Local blues veteran Eagle Park Slim (né Autry McNeace), who has a history of heart failure, is recovering from the implantation of a new wireless heart-monitoring system. A press release states: “He gets short of breath sometimes, but he is still playing guitar and writing music every day. When asked how he feels, he responds with a smile, ‘Well, you know some days are diamond and some days are gold.’” Slim, 74, will play with his All Star Blues Band 3:30 pm July 23 at the Saturday Market.
A master of self-deprecation, with a tendency to bill itself as “The World’s Worst Band,” comedy-rock outfit Green Jellÿ returns 9 pm Thursday, July 14, to Old Nick’s Pub (211 Washington Street), with Headless Pez, Wade Graham and Deathbed Confessions. By the way, so you don’t come off as a rube, that “Jellÿ” with the umlaut is pronounced “Jello,” which was the original spelling until our friends at Kraft Foods claimed the band was stomping all over its wholesome Jell-O trademark (ahem, see: Bill Cosby). To get in the mood, check out the early ’90s video album Cereal Killer on the interwebs.
Old Nick’s also hosts the inaugural Clash of the Titans, “an all-reggae 45 (7” records; no CDs, no DJ controllers, no computers)” battle with five sound systems, noon to 8 pm Saturday, July 16.
Mark your calendars: Soundgarden frontman and nearly four-octave vocalist Chris Cornell visits with his solo singer-songwriter act, accompanied by the fantastic punk-blues project Fantastic Negrito (aka Oakland’s Xavier Dphrepaulezz), 8 pm Sunday, July 17, at the Hult; Milwaukee metalcore band Misery Signals smashes into Eugene 7 pm Thursday, July 21, at The Boreal, 450 W. 3rd Ave.
Portland envy: Superstar Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard has some extra-curricular activities this summer — working on his rap game. The Oaklander turned Portlander celebrates his 26th birthday with his first official concert as rapper Dame D.O.L.L.A. July 15 at the Crystal Ballroom; SOLD OUT.
Lillard has the promise to be as nimble at the mic as he is on the court. He released “Bigger Than Us,” featuring Paul Rey at the end of 2015, and it has touched a nerve in an era thick with police brutality targeting black communities nationwide.
On it, Lillard raps: “When I get pulled over should I be afraid?/ Because lately the badge get in the way/ If my attitude were bad because of the day/ Would I threaten them enough where maybe I could catch a stray?”
The music video starts with a “Breaking News” broadcast of protesters and cops in riot gear from Ferguson, Missouri, where police officer Darren Wilson shot 18-year-old Michael Brown Aug. 9, 2014. In light of this past week’s events, the video is even more heartbreaking. Watch it here: youtu.be/0mM527yJ3K8.