I know the suspense of finding out how my team, Moonage Daydream, did last week at Port City Music Hall’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Trivia night was likely more intense than the anticipation of seeing Kate’s wedding dress. Now that we’ve seen her lovely frock, here’s another moment during which you can let out a big sigh of relief: We came in third place!

To this, I say a resounding “not too shabby,” considering there were at least 15 teams and the competition was fierce.

Congrats to Olivia, Graham, Adam and everyone else at Port City for pulling off a fun and brain-punishing night. Here’s hoping they plan another one soon! Meanwhile, here are three shows to choose from — or you can go for the trifecta, since they’re all on different nights. 

Singer-songwriter Andi Fawcett’s solo debut, “Say It Anyway,” was released earlier this year and as I said in my review of it, I absolutely love it. Fawcett’s also got a side project in the form of Doubting Gravity, and that group will be at the Big Easy on Friday night. DG is Fawcett, Dave Henault and Josh Prescott. And they rock. Listen up at myspace.com/doubtinggravity.

Doubting Gravity with Giant Squid Crossfire. 10 p.m. Friday. The Big Easy, 55 Market St., Portland. Ages 21 and older. Call for cover: 775-2266. 

Space Gallery and the Apohadion Theater have activated their wonder twin powers to co-present a show at the latter’s digs. Jerusalem and the Starbaskets is the Columbia, Mo., duo of Jeremy Freeze and Kim Sherman. Their sound is kinda psychedelic, kinda pop.

Listen here to pick up what I’m throwing down: destijlrecs.com/JATSB.html. Better yet, go to myspace.com/jerusalemandthestarbasket/music for total JATSB immersion.

As if the event wasn’t already cool enough, starting things off will be Phantom Buffalo and Foam Castles.

Jerusalem and the Starbaskets. 8 p.m. Monday. Apohadion Theater, 107 Hanover St., Portland. All ages. Tickets $5 to $10 at the door. theapohadion.wordpress.com 

I have heard of Deer Tick for years, but other than the name, I didn’t know jack about them until now. So here’s the quick primer: Deer Tick is a five-piece Rhode Island band that formed in 2004 and has since released a string of CDs and vinyl. The group will spend most of this coming summer in the studio but will also be playing several festivals, including Bonnaroo, not to mention a Wednesday-night show at Port City Music Hall.

John J. McCauley is the singer, and he’s the main reason I’m glad I finally got wise to Deer Tick. Listening to “Twenty Miles,” “Smith Hill” and “Easy” was all I needed to hear to be quite taken with the band. McCauley’s voice has a medium-sharp warble that works superbly against the backdrop of strings, drums, bass and a couple of serious guitars, including his own.

As for genre, oh man, don’t make me do it. Tossing them into the alternative country bucket just doesn’t cut it.

Go take a listen, decide for yourself and then you too can become a Tickhead (the semi-official name for the band’s fans). Find Deer Tick on Facebook, MySpace and various other online locales.

Deer Tick. 6 p.m. Wednesday. Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland. Ages 18 and older. $15 to $25. 899-4990; portcitymusichall.com

 

Staff Writer Aimsel Ponti can be contacted at 791-6455 or at:

aponti@pressherald.com

 

Copy the Story Link