TONIGHT

Jeanne Jolly and Hobex at The Pour House will certainly provide the perfect release from all that holiday stress . Greg Humphreys, Grant Osborne, Stephen Coffman, and Jamie McFarlane are playing first with cool country siren Jolly, then the carolina rock and soulsters of Hobex will play till 2:00. Greg Humphreys has a long night ahead of him. Show starts at 9:30. Bring your dancing hat.

Robert Weiss’ production of Handel's Messiah will hold performances at Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh November 25th through the 29th. In 1998 Weiss debuted his vision of Handel’s oratorio with The Carolina Ballet to an amazed audience. In the years following, families and lovers of the arts have found a gratifying tradition in attending Messiah over Thanksgiving, and its appeal has reached people of all ages. After these dates, it will be out of the repertory for some time. Purchase tickets online or at the Memorial Auditorium box office.

Local music tonight!

The Small Ponds are playing at the Pour House with I Was Totally Destroying it and The Monologue Bombs tonight. The Show starts promptly at 10:00 pm. The Small Ponds play second. Tickets are $8.

Aisha Tyler @ Goodnights This Weekend

Actress Comedian and writer Aisha Tyler is doing stand-up at Goodnight’s Comedy Club in Raleigh Friday and Saturday night. You may know Tyler from her apprearances on Boston Legal, CSI: Miami, 24, Curb Your Enthusiasm and many minor movie roles. She is regarded as one of the wittiest women in comedy, and her wry sense of humor has earned the respect of major players in show business. It would be no surprise if Tyler landed her own talk show or began to star in major motion pictures. Her live DVD "Aisha Tyler is Lit" will show you all angles of her genuinley hilarious persona. She is a ray of light in a world of cheesy generic comedy.

ABBA MANIA @ Meymandi Hall Friday 11-20

Although disco and the days thereof may be uncomfortable to relive, Swedish super group Abba stands proudly as a fond memory and a welcome discovery for most. They have not toured in 28 years, but their legacy remains, and the demand for their presence has never dwindled. The ABBA Mania show began in 1999 at London's West End and has been a worldwide sensation ever since. Anyone who wants the full ABBA experience and a greatest hits tour through their entire career would do well to check out this performance. Purchase tickets online or at the Memorial Auditorium box office. The show will be at Meymandi Hall.

Are you trying to find the perfect soundtrack for Christmas this year? Pick up a copy of Yule Love It on I-Tunes or Amazon. This compilation of holiday favorites will surely get you and yours in the spirit. Raleigh musicians Chris Boerner, Matt Douglas, Kevin Timmons, and Matt Mccaughan of The Proclivities teamed up with the incomparable Jeanne Jolly to bring you their versions of yule tide classics "White Christmas", "Little Drummer Boy" and many more.

Rusted Root @ Lincoln Theatre 11-17

Way back in the 1990's Rusted Root was on top of the world. Their percussion driven jungle rock was exotic and catchy enough to grab major attention from college radio. In 1995 "Send me on My Way" was blaring from disc-man headphones and window speakers all over. The When I Woke cd lay ready on the front page of case logics everywhere and "Cat Turned Blue" was memorized by many. Like so many other bands of that time, their popularity faded as fans grew up. Not much was heard from the group in the late 90's and into the new millennium as the undivided attention of "root- heads" became divided. A few songs wound up on movie soundtracks, but the band slipped into anonymity among the mainstream until the release of a live album in 2004. Rusted Root is playing at the Lincoln Theatre Tuesday night in support of their new album Stereo Rodeo.

Rain - A Tribute to the Beatles

As part of Broadway Series South, Memorial Auditorium is hosting what some call the best Beatles tribute around. Normally I wouldn't pay money to go see a Beatles cover band, but apparently this is an experience not to be missed if you are a fan of the fab four. The show covers music from their American debut on the Ed Sullivan Show through the Abbey Road album and is illuminated by giant screens projecting images from the era. Buy tickets for Rain here.

The Love Language / The Foriegn Exchange @ Hibernian Pub

Tonight The Love Language and The Foriegn Exchange are playing each others music at Hibernian Pub for the Red Bull Soundclash which is, from what I can figure, a new fangled battle of the bands. It will be interesting to see a young rock act like the Love Languge perform rhythm and blues and a soul band like The Foriegn Exchange churn out lo-fi indie-pop. Chris Boerner of Small Ponds and The Proclivites will be joining Foriegn Exchange. The show is outside and shelter will be provided.

Steve Kimock Crazy Engine @ The Arts Center

Steve Kimock is performing at The Arts Center in Carrboro this Wednesday night. He is a validated wizard of the electric guitar and will surely blow away who ever ventures out to see his show. Over the last 20 years Kimock has developed his own style and engineered his own sound by toying and manipulating his amplification equipment. He is a tried and true guitar virtuoso and creator of sounds unheard of by most. Organist Melvin Seals of the Jerry Garcia Band will be joining Kimock for this performance.

TROIKA 2009

A full on showcase of all things local and musical is happening in Durham tonight and all through the weekend for the 2009 Troika Festival. Full schedule and venue information can be seen HERE.

Featured artists:

Megafaun, Pipe, Bowerbirds, The Love Language, Dex Romweber Duo, Birds of Avalon, The Moaners, Red Collar, Schooner, Lud, Future Islands, Whatever Brains, Hammer No More The Fingers, Molly Bancroft, Bellafea, EAR PWR, Caltrop, The Travesties, Lonnie Walker, Aminal, Butterflies, D-Town Brass House of Fools, Humble Tripe, Jasmé Kelly, The Proclivities, The Ringing Cedars, Sequoya, Tin Star, The Dirty Little Heaters, The Future Kings of Nowhere [solo], The Loners, I Was Totally Destroying It, The Bronzed Chorus, Liza Kate, LA Tool & Die, Jews & Catholics, Citified, Pink Flag, The Huguenots, Grappling Hook, Maple Stave, Scientific Superstar, Veelee, Regina Hexaphone, The Dry Heathens, Rat Jackson, The Beast, Embarrassing Fruits, Max Indian, Ryan Gustafson, The Pneurotics, Ghost Cats, Beloved Binge, Tea & Tempests, Three Days in Vegas, Pistil, The ExMonkeys, Dynamite Brothers, The Desmonds, Gray Young, Brett Harris, Luego, The Tender Fruit, Wembley, Bright Young Things, All Your Science, Sea Cow, Veronique Diabolique, Mount Moriah, Birds and Arrows

Also this weekend The Pour House in Raleigh is hosting Patty-Palozza, a benefit concert for long time friend Patrick Felder who recently underwent a rather unpleasant medical procedure.
Friday: Big Foot Groove, Triple Wide, The Oatmeal Conspiracy, and Waylandsphere. Doors open at 7:00 pm.
Saturday: Scarlet Virginia, Transient, Vintage, Richard Bacchus and the Luckiest Girls, and Left Outlet. Doors Open at 8:00 pm.

Leonard Cohen @ DPAC 11-3-09

At age 75 Leonard Cohen is touring the world. It's not a sad attempt to jump back into the biz or anything. He's trying to rebuild the fortune he amassed over the last 40 years. The sadness lies thick in his current situation as his manager and life long trusted "friend" stole his money a few years back. What a sleazeball. Who would take from a man who has enlightened and inspired so many important musicians? Cohen is revered by the likes of Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, and a virtual who's who list of the best and brightest in songwriting. In the face of this misfortune, Leonard Cohen has courageously embraced the opportunity to travel the world and perform for old and new fans.