Hal Holbrook is Mark Twain Tonight!
Friday, November 2
Elsinore Theatre, 170 High St. SE
7:30 p.m., $39-62, all-ages
Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning actor Hal Holbrook has performed many roles over the years, but the one constant in his career has been his portrayal of Mark Twain in “Mark Twain Tonight!”. Holbrook has been performing his one-man show, which has won a Tony on the stage and an Emmy on the small screen, for 56 years. The show is a humorous, meandering monologue full of Twain’s old-time charisma, wit and timeless anecdotes. If interested, there are many clips of the performance on YouTube.com. For more information visit ElsinoreTheatre.com, and for tickets, visit TicketsWest.com. Also look for Holbrook in the upcoming Steven Spielberg-directed “Lincoln” as Francis Preston Blair.
Faerabella CD release
Saturday, November 3
Gilgamesh’s The Lounge,
210 Liberty St. SE
8 p.m., free, 21+
Did you miss out on a costume party this season? Well dark cabaret trio Faerabella has given you a second chance. Faerabella will bring its contra bass, brass and vocal chords to The Lounge to celebrate the release of its new album, “Lenora’s Ghost,” but the night is also billed as a costume party. Who said it needs to be Halloween for costumes anyways? Faerabella provides spooky, lounge-y grooves, that will draw the living and the dead out of the woodwork to party. If you’re still not sold on Faerabella’s dark arts, the trio even borrowed the name of a popular Independence ghost legend for its album title. I haven’t heard the album, but I’m guessing there’s some interesting lyrical content.
Battle of the Bands
Saturday, November 3
Blacklight Bar, 610 Marion St. NE
9 p.m., $10 ($7 advance), 21+Interested in checking out some new local talent or cheering on your friends’ band? Blacklight Bar has put together a good ol’ fashioned 10-act battle of the bands, with the winner hauling $500 in cash. Each act will have a 10-minute time slot, so even if the current band is less-than-stellar in your humble opinion, the next one will be on stage in a few short minutes. Bands include Groove Thief (9 p.m.), Zero Season (9:20 p.m.), Choke The Silence (9:40 p.m.), Summer Soundtrack (10 p.m.), Gnosis (10:20 p.m.), Black Hare (10:40 p.m.), Archers Rise (11 p.m.), The Heathenz (11:20 p.m.), Slight Of Hand (11:40 p.m.) and Street Metal (Midnight). For advance tickets or more information, contactDave Eastman at (971) 208-1207.
The Peculiar Pretzelmen and Coot & Codger
Sunday, November 4
Fifty Pub & Grub, 935 Wallace Rd. NW
9 p.m., free, 21+
Salem’s favorite local band that’s not actually from Salem, The Peculiar Pretzelmen will descend on the Cherry City once again for a night of old-time-y debauchery and hoot n’ hollerin’. Now a two-man band, The Peculiar Pretzelmen have been touring the lower 48 for more than a half-decade with their dusty suitcases full of vaudeville-worthy instruments and a sound that’s not quite historically accurate enough to be considered delta blues, folk or Americana. Whatever they are, they’ve been able to sustain a following in Salem longer than any other, sending attendees home with a smile on their face and a wobble in their step. Don’t fix what ain’t broke.
Vattnet Viskar
and Mania
Tuesday, November 6
The A-Frame, 5775 Gaffin Rd.
7 p.m., $5, all-ages
Toting big beards, long hair and Model-T color schemes, Vattnet Viskar will bring New Hampshire doom and black metal to east Salem’s A-Frame (site of Lame Fest), which has quickly solidified itself as the mid-Valley’s underground metal oasis. Vattnet Viskar’s music is at times dark and dissonant, and at other times pummeling and vicious — a trademark of a band hopping between doom and black metal. If you’re questioning the validity of their darkness, these Granite Boys have several selections available for your listening pleasure on YouTube.com. Vattnet Viskar will be joined by Salem black metal act Mania.
Scott Pemberton Trio and Find Your Smile
Friday, November 10
Venti’s Tap House,
2840 Commercial St. SE
9 p.m., free, 21+
Jam band Scott Pemberton Trio and alternative outfit Find Your Smile will provide the entertainment for Stone Brewing’s party at Venti’s Tap House location. Portland-by-way-of-Salem’s Find Your Smile features Jordan and Benjamin Roach, and Erik and Scott Wurgler and borrows lounge and “jazzy” trademarks. However, the band bundles these tip-of-that-hats to American tradition in a modern-alternative-pop package that’s digestible to the I-Pod consumer. The product is something that is fresh and polished, and bounces around from snappy crooning to composed, mathematical jazz rock.
Gin Blossoms and Ambrosia
Saturday, November 10
Spirit Mountain Casino, 27100 Salmon River Hwy.
8 p.m., $15, 16-and-older with adult or 21+
Powered by the hits “Hey Jealousy” and “Found Out About You” the Gin Blossoms were one of the staples of early-to-mid 90’s alternative radio, and like many of the peers of the era weren’t able to escape problems with addiction, depression and suicide. After the departure and death of songwriter and lead guitarist Doug Hopkins, the band failed to capitalize on the success of the first two singles and initial album, and broke up a year after their second major release (though the second album did eventually go platinum). The band has been back at it the last decade touring on the strength of its golden era. Strangely, the Gin Blossoms will be paired with 70’s progressive pop band “Ambrosia.” Maybe it’s supposed to be a 70’s-era parent and 90’s-era kid bonding opportunity?
Hanz Araki
Saturday, November 10
Boon’s Treasury, 888 Liberty St. NE
9 p.m., free, 21+
Irish flute and shakuhachi (traditional bamboo flute of Japanese origin) player Hanz Araki will be visiting Boon’s Treasury to showcase the talents that have made him renowned in his corner of World music. The Seattle-based musician — with Japanese and Gaelic roots — has performed with the Irish-folk Juno Award-winning Paper Boys, fiddle duo The Birdies and has credits on several soundtracks. He also spent two years teaching shakuhachi at Keio University, and is considered the world’s only sixth generation shakuhachi player. For more information about Araki, visit HanzAraki.com.
