By John Pluntze

This weekend offers another plethora of terrific music choices at a myriad of various Valleywide locations -- some at venues you'd expect, such as Whiskey's ( http://www.whiskeyjacques.com ), which'll have the Honey Island Swamp Band (http://www.honeyislandswampband.com ) -- but others at venues you might not expect ... including The Power House In Hailey (703 N. 1st Avenue/ 788-9184), which tonight will host a Wood RIver Valley-based band whose name is popping up more and more here: Toast.

Formed some five years ago when founding members Sean Dahlman, Zach Herbert, Sam Funk and Andre Keys were still attending the Hailey Middle School, Toast has been making the rounds over the years at venues as diverse as The Mint (during one of their many open-mike nights there), and at The Wicked Spud.

Inspired in part by their school's justly-celebrated band instructor at the time (Bart Bailey), these four increasingly-ambitious music students took what started out being a mere afterschool hobby of sorts and steadily shaped it into a legitimate, pulsating and rather unique-sounding band -- one that recently had scores of extremely-appreciative listeners at The Moose Girls Cafe in Ketchum (360 E. Avenue/ 727-9767) held in rapt attention for several hours that evening (they'll be performing there again this coming Sunday, btw, from 7-9:30 p.m.) ... much the way the band did last summer during the Hailey Night of Music, right outside McClain's Pizzeria (a venue where they'll be performing at again this coming Monday for THIS year's Hailey Night Of Music), a gig that proved be one of the group's most popular ones up that point, one that literally stopped traffic there right in front of McClain's for hours on end that evening in July, 2010.

"Andre, Sean and I started out as an acoustic improv group, and we went through pretty much EVERY music genre there is before settling on our current one," Wood River High School grad Zach Herbert told me recently. "We always loved that aspect of creating a song on the spot -- taking themes from the audience and then shaping into a song that hopefully connects WITH the audience."

Indeed, during their recent, wildly-popular musical outing at Moose Girls, an audience member suggested "sea turtles" as an idea for a song -- one that eventualy inspired a reggae-style tune with that very theme.

"We're NOT a cover band," Herbert said (equal parts proudly and emphatically), "Nor do we ever WANT to be..."

From its inception, Toast has always been fiercely determined to NOT be pigeonholed into a particular musical genre -- which is part of he reason that this year they added another member to their group, Mia Jefferson, who now shares lead-vocal duties with Herbert, and who will be attending the University Of Idaho (in Moscow) in the Fall.

"I was always friends with these guys in school, but it took awhile for me to get involved with the band," Jefferson said, adding with a laugh that, "Zach apparently saw a gleam hope in me as a musician."

"Mia totally blew us away the very first day she auditioned," Dahlman told me. "We'd already tried out several other female singers before her and none of them seemed right for the group. But when she came in and started singing, I think we all just knew right then and there that we had our girl -- our voices just blended soooo well together!!"

Toast already has one album to its credit ("Spotless Mind" -- recorded in Las Vegas, and in a mere six hours, too) and at least one hauntingly-beautiful and -powerful single that many people seem to think would be a perfect movie-soundtrack song ("Paper Wings").

"We have a verrrry nice balance of personalities and musical styles in this group," Jefferson said, "and hopefully that comes across in our concerts."

Adds Dahlman: "I've always been something of the 'The Reluctant One', I guess, when it comes to getting up there in front of an audience. But it's really a GREAT pleasure and honor to be sharing a stage with incredible musicians like Zach and Andre and Mia and Sam Funk, too -- who really is a PHENOMENAL FUNK player, by the way ... just an incredible powerhouse performer by any standard!!"

Toast will be performing tonight at Hailey's The Power House Bike Fit Studio (from 8-10 p.m.), on Sunday at Moose Girls Cafe (from 7-9:30 p.m.), next Monday in front of McClain's Pizzeria (5-9 p.m. or so), Tuesday, July 19th at 7 p.m. (as the "Ketch'em Alive" opening act that evening), and also at Zenergy poolside (on Friday, July 22, from 5-7 p.m.).

