Weekend in Music - Shamrock Edition

Get out your green t-shirts, the weather’s gonna be quite nice.  If you don’t have a green shirt, grab a fuzzy pin-on four leaf clover and head down to one of the many local venues that will be hosting great live music this weekend.  From rhythm and blues and rock ‘n roll to traditional Irish music, punk and bluegrass, there will be a large variety for every local, Irish or not.

Thursday

The Irish focused holiday weekend starts with two bands with All-American names.  Local bands American Aquarium will surely bring down the house with some country based rhythm and blues.  The irony is that Terry Adams will be at Berkeley Cafe on Saturday night, but more on that in a bit.  Sponsored by WKNC and a free show with free beer samples, this should be a great way to start the weekend one day early.  Americana rockers American Gun from Columbia, SC open.  Local rockers Richard Bacchus + The Luckiest Girls will also be a couple of blocks away at Slim’s.

Friday

There were two great shows that were on the calendar for Friday night but one seems to have disappeared and the other is canceled but a couple of great ones remain.  Hammer No More the Fingers were scheduled at The Downtown Event Center but this seems to have dissolved and The Loners were to play Slim’s but there has been a death in the family.  Thoughts out to these guys.

That said, left on the schedule for Friday evening are The Steep Canyon Rangers at The Pour House and Proof w/ Sir Arthur and His Royal Knights at The Double Down.  This wouldn’t seem like a tough choice, one band is bluegrass and has been around for years, the other is punk and is new to the Raleigh scene.  While the Rangers may have you tapping your toe and doing a bit of two step, Sir Arthur is one of the most hyped bands in the area that know how to put on a show.  They used to be The Greatest Hits, but added Arthur as lead singer and things haven’t been the same since.  It’s a toss up depending on your taste, but I’d say head to the tiny Double Down bar at the corner of Peace and Glenwood for some balls to the wall antics.  Also on Friday night is Pat Youngs 9th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Ceili with Hercules Mulligan who will have their hands full playing traditional Irish music throughout the Triangle this weekend.  This party used to be held at Kings and is now at Riviera Resto.  Should be a traditional evening early downstairs and then all bets are off late upstairs.

Saturday

Start the day off around noon at Tir Na Nog where there is live Irish music from then until 2am.  An open street session for local musicians to jam will be available and I’m sure some green beer will be as well.  After spending a couple of hours in Moore Square there are various options for the evening.  Staying local is possible with Terry Anderson and the Olympic Ass Kicking Team and The T’s at The Pour House.  Again, the irony of Terry Anderson playing on the same weekend as Terry Adams is just too much and I assume Terry Anderson is a pseudonym considering it is the first and last name of two NRBQ’s original members.  The Olympic Ass Kicking Team show should be great, but they’ll be playing again in Raleigh soon.  Terry Adams, on the other hand, will not be.  He is the keyboard player for the late rhythm and blues quartet NRBQ and this is one of five shows on their calendar for the entire country.  Jerry Lewis and Terry Adams names are synonymous and Yo la Tengo covers them and even dropped their name at their last show in the Triangle.  This show is a not to be missed and may sell out.  You may be able to catch some Terry Anderson after Terry Adams is done.

If neither of these are your thing and you want some indie rock, Lonnie Walker, The Love Language and Red Collar will be playing the tiny Brewery up on Hillsborough.  All of these bands are fantastic live and it should be a great show of upcoming Triangle bands.  One shouldn’t have to choose between it and the mentioned rhythm and blues shows, but hey at least Raleigh does have a packed weekend of live music once again.

Monday

Finally, on Monday there will be a traditional Irish music showcase at Tir Na Nog including Spancil Hill,  Hercules Muligan Wake County Pipes & Drums, Barrowburn, Beggers Caravan w/ Hosts Annie Nice & Grerry McCrudden.

What a weekend in music, simply writing all this is exhausting.  But, if you just fancy a pint of Guinness to celebrate your luck of the Irish, head to Landmark Tavern, maybe Richard Bacchus will serve you one up.

Shamrock graphic property of New Raleigh and Sir Arthur photo courtesy of Karen Mann