Winda Benedetti

1. With Civilized Animal laying down a vibe, the dance floor at Outback Jack's comes alive. Photo by Jason Clark/The Spokesman-Review 2. Below, Outback's has pool tables for more laid-back entertainment.

Sicko headlines Ichabod's North Saturday, with Saddle Sores and Stoics opening.

Jim Brickman began his career writing commercial jingles.

The Specials have just released its first new album in 15 years.

Everclear Sunday, March 22, The Met There's a certain risk in seeing bands play on the last night of a lengthy tour. They've spent months on the road performing the same songs, night after night. They're likely tired of traveling, tired of the music, tired of each other.

The former front-man for Seattle's Best Kissers in the World, Gerald Collier has a new outlook on life and on music.

1. Everclear is Craig Montoya, left, Art Alexakis, center, and Greg Eklund. 2. Below, concert opener Jimmie's Chicken Shack.

At age 72, B.B. King is beyond being a blues great. He is a blues legend. And fortunately for us, he is a living legend.

Clowns, pranksters, lions, tigers, rings of fire. It's all the makings for either a family reunion or a circus. Fortunately, it's the latter.

It's not even spring yet, and the summer concert schedule is already filling up. But it's not just filling up with any ol' acts. Some of the top rock and country musicians around are scheduled to visit our area. Universal Concerts has just added two more big shows to the lineup at the Gorge Amphitheater this summer.

Mikki Stevens leads the Red Hot Mommas dancing and skipping their way along the St. Patrick's Day parade route last year.

What kind of musician lists both Metallica and Bach among his early influences? For that matter, what kind of a musician rolls a 450-pound upright piano onto the streets of Spokane and starts plunking away? At the moment, Dax Johnson is the only one who comes to mind. A 22-year-old Spokane man with a triple helping of raw talent and a flair for the free spirit, Johnson is a pianist who has worked his way from sidewalk shows to a featured performance at Auntie's Bookstore Saturday night. He'll be joined by one of Spokane's premier visual artists for what will be a multi-media performance.

Sarah McLachlan and Lisa Loeb, Thursday, March 5, Opera House If you paid the $30 to $40 it cost to see Sarah McLachlan in concert Thursday night, you walked away at the end of the evening with one of the best concert deals to come our way in some time. No one can say Sarah doesn't give her fans their money's worth. During a three-hour show that included a set by Lisa Loeb and two encores by McLachlan, the Canadian songstress dazzled a full house at the Spokane Opera House with a show as powerful as it was elegant. With a voice as big as any man's and twice as beautiful, the ever-gracious McLachlan lit on the guitar, then piano, to perform songs from not only her latest album "Surfacing," but also from albums dating back to her first, "Touch."

1. Get ready to boogie when the Clumsy Lovers take the stage at Outback Jack's. 2. Storytelling guitarist Bill Mize will be at Auntie's Bookstore for a concert Saturday.

Matchbox 20 and Cool for August Sunday, March 1, Opera House Certainly there was nothing new here. The music and the show at the Opera House Sunday night seemed ready-made for the masses - two bands playing straightforward '90s rock and roll, the kind produced by any number of today's top radio groups: Hootie and the Blowfish, Counting Crows, Sister Hazel. Nevertheless, the masses gathered at the sold-out show seemed to enjoy the 2-1/2-hour performance by Cool for August and Matchbox 20.

1. Sarah McLachlan, creator of the Lilith Fair, a national tour of feamle acts. Photo by Ken Settle 2. Lise Loeb, a romantic lyricist and skilled guitar player. Photo by Associated Press

Global Divas Tuesday, Feb. 25, The Met When the Global Divas took the stage at The Met Tuesday night, it felt like The Lilith Fair had gone world music. While the show at The Met was a good bit smaller than the all-day event at The Gorge last summer, both programs found female musicians not only sharing their talents but doing something good for womankind at the same time.

Mark Munn, Barb Schiff and Dave Deibler of House of Large Sizes.

Matchbox 20, above (with producer Matt Serletic), and Cool For August perform Sunday at 8 p.m. at the Opera House. The concert is sold out.

1. Charlie Butts and the Filtertips join seven other groups at a Bronco Tavern charity gig to help disadvantaged kids buy musical instruments. 2. Acoustic and slide guitarist Nick Vigarino plays the Fort Spokane Brewery tonight and Saturday.

Stella Chiweshe (top right), Tish Hinojosa (middle left) and Susana Baca perform Tuesday.

Moral Crux headlines the show at Ichabod's tonight. Photo by Allen Ferris

Wayne Kissire steps on stage wearing his black sequined jacket and his shirt unbuttoned to midchest.

Christian pop artist Amy Grant will perform at the Spokane Opera House on April 13. Tickets range from $27.50 to $37.50 and go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. at all G&B; Select-A-Seat outlets or call (800) 325-SEAT.