TUES 7/21: Three Excellent Shows

For a Tuesday night, there are a plethora of solid gigs. I'm not even listing Mark Eitzel's show at the Lizard Lounge, because it's $14+.

Maybe you had a chance to get a free pastry from Starbucks this morning. I tried to pass on the info as soon as I heard about it.

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TUES 7/21

7:30pm & 10pm
Peter Mulvey plays Tom Waits' "Rain Dogs"
at Atwoods Tavern, 877 Cambridge St, Cambridge (near Inman & Kendall Sq)
$10

There's a low, rich, weathered timbre to Peter Mulvey's voice that spent quite a few years getting seasoned at clubs and T stops around Boston. I like the way this guy plays with ideas like recording a CD of cover songs at the Davis Sq station -- and for performing "Rain Dogs" in its entirety (with band).

He's done this before, but it is my humble opinion that this is the best Tom Waits record -- bar none. Not only are the songs vivid tales like outtakes of a film noir classic, the overall sound is a milestone in his career. This feels like the crossroads between his early singer-songwriter work and the off-kilter soundscapes that continue through the present. Mulvey's gentle rasp will suit the material like a glove.

There are two separate shows at 7:30pm and 10pm.

TUES 7/21

9pm
Mark Burgess w/ Curtain Society, Aaron Perrino, Lifestyle, Shawn Saindon & Ryan Dolan, Dave Jackel
at Hennessy's Upstairs, 25 Union St, Boston (near Faneuil Hall)
$10 / 21+

While I wasn't a huge fan of The Chameleons UK, they were one of the cool new wave bands -- like the more popular Cure and Echo & The Bunnymen -- whose music holds up really well. Serendipity finds Mark Burgess, the chief Chameleon, in Boston; and a gig has formed around his night in town.

Burgess is going to be backed by Worcester's Curtain Society for a set of classic Chameleons UK and his solo songs. All the other performers are just fans who want to be on the show. It's also a great chance to hear Aaron Perrino (of Dear Leader, The Sheila Divine) and Lifestyle who don't gig around Boston much. There's going to be a lot of music-geek love in the room.

Note: It's my understanding that you will be carded no matter how old you are.

TUES 7/21

Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby (10:15pm), Jimmy Ryan (9:15pm)
at TT the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St, Cambridge (Central Sq)
$10

Music fans would fondly remember Wreckless Eric if he never wrote another song after "Whole Wide World". It was punk like Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe (his early label-mates) were punk, but it's one of those enduring songs for a simple, catchy, heartfelt awesomeness. It's been covered dozens of times and probably drunkenly sang millions of times.

These days, he and his wife Amy Rigby are still making raucous, melodic rock and roll as a duo.

The best damn mandolinist Jimmy Ryan will open with a solo set.