After Feasting, You’Ll Be Ready To Slim Down With Taildraggers

Well, Merry Christmas everyone. Here’s hoping Santa treated you like good little boys and girls. And just remember, if you didn’t get a Furby this year, there’s always next Christmas.

Today’s Nightwatch is going to be short and sweet, what with this being a holiday for snuggling up at home with the family and loved ones.

However, if the relatives are driving you loonier than an eggnog-drunk elf and you just gotta get out of the house, we have a few suggestions for you.

Just tell the family you’re returning the socks that Great Aunt Rita got you and head out to one of these fine establishments.

Fort Spokane Brewery

Too Slim and the Taildraggers are do-gooding again.

Spokane’s rocking blues trio will step on stage at the Fort Spokane Brewery Saturday to help out the families of striking Kaiser workers.

The concert Saturday night - like the one last month - is part-blues show and part-food drive. Those who attend the show are asked to bring canned food with them. The cover charge is $7 - or $6 with two cans of food.

The members of Too Slim thank those who helped raise a barrel full of food during their last concert at the Fort Spokane Brewery. But more is needed. More than 2,000 Kaiser workers have been on strike - and without paychecks - since Sept. 30.

The show starts at 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Here’s your chance to play Santa one more time.

Ichabod’s North

Two bands who’ve moved on to greener pastures (i.e. Portland and Seattle) return to their East Side home this week for shows in Spokane.

On Saturday night, the punk rock threesome known as Motherload returns to Spokane for its annual end-of-the-year rockfest at Ichabod’s North. Making the trek from Portland are Scott Kellogg, Geof Templeton and Brian Parnell. Lopez, our favorite Wenatchee-to-Portland punk transplants, will accompany Motherload. They’ll open the show along with Moses Lake’s Moral Crux.

This show is a sure-fire way to blow off some of that pent-up holiday angst. Cover charge is $5. The rock and roll starts at 9:30 p.m.

On Wednesday get down to a completely different sound with former Spokane jazz-rock group BeeCraft. Now hailing from Seattle, the band returns home with original members Scott and Don Goodwin (on drums and keys respectively), guitarist Jamie Zyskowski and percussionist Bob Rees. They’ll be joined by bassist Jon Hamar who replaced Colby Davis. BeeCraft will lay down the grooves throughout the night at Ichabod’s. Cover charge is $5. Music starts at 9:30 p.m.

Guido’s

How about some music with that pizza pie. Guido’s Italian cafe has begun offering live music with its food every Friday and Saturday night.

While you’re dining on gourmet-style pizzas - with names like the Wise Guy, Broken Chicken Knees and Forgetaboutit - you can listen to musicians play a mix of original music and favorite cover songs.

And here’s some good news for those with sensitive lungs - Guido’s is a smoke-free environment.

Although there will be no music tonight (it being Christmas and all), catch guitarist Cary Beare Saturday night. His music has been described as a cross between James Taylor and Pink Floyd.

There is no cover charge. The music starts each Friday (except tonight) and Saturday at 8:30 p.m. and lasts until 11 p.m. Guido’s is located at 202 W. Second on the main floor of The Armory.

Not to be a Scrooge …

Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news on this of all days but here it is: Harry O’s Groove Gallery has closed its door.

This restaurant and lounge featured good food, live music, and artwork by many of our local artists. In short, it brought a touch of class to Spokane and the closure is a big loss.

“The place had a lot of potential,” said Douglas H. Olson, who owns the business along with his father Douglas C. Olson. “I just couldn’t continue to float the thing with the cash flow we had.”

The future of the business is uncertain. Olson Jr. said the business could be sold or potentially reopened with new ownership. He is talking to parties interested in Harry O’s.

But, said Olson, “The town has to get out and support the places if they’re going to stay around.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

New Year’s Eve reminder

OK, I’m giving you one more chance, so listen up all you bar and club owners. If you’re having a New Year’s Eve party, I want to know about it. The Spokesman-Review will be running a guide to New Year’s Eve celebrations in Thursday’s IN Life section. And in order for your event to be considered for inclusion, I need you to fax or mail the information to me (that’s Winda Benedetti) at the numbers listed below. And I need it no later than Monday morning.

Please don’t forget to list the type of entertainment provided, starting time, cover charge and any other pertinent information about your New Year’s Eve soiree.