Samuel Adams Pop and rock covers (Eagles, etc…) played on keyboard and acoustic guitar. Fri., Huc-a-Poos (Tybee) + Sun., 9 pm, Benny’s (Tybee). ARTillery Punch It seems like shows by this avant-garde collective of former Savannah Symphony members are becoming less frequent with each passing month, and if you haven’t caught their eclectic and challenging mélange of high art and exotica, now might be a good time. Thurs., 8 pm, The Sentient Bean. The Band In The Park Solid and entertaining female-fronted local cover act featuring fully-fleshed arrangements of everything from late-’70s Dylan to Bonnie Raitt and Creedence tunes. Fri. – Sat., 9 pm, The Oyster Bar (Wilmington Island). The Beer Parlor Ramblers Dixieland standards from a seasoned group of veteran musicians. Their venue ; a landmark downtown burger joint. Fri. – Sat., 8 pm, Crystal Beer Parlor. Bluesonics Local blues trio offering a mixture of covers and originals in a variety of styles including Texas swing and traditional Delta shuffles. Thurs., Savannah Blues + Sat., 8 pm, City Market Courtyard. The Briefs Infectious Seattle punk (see Connect Recommends). Fri., The Jinx. Bucky & Barry Acoustic covers of rock, country and pop hits with great vocal harmonies and sequenced backing. Sat., 12 pm & Sun., 1 pm, City Market Courtyard + Brock Butler Solo set from the frontman of jam band Perpetual Groove. Mon. – Tues., Fiddler’s Crab House. Calf Mountain Jam “Progressive jam rock” band from Waynesboro, Virginia who lists musicians like guitarists Roy Buchanan and Bob Weir, bassist Nathan East, and drummer Neil Peart as standout influences. Spacey and unusually subdued. Sat., JJCagney’s. The Courtenay Brothers Actual siblings who play pop, country and rock covers on acoustic guitars with sequenced backing. Sat., 3:30 pm & Sun., 5:30 pm, City Market Courtyard. Eric Culberson Blues Band Savannah’s best-known electric blues guitarist and frontman, whose style owes a great debt to both Freddie and Albert King. Tues. (Open Mic Jam) – Wed., Mercury Lounge + Thurs., JJ Cagney’s. Dead Irish Blues Third local gig for this acoustic duo from Pennsylvania (featuring champion fiddler Marty Faiers). They play a mix of traditional folk styles from Celtic music to jugband, Appalachian and zydeco. Expect tunes about love, death, whiskey and biscuits. Thurs., O’Connell’s Pub. Dubconscious Reggae and dance party band that has made quite a name for themselves in this part of the country. They’ve released two indie CDs and regularly headline the 1,000 seat Georgia Theatre in their hometown of Athens. Sat., Locos Deli & Pub. Jon Dunn Project Moody, guitar-based acoustic folk-fusion combo led by singer/songwriter Dunn. Thurs., Fiddler’s Crab House. The Dynamic Duo Friday’s show is being billed as the one-year birthday of this local act rock and pop covers act. Wed., 8 pm, The Oyster Bar (Wilmington Island) + Fri. – Sat., 8 pm, Steamers (Georgetown). First Friday for Folk Music Monthly smoke and alcohol-free acoustic concert with touring and local acts (see Connect Recommends). Fri., 7:30 pm, Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church (429 Abercorn St.). The Forty-Fives Ultra-bad Atlanta garage rock (see Connect Recommends). Fri., The Jinx. Mary Gordon & Hilary Dirlam Two North Carolina “mountain music mamas,” playing Carter Family-style swing and country on old-time fiddle, banjo and guitar. Sat., 8 pm, The Sentient Bean. Hazel Virtue Regionally-known alternative rock band with a slight Southern twang. They are known for tight harmonies, and polished, hook-filled arrangements. Fri. – Sat., O’Connell’s Irish Pub. Hip Hop Freestyle Night The Jinx’s twist on Open Mics, with DJ’s D-Frost and Selvis spinning tracks while allowing amateur rappers to show their stuff… Tues., The Jinx. Hitman & The Blues Boys Local electric blues unit led by “Hitman,” a former bandmate of “EROK” Culberson. Fri. – Sat., Savannah Blues. Hot Pink Interior Newly-formed classic alternative trio fronted by songwriter/guitarist Amy Ochoa. They play a refreshingly innocent amalgam of mid-’80s jangle-rock and distorted pop tunes (think Liz Phair’s debut). Featuring Seb Edwards (of Splitfinger) on bass. Newbie locals The Better Diamonds open this oddly loud (for a coffeeshop) bill. Wed., 8 pm, The Sentient Bean. Joe Nelson & James Pittman Old-time duo offering rustic country music that harkens back to the glory days of 78 RPM “race records” and mountain ballads. Their setlist runs the gamut from legendary pre-war acts like The Skillet Lickers to (slightly) more modern fare like Hank Williams and Johnny Cash. Nelson flits between guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo and ukulele, while Pittman holds down the fort on acoustic guitar. For fans of traditional bluegrass, agrarian blues and American cultural history. Fri., 8 pm, The Sentient Bean. Harry O’Donoghue One of the area’s most popular and established acoustic Celtic musicians. Mon. – Tues., Kevin Barry’s Phantom Wingo Formerly known as The No Exit Band, this muscular Southern jam act blends the “play-till-you-drop” energy of Widespread Panic with the clichéd-but-always-welcome soul food drawl of The Allmans. Featuring the stinging leads of local axeman Ronnie Keel. Fri., 12 midnight, Malone’s. The Real McKenzies Celtic punk from Vancouver, B.C. (see Connect Recommends). Fri., The Jinx. Charlie Sherrill Longtime local artist who plays a danceable mixture of calypso, shag, reggae and jazz he calls “Tybee Music.” Thurs. – Doc’s Bar (Tybee). Soundmen Excellent jazz fusion group from Atlanta whose chops surpass most of the blues-oriented jam bands on the Southeastern circuit. Funky and fascinating. Fri., JJ Cagney’s. The Stand-ins Athens hard rock trio out in support of their debut CD Clean Slate. Heavier-than-expected guitars, disenchanted lead vocals and catchy hairpin chord progressions that recall Black Francis and Greg Dulli (which they cop to). Sat., The Jinx. Travis Tritt Country superstar (see Connect Recommends). Fri., Johnny Mercer Theatre. Voodoo Soup Loose and funky jam unit with a killer rhythm section. They’re not afraid to experiment with new tunes or arrangements live onstage. Wed., JJ Cagney’s. The Earl Williams Quartet Blues, jazz and R & B standards featuring horn player Williams. Wed., The Jazz Corner (Hilton Head). The Greg Williams Band Original roots-rock plus an unusual selection of covers from one of the area’s most accomplished singer/songwriters (who’s released a handful of well-received indie CDs). Wed., Savannah Blues + Thurs., 9:30 pm, Malone’s + Mon., JJ Cagney’s (solo show). Darryl Wise & Kyle Shiver Two local guitar playing songwriters known for their agility on their instruments and nuanced voices. Both have large catalogs of original material in addition to a wide repertoire of popular covers. Sat., Fiddler’s Crab House. w

This article appears in May 5-12, 2004.