Weekend Ideas: January 9, 2015

On a weekend that’s dominated by football playoffs, a Red Sox-aligned concert stands out. But there’s other musical action in store as well. Guitarist Johnny A, who was just inducted to the Boston Music Awards’ Hall of Fame, flashes his chops at Johnny D’s on Friday. The same night brings resurgent jam-tronica outfit Particle to the Sinclair with guest drummer Allen Aucoin of the Disco Biscuits. And Kansas-based YouTube star Kawehi brings her looped mashup skills to the Brighton Music Hall on Friday in advance of a Kickstarter-funded new EP in March. Hopefully Kawehi can build her reputation beyond covers like this viral Nirvana reinvention.

Punk-Americana outfit the Devil Makes Three charms House of Blues on Saturday, although Hot Stove Cool Music offers the main event at the Paradise Rock Club. That annual benefit arranged by ex-Sox GM Theo Epstein and his brother Paul for their Foundation to Be Named Later charity usually provides a chummy blowout with sportswriter Peter Gammons and Hub-launched rock notables Kay Hanley, Bill Janovitz and Tanya Donelly. This year, they’ve sweetened the party with the Juliana Hatfield Three’s first show in nearly 20 years, reunited garage-pop favorites the Cavedogs, the Hold Steady’s effusive frontman Craig Finn, and legendary producer and Somerville resident Al Kooper, best known for his signature organ lick in Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone.” The scorecard’s filled out with the likes of Eli “Paperboy” Reed, Will Dailey, the Gravel Pit, Jen Trynin and the Figgs’ Mike Gent, making it a night worth extra innings. And it’ll kick into gear after the Patriots game. Likewise, after Sunday’s football matchups, DC rapper Wale drops his populist rhymes at the Paradise to wrap up the weekend.


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