Multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Tony Furtado, left, continues to reinvent and redefine his musical persona with a band member in the studio recently. He plays the Brewery Friday at 7:30 p.m.
The band Chrome will pump out some "hard country" music Friday at Joe Bob's Roadhouse on Hot Springs Road. Having spent three years in Carson City, country music doesn't grate on my ears quite so badly. On a return trip to Portland for Christmas, I changed the sound of the karaoke in the Boiler Room in Northwest from hip hop and R&B to Gordon Lightfoot's "Sundown." "How ya'll doin'?" I asked the crowd of gangstas and corn-rowed rappers. "I'm Karl, an' I sing BOTH kinds of music ... country AND western." Anyway, the Chrome show, like most at Joe Bob's, is free. On Saturday, check out Bay area classic rockers Rockslide. And don't miss your chance to sing Lightfoot during karaoke with Psycho Attitude Productions on Tuesday night. The Roadhouse, at 1510 Hot Springs Road, can be reached at 883-7799.
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Tony Furtado and the American Gypsies will perform at the Brewery Arts Center on Friday, which happens to be a Friday the 13th. Maybe the reputation tied to that date will inspire even more wicked-good music from these creative geniuses than we might otherwise expect. "They're gonna be be excellent," says BAC's Kevin Ray.
The show starts at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $15 general admission, $12 BAC members and seniors, $5 students with valid ID and free for children 12 and under.
On Saturday, check out the 2 p.m. performance by the Bella Voce Choral group. They'll offer Christmas carols from around the world (including, but not limited to, Czech, Russian, Ukrainian, Scandinavian and Latvian tunes). The audience can join Northern Nevada's premiere women's chorus in familiar Christmas carols. Tickets are $12 general admission, $10 BAC members and seniors, $5 students with valid ID and free for children 12 and under.
Sunday is an evening of classic Yuletide tunes with Golden Bough's Celtic Christmas. The show, which includes a special performance by the Blanchette Dancers from the School of Irish Dance, starts at 7 p.m. Golden Bough has played together for more than 22 years. Tickets are $15 general admission, $12 BAC members and seniors, $5 students with valid ID and free for children 12 and under.
Music at the BAC will slow down a bit after this week, but look into the varied arts and crafts classes that start up again in January.
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"We're having a pretty quiet week," says June Hartman at Comma Coffee across from the Legislature. But Tuesday night is still hot from 7 to 9 p.m. with salsa dance instructions by Joann Grace. "She's really awesome," says June. "She has a lot of energy." Salsa dance at Comma Coffee is every Tuesday the Mile High Jazz Band does NOT play. Lessons are $5 a head.
You'd better get your salsa fix because Comma Coffee will not be open late on Christmas or New Year's Eve. In other news, June's son, Fletcher, is turning 18 on Dec. 19, so swing by with congratulations and gifts. Call Comma Coffee at 883-2662.
Karl Horeis can be reached at 881-1219.