KEVIN ROPER, a man who knows his way around a keyboard, will release his second full-length disc, Set Yourself Free, January 19, with LINE OF FORCE and ADAM AND THE WAXMEN, at the Big Easy. Delayed by such piddling things as his wedding and day job, Roper took about a year to finish the effort, with JACK MURRAY turning the knobs behind the board.
That JEREMIAH FREED reunion show/farewell show is a done deal. You can check out the original five-man lineup, supported by DOMINIC AND THE LUCID and HIGHWAY JACKSON, December 28, at the Asylum. MATT COSBY checked in to deliver some details: The last show the band played at the Viper Room, more than a year ago, just wasn’t satisfactory for a band that sowed their oats back here on the East Coast. Succumbing to MySpace entreaties by the hundreds, they’ve decided to rock out one last time before jetting off on their separate ways. These guys are easily one of the top five bands Portland’s ever produced. Give them a good send off. And you can check Cosby supporting PETE KILPATRICK while you’re at it.
Not long after taking home a pair of LATIN GRAMMY AWARDS in Las Vegas (for Best Engineered Album and Album Del Ano), ADAM AYAN has again been nominated for a GRAMMY AWARD, this time for the prestigious Record of the Year category. His work on VINCE GILL’s These Days will earn him another trophy, however, only if Gill can beat out HERBIE HANCOCK, the FOO FIGHTERS (They had an album out this year? Huh.), KANYE WEST, and B. Tough competition, but we feel as though Ayan’s up to it.
Speaking of the GRAMMYS, PATTY GRIFFIN, who some of us would like to claim as a local gal done good, has had her Children Running Through nominated in the Contemporary Folk/Americana category. Congrats to Patty.
