Jerry Douglas, Atkinsons, Steve Earle, TV on the Radio

Friday Cheers this week features newgrass (primarily bluegrass mixed with jazz, folk, blues & country) dobro player Jerry Douglas. Friday Cheers is on Brown's Island, it costs nothing (FREE!), and starts at 6 PM with opener The Atkinsons. Get there early because they are pretty good. The bio on Jerry Douglas on the Friday Cheers web site says he has played with musicians like Bela Fleck, Emmylou Harris, David Grisman, Ricky Skaggs, Peter Rowan, Alison Krauss, Del McCoury, Garth Brooks, and Dolly Parton. Here's Jerry playing solo doing the "Little Medley". Nice.



If the rain holds off, I'll be there.

Cracker will be doing an in-store performance at Plan 9 in Carytown on Friday evening. That will start at 6:30 and go about an hour.
The Decemberists play at The National on Friday night. Doors open at 8, show starts at 9 with opener Blind Pilot and tix are $30. You might dig their Indie Pop if you like stuff like Rilo Kiley, Of Montreal, Belle & Sebastian, Robyn Hitchcock, or The Smiths. Or even Heart (see below).

Here they are from a few nights ago with the lead singer telling a silly story about the worst song he ever wrote then going into "O Valencia!" (not the worst song he ever wrote).

And just for fun here they are playing Heart's "Crazy On You":


Saturday night, Dark Star Orchestra brings their Grateful Dead reconstruction to Innsbrook Pavilion. Tix are $15 in advance, $20 at the gate and no Gold Circle (yay!). Gates open at 5 PM and the music will start around 6:30. There is no opener. For those of you that were disappointed with The Dead's performance in Charlottesville (and that was just about everyone I spoke with) go to this and get your Grateful Dead groove back. It also helps that tickets are 80% cheaper.

BTW, Dark Star's show Friday night in Fredericksburg has been postponed due to all the rain. The show has been rescheduled for July 7.

Sunday, if you're hungry, check out Broad Appetit on the 100 through 300 blocks of W Broad St. It'll go from noon until 5 PM. More than 50 of Richmond's top chefs will be creating $3 mini-dish favorites for you to enjoy. Should be yummy.

Tuesday night, the great Steve Earle will be at The National. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8, tickets are $18.50. This is a reserved seat show. Steve's new album, "Townes", is a tribute to his mentor, Townes Van Zandt. Here's Steve last night on Letterman:


TV On The Radio is at The National on Wednesday night. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 and tix are $20. TV on the Radio is a well-derserved buzz band. Here is their cool and creepy video for "Wolf Like Me": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTy-e6qEWRE. Really, check this one out because the song rocks. David Bowie loves these guys and has performed with them which is recommendation enough for me.

Finally, jam band veterans Blues Traveler come to Innsbrook on Wednesday with Virginia folk band eddie from ohio. Tix are $12.50 in advance, $15 at the door, Gold Circle (boo!) $30. Gates open at 6 and get there early to see eddie because they are a lot of fun. Here's Blues Traveler doing "Mullin' It Over" at the Trenton War Memorial Arena in '06:

Well that's a full week for you. Have fun!

Tony Jordan