Quick picks for the weekend

I'm gonna take rest of the weekend off from writing any recommendations (at least that's my intention). But before that happens, I've got a few that I cannot let slip by.

Thursday
Yeah, I know . . . sold out Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal at Edgefield will be an excellent show . . . but if you're not going, consider heading to Mississippi Studios for the very impressive Carrie Rodriguez. As well as Carrie absolutely burns on the fiddle, she's an even better vocalist and a damn good songwriter. Honed her chops in Austin and as part of a duo with legendary songwriter Chip Taylor. Now with two solo CDs under her belt and touring as opener and playing with Alejandro Escovdeo and Lucinda Williams, she been garnering significant critical praise and attention. You should check her out and hear why. Cordero and Leonard Mynx fill out a great night at MS . . . . 8 pm, $12

Friday
The show to go to just might be Black Joe Lewis at Mississippi Studios. Here's what MS has to say about the show:
PASTE says that "his soul riffs are hotter than Bo Diddley's kitchen stove". The NEW YORK POST calls him a "Junior James Brown." BLACK JOE LEWIS AND THE HONEYBEARS bring so much soul that you'll think that you're back in Memphis, circa 1960. This eight-piece soul ensemble out of Austin, Texas is powered by horns, bass funk, guitars, a Wurlitzer organ, and Black Joe himself, a soul fired talent who belts out inspired tunes about forgetting his girl's name and being flat broke.
Also on the bill are Wendy Darling and Coco Cobra and the Killers. Understand that tickets for this one are going fast. . . . 9 pm, $12

Alternative choice: Sera Cahoone and Little Sue at the Mission Theater . . . 9 pm, $10

Saturday
You'll find me without hesitation at the Aladdin for Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women. Dave has been one of my favorite performers and songwriters for a very long time. Last fall, in the wake of the death of his best friend and bandmate, Chris Gaffney, he decided to do something different to fulfill a commitment to play the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in San Francisco. He recruited an all star group of women that he'd known or played with over the years . . . and musical fireworks ensued. A virtually unrehearsed performance knocked folks out and led to Dave and the band to recording a CD and touring this year. It is a superb group that includes Cindy Cashdollar, Kristy McWilson, Nina Gerber, Amy Farris, Sarah Brown and Lisa Pankratz . . . and word is the women will be joined by honorary "guilty woman" (and Portland's own) Chris Miller on guitar. The fine Dead Rock West, opens (and will be doing their own show on Sunday at the Kenton Club which you should check out too!) . . . 8 pm, $20

Alternative choice: 3 Leg Torso at The Woods . . . 9 pm, $13

Okay . . . that's probably it until next week . . . . hope you get to have a long and fun Labor Day Weekend!