Up Next: The Commonwealth, Dirty Blonde featuring Cheryl Aruda, and Pumpkin Head Ted

OK, Sorry about being MIA last week. Two sick kids and a long, holiday weekend definitely got the better of me! I hope you had happy 4th of July, and that you are ready to dance off all of those extra beers, burgers, and ice creams you ate this weekend.

The Commonwealth will be back again this Thursday. These guys played to a full house last week, and they, once again, did not disappoint. Take a trip over to Grumpy's this week to check them out. You never know who you'll see or what you'll hear.

Friday, we'll have Dirty Blonde featuring Cheryl Aruda. Click on their myspace: http://www.myspace.com/dirtyblondegigs They are influenced Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin,Toni Lynn Washington, Bonnie Raitt, Sarah Vaughn, Ernestine Anderson, Robert Plant...MANY blues, funk, jazz, rock and soul musicians/vocalists.

Saturday, it's PUMPKIN HEAD TED time! Hands down, one of our favorite bands of all time. http://www.myspace.com/pumpkinheadted Acoustic, Electroacoustic, folk, reggae, whatever they play is entertaining and highly danceable.

On an entirely different note, is it me or does the Melody Tent have a few good bands playing this summer? I guess I always associated it with things like The Regeneration Tour (come on, The Human League, Belinda Carlisle, and Flock of Seagulls!?). But this week moe. (http://www.myspace.com/moe) is playing on Thursday and Friday. The on 7/18 Gov't Mule (http://www.mule.net/). And 8/2 Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Soul Stew Revival (http://www.derektrucks.com/index.html) . It will be very cool to see these bands play in a small venue like the Melody Tent rather than the huge festivals. Hope to see you there!