Billy Bacon & The Forbidden Pigs, Justin Jones and Jerry “Hot Rod” DeMink, reunite at The Zoo this weekend. Catch the Tex-Mex, rockabilly, swing and roots music of one of the most popular trios to hit the blues touring circuit over the last 20 years. Reunion shows are Thursday, April 12, 6-9 p.m., Friday, April 13, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. with Tijuana Gigolos playing 5-7 p.m. and Saturday, April 14, 6-9 p.m. with a pig roast. See zoobar.com.
Lager & Benoit
The Kris Lager Band has kept it low-key, but last week they were in Louisiana with Tab Benoit, who is producing their next CD. Benoit is one of the most-acclaimed blues-roots guitarists and bandleaders on the national scene, with a Grammy nomination and multiple Blues Music Awards.
Via phone, Lager recounted some highlights. Benoit welcomed the band to Houma, La., with a run out onto the water where the band jammed on the Benoit family house boat, enjoying the natural “tree-verb,” as Benoit calls it, that the cypress trees and the water provide.
Lager says Benoit “had great suggestions and he made us feel natural and comfortable.” Lager says in the studio Benoit helped polish a new slow, country waltz tune Lager has been working up. Benoit played drums and pedal steel on the track. “It’s unreal,” Lager says of Benoit’s steel guitar, “it sounds like angels swooping in and out” around the melody. Benoit will mix and master the disc. See reverbnation.com/krislagerband.
Benson Theatre Sunday Brunches
Remember the Pizza Shoppe in Benson is hosting a series of Sunday brunch music concerts,10 a.m.-2 p.m., to raise funds for the restoration of the Benson Theater, next door to the Pizza Shoppe. See Facebook.com/RestoreTheBensonTheater for details on fundraising efforts, a project of the Omaha Community Foundation, including a way to donate online.
Soul Shot
I’m blasting the heavy soul-blues and R&B of Curtis Salgado’s new disc Soul Shot (Alligator) as I write. Salgado’s vocals are at the top of his game and the back-up singers and horns give the tracks even more simmer and shimmer to go with the slinky grooves. The disc dropped April 10 and if you dig the sound of old-school soul revivalists like Sharon Jones, check Salgado out.
Hot Notes
Texas blues-rockers Smokin’ Joe Kubek and Bnois King plug in at The 21st Saloon Thursday, April 12, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Too Slim & The Taildraggers are up Thursday, April 19, 5:30-8:30 p.m.