Out and about on Saturday

I've noticed when the weather is cool and drizzly (when it's supposed to be more like, oh, say warm and sunny), we respond by reverting to our hunkered down winter mode. Okay people, resist the cocooning urge ...  the bands in town will warm you up, dry you off, and leave you smiling ... yep, they will. Trust me. So ... where ya headed on Saturday night? Lottsa choices ... but here's my picks ....

Fine bluesy guitarist and songwriter Thad Beckman is back in town from his touring work with Tom Russell and doing a solo show in Multnomah Village at Sip D'Vine. ... 7 pm, $2

Little Sue and Lynn Conover hold down happy hour at the Laurelthirst (6 pm, no cover) ... which will be followed by a musical tribute to local singer/songwriter Fernando.  A host of Portland's songsters and bands include Casey Neill, Michael Jodell, Lewi Longmire, Morgan Geer, Little Sue, Marilee Hord, Lara Michell, Mike Coykendall, Jeremy Wilson, Tahoe Jackson, From Words To Blows, Willy Vlautin, Mike Hughes, Paul Brainard, and Allen Hunter will be covering his fine body of work and the show will be a benefit for local musician Jeremy Wilson who needs heart surgery.  ... 9 pm, $10

The Strange Tones will be rockin' Duff's in there wonderfully entertaining fashion  .... 9:30 pm, $??

Portland's first family of "real" country music, the Millers, hold down the evening at Biddy McGraw's with two bands - Lisa & Her Kin, and then brothers Ian and Chris Miller's project (along with James Sasser) Pondosa. Dance or cry in your beer ... either way, it works for me ... 9:30 pm, $??

Pianist and racontour David Vest will bring the band to Jimmy Mak's ... some fine blues, boogie woogie, jazz, swing and a bit of country to boot .... you're going to want a dance floor .... 8 pm, $10

Speaking of dance floors, one of the best afro-beat bands in the NW, Jujuba is at the Goodfoot ... if you're not dancing, you're probably not breathing ....  9 pm, $??

Looking for something a bit mellower ... there's some fine jazz and standards from vocalist Valerie Day at Wilf's. She'll be joined by Mike Horsfall on piano and  Dave Captein on bass ... 8 pm, $??

There's lots more, too ... check the calendars, but you can't go wrong with any of these. So, get outta da house!