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My weekend started Friday at the North Gate Tavern. A woman at the bar, scouting for a drink told me, “I have a sob story,” to which I replied, “I know you do,” and then bought her a drink because we all do. There is some sob story that can be gleaned from the journey. That rich well of experience is what made the singer-songwriter an integral part of our culture, from Homer on down to Jeff Tweedy. The first songwriter of the evening was Greg Talmage, who opened for Elsah. Talmage has plugged in his previous acoustic act, giving it a bar-band swagger tempered by teen heartthrob anthems. It’s kind of ike a Southern -fried Dashboard Confessional, maybe. His kind of music -- soulful, upbeat and mostly about relationships always works well in a crowd, and Talmage and his band are tight enough to deliver it, but loose enough to not kill it. Considering I caught his opening set for Jack Fate the very next night and wasn’t sick of him yet, speaks to his likeability and effectiveness.

Next up that evening was Elsah, still one of my favorite bands in town. They do the alt-country thing while retaining a sense of desperation and a loose grip on the tether. Neil Werries has a self-effacing authority on the songs he writes, like many of the Texas drinkers -- Townes van Zandt and Jerry Jeff Walker. The protagonist in the songs is not hell-bent on destruction, but does have an eye on the door, knowing bad news could walk in any minute. Like life, there songs have just enough melodrama in them to keep it interesting.

The undercurrent star of the evening, however, was Jack Fate, since I had at least six people ask me if I was going to the show at Chelsea’s on Saturday. Always willing to follow a buzz to see the bee making it, I went. Jack Fate, their name lifted from Bob Dylan’s character in the awkward 2003 vanity project Masked and Anonymous, is a ridiculously prodigious trio consisting of Chris 'Mad Katt' Lee (Michael Foster Project) on drums, Joshua Nee (Yellow Light Go) on bass, and Ian Webster on guitar and vocals. Their funky, groove oriented soul-blues jams revolved around Lee orbital percussion and Webster’s nitrous-in-the-tank guitar runs. The band has a marked polish, befitting the level of experience in the band, but an ever present stream of funk that keeps it propulsive. More than a few times, the band gave a false start to the vocals, openly preferring to ride a groove for just a little bit longer. To me this is the flipside of the singer-songwriter, where here the vocals and lyrics serves as more of an instrument than as a torn-out diary page or love letter, but the tie that binds the two is the fact that we all have some sort of sob story to sing, and there are a million different ways to sing it.

And hey, welcome to Dragonfly’s who has just recently opened on the former site of The Bayou/Café Reggae/tequila’s location, this time dressed up in rock club regalia. It’s a very good thing to see more clubs opening up, hopefully breathing some new life into the Chimes Street area.

HEY HO, LET’S GO

Wednesday, August 23: Chris Keegan and David Loti at Spanish Moon

Thursday, August 24: The Junior League convenes at the Red Star. Django Walker is at Chelsea’s. the Cam Pyle Band is at The Caterie. Meriwether headlines at The Varsity celebrating their signing with Suretone/Interscope.

Friday, August 25: The Red Star hosts a Battered Women's Shelter Benefit with Reception is Suspected. The Michael Foster Project is at Spanish Moon. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is at Chelsea’s. Zenbilly, The Way High men and Elsah are at The Darkroom. Lucid are at X-Treme Daiquiris

Saturday, August 26: Shark Attack! Infect you with Dance fever at Red Star. Heads will be banged at the Spanish Moon with Blackfire Revelation, Pistols at Dawn, and Lagerhead. The Armoury, She’s in Black and one Warmer blue are at The DarkroomThe Weary Boys are at Chelsea’s. Maven is at Dragonfly’s. Addis and The Prescriptions are at The Caterie

Sunday, August 27: On the One performs at Chelsea’s

Monday, August 28: Scalpers take notice: Candlebox has sold out their appearance at The Varsity

Tuesday, August 29: Gil Mantera’s Party Dream is at Spanish Moon. The latest installment of Studio Live at the varsity features Chris leBlanc, the Way High Men, Sweet Root, and Moses Mayfield. The Darkroom hosts terror, Animosity, In Tomorrow’s Shadow, justinbailey and A Thing About Machines

Want more suggestions for live music this weekend? Click here.