Jackie Greene
2010 saw the arrival of Jackie Greene’s sixth full-length, Till The Light Comes, and the Northern Cali crooner is quickly and somewhat quietly establishing himself as a roots-music hero. He discovered Hank Williams, Ray Charles and Leadbelly as a kid, only to take those influences and create his own style of blues and country that relies on his trenchant lyrics reflecting what he sees around him while he travels the world, delivering his music to an ever-growing audience. Salt Lake City has clearly become a sweet stop for Greene; this is his third trip to The State Room in the past two years, and he’s staying for two nights. Jeff Crosby and the Refugees open the show. Greene also plays Saturday night with Taarka opening, same time, same price. The State Room, 638 S. State, 9 p.m., $17 advance/$20 day of show
Scott H. Biram
Hearing Scott H. Biram for the first time is one of those slap-you-across-the-face shockers, and converting to his style of hillbilly gospel-punk isn’t so much a choice after that as it is a must-do. If there’s a more entertaining one-man band around, I’d like to see him. Biram and his ’59 Gibson hollow-body guitar create such a spirited, and spiritual, ruckus that you’ll be bowing at his altar at the same time you’re ordering another drink. As Biram himself puts it, “Remember: Whiskey AND holy water will both burn you if you ain’t careful.” Still touring in support of his 2009 album Something’s Wrong/Lost Forever, Biram makes new converts at every stop of his seemingly endless road trip. You could be next. Ralph White and The Trappers open the show. The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, 9 p.m., $10
Parlor Hawk
Stacy Clark
Stacy Clark might be a guitar-packing solo gal from Buffalo, N.Y., but you won’t confuse her buoyant, personal pop sound with her hometown hero, Ani DiFranco. Clark packed up and left for sunny SoCal years ago, struggling to make it by sleeping on friends’ couches (and in their closets) and playing open-mic nights wherever she could. She eventually self-financed an album, Apples and Oranges, in 2007, which she paid for with money earned doing phone sales, and she earned an award as Best Female Performer in that year’s Orange County Music Awards. The buzz got her noticed in Hollywood, and several of her songs landed on TV shows like The Hills, One Tree Hill and The Buried Life, among others. Last year, she signed with Vanguard Records and released a new set of tunes, Connect The Dots, that is lushly orchestrated with accordions, horns, ukelele and strings, along with her guitar. Given her dramatic trajectory the past few years, this chance to see Clark in the cozy confines of Kilby Court could be a memorable, “I was there” gig. Jake Newton and Jesse Thomas open the show. Kilby Court, 741 S. Kilby Court (330 West), 7 p.m., $8
Monday March 7
John Popper & The Duskray Troubadors
Portland Cello Project,
Laura Gibson
Not many bands come with a mission statement, but the Portland Cello Project does. To wit: “To bring the cello to places you wouldn’t normally hear it,” “to play music on the cello you wouldn’t normally hear played on the instrument,” and “to build bridges across all musical communities by bringing a diverse assortment of musical collaborators on stage with them.” How successful are they at fulfilling their goals? Well, the Portland Cello Project has toured everywhere from punk clubs to sports bars to theaters, they’ve covered the likes of Pantera, Kanye West and Britney Spears, and they’ve collaborated with folks like The Dandy Warhols, Crooked Fingers and, on their current tour, Laura Gibson. Check, check and check! Gibson will also be doing a set of her own songs at this date, so consider it a must-see. The State Room, 638 S. State, 8 p.m., $14 advance/$17 day of show
Coming Up
The Atticus Metal Tour: Born of Osiris, Darkest Hour (In The Venue, March 10), The New Mastersounds (The State Room, March 10), Norma Jean, Stick to Your Guns (Club Sound, March 10), Saving Abel (The Complex, March 10), Dirty Heads (Club Sound, March 11), Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise Tour (Kilby Court, March 11), Lubriphonic (Downstairs, Park City, March 11), The Quick & Easy Boys (The State Room, March 11), State Radio (Club Sound, March 12), Young Dubliners (The Depot, March 12), Spoek Mathambo, Rainbow Arabia (The Urban Lounge, March 13), Tera Melos, Marnie Stern (Kilby Court, March 13), Civil Twilight, A Silent Film (The State Room, March 14)
