Sat. March 20

 One of Johnny D's favorites Michael Tarbox - leader of the band Tarbox Ramblers - returns to the Davis Square club, in two separate, but related, formats. The singer-songwriter-guitarist is celebrating a new solo CD, "My Primitive Joy." "The new album's a departure from The Tarbox Ramblers' roots sound," he e-mails us. "It's mostly acoustic, on the quiet side and with spare production. It is rooted in American traditional music weirdness.  It's mostly acoustic, and on the quiet side. It’s not rooted so much in old Appalachian or blues music, but it’s still a little weird. In many ways it reflects the folk and pop music I listened to as a kid. 
   "I began writing the new songs assuming they'd be on the new Tarbox Ramblers album. But as I wrote I realized that they were more explicitly personal than the music I play with The Ramblers. And a lot more quiet. So over time I started to think 'My Primitive Joy' should be a solo record. My feelings were confirmed when we began recording.  The songs had a spare, intimate sound very different from The Ramblers' music.  Many of the songs on "My Primitive Joy" are about the fragile quality of what sustains us.  And gratitude for what we share despite knowing that friends, lovers, family, perceptions and certain situations that give our lives meaning change. Seize the day ...  Scott McEwen, who produced the album, understood and enhanced what I was going for.  We kept things simple and direct. We share a basic commitment to live recording, generally using using early takes. First thought, best thought, as the beat poets say. There are a few overdubs, but the record's sound is that of musicians interacting live in the studio. We recorded 'My Primitive Joy' in a 1930s pharmacy, boarded up in the 60s, that Scott opened up and converted into a studio.  The room had an old, somewhat ghostly ambience that I think made its way onto the album.  We recorded with an old Ampex tape machine until, towards the end of the sesssion, it broke down. We were unable to track down Nashville's last remaining tape console repair dude, so we went digital, with happy results."

What's going on at Johnny D's?

"Itwill be split into two sets, one featuring the music from the new album, and one of Tarbox Ramblers' music. It starts at 7. I'm not sure which set will come first.  But the musicians are, for the solo CD set, David Curry on viola and saw, Zack Hickman on pump organ, bass and clarinet, Mark Poniatowski on string bass, Charlie Rose on P=edal steel and cello" - no, not the PBS know-it-all - "and Margaret Glaspy on vocals. The Tarbox Ramblers set has Zack Hickman on string bass and Alan Kaufman on fiddle. Adam Mujica will play drums for both sets.

As to Tarbox Ramblers cred, how's this:On a chance night-off, Alison Krauss singer Robert Plant - you might also know him from Led Zeppelin - caught the Tarbox Ramblers and was so impressed, he immediately added them as opening act to his own string of dates. How to describe the Ramblers? Music written in the pre-WW II era, urban and rural blues mixd blended with shadowy original songs that gets your spirits up. Tickets: TBA, probably between $10 and $15.)

17 Holland St., Somerville, 617-776-2004 www.johnnyds.com