm, $??

OK ... get yourself outta da house and to some live music!

Fwd: House Concert this Saturday -Help us fill the seats

2011-10-05T08:09:00.001-07:00

Here's an FYI on an occasional house concert series that you might be interested in checking out that has a show this coming Saturday.

6:00PM - Potluck, schmoozing

(Bring a dish to share, BYOB)

7:30PM - Dana plays for us

8:15PM - Coffee, cheesecake, schmoozing

8:45PM - Dana plays again

9:30PM - Additional schmoozing

$15 per person suggested donation

All proceeds to the artists

RSVP - mike@hillcountrywest.com or call

503-680-2866 for more information and reservations

Benefit concert Sunday for musician Glenn Holstrom

2011-10-01T10:15:00.000-07:00

I am forwarding this message from Lloyd Jones about a benefit concert this Sunday at Vie de Boheme Winery for Lloyd's longtime musical partner and friend, Glenn Holstrom, who has been battling colon cancer. It's an all too familiar story of a musician who gets seriously ill, doesn't have insurance, etc, etc ... Luckily there's a supportive community that can step in and provide some assistance and comfort. I won't get started on my "socialist" views of how we should be doing healthcare (will save that rant for some other time), but simply say that if you have a few bucks to contribute and want to hear some great music to support a member of the community that is hurting, come out on Sunday afternoon.

I originally was going to be out of town this weekend, but plans changed, so I am looking forward to attending tomorrow ... hope you can join me.

--Jim

=====================================
From: Lloyd Jones <news@lloydjonesmusic.com>
Subject: Important Sunday Concert!

Attention Music Lovers!

This Sunday, October 2^nd at Vie de Boheme (SE 7^th & Clay St., Portland, OR) 4-11pm, Tom Grant, Bobby Torrez, Dan Balmer, Ellen White, King Louie, Louis Pain, Peter Dammann, Gary Hobbs, Michael Bard, Lloyd Jones Struggle & Friends, Peter Boe, and many others will be performing to raise funds for the "One & Only G-Man" …Glenn Holstrom!

All these musicians know what a genius piano player, organ player, arranger extraordinaire, and treasured friend the great "G-Man" is, but many of you fans may not. Glenn has played & arranged the music of Tom Grant, Lloyd Jones, Curtis Salgado, Ellen White, Dan Balmer, Paul deLay, and dozens of others. Truly the "go-to-guy" for all of us musicians. So many of us have said, "you should ask Glenn, he'll know what to do". Yeah baby…he's the man!

G-Man needs our help now. He's fighting a serious battle with colon cancer and we want him to win.

If you ever were moved by any of these peoples' music (and I believe you have or you wouldn't even be on my email list), no doubt you've been moved by "G-Man".

Please come out for this inspired evening of special music & friends and help Glenn as you can. I believe you'll get a lot out of this night…I know Glenn will. It's just what he needs right now.

For more info & schedule of performances go to: http://mygignet.ning.com/events/benefit-for-glenn-holstrom-all-star-jazz-and-blues-lineup

Thanks for your support,

PS – Glenn Holstrom will be attending and possibly playing on Sunday.

PSS – We will also be demonstrating and performing the dance known throughout the tri-county area as…"The Holstrom". Anyone, even musicians, can do it!

Lloyd Jones

"Groove Merchant"

www.lloydjonesmusic.com

..quick notes from XMass..

2011-09-28T18:02:00.000-07:00

New housemate's band, Wizard Boots, plays Kelly's Olympian Knife Shop this Thursday. Haven't heard them yet myself, but the name cracks me up! On Oct. 7, I will be doing the cross town dash - first Lost Lander (Matt Sheehy's and Brent Knopf's new band) will preview their up coming CD and opening for Loch Lomond at Mississippi Studios, then Richmond Fontaine's record release at the newly re-furbished Star Theatre on NW 6th across from The Roseland. The Oregon Music Hall of Fame gala is Oct. 8th at a new location, The Newmark Theatre on SW Broadway....and with Johnny and the Distractions for us old rockers. Oct. 12, Baaba Maal at the Alberta Rose, brings music and stories from Mali.

The Joys of working many jobs...

2011-09-23T18:04:00.000-07:00

..instead of one good one, is that I have been too tired to even think about adding my two cents here..and trust me, that ain't easy for an Italian girl...but here's is something to add to the dance card for Saturday, Sept. 24 - Mango Madness African Dance Party, a benefit for Ko-Falen Cultural Center in Bamako, Mali. My friends, Baba Wague Diakite and Ronna Neuenshwander, local ceramic artists, started this center in Wague's native Mali to provide a resource for native artisans and visiting artists to educate, inspire and preserve the arts in Mali. It's at The Plant, 939 SE Alder, 7 PM to midnite, tickets at the door or at www.ko-falen.org. Music by Jujuba, DJS, there will be food, no-host bar, African market and a raffle and silent auction. African dancing and helping a good cause - what's not to love?

Also, a little bird has told me that Paula Sinclair will be one of the openers for John Doe at Dante's on Oct. 22....

Quick weekend picks

2011-09-23T11:48:00.000-07:00

It's officially autumn, but we can squeeze out a couple more days of nice weather with some music to accompany ...

Friday
Haggard and Kristofferson. Icons of Country/Americana. Songwriters' songwriters. Two who've done music their way for a long time. Tonight at the Schintz is a great opportunity to be in the presence of the best ... 8 pm, $48

The other big touring show tonight is James Blake at the Wonder Ballroom - simultaneously sonically complex and minimalist R&B/soul ... 8 pm, $20

But for a more throwback soul sound out of Oakland, CA, it's the California Honeydrops at Duff's ... 9 pm, $10

Live Wire Radio! is live at the Alberta Rose tonight ... 7:30 pm, $20

Thara Memory's Superband is at Jimmy Mak's ... 8 pm, $10

Ben Darwish's funk/afrobeat band, Commotion is at Ted's @ Berbati's Pan ... more at Oregon Music News ... 9 pm, $8

The King Louie Trio is at Halibut's ... 8 pm, no cover

The Stolen Sweets are at Tony Starlight's ... 8 pm, $15

Saturday
It's Octoberfest at the McMenamins' Grand Lodge in Forest Grove, and includes an excellent band from NY that's been doing the McMenamin's grand tour of venues - The DEFiBULATORs headline at 7 pm, but music starts at noon ... free

There's an excellent double-bill at the Secret Society Ballroom with Rich Layton & The Troublemakers and Ron Rogers & the Wailing Wind ... As Rich puts it, "Barbed wire meets backwoods bayou when these two bands transform the ballroom into a rockin’ Saturday night roadhouse." ... 8 pm, $5

Jonathan Richman is at the Aladdin ... 8 pm, $15

Bon Iver is the last of the outdoor shows at Edgefield ... it's sold out, too ... 6:30 pm, $37

The Linda Hornbuckle Band is at Jimmy Mak's ... 8 pm, $10

The Strange Tones are at Duff's ... Crime-a-billy time! ... 9 pm, $??

Ezra Hollbrook and Jacob van Auken are at the Press Club ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Vie de Boheme Winery has Where's Danny? ... 8 pm, $5

Whitey Morgan & the 78s, the Tumblers, and the Water Tower Boys are at Dante's ... 9:30 pm, $12

OK ... get yourselves out to some live music ... it's good for you!

BTW ... my plan for next week is to head down to SF for the annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival ... so I probably won't post ... but check the blog in case Marychris decides to throw some options your way.

James Low Kickstarter Campaign

2011-09-22T09:39:00.000-07:00

Music artists fan-funding their projects has become an extremely viable way to get the funds necessary to record, mix, market, press, etc., a new recording (not cheap to do if you want to do it right). If you follow my blog, you know that James Low is one of those artists in town that I think should be know far and wide. I have had the chance to preview the tracks of his new CD, Whiskey Farmer, and think it's the best recording he has produced. Please think about joining his Kickstarter campaign to help fund the final pieces necessary to properly do the release of this outstanding recording.

BTW, there's a very cool video of the title track at the site too ... check it out ...

Thanks for your attention!

- Jim

Three excellent touring acts in town tonight - McMurtry, Rev. Payton, Flaming Lips

2011-09-20T14:43:00.000-07:00

In case you missed knowing about these ...

James McMurtry at the Aladdin ... 8 pm, $20

Rev. Payton's Big Damn Band at Dante's ... 9 pm, $14

and... the Flaming Lips are at Keller Auditorium ... 8 pm, $50/$65
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Part 1

Weekend picks ... Friday and Saturday

2011-09-16T09:42:00.000-07:00

Don't have time for a long post, but here's what I see for the weekend ...

Friday
Happy hour music? My pick would be Ron Rogers at Hawthorne Theater Pub ... 6 pm, no cover

Casey Neill continues his week's residency at Al's Den ... tonight with Scott McCaughey guesting ... tomorrow with members of the Norway Rats ... 7 pm, no cover

The house will be rockin' at Jim Flynn's In the House with Thad Beckman ... BYOB, etc ... music starts at 7 pm. Contact Jim for details ... 503-784-6824

The always entertaining David Bromberg is at the Aladdin ... a very cool bonus is that Ollabelle opens ... 8 pm, $20

After 30 years, the de-evolution continues (obviously matching the state of American politics) with Devo at the Crystal Ballroom ... understand that their live shows are really good ... 8 pm, $40

Rich Layton & the Troublemakers will be semi-unplugged at Vino Vixens ... 8 pm, $5

DK Stewart (quartet) will be at Halibuts ... 8 pm, no cover ... and DK (with Sextet) will be a Duff's on Saturday night.

The Freak Mountain Ramblers are at the Laurelthirst ... 9:30 pm, $??

Saturday
The McMenamins celebrate half-way to St Pat's Day at most of their venues today - any excuse to book a bunch of bands (some even play Celtic music) and hold a bunch of fun frivolity - much of it outside ... find schedules and details on the McMenamins calendar.

The Cascade Blues Association holds their 25th Anniversary concert at the Melody Ballroom, featuring Chad Rupp & The Ruppshakers, Lloyd Jones Struggle, Karen Lovely, and the Robbie Laws Band ... 6 pm, $15 (or save $5 and buy a ticket with the Puddletown Blues, Vol. 1 CD as a $25 package)

Speaking of anniversaries, Artichoke Music holds its 40th Anniversary Celebration at the Alberta Rose Theatre with a host of notable Portland tunesmiths ... 8 pm, $25

At the Laurelthirst it's a triple bill of Drunken Prayer, the James Low Western Front, and Fleur Jack (a band from New Zealand) ... come out and show the Kiwis some Laurelthirst love ... 9 pm, $??

Soul Vaccination is at Jimmy Mak's ... 8 pm, $10

AND ... if you feel like heading to Astoria, Judy Collins will be at the Liberty Theater as part of Astoria's bicentennial week ... Sunday, too. Kenny White (wonderful singer/songwriter/pianist who some of you caught with Tony Furtado last year) opens ... Saturday at 7 pm, Sunday at 4 pm ... $30 - 60

There's always more, so do check the local music calendars for complete info ....

