Music

Bill Kirchen is one of the fortunate few who can step onto any stage, play those trademark licks that drove his seminal Commander Cody classic Hot Rod Lincoln into the Top Ten, and elicit instant recognition for a career that has spanned over 40 years and includes guitar work with Nick Lowe, Emmylou Harris, Doug Sahm, Elvis Costello and many more. Named “A Titan of the Telecaster” by Guitar Player Magazine, he celebrates an American musical tradition where rock 'n' roll and country music draws upon its origins in blues and bluegrass, Western swing from Texas and California honky-tonk.

He performs live on the air tonight at 7pm for the season finale of Studio 89.  Tell a friend and tune in!

Homecomings can be fraught with danger.

 Distractions abound:  “Friends” from third grade might just want to say hello, and maybe get a free ticket and CD, or there could be well-meaning members of the extended family who want to catch up with each other while the opener is singing.

Expectations were high for the Tedeschi Trucks Band show at the Taft Theatre Thursday. After all, this was the group whose "Revelator" album was No. 1 in last year's Top 89 voting by WNKU-FM listeners.

For many people, mid-life is a time of crisis. For the Cowboy Junkies, it is filled with inspiration.

The veteran Canadian band thoroughly entertained an enthusiastic crowd at the 20th Century in Oakley Tuesday night with a mixture of new and old tunes. The new ones came from “The Nomad Series,” the band’s ambitious 18-month project that produced four CDs.

This week is a tasty appetizer for a summer that promises to sizzle with great performances.

It starts today when the Cowboy Junkies play the 20th Century in Oakley at 8 p.m. The band is scheduled to visit WNKU today during the 3 p.m. hour with Gary Keegan.

The Canadians, who wrapped up their four-CDs-in-18-months “Nomad Series” project with the release of “The Wilderness” last month, will play two sets tonight.