Pluck 'em and pick 'em

What picks have I plucked from the many choices in front of us? Read on, read on . . . .

Tonight (Thursday)
Always a good no-cover locals music night with Lewi Longmire at the Laurelthirst (6 PM), Lauren Sheehan at the Muddy Rudder, Terry Robb at Halibuts, and Lloyd Jones & Band at the Tillicum. Just remember to feed the tip jar!

Bigger shows tonight are Junior Brown at the Aladdin and Brandi Carlile (sold out) at the Crystal Ballroom.

Friday
A fine show that includes some of our best local musicians is at the Aladdin with the Portland Cello Project. A night to sate all your cello desires . . . . 15 cellists, lots of guests, music from J.S. Bach, Astor Piazzolla, Giacomo Puccini, Heitor Villa-Lobos . . . sounds good to me.

Before getting your cello fix, check out some fine finger-picking from guitarist Jamie Stillway at a Laurelthirst happy hour show (6 PM, no cover).

And for later, head over to Duff's Garage for traditional rockabilly by The Roy Kay Trio. This outfit from Seattle will go on around 10:30. Opening the show will be DK4 featuring D.K. Stewart and Peter Dammann. Closing the show will be The Verbtones doing instrumental surf music right out of 1965. $10

Saturday
Last chance for a James Low Band happy hour at the Laurelthirst (6 PM) . . .

Monday
Yo La Tengo (unplugged and with guests) at the Aladdin on Monday, October 29th (8 PM, $20) . . . one of the best bands few really know, but those that do know that this one shouldn't be missed.

Next Thursday
Kelly Willis will be at the Mission Theater (9 PM, $16) - it's been too long since she's brought her wonderful voice to Portland (busy having and raising kids in Austin, so we can forgive her for not having time to tour). She has a new CD, Translated From Love, too . . . Good to see her back recording and touring.

And, in conjunction with the Folk Alliance Annual Far-West Conference taking place across the river in Vancouver, there's an evening folk festival hosted by the Portland FolkMusic Society taking place at the Moriarty Fine Arts Center at Portland Community College (705 N. Killingsworth) . . . 7 PM, $15. Check it out.

Not too many picks this week, but it is the week of the World Series and I'm going to try to catch as much as possible (thank goodness for digital video recorders). So go RockSox . . . guess I'm not rooting for either, just for good baseball!