Mel Brown and WOU Faculty Jazz Jam
Friday, August 10
Christo’s Lounge, 1108 Broadway St. NE
8 p.m., $10 advance ($12 door, $7 student), 21+
Drumming legend Mel Brown will cap his stay at the internationally-renowned Western Oregon University Jazz Camp with a jam with pianist Gordon Lee and the WOU music department faculty. According to the organizer, Brown rarely plays in Oregon outside of Jimmy Mak’s in Portland. Tickets for the show can be purchased in advance at Christo’s Restaurant next door. The venue will continue the jazz series on Wednesday, August 15 with Renato Caranto and legendary Portland singer “Sweet Baby” James (tickets $7-12), and Lee will return on Wednesday, August 22 with bassist Essie Essiet and drummer Sylvia Cuenca (tickets $5-7).
The Great Idea afterparty
Friday, August 10
Gilgamesh Lounge, 210 Liberty St. SE
9 p.m., free, 21+
The Great Idea may end earlier than the average concert-goer is used to, but that doesn’t have to end the TGI-powered party. Festival sponsor Gilgamesh will host Arizona-based psychobilly act “The Limit Club” and the Salem rockabilliers of “Back Alley Barbers” for an after party that will surely serve as more than background music for tales of diving off waterfalls on logs, haunting spirits, time traveling, harrowing treks across jagged mountain terrain, a challenging guy named Mondor and all the music that brought the adventurers to the Enchanted Forest in the first place (Typhoon anyone?). Both TLC and BAB could more than hold there own with a set on the Great Idea, but seem more appropriate at night to celebrate the unabashed fun of the day that was.
FloodPlain and Jamalia
Saturday, August 11
Venti’s Tap House, 2840 Commercial St. SE
9 p.m., free, 21+
Has it really been a year? Local restaurant Venti’s will celebrate one year of full-service operation at its Tap House location on Commercial Street with food and drink specials and raffles. But here at Live Beat we mostly care about the performances. Fortunately, Venti’s didn’t drop the ball and enlisted the talents of alternative rock outfit FloodPlain and jam-band Jamalia. The members of FloodPlain — Tim Alexander (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Kyle Jeppsen (bass), Kevin Ryan (lead guitar, backing vocals) and Scott Stolberg (drums) — originally formed as Fixed and Dilated, but decided to change their name to constantly remind of us of the impending doom of our area’s most common natural disaster. Thanks guys.
Flying Fox and The Hunter Gatherers
Tuesday, August 14
Browns Town Lounge, 189 Liberty St. NE
9 p.m., free, 21+
There’s not many ways to describe Winnipeg, Canada’s “Flying Fox and the Hunter Gatherers” without using the word “Operatic.” The band blends home-spun musical theater with its own jazzy-prog version of folk with tall tales and music that is heavy on the brass and nods to Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s book “Where The Wild Things Are.” It’s hard to imagine how this will all fit and work in Browns Town Lounge, but the band is well-toured, and I imagine they know how to play to a room. The traveling bards will be joined by psych-pop act The Genders, which is comprised of former members of popular (but short-lived) Portland act Youth. The performance is part of the venue’s “Hot August Nights” concert series.
Battalion of Saints
Wednesday, August 15
The A-Frame, 5775 Gaffin Rd. SE
6 p.m., $8, all-ages
Fresh off the DIY statement “Lame Fest” (see mid-July issue), Jared Sheridan is back in action, bringing in legendary San Diego hardcore band Battalion of Saints into Salem for a mere $8 price tag. The band had an original five-year run in the early 80s and reformed with renewed interest in the 90s with new components around its original frontman. Besides singer George Anthony, the group has had a ridiculous amount of turnover — 25 members to be exact — but I guess some of that should be expected for a do-it-yourself band that thrives on youth and has lasted 32 years (minus the 10-year hiatus). Battalion of Saints will be joined by Lame Fest favs SHiT, as well as 13 Scars and Skatter Bomb. Kind of a punk show.
The Most Under-Rated Comedy Tour
Thursday, August 16
The Shack Bar & Grill, 2865 Liberty St. NE
7 p.m., free, 21+
Denver native Brian Blank will bring his witty sarcasm to Salem with regional vet Will Woodruff (apparently calling himself The Enforcer), and ex-radio jockey Boomer (going by The Showman, but I believe Boomer is a stage name, so wouldn’t that be a stage name stage name? He is the Inception of stage names). Boomer… er, The Showman is fairly known in the area for being one half of Cort and Boomer on KUFO in the early Oughts. The night will be hosted by Salem mainstay Jesse Priest. It’s nice to see Salem’s comedy scene growing/sticking around (depends on how pessimistic one is). It my opinion, it adds a much-needed dimension to Salem’s night life. It also doesn’t hurt that the show is free.
Salem Peace Festival
Saturday, August 18
1777 Fabry Rd. SE
10 a.m., free, all-ages
With a mission “to provide an opportunity for individuals from various faith and cultural backgrounds to come together to promote peace in our community,” the Salem Peace Festival returns for its fifth incarnation at a small patch of country surrounded by the far reaches of South Salem off of commercial. The event features live music, cultural dances, drum circles, guest speakers, children’s activities, and food. One of the highlights of the concert schedule is teenager Audrianna Cole, who grew up in the Salem area before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career as an alt-pop singer. Cole recently had a bit of a break, inking a deal with Universal Music Group.
