I have to admit, I got my guts ties in a knot over some of the tunes in town this weekend. The show I’m most excited about is Saturday’s pick. How often do you get to go to a real, old-school soul show? Bottletree has not one, but three excellent southern soul legends on the stage for your listening consumption. But let’s begin at the begee, shall we?

Thursday 4/3
Tea Leaf Green / Cornmeal @ Workplay
Admission: 15$		Go Time: 8:00 p.m.
		Teal Leaf Green have had a quick rise into the lime-light, moving from tiny venues to playing The Fillmore auditorium in their hometown of San Fransisco in just a few years based on the strength of their engaging live performances. It’s not gonna blow your mind, but it certainly will move your feet.
		When I think of music coming out of Chicago, bluegrass isn’t the first thing that pops into mind, but that hasn’t stopped the Windy City natives Cornmeal from breaking out the banjos and fiddles for a good ol’ fashioned get down.
Friday 4/4
Blue Mountain @ Workplay
Admission: 10$		Go Time: 9 p.m.
		With a name like Blue Mountain, I was expecting another bluegrass band, but while this band definitely leans that way, they are first and foremost a rock band (with fiddle and banjo). These gays and gals have been around for almost two decades now, and they’ve honed their song sense into a tight sound chock full of electric grass n’ roll.
Saturday 4/5
Ralph “Soul” Jackson / Roscoe Robinson / Wiley and the Checkmates @ Bottletree
Admission: $12		Zero Hour: 9 p.m.
		I know a lot of people are going to shake their mugs at me in confusion when I point them in the direction of Bottletree tonight. After all, Diana Krall is playing elsewhere in the city. Well, for all you naysayers out there I’ve provided info for her show in the honorable mention section. For my part, I’d rather bask in the golden glow of some old soul. Ralph “Soul” Jackson was known for some great but obscure singles back in soul’s heyday, but he’s still got it, and I want some.
		Roscoe Robinson was performing gospel for twenty years before he even recorded his first soul single, and has a celebrated and lengthy career since then. He’s recorded over 20 singles and 7 albums in that time and performed with the likes of Sam Cooke and The Blind Boys Of Alabama. This guy is a legend, and you should take the opportunity to see him NOW.
		Herbert Wiley quit playing music after a dozen years on the road in the 60’s, but was inspired by a local punk band in 2002 to reform his band Wiley and the Checkmates. Since then, they’ve been storming around the Southeast to great acclaim.
Honorable Mention:		Diana Krall @ Alys Stephens Center

I’ve got my knees knocking in anticipation. See you about the town, Hamsters.

This post was written by Sam George and brought to you by r3vrb.com and suspenders.