Here is where you'll hear the best music in Tallahassee this week

For my bring-home-the-bacon-and-cook-it-in-the-pan day job, I work in the Capitol building.

My cubicle in the office suite where I work is spacious and has a sliding door. It has been Kati-fied with prayer flags, photos, tacky magnets, a faux old-time map of London, astronaut posters from Florida Space Day and other tchotchkes. It’s my home away from home, especially now during my busy season, when I’m spending long hours here.

The office suite is like a cloister, where as an editor I serve as a sort of modern-day artist-cleric, meticulously illuminating manuscripts. It’s quiet and cozy there, even when the bustle of the legislative session is humming through the hallways and making the stairwells ring.

The hallway outside my office suite is hung with vintage photos and images from the state archives, blown up and framed. I have my favorites — a reproduction of a 1671 drawing of a St. Augustine scene, gas-masked soldiers in 1943 doing calisthenics on Miami Beach, the lithograph of a dramatic scene from the Battle of Olustee showing the bravery of black soldiers under fire.

But my current favorite is a 1935 photograph of employees at a Plant City strawberry plant. Most of the employees are women and girls, all wearing white caps that make them look like they have pointy horns. Some are deadpan as they face the camera. Some have mischievous smiles twitching the corners of their mouths. There are some males in the crowd — obviously supervisors there to enforce the “No Talking” rule emblazoned on a fixture.

There’s a whole book of shorts stories in that photo. And I’m betting that room full of ladies found ways to “talk” and thwart the rules.

Sometimes I imagine their strawberry-scented chatter while I work away at my illuminating/editing. In my head, their sub-vocal murmur blends with the drone of the blowers wielded by the grounds crew — a drone that penetrates even the thick walls of this cloister. This inner soundtrack is ornamented by the jubilant, exuberant early morning sparrow-song that greets me as I walk up the hill from the parking garage each day.

Where am I going with all this? Nowhere. Anywhere. Floating into spring with the buzz of music and memories in my head.

Here’s what else is making the airwaves hum this week:

Gathering Moss

Two mighty blues minds meld to spark a bonfire of sound when Chicago guitar-slinger Nick Moss and his band welcome special guest and harmonica maestro Nick Gruenling to the stage at 9 p.m. Friday at Bradfordville Blues Club, 7152 Moses Lane. Moss, Gruenling and band are passing through on their way to set sail on the Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea cruise. Expect them to drop a heap of fresh songs from their first Alligator Records release, “The High Cost of Low Living,” which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Blues Chart and was named the No. 2 Best Blues Album of 2018 by MOJO magazine. Tickets are $25 advance, $30 at the door; this one is expected to sell out. Visit www.bradfordvilleblues.com.

In the Grind

It’s a blast from the late ‘80s-early ‘90s when Alice in Chains tribute band Grind and Stone Temple Pilots tribute band Core team up for a show at 8 p.m. Friday at Fifth & Thomas, 1122 Thomasville Road. Tickets are $8 advance, $10 day of show. Visit www.fifthandthomas.com or 850tix.com/events/grindcore.

‘Multicolored’ multimedia

Music, cross-cultural storytelling, cultural research and discussion on coming of age with integration in Florida come together in “An Evening of Jazz and Multicolored Memories — A Race and Change Presentation,” a multimedia cabaret performance featuring Dr. Kitty Oliver and musical director Tim Jack, at 7:30 p.m. Friday at MusicLand, 9601 Miccosukee Road. Oliver draws on poignant, humorous, revealing reflections as an author, race relations oral historian, national media personality and recording artist who talks about race in a hopeful, healing way. Admission is a suggested donation of $15. Call 850-702-6433 or email jandecosmo@comcast.net to reserve a seat.

Strummin’ on the old banjo

Two-time Florida and North Carolina banjo champion and real live wire Mary Z. Cox invites Brian and Jennifer Hill of the Kenny Hill Band to help her celebrate the release of her CD “Carolina Banjo” at 8 p.m. Friday at Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St. The always effervescent Cox — who has recorded 11 CDs and teaches clawhammer banjo at festivals and workshops around the country — will be packing the big baritone banjo for the occasion. Cover is $10. Call 850-212-5204.

Piping-hot tunes

Americana mingles with the blues when Boo Radley opens for Big Daddy & Red Hot Java at 8 p.m. Friday at The Junction at Monroe, 2011 S. Monroe St. Tickets are $10 advance general admission, $13 day of show, $18 advance limited reserved seating. Visit www.junctionatmonroe.com.

Cat’s out of the bag

Help local label Cat Family Records celebrate at its 3rd Birthday Bash featuring TaReef KnockOut, bandanna, Boys Who Cry, Camp Green Lake, Sage Monkey and Slow Low Crow at 8 p.m. Friday at The Wilbury, 513 W. Gaines St. Cover is $5 21-plus, $7 under-21. Cat Family is also hosting an art exhibition next door from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Plant, with music by Caroline Mullen, Addison Mathis, Hope Riffee, and more. It’s free. Visit the Facebook event.