Contact Zach's father (who doubles as the band's manager), Jim Herbert (720-5801/ n606xe@gmail.com ), for info about the band's availability and rates.
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In some other music news for the weekend, the always rolicking and delightful Kim Stocking Band returns to the Silver Dollar in Bellevue tonight (788-2900), The Might Shims perform tonight at Zenergy poolside from 5-7 p.m. (725-0595), and the incomparable Carter Freeman ( http://www.myspace.com/carterfreeman ) returns for another stellar gig at the Sun Valley Brewery in Hailey (788-2900) this evening as well.

Also this weekend, Lefty's (726-2744) will have the popular local band, Hat Trick, performing there on Saturday, and Sean Jackson on Sunday (6-9 p.m. both evenings). And the Sun Valley Latin Jazz Ensemble (with Russ Caldwell) will be the terrific featured musical offering at Ketchum's Rotary Park on Sunday for its always-terrific ongoing "Jazz in the Park" series (6-8 p.m.).

And that's just some of the musical fun that awaits avid music lovers this weekend in the Wood RIver Valley.... 

By John Pluntze

Two highly-regarded, Wood River Valley-based organizations that specialize in helping rehabilitate wounded veterans of the ongoing Iraq and Afghanistan wars -- the Wood River Ability Program ( http://www.woodriverabilityprogram.org ), and Sun Valley Adaptive Sports ( http://www.svasp.org ) -- will be the object tonight of a fundraising concert held jointly in their honor at The Wicked Spud in Hailey, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. or so.

The featured musical entertainment will be courtesy of Bellevue's own self-proclaimed "folk 'n roll"  band, Up a Creek ( http://www.upacreekmusic.com  ),  whose four rolicking members (Bill Sprong, Jeff London, Scott Seaward and Raul Vandenberg) are always in-demand throughout the Wood River Valley.

The fundraising concert, part of the ongoing weekly, Wednesday evening "Back Alley Party" series at The Wicked Spud that are adroitly organized during the summer months by Heidi Albrecht and Dana DuGan, promises to be yet another in a long line of terrifically-entertaining evenings that not only feature wonderful dancetastic music, but also various cool and exciting raffle-drawing prizes -- proceeds from which (like the beer and wine sales generated from Albrecht's and DuGan's outdoor stand there at The Spud, directly across from the outdoor stage) will be divided up equally between the W.R.A.P. and the S.V.A.S.P. organizations.

Marc Mast, the director of the Wood River Ability Program (and also one of the original founding members of Sun Valley Adaptive Sports), has been the subject of several articles at SVO in the past few years (type "Marc Mast" into the SVO search engine here to read more about him and about W.R.A.P.), and his W.R.A.P. group have been the chosen recipient numerous times in the past as one of the local non-profit organizations that a "Back Alley Party" concert's proceeds have been used for (in part), but neither is an honor that Mast is anything other than extremely flattered and humbled by.

"I think for them devote their time and energies to this concert, and then also to donate money from those raffle prizes and alcohol sales tonight is really special ... an honor I don't take for granted AT ALL", Mast told me on Tuesday.

Call The Wicked Spud (788-0009/ 305 N. Main Street) for more info about tonight's fundraising concert for these two exemplary organizations.

Also this week at The Wicked Spud -- on Friday evening, from 6-9 p.m., to be exact -- another special music-oriented event will be returning to that justly-venerated venue: "Hailey Idol".

Based on the hit FOX talent-show series, "American Idol", the ongoing "Hailey Idol" showcase is geared toward elementary, middle-school and high-school students with a penchant for performing onstage. Individual musicians are happily accepted, but musical groups are also welcomed and encouraged (bands, however, cannot have more than three members).

Contestants are judged on a variety of aspects (everything from originality of music/song selections, to stage presence, to degree of dificulty) by a panel of three "American Idol"inspired judges -- "Randy Jackson" (Heidi Albrecht), "Paula Abdul" (Mitzi Mecham), and "Simon Cowell" (Scott Garvin) -- none of whom are ever especially harsh in their judgments.

