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I've heard this sentiment leaking out from some of the hipper circuits, that country will replace disco once again as the underlying patois of The Good Stuff, and I saw some fine examples of it this weekend. Flatbed Honeymoon is two-for-two on resplendent performances of lonesome love songs at Chelsea's, but The Dock Ellis band, a crack country unit for St. Louis, had the four or five of us still hanging around, rolling with laughter. Seriously, it was the funniest show I've seen ever. Then later in the week, veteran country outlaw Billy Joe Shaver upped the ante by being one of the weirdest. He augmented his Big Sur-size catalog of classics with interpretive dance (at one point he spent a song flapping his arms like an eagle), sermons and a smile. It was amazing, pushing aside the reverence that can mar a legend's performance, and just getting down to business. Consummate entertainment; I welcome our new country overlords.

The Manship Theatre has an impressive lineup this week, ranging from a showcase of world-class guitar legends, the sacred strings glory of The Lee Boys and klezmer from A Jumpin' Night at the Garden of Eden, finishing up with a showcase of rock through the ages from the Baton Rouge Music Studios. The Manship is such an intimate venue with startlingly great acoustics, and it is great to see it being utilized to stage music befitting it rather than floorshow spectacles. I have no personal grudges against belly dancers and acrobats and the fans thereof, but nothing in my opinion is better than hearing consummate musicians play in a great hall, and we have one of those in the Manship.

Wednesday, Jan 16:

International Guitar Night at the Manship Theatre

Mike Foster Project at Chelsea's

No Fuego, Angry Banana and The Buzzkillers! at North Gate Tavern

Thursday, Jan 17:

The Lee Boys at the Manship Theatre

Four Finger Five and The Black Box at North Gate Tavern

Abrupt and Sporadic at Click's

Friday, Jan 18:

"The Sweet New Wave of the Future Dance Party" launch party for Sweet Tooth is at Hound Dogs on Main Street

Terror of the Sea and Brass Bed is at Spanish Moon

Malbec, Imbroglio, Dynamite Walls, Lobster Machine and Phat Ninja Karaoke at The Darkroom

Blues by the Beach with The Tribe at the Manship Theatre

Revibe at North Gate Tavern

6 Pack Deep and Spring Break Shark Attack! at Click's

Werewolf at The Caterie

The Billboard Band at Phil Brady's

Mem Shannon at Teddy's Juke Joint

U.S. at The Varsity

Saturday, Jan 19:

A Jumpin' Night at the Garden of Eden (klezmer) at the Manship Theatre

Long Neck Society at Chelsea's

Yeasayer and MGMT at Spanish Moon

Rose to My Dear and Unutroum at The Darkroom

Rising Sun, Light Up District and Luke Starkiller at North Gate Tavern

Swords at Sundown (final show) at Click's

Tim Turner band at Teddy's Juke Joint

Sunday, Jan 20:

xAFBx, Witch Mob, Furious Styles, Blood Stands Still, A Crow's Glory and Jabberjaw at The Darkroom

Rock through the Ages: A B.R. Music Studios Presentation at Manship Theatre

Monday, Jan 21:

Steve Means at Chelsea's

Tuesday, Jan 22:

Down By Fire at North Gate Tavern