Imagine two musical legends: the once-incorrigible ex-con Merle Haggard — music saved his life — and former Rhodes scholar Kris Kristofferson, who, rather than teaching at West Point, followed his musical dreams.
It would be tough to find a more unlikely pair.
Two-time Grammy-winner Haggard turned his experiences into a country career and commercial success beyond his wildest dreams. He earned about 40 No. 1 country hits, including “Branded Man,” “Kentucky Gambler,” “Okie From Muskogee” and “Someday When Things Are Good.”
Kristofferson dreamed of becoming a songwriter. After some educational detours, success followed his dream with hits such as “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Sunday Morning Coming Down” and “For the Good Times.”
The two perform tonight at 8 at the Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle; $45 to $65; 877-784-4849.
Britney Spears: By most accounts, Spears’ current tour is a spectacle, which makes sense, considering Spears is both a pop princess and a tabloid fixture.
“The Circus Starring Britney Spears” will find the rejuvenated singer strutting her stuff in elaborately choreographed set pieces, often to songs from her December comeback album, “Circus.” The Pussycat Dolls open the show.
Spears performs at 8 p.m. April 9 at the Tacoma Dome, 2727 E. D St., Tacoma; $35 to $96; 800-745-3000.
The Roots: Jimmy Fallon gave an unexpected boost to the Roots last year when he announced the hip-hop group would be his house band on “Late Night,” which he took over from host Conan O’Brien in March.
The group wasn’t an obvious pick. The Roots are better known for socially conscious albums such as “Things Fall Apart” and 2008’s “Rising Down.” So far, though, the gig seems to be a fit. Now, the group spends most of its time on the talk show, slipping in concert dates when they aren’t needed.
The Roots perform at 8 p.m. April 9 at the Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle; $35; 877-784-4849.
J.J. Cale: The blues live in this 70-year-old’s hands, voice and his February album, “Roll On.” Cale is following in the footsteps of jazz and blues musicians who keep going like the Energizer Bunny, gaining more respect as time passes.
The singer-songwriter won a 2007 Grammy for his work with Eric Clapton on the blues album “The Road to Escondido,” decades after he wrote two of Clapton’s biggest hits, “Cocaine” and “After Midnight.”
Cale performs at 7:30 p.m. April 7 and 8 at the Triple Door, 216 Union St., Seattle; $38 or $45 day of show; 206-838-4333.
India.Arie: This neo-classic soul singer reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for the first time in 2006, with “Testimony: Vol. 1, Life &Relationship.” The album was hardly her first success, though.
She won two Grammys back in 2002. And her first appearance on the charts was in 2001, with her album “Acoustic Soul.” She’s touring behind her most recent success, February’s “Testimony: Vol. 2, Love &Politics.”
India.Arie performs at 8 p.m. April 4 at the Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle; $29.50 to $59.50; 877-784-4849.
The Kendra Shank Quartet: Shank, a New York City-based jazz vocalist, started her career in the Seattle area — she’s a graduate of the University of Washington. Eventually she focused on jazz and developed her signature sound.
Shank performs at 7:30 p.m. April 7 and 8 at Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave., Seattle; $22.50; 206-441-9729.
Out and about: Lamb of God is striving to top its Grammy-nominated album “Sacrament” with a new offering, “Wrath” (April 7, Paramount) … A couple decades and about 16 million albums speak to the success of blues-metal band Tesla (April 4, Showbox Sodo) … Zepparella, an all-female Led Zeppelin review, and the Relay, a tribute to the Who, offer all the cover music fans can handle (April 9, Tractor Tavern) … Gary Louris &Mark Olson, founding members of the Jayhawks, tour behind the January release “Ready for the Flood” (April 6, Triple Door) … Alt-rock band Travis, who have enjoyed massive success in England, comes to town (April 5, Showbox at the Market).
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