Sept. 4
Jukebox hero
Thom Gimbel, guitarist, keyboardist and saxophonist for Foreigner for the past two decades, says he started playing rock n roll for the same reason lots of guys do to meet girls. Considering he also was a touring member of Aerosmith, has being in two classic rock bands helped him do that?
Yes, it has, he says with a loud laugh. Now I need help understanding them.
So Gimbel wants to know what love is, but hes got some Urgent matters to which he must attend, including playing the famous Junior Walker sax solo on the Foreigner hit from 1981.
I do have to concentrate on hitting my notes in Urgent and sometimes concentration means not thinking, he says, noting to focus, he counts the stage lights or beams wherever hes playing. I take a huge breath, and I kind of clock out ... (The solo) has to become second nature.
Gimbel has played with the band since 1995, backing all four of its singers, including original singer Lou Gramm and current singer Kelly Hansen. Foreigner opens for Kid Rock this Friday, Sept. 4, at Amphitheater Northwest in Ridgefield, Wash.
Although guitarist Mick Jones is the bands only remaining original member, fans seem to like the current Foreigner lineup, Gimbel says, and Hansen is an energetic frontman.
Everyone knew what huge shoes he had to fill, Gimbel says, adding even his jaded hardcore musician friends have complimented Hansen, who loves to get an audience going.
Hell do anything to get them up on their feet, Gimbel says, adding Foreigner focuses on its hits, including I Want to Know What Love Is, Cold As Ice, and Jukebox Hero, a personal favorite because he gets to play a guitar solo.
Gimbel adds that belonging to Foreigner gave him the chance to open for Led Zeppelin when they reunited for one gig in London in 2007. Zeppelin drummer John Bonhams son, Jason, was in Foreigner at the time, so when he played with Zeppelin, he brought along Foreigner. Gimbel says he and his Foreigner mates watched Bonham in awe as he backed one of rock n rolls most legendary outfits.
It was like the team we were rooting for was scoring the winning touchdown, he says with a chuckle.
Kid Rock, Foreigner, 6:45 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, Amphitheater Northwest, 17200 N.E. Delfel Road, Ridgefield, Wash. $35 to $440. Info: www.clarkcountyamphitheater.org.
Sept. 6-7
Learn more
Doug Fir sound engineer Mick Learn recently fell and broke his right arm both his radius and ulna snapped in half. A complicated surgery installed a metal plate and screws in each of the bones. He needs a little dough to get through a rough time, and several Portland musicians have put together two nights of music, the proceeds of which will help him pay his bills.
Like a Villian, Brandon Summers of Helio Sequence, Mbrascatu, Sama Dans and Portland Cello Project play Sunday, Sept. 6. Rebecca Marie Miller (The Mynabirds) and Joy Pearson, Drew Grow of Modern Kin, Symmetry/Symmetry, Denver and McDougall play Monday, Sept. 7.
Mick Learn Benefit, 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Sept. 6-7, Doug Fir, 830 E. Burnside St. $15 in advance, $5 to $25 sliding scale at door. Info: 503-231-9663, www.dougfirlounge.com.
Sept. 7
Buzzard of Ozzy
Its grunge! Its sludge! Its ... grudge? Whatever it is, if its loud and interesting, its The Melvins, one of the most iconic bands in post-punk history, defying and influencing trends since they formed in 1983. The band played a crucial role in the creation of grunge as well as alternative metal, two genres the experimental Melvins also transcended, and literally survived two earthquakes all the while releasing 27 albums, including last years Hold It In, a collaboration with Paul Leary and Jeff Pinkus of the Butthole Surfers.
Led by guitarist-vocalist Buzz Osborne of the big hair, and drummer-bassist Dale Crover, this touring lineup includes Jared Warren and Coady Willis of Big Business.
The Melvins, Big Business, 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7, Wonder Ballroom, 128 N.E. Russell St. All ages. $20 in advance, $22 at the door. Info: 503-284-8686,
Sept. 9
Pillow pushers
Bedroom rock is officially a genre now (its sort of what they used to call dream pop), and one of its leading proponents is L.A. quintet Babes. Ive Got a Reason to Keep on Living they sing on their debut record, Untitled (Five Tears), and it sounds like carnival music for synth-pop addicts.
Then theres the languid Life Come Into Me, a downtempo tune thats both pretty and haunting, sort of like someone vaguely attractive staring at you in a diner for just a few seconds too long. Meanwhile, ATMO is positively fun and bouncy, and Dad could have been culled from John Lennons Walls and Bridges sessions.
Big Scary, Babes, 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, Doug Fir, 830 E. Burnside St. $12. Info: 503-231-9663, www.dougfirlounge.com.
Quick hits
Electro-popsters Kid Cadaver have released their latest EP Roam, which features a great little late summer number called Friends. The uber-fun trio plays Valentines, 232 S.W. Ankeny St., along with Pacific Patterns and Danny Delgato, at 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7. Info: 503-248-1600,
Combining surf, garage, punk and other underground sounds, Wavves keeps the fun rock flag flying on its latest release, V, which it will promote with a bill that also features Swimmers as well as Twin Peaks. Bring on the merseybeat, kiddos, this is gonna rock. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, Wonder Ballroom, 128 N.E. Russell St. $18 in advance, $20 at the door. All ages. Info: 503-284-8686, www.wonderballroom.com.
One of the best blues rock trios out there, Nashvilles Too Slim & The Taildraggers returns to Duffs Garage, 2530 N.E. 82nd Ave., at 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, to play tunes off their recent compilation CD Anthology. $14 in advance, $15 at the door. Info: 503-234-2337, www.duffsgarage.com, www.tickettomato.com.
Seattle blues rock trio Stubborn Son plays swampy, down and dirty rock n roll with just a touch of class, and you can check them out with Portland alt rockers Keeper Keeper, 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10 at Alberta Street Pub, 1036 N.E. Alberta St. $5 to $8 (call to confirm). Info: 503-284-7665,