Midweek picks ... Wednesday and Thursday

2011-09-13T22:43:00.000-07:00

Wednesday
Casey Neill contines his week's residency at Al's Den in the Crystal Hotel (thru Saturday) ... Matt Brown joins him tonight ... 7 pm, no cover

Colin Hay will be the man at work at the Alberta Rose ... show is sold out, but if you really want to go, show up early and be patient ... 7:30 pm, $30

Swing Papillion will django-ize the Press Club ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Fine jazz with pianist Gordon Lee and Duncan Branom, Ed Bennett @ Vie de Boheme ... 8 pm, $7

Sublime vocals of Nancy King can be heard at Touche ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Thursday

Happy hour music? Catch the Portland Playboys at Duff's or Lewi Longmire at the Laurelthirst ... 6 pm

Bob Shoemaker is at the White Eagle ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Thad Beckman (back in town after extensive summer touring) and Kurtis Piltz will be at O'Connor's ... 8 pm, $5

Cecilio & Kapono - a "household name throughout Hawaii and the Pacific" bring their island sounds to the Aladdin ... 8 pm, $30

Memphis-based singer/songwriter/bassist Amy LaVere is at Mississippi Studios ... 9 pm, $10 ... and she'll be at Music Millennium at 6 pm for a free in-store performance.

It will be a delightful night of Celtic music with Molly's Revenge and Coleen Raney at the Secret Society ... 9 pm, $7

Another fine singer/songwriter, Austin-based Matt the Electrician, is at the The Woods ... 9 pm, $12

Galactic's drummer Stanton Moore is in town with his trio tonight at Dante's ... 9 pm, $15

A few more live music picks for the weekend ...

2011-09-09T10:42:00.000-07:00

With all of the weekend's massive musical activities around town (see yesterday's post) ... here's a few more options for music through Sunday ...

BTW, here's another good preview/recommendation for MFNW from Ryan White at the Oregonian about two prominent Portland bands at the festival - Blind Pilot and Blitzen Trapper - releasing new CDs.

Friday
Woodbrain plays the Laurelthirst happy hour ... 6 pm, no cover

Mary Flower will do an in-store performance at Music Millennium (see below about her CD release show on Saturday) ... 6 pm, free

Live Wire! Radio records tonight at the Alberta Rose Theatre with featured musical guests Blind Pilot ... 7:30 pm, $20

Sara Gwen and Scott Weddle duo is at Mississippi Pizza ... 9 pm, $??

There's a Tribute to Patsy Cline at Duffs ... 9 pm, $??

The Pete Krebs Swing Trio is at the Press Club ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Saturday
One of my favorite musicians in town, the internationally respected blues/roots guitarist Mary Flower, will do a CD release show at the Secret Society. Each track on Misery Loves Company features Mary in a musical duet with a range of partners including Curtis Salgado, Brian Oberlin, Colin Linden, Dave Frishberg, Johnny Connolly, and more. Here's Mary talking with Tom D'Antoni of Oregon Music News about the recording ... Check it out at the Secret Society - there'll be some surprise guests who'll join Mary, too ... 8 pm, $10

The Widmer Bros Octoberfest will have music all day, including Dr. Theopolis. The Quick & Easy Boys, Empty Space Orchestra, Hey Marseilles, and Colin Lake & Wellbottom ... free (the music, not the beer)

Speaking of afternoon music ... check out the schedule for Sat and Sunday at the Muddy Boot Festival ...

Wendy & the Lost Boys do their monthly Saturday at the Hawthorne Theater Lounge .... 6 pm, no cover

Catch one of the very best songwriters on the planet at Edgefield ... John Prine. Ani Defranco opens ... 6:30 pm, $42

The Robbie Laws Band is at Duff's ... 9:30 pm, $??

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

Sunday
Casey Neill begins a week residency at Al's Den ... with different guests each night ... 7 pm, no cover

The start of a big weekend of music in Portland

2011-09-08T12:04:00.000-07:00

Like the finale of a fireworks display, this almost-the-end-of-summer weekend showers Portland music-goers with brilliant sparks and sunbursts... the options are numerous and it's going to be tough to pick ... but don't sit home - there's just too many really fine choices ...

Portland's biggest music festival of the year kicked off last night - MusicFestNW runs through Sunday and provides some of the best of the weekend - check out the schedule, decide whether you want a wristband or individual event tickets, and get going. The lineup includes local and touring artists from multiple genres. I'm not going to single out any particular show or artist, but Oregon Music News has a good preview and recommendations ....

Another festival going on this weekend is the annual Muddy Boot Festival in SE Portland .... the focus is on sustainability, but there's always a solid lineup of bands playing on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Admission is $5 per day in advance or $7 at door. This year's include Tapwater, Colleen Raney, Casey Neill, Brethren Thread, the Freak Mt Ramblers, and more ... check it out!

If you're in the mood to head out of town this weekend, the always wonderful and nationally-respected Sisters Folk Festival starts Friday.

This weekend there's also LiveWire Radio at the Alberta Rose, Widmer Octoberfest, John Prine and Ani Defranco at Edgefield, Mary Flower's CD release at the Secret Society ...

But first, what's notable tonight? Here's my trifecta pick:

The Secret Society Ballroom celebrates it's Three and a Third Anniversary tonight with Pete Krebs & the Portland Playboys, and the Stolen Sweets .... music from 6 pm until midnight ... no cover.

Vocalist Kelly Shannon celebrates the release of her new CD, Temptation, at Touche. Story and review at OMN .... 8 pm, $5

Two outstanding singer/songwriters make a great double-bill at the Alberta Rose - Mary Gauthier and Slaid Cleaves. Gauthier will also be at Sisters this weekend and is touring to support her latest critically-acclaimed CD, The Foundling. Cleaves is one of my favorite Austin-based tunesmiths. With both, it's songwriting of the highest caliber. Highly recommend this one! ... 8 pm, $18

I'll follow up about the rest of the weekend in my next post ....

Free Tix!

2011-09-07T17:02:00.000-07:00

I have two tickets for Slaid Cleaves and Mary Gauthier at Alberta Rose tomorrow, Thursday, that a friend sent from Seattle because she can't make it down. If you are interested, call me at 503-516-6090. See you at TBA Fest or Music Fest NW!
XMass

OMN’s guide to MFNW 2011 « Oregon Music News

2011-09-07T14:10:00.000-07:00

Here's Oregon Music News' guide to Musicfest NW ... five days of music begins today!

Live music picks for Labor Day weekend

2011-09-02T14:16:00.000-07:00

September already?!!

This is a relatively quiet weekend before Music Fest NW (here's Oregon Music New's guide to the fest to check out) and a few other big shows coming next week. But there's still some great choices for enjoying live music ...

Friday
It is first Friday, so that means the James Low Western Front at the Laurelthirst happy hour. I've been listening to a preview of James' new CD (targeted for release in the Fall) - probably his strongest recording since Mexiquita in 2000 ... this one leans towards a more country sound (which I know will please a lot of long-time fans), but there's another recording in the works that will focus on Low's piano-driven tunes ... two sides of a very talented coin ... you can hear both sides tonight ... 6 pm, no cover

Lloyd Jones will be at Vino Vixens ... Lloyd's latest CD of acoustic blues, Highway Bound, is getting great reviews around the country and the tunes from it will be on display tonight ... 8 pm, $5

Stir the roux and put on your dancin' shoes 'cause it's Atomic Gumbo time at Duff's. Steve Kerin and friends will keep the feet moving with a tasty mix of Louisiana flavored tunes - New Orleans rhythm and blues, piano boogie, Cajun two-steps, and a dash of Zydeco make a pot full of big fun ... 9 pm, $7

One of the premier jazz organists in the world - Joey DeFrancesco - drops into town at Jimmy Mak's tonight. He's a monster and will be playing in a trio with the fabulous Mel Brown on drums and Dan Faehnle on guitar ... more at Oregon Music News ... 8 pm, $17

Carbon Leaf will be at Mississippi Studios ... story about the band at OMN ... 8 pm, $15

Caleb Klauder is at the Spare Room ... 9 pm, $??

Guitarist Jason Okamoto is at the Secret Society Lounge ... 9 pm, no cover

Saturday
Knuckleheads Bar hosts a Blues Festival this weekend that includes Kevin Selfe and the Tornadoes and Franco & the Stingers ...

It's a swinging evening at the Secret Society with Pete Krebs and the Portland Playboys at 6 pm, then Anna Paul & The Bearded Lady, Eric Stern, and Russell Bruner at 8:30 ... no cover for either set!

Swing's the thing at Duff's too with the Bridgetown Sextet ... 9 pm, $??

...and you can swing the blues with DK Stewart and band in the courtyard of the Portland Art Museum. Dancin' With the Cars is part of the final week of museum's wonderful Allure of the Automobile show (which I highly recommend seeing) ... 7 pm, $10 or $15 with museum admission included

OK .... get out, enjoy the sunshine while we have it, then out for an evening of live music!

Back to paying attention ... Fri picks

2011-08-26T12:05:00.000-07:00

Missed telling y'all about some shows that I'm sure were pretty damn good this week (like Dumpstafunk last night) ... but past is past, so what's in our near future?

A festival going on this weekend is just across the river in Vancouver - the annual Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival. It has a pretty good lineup of acts beginning tonight - I especially like Sunday's acts that include John Hammond, Bill Frissel and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band ... Check it out.

If I could be in three or four places at once, I'd be simultaneously enjoying:

The Decemberists out at Edgefield. Second of two nights (some tickets left for tonight, too) and joined by Okkervil River and AgesandAges ... And Jenny Conlee should be back with the band on keyboard and accordion for this show (yea, Jenny! - I know the band and your fans and friends have missed you) ... 6:30 pm, $38

Lloyd Jones with full band and horns at Jimmy Mak's. The show will include video recording for a future release. Lloyd want folks to dress stylish and be ready to enthusiastically party (but that's always easy at his shows!) ... 8 pm, $10

Filmusik at the Hollywood Theater for Gamera vs. Barugo. Take one campy 60s Japanese monster movie, add a music score by the fabulous Andrew Oliver, and live voice actors dubbing the film in English (from the original script) and you have the ingredients for a very fun and slightly skewed evening ... 8 pm, $12

Colin Lake and Wellbottom at the Ponderosa Lounge at Jubitz ... yes, the lounge out at the truck stop has the former Portlander, now New Orleans resident back in town to throw down some solid roots and blues-based original tunes. He's become a regular player in NOLA, and this is his Portland CD show celebrating the about to be released The Ones I Love. And as a bit of lagniappe, piano wizard Steve Kerin joins the band tonight! ... 9 pm, $??

Okay ... I'm gonna need to pick one place to be, as cloning or finding some hole in the space/time continuum isn't an option ...

A few other choices for tonight include ...
Celilo also celebrate the release of their new CD, Bouy Bell, at the Alberta Rose. Sean Flinn and The Royal We, and Carcrashlander, too ... Oregonian story about the new CD and show here ... 8 pm, $10

The DK Stewart Sextet featuring the Soul Survivor Horns is at Duff's tonight ... and doing a live audio recording ... 9 pm, $10

Billy D & The Hoodoos are at the Rock Creek Tavern ... 9 pm, no cover

Franco Paletta is at Vino Vixens ... 8 pm, $5

Okay ...now get up and go somewhere!

What a week already..

2011-08-24T20:11:00.000-07:00

..survived Jim's birthday, hung out with Mr. Doe at his Bing Lounge set for KINK and at the Millennium instore....and now just a quick note on a couple of my picks for the end of the week. Colin Lake, formerly a local boy now living in New Orleans, will be playing a local show Friday at Jubitz's Ponderosa Lounge. These shows are way too seldom now and if you haven't heard Colin play lap steel and sing, you are missing a bet!! He's channeling some old soul. Tomorrow night, Dave Alvin and the Guilty Men, with Los Straitjackets opening at the Aladdin Thursday night. And then, get ready, TBA, PICA's music art fest and Musicfest NW open same weekend in two weeks!!

Another August weekend ... picks for Friday and Saturday

2011-08-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

Honestly, I haven't been paying attention to live music at all this week ... distracted with other matter of life ... but I gotta say there's some great picks for tonight ...