Contact Heidi Albrecht (788-7827) for more info about these Friday evening "Hailey Idol" talent shows.

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By John Pluntze

Avid music buffs -- of which we clearly have no shortage of at all here in the Wood River Valley -- have no less than two stellar music offerings this evening, when jazz great Yve Evans ( http://www.facebook.com/msyveevans / www.yveevans.com/http://www.myspace.com/yveevans / ) -- a perennial fave every year at the October Jazz Festival, in Sun Valley -- will perform at Ketchum's Rotary Park (at Warm Springs and Saddle Roads) tonight, from 6 to 8 p.m., as part of the ongoing free "Jazz in the Park" concert series there that started just last week (with Paul Tillotson's terrific trio) ... a jazz-music series courtesy of local artist, musician and longtime Valley resident, Will Caldwell ( http://www.willcaldwell.com ), who booked all the various musical performances again for this summer's always-popular Sunday 6-8 p.m. "Jazz In the Park" concert series at Rotary Park, and also courtest of the late and beloved Dayle Fowler, who's been graciously sponsoring this jazz-music series since its inception (Fowler was killed earlier this week in a four-car accident on Highway 93, near Jerome).

Also this evening, running from 6 until 9 p.m. or so, another Valley fave -- local rock band, Hangar 17 -- will be performing on the deck at Lefty's right here in Ketchum (231 6th Street East/726-2744 -- diagonally across from the "Train On Main") ... only the second of their concerts there this summer.

Two terrific musical offerings tonight (Sunday), neither of which you better miss!!!

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By John Pluntze

Fans of the music-filled FOX dramedy series, "Glee" -- of which we have A LOT right here in the Wood River Valley (type "Glee" into the SVO search engine to read more about it) -- may well want to head to Hailey's The Wicked Spud (305 N. Main Street) Friday, July 1st, when a plethora of verrry talented and fearless Hailey Middle School and High School students of Mitzi Mecham's Music 'n Me music schools take the stage there, performing various hit songs from that award-winning hit FOX series (as well as ones from "Mary Poppins").

Music starts at 6 tonight and runs until 9 p.m. or so there at The Wicked Spud. Call Mitzi Mecham (720-3918) for more info.

Also on tonight (Friday) , Iconoclast Books (671 Sun Valley Road/726-1564) owner Sarah Hedrick will bring back the "Open Mic Night" there to Ketchum's Town Square, from 6 until 9 p.m. or so, the second of many such "Open Mic Nights" at the Ketchum Town Square that Hedrick has slated for every other Friday throughout the summer months.

All ages, level of talent and musical genres are welcome...

Rumor has it there'll be a verrrrry cool rendition of Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe" there on Friday evening -- and also possibly some more of those celebrated love letters from Harry Dreyfuss.

Ohhhh and speaking of the Ketchum Town Square, I really feel sorry for anyone who wasn't able to see the return at that justly-venerated venue last night of another understandably beloved Valley-based band there: All-Nite Diner (featuring Craig Meyers, Jason Vontver, Heidi Hogan, Ned Wheeler and Brad Pearson) -- and also James Fisher, who superbly subbed for the band's regular drummer (Vontver).

All-Nite Diner had one of the LARGEST and MOST-appreciative turnouts for any band who performed there at the Ketchum Town Square LAST Summer-- and Thursday's concert was similarly popular (and memorable)!!!.

Also this weekend, be sure to check out those Sunday evening, free, 6-9 p.m. outdoor deck concerts art Lefty's here in Ketchum (236 6th Street East/ 726-2744 --  right across from the "Train On Main") Call Lefty's for times and band info.This Sunday's musical offering is Hangar 17 (Hat Trick is slated to perform there next Sunday -- on July 9th)

See ya there...   :)
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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 Paul Tillotoson (who's currently slaying them at Trail Creek Cabin every Wednesday and Thursday evenings, from 5 to 8 p.m.there), Sheryll Mae Grace,  Bruce Innes, Jeff Rew, Molly and Josiah Venter, Hoodwink, The Mighty Shims (performing at Zenergy poolside, Friday, July 8th), Cow Says Mooo (who TOTALLY KILLED it at the Ketchum Town Square last Thursday, btw!!!), FourStroke Bus, and the Kim Stocking Band (who'll be performing at the Ketchum Town Square NEXT Thursday evening, from 6 to 8:15 or so) -- simply type "Music Rules" (and also 'John Pluntze") into the SVO search engine here.

