By John Pluntze

Well, as I said in this "Harmonic Convergence" (local music scene-oriented) column yesterday, this weekend isn't exactly short of music offerings -- call it the "last hurrah," for lack of a better word, before the summer season comes to a close -- and those various offerings run the gambit from an Australian band that is making its Idaho debut here in the Valley Saturday to one of the Valley's most revered bands that is playing at The Roosevelt tonight...

...and THAT band would be none other than Cow Says Mooo ( http://www.facebook.com/cowsaysmooo / http://www.myspace.com/cowsaysmooo ), which is slated to play at The Roosevelt Grille (corner of Sun Valley Road & Main Street in Ketchum/ 726-0051) tonight, starting around 9:45 p.m. or so, after their terrific dinner service there ends. 

Featuring Henno Heitur, Danae Commons and Aquila Kashino (the latter is someone whose almost-legendary now soaring harmonica bridges are something you simply have to see and hear in-person to believe!!!), this extremely high-energy and inventive trio has already played a number of verrry successful gigs in the Wood River Valley this summer (at Lefty's, Zenergy, the SV Brewery, Papa Hemi's Hideaway, etc), and tonight's Roosevelt concert is certain to be another truly stellar one for them and their ever-expanding "Mooo Head" audience as well.

Also performing tonight in Ketchum -- on the OTHER side of Ketchum's Main Street, in fact, at Whiskey's (251 N. Main Street/ 726-5297: www.whiskeyjacques.com ), is another seriously high-energy and verrry inventive band -- Dallas Alice ( http://www.dallasalicerocks.com  http://www.myspace.com/dallasalicerocks   http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dallasalice ) -- that already enjoyed one unabashedly kick-ass gig here in the Valley last night (at Mahoney's, in Bellevue) ... and one that's certain to do so again tonight at Whiskey's (Dallas Alice also plays there on Saturday as well, with music starting around 10 p.m. both nights).

Earlier this evening, they'll be more great music in the form of that always-incredible reggae-blues sensation from Twin Falls who's likewise enjoyed a number of verrry popular and successful gigs here in the Valley already this summer, and who, ironically, made his Wood RIver Valley debut just this past winter at The Roosevelt (after Roosevelt owner Tom Nickel saw Tucker at one of his very popular Twin Falls gigs and immediately wanted to book the 21-year-old singer-songwriter-guitarist for The Roosevelt)  -- Ethan Tucker ( http://www.myspace.com/etuckermusic ) -- who'll be peforming tonight from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Papa Hemi's Hideaway (310 S. Main Street -- just as you're entering/leaving Ketchum/ 726-3773); the local bluegrass-country-folk duo, Spare Change (Peter Boice & Chip Booth), performs at Papa H's tomorrow at the very same time.

At the Silver Dollar Saloon (101 S. Main Street/788-2900) in Bellevue tonight (Friday), that always-in-demand local band Str8 Up will be performing there, followed by Karaoke with Dena there on Saturday evening ... and on Sunday evening, DJ Marlene (aka, Marlin Valdivia) will be once again doing her vinyl-spin thing at that revered and iconic Bellevue establishment; music starts around 9 p.m. all three nights.

And speaking of Bellevue .... on SATURDAY evening there -- at The BrickHouse Bar & Grill (202 S. Main Street/ 788-4999 www.brickhousebellevue.com ) -- there'll be another one of those verrry family-friendly "street party" outdoor concerts there, this one featuring the local band, Hoodwink ( www.myspace.com/hoodwink ), from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Bigggg thanks to BrickHouse co-owner Lindy Stark (with Tom Nickel) for creating such a genuinely-terrific atmosphere all this summer there that's highly conducive to great, great Bellevue concerts that people of ALL ages can (and obviously DO) enjoy!!!!!!

You GO, girl...

Also in the South Valley on Saturday evening -- in Hailey, at the Sun Valley Brewery (202 N. Main Street/ 788-0805)
 -- a band from AUSTRALIA, no less, is making their Idaho debut there!! Blackhart & Strangelove ( http://www.myspace.com/blackhartandstrangelove ) may not exactly be a household name yet here, but lead singer Laura Wendling and company (think Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Blondie and/or the Ann & Nancy Wilson-driven band, Heart) are bound to have people here in the Valley quickly savoring the fact that these extremely-talented Aussies DID decide to make Hailey a stop on their ongoing, nationwide tour. GOOD on ya, Sean, for booking them there!!!!!!

Among the other music slated for this weekend are jazz-blues greats Cheryl Morrell & Alan Pennay tonight once again, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Ketchum's Cosi Restaurant in Trail Creek Village (240 S. Main Street/726-8384), which is precisely where jazz-blues great Paul Tillotson ( www.paultillotson.com ) plays on WEDNESDAY evenings -- also from 6:30-8:30 (btw, you can also catch keys master Tillotson AND blues singer Tyia Wilson at Ketchum's Sego restaurant -- on Washington Avenue, right around the corner from the Magic Lantern Cinemas -- from 8:30-11:30 p.m. or so on Saturday evenings there).

And on Sunday evening, at the Sun Valley Pavilion, there'll be a Sun Valley Winter Artist Series benefit concert featuring virtuoso pianist, Leonard Bernstein protege and Juilliard School alumni Misha Dichter ( www.mishadichter.com  http://new.music.yahoo.com/misha-dichter/  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misha_Dichter ) ), with doors at the Pavilion opening at 7 p.m. and the show itself starting at 8 p.m. Contact www.mySVFun.com or call 622-2108 for ticket info.

And that's just some of the fun that's available this weekend where the local music scene is concerned...
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Questions or comments regarding this "Harmonic Convergence" (local music scene-oriented) column can be sent to John at: WriteStuffIdaho@gmail.com And to read any of John's previous "HC" columns -- which include raves on local faves Bruce Innes, Paul Tillotson, Gayle Chapman, Ethan Tucker,  Sheryll Mae "Gracie" Grace, Molly Venter, DJ Marlene/Marlin Valdivia, Jeff Rew, Bart Budwig, All Nite Diner, Cow Says Mooo and FourStroke Bus -- simply type "Music Rules" (and also "John Pluntze") into the SVO search engine here.