If you're going to hear the Decemberists at the Showbox on Friday, March 18, make sure to arrive early enough to catch Austin, TX ensemble Okkervil River. Their new album, Black Sheep Boy (on Secretly Canadian), uses a cover of '60s folk-singer Tim Hardin's song of the same name as a jumping-off point for originals inspired by its themes and sentiments. It's another stellar offering from Will Sheff and his platoon of cohorts, who bear antiquated arms including vibraphone, pump organ, Wurlitzer, and strings aplenty.
Johnny Cash is reunited with his beloved June Carter in a better place now (where they were joined March 2 by June's second cousin, guitarist Joe Carter, 78), but his spirit lives on Wednesday, March 23, at the Sunset Tavern. Nada Mucho and Noise for the Needy are hosting a tribute to the man in black, to benefit the American Red Cross, with performances by Christy McWilson, Jen Wood, the Femurs, and Murderer's Accordion. With such a rich catalog to draw upon, it's hard to imagine how this night could tank; local trio Pelusa told Border Radio they've called "dibs" on "Cocaine Blues" and "I Got Stripes" ("Because they're cool shit-kickers," says singer/mandolin player Moe Provencher) and "The One on the Right" ("Because we like political humor--or apolitical humor, as it were").
Swing-dance enthusiasts are in for a rare treat the first weekend in April, when the legendary Frankie Manning and his son, Chazz Young, host a two-day workshop at the Century Ballroom. The focus is on the lindy hop, the 1920s step that is the mother of all swing dances, and registrants will have a chance to get pointers from a vet who learned it in the ballrooms of Harlem, back in the day. (For registration info, visit www.centuryballroom.com.)
And while we're relishing the charms of a simpler era, pop into Victrola Coffee, between 8 and 10 pm on a Monday sometime soon, and sample the gypsy jazz of Billet-Deux. Border Radio and his beau stumbled across them by accident last week, and were smitten with their lively sound, which our honey immediately pegged as "trés Hot Club du France." Hell, they even spell jazz with a D ("djazz") on their calling cards.
Pike Street watering hole the Bus Stop has started hosting singer-songwriters on Monday nights. If you'd like to be considered for a gig, drop off a CD and your contact info at the venue, 508 East Pike Street, addressed to the attention of manager Mark Mitchell.
Lastly, it is with heavy heart that Border Radio bids au revoir to a Seattle music scene treasure: Tom Monday, who is relocating to the Bay Area next month. In addition to working in key marketing/promotions/advertising roles at indie businesses including No Depression magazine, Easy Street Records, and, yes, even this tiresome rag, Tom has always been a ceaseless music enthusiast, championing new artists from Tift Merritt to Two Gallants (as well as the merits of genuine moonshine!). He will be sorely missed.