By John Pluntze

In yet another wonderful reminder that summer is indeed here once again, tonight will see the return of that justly-venerated Ketch'em Alive free concert series that takes place every Tuesday evening from 7 - 9 p.m. or so at Ketchum's Forest Service Park (1st and Washington Streets -- two blocks south of the Magic Lantern Cinemas), a series that local artist and musician Will Caldwell ( http://www.willcaldwell.com ) has been happily organizing for many years now.

Some of the many unceasingly talented (and fearless) music students from Mitzi Mecham's Music 'n Me music schools here in the Valley ( http://www.notesmusic.com ) will kick things off tonight from 7 to 7:30 or so, with some pulsating sounds of their own.

And then from 7:30 until 9:15 or so -- as part of its nationwide "Hair Of the Dog" tour -- the highly-acclaimed Boston-based rockabilly band, Guns, Girls and Glory ( www.girlsgunsandglory.com / http://www.myspace.com/girlsgunsandglory/music / http://www.youtube.com/ ), will take the stage there at Forest Service Park to provide their own unique brand of seriously dancetastic music.

Picnics and lawn chairs are up to individual concert goers, but there will be beer and wine for sale at the Forest Service Park concert there -- courtesy of Sawtooth Club and The Roosevelt owner, Tom Nickel.

The Ketch'em Alive Tuesday concert series runs thru Tuesday, August 23rd.

And don't forget also to check out the free Ketchum Town Square "Town Square Tunes" concert series (right across from Giacobbi Square/Atkinsons') this coming Thursday evening, from 6 to 8;15 p.m. or so -- another free summer-concert series that's likewise organized by Will Caldwell -- when the Valley-based band, All Nite Diner (featuring Craig Meyers, Ned Wheeler, Brad Pearson, Heidi Hogan and Jason Vontver), takes the stage. Last Thursday's evening's first concert of the series (featuring Cow Says Mooo) was a seriously rockin' time for young and old alike, and this Thursday's concert will undoubtedly be a similarly stellar one.
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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 numerous previous "HC" columns -- which include raves on local faves Cow Says Mooo, All Nite Diner, Molly and Josiah venter, Paul Tillotson, Sheryll Mae Grace, Jeff Rew, FourStroke Bus, Bruce Innes (who's back in town visiting for a week or so, with his lovely wife, Wanda), The Branches, Good Ju-Ju, and FOX's music-filled dramedy series, "Glee" -- simply type "Harmonic Convergence" (and also "John Pluntze") into the SVO search engine here.   

By John Pluntze

Well, if you didn't get a chance to see them as the opening band on Wednesday (at The Wicked Spud), or the featured band last night (for the very first Ketchum Town Square Thursday concert of the summer), then be sure to make time tonight to see thet terrific Valley-based band, Cow Says Mooo ( http://www.facebook.com/cowsaysmooo -- featuring Henno Heitur, Danae Commons and Aquila Kashino), who'll be performing at the Zenergy Health Club & Spa (245 Raven Road, right off Saddle Road/ 725-0595) this evening from 5-7 p.m. for the very first of those free poolside Zenergy concerts that'll take place every other Friday from now thru  Labor Day Weekend.

And because Zenergy is holding the grand opening this evening of a new boutique there in their spa, the 5 -7 p.m. Cow Says Mooo concert is open to ALL the public, and not just members of Zenergy, and/or residents of Thunder Springs (which is usually the case for those always-popular poolside concerts there).