I was impressed by the Carolina Chocolate Drops' presentation of African-American string band music last year at the Oregon Zoo, so it's great to see them back. Heard their fine set at the Newport Folk Festival a couple weeks back and highly recommend their show tonight ... plus, the Be Good Tanyas open ... 7 pm, $19

And tomorrow night at the zoo it's Aimee Mann, making this a great weekend to catch some tunes among the animals. The Weepies open ... story and interview with Aimee at WW ... Sat, 7 pm, $20

Excellent pair of songwriters - Richard Buckner and David Kilgour are at Bunk Bar. David is a respected artist from New Zealand, Buckner is touring to support his long-awaited new CD - his first in five years ... 9 pm, $12

Look out comrades, the Russians are coming! Surf, reggae, and swing will rock Dante's with a post-Cold War twist when the Red Elvises invade tonight ... 9:30 pm, $??

Also at Dante's on Saturday is The Blasters headlining a four band night ... Phil Alvin and company still going strong ... it will be rockin' ... 9 pm, $20

The Parson Red Heads (a growing local fave of mine) will be doing a CD release show at Mississippi Studios tonight ... Dolorean also on the bill ... 9 pm, $7

For something a little different, this looks like a interesting meld of classical and rock music at the Alberta Rose Theatre from Classical Revolution PDX and the Electric Opera Company ... 8 pm, $8

The McMenamins add to their beer and venue empire with the grand opening of the Wilsonville Old Church & Pub ... music and special events all weekend ... tonight with Portland Cello Project and Adam Shearer ... free

Lew Tabackin with the Peter Boe Trio are at Jimmy Mak's ... 8 pm, $15/$20 reserved

Lloyd Jones and band are at O'Connors ... 8 pm, $5

Linda Hornbuckle and Janice Scroggins will be at Halibuts (and Robbie Laws on Saturday)... 8 pm, no cover

Friday and Saturday wrap up a week of The Don of Division Street's residency at Al's Den ... tonight joined by Matt Brown ... 7 pm, no cover

Kathryn Claire and the My Oh Mys are at Biddy McGraw's ... 9 pm, no cover

On Saturday and Sunday for something very different, check out the Lagunitas Beer Circus at the east side of the Hawthorne Bridge ... it's part of the PDX Bridge Festival ... $10 - $25

Also on Saturday ...
The Pete Krebs Swing Trio is at the Press Club ... Good story about Pete in Oregon Music News ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Jeremy Wilson will be at The Blue Monk ... 9 pm, $??

Little Sue and Friends will be at Hawthorne Hophouse ... 9 pm, no cover

Okay .... on this beautiful summer weekend ... get out to some live music!!

XMass's asides....

2011-08-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

I'm sure Jim would mention this, but we have a big week of visitors from the south this week: Phil Alvin and the Blasters at Dante's on Saturday, John Doe doing an in-store at Music Millennium to preview his new album "Keeper" on Aug.23 at 6PM (I'm still reeling that it's been 4 years since his last record...), and then brother Dave Alvin and the Guilty Men (including our own Chris Miller), with Lost Straitjackets opening on the 25th at the Aladdin...must be too hot in Cali this time of year. And a little bird has told me that John Doe will return Oct. 22 at Dante's for a solo show.
For the music and theater old timers - there will be a Storefront Theatre reunion at Creston Park on SE Powell and 45th, Sunday the 21st at 1 PM. Teddy Deane of Rounders and Clamtones fame will be coming down from the San Juans and there's no telling who else will materialize. Pot luck.

More music picks for Saturday

2011-08-13T09:55:00.000-07:00

I should have given you all a heads up for the annual Music Millennium Customer Appreciation BBQ that starts at 11 am and runs until 6 pm. While there, enjoy lunch on them, enjoy free live music (including Stephanie Schneiderman, Truckstop Darlin', Jon Koonce, Cal Scott & Jack McMahon) all afternoon, and by all means head into the store and shop for some music!

Besides The Bite, McMenamin's Americana Music Festival at the Grand Lodge, and a few other weekend events I mentioned yesterday, Saturday's choices include ...

Excellent Cuban band - Dina y Bamba Su Pilon D'Azucar - will have the Washington Park Rose Garden Amphitheater hoppin' ... 6 pm, free

The Bridgetown Sextet at The Blue Monk ... 9 pm, $7

New Monsoon and the Quick and Easy Boys at the Alberta Rose Theatre ... 9 pm, $12

Jimmy Mak's has the Alan Jones/Randy Porter Trio ... 8 pm, $10

The Old Yellers and Ezra Holbrook will be at the Press Club ... 8:30 pm, no cover

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

Get up and get out!

Friday live music picks - Aug 12

2011-08-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

Wow ... almost the middle of August ... summer is flying by, but don't pass this weekend without checking out some very fine live music choices .... and lots of it outside!

Friday

The Bite of Oregon starts today at Waterfront Park. Though it used to feature some pretty top-notch touring acts, the last few years has been scaled back to focus on some of the best local/regional music. Check out the Garden Stage schedule ... I know I'm looking forward to the last five hours of Sunday that has a distinctive Louisiana music focus with the Too Loose Cajun Band, the New Iberians, and Atomic Gumbo. Maybe time to second line! Linda Hornbuckle tonight, Wendy & The Lost Boys and Lewi Longmire tomorrow ... $15 for all weekend pass, $10 single day and proceeds go to Special Olympics Oregon. Here's a link to find a deal (expires later today) for 2-for-1 tickets.

Another festival that runs tonight and tomorrow is the McMenamin's 10th Annual Americana Music Festival at the Grand Lodge in Forest Grove ... always fun and free ... this year with Mike Midlo, the Freak Mt Ramblers, Langhorne Slim, Billy D, AgesandAges, Y La Bamba, and more ... begins today at 5 pm.

My pick show for tonight is at Duff's Garage. Mississippi-based pianist and vocalist Eden Brent is a three time Blues Music Award winner and the 2010 Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year. She's an impressive artist with an excellent new CD, Ain't Got No Troubles. She recorded it in New Orleans with producer-guitarist Colin Linden, and the fabulous NOLA bassist, George Porter. Eden's style blends boogie-woogie with elements of blues, jazz, soul, gospel, and pop - and the latest recording with a little helping of Louisiana spice. Her vocal style has been compared to Bessie Smith, Memphis Minnie and Aretha Franklin. Should be a great show at Duff's tonight! ... 9:30 pm, $10

<p>&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://edenbrent.bandcamp.com/album/aint-got-no-troubles"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Ain't Got No Troubles by Eden Brent&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Ah, but there's more ... in other acts on their summer tours through town:
At the Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn tonight it's a solid double bill of Amos Lee and Calexico ... 6:30 pm, $35/$59 reserved

At the Oregon Zoo, it's k.d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang with The Secret Sisters ... 7 pm, $36

The Crystal Ballroom has Beirut tonight ... 9 pm, but sold out (show up and maybe you can score a ticket)

The English Beat are at the Wonder Ballroom ... 8 pm, $23

Other shows in and around town ...

Blue Cranes will be doing a free, all ages, outdoor concert at the Washington Park Amphitheater. They'll be playing with the Northwest Dance Project and a string trio ... 6 pm, free

Looks like an interesting music event at Disjecta ... the Quiet Music Festival of Portland (Fri & Sat) ... I know that could make my ears much happier ... 8 pm, $8 each night or $13 for both.

Hargo, Stephanie Schneiderman and Adrienne Pierce are at the Alberta Rose Theatre ... 9 pm, $10

Grammy nominated guitarist Andre Bush will be in town from the Bay Area to make a rare PDX appearance this Friday night at Touche ... 8 pm, $??

Naomi Hooley and Amanda Breese are at Biddy McGraw's ... 9 pm, no cover

The Press Club has Morgan Geer and Drunken Prayer ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Lewi Longmire is at the White Eagle ... 9 pm, $6

Bill Rhoades and Alan Hagar are at Vino Vixens ... 8 pm, $5

Get out to some live music!

Wednesday picks for Aug 10th

2011-08-10T10:41:00.000-07:00

It was a fun weekend at Pickathon (with a side trip to Paul Thorn's excellent show at Mississippi Studios on Saturday) ... Mavis Staples was amazing, but I also discovered some bands that were very impressive, including Old Light, Mike & Ruthie (both with gigs in town tonight), Eliot Brood, Joy Kills Sorrow, Grupo Fantasma, AgesandAges, Richard Swift, Fruit Bats, Pokey LaFarge ... and ones I knew who did great sets - Laura Viers, Eilen Jewell, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Pine Leaf Boys ...

But on to some excellent choices for tonight, including:

Stereovision at Music On Main ... 5 pm, free

Dan Reed at Washington Park ... 6 pm, free

Eels at the Aladdin ... 8 pm, $25

Imelda May is at the Oregon Zoo (got a big recommendation on this one - check her out) ... 7 pm, $14

Sassparilla and Frank Fairfield will be at Mississippi Studios ... 9 pm, $10

It's Cuban Night with Dina Martinez and Al Criado at Vie de Boheme ... 8 pm, $5

Swing Papillion @ The Press Club ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Nancy King and Randy Porter will be at Touche ... 8:30 pm, $??

Seattle's Led to Sea is at the Ash Street Saloon ... 8:30 pm, $5

Piano Throwers are at the Laurelthirst ... 9:30 pm, $??

OOPS - my bad..

2011-08-06T14:37:00.001-07:00

....the Dan Reed show at Washington Park is on WEDNESDAY, Aug. 10...I failed to mention that...

While Dad's out on the farm.....

2011-08-05T14:10:00.000-07:00

..XMass will just sneak in a couple of other music options. Lostlander will play at RonTom's on Sunday night at 9 PM and for those of us who can still remember the '80's, Dan Reed (yes, he of the Dan Reed Network) will be playing up at Washington Park, by the Rose Garden. I believe this starts kind of early - 6:30 PM, and is free. If you haven't heard his new solo CD, get on it! Tony Demicoli and I agree; his most soulful music ever. His next gig in town will be on my birthday, Nov. 19, at the Star Theater...presents and presence will be accepted. And don't forget, next Saturday, Aug.13 is the Customer Appreciation BBQ at Music Millennium - free food, music, prizes...come have fun and show your support for our favorite local music vendor...and you can get Dan's CD while you're there....just sayin'. Next instore event I'm looking forward to will be John Doe on Aug. 23, previewing his new album "Keeper" which comes out on the 30th...but he pays me to say that. Also in our musical future: The Blasters @ Dante's on Aug. 20, followed by brother Dave Alvin and the Guilty Men (featuring our own Chris Miller) on Aug. 25 at the Aladdin.
Hoping I get out to see the Sadies at Pickathon myself (but relying on an elusive freebie, I confess..), but if you're stuck in town, the neighborhood (Jim's and mine) is having a big garage sale..mostly around SE 19th, 21st and Umatilla area...so come by, say hi and buy stuff!!

Music for the weekend

2011-08-05T00:12:00.001-07:00

This is going to be my only (and short) post for this weekend. Most of the weekend I'll be out at Pendarvis Farm as a volunteer at Pickathon, directing some of the live streaming video production that will be going on throughout the festival. That starts tomorrow afternoon and runs through Sunday night ... check out the festival and schedule - it looks great and is truly a unique experience. Who's going? If you are, hope to see ya there!

Show of note I see - on Friday there's the James Low Western Front happy hour at the Laurelthurst (6 pm, no cover), Wendy & The Lost Boys happy hour at the Hawthorne Theater Pub, Rich Layton & the Troublemakers at Vino Vixens (8 pm, $5), Rebecca Kilgore and David Frishberg at Touche (7:30 pm, no cover), and the Ben Darwish Trio and Andrew Oliver's Kora Band are at Jimmy Mak's (8 pm, $10).

