Sun. Feb. 28

Take two members of Aerosmith, a former member of Santana, a former member of Boston, add in local harpist extraordiare James Montgomery (and his band) and bring on John Belushi’s bro Jim and you’ve got what being billed as the "Legends of Rock N’ Blues" show at the House of Blues Sunday Feb. 28. (It’ll also include Johnny A and the Uptown Horns and the horn section that played with the Rolling Stones.) That’s long-winded but it’s a long night, and it’s both the kickoff of something called the Powerhouse Breakout Artist Series and a benefit for the House of Blues Foundation and DeviBlue. The Powerhouse thing was begun by Susan Maguire, a friend in the publicity biz who started this thing in New York. She moved back to these parts recently, and partnered up to launch the series at the HoB. The idea: Celebrity guests will introduce the "breakout artists" to those people that belong to the HoB’s Foundation Room members. That is, music in a small, intimate, comfy setting – and that ineffable air of exclusivity.

Sun. Feb. 28

 Last time I saw Berklee students on stage at the college's Performance Center it was a dozen or so singers and about the same number of musicians playing the songs written and produced by Don Was, with Was leading the band. He was genuinely stunned and flattered by what these guys and gals brought to the table. With that as a teaser, we can state that if you're a fan of Motown music of the '60s you should be at Berklee Performance Center Sunday Feb. 28 when Prof. Larry Watson (in photo) hosts a gaggle of students singing and playing the songs of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, the Temptations and many more. It's called "The Great American Songbook: The Music of Motown." Nostalgia heaven for the boomer generation; amazing discovery for Gen Y-ers or whatever the poor unfortunates born post Gen X have been tagged. The show, at 7:30, celebrates the 50th anniversary of Motown. Tickets: $20-$15. Hit the "read more" button for a funny note to us from Don Was the day after the  November concert he did here ...

136 Massachusetts Ave., 617-931-2000 www.ticketmaster.com

Sat. Feb. 27 

 The Alloy Orchestra - three guys with a of music making equipment (junk percussion to keyboards) - have carved out a very creative, and rewarding life. Arguably, they're the best band to create and play their own soundtracks to old silent films. May sound like a niche market, but it's a growing niche market and the marriage of live music and film can be transportive. There's scads of critics who've raved about 'em - us included - but probably their best blurb comes from the esteemed Chicago Sun Times critic Robert Ebert who wrote, "I was fascinated by the power of silent film to draw me into a reverie state so deep it is like a waking dream." (He saw the Alloys perform to "The Last Command.")
The Boston-based group is back Saturday Feb. 27 at the Somerville Theatre with the 1928 Russian Constructivist film, "Man With a Movie Camera." Keyboardist Roger Miller says, "This film is the grand-daddy of all avant-garde film, yet is easily enjoyed.  An astounding film. Miller - you also know him as Mission of Burma's guitarist - handles the keyboards. Terry Donahue and Ken Winokur are on junk percussion.

Winokur e-mailed us his take on "Man with a Movie Camera." It is, he wrote, "one of the most remarkable and influential films of the silent era. 

Sat Feb. 27

While many may know him best for his television and radio appearances as host of WGBH’s “From the Top” (www.fromthetop.org), concert pianist Christopher O’Riley enjoys a musical life that goes much deeper and broader than promoting the best young musicians in the country.

When he is not accompanying the teen phenomenons, O’Riley can often be seen and heard expanding the boundaries of classical music in other ways. In recent years, these have included pianistic reinterpretations by the legendary likes of Radiohead, Elliot Smith and Nick Drake, On his latest recording, "Out of My Hands," O’Riley expands even further into the catalogs of everyone from Pink Floyd to Portishead and The Bad Plus to The Smiths.

On Sat. February 27 at 8 p.m., O’Riley will return to Boston to perform his music live at the Institute of Contemporary Art. “It is a thrill to bring Christopher O’Riley to perform here himself,” says ICA Director of Public Programs. David Henry, who notes that the first public perfomrance at the ICA was a resital by young stars of “From the Top.”” “He shares with the ICA a commitment to excellence in art and a willingness to bend traditional genres.”

Sat. Feb. 27

Late last year, I did a bio for the rock trio, Freerider, which is emerging after years of, well, not being Freerider. They’ve released their CD of 1993 and are beginning to gig, playing Copperfield’s Saturday Feb. 27 with Hillblock, You and What Army and Anomoly. For Freerider, which is on first around 9,  it doubles as a benefit for Operation Troop.
    "Whether we want troops on foreign soil or not,” says bassistTodd Erickson. “The fact is they sacrifice so much to serve and protect the USA.  Operation Troop Aid is a 501c non-profit that delivers care packages to US troops serving all over the world. We hate war but love OTA." (You gotta mention "Freerider" at the door when you come in; do so and 1/2 the proceeds go to OTA. You can also suport OTA at http://operationtroopaid.org )
   So, who Freerider?
   Here’s a version of their story and the second chance they got.  
   You don’t get a lot of those in the music business. Especially after your first attempt fizzles and you more or less put your music-making days behind you and embark upon other pursuits. Especially when you move out of your 20s and into things like families and alternate careers.
    But here is Freerider, a hard rock trio originally from Boston, back at you, with a CD called “No Ride Denied.” It was originally recorded in 1993 and first released nearly ten years ago.