Also this evening on the music front -- at Hailey's Sun Valley Brewery ( 202 N. Main Street/788-0805), musicians Geoffrey Castle ( http://www.geoffreycastle.com ) and Beth Quist ( http://www.magnatune.com/artists/beth_quist ) will perform, with music slated to start at 8 p.m. there.

And finally tonight (Friday) at Whiskey's right here in Ketchum ( 251 N. Main Street/ http://www.whiskeyjacques.com ) the pulsing sounds of Headphone Union ( http://www.headphoneunion.com / http://www.reverbnation.com/headphoneunion ) will take the stage there, with music slated to start around 10 p.m.

Valley fave Old Death Whisper ( http://www.myspace.com/thedamphools / http://www.facebook.com/pages/Old_Death_Whisper ) plays there at Whiskey's on Saturday night.

And that's just some of the musical fun the awaits avid music lovers here in the Wood RIver Valley this weekend!!!

By John Pluntze

Fresh from their success last week during the three-night, standing room-only "A Night At the Liberty" annual concert series that was held at Hailey's Liberty Theatre, Wood River Middle School and High School music students will hold their final choral concert of the 2010-2011 season tomorrow (Wednesday) at Hailey's Community Campus (1050 Fox Acres Road) at 7 p.m.

The Wednesday evening concert, titled "Seize the Day" (inspired by the 1992 Christian Bale-Robert Duvall musical, "Newsies"), is open to the general public and is free, but donations are gratefully accepted and appreciated.

Members of COLLA VOCE (Sarah Arters, Chloe Barrymore, Taylor Berntson, Morgan Brunker, Rachel Conover, Mariah Davis Julia Dwyer, Lauren Jacobs, Mia Jefferson, Elana King-Nakaoka, Lauren Lichtenberg, Anastasia Maricich, Jonnie Pedersen, Mary Petzke), ENCHANTE (Allie Cleven, Wendy de la Cruz, Breanna Glahn, Shanniece Hall, Rebecca Hogan, Dalyah Reel-Hughes, Bridget Kernan, Dallas Lewallen, Amber Lewis, Tracy Morales, Destiny Murphy, Genasee Twitchell, Katie Walton), as well as the all-male singing group, THE B-TONES (William Ashfield, Michael Duder, Drew Deffe, Alec England, Kevin Ferry, Caleb Garvin, Mark Karlovich, Nathaniel Kniffen, Alexzander Padilla, Sean Sutton, Rosendo Torres Vargas) will be featured at the "Seize the Day" concert.

This final choral concert of the season caps off a remarkable and unceasingly inspiring school year for the 137 music students of Wood River High School, particularly.

Last month at the annual Heritage Music Festival Competition (in Anaheim, CA), WRHS students snagged more highly-coveted awards at that fiercely-competitive competition (it regularly features more than 2,400 competeting music students) than any other school that was represented there -- including awards for "Heritage Festival Sweepstakes" (top school combined), "Choral Sweepstakes" (top choirs combined), "Instrumental Sweepstakes" (orchestra and band combined),  "Outstanding Choir" (Colla Voce), "Outstanding Band" (The Dixie Band), "Outstanding Chamber Orchestra", "Best Concert Choir", "Best Orchestra" and "Best Concert Band" ... an unpredecented coup for not only the WRHS students, but also for music teacher Tony Randall, choir director Max Stimac, men's chamber choir (and Sun Valley Summer Symphony) director R.L. Rowsey, and for chamber orchestra director Rebecca Martin,

The concert tomorrow night at the Community Campus will also feature a very impressive array of instrumentalists who were likewise featured last week at Hailey's "A Night At the Liberty' concerts: Sam Funk (guitar), Alex Lochard (string bass), Rebecca Martin (violin), Emily Parker (viola), Dorinda Rendahl (piano), R.L. Rowsey (synth, piano), Ben Thompson (percussion), Haylee Thompson (cello), Hunter Thompson (violin), Jim Watkinson (synth, bass) and Jimmy Williams (bass).

Call 578-5020 (ext. 2249) for more info. about Wednesday night's 'Seize the Day" concert at Hailey's Community Campus.   