If you're up for a road trip, head to Springfield for the Willamette Valley Blues and Brews Festival with some of the region's best blues artists ...

On Saturday, I highly recommend seeing Paul Thorn at Mississippi Studios. Paul, who hails from Tupelo, Mississippi, is a modern-day southern storytellers in song. He's a guy with a compelling life story who explores the deep contradiction of the sacred and profane in us - thoughtfully, humorously, and with music muscle. He has a great band that has been supporting him for years - they are more a family than most bands I know - and all great players. I've gotten to know these guys a bit via Delbert's cruise and their last visit to Portland a few years back to play the Waterfront Blues Festival. It's great to have them in town again, and I'll be ducking out of Pickathon to head over to Mississippi Studios to see them ... 8 pm, $16.50 advance/$19 day of show

Also Saturday ... Street Fairs continue with the Fremont Fest - it will have two stages of music, and acts that I know about include Berthaline and Paula Sinclair. Rob Stroup & The Blame are at Biddy McGraw's (9:30 pm, no cover), and Laura Ivancie is at Vie de Boheme Winery (8 pm, $5).

For other shows, check the calendars ... and I'll be back posting next week ...

End of July picks ...Saturday

2011-07-30T11:36:00.000-07:00

Before a few picks for tonight ... catch some great music from the Newport Folk Festival today and tomorrow on NPR ... so far today I've caught sets by the Wailin' Jennys, The Felice Brothers, and Gogol Bordello ... later the full set by the Decemberists. BTW, Portland music also well represented also by Sallie Ford and Typhoon (hopefully, their recorded sets will be up online later).

Saturday

Besides my pick show of the weekend, Blackie and The Rodeo Kings at the Alberta Rose Theatre, here's a few more ...

Spend an afternoon at the Overlook Village Street Fair in North Portland ... three stages of music that gets underway at 10 am ... North Killingsworth between Greeley and Concord.

If I wasn't going to be at the BARK show tonight, I think I'd catch King Louis and Sweet Baby James Benton at Jimmy Mak's. Benton is a Portland musical legend with connections back to the thriving African American music community that existed in North Portland, operating The Backyard, a BBQ and performance venue that was the place for local and touring musicians alike to jam and eat. Tonight's show celebrates that history with music and BBQ ... 8 pm, $10

Brandi Carlile will probably sell out the Oregon Zoo show tonight ... 7 pm, $26

Whistlepunk and Paula Sinclair will be at Press Club ... 8:30 pm, no cover

The Midnight Serenaders are at The Blue Monk ... 9 pm, $??

Devin Phillips is at Wilfs ... 8 pm, $??

Wendy & the Lost Boys ... and bellydancing ... at Vino Vixens ... 8 pm, $??

Choices, people, choices!

Blackie and The Rodeo Kings @ Alberta Rose on Saturday

2011-07-29T13:13:00.000-07:00

My pick show of the weekend is Blackie and The Rodeo Kings at the Alberta Rose Theatre. An all-star Canadian trio - Colin Linden, Stephen Fearing, and Tom Wilson - put this band together 15 years ago to celebrate the music of friend and Canadian folk legend Willie P. Bennett, recording the CD, High or Hurtin' ... but had so much fun doing it, they decided to make it a continuing project that has now produced seven CD's and a slew of awards.

Each of them is a notable artist on their own - Colin Linden probably the best know for his work producing and playing with Bruce Cockburn, though he's built quite a reputation as a writer, producer, and guitar player both in Canada and in Nashville. I was thrilled to get to know Colin on one of Delbert McClinton's cruises, and believe me, he's one of those too-far-under-the-radar musical treasures. But Fearing and Wilson also make formidable musical partners. They each bring their musical perspectives - folkie and rocker respectively - to the mix. All are killer songwriters and the their latest CD, Kings and Queens, pays tribute to some of their favorite female artists - like Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, and Roseanne Cash - who recorded with them. Unfortunately, they won't be touring with the band. :-)

Hope to see you Saturday night at the Alberta Rose! ... 8 pm, $15.

BTW, had a chance to see Willie Bennett numerous times as he spent 1994 until his death in 2008 as a member (which doesn't start to describe his role) of Fred Eaglesmith's band. Here's a bit of artist who inspired Colin, Stephen, and Tom ...

End of July picks ...Friday

2011-07-29T12:53:00.000-07:00

Here's some Friday night music for ya ...

Willie Nelson and Family pull into town in their biofueled bus for a show tonight at Edgefield ... hey, it's Willie! ... 6:30 pm, $63

At Jim Flynn's In The House house party series, it's Bay Area harmonica wiz Mark Hummel & the Blues Survivors with special guest - guitarist Steve Fruend ... don't bother knockin', the house will be rockin' ... 7 pm, $10 donation at door, BYOB ... even bring food to share if you like. Call (503-784-6824) or email Jim for house address and to get on his mailing list so you don't miss these opportunities.

For a more reflective evening, head to Mississippi Studios for Rachel Taylor Brown's CD release show. Excellent article about Rachel and the new CD, World So Sweet, in Oregon Music News. The Brothers Young and Michael the Blind are on the bill too ... 9 pm, $10

Duff's has a Louisiana inspired double bill of The New Iberians and Atomic Gumbo ... dancing shoes mandatory! ... 9 pm, $??

And across the street at Vie de Boheme Winery, it's a CD release party for the Asian-influenced jazz of RaChiChi ... 8 pm, $5

3 Leg Torso will be at The Blue Monk ... 9 pm, $??

End of July picks ... a few for tonight

2011-07-28T10:27:00.000-07:00

Wow, July almost over, but we're in the swing of summer music. Not as many big events as last weekend, but just a lot of typically good midsummer choices ...

Oh, it's time for the beer fests of beer fests ... the Portland Brewers Festival in Waterfront Park starts today. Here's the entertainment schedule ...

A couple of quick picks for tonight ...

Besides the usual Thursday suspects, The Dimes are at the Sundown at Ecotrust music series at the Ecotrust Building ... 5:30 pm, free

The Freak Mountain Ramblers are at the Kennedy School ... 7 pm, free

PDX Jazz @ the Mission Theater presents The Devin Phillips Quartet: Impressions of John Coltrane ... a celebration of the music of the great saxophonist and jazz innovator ... 8 pm, $15

More on the weekend later or tomorrow .... but a quick heads up for Friday with an In The House house party with Mark Hummel, and Atomic Gumbo and the New Iberians at Duff's. For Saturday, a band I've been waiting years to have back here in Portland, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings will be at the Alberta Rose.

Heads up! Pickathon next week ...

2011-07-28T10:03:00.000-07:00

Before I get into what's going on this weekend, thought I'd plug one of the coolest music events that happens here each summer - Pickathon.

Fantastic lineup of indie/roots music (six stages with tunes starting early and going into the wee hours of the morning ... and it never seems overwhelming), great food (organic, local, sustainable), camping (beautiful wooded sites), family-friendly (kids under 12 are free), environmentally responsible (and innovative! - eliminated plastic bottles/cups, single-use dishes, alt transportation available,etc) ... it's a feel-good, musically satisfying weekend less than 30 minutes from Portland on the Pendarvis Farm in Happy Valley (making it exponentially more happy for three days).

If you haven't experienced the magic of a hushed Woods Stage performance on a Sunday morning, or the raucous rocking in the Galaxy Barn at 2 am on Saturday night, then I recommend you get out to the farm and see what Pickathon is all about. Tickets aren't cheap, but as far as event value goes, it's truly a bargain.

On a personal note ... I've decide to revisit my past (way back past!) and join the video crew volunteers. I'll be directing live multi-camera shoots at the Woods Stage on Friday and the Galaxy Barn on Sunday. We'll see if I can dig up some competent directing chops for a few of the 24 hours of (mostly) live streaming video that will come from the festival (available at the Pickathon website).

Hope to see you there!

XMass here...

2011-07-27T15:11:00.000-07:00

..Another blatant plug for my theatre gig, "Tooth of Crime" (2nd Dance)". Thursday is pay what you will night (they ask at least $5) and show starts at 7:30. If you come Friday, the band, Outland Prey does a set of originals after the show, and me and some of my friends might be going drinking after....
I'm sure I will think of other fun events to add to Jim's choices, but I do have one serious note here...probably time to think about giving up on keeping my house (unless one of y'all have knowledge of a job out there, need a seamstress, personal assistant or dog walker/sitter....) so if you know anyone who might want to buy a house in Sellwood with 3 built in renters..let me know...

Into the swing of summer 3 - Saturday & Sunday

2011-07-22T15:27:00.000-07:00

Busy live music weekend continues in Portland with more great choices for ya ...

There's the ongoing festivals that continue through Sunday - PDX Pop Now!, Northwest String Summit, and the Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival ...

Saturday
Looking for tunes in the afternoon? Try Mississippi Studio's BarBar Patio with Kasey Anderson and Peter Miller (4 pm, no cover) ... or head to Music Millennium for a free in-store performance by Portugal. The Man (4 pm) - their new CD, In The Mountain In The Cloud is getting very positive reviews. See then before they head out on an extended tour. Here's an excellent story by Ryan White at the Oregonian about the recording of the new CD.

The Press Club has a dynamic songwriting duo of James Low and Lewi Longmire swapping tunes ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Guitarist James Clem is at the Muddy Rudder ... 8 pm, no cover

The Slow Drags do a CD release and memorial concert for their late front man, Scotland Barr Moritz, at Dante's. We Will Be Forgotten is the final release by the band - they enlisted the help of a number of Portland vocalists to finish the double-CD set after Moritz's death. This should be a cathartic and celebratory release ... 9:30 pm, $8

An East LA band I mentioned in Thursday's post - Tremoloco - will be at Duffs ... 9:30 pm, $10

Sunday
Did you know that very Sunday you can enjoy Reggie Houston with your mid-morning brunch at EaT (3808 N. Williams) from 11am - 2 pm, or with dinner at Cannon's (5410 NE 33rd Ave) at 5 pm? ... Two different trios, but both with Reggie's engaging sax and vocals, New Orleans charm, and deep musical knowledge (which he generously shares) ... no cover at either, but feed yourself and the tip jar.

Another great choice for music on a summer's afternoon, is to head over to Mississippi Studios for the BarBar summer patio sessions every Saturday and Sunday ... this Sunday it's the James Low Western Front (acoustic) and MBilly ... 4 pm, no cover

The sublime vocals and 30's swing of The Stolen Sweets can be heard at Duff's ... 6 pm, $5

Fleet Foxes with special guest Alela Diane will be at Edgefield's Concerts on the Lawn ... 6:30 pm, $38

Probably my favorite live band of the past 25 or so years is Los Lobos, and they'll be at the zoo on Sunday evening. Can't ever get enough of this amazing band from East LA (with a Portland connection - Steve Berlin lives here) ... They are sharing the bill with Los Lonely Boys - three Texas brothers who can rock ... 7 pm, $26

If you don't catch live music somewhere this weekend, either you're not in town ... or seriously distracted! See ya out and about ...

Into the swing of summer - Friday night

2011-07-21T10:54:00.000-07:00

Big weekend of music continues Friday ... the sun will have no choice but to shine ...

Tonight begins three days of the eight annual PDX Pop Now Summer Festival ... 44 all-local bands, two stages, tons of great music! Here's everything you need to know about the festival from Ryan White at the Oregonian. And here's a set of articles about the festival and bands from Oregon Music News ... This year it will be held at Refuge (SE Yamhill and 2nd) ... music starts tonight at 6 pm and goes all day Saturday and Sunday. And, it's free and all ages.

PDX Pop Now 2011 Lineup from pdxpopnow! on Vimeo.

