Weekend coming!

It's early January, and yet this weekend offers a whole buncha opportunities, and not just because it's Second Saturday (which is, really, enough). There are also a few shows of interest, local and big-time...

Tonight alone, there are several good choices (yes, the weekend starts tonight): For one, Scott Rodell is playing the Fox and Goose - for free. This Roseville-based singer/songwriter/player has released one solid album (that I know of) and could be quite a revelation to the downtown crowd. Check him out, starting at 8 p.m.

Also tonight, Sactown's favorite problem child, Anton Barbeau, will be playing Luna's Cafe at 1414 16th Street at 9 p.m. Anton's all-but-emigrated to his beloved U.K., so this is a rare chance to see him.

And there are touring acts here tonight: Rapper (and human beat box) Doug E. Fresh, one of the original crop of New York-bred rappers ("The Show"), will be at Harlow's at 10 p.m. And LA-based Three Bad Jacks, a rockabilly trio I am completely unfamiliar with, will be at the Blue Lamp. But really, you can't go wrong with rockabilly, can you?

Friday night, Pets will be playing the Cool Cat Gallery at 918 24th Street, and not far across the Grid, the Sacramento Theatre Company is continuing its Cabaret Series with singers doing the songs of Kander and Ebb, who wrote, among other things, "Cabaret" and "Chicago," which is a solid show just by themselves. The show will repeat on Saturday night.

My pick for Saturday and beyond is the opening of Gregg Coffin's new musical, "rightnextto me", which will preview Saturday and open Sunday for an extended run at the B Street Theatre. For some reason, there's still no mention of the show on the site that I can find, but tickets are definitely on sale, and apparently going fast.

I profiled Coffin in Sactown recently, and will be hosting a live interview with the man on Jan. 24 at the Geery Theatre (formerly the Show Below). Tickets are available THIS weekend at the Beat and Tickets.com, and I hope to make this a monthly deal - IF I can sell some tickets. And yes, I WILL keep hyping it here until I sell it out. Brace yourself.

Because I'm trying to do a bit of everything. Which is why this blog has been sporadic. But I'm learning, I want to this blog to become a regular stop for you and yours, and I'm happy you're sticking with me. Let's build something!