By John Pluntze

In another vivid sign that summer is, indeed, on its, way, there will be two Wood River Valley Camp Fair open houses taking place this week -- both tomorrow (Tuesday), at the Community Campus in Hailey (1050 Fox Acres Rd./788-3481), and on Thursday, at the YMCA in Ketchum (101 Saddle Rd./727-9622).

Both events run from 5-7 p.m., will feature information about and representatives from a myriad of Valley-based summer camp organizations here, music, and various give-aways.

Call Music 'n Me music schools co-owner Mitzi Mecham (720-3918) for more info about the Tuesday and/or Thursday summer camp-oriented events this week.

By John Pluntze

Ketchum's The Dollhouse consignment boutique (5th Street and FIrst Avenue/ 726-8332/ http://www.dollhouseconsignment.com ) has always been something a trendsetter for the Wood River Valley, and that much-appreciated trendsetting aspect is about to take several new, exciting turns starting this weekend -- when the shop begins new operating hours (Wed.-Sat. 10-5:30) ... and also begins closing its boutique on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays.

The impetus for closing the very popular Ketchum consignment shop -- one whose clientele ranges in ages from pre-teens to retirees -- to walk-in customers on Mondays and Tuesdays is two-fold, its owner, Lara Spencer, explained to me recently First, it will allow Spencer on Tuesdays of the first and second weeks of each month to schedule customers to come into the shop for various one-on-one personalized fashion and styling consultation services.

The other is to allow Spencer on the 3rd and 4th Tuesdays (and Mondays, also) of each month to focus solely on "refreshing" the inventory at The Dollhouse."

Another exciting new service that Spencer will soon be offering (starting early next month) will be that of a customized in-home closet consultant -- going to a client's home, helping them create outfits out of single pieces they maybe "never" wear anymore (because they can't figure out WHAT to wear with it), organize and cull closets (with items the client decides they don't want/need anymore heading back to The Dollhouse for sale).

This in-home service will cost clients $75-per-hour (with a two-hour minimum) -- easily 1/3 to 1/2 the price of what it would typically cost clients in a big city for the very same in-home service.

"The people who shop at The Dollhouse are NOT customers; they're guests in my home. And now in some cases, I'll be a 'guest' in some of my client's homes as well," Spencer said, adding: "My shoppers want as much PERSONALIZED attention as possible, and I've always strived to give them that .... with these latest services being yet some more examples of that. I mean it IS something of a risk for me -- closing the shop on Tuesdays in order to have one-on-one styling consultations instead with various customers who need and want my help -- but I think one of the reasons why The Dollhouse did become so popular with so many women in this Valley so quickly is that I wasn't just offering the basic consignment-shop servicesl I wanted A LOT more for them than just that."

Spencer said that first available appointment she has for in-home consltations is Wednesday, May 4th, with the first in-store consultations taking place on Tuesday, May 3rd (there's a $10 refundable deposit required for these Tuesday in-store consultation appointments at the time a client makes their appointment).

"We have a number of exciting, new paradigms taking place here right now at The Dollhouse, and I really hope that my shoppers rally around 'em, because THEY are the ones who've repeatedly requested these services in the first place -- services I'm only too happy to provide for them now!!"

By John Pluntze

Because today is St. Patrick's Day, a number of Valleywide venues that normally offer live music on Friday will be offering music tonight as well -- including The BrickHouse (in Bellevue), Whiskey's (in Ketchum), and the Sun Valley Brewery (in Hailey).

Kicking off the terrific musical events for today -- as they ALWAYS do each Thursday evening -- The Fabulous Vuarnettes (featuring All-Nite Diner lead singer Heidi Hogan) will return to Sun Valley Resort's Boiler Room (622-2148) tonight, at 6 p.m., for another 90 minutes of stellar entertainment there.

