So get a load of this. I’m not sure if it was to shut me up, keep better tabs on my Red Sox references or to subject themselves to daily doses of Aimsel insanity, but would you believe the good people at The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram gave this longtime freelancing kid a full-time job? I can hardly stand it, I’m so excited!

I’m the new news assistant for features, so I’ll be handling more listings than I can ever possibly imagine shaking a stick at, and I’ll still be writing this column, among other things. Plus, I get to talk Sox with my pals Bob Keyes and Ray Routhier, I get to throw things over my shoulder in hope of hitting Shannon Bryan, and I get to torment Deputy Features Editor Karen Beaudoin and Features Editor Rod Harmon in a variety of new and sinister ways.

My peeps at WBLM and WCYY are just two floors below, so they should be forewarned that there’s gonna be an Aimsel running wild in One City Center. I also hope to become good friends with the dude who sells penny candy on the first floor.

I look forward to this new adventure, and to keeping the local music flame burning. My first day is April 25, and it’s one Monday that I can’t wait for.

Now here are some shows to check out this week:

Heavy metal? Goth? Avant-garde? Hard rock? Progressive? Who cares about genre when all that really matters is that By Blood Alone’s brand-spanking new CD, “Thunderbirds,” is fanfreakingtastic. Look for my full review in next week’s GO. Want a preview before then? I thought so. Go no further than Geno’s Rock Club on Friday night for the CD-release celebration.

By Blood Alone CD-release show with Hoboe. 8 p.m. Friday. Geno’s Rock Club, 625 Congress St., Portland. Ages 21 and older. $6. 221-2382

When jugband music comes up against three heavy rock bands, expect lots of banjo, harmonica, kazoos and an onslaught of screaming guitars, in-your-gut bass and thundering drums. This unlikely hootenanny goes down on Saturday night in Lewiston with The Half Moon Jug Band, Kaining Amy, Safe to Say and The Motor Creeps. These four bands might not have much in common, but there are a couple of things that they do share: compassion and heart.

Speaking of heart, I don’t know Katrina Patterson, but I do know she needs a heart transplant. Badly. All proceeds from this show will support the cause. Four bands, five bucks and one heck of a good cause.

Half Moon Jug Band with Kaining Amy, Safe to Say and The Motor Creeps. 7 p.m. Saturday. Lewiston Elks Club, 675 Lisbon St. All ages. $5 at the door. (866) 655-7171

 

I heart Hillytown! It’s a local music blog and show list created by photographer Bryan Buchanan. Every now and again, Hillytown also curates live music experiences, and such is the case on Saturday night. Three bands — one from Brooklyn, one from Bloomington and one from our own Portland — converge at One Longfellow.

Brooklyn’s Milagres are purveyors of pop-rock. Listen to “Glowing Mouth” at myspace.com/milagresmusic. It’s a slow-paced, moody little number with floating, spacey vocals. Bloomington’s Husband & Wife are described as a blue-collar, hard-working band from America’s heartland. This show marks their first visit to Portland. Check them out at husband-wife.net and listen to “Dark Dark Woods.” OMG. Love that song.

Portland’s Milkman’s Union can be explored at themilkmansunion.com. From there, hop to myspace.com/themilkmansunion and listen to the four samples they’ve got posted. Heck yeah.

Hillytown Presents: Milagres, Milkman’s Union and Husband & Wife. 8 p.m. Saturday. One Longfellow Square, Portland. All ages. $10. 761-1757; onelongfellowsquare.com

Aimsel Ponti is a (former) freelance writer from Portland. Contact her at:

aimselponti@yahoo.com

 

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