I'd recommend kicking off your Friday with Ron Rogers and the Wailing Wind - back for their monthly happy hour gig at the Hawthorne Theater Pub ... 6 pm, no cover ... See the end of this post for a cool video of their tune Alabama Chrome ... Ron's CD, Country & Eastern, is one of my favorite local releases of the past year.

At Fernhill Park (NE 37th & Ainsworth), it's outdoor free summer tunes with Melao de Cuba ... more fine sounds in a Portland Park ... 6:30 pm, free

Out at the Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn, it's Brooklyn's TV On The Radio and special guests, Menomena ... 6:30 pm, $38

The Northwest String Summit continues at Horning's Hideout ... but there's bluegrass fest competition if you want to head east to Stevenson, WA and the Skamania County Fairgrounds for the Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival. Dueling banjos for sure!

A fun and funny band lands in Portland tonight at the Alberta Rose Theatre. Ansty McClain and the Trailer Park Troubadours celebrate the trailer park life (literally and metaphorically) through Ansty's tunes and persona. This band has gotten some fine reviews and this is their first visit to Portland ... check 'em out! ... 8 pm, $20 (and minors OK when accompanied by responsible adult) ... see video below of Ansty.

South Carolina's Dangermuffin is back for a NW tour and stop at the Mission Theater. These guys were impressive last year when Tony Furtado invited them to his residency gig ... they picked up quite the following ... nice to see them back this summer ... The Beautiful Train Wrecks on the bill too ... 8 pm, $10

It's a great night for locals about town (besides PDX Pop Now) ...

Rich Layton & The Troublemakers will keep the dancers happy at the Trails End Saloon with their swampified Gulf Coast sound ... 9 pm, $??

Chris Robley and the Fear of Heights continue their week at Al's Den ... tonight with guest Lara Michell .. 7 pm, no cover

LaRhonda Steele is at Clyde's Prime Rib ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Excellent jazz with the Devin Phillips Quartet at Jimmy Mak's ... 8 pm, $12

The Pete Krebs Trio with lithely swing at the Press Club ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Duffy Bishop will be at Hallibuts (how do you keep that big voice in that little room!) - and when Duffy sings, you never know who will drop by to join her ... 8 pm, no cover

Lincoln Crockett is at Mississippi Pizza ... 9 pm, $8

Kathryn Claire and The My Oh Mys (Ezra Holbrook's band) are at Biddy McGraw's ... 9 pm, no cover

Okay ... make a plan and head on out! Summer tunes await ...

Into the swing of summer - let's start with Thursday night

2011-07-20T23:14:00.000-07:00

Figured out that the only way it's really going to be summer is when the music brings it ... and this weekend does that big time ... lots of great choices, lots of music outside ... so maybe the sun will have no choice but to shine (btw, I don't want to hear any of the Portland complaining that it's too hot when it's sunny and over 80 degrees ... hear me?)

Start heating things up with Lewi Longmire's happy hour at the Laurelthirst. If you keep meaning to drop by some Thursday, what are you waiting for? ... 6 pm, no cover ... have a beer, feed the tip jar, bounce around, and keep grinning. If you've been there, you know what I mean.

If you want to be outside, head to Greenway Park in Tualatin for Tremoloco. This is a very cool band from East LA "that effortlessly cross pollinates several genres and styles such as Mexican Folk, Tex-Mex, Country, Norteno, Cumbias, Honky Tonk, Cajun, Zydeco, Blues and Roadhouse Rock n Roll." OK, if they do that, they've got me ... the only other band that can do that is Los Lobos (who will be at the zoo on Sunday .. and they love this band, too) ... 6 pm, free ... oh,, and they'll also be at Duff's on Saturday.

For other outdoor music, check out Vagabond Opera at the Ecotrust Building in the Pearl for the fourth of the Sundown at Ecotrust music series ... 5:30 pm, free

Or, at 6:30 pm in Wallace Park (NW 25th & Raleigh) - as part of Portland's free Summer Concerts in the Parks series, check out the Shelly Rudolph Soul Review, a band that includes the stellar saxophonist Reggie Houston and guitarist Chance Hayden. Think there'll be a healthy dose of New Orleans in the mix.

It's the Potown Soul Revue at the Kennedy School with Thumptown and Brownish Black ... 7 pm, free and with a summer BBQ for your eating pleasure (food isn't free, just the music)

Continuing a week residency at Al's Den at the Crystal Hotel is Chris Robley and the Fear of Heights ... 7 pm, no cover (live music til 11)

Steve Kerin takes your requests, both obvious and obscure, to play on the Chapel Pub pipe organ ... 8 pm, no cover

Thursday also kicks off the annual Northwest String Summit at Horning's Hideout ... bluegrass and related hot pickin' through Sunday with a great lineup ...

The Knuckleheads (with who knows exactly what lineup - but always fun) are at Duff's ... 9 pm, $5

Jerry Joseph and Friends w/Steve James and Steve Drisos are at Dante's ... 9pm, $??

This band had Sellwood Riverfront Park jumpin' on Monday ...and they play weekly at Andrea's Cha Cha Club ...Dina and Bamba Y Su Pilon D'Azucar with La Descarga Cubana - think it's time for some salsa lessons! ... 10 pm, $??

Another post coming about the rest of the weekend with a ridiculous number of great choices ... yep, it's summer!

Musical note from the Costumer in me...

2011-07-19T11:33:00.000-07:00

For those of you unafraid to mingle your music with theatre - I am costuming a production of Sam Shepard's "Tooth of Crime (2nd Dance)" that opens Thursday the 21st and plays 22, 23, 28,29 and 30 of July at 7:30 PM and the 24th and 30th at 2 PM. The show has original music by T-Bone Burnett performed by local band Outland Prey. Outland Prey will also perform after the show on both Fridays and Saturdays. The show is a post apocalyptic verbal assault of the battle between the fading rock star and the new rock kid on the move up the ladder...like that's never happened before....I even made my new housemate help build sets and prop weaponry out of broken instruments...so if you want new ideas for old cymbals, be there. More info on the Tooth of Crime page on Facebook.

Quick word about tonight

2011-07-18T16:44:00.001-07:00

Hmmm ... hoping the rain doesn't dampen our free Sellwood Riverfront Park show with La Descarga Cubana tonight (should be a very hot show! 6pm!) ... but if we need to seek dryer venues, there's Lloyd Jones at the Muddy Rudder - no cover at 8 pm (and right near the park). Or on the west side, Steve Kerin will join Bob Shoemaker out at the Rock Creek Tavern ... 8 pm, no cover ... and there's a cool show tonight at Duff's - Pete Anderson ... sneaky-good guitar player and songwriter - used to play with and produce Dwight Yoakam (9 pm, $??) - I think I'm headed over after the park show.

Addendum to Jim's notes for Saturday night..

2011-07-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

Berlin (yes, that Berlin, with Terri Nunn) at the newly refurbished Star Theatre and Beth Harrington, formerly of Jonathon Richmond's band, is joining several others for '80's covers night at Mississippi Pizza. Maybe we are going back in time....that would be great, I had steady work then!

Cathedral Park Jazz Festival and free music on NE Broadway this weekend

2011-07-15T13:53:00.001-07:00

The always free and always delightful Cathedral Park Jazz Festival in St John's happens this weekend. As usual, Friday night kicks off with the blues - this year with Norman Sylvester and Robbie Laws ... beautiful music for a (hopefully) beautiful weekend ...

Head to NE Broadway and 17th for the NE Broadway Business Association's big sale and block party ... music kicks off tonight with Monti Admunson at 5pm and the Knuckleheads featuring Satellite Malone (think that's a guy also know as Curtis) at 6 ... tomorrow on NE 16th, it's a block party with music from noon to 7pm that will be headlined by Lloyd Jones.

Other shows tonight include:

Lara Michelle, Matt Brown & Michael Jodell at the Press Club ... 8:30pm, no cover

Lisa Man Duo at Vino Vixens ... 8 pm, $5

Fernando, The Minus 5, Kelli Schaefer and Mike Coydendall in a benefit - Rock Against Alzheimers - at Mississippi Studios ... 8 pm, $15

Good stuff ...

Resurfacing ... with a few picks for tonight

2011-07-14T11:41:00.000-07:00

Emerging from my self-imposed hiatus from regular posting ... it might be a slow return into the swing of things, so don't get too excited (not that anyone could get particularly excited by my blather) ...

So tonight there's the aforementioned John Doe & Jill Sobule show at the Alberta Rose Theatre. It's where I'm planning to be later (as is my occasional co-blogger, Marychris) ... so I hope to see you there ... 8 pm, $25

Other fine choices include:
Lewi Longmire in his regular Laurelthirst happy hour slot ... 6 pm, no cover

Thad Beckman at the Muddy Rudder ... Always nice to be able to catch Thad home in Portland, as he spends a good deal of time now traveling the country (and world) as indispensable guitar player with Tom Russell ... 8 pm, no cover

Steve Kerin takes your requests for tunes on the Chapel Pub organ ... with a head full of songs and a bagful of songbooks, he'll probably play anything you can come up with ... alway fun ... 8 pm, no cover

Lydia Pense and Cold Blood, a Bay Area band that's been plying the soul/rock/R&B groove (East Bay Grease!) since their debut in 1969, are in town for a special show at Jimmy Mak's ... 8 pm, $25

Dig some adventurous post-pop jazz of the Alan Jones Quintet at the Blue Monk ... 8 pm, $5

And, don't loose your head over this one, but Swing Papillion helps Vie de Boheme Winery celebrate Bastille Day ... 8 pm, $5

... oh, and if you can afford it, Eddie Vedder is in town tonight at the Schnitz. This is the penultimate show (tomorrow' finale is in Seattle) of a month-long tour to support his new CD, Ukulele Songs ... his special guest on the tour is Swell Season's and The Frame's Glen Hansard ... $75 plus ridiculous ticket fees at Ticketmaster

Maybe more tomorrow for the weekend ... we'll see ...

John Doe & Jill Sobule tomorrow at Alberta Rose

2011-07-13T09:10:00.000-07:00

I know Marychris has mentioned this one in an earlier post, but you really shouldn't miss this one Thursday at the Alberta Rose - the perfect venue for this show. These two outstanding singer-songwriter have been touring together for the past few months to great reviews -- they also recorded A Day At The Pass together last year, which you can read about and hear at Jill's website .... Had the chance to hear and meet Jill earlier this year and she totally knocked me out as a live performer (I had know her as a respected, kick-ass songwriter) and a delightful person (always a plus in my book!). Here's a good interview with Jill about her music and working with John ... 8 pm, $20 advance/$25 door

This from the Alberta Rose:

Tickets are still available for one of the most promising musical collaborations of 2011--John Doe and Jill Sobule. Doe (yes, that John Doe--frontman for the legendary X as well as an icon/pioneer of both punk and alt-country ), and Sobule (of "I Kissed A Girl" fame and a recent Alberta Rose appearance alongside the great Julia Sweeney) will perform songs from their new album, A Day at the Pass as well as some Sobule, Doe and X favorites.

Check out this incredible rendition of "Burning House of Love" from March 2011!
Here's an "official" video of "Under the Bridge" from 2011!

Ms. XMass says

2011-07-12T19:34:00.000-07:00

...The first Sellwood Park concert went off without a hitch (except that our fearless leader was in absentia..) Rocking the zydeco sounds....and I know I'm repeating myself, but tickets are still available for John Doe and Jill Sobule at The Alberta Rose Theatre on Thursday. They will play from their duet record "A Day at the Pass" as well as pull from their solo work. I know I am biased, but this will a can't miss show!!

Ms. XMass here..

2011-07-08T07:36:00.000-07:00

..a little bird just told me that they will be giving away 100 tickets to J.Roddy Walston and the Business show at Dante's tonight at Pioneer Square at noon today....and free, as we know is a very good price!