Slick licks

Get a face full of real Chicago blues when James Armstrong plugs in his guitar and steps up in front of his jelly-tight band at 9 p.m. Saturday at Bradfordville Blues Club, 7152 Moses Lane. Armstrong says what he lost in a home invasion knife attack in the 1990s gave him “a whole new respect for the music itself, the power in slow blues, how the silences between the notes are as important as the notes.” Tickets are $25 advance, $30 at the door; get ‘em while they’re hot, because this is expected to sell out. Visit www.bradfordvilleblues.com.

Go local

For those about to rock, we say head to the local showcase featuring Caleb McLeod & The Constant, Pat Puckett and Viper Pilot at 9 p.m. Saturday at The Wilbury, 513 W. Gaines St. Cover is $5 21-plus, $7-under 21. Visit the Facebook event.

Get your ‘Rock On’

Two longtime local musical legends join forces for the 4th Annual Rock On Show featuring Eli and Tom & the Cats at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at The Moon, 1105 E. Lafayette St. Eli is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and founder Charlie Roberts says “it’s kinda like riding a motorcycle — you never get over the thrill.” Eli released its first recording — a 45 — in 1975 and has racked up two LPs and four CDs since then, with a fifth disc celebrating the big anniversary due sometime this spring. The dudes still like to put on a big-ass rock show, lights and all. Tickets are $10 general admission, $20 reserved. Visit www.moonevents.com.

Good for what ails you

Get a dose of Tallahassee’s own homebrewed “Hillbilly Triphop” when Once Great Estate opens for trad country band Snake Blood Remedy at 9 p.m. Saturday at Fifth & Thomas, 1122 Thomasville Road. No cover. Visit www.fifthandthomas.com.

Old-timey time

North Carolina duo Frank and Allie Lee bring a breath of fresh mountain air, close harmonies and fine pickin’ and singin’ when they visit for a hoedown at 8 p.m. Saturday at Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St. The duo is the core of old-time string band The Freight Hoppers. Be sure to pick up a copy of their dandy 2018 CD “Roll On, Clouds.” Cover is $5. Call 850-212-5204.

Strings and things

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Ryan Montbleau travels to Tallahassee for a show with Thousand Dollar Hen at 8 p.m. Sunday at The Junction at Monroe, 2011 S. Monroe St. Montbleau began playing for the public when he was a student at Villanova and has built a fervent following with his laid-back charm, songwriting skills and undeniable guitar-playing prowess. He and his band have toured with Ani DiFranco, Rodrigo y Gabriela and Martin Sexton, but he’ll be playing solo Sunday night. Tickets are $13 advance general admission, $15 day of show, $16 advance reserved, $20 day of show, with a $2 under-21 fee at the door. Visit www.junctionatmonroe.com.

Stories and songs

Come for the storytelling, stay for the singing, when Stories at Blue presents a Storytelling Showcase at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St. After the seven word-weavers do their thing, singer-songwriter T.J. Washburn settles in to deliver songs “with lyrics that bridge (the gap between) Charlie Robertson and Loudon Wainwright.” Story-time is free, and it’s $2 to hear Washburn. Call 850-212-5204.

Lillies in bloom

As Knoxville, Tenn., band The Black Lillies has evolved through lineup changes and musical growth, its sound has blossomed too. A little bit country, a little bit rock ’n’ roll, a smidgen of pure Americana/folk and a generous dusting of funky soul power the songs on the Lillies’ latest album “Stranger To Me,” which was recorded at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, N.C., with producer Jamie Candiloro. The Black Lillies mix it up with Flathead String Band at 7:45 p.m. Thursday at Fifth & Thomas, 1122 Thomasville Road. Tickets are $12 advance, $15 day of show. Visit www.fifthandthomas.com.

And the beat goes on . . .

Lee C. Payton & the Gangbusters kick out the jams at 9 p.m. Friday at Island Wing Company, 1370 Market St. No cover. Call 850-692-3116. . . .  South Munroe rocks the block from 8 to 11 p.m. Friday at Backwoods Bistro, 401 E. Tennessee St. No cover. Call 850-320-6345. . . . Rednecks Mothers play from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday at Salty Dawg Pub & Deli, 3813 N. Monroe St. No cover. Call 850-562-6500. . . . Nora Lou plays sweet folk music that harks back to the '60s and '70s at 8 p.m. Friday at Black Dog on the Square in Railroad Square Art Park. No cover. Call 850-841-7778. . . . Frank & Randy do a little pickin’ and grinnin’ from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday at Southwood Golf Club, 3750 Grove Park Drive. No cover. Call 850-942-4653. . . . The Joshua Rivers Band presents  a night of jazz staples and original compositions from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Black Dog on the Square in Railroad Square Art Park. Cover is $5. Black Dog also hosts the Tallahassee Classical Guitar Society’s monthly showcase from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday. It’s free. Call 850-841-7778. . . . Get the Roda Vibe with As Saudades, the newly named local choro club, at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Blue Tavern, 1206 N. Monroe St. Cover is $2. Some genuine Pensacola acoustic blues is the order of the evening when Spearman Brewers brings the stomp at 8 p.m. Thursday. Cover is $2. Call 850-212-5204.