Singer-songwriter Purdy to play at High Noon

Rob Thomas  —  8/21/2008 10:08 pm

Unlike other TV shows like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Cold Case," "Lost" rarely uses pop songs on its soundtrack, unless you count that Three Dog Night eight-track tape Hurley found in the van. (All the Losties out there know what I'm talking about.)

So, it's a feather in the cap of singer-songwriter Joe Purdy that the show used his music memorably in an early episode -- his wistful, ukelele-driven "Wash Away" laid underneath a montage of the group chilling amid the wreckage on the beach.

But Purdy's music is nice to listen to even if you aren't squatting next to the smoldering remains of a fuselage. He'll be at the High Noon Saloon, 701 E. Washington Ave., Thursday, Aug. 14 (9 p.m., $10 at the door).

Opening for Purdy will be mononomic singer-songwriter Meiko, who plays quirky but accessible pop rock in the vein of Ingrid Michaelson and Sara Bareilles. She's also followed those artists' path outside the major-label system to success: Her debut album came out last week on MySpace Records.

Jay Nash and Chris Seefried of Low Stars round out the bill.

Because I'm not very bright, I sometimes get atmospheric Chicago rockers Califone confused with Tex-Mex indie rockers Calexico. Califone grew out of the ashes of the slashing '90s Chicago band Red Red Meat, and in its new incarnation is lo-fi and rootsy, but with a wild, experimental bent. Calexico did none of those things.

The band's last album is "Roots and Crown," and will have a follow-up coming in 2009. Califone will be at the High Noon Saloon at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16. Tickets are $12 through B-Side, Strictly Discs and Mad City Music Exchange, and The Judy Green (billed as a "Califone auxiliary band," whatever that means, although they have a horn section) and local treasure Sleeping in the Aviary open.

If you didn't know it was in Michigan, you might think Ypsilanti was a city in some exotic foreign country. So maybe it makes sense that one of the country's fastest-rising Afro pop bands, the eight-piece Nomo, is from the town.

Nomo is playing the Annex, 1206 Regent St., at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15 ($13 advance through www.brownpapertickets.com, $15 door).

Grampall Jookabox opens the show.

Depressed? Tattooed? Under the age of 22 or so? Then Secondhand Serenade may be right for you. The Bay Area band -- which began as a one-man acoustic act by frontman John Vesely, who is still pretty much the only constant member -- plays raw but wounded songs, with the aftermath of a relationship a favorite songwriting subject.

Secondhand Serenade headlines a big lineup at the Majestic Theatre, 115 King St., at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, with My American Heart, Play Radio Play, The Graduate and Rookie of the Year all opening. Tickets are just $12 through www.majesticmadison.com, which works out to just pennies a serving.

Get your own blood a-pumping when some fine local bands throw a benefit for the Red Cross at the High Noon at 9 p.m. next Wednesday, Aug. 20 ($5 cover). "Rockin' for the Red Cross " features jam band Grasshoppers, prog rockers Baghdad Scuba Review, the eclectic roots rock of Elf Lettuce, and the fusion funk of Bu.R.P.

Rob Thomas  —  8/21/2008 10:08 pm