Top Tickets: Some of the week's best live music

Tad Dickens

Nov. 5, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- FRIDAY-SATURDAY

Jonathan Tyler and The Northern Lights

With Shawn Fisher and the Jukebox Gypsies

It's nice to hold onto a glimmer of hope upon finding that a band has signed a major label record deal. Jonathan Tyler and The Northerns Lights make holding out hope seem like more than a waste of time. Tyler, a powerful singer based in Dallas, Texas, and his act have been working on their Atlantic Records debut in Nashville, Tenn. The band's first, self-released CD, "Hot Trottin'" gave strong signs of good things to come, with its bluesy, Southern rock-inflected mix. Tyler says the upcoming record will be even stronger.

It's not a band that sounds good in the studio only. Its Austin City Limits Music Festival appearance last summer made the crowd forget all about the rain that was drenching the grounds. The audience "didn't want to leave," demanding and getting "one of the few day-performance encores of the weekend," according to an online report from the Dallas Observer. Hear Tyler talk about that show and the new record, and hear tunes from "Hot Trottin'" on a podcast at blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch, or at this story on roanoke.com/entertainment.

Details: 10 p.m. Friday. Awful Arthur's, Salem. $5. 387-1004, myspace.com/awfularthurssalem. 10 p.m. Saturday. Awful Arthur's, Towers Shopping Center, Roanoke. $5. 777-0007, myspace.com/awfularthurs, jonathantylermusic.com, myspace.com/shawnfisher.

SATURDAY

Candye Kane

Talk about a survivor -- Candye Kane recently beat pancreatic cancer, a disease with a notoriously low survival rate. She responded to her situation with a rousing blues/rock album called "Superhero" (Delta Groove). The record starts with the lines "I've always been a fighter/When bad times come around/I'm not gonna take it layin' down." The record debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard blues chart.

Kane has one of the most fascinating resumes you're likely to read. In the 1980s, this archetypal "big, beautiful woman" performed in adult movies, the titles of which we cannot print here. Later, Kane became Palomar College's student body vice president in 1989, according to her online bio. But Kane, influenced by the early 80s acts that she jammed with -- X, Los Lobos, Dave Alvin -- went on to be a blues/jazz/rockabilly singer who owned the San Diego Music Awards blues band category throughout the 1990s. Go to this story at roanoke.com/entertainment, or to blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch, to hear a podcast with Kane.

Details: 9 p.m. Blue 5 Restaurant, Roanoke. Free. 904-5338, blue5restaurant.com, candyekane.com.

FRIDAY

Holy Ghost Tent Revival

This Greensboro, N.C., act was one of the hits of FloydFest 2009, playing some hot sets. When the power went down that Friday night, Holy Ghost commandeered a spot and jammed hard along the festival's main trail. Get a load of this wildly energetic act -- fiddle, trombone, Sousaphone, accordion and more, rocked up -- and hear cuts from the band's new EP, "Family," a quality recording. Get a preview of that record on a podcast with drummer Ross Montsinger at blogs.roanoke.com/cutnscratch, or in this story at roanoke.com/entertainment.

Details: 10 p.m. Martin's Downtown Bar and Grill, Roanoke. Free. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, holyghosttentrevival.com.

TONIGHT

The New Familiars

North Carolina-based Americana and roots rockers have a new CD, "Live," and always play a hot show.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Kirk Avenue Music Hall, Roanoke. $10. kirkavenuemusic.com, myspace.com/thenewfamiliars.

Nicole Hart and The NRG Band

It's been a while since Hart and her tight, professional band hit Blue 5. Hear cuts from Hart's new, debut CD, "Treasure."

Details: 8 p.m. Blue 5 Restaurant, Roanoke. Free. 904-5338, blue5restaurant.com, thenrgband.com.

April Verch Band

Verch is a champion Canadian fiddler, stepdancer and singer. Her music combines Celtic, jazz, folk and bluegrass influences.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Bedford Central Library, Bedford. $10 suggested donation. 586-8911, friendsofbedfordlibrary.org, myspace.com/aprilverch.

The Herd of Main Street

It's an Americana/rock-heavy weekend in the Roanoke bars. Songs this Baltimore, Md., band posted at MySpace.com swing nicely.

Details: 10 p.m. Martin's Downtown Bar and Grill, Roanoke. Free. 985-6278, martinsdowntown.com, myspace.com/theherdofmainstreet.

FRIDAY

Donna Jean Godchaux Band

Godchaux has sung on records by Elvis Presley and Percy Sledge, but she's best known for her years with the Grateful Dead and the Jerry Garcia Band.

