12th Annual Beatles Night with Spencer Albee and Friends
For 12 years running, Spencer Albee — formerly of Rustic Overtones and As Fast As, and currently an acclaimed solo artist — has assembled a top-notch team of Portland musicians to perform a big blowout night of the music of the Beatles. Each year, the show has gotten a little bigger, a little longer and a little more epic, and this year’s show is no exception. Hear wildly innovative version of Beatles classics from their entire catalog, backed by a string section and full array of horns — Albee’s arrangements have garnered acclaim from the likes of Rolling Stone magazine, helping to put Portland’s music scene on the national map. Albee’s band this year includes Dominic Lavoie, Chuck Gagne, Sean Morin, Jon Roods, Sara Hallie Richardson and Dan Capaldi, all of whom play in bands ranging from Dominic and the Lucid to Paranoid Social Club. There are two shows this year, set for 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 29 and 30, at the State Theatre in Portland. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 the day of the show; a four-pack of tickets is available for $45.
Thank You, Ramones: A Portland Tribute to the Ramones
This year marked a truly sad moment: Ramones drummer Tommy Ramone died in July — the last of the four original members of the band (Joey, Johnny and Dee Dee Ramone) to pass. To pay homage to the punk rock greatness that was the Ramones, the Asylum hosts a night of their music, featuring musicians from local punk and alternative bands including Paranoid Social Club, the Leftovers, the Connection, the Wildhearts and Planeside. Whether you don’t wanna be a pinhead no more, or wanna be sedated, or you just wanna beat on the brat with a baseball bat, you can relive the glory days of leather jackets and dirty punk clubs for just one night. The show is 21 plus and is at 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28. Admission is at the door and is just five bucks.
Dark Star Orchestra and Pardon Me, Doug
Whether you were an original follower of the Grateful Dead or Phish, or you’re just a casual fan, you’ve got two great opportunities to check out the closest thing to the real thing that’s out there. Pardon Me, Doug is a Portland-based Phish tribute band that’s been playing in the area for the past two years, drawing big crowds to their faithful take on Phish’s music. They play on Friday at Port City Music Hall in Portland; admission is $10. Dark Star Orchestra, however, is the long running, nationally touring, Grateful Dead-sanctioned tribute band. The ensemble has even featured actual members of the Dead at various points in their career; sitting in with them on certain shows. Dark Star will play at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at the State Theatre; tickets are $28, or $30 the day of the show.
Start Making Sense: The Talking Heads Tribute Band
This eight-person powerhouse live show features the music of the Talking Heads, at all parts of their career — easily one of the best live tribute show experiences you’re likely to see in the Northeast. Frontman Jon Braun does a dead-on David Byrne impression, backed by the funkiest of rhythm sections. Start Making Sense plays two shows in Maine this December; check them out at Mainely Brews in Waterville on Friday, Dec. 12, and at Port City Music Hall in Portland on Dec. 13. Admission for both shows is $15 on the day of the show.
