I’ve wanted to play at The Horseshoe for a while. Cheese and barbecue sauce, folks. Eat ‘em separate or put ‘em together.

Divebar will also be playing, and you know that’s a good time!

Okay, I go on at midnight.  It’s late.  It’s a Saturday.  Whatever.

I finally get a chance to check out the new Uncommon Ground venue in Rogers Park. Gordon Wright will be performing at 8PM.

Cut out of work early and meet up with THE MIX and Bud Select as we present Party in the Park this Thursday from 4PM until 6:30PM outside at The Park Grill Restaurant … on the plaza at Millennium Park.

Sounds fun, no? Yes! It Does! I don’t know who this Bud Select is, but he sounds like fun.

I’ll be playing from 4PM to 5PM followed by… someone else.

If you’ve been putting off seeing me play, this is the show to come to. If, for some reason, you’re waiting for one big gangbusters night of music, this is it. Not only is it the big CD release show for One Pair of Shoes, but I get to be the meat in a tasty music sandwich with two of my favorite bands. They’re the bread. You’re the lettuce.

8:30PM: Music Room Open - Fun, Games, and Prizes
9PM: Gordon Wright
10PM: Evan Jacover
11PM: Divebar

It’s a great chance to get the CD, hear some great music, meet some fun people and have a general good time.

KNISHMAS! It doesn’t have to be a ’silent night’ for us. Once again we groove into the night with the alternative to xmas eve alternatives.

This year we welcome back the jams of Even Sh’siyah, who infuse the southern rock grooves ala Allman Brothers with Jewish flavor for a heady groove. Their third self-release album, Wake Up, dropped this year. Joining us for the first time is Brooklyn’s RavShmuel, a Rosh Yeshiva by day and beer-drinking, Phish-following singer/songwriter by night. His single “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” became a youtube sensation following the release of his debut album, “Protocols,’ on Sony/JMG.

And as a special treat, several local singer/songwriters will perform original Jewy tunes, including Rachel Katzman (of Happy Butterfly Foot), Evan Jacover and Adam Davis (yes, that Adam Davis).

I’ll be playing a couple (literally 2) Hanukkah and Jewish songs at the Chicago Cultural Center with Adam Davis and perhaps some others, which is kind of weird since Hanukkah is over, but, well, ’tis the season, I suppose.  We’ll be in the cafe area.

I’ll be playing mandolin on a couple songs with Divebar this Friday at Fitzgeralds. From my brother and Divebar keyboardist: “For those of you who haven’t been there, Fitzgerald’s is a very cool place, has great sound and weird stuff on the walls. Despite being located in Berwyn, it’s actually very easy to get to and has ample street parking. So, how ’bout it? We’ll probably even throw in a holiday song or two. Hope to see you there.”

DIVEBAR w/ Braam and the Orphans
Show starts at 9:30 — Divebar at 10:30

For more info, see: www.fitzgeraldsnightclub.com
And: www.divebarmusic.com

I’ll be playing as a guest musical act in The Sam Show at The Annoyance Theater. Here’s the general idea:

Sam lives with Dustin and Dustin’s girlfriend, Elise. Dustin and Elise go to work while Sam stays home. His only friends are Chuck and Wednesday, a Converse All-Star sneaker and a pair of day-of-the-week panties. Join Sam as he almost holds down a job, is nearly driven insane teaching mandolin, and finds love in the UPS lady. Then there’s Chester. Sam & Chester have a band called Your Kentucky Waterfall and their sound appeals to the female demographic. And each week features a different musical guest! (WEEK ONE: CHICAGO’S OWN “THE COUNTRY DOCTORS!”)

Part Mr. Rogers Neighborhood and part American Splendor, hilarious characters and outrageous puppets abound in this darkly comic tale. Written and performed by Sam Locke, Dustin Levell and Elise Dubois, The Sam Show is a masterful combination of black humor and Americana.

“The Sam Show: A Night of Mandolin, Happiness and Others” is directed by Ali Weiss and written and performed by Sam Locke, Dustin Levell and Elise Dubois. Featuring puppets by Emily Tamblyn and writing by Corey Rittmaster and Monique Madrid.

The Sam Show: A Night of Mandolin, Happiness and Others opens July 11th, and runs every Wednesday at 9:30pm, until August 15th at The Annoyance Theater.

I’m playing at a fundraiser for The Sam Show which will be premiering at The Annoyance Theater this summer. I don’t know much about the show except that it has a whole bunch of Sam and he’ll be playing a while bunch of mandolin.

Expect Sam to make an appearance on Evan’s upcoming album and Evan to make an appearance in the upcoming Sam Show. That’s how it works here.

It’s been a while, but I’m going to be back at Uncommon Ground on my birthday, playing with my good friend Gordon Wright.

Start off your March on the right foot: It’s time for another Uncommon Ground show.

My favorite band, Divebar, is having a CD release show at the Double Door on February 6th. It’s gonna be a rock and roll Tuesday night. I can’t tell you enough how great their band is. You should all come hear them play and buy their CD.

Also, I get to open for them, so that’ll be fun.

You know the drill. Uncommon Ground. Tuesday night. Dancing bears, etc.

I’m gonna try out a new place and see what happens. So MoJoe’s Hot House, here I come.

Another show at Uncommon Ground!