Upcoming Live Music

January is shaping up to be a very quiet month. Touring bands seem all settled down to a long winter's nap. But the musical groups that are out on the road this month are worth noting. And a few local acts make welcome returns to the River City.

Dutch's Tavern, Jan. 1 — When keyboardist Bobby Lanz calls his group the All-Stars, you can bet they aren't a bunch of half-steppers. Other area cities have been monopolizing Lanz's time; come out and hear one of Louisville's best.

Kelly Richey Band, Big Heavy's Blues & Dance Club, Jan. 3 — Lexington's hottest blues guitarist is touring behind a strong album.

Beeblebrox, The Rudyard Kipling, Jan. 4 — This Bloomington jazz combo runs a fine line between mainstream and Third Stream.

Buster Brown, Butchertown Pub, Jan. 5 & 6 — It's a two-day reunion show of one of Louisville's favorite rock acts. The clincher is that there will be another popular band kicking around the Pub that weekend: pop/techno/industrial dance band Big Head.

Pam Thum

Cherub Scourge, Cherokee, Jan. 6 - Why see this classic local punk band? Be- cause this is their album release party (celebrating the arrival of Outside of Everything, review on page 20), and the album is good! They're doing two shows - an all-ages show at 6 p.m., with Skam Impaired and Flip Doubt opening, and an over-21 show at 10:00 p.m. with Liver Girls opening. .

Carrie Newcomer, Kristina Olsen, The Rudyard Kipling, Jan. ll — Bloomingtonian Newcomer, who records for a division of Rounder Records, is always a welcome sight in our city.

Backstage Blues Cafe, Jan. 14 — Kris Kristofferson sings and plays his literate country in a, um, unique style. Well, he's a good songwriter, at least.

Ken Mellon, Coyote's, Jan. 18 — This dude is touring on the strength of his hit on Epic Records, "Juke Box Junkie."

George Jones & the Jones Boys, Palace Theatre, Jan. 20 — A country music legend and a snappy dresser to boot.

Coyote's, RRote Awards, Jan. 21 - Louisville's mainstream rock and country acts compete in a music video showdown that is run as professionally as the Grammys.Well, almost.

Pam Thum, Evangel Christian Life Center, Jan. 23 — Take a trip down Minors Lane to hear the woman who won New Artist of the Year at the 1994 Dove Awards, gospel and contemporary christian music's Grammys.

George Jones

Jan. 21, Louisville Gardens, Kentucky Center presents: Jazz Cabaret Concert — Nnenna Freelon.

KCA's Bomhard Theater, Jan. 26 — This Lonesome Pine Special show features one of bluegrass' best songwriters. Mollie O'Brien and the O'Boys are absolutely first- rate musicians, too.

Jimmy Rogers, Backstage Blues Cafe, Jan. 29 — Rogers' guitar was the sound behind Muddy Waters.;

Korn, The Brewery, Jan. 13 — Big. Loud. Heavy metal. Rock. Korn. Ugh.

Bobby Womack, KCA, Jan. 27 - This is the original, folks. Sweet soul music and earthy blues.

If none of the above shows suit you, or you have some spare time, you could check out the latest addition to the Frankfort Ave. restaurant and music scene. Bob Bahr offers a brief overview of Zephyr Cove.

There are exceptions here and there—Nashville's 12th & Porter comes to mind — but for the most part, establishments can't seem to mix good food and good music that reaches much further than low-boiling jazz. Heidi Richards, along with her husband John and her mother-in- law, is out to change that here in Louisville with Zephyr Cove, a new restaurant/club located at 2330 Frankfort Avenue.

"We're not like anyone in the city," said Richards. "The decor looks like a resort in Aspen —classy, upscale, and artsy but comfortable and very warm. it's a different concept. We've put our dream on the line."

The Richards serve food until 2 a.m. on weekends, preparing vegetarian, wild game and traditional dishes that range from $5.95 up to $18.95. After hours (midnight on weekends, 11 p.m. on weekdays) only appetizers, salads, soups and sandwiches arc available.

But that's when the music is heating up.

Zephyr Cove has music booked five nights a week. Performers range from the solo keyboard playing of Keith Montross to the seven-piece polish of Stages, a variety band whose bloodlines run back to City Lights.

"The bottom line is my husband has been a working musician," said Heidi Richards. "It's become very difficult to work in today's environment. We've seen it first hand."

The Richards' family business is certainly doing its part. In addition to offering a steady gig to a relatively big, obviously talented house band (John Richards on bass, Ray Dunaway, Jr. on drums, Montross on keys, Don Watson on several instruments, Mark lngram on lead guitar, Rick DeBow on sax, percussion, and flute, and two vocalists — Kate Foulds and Patti Hagewood — alternating on singing duties), Zephyr Cove has the Nu Grooves Music Series on Tuesday nights. It features local original acts; past bookings have included the Java Men, danny flanigan & Greathouse, L'woo, and several solo artists.

Oh, one more thing. If you think you see flour on John Richards hands as he jumps on stage at 10 p.m., you're probably right.

The bass player doubles as chief of Zephyr Cove's kitchen. Between gigs, Richards earned a 4.0 GPA and a slew of culinary medals while attending Sullivan College's culinary arts school.

Pick Of the Slim Pickin's:

Tim & Mollie O'Brien and the O'Boys