Catch John Doe’S Moments On Stage

If John Doe had his way, you’d be seeing him on the big screen instead of on the small stage.

That’s right, one of the seminal figures in punk history, co-founder of the band X with Exene Cervenka, and creator of a thriving solo career, would rather be a movie star.

“If I had the chance, I would,” Doe said by phone recently from a Denver hotel.

Doe has already appeared on the WB show “Roswell,” playing the part of the lead character’s father. And he has acted in several films, including Oliver Stone’s “Salvador,” “Road House,” and the Jerry Lee Lewis biopic “Great Balls of Fire.” He’ll begin work on an indie film, tentatively titled “The Red Right Hand,” after his latest solo tour.

“It’s a great form of expression, those moments you actually feel like you’re the character,” Doe says. “The greatest thing you learn from acting that I can apply to music is being in the moment and not trying to create a moment that has already passed.”

Doe has been creating memorable moments for more than two decades now, starting with the L.A. punk band X, which prospered during the early ‘80s. That group spawned The Knitters, X’s country alter-ego.

And when Doe started his solo career with 1990’s “Meet John Doe,” country was the style he chose. His most-recent solo release, “Freedom Is …” strays far from his punk roots with a thoughtful, stripped-down, folk-rock sound.

X still plays about 15 shows a year together. (Doe was married to Cervenka for about four years, but has since remarried. The two remain good friends, he says.)

Fans shouldn’t expect a full-fledged X reunion, but Doe says there’s a good chance The Knitters might reunite.

As for the aggressive, punk bands of today, Doe isn’t too impressed.

“I’ve never been a big fan of heavy metal. There’s not enough melody to keep me interested,” he says. “The style is kind of regressive … If they ever considered what a pimp was and being the macdaddy and all that … they don’t have any idea. It’s like teenagers playing a game.”

For more information on Doe, check out www.thejohndoething.com.

Catch Doe and his band, with D.J. Bonebrake of X on drums and Drew Ross on bass, at 9 tonight at Ichabod’s North, 1827 N. Division. Cover is $8.

Hurry before Doe makes the leap to the silver screen.

Get a groove on

Spokane R&B group A51 has been around for a couple of years, building a fan base with thrice-weekly shows at Thirsty’s, 21 E. Lincoln Road. But they hadn’t put out a CD, until now.

The self-titled release came out last Friday, and the band is touring local Hastings stores to give shoppers a free sample. (I caught them in the Valley last week, and they had me dancing in the magazine aisle).

“It’s easy to listen to,” A51 guitarist Johnny McClain says. “It’s just the kind of music we feel. We’re just trying to play funky music that’s a lot of fun.”

Catch them at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the North Division Hastings, 7304 N. Division. The following Wednesday at 8 p.m., A51 will be at the Coeur d’Alene Hastings, 101 Best Ave. And the week after that at 8 p.m. (Sept. 20, if you’re confused), the band will be at the Shadle Hastings, 1704 W. Wellesley.

And if that’s not enough A51 for you, you can still see them every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Thirsty’s.

Name that band

The band formerly know as Ultraviolet Ray is desperately seeking a new name.

Check ‘em out tonight and Saturday at 9 p.m. at Boomerangs, 109 W. Pacific, and see what the sound inspires you to come up with. Cover is $5 … and a chance to change the course of history.

Around town

* Missoula singer-songwriter Amy Martin, fresh off the release of her first CD, “To You,” will perform at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Shadle Hastings. Martin says she’ll donate $1 from the sale of each CD to Creating Hope International, which helps provide educational opportunities for girls in Afghanistan.

* Spokane bluegrass group Don’t Fret It will hold a free CD release party at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Spokane MarketPlace, at Ruby and Desmet.

* It’s been a decade since a plane crash killed guitar great Stevie Ray Vaughan. Relive his impressive musical legacy tonight, Saturday and Sunday at Fizzie Mulligan’s, 331 W. Hastings, when Chris Hiatt performs a tribute to him. Hiatt will play from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Cover is $3.

* Bluesman James Harman performs 7-10 tonight at the Tubs Cafe, 313 Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive in Coeur d’Alene. Cover is $7.

* Silver Lanes Bowling Center, 3023 E. 28th, celebrates its grand reopening today and Saturday. The building has been remodeled and the center now features laser bowling, with light shows and music. Open play bowling costs $18 an hour from 4 p.m. Friday to midnight Sunday, $15 an hour from 4 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, and $10 an hour midnight to 4 p.m. weekdays.