Speaking of verrrry popular locally-based bands, down south tonight -- at Bellevue's The BrickHouse bar & restaurant ( www.brickhousebellevue.com / 788-4999/ 202 S. Main Street) -- Valleywide "Mooo Heads" will have radiant reasons to rejoice once again when the Cow Says Mooo band ( http://www.facebook.com/cowsaysmooo / http://www.myspace.com/cowsaysmooo ) will return to the live-music scene here after a longgg absence, taking the stage there tonight from 7-9:15 p.m. or so.

Featuring Henno Heitur, Danae Commons, and Aquila Kashino, this seriously infectious and otherwise completely kick-ass trio has played at a myriad of venues (Papa Hemi's Hideaway, Lefty's, the Ketchum Town Square, Ketch'em Alive, the Zenergy Pool & Spa, the Sun Valley Brewery, etc) since debuting here in the Wood River Valley just two scant summers ago.

Lately, this extremely talented and dedicated trio has been busy writing and rehearsing a number of original songs that adroitly compliment the classic covers like "Angel From Montgomery" and "Hard Sun" that they're justly-famous for now -- a number of which they'll be performing in front of a live audience for the very first time tonight, so please try to make time to catch at least some of their absolutely amazing gig there and otherwise encourage them on with their future new musical endeavors!!

Also tonight in Bellevue, starting at 9 p.m., another verrry popular local band, Baseline Road, returns to The Silver Dollar Saloon (101 S. Main Street/ 788-2900), for several hours of high-energy fun there. (Boise's own endlessly inventive and in-demand DJ Marlene (aka, Marlin Valdivia) does her own unique musical thing there at the Silver Dollar tomorrow/Friday night.)

In Hailey this evening, it won't get much more classically Irish in nature than when internationally-acclaimed bagpipe player Cody Steck takes the stage at 6:30 p.m. at the Sun Valley Brewery (202 N. Main Street/788-0805/ www.sunvalleybrewery.com ), with Seattle's own rockabilly sensation, the James Hunnicutt band ( http://www.myspace.com/jamesabilly / http://jameshunnicutt.com ) following there at 8:30 p.m. (until 10:30 or so).

That Irish celtic-jazz-tribal-infusion artist Kevin Flynn (visiting from Salt Lake City) takes the stage there at the SV Brewery tomorrow night, with music slated to start around 8 p.m. or so.

Hey, and as far as getting SAFELY and AFFORDABLY from the North to the South Valley tonight  (or vice versa), there's a terrific taxi service that's currently being sponsored by Mahoney's, The BrickHouse and The Silver Dollar. Patrons can ride to and from Hailey and Bellevue for FREE -- and only $10 (+ tip) to or from Ketchum to either Hailey or Bellevue. Call Scott (720-0332) for more info.

And finally in Ketchum tonight, at Whiskey's (251 N. Main Street/726-5297 http://www.whiskeyjacques.com  ), another extremely beloved, locally-based band, Old Death Whisper ( http://olddeathwhisper.net / http://www.myspace.com/thedamphools ), returns for another eagerly-awaited gig there, with music starting considerably earlier than normal there at Whiskey's (8 p.m.). That seriously kick-ass, 9-piece bluegrass band, Old Man Markley ( http://www.myspace.com/oldmanmarkley / http://www.oldmanmarkley.com ), plays at Whiskey's on Friday night, with music starting at the usual 10 p.m. kick-off time there tomorrow.

And that's just some of the musical fun that awaits avid music lovers/listeners in the Wood River Valley tonight, and this weekend.
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Questions and/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 Molly and Josiah Venter, Bruce Innes, Sheryll Mae Grace, Gayle Chapman, Jeff Rew, Paul Tillotson, Cow Says Mooo, All-Nite Diner, FourStroke Bus, Good Ju-Ju, The Branches, Mitzi Mecham's "Music 'n Me" music schools, and FOX's hit, music filled series "Glee" (which, btw, incredibly has now surpassed even The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Brown and Elvis Presley to have the MOST "Billboard Top 100 Hits" of all time ... at a staggering 115 so far!!!) -- simply type "Music Rules" (and also "John Pluntze") into the SVO search engine here.