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Singer-songwriter Andrew Bird is an accomplished violinist and a dazzling whistler, and he's also pretty darn handy with a guitar, mandolin and glockenspiel.
Not only can you see him live on Saturday night at the South Portland Auditorium, you can also see another multi-instrumentalist in the person of Annie Clark, who performs under the name St. Vincent. She'll be opening the show.
Head south on Friday, and you can see Maia Sharp with red-hot guitarist Linda Taylor performing songs from Sharp's latest record, "Echo," at Jonathan's in Ogunquit.
Head north on Saturday, and you can catch Sharp's show in Freeport at the Venue Music Bar & Bistro. Opening for Sharp is the super nifty folk-rock duo from Dublin, Mike Lynch and Kevin May, collectively known as the Guggenheim Grotto.
Go to myspace.com/guggenheimgrotto and watch their video to the enchanting tune "Her Beautiful Ideas." I'm opting for the Freeport show, because on Friday night this baby of the family will be wishing my painfully hip mother, Weezie, a very happy birthday.
My, how time flies when you're playing a witches' brew of Goth-anointed alternative rock/prog/metal. It's been five years since By Blood Alone played its first show at Geno's, and although the traditional fifth anniversary gift is something made of wood, I think By Blood Alone would prefer something in black velvet. Congrats to the band on hitting this milestone!
For the uninitiated, slither over to bybloodalone.com and myspace.com/bybloodalone, where you can spend seven minutes in Cruella's BBA heaven listening to "Seas of Blood." In case you didn't hear, Blood is the new black.
A Night to Dismember: By Blood Alone 5th Anniversary Show with Ghosthunter and Arcane Lore. 9 p.m. Saturday. Geno's Rock Club, 625 Congress St., Portland. Ages 21 and older. $5.
The folk collective Red Rooster may live in Manhattan, but lead guitarist Nat Zilkha has some pretty big ties to Portland. He moved to Maine after kindergarten. His friendship with singer Jay Erickson dates back to those little-kid, days and the two are the backbone of Red Rooster.
Their latest record, "WALK," zig-zags over musical landscapes of country, bluegrass, folk, gospel, blues and even hip-hop.
Zilkha and Erickson established Red Rooster a decade ago, and over time have added several musicians to create their urban orchestra. At present, the band boasts nine players in all.
If nothing else, listen to "Black Point Road" at either redroostermusic.com or at myspace.com/redrooster.
You may find you'll want to hang for a while and listen to a few more.
Red Rooster with Ellie Gray and the Strangely Possibles. 9 p.m. Saturday. The Big Easy, 55 Market St., Portland. Ages 21 and older. Call 775-2266 for cover.
Taina Asili carries on the tradition of her ancestors, fusing present and past struggles into one poetic song-voice. She is a puertorriquena vocalist, poet, visual artist, educator, activist and mother from Philadelphia and Albany, N.Y.
Asili sings about the spirit of social change using her voice atop an infusion of Afro-Caribbean, reggae, rock, hip-hop and flamenco sounds. Members of her band, La Banda Rebelde, come from all over the globe: Puerto Rico, Sicily, Greece, Brazil, Ghana and Spain.
Her Web site, tainaasili.com, grants you passage into her world, and you can hear the anthemic "War Cry," the thought-provoking "Prison Break" and the funky/poetic "Mama Guerrilla." Local dancer Lindsey Bourassa will be performing some traditional flamenco pieces with the band.
Taina Asili y La Banda Rebeide with Lindsey Bourassa. 8 p.m. Wednesday. The Aphodian, 107 Hanover St., Portland. $7 tickets at the door.
Aimsel Ponti is a Portland freelance writer. Contact her at aimselponti@yahoo.com
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