Details: 10 p.m. Attitudes Bar and Cafe, Blacksburg. $10. 552-7001, attitudesbar.com, donnajeangodchauxband.info.

Jony James Blues Band

James got his blues experience playing clubs in Chicago's South Side.

Details: 9 p.m. Blue 5 Restaurant, Roanoke. Free. 904-5338, blue5restaurant.com, jonyjamesband.com.

Electric Chameleon

Pop-rocking Electric Chameleon sprinkles in some reggae, plays with conviction and always draws an energetic crowd.

Details: 10 p.m. Awful Arthur's Towers Shopping Center, Roanoke. $5. 777-0007, myspace.com/awfularthurs, myspace.com/electricchameleon.

Rose and The Rebels

Catch singer Jane Gabrielle lead her latest band through some rocking sets at the Pot.

Details: 9 p.m. Coffee Pot, Roanoke. $3; $5 couples. 774-8256, myspace.com/coffeepotroadhouseinc, myspace.com/bleeckerstreetroanoke.

Nancy and 2 Meteors

With Twelve O'Clock Knob, A.M Avenue, The Wait, Smoke N' Mirrors

Big show for a small price. Nancy and 2 Meteors is one of Roanoke's most unique bands.

Details: 7 p.m. Penn Forest Wesleyan Church, Roanoke. $1. myspace.com/nancyandtwometeors, facebook.com/TwelveOClockKnob.

Two Dudes

Jonathan Barker and Steve Guidas, the artists formerly known as The Other White Meat, do the guitar/piano duo thing. These cats can honk.

Details: 10 p.m. The Blues BBQ Co., Roanoke. Free. 344-5683, bluesbbqco.com.

SATURDAY

Larry Keel and Natural Bridge

Keel plays guitar like a man on fire and sings like the salt of the earth. His band, including wife Jenny on bass, provides good musical cushion.

Details: 9 p.m. Attitudes Bar and Cafe, Blacksburg. $10. 552-7001, attitudesbar.com, larrykeel.com.

Bluegrass Battle of the Bands

Hosted by The Bluegrass Brothers

Spend a day at the Moose, checking out a passel of pickers and grinners.

Details: Noon. Roanoke Moose Family Center No. 284, 3233 Catawba Valley Drive, Salem. $10; free to chidren 12 and younger. roamooselodge.org, thebluegrassbrothers.com.

The Young Sinclairs

With The Sad Cobras, Hot Lava

Roanoke's indie scene will be well-represented at this show.

Details: 8:30 p.m. Bazaar Consignments, 675 Brandon Ave., Roanoke. $5 (all money goes to bands). myspace.com/theyoungsinclairs, myspace.com/thesadcobras.

City of Statues

Classics from the 1960s and 1970s, plus original songs reminiscent of that musical uber-era.

Details: 8 p.m. Still Waters Coffeehouse, 117 S. Bridge St., Bedford. $5. 583-1003, stillwaterscoffeehouse.com, youtube.com/cityofstatuesband.

SUNDAY

Cyrus Pace and Jordan Harman

Guitarist Pace and guitarist/singer Harman should provide some mellow vibes for your dining.

Details: 7 p.m. SoRo Chill and Grille, Piccadilly Square, Roanoke. Free. 982-7676, sorogrille.com, myspace.com/jordanharmanband.

TUESDAY

Maroon 5

With Fitz and the Tantrums

It seems like a long time has passed since Maroon 5 was in the charts with albums "Songs About Jane" and "It Won't Be Soon Before Long." In fact, it's been two years since that second album. With a new disc apparently scheduled for release in 2010, it should be interesting to see if the band still has it.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Burruss Auditorium, Virginia Tech. $40 advance, $30 for students; $45 door, $35 students. vtu.org, maroon5.comh, myspace.com/fitzsoulmusic.

Lotus

With Big Gigantic

Get a night of way-better-than-average electronica/rock music with a crazy light show.

Details: 8 p.m. Attitudes Bar and Cafe, Blacksburg. $15 advance; $18 door; 18 and older. 552-7001, inticketing.com, attitudesbar.com, lotusvibes.com, myspace.com/biggigantic.

WEDNESDAY

Jer Coons

Vermont-based Coons writes pop songs that sometimes sound like a cross between Jack Johnson and John Mayer.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Kirk Avenue Music Hall, Roanoke. $5. kirkavenuemusic.com, myspace.com/jercoons.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0175-39471674