Double The Pleasure With Junior Brown
One fingerboard just ain’t enough for country guitar wonder Junior Brown. Oh no, this boy’s gotta have two of ‘em. Two of them at the same time on the same guitar.
But then again, Junior Brown’s always been the kinda guy who did things his own way - the kinda guy who’d rather go to the trouble of making his very own two-headed guitar rather than play what everyone else is playing.
The Austin-based singer/songwriter performs at Kelly’s Grand Ole Opry in State Line Saturday night. As always, he’ll be joined by his rhythm guitarist/wife/backup singer Miss Tanya Rae.
Brown invented the “guit-steel” (half electric guitar, half pedal steel guitar) after he had a dream about it. The instrument allows him to move without a hitch between the two guitar styles and hence allows him to traipse among a myriad of music styles.
From honky-tonk to surf, tripped-out rock ‘n’ roll to swing, Brown is a country artist who likes to freewheel through the musical landscape.
His songs are witty and roguish ditties often touching on classic country themes of sex and drinkin’ but always with a wink and a sly smile.
The Grammy-nominated “My Wife Thinks You’re Dead” is classic droll Brown:
“Please go find another ex-sweetheart to hang around instead/’Cause you’re wanted by the police and my wife thinks you’re dead.”
Brown is currently on tour in support of his latest album, “Long Walk Back.” Here his music is as eclectic as ever. Former Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell joins Brown for the rocking “Keepin’ Up With You” and the jazzy “Stupid Blues.”
The show at Kelly’s on Saturday starts at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door, available through all G&B Select-A-Seat outlets or by calling (800) 325-SEAT.
Shake yer booty
* Get ready for your weekly dose of whiteboy-funk-rap. Four Vancouverites are crossing the Canadian/American border this weekend with guitars, drums and keyboards in tow. They’re called Jazzberry Ram and they sound kinda like the Ben Folds Five ran into the Beastie Boys. And I mean that in a good way.
Their newest album, “That Sound We Make,” makes two things clear - these boys know how to play their instruments and these boys play with the kind of high energy that bodes well for a night of dance floor rump shaking. And with song titles like “All I Think About Is Sex” and “Free Beer” - well, clearly, Jazzberry Ram has fun on the brain.
Jazzberry Ram plays at the Fort Spokane Brewery Saturday night. The show starts at 9 p.m. Admission is $4.
* Speaking of the Fort Spokane Brewery, don’t miss Spokane faves Delbert at the club tonight. It’s been three months since these guys have played on a local stage. And they’ve been plenty busy while they’ve been gone.
Not only has this five-piece been touring the region, they’ve just finished recording the first half of their second CD in Seattle. Of course, working at a nice studio in Seattle (where groups like Built to Spill and the Foo Fighters have recorded) can cost quite a large chunk of change.
“We’re trying to raise the rest of the money to finish the album,” says drummer Rick McQuesten.
You can help the Delbert cause by checking out the band’s show at the brewery tonight. The music starts at 9 p.m. Cover charge is $5.
McQuesten says the band will be playing some of its new songs. “It’s definitely still rock, but more on the jazzy side,” he says, assuring: “It’s still upbeat, fun dance music.”
Rock
* Seattle punk band Cookie headlines at Ichabod’s North Saturday. They’re joined by our own group of eclectic rockers, Howboy Cat. The Creepers and Jimmy Flame & The Sexy Boys open. The show starts at 9 p.m. Cover is $5.
* FireHouse brings back fond memories of the hair metal days with a show Wednesday at the new Coeur d’Alene club Spanky Magooz. FireHouse’s brand of melodic hard rock brought you hits such as “Don’t Treat Me Bad” and “Love of A Lifetime.” The band is currently on tour in support of a new album called “Category 5.” North Idaho bands Fast Orange and Oversize Load open the show. Cover charge is $9.45 and the music starts at 9 p.m. Spanky Magooz (formerly Aces Wild) features live music every Tuesday and Wednesday night.
All ages
The list of band names reads like some biblically foretold plague - The Locust, The Swarm, Black Cat 13 and Bisybackson. Ah, well. The show at the Westminster Church on Monday promises to be a blessing for punk and hardcore fans of the under-21 variety. Open to all ages, this rockfest starts at 7 p.m. Admission is $4.