JD Souther @ Aladdin on Saturday

2011-07-07T16:14:00.000-07:00

He may not be the new kid in town, but the distinctive sounds of southern California rock wouldn't be the same without JD Souther. JD has been writing great songs for a long time and Portland gets a chance to hear him up close and personal this week ... here's a capsule refresher on the talented Souther and his new CD ...

Natural History, the new album from legendary songwriter and musician JD Souther, was released May 31 on eOne Music. Widely recognized as one of the principal architects of the Southern California country-rock sound, Souther played a key role in the formation of the Eagles, co-writing many of their hit songs. Natural History features new versions of 11 songs either written or co-written by Souther including “Faithless Love,” “Prisoner in Disguise,” “New Kid In Town” and “You’re Only Lonely.” In celebration of the record, Souther will embark on a nationwide tour this spring and summer. Additional details to be announced shortly.
Natural History is Souther’s first album since 2008’s If the World Was You, which was his first studio album in 25 years. Of Souther’s triumphant return to recorded music, the LA Weekly praised, “Showing no rustiness, Souther displays a sagely touch, smoothly blending pop, jazz, country, soul and Latin rock on lovely ballads…observational tales…and personal epics,” while The Tennessean asserted “Souther has now emerged with what is either the jazziest singer-songwriter record of our time or the most literate and lyrically sophisticated new jazz record on the market.”

The new album was produced by Fred Mollin at the Sound Emporium in Nashville and features numerous renowned musicians, including Jeff Coffin on tenor and soprano sax, Jerry Douglas on Dobro, John Hobbs and Chris Walters on piano, John Jorgenson on clarinet and guitar, Viktor Krauss on upright bass, Rod McGaha on trumpet, Bryan Sutton on electric and acoustic guitar and Jim White on drums and percussion, among many others. Of making the record, Souther notes, “Music, for me is like language; fluid, and if it doesn’t change, it becomes rigid and dull. This was a great opportunity to intimately explore these songs with the exceptional musicians who play with me now, and to do so in small ensembles, sometimes no more than three or four players.”
Beyond his fundamental work with the Eagles, Souther has collaborated with countless world-renowned musicians including Linda Ronstadt, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Bonnie Raitt, Warren Zevon, Don Henley, Hugh Masekela, Dixie Chicks, India Arie, Roy Orbison, George Strait, Brian Wilson and Trisha Yearwood. In 2009, he was presented with the Golden Note Award at the 47th annual ASCAP Country Music Awards.

Summertime Blues...

2011-07-06T12:13:00.000-07:00

..that's what I got at the Blues Fest (and a summer cold) so I missed most of the fun after my work shifts..I guess that Ms. Lucinda was a little off her game and Buddy Guy, of course, killed!!
Did just hear of another Kickstarter fundraiser for a film about John Fahey, longtime Salem resident and iconoclastic acoustical guitar player...it even features interviews with my friend, Tim Knight, owner of the Guitar Castle in Salem and longtime accompanist to John. They even have interviews with Pete Townshend!! Looks like a worthy project to give some of your allowance to. "The Transfiguration of Blind Joe Death" was my first Fahey record and made freshman year of college a little easier to deal with....
johnfaheyfilm.com
Friday, J. Roddy Walston and the Business @ Dante's - be there!

Waterfront Blues Festival starts this Friday!

2011-06-29T15:55:00.000-07:00

And it may be arriving with clear sunny skies (right on time!) ...

I'll keep this short, as there is great coverage of the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival at Oregon Music News with articles that include interviews, music, and schedules. I'd definitely check out their coverage and even drop by their booth over by the Oregonian Front Porch Stage (that's the one on the north side of the Hawthorne Bridge). they even have a mobile app for it if you have a smartphone - find it at http://wbf.oregonmusicnews.com/

Here's the full schedule from the festival site.

Of all the acts in town for the festival (too numerous to mention all), some of the acts I'm looking forward to include the Rebirth Brass Band, Maceo Parker, Lucinda Williams, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, the Honey Island Swamp Band, Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, Chris Cain , Rosie Ledet, and Grady Champion.

There's a host of locals playing too including the Too Loose Cajun Band (with special guests Tony Furtado and Reggie Houston), Devin Phillips, Lloyd Jones, Rich Layton & The Troublemakers, Thad Beckman, Franco Paletta, Kevin Selfe, Curtis Salgado, Miriams Well, Hillstomp and lots, lots more ...

My favorite place to be is over by the Front Porch Stage where between Friday and Sunday (all day on Saturday) you can dance to some great Zydeco and Cajun bands. There's the Louisiana Pavilion hosted by Delta Music Experience (DME) where you can find all kinds of music, gifts, artwork, and information on places and organizations to feed your music soul (particularly if that soul feels connected to New Orleans and Louisiana). I'll definitely spend a bit of time behind the table of the Mysti Krewe of Nimbus to help promote the Mardi Gras Ball we'll be throwing next February.

The FedEx Workshop Stage also has some great music in a intimate (and often shaded) spot that can give you a needed respite from the crowds near the main stages. Many of the main stage acts also play here - where the performances can be much more spontaneous and rewarding.

DME also is responsible for putting together six very popular Portland Spirit Blues Cruises (some already sold out!) - afternoon and evening trips on the Willamette with three levels of music .... talk about a party boat!

Plus there are after-hours all-star jams on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday - ticketed shows at the Marriott across the street, and free ones at the H50 Bistro at Hotel 50 ...

And remember, all of this goes to supporting the Oregon Food Bank. Admission each day is a donation of $10 and a couple cans of food. You can also get passes in advance that are good for all days (with different levels of perks that can come in very handy) ...

The festival is something I look forward to all year. Even with thousands of folks in Waterfront Park, it's actually a relaxing hang with friends and great music in a beautiful location for an outstanding cause. Hope to see ya there!

Show reminder for tonight - Tony Furtado @ The Secret Society

2011-06-29T14:14:00.001-07:00

Tonight at the Secret Society Ballroom, Tony Furtado will be joined by Casey Neill (and maybe a few Norway Rats) and Stephanie Schneiderman ... and probably a host of others for the last of Tony's June Wednesday residency gigs ... come on out! Hope to see ya there ...

Tony Furtado and friends!- "Weekly Wednesdays!"

I wish I had a job...

2011-06-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

This is a blatant appeal for money to help my friend, Matt Sheehy and his band Lost Lander get out their record. They have Face Book page, a Kickstarter campaign (www.PledgeLostLander.com) and need to raise about a $1000 by Thursday night. This is a great new band, produced by Brent Knopf, formerly of Menomena, and if I had that job, I would give them all I could!! This is one of those I knew them when moments...help make music history!!

Not gone yet!

2011-06-24T17:26:00.000-07:00

I'm still around until after the blues festival, but I'm really glad MaryChris has already jumped in with a post - she's definitely on it with some great recommendations ... read on - her post and mine... looks like both of us will be at the Alberta Rose later ... there's two thumbs up for ya!

Sub Blogger....

2011-06-24T14:20:00.000-07:00

Yes, I will try my best to fill in while Jim is off sunning himself in Florida...
I will be heading over to see Ms. Duffy at the Alberta Rose...right after (beware, non-music plug here) the show I am costuming, "Looking for Normal" opens at Theatre!Theatre! at 3430 SE Belmont. It runs until July 17; go to jane-a-theater-company.org for more info....a little brag since I am now officially an award winning costume designer (thank you PAMTA! - Portland Area Music Theater Awards)
I will be working the Music Millennium booth at the Blues Festival, so drop on by and say howdy. My personal highlights so far are Lucinda Williams, Maceo and Buddy Guy, but there are always surprises - like the year I discovered Willy Nelson's boy, Lukas!! I may not post in advance, but will reprise what I was able to hear hopefully when I get home. The schedule is in today's Oregonian and it's going right into my purse so I have it close by.
On July 8, J.Roddy Walston and The Business play Dante's - greasy, rockin' good time music!
And best of all - DROPKICK MURPHYS at the Roseland on June 28 - I love these shows - drunk, east of the Mississippi, Irish, working class boys and girls and not a hipster or hippy in sight!! It's loud, boisterous and not for the faint of heart - everything I want my rock n' roll to be..

A couple of shows and taking a little break

2011-06-24T09:10:00.000-07:00

I am in an extremely busy period between work (yes, believe it or not, I do have other things to do than write this), the upcoming Waterfront Blues Festival, out of town guests, a trip to Florida for my aunt's 90th birthday ... so I'm going to take a bit of a hiatus from regular posting to the blog. MaryChris will hopefully jump in with a couple of posts, and I won't totally go dark (will post about the Blues Fest and a few upcoming shows you shouldn't miss) - just giving myself permission not to feel compelled to post for a couple of weeks. With the revamped design, you can always click the Calendars tab above and go to the most comprehensive listings in town. I'll also share some upcoming music events on Facebook (it's easy and I don't have to write anything!).

So, here are a few to keep in mind for this weekend -

Tonight there's a great blues show at the Alberta Rose - An Evening With Duffy Bishop and Some of Her Badass Blues Buddies, featuring Lloyd Jones, Fiona Boyes, Ellen Whyte, Jim Wallace .... One of the finest blues singers in the NW, Duffy is back in town and this should be a great show .... 8 pm, $20

Also tonight is the Spare Room Solstice Party with Caleb Klauder, Pete Krebs and more ... music starts at 6 pm, $10

Tomorrow night at The Woods, Lewi Longmire and band do an album release party (yes, vinyl with a digital download) for his new Tales of the Left Coast Roasters ... Lewi is one of the most respected and in-demand players in Portland (and finds time to book the Laurelthirst). His happy hours at the LT on Thursdays are packed celebrations of roots rock that leave dancers sweaty and listeners smiling .... 9 pm, $8

On Sunday, it's the annual pre-blues festival celebration of Reggie Houston's birthday at Jim Flynn's rockin' In the House house party .... it will be groovin' NOLA Mardi Gras style, so wear your beads! ... Reggie will have guest vocalists LaRhonda Steele and Laura Ivancie, too ... BYOB and food item to share is always appreciated. And the Oregon Food Bank food barrel will be on the front porch for your continued generous donations of canned and/or non-perishable foods. Contact Jim (503-784-6824 or jimflynn@realtytrust.com) for address and any questions ... $10 donation, doors at 5, music at 6!

OK ... enjoy the weekend and get out to some music!

Annual All Knowing Summer Music Post!

2011-06-22T14:14:00.000-07:00

Actually I don't know that much ... but 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 I am recycling much of last year's post!), when it comes to live music outdoors in summer, we truly have an embarrassment of riches .... and I hope nothing stops you from getting out to a bunch of these through the summer.

There is free music and ticketed shows ... but let's begin with the free (most paid for by generous sponsorships of local businesses).

Portland Parks and Recreation's Summer Concerts in the Parks: Thirteen city parks, including Washington Park, will have evening concerts throughout the summer. These concerts kickoff on July 5th at Mt. Tabor 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 11. That series kicks off with the Too Loose Cajun Band, and will be a dance party every week - salsa, soul/funk, and blues will follow. Hope to see you there! (note: The Sellwood series might need to move up to Sellwood Park this year due to flooding at the Riverfront Park - keep an eye on the Parks and Rec site for changes.)

For all of you who are downtown in Portland for your work week, there a couple of great opportunities - one at lunchtime, one at 5 pm:

Music on Main is a great Wednesday series that begins next week (6/29) 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 5th.

And not to leave out those on the east side - there's noon Lunchbox Concerts in the Oregon Square Courtyard (Lloyd District) every Wednesday until 8/24.

