Gee, I wonder if there's any interest in Cursive's new album?

Judging by the enormous amount of traffic to my site yesterday, I'd say that there very well might be. Double the usual hits? Triple? You're in the ball park. I received an e-mail from O'Leaver's soundman yesterday afternoon saying that there was to be a repeat "secret" performance last night. I haven't confirmed this, but I wouldn't be surprised. I didn't go, having already heard the set and knowing that I'm going to be spending tonight and tomorrow night at O'Leaver's. There is such thing as too much of a good thing.

One last comment about Wednesday's Cursive performance that I forgot to mention yesterday: It didn't dawn on me until I was in bed with my ears still ringing that Gretta Cohn wasn't there. Unlike their two-night stand at Sokol Underground last November when the effect of Cohn's absence was a topic of fervent conversation at the venue that night, Cohn was never mentioned Wednesday, and wasn't missed in the band's arrangements. I don't think having a cello in the middle of these more traditional, more rockin' songs would have made sense. Plus, there wouldn't have been enough room on O'Leaver's dainty stage.

I can almost guarantee that there won't be any secret Cursive performances at O'Leaver's tonight. The venue resumes regular programming with the quiet, romantic acoustic music of Mi and L'au and the coffee shop folk of Outlaw Con Bandana. $5, 9:30 p.m. Meanwhile, there's more folk going on over at Mick's with Caron Easley and the Gentiles (consisting of Austin Britton and Adam Weaver), along with Brad Hoshaw and Adam Weaver and the Ghosts. If not for Mi and L'au I would be at this show drawn by the sheer attraction of Easley's myspace tunage -- I like her voice and the simplicity of her songs. Maybe if O'Leaver's ends early I'll be able to catch it. $5, 9 p.m.

Saturday night at O'Leaver's it's Shelley Short w/ McCarthy Trenching and Mal Madrigal. When Chicago singer-songwriter Shelley Short entered the studio to record her latest LP, Captain Wild Horse Rides the Heart of Tomorrow (Hush Records), she brought a few talented friends with her. Among them violinist Tiffany Kowalski (Bright Eyes, Mayday, M Ward), Rachel Blumberg (Decemberists, M Ward), and Andy Rader (Pinetop Seven). The result is a record that switches from shimmering, Tonya Donelly-style haunters to simple Patsy-colored waltzes, all perfectly suited for some fancy two-steppin'. It's a shame O'Leaver's doesn't have a dance floor. $5, 9:30 p.m.

Look for live reviews here in the blog all weekend.

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