Back Beat

Concrete Loveseat
Concrete Loveseat

Valentine’s Day Roundup: Whether this day makes you groan or swoon, whether you have zero or 10 sweeties, at least there’s some good music to put you in the mood or take your mind off the faux holiday. The jazzy poppers of Concrete Loveseat present “Moonglow Valentine” in two shows, 7 pm ($10) and 9 pm ($8) Friday, Feb. 14, while activist folk legend Holly Near plays “for the love of our mothers, sisters, daughters, sweethearts and feminist men” with pianist John Bucci and the guitars of emma’s revolution 8 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church ($25 adv., $27.50 door, contact mmeyer@efn.org for info). Wandering Goat hosts a Valentine’s Day Extravaganza with local bands Martian Manhunter, Barger Boyz and Portland’s Dottie Attie at 7:45 pm. Over at Granary Pizza on 5th at 10 pm, Seattle’s National Steel guitar aficionado and palindrome lover Baby Gramps will entertain with his witty renditions of labor songs, nursery rhymes, hobo ditties and jazz and blues.

On Saturday, Feb. 15, at 9:30 pm chez Sam Bond’s, local dreamy folk-rock outfit Kingdom County will be hosting a CD release party for the band’s latest recording project, Six Songs. Longtime music buddies Nicholas Cervantes (lead vocals, guitar) and Josh Humphrey (vocals, guitar) formed the band in 2008 and picked up Kyle McGonegle (bass, mando) along the way. Kingdom County, who have opened for the likes of Ashia & the Bison Rouge and Austin Jenckes, will be joined by the moody alt-country Tara Stonecipher and The Tall Grass.