Where You Should Be Right Now

The Caves and the Belles at Jilly’s. Bartender Tony D. said he was going to make Jilly’s a local music hotspot, and so far, his plan is working. I’ve seen four bands there so far on past Thursday nights, and despite the bar’s cramped, occasionally loud-as-hell space, it’s been a good time each show. Tonight brings the debut of the Caves, a project led by Andrew Ashby of The String and Return, plus local pop/songwriter favorites the Belles.

OK Jones at the Bottleneck. Though it came out last fall, I only just now got a copy of Lawrence band OK Jones’ new one, Push/Pull, and it hasn’t spent much time outside my stereo the past couple of days. Bandleader Richard Gintowt does most of the music writing for Lawrence.com, and though he’s a fine reporter, his true gifts are on full display through his band. His voice is somewhere between Arthur Dodge and Jeff Tweedy, and his ability to write catchy, potent alt-country hooks is pretty much unparalleled in these parts.