Friday musical choices

So this begins with a short stroll through the memory banks. It's New York in the summer of 1971 after my freshman year at college and I'm on a double date with my roommate - me with his sister, he with a woman who would become one of my best friends further down the road. Where are we? In Carnegie Hall seeing Carol King. Who does she bring to the stage for a few tunes? Of course, James Taylor. Why bring this up? Don't know if you've been paying attention, but King and Taylor are in town tonight to honor and recreate those early days when the two of them were ascendant acts that helped define popular music - the tuneful, easy on the ears singer/songwriter folk/rock that created much of the soundtrack for those of us growing up at the time. So tonight the Rose Garden will be filled with folks my age (plus or minus a few years ... and many who rarely get out to live music anymore) in the presence of old friends for some memories and comfort. Will I be there? No. If I was, would I enjoy it? Probably (ok, yeah). But I've come a ways since that long-past summer, and their music hasn't been my soundtrack for quite a while. But I hope they all have a great time and leave the Rose Garden smiling and warm and not too wistful. ... 8 pm, $45 and up

I know I'll start my evening with James Low's monthly Friday happy hour at the Laurelthirst - and tonight will be the first performance of his band with a revamped lineup ... 6 pm, no cover

At the Bagdad Theater tonight it's time for the 5th annual Cinco de Lebowski!... Music starts outside the theater at 8:30 with the Lord's Own Choir, followed by Rich Layton & The Troublemakers inside starting at 9:30 ... The Big Lebowski starts screening at 11:00 ... $3

Some fine jazz from the Ben Darwish Group and the Andrew Oliver Kora Band at Jimmy Mak's ... 8 pm, $12

It's Willamette Week's Best New Band showcase at Berbati's ... come hear why Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside took #1 honors this year ...  9 pm, no cover

Girlyman is in town tonight at The Woods ... 9 pm, $15

DK Stewart and the Soul Survivor Horns will have the dance floor hoppin' at Duff's .... 9:30 pm, $??

...and the Lewi Longmire Band is at Biddy McGraw's ... 9:30 pm, no cover

See ya out and about!