GUITAR-O-RAMA: On Friday, January 26, at the Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway, there's an acoustic blues festival with Kelly Joe Phelps and special guests Hans Olsen and Rainer. Phelps recently opened for B.B. King, dazzling the audience with his lap-style acoustic blues playing. Olsen is acknowledged as the best blues player to be found in Phoenix, and it's always a treat for Tucson blues fans when he heads down I-10 for a visit. This will also be a prime opportunity to see Rainer in a setting without the background nightclub din. Show begins at 8 p.m. Hear's Music, 2508 N. Campbell, is hosting a pre-concert, in-store appearance by these three artists, who'll also be signing their latest titles, including Rainer's most recent solo acoustic instrumental release Nocturnes, available for the first time in Tucson. Advance tickets are $10, $8 for KXCI and TBS members, and are available at Hear's Music, Zip's University, Loco Music, Good Time Music, or charge by phone at 881-3947 ($1 per ticket fee). Tickets are an additional $2 at the door. Call 795-5685 for information. At 8 p.m. Sunday, January 28, at The Temple Of Music And Art, 330 S. Scott Ave., The Bobs put on their first full show for the Old Pueblo. This a cappella group combines comedy with performance art, resulting in the most unique and daring vocal quest around. The Bobs decided to reverse the "unplugged" trend on their most release, Plugged (Rounder Records), by adding electronic distortion to their voices while keeping all of their wacky, witty charm intact. From their original compositions to covers of the likes of Jimi Hendrix and the Talking Heads, The Bobs promise to amuse and delight. This is a benefit concert for Third Street Kids, who'll open the show with a song. All seating is reserved. Tickets are $12, $14 and $16, available at Hear's Music, Loco Records, Antigone Books, or by phone at 881-3947 or 327-4809 ($1 per ticket fee for phone orders). Call 327-4809 for information. Join TAMMIE Award-winning folk artist Jamie Anderson at 8 p.m. Saturday, January 27, at the Southwest Center for Music, 2175 N. Sixth Ave., with a lively show celebrating her new CD, Never Assume, an engaging collection of songs ranging from the deeply moving "One Out Of Three" and "No Damn Factory" to the hysterically funny "Menstrual Tango." Anderson will be backed up by Beth Johnson, Mitzi Cowell, Sami Ross, Lisa Lemay, Marti van der Voort, Michelle Marquand and The Courage Sisters (Molly Who and Patty Sundberg). Any chick who writes a love song about her car makes my A list. Tickets for the show are $8 in advance, with a $1 discount for KXCI, TKMA and TFTM members, and are available at Antigone Books, Hear's Music and Southwest Center for Music. Tickets will be $2 more at the door. Also playing the Center this weekend are Beasts of Paradise, on tour for their debut CD Gathered On The Edge, an exotic blend of melodic vocals, rhythms and instruments including the native Australian didgeridoo. The sounds on this record can turn any gloomy winter day into an endless summer evening. Bask with the Beasts at 8 p.m. Sunday, January 28, at the Southwest Center for Music. Tickets are $7 for members, $8 in advance, available at Hear's Music and the Center. They'll cost $9 at the door. Call 884-1220 for more information. The band will be at Hear's Music, 2508 N. Campbell Ave., on Monday, January 29, for a didgeridoo workshop. Call 795-4494 for more information. The Friday night line-up at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St., where MaryAnne (formerly Ginger) and buzz-band Idle Wilds (supporting their recent release, Dumb, Gifted and Beautiful) tear a hole in the space-time continuum. The Verve Pipe opens the show at 9 p.m. Tickets are $4. Call 622-8848 for information. Also on Friday, Deep Blue Something lands at The Rock, 136 N. Park Ave. Tickets are $6.50 in advance, available at Dillard's, Zia Records, Zip's and The Rock. They're $7 day of show. And across the way at The Paragon, 144 W. Lester St., an all-ages show with Napalm Death (featured performers on the Mortal Kombat soundtrack), delivers a guitar assault with vocals that could scare the crap out of Nightmare Freddy, at 8 p.m. Sunday, January 28. Hard-core punk rockers Sheer Terror open with cuts from their new CD, Love Songs For The Unloved. Tickets are $10, available at Zia Records. Call 622-5560 for more information. Candlebox takes over The Outback, 296 N. Stone Ave., on Monday, January 29. Seaweed opens the show at 8 p.m. Tickets are $17.25 in advance from Dillard's, Zia Records, Zips and The Outback. They jump to a whopping $18 on the day of the show. Call 622-4700 for information. And last but certainly not least, Seven Mary Three comes to town at 9 p.m. Tuesday, January 30, at The Rock, 136 N. Park Ave. This may be a unique opportunity to see these guys before fame and fortune go to their heads. Tickets for this 18-and-over show are $9, available at all Zia locations. --Jennifer Murphy

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