so i live near 68th & glisen be the FM's and a coffee house called 7 Virtues. there's a pub i hung out at on thursday that's w/in walking distance (Biddy McGraw's). i'm still getting a feel for the area. if you have any suggestions of places to check out (other than cheesy sports bars) i'll take your word on it and check it out. anyway, i'm pretty damned open-minded and not very judgmental. i'm an artist/musician/hiker/etc so any one is welcome to contact me if they want to. also, i'm a vegan, but not anal or militant about it.

"... the pub where I was born." All-star cover bands that gig annually don't, believe it or not, practice much more often. And, after Sunday's marathon rehearsal, Pogues-channeling supergroup KMRIA decided to play an unannounced show the evening before its Crystal Ballroom spectacular. For those few dozen celebrants crowding a sleepy northeast bar, it was a [...]

"... the pub where I was born." All-star cover bands that gig annually don't, believe it or not, practice much more often. And, after Sunday's marathon rehearsal, Pogues-channeling supergroup KMRIA decided to play an unannounced show the evening before its Crystal Ballroom spectacular. For those few dozen celebrants crowding a sleepy northeast bar, it was a sort of St. Patrick's Day miracle. A smoky, old wood, Powers & Guinness pub that need not advertise its Irishness?the tourists mobbing Kell's all weekend would be appalled?Biddy McGraw's attracts an enviable blend of neighborhood twenty-somethings and lightly accented émigrés. And, this St. Patrick's Day eve, the small venue remained half-capacity even as friends of the band and just-alerted acolytes trickled in. KMRIA features the Decemberists' Jenny Conlee and Chris Funk on accordion and mandolin, respectively; Amelia's Jesse Emerson on bass; the Eels/Everest's Derek Brown on drums; Hanz Araki on tin-whistle; and Ezra Holbrook and Casey Neill trading guitar and vocal duties (Brown flew up from Los Angeles for the weekend but past mainstay Scott McCaughey unaccountably remained on tour with REM). None of which would've meant anything to Biddy's aging regulars?even if the band had introduced themselves. But, as they launched into a hurtling "Bottle of Smoke", it didn't really matter. The Pogues' peculiar blend of boozy lyricism, punk abandon and intricate musicianship provide unique challenges?Shane MacGowan's subsequent group the Popes never quite managed the trick...

14 NW 3rd?First Thursday Aftermath, 9:30 pm, $2
Abou Karim?David Brothers
Alberta Street Public House?No River City, Ponderosa, 9 pm, $5
Andina?Pete Krebs Trio, 7 pm
Andrea's Cha Cha Club?Cubaneo, 10:30 pm
Ash Street Saloon?Branden Daniel & Everybody Gets Laid, The Mellors, A Pack of Wolves, War Wagon, 9:15 pm, $5
Berbati's Pan?Jacob Merlin, Brian O'Dell Band, Keegan Smith, $10
Biddy McGraw's?John Ross
Boons Treasury?Cary Novotny, Hanz Araki, 8 pm, free
Bungalow's Martini?Open Mic, 9 pm
Camellia Lounge?Sneakin' Out, 9 pm, free
Clyde's Prime Rib?Jim Mesi, Steve Bradley
Crystal Ballroom?Umphrey's McGee, 9 pm, $15-17, all ages
* Dante's?Andre Williams, The Flash Express, The Ones, The Beauty, 9:30 pm, $5
* Doug Fir?Big Business, Magick Daggers, The Better to See You With, 9 pm, $8

More live music and DJ events after the jump...

Due to an error in this week's music listings, Friday's coverage is a little lacking. But don't worry tech-savy readers, we got you covered! Check out all the fun that's going down on Friday.

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