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Eric Lindell is really good at what he does: He keeps a percolating groove going, flavoring it with sax and harmonica, and keeps the party on the front burner. Chelsea's was packed for the Saturday appearance of the New Orleans blues/funk phenom, but I'll be honest, I was a bit underwhelmed. When an artist has the crowd in the palm of their hands like Lindell does, I want them to do something with it. His songs are fun and all, but they never get past the party stage. And maybe that is the point, and I'm just never satisfied. I just want some soul to come out.

I left the show to catch long-running musica Latina band Palo Viejo at the Spanish Moon and found more of what I was looking for. Angelina de los Rosarios López is an effortless front woman, captivating the audience with her charm and vocal dexterity as the band poured through a set of what can best be described as effervescent Latin-new wave-ska. With their Spanish lyrics, I cannot attest to whether their lyrics are any deeper than Lindell's, but there was more warmth, more joy, more connection to the audience than any other pop act I've seen in town. They were a total pleasure to see.

This weekend is bursting at the seams with music. Thursday evening, The Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars bring their joyful noise borne out of the civil war in their homeland to the Manship Theatre. The mighty Dirtfoot, a blues/rock/punk monster of a band complete with accordion and horns, will rip Chelsea's a new one. And there is possibly no more appropriate band to cap off Spanish Town parade night than the throbbing hedonism of Quintron and Miss Pussycat at Spanish Moon. Then, just as the hangovers start to subside, the mighty Band of Horses will stampede into town Monday evening.

Wednesday, Jan. 30:

Mike Foster Project at Chelsea's

Suicide Holiday and Avarice at North Gate Tavern

Thursday, Jan. 31:

Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars at the Manship Theatre

Dirtfoot at Chelsea's

Tuesday's Debut and Sequoyah Prep School at North Gate Tavern

Here is Why, Halo Error and the Dead Flower Audition at Click's

Roger Creager at The Varsity

Sweet Root Acoustic at Boudreaux and Thibodeaux's

Friday, Feb 1:

People of Peru and The Spores at Spanish Moon

Red Stick Ramblers at Chelsea's

Ill Whiskey and Nesta at North Gate Tavern

Save the Last Bullet, Revibe and Norcio at Click's

Ross Rosenbloom at Boudreaux and Thibodeaux's

Saturday, Feb 2:

Quintron & Miss Pussycat at Spanish Moon

The Legendary J.C.'s at Chelsea's

ConCoCtion, Cohen, Field Day and The Blue Hit at North Gate Tavern

Waiting for Brantley at Click's

Theodore Funxtable, Chubby Chenier and The Bayou Swamp Band at Boudreaux and Thibodeaux's

Sundanze and Third Street at Phil Brady's

Monday, Feb 4:

Band of Horses, Cass McCombs & The Middle Class and Tyler Ramsey at Spanish Moon

Tuesday, Feb 5:

M.O.D., Peckernut, SHAT at North Gate Tavern