'Big Monti' is back and he's ready to celebrate.

Byline: Mark Baker The Register-Guard

You've heard of "The Full Monty," but now you've got to get ready for the "Big Monti." And, yes, he performs fully clothed.

For if you were part of Eugene's blues scene in the 1980s, you well remember the Blubinos and their gigs at Good Times and Taylor's and wherever else they played (yes, it's been awhile).

Well, now you can see the band's former lead singer and guitarist, Monti Amundson, play songs from his first CD in six years, appropriately titled, "Big Monti," during a CD-release party Saturday at Mac's at the Vet's Club.

And what an appropriate locale. The first song on the CD, "My American Dreams," was inspired by Amundson's father being denied veteran's benefits in lieu of mounting medical bills.

A review of this latest work in The Oregonian likened the 47-year-old Amundson's "440-volt guitar sound" to Stevie Ray Vaughan. Not bad company, we'd say.

The show begins at 9:30 p.m. at Mac's, 1626 Willamette St. Admission is $4 at the door.

The Southland

Today, John Henry's

Get this: Promoter Jim Walsh says this new rock-pop band out of Los Angeles is a combination of the "musical daring and overt playfulness" of Jane's Addiction and Sublime; the "lyrical virtuosity" of Randy Newman and Paul Simon; and the "timeless songwriting" of Steely Dan.

Wow.

To which we say: Don't want no short people/ Who've been caught stealing/ Singing 'bout sounds of silence/ To our old man back in Oregon.

All kidding aside, if you want to check out this intriguing mix from a group that plans to release its debut album this spring or summer - with songs such as "Shadow," "Creatures," "Radio," "Debris" and "Down Together" - the show starts at 9 p.m.

Tickets are $10, $8 in advance. Call 342-3358.

John Henry's is at 77 W. Broadway.

The Bittersweets

Saturday, Cafe Paradiso

This alt-country duo from the San Francisco Bay area features Chris Meyers on vocals, guitar and piano, and Hannah Prater on vocals and acoustic guitar.

Meyers and Prater made their debut last year during an open mike night at San Francisco's infamous Hotel Utah. They waited six hours to get on stage, and then they were so popular, no one wanted to take them off.

That led them into the studio, where they teamed with musicians Tim Mooney, David Phillips and Daniel Schacht to make an EP appropriately titled, "EP," with "American roots and catchy pop sensibility," Meyers says.

The Bittersweets play two very different sets, he says - one "an acoustic thing" and one "an electric thing."

The show begins at 8 p.m. Admission is $5.

Annemarie Russell

Saturday, 1760 Skyline Blvd.

This will be Russell's last show in Eugene before she gives birth this summer and moves to Portland. She'll play some "recorded favorites and also some new songs" with several musicians, including a percussionist and bass player. There'll be snacks and wine at intermission.

The show begins at 8 p.m. in the southeast Eugene home of David and Marcia Hilton. The suggested donation is $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.

Melissa Ferrick,

Garrison Starr 

Wednesday, John Henry's

After dropping out of college, singer-songwriter Ferrick began singing in coffeehouses in the mid-1990s, eventually making her way to Boston. Her big break came when she replaced Morrisey's opening act one night, less than an hour before showtime.

Morrisey was so impressed, he invited Ferrick to open for him during the rest of the tour. That earned her a small cult following, and then a contract with Atlantic Records.

Ferrick's latest album, "The Other Side," is her ninth; it came out last June. Created entirely by herself in her home studio, it contains the unique sound that led VH1.com to describe her like this: "Toss Dave Matthews, Shawn Colvin and Melissa Etheridge in a blender, hit 'frappe,' and pour yourself a tall glass of Melissa Ferrick."

The show begins at 7 p.m. at John Henry's. Tickets are $13 in advance and $15 the day of the show.

2 For 2

Thursday, Luna

Ben and Julie Silverman met in 2000 and formed their duo, 2 For 2. Since then, the Sandpoint, Idaho, couple have opened for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, David Lindley and even Jay Leno.

Julie Silverman was born in Spokane and has been playing guitar and writing music since 1999. Her influences include the Cranberries and Jewel, although her writing style sometimes reflects performers from the 1980s. Her lyrics often have a '60s and '70s pop sensibility and invoke memories of such early female acoustic songwriters as Joni Mitchell.

Ben Silverman was born in Detroit, Mich., and has been a musician since he was 4 and has been playing bass guitar since he was 12. His early influences include the Motown sound, as well as the Who, Rolling Stones and the Beatles.

The show begins at 8 p.m. Admission is $5 at the door.

Cheryl Wheeler

Thursday, Cafe Paradiso

Singer-songwriter Cheryl Wheeler will be "Defying Gravity" when she pops in for a show at Cafe P at 8 p.m. Thursday.

"Defying Gravity" is the name of her latest album on Rounder Records. It's her first new music since 1999's "Sylvia Hotel."

Joining Wheeler will be Kenny White, touring in support of his latest, "Symphony in 16 Bars."

Tickets are $17 in advance and $19 day of show.

CAPTION(S):

Melissa Ferrick will appear Wednesday at John Henry's.