Weekend Picks: Kurt Vile, Lucy Dacus, Iris DeMent, M83, Fitz & The Tantrums, Butcher Brown, Dismal Swamp Lords, Imaginary Sons, Beatles Immersion @ Plan 9, Fear of Music

Friday Cheers starts the weekend on Brown's Island and the weather should be gorgeous. Unlike last Friday when I got drenched. I usually bring my rain jacket if there is even the slightest chance of rain. Last week, the forecast at 5:30 looked like the rain had passed so I didn't bring the jacket or a hat. Of course, it poured and I looked like a drowned rat. Went into Penny Lane to warm up with some fish & chips and stood at the bar eating while I dripped all over their floor.

This week at Friday Cheers, it's Philly boy Kurt Vile with his band The Violators. They are stopping here on their way to play Bonnaroo the next day. And the latest artist out of RVA to get much national attention, Lucy Dacus, opens the show at 6:30. Kurt does a version of the Grateful Dead's "Box of Rain" with The Violators and J. Mascis on the new album, "Day of the Dead", which benefits the Red Hot Organization. Here's some Kurt and some Lucy.






Jazz/funk band Butcher Brown is at Strange Matter Friday night. Tix are $10. Doors open at 9. Tennison and a Special Guest TBA will open the show starting at 10. Here's BB in Brooklyn in March:



It's a garage rock fest at Cary St. Cafe on Friday night. Dismal Swamp Lords, Iggy Plop & the Splooges and BEEX will rock out. Music starts at 10 PM and it's $7 to get in. Here's Iggy Pop's "Lust for Life":



Like The Beatles? Does anyone answer no to that question? It's Beatles Immersion weekend at Plan 9 Records in Carytown. They'll be showing off all their cool Beatles stuff. All Beatles media will be on sale. And best of all, local musicians will be playing Beatles music live in the store all weekend. The store is open Saturday 10 - 9 and Sunday 11 - 7. Here's the band lineup:

Sat Jun 11: 2pm  Buzzy Lawler, 3pm The Neatles

Sat night 9pm-?:  Join us for more Beatles music from Instant Karma, and brews at Garden Grove Brewery Company

Sun Jun 12:  2pm Uke 'n' Roll,  3pm Hullabaloos,  4pm Taters

Live auction on Sunday just before the Taters of a few rare items  Silent auction ends Sun at closing. Check Facebook for details

Here's The Beatles playing on the roof:



Electronica artist M83 hits us up the day after he plays Bonnaroo at The National Sunday night. Tix are $33 advance, $38 at the door. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8. Sofi Tukker opens. M83's song "Go!" was recently illustrated by comic artist James Harvey in Paste Magazine. Here's M83's "Reunion":



Folk artist Iris DeMent is at The Tin Pan Sunday night. Doors open at 5, show starts at 7, no opener. Tix are $35 advance, $40 at the door. Here's the press blurb for Iris:

You may have heard her many recordings with John Prine, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Merle Haggard, Ralph Stanley, and contemporary country singer Josh Turner. Iris DeMent has been featured many times on Garrison Keillor's radio show, A Prairie Home Companion and in the Cohen Brother's film True Grit. And to top it off, the Goo Goo Dolls song "Iris" was written about her.

Iris DeMent has been recording since 1992 with her first album, Infamous Angel. The songs "Our Town" and "Let the Mystery Be" brought Iris to national attention and were featured on the TV show Northern Exposure and re-recorded by the 10,000 Maniacs. In 1994 her second album My Life was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

After sixteen years of waiting, in 2012 Iris DeMent released a new album of original songs called Sing The Delta. Rolling Stone describes the new album: "…these artisanal songs of love and doubt wear their homeliness proudly; the effect is like finding a bountiful farm stand in the middle of nowhere."

 Here's Iris singing "Let The Mystery Be":



Talking Heads tribute band Fear of Music plays for free in Forest Hill Park on Sunday evening. They'll play from 6 to 8 PM. Bring the kids. Here's Talking Heads on the UK's "Old Grey Whistle Test" in 1978:



Dismal Swamp Lords are at it again on Sunday night. They'll be part of the Bossy Lil' Thing Records showcase at Bandito's Sunday night. It'll start at 9 and it's FREE to get in. I believe the Swamp Lords will kick things off, followed by Suneater and then Imaginary Sons close the show. But don't hold me to that. Here's Imaginary Sons playing "Dorl Shorstl". Music starts in the video around 1:30.



Fitz and the Tantrums are at The National Tuesday night. Tix are $27.50 advance, $33 day of show. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8 with Finish Ticket opening. Fitz and the Tantrums new self-titled album comes out on 6/10 so expect to hear a lot from that. Here's the first single from that album, "Hand Clap":



That'll do it. I'll see you at Cheers, Fear of Music and maybe Bandito's. I'll leave you with another one from the "Day of the Dead" album. This is Unknown Mortal Orchestra doing a fine and funky version "Shakedown Street" on Conan on Tuesday night.



Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan