Joe Ehrbar

1. Michael Syllven, left, and Tim Gregory, both drummers, publish Wyre. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review 2. Rob O'Hara publishes In Tune, a monthly music magazine.

(Photo of B.B. King)

FOR THE RECORD (January 25, 1997): Correction: The concert to benefit Robert Two Hawks is tonight at The Met. The Nightwatch column in Friday's Weekend entertainment section said otherwise. The Mayfield 4 plays Outback Jack's tonight.

No caption - Photo of Dan Balmer

Erin Corday

Holy Names Music Center at the Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute will offer "Music Together," a class for young children, beginning Jan. 27. The 10-week program is designed for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, along with their parents or care-givers. Each class is 45 minutes long.

It turns out Spokane does go out on weeknights. Enough people to pack the house came out to Outback Jack's for the Chalk Farm, Wild Colonials and Greg show on Monday night. Not surprising, considering all the radio hype it got. For once, a show actually deserved a little hyperbole, because it was among the better bills to spring up in a local club in some time.

Many of the country's best-known monster trucks will be at the Spokane Arena.

Acclaimed a cappella combo Street Sounds will perform at the Panida Theater in Sandpoint tonight at 8 p.m., kicking off Sandpoint's Winter Carnival. Like traditional a cappella groups, the members of Street Sounds employ no instruments other than the sounds of their own voices.

1. Tim Langford (top), John Cage (middle) and Tom Brimm stack up to be Too Slim and the Taildraggers. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Curtis Salgado

So you think winter is the dullest season of the year, huh? It certainly can be if you're not much of an outdoors person who hibernates indoors all season long. However, winter is a perfect time to pick up a hobby or take a class. You can do both at Spokane Art School, which offers 65 classes and 15 workshops during its winter session this year. Classes are offered for both children and adults in a wide variety of media, including painting, sculpting and drawing.

The Wild Colonials play Outback Jack's on Monday.

W.C. Clark

Spokane artist Wendy Franklund Miller employs paper to convey her emotions and ideas. Not just any paper - handmade paper.

Does the local scene have a phobia for weeknights? Last week, I ended my column with an item spotlighting the Spokane's best no-show shows. In it I mentioned shows by bands like Buffalo's Lollipop, Berkeley's Saturn's Flea Collar and and Tokyo's Melt Banana. These were among the best shows that came to the Lilac City in '96, yet nobody felt they were important enough to spend a $3 cover.

For a second-straight year, defunct Spokane punk combo Mother Load is reuniting for one show, at Ichabod's North on Saturday. Mother Load reconvened for a sold-out show last year on New Year's Eve.

As unpredictable as a calendar year may be, there are certain days during the year the we know exactly what will transpire. On Valentine's Day, people buy flowers. On Halloween, they don costumes. On Christmas, they exchange gifts. And on New Year's Eve, they party down.

If your search for the locally produced album "Christmas with Biggs and Dutton" has proven fruitless, don't give up just yet. The holiday album, recorded by oboist David Dutton and harpsichordist/fortepianist Beverly Biggs has sold out virtually everywhere. However, the duo promises to re-stock stores by today. The album includes familiar Christmas carols as well as baroque pieces. Biggs and Dutton are the artistic directors for Spokane baroque ensemble Allegro and have produced several recordings. "Christmas with Biggs and Dutton" is available at Hastings, Street Music, St. John's Cathedral Gift Shop, Auntie's Bookstore and Jones Pharmacy.

Spokane street musician Matt Kelly plays Thursday at the corner of Main and Howard. Despite the cold weather, he says it's a good time of year because Christmas brings out the generosity of downtown passers-by. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

(Photo of band)

Distorted Silence plays Outback Jack's on Saturday.

It's no big revelation that Christmas is a commercially indulgent holiday. Too often we become absorbed by shopping for gifts, decorating the house and entertaining friends and family. We lose sight of Christmas as a religious holiday.

1. Cake 2. Tiny Tim 3. The Roots 4. Nashville's BR5-49

Allegro is drawing an audience in the Northwest.