A new one is Sundown@Ecotrust Concerts (721 NW 9th) - on five consecutive Thursdays beginning June 30th at 5:30 pm.

Then there are street fairs - for instance, Mississippi Street Fair (July 9) and the Hawthorne Street Fair (Aug 28) - and other events that will have free live music...good list of area street fairs here.

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

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 - parks concerts and Tualatin Commons.

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 Friday, July 1st, its the 23rd Annual Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival - once more with an outstanding lineup of national headliners, regional acts, and locals tearing it up for four 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 Thursday.

Check out the lineup at The Oregon Zoo. Nothing quite stands out for me like last year's Levon Helm show, but a pretty strong selection both on the Wednesday series and higher cost weekend shows. Kicks off this Thursday with a pretty fine one - Taj Mahal and Joan Osborne.

Then there's the McMenamin's Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn, including My Morning Jacket, Allison Krauss & Union Station, Fleet Foxes, Neko Case,Willie Nelson, John Prine, and The Decemberists.

There's also the Maryhill Winery's summer shows that, though in a beautiful setting, are kinda underwhelming this year.

The annual Bite of Oregon (Aug 12-14) in Waterfront Park has a very solid local music lineup that includes some of my favorite bands.

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. First is the annual Northwest String Summit at Hornings Hideout (July 21-24). Then the first weekend of August (5th-7th) brings the annual Pickathon out at Pendarvis Farm ... combining an eclectic mix of touring and local artists - roots music, folk, bluegrass, and indie pop (and Mavis Staples!) in a beautiful setting just outside of Portland.

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.

The Big Man exits ...

2011-06-19T09:39:00.000-07:00

For many of us, the signature sound of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band was the sax of Clarence Clemons. I was saddened to hear of his passing yesterday, a week after suffering a stroke. To Springsteen and the band he was so much more ... going to miss the irreplaceable heart, soul, and spirit of The Big Man.

Found a great solo appearance and interview with David Letterman from a while back ...

2011-06-17T22:02:00.000-07:00

Only a few for Saturday, but they're fine choices....

Catch the Portland Playboys at the Secret Society for happy hour (6 pm, no cover), and then stay for three excellent songwriters and instrumentalists - Mary Flower, Joe New, and Brian Oberlin - who will perform solo and together for a sublime evening of acoustic music ... 9 pm, $12

A few good touring shows in town. The Aladdin Theater hosts indie folk/pop standouts, The Mountain Goats ... 8 pm, $20

At the Roseland Theater it's reggae with Stephen Marley, who of the Marley clan probably follows closest in music style and attitude to father Bob ... 9 pm, $29

DownBeat Magazine "Rising Star" poll winner, New York based vocalist Sachal Vasandani makes his Portland debut at Tony Starlight's Supper Club. Check him out here. Presented by PDX Jazz, and reservations recommended (503) 517-8584 ... 8 pm, $15

If your looking to dance, then head on over to Duff's for some jumpin' blues with the DK Stewart Sextet ... 9:30 pm, $10

Acoustic blues guitarist James Clem will be at the Muddy Rudder ... 8 pm, no cover

The Woods has a no-cover show with Hurtbird and the Brothers Young ... 9 pm

so ... get on out!

Music picks for Friday, June 17

2011-06-17T11:18:00.000-07:00

There are some days that finding the energy and focus to put this together is a bit of work (hence, I've been quiet this week). I guess today is still one of those ... but here's a few to consider for tonight ... a couple of touring, more homegrown.

Pick show tonight is Laura Gibson & Holcombe Waller at the Aladdin. Definitely two of Portland's best indie/folk/pop artists. Tonight they'll combine talents for what should be a great evening of tunes new and old. Complete with mini-orchestra ... 8 pm, $15

But a close runner-up is another pair of excellent songwriters, Fernando and Nashville's Luther Russell at Dante's (as noted in a previous post by MaryChris) ... this is a CD release show for Luther ... 9 pm, $??

Another CD release show of note is at Mississippi Studios tonight with Prioity ... solid indie pop band with a fine new recording ... 9 pm, $10

If the laid-back Southern soul of Edwin McCain is your thing, get over to the Alberta Rose ... (interesting note, a couple of his songs get more play at weddings than the hokey-pokey) ... 8 pm, $25

British prog-rock with maniacal flute playing is the order of the evening at Edgefield with Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull performing the entire Aqualung record (not often heard at weddings) ... there's an interview with Ian at Oregon Music News ... 6:30 pm, $79 reserved/$40 general

One of the other young home-grown jazz musicians back for summer from prestigious music school (see Kate Davis) is saxophonist Hailey Niswanger. You can catch her tonight at Jimmy Mak's ... Hailey is very talented (definitely noted in the jazz world) and playing with her East Coast band .... 8 pm, $10

What looks like a very adventurous film/music series (Filmusik) is at the Hollywood Theater, features Blue Cranes. They've composed music to accompany the film Planet of Dinosaurs ... add live voice actors and sound effects to replace the film's dialog and sounds, and you have a most entertaining evening! ... 8 pm, $10 (also next Thursday and Friday)

A New Orleans-based band getting some buzz and worth checking out - Hooray For the Riff Raff is at the Tonic Lounge ... 9:30 pm, $10

Lloyd Jones is at Vino Vixens ... 8 pm, $5

The My Oh Mys and Kathryn Claire are at Biddy McGraws ... 9:30 pm, no cover

John Koonce is at Duff's Garage ... 9:30 pm, $??

The Mt. Tabor Theater has Soul Vaccination and Philly's Phunkestra ... 9 pm, $??

.... and a heads up for tomorrow afternoon at Music Millennium ... free performance at 3 pm by Jolie Holland.

I've probably missed a few things, but that what calendars are for! Get out to some live music!

Friday's choice...

2011-06-17T00:19:00.000-07:00

..so technically that would be tonight as I see it is 12:20 AM - Luther Russell will be visiting us from Nashville and joining his compadre, Fernando at Dante's tonight....great songwriters and should be kick ass fun.

A jumpin' June weekend of music

2011-06-10T10:51:00.000-07:00

Want to get this post done fast, but there's a plethora of outstanding choices this weekend ...

Friday

My pick shows (or at least where I'll be tonight) are Steve Earle at the Crystal Ballroom and Davis Rogan at the Kenton Club... here's my post from Wednesday about both shows.

At the Rose Festival it's an Oregon Music Hall of Fame evening with Keegan Smith, Dr. Theopolis, Crazy 8's and the Cherry Poppin' Daddies ... schedule here ... $5

The Lloyd Jones Struggle (and featuring Warren Rand on sax) will be at the Trails End Saloon. And it's a dollar off the cover if you wear a Hawaiian shirt to help usher in summer weather ... 9 pm, $??

The Stolen Sweets will bring the sweet vocals and swing sounds to Tony Starlight's Supper Club ... a fabulous venue for the band ... 8 pm, $15 (reservations required! - 503-517-8584

Mary Flower will be at O'Connor's in Multnomah Village ... 8 pm, $5

At The Mt. Tabor Theater, it's Joey Porter's Tribute to Stevie Wonder ... lots of great musicians and classic Wonder tunes ... here's a review of a previous Wonder tribute from Porter ... 9 pm, $15

It's "world twang" with TapWater at the Mission Theater. This is a CD release show for their disc Too Dark To Blink that was produced by Los Lobos sax player (and Portland resident) Steve Berlin. Steve will also be playing with the band ... check them out in this clip from KATU ... 8 pm, $10

The always entertaining Strange Tones are at Duff's Garage. It's "crime-a-billy" time with Andy and Guitar Julie! ... 9 pm, $??

Celilo will be at the Press Club ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Vino Vixen's has guitarist Alan Hagar (also at the Muddy Rudder on Saturday) ... 8 pm, $5

Saturday

Mike Coykendall and Alemeda will be outside on the Bar Bar patio at Mississippi Studios ... 4 pm, no cover

The big touring show tonight (from my perspective) is John Hiatt and Lyle Lovett at the Schnitz that I mentioned yesterday... but there's plenty of great local music on tap....

It's a CD release show at the Aladdin Theater with Redwood Son. Josh Malm and band have produced two different discs, but releasing them in a single package. Good story about Josh and the music at Oregon Music News. At lot of the tunes came out of Josh dealing with the death of good friend and Redwood Son's drummer Kipp Crawford in a tragic accident a year and a half ago .... 8 pm, $18 (and you receive a copy of the double CD)

Siren Nation presents the 6th Annual Dolly Parton Hoot Night at the Mission Theater with a great lineup of Portland artists ... really, this tribute to one of country music's finest songwriter and performer is a hoot! ... 9 pm, $12

The Brothers of the Baladi do a benefit dance at The Blue Monk for Oberon, a longtime leader of Portland's belly dancing community diagnosed with cancer ... 9 pm, $10

James Low will be dusting off a few seldom played country and honky-tonk tunes to play with the band up at the Ponderosa Lounge at Jubitz (10350 N. Vancouver Way) in a double-bill with songwriter Nick Peets ... 9 pm, $??

The Kate Davis Band is at Jimmy Maks ... the young bassist/vocalist is growing and stretching ... 8 pm, $10

Klezmocracy, playing some fine jazz with an Eastern European twist, will be doing a CD release at the Alberta Rose Theatre. Story about the band and show at Oregon Music News ... 8 pm, $12 or $18 w/CD

Wendy & the Lost Boys can be found at the Hawthorne Theater Pub ... 7:30 pm, no cover

The Pete Krebs Trio is at the Press Club ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Sunday
Good afternoon and evening of Portland indie bands at the Rose Festival ... MaryChris noted these earlier in the week.

Bobby Bare, Jr will be at Lola's Room at the Crystal ... 7 pm, no cover

There's a benefit for local musician Stu Kinzel (recovering from heart attack) at Duff's Garage with a great lineup of Portland's blues players ... 7 pm, $10 suggested donation

It's the Dover Weinberg Quartet with guest Grant Richards at Jim Flynn's In The House blues house party ... 6 pm ... contact Jim for details - 503-784-6824 / jimflynn AT realtytrust.com

...and a quick note that Mike Meyer returns to Portland radio with a one-hour Americana show on OPB this Sunday at 3 pm called Trail Mix ... hmmm.... wonder where they're moving American Routes?

okay ... that was kind of a marathon post ... but for this weekend, I think my job is done. See ya out and about!

Thursday (6/9) live music picks

2011-06-09T12:06:00.000-07:00

Actually headed into a really busy music weekend ... will try to get a bunch of recommendations out for the next few days ... of note for tonight ...

The California Guitar Trio will be performing at the Alberta Rose Theatre. Danish singer/songwriter Agnes Obel opens ... 8 pm, $20

The Builders and The Butchers do the second of two nights at the Doug Fir ... 9 pm, $12

Lauren Sheehan is back from touring behind her new CD, Rose City Ramble, and in her comfy home gig at the Muddy Rudder ... but it will be last for a while ... 8 pm, no cover

Steve Kerin will be in his usual Thursday night chair taking your requests behind the organ at the Chapel Pub ... 8 pm, no cover

Fan of classic country music and honky-tonk? One of the best at it in town is James Sasser ... he'll be at the Landmark Saloon (SE 48th & Division) ... 8 pm, no cover

Across the river? The Lloyd Jones Trio is at Fat Tuesdays in downtown Vancouver ... 8 pm, no cover

Yesterday I gave a heads-up on two shows for Friday night - Steve Earle and Davis Rogan, MaryChris posted about a fine set of local bands at the Rose Festival for Sunday ... so here's one to keep in mind for Saturday - two of our absolutely finest songwriters (and personal favorites) - John Hiatt and Lyle Lovett will bring their song and story swapping show to the Schnitz - last time through these pros did a wonderfully entertaining show - two guys, two guitars, witty banter, killer songs ... 7:30 pm, $40 - $70

Wednesday picks

2011-06-08T13:38:00.000-07:00

Got some shows tonight for ya ...

