Raleigh
Emmylou Harris
N.C. Museum of ArtWhere to focus … At first, or close to it, there was Emmylou Harris as harmonizing songbird (or angel: your choice) for Gram Parsons, who happened upon her singing in a D.C. folk club. Post-Parsons, there was Los Angeles to Nashville, country-rock to something closer to pure country, with her first No. 1 landing as a take on Buck Owens’ “Together Again.” There were hot bands, the Hot Band, and husbands (producer Brian Ahern and songwriter Paul Kennerley among them). Grammys too, as well as many other less-televised accolades. In ’95, there was even Harris the alt-country artist, courtesy of the adventurous Wrecking Ball. And how about Harris today? Just a brand new recordthe elegant, eloquent All I Intended to Beplus road time with Neil Young and Mark Knopfler and an odds & ends box set. Oh, and induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
But off the standard bio path, there’s always this, filed away from a CMJ article circa Wrecking Ball: She’s crazy about “You Don’t Love Me Yet” by Feelies-get-rootsy cult heroes the Vulgar Boatmen. It’s one of my all-time favorite songs, too. Apparently, there’s also Harris the secret music soulmate. Find your love connection at 8 p.m. for $12.50-$45. Jimmy Gaudreau and Moondi Klein from the bluegrass band Chesapeake open. Rick Cornell
Chapel Hill
Soft Company, I Was Totally Destroying It, The Never
Local 506This triple bill of locals testifies to our eclecticism, as well as indie pop’s wide umbrella coverage. Soft Company frontwoman Missy Thangs’ alighting vocals dance over elegant, textural pop swoosh. I Was Totally Destroying It careens through a blend of power pop hooks, big guitar and a dash of psych swirl. The Never’s love of theatrical pop is written in its doe eyes as it sidles from shambling pop maneuvering to chamber pop grandeur. A 9 p.m. bargain of $6. Chris Parker
