I don't get out as much as I'd like, and judging from the numbers of people usually out to hear music on a Tuesday night, neither does anyone else.

But not this Tuesday! I didn't get to everything, but there were two big shows that drew very respectable crowds out into the fog and damp. The one where I spent most of my evening was at the Jonathan Richman show at the Blue Lamp. For those who know him - and most of the crowd of 100 or so seemed to - it was like old home week. For those who didn't, at least two were talked into going in when they were told that Richman was the random musician who popped up from time to time in the film "There's Something About Mary."

That was Jonathan's one moment in the mainstream spotlight. Other than that, he's been banging out tunes - and I do mean banging, but also caressing, cajoling and otherwise evoking madly entertaining tunes - since about 1971, when he introduced the world to his song "Roadrunner" (which was a later hit for Joan Jett).

Jonathan, who lives in the Grass Valley area, has made dozens of albums since, including one in French, and he played songs from all through his career during his set. He was accompanied only by a drummer with brushes, and playing an unmiked acoustic that didn't even have a strap, the better for him to use it as a very loose prop. That it was only occasionally in tune was a minor distraction. Jonathan isn't about doing things anyway but his own. Fortunately, his way is genuine and insightful, like an eight year old with 57 years of experience.

It was great to see a crowd out on a Tuesday for a cult figure most people don't know. Among the celebrants: Rob Turner and Elyssa Lee of Sactown magazine, who just put their two year anniversary issue out last week. Kudos to those two for continuing to raise the bar and soldier on in a tough economy. And for being Jonathan fans! 

Meanwhile, over at Harlow's, there was a benefit concert for Chi Cheng of Deftones, who remains in a coma a month after an automobile accident. Chi's condition is stable but not good, and his friends turned out in force, including Will Haven and a reunited Tinfed, which rocked the house. And there was quite a crowd, according to reports. Sonny Maguba is going to write more about this later, so stay tuned for more details.