Second of five Wednesdays in June for Tony Furtado at the Secret Society. Guest tonight include Hanz Araki with Cary Novotny, and Ezra Hollbrook and his band - the My Oh Mys ... 8 pm, $8

New spot for jazz is Touche (good story about it in Oregon Music News) ... tonight the sublime vocals of Nancy King ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Another fine jazz show is at Tony Starlight's - the program is called Chet Baker and Jerry Mulligan Revisited and will present classic tunes recorded by the Baker/Mulligan quintet ... 7:30 pm, $7

Swing Papillon is at the Press Club ... 8:30 pm, no cover

Mike Midlo (Pancake Breakfast) is in the middle of a week residency at Al's Den (in the Crystal Hotel) with special guests each night ... music begins at 7 pm, no cover

The Piano Throwers do the heavy lifting at the Laurelthirst ... 9:30 pm, no cover

and, The Builders and The Butchers begin two nights at the Doug Fir ... 9 pm, $12

Heads up for two shows on Friday - the Treme connection

2011-06-08T12:12:00.000-07:00

There's a show on HBO that I've been completely captivated by ... Treme. I know some of you are fans of the show, others probably have no idea to what I refer. But if you have any love, connection, interest in New Orleans - its culture, history, music, and life there since Katrina - this show dives deeply and accurately into the soul of the Crescent City. I won't go on about it here (but I might soon), but there are two artists who have a very direct connection to the show that are in town for performances on Friday evening.

A long-time favorite of mine, Steve Earle will be at the Crystal Ballroom. Steve is a very busy guy these days - a very fine new CD, I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive, a well received first novel (of the same name), book and music tours, a weekly radio show on Sirius/EM, and a recurring role on Treme where he's a street singer/songwriter (Harley) that is a mentor to one of the main characters (Annie). Steve is a fantastic songwriter and performer, has a great backing band (the Dukes & Dutchesses) that includes wife Allison Moorer (fine singer/songwriter herself) .... 8 pm, $30 advance/$35 door

Another character on Treme, DJ Davis McAlery (played by Steve Zahn), is loosely based on New Orleans musician Davis Rogan (a number of the Treme characters have some connection to real people who reside there ... a few even play themselves). Davis (the "real" Davis - also the name of his new CD) is in town and performing this weekend at the Kenton Club and at Reed College (where he's an alumnus). Davis' tunes combine party music with some strong social commentary in a style that combines NOLA funk, jazz, second line, hip-hop (hey, similar to Davis McAlery). In fact, Davis (real) writes a lot of the music for Davis (the character) in the show ... and he plays the keyboard player in Davis' band (was that confusing?). Rogan also helped write an episode in the first season. There was good piece this week on Davis by Ryan White over at Oregonian .... Show is at 9 pm, there's no cover ... and after Rogan, DJ Hwy 7 will spin some tasty tunes.

Here's Steve performing This City, a beautiful tune he wrote for Treme that ran with the final credits from the Season 1.

Quickies from XMass

2011-06-08T11:58:00.000-07:00

Sunday is local band day at the RoZone at the Fun Center (or whatever they are calling it now...) My Richmond Fontaine pals (with Oregon Book Award winner, Willy Vlautin) at 3 PM, And And And (Willie Week's pick for best new local band...we'll see...) and Corin Tucker's new band for the Sleater-Kinney heads out there...
Also this weekend is Music Millennium's sidewalk sale - 10 AM to 6:30 PM Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I find great treasures there..but then again, I'm working it so have lots of time to browse...

First Weekend in June - Saturday music picks

2011-06-04T10:45:00.000-07:00

If you can get down to Monmouth, my pick show of the weekend is the American Metropole Orchestra with Allen Toussaint ... info in yesterday's post.

But there's certainly a passel of choices in town tonight.

There's actually some good choices at the Rose Festival's "Rozone" ... check out the music schedules for this weekend and next here. For instance, Bob Shoemaker and the New Iberians this evening, Atomic Gumbo tomorrow afternoon. It's free after the one-time $5 admission (good for entire festival). Speaking of the Rose Festival, it's time for the Starlight Parade tonight ...

There's a great house concert series in West Linn that's hosting the wonderful singer/songwriter Claudia Schmidt tonight (7 pm, $15) ... for details contact terry@donnalynnmusic.com

The Portland Playboys do their Saturday happy hour at the Secret Society ... 6 pm, no cover

Mississippi Pizza has the latin-tinged sounds of Level 2 ... 6 pm, $5

If the beautiful weather gets you out to Edgefield, Laura Ivancie will be singing in the winery ... 7 pm, no cover

Point Juncture, WA does a free performance at Music Millennium at 6:30 ...

One of last year's critically acclaimed films, Winter's Bone, had an intriguing soundtrack of Missouri songwriters and players. The soundtrack spawned a tour with many of those musicians and they are at the Aladdin tonight .... 8 pm, $18

The CBA's Journey to Memphis competition continues at Blitz Ladd ... 8:30 pm, $10

Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside do their second CD release night at the Doug Fir ... opening tonight is Pancake Breakfast and Old Light ... 9 pm, $12

At Mississippi Studios it's a fine show with Alela Diane and The Parson Red Heads (becoming one of my fave local bands) ... 9 pm, $10

Pianist Andrew Oliver and one of his many band projects, The Ocular Concern, will be at The Blue Monk ... 9 pm, $5

Okay ... get out and enjoy the sunshine and then some great music tonight!

XMass's Summertime fun alerts..

2011-06-04T09:53:00.000-07:00

...Presuming summer will last longer than today...There are two shows coming to town this summer high on my radar. The first is John Doe and Jill Sobule at The Alberta Rose Theatre on July 14 (you didn't have any big plans for Bastille Day, anyway... ) They are touring in support of their CD, "A Day at the Pass", recorded at The Pass recording studio before its demolition. John's an old friend and member of that seminal punk band X from LA and the Knitters, which brings us to the second show, Dave Alvin & The Guilty Ones (including home boy, Chris Miller) at the Aladdin on Aug. 25. Dave's new album 11/11 is out soon and will be the constant reminder so we don't forget his birthday....verrry clever....

First Weekend in June - let's start with Friday

2011-06-03T12:19:00.000-07:00

Lots going on ... way too many great choices!

Already sold out shows tonight ... though if you show up with some patience, a ticket might be found ... Bruce Cockburn at the Aladdin, and LiveWire Radio! at the Alberta Rose. Hmmm ... don't think the Moody Blues at the Keller Auditorium has sold out yet. And the sold out Adele/Wanda Jackson at the Crystal Ballroom has been postponed due to illness (well, I guess that's 1200 people needing somewhere to go).

One that will probably sell out before showtime is the first of two nights at the Doug Fir with Sallie Ford & the Sounds Outside. Sallie and the band are celebrating the release of their first full-length CD, Dirty Radio, and embarking on some ambitious touring to support it. They were the city's buzz band of 2010 and seem ready to take it to the next level. Good story at Oregon Music News, where you can also preview the new CD in its entirety. ... 9 pm, $12

First Friday of the month means it's happy hour at the Laurelthirst with the James Low Western Front ... 6 pm, no cover .... Feeling more tropical? It's the Brazillionaires at the Secret Society ... 6 pm, no cover

Excellent lineup of some of Portland's best bands at the Wonder Ballroom celebrating the 4th Anniversary of local media/arts collective, record company (and "general purveyor of all things artistic"), Tender Loving Empire. Jared Mees & the Grown Children, Y La Bamba, Typhoon, Radiation City, Loch Lomond, Boy Eats Drum Machine ... 8 pm, $12

First of two nights of the Cascade Blues Association's Journey to Memphis competition (leads to the local finals at the Blues Festival) will be tonight at Blitz Ladd (SE 11th & Sherman) ... some of the areas best blues bands competing to go to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge next year ... 8:30 pm, $10

Rich Layton & The Troublemakers do their semi-unplugged thang in the couch comfy back room at Vino Vixens ... 8 pm, $5

Miriams Well is at the St. Johns McMenamins Theater & Pub ... with a full horn section. Lee Garrett opens ... 8 pm, $5

It's Zydeco and blues with The New Iberians at O'Connor's ... 8 pm, $5

Jazz tonight? ... excellent bassist Ed Bennett and his quintet will be at Wilf's (8 pm, $??) ... or check out trumpeter Farrell Newton's CD release at Jimmy Mak's (8 pm, $12) ... or head to Vie de Boheme Winery for the 3 Leg Torso side project, the Meester & Meester Trio ... 8 pm, $5

Enjoy the beautiful weather and get out to some live music!

Allen Toussaint and American Metropole Orchestra in Monmouth on Saturday night

2011-06-03T11:33:00.000-07:00

This from WOU's site:

Western Oregon University's (WOU) Smith Fine Arts series welcomes Allen Toussaint with the American Metropole Orchestra for the last performance of the 2010-11 season, directed by Keller Coker. This is the first time Toussaint has had songs from his storied career arranged for an orchestra. The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 4, 2011 at Rice Auditorium. This is the last event of Toussaint's before his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Tickets are $29 in advance, $31 at the door, and $11 for students. To purchase tickets, contact the Smith Fine Arts Series at 503-838-8333 or fineart@wou.edu.

Understand there are some tickets left for this ... Allen Toussaint in Oregon on Saturday!

Zoo Concerts

2011-06-02T13:03:00.000-07:00

Three for tonight

2011-06-01T12:35:00.000-07:00

Just a quick heads-up on three shows tonight ...

Tony Furtado will begin a five-week residency (every Wed in June) at the Secret Society. His residency gigs last year at The Woods and Secret Society were a blast - some of the best live music I heard in town. There will be special guests each week - announced and unannounced. Absolutely worth getting out to ... 8 pm, $8

The late show at the Laurelthirst will have a ~~triple~~ double bill of Audie Darling, ~~Run On Sentence~~, and Michael Dean Damron ... 9 pm, no cover

...and the Old 97s are in town at the Doug Fir. Sarah Jaffe opens ... 9 pm, $22

Need live band (as opposed to dead one...)

2011-05-30T11:36:00.000-07:00

The sub blogger here - I am doing costumes for a production of Sam Shepard's "Tooth of Crime" and the producers are looking for a 4 piece or so band to play T-Bone Burnett's score live for the performances. Performances are the last two weekends of July (Thurs. through Sunday) and of course some rehearsal time. There is pay. If anyone bluesy/rootsy/rockers are interested, contact the director, Dug Martell at 503-980-5474

Memorial Day weekend live music picks ...

2011-05-28T12:26:00.000-07:00

Besides the Dan Hicks show tonight at the Aladdin that I mentioned in yesterday's post, there's more fine choices for tonight ...

Catch the Portland Playboys for happy hour at the Secret Society Ballroom ... 6 pm, no cover

Morgan Geer will join Truckstop Darlin' tonight at Al's Den ... 7 pm, no cover (music until 11)

Singer/bassist Kate Davis is at Wilf's tonight. There are 2 shows at 7:30 and 9:30 $8 plus a $10 food/drink minimum. Contact Wilf's ASAP to make a reservation for either show - 503.223.0070

High energy jazz fusion at Jimmy Mak's with Mike Prigodich and Mpeg and the Damian Erskine Project ... 8 pm, $10

Duffy Bishop is at Halibuts ... 8 pm, no cover

Sera Cahoone, Greylag, and Kasey Anderson will be at Mississippi Studios ... 9 pm, $10

Big Monti and Henry Cooper are at Duff's Garage ... 9:30 pm, $??