Around Hear

Conveniently, St. Patrick's Day falls on a Saturday this year, meaning that few motorists will be affected by an event that kicks off in the streets of downtown. However, once the parade wraps up in the early afternoon, the easy part of the day's entertainment planning ends and the choices begin. Live bands will be as prevalent as green beer, so music lovers have plenty of options.

For those who like topical holiday music in the background -- folks who dig out their trusty Christmas CDs every December 1 and move them into heavy rotation -- Celtic music is must. For revelers seeking an authentic Irish fix, Lawrence's Liberty Hall is Saint Patrick's Day's premier area destination. The evening's entertainment includes Gabriel's Gate, an enchanting Kansas City-based Irish ensemble whose mandolin-and-accordion-powered songs offer an instant escape to faraway lands. Guitarist Beppe Gambetta will whittle his diverse fingerpicked arsenal down to Celtic tunes for this occasion; he'll be joined by Maria Anthony and Megan Hurt, accomplished vocalists who proved their mettle at adapting overseas songs with their recent release, Thegither an' a, and baritone Lee Snook, a vocal-performance instructor at Washburn University who will try his hand at a series of Irish standards. KANU 91.5 will broadcast these performances live, providing excellent in-transit music for pub crawlers. And the hopelessly computer-addicted, for whom madcap St. Patty's fun consists of hitting the "Ireland" chat room and changing their font color to green, can vicariously enjoy the Liberty Hall celebration by devoting one browser window to the live transmissions at http://kanu.ukans.edu.

Meanwhile, the area's most recognizable Irish rock band, The Elders, imitates the behavior of green-clad enthusiasts who feel the once-a-year need to get jig with it by hopping from pub to pub. The band starts the festivities early on Thursday, March 15, at O'Dowd's, then performs at Molloy Brothers Pub at 9 p.m. on Friday, March 16, before doing triple duty on St. Patty's Day: a 2 p.m. set at W.J. McBride's Irish Pub, followed by a 6 p.m. turn at Danny's Bar and Grill and an 8 p.m. return engagement at Molloy Brothers.

Other clubs trotting out Irish-themed acts include Drafter's Bar and Grill, which offers patrons the opportunity to kiss the Blarney Tones; Harry's Bar and Tables, whose patio provides a temporary home for Mickey Mulligan and the Travelers; Walsh's Corner Cocktail, where veteran Celtic crooner John Morris begins belting around 7 p.m.; and O'Dowd's Little Dublin, which hosts Bob Reader (3 to 5 p.m.) and Eddie Delahunt (8 p.m.).

Many of these Irish/folk vocalists might inspire listeners to either raise their mugs and gleefully sing along or cry into their food-colored refreshments, but clubgoers who aren't married to an all-Irish, all-the-time playlist can groove and skank up a storm at the Grand Emporium. There, funk/rock powderkeg Pomeroy and Klammy-nominated rude boys Ruskabank preside over what promises to be one of the evening's more boisterous musical gatherings.

For underground rhythm fiends who prefer their events shrouded in mystery, DJ Booth's release party for his sophomore effort, Lost in San Francisco, will be the night's premier destination, though an info-line number (816-468-7196) is the only clue to its location. Booth, a true performer whose constant motion motivates dancers to keep an eye on the DJ instead of just becoming lost in the beats, is leaving KC to attend school in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, so this extended set offers local fans their final chance to see him spin his eclectic mix of jungle, speed garage, house and trance.

For the clubbing crowd, which relies on record-spinners to get the party started, Spark Bar presents DJ Rhythm, a Chicago-based producer/beat-creator who will make his first appearance in Kansas City.

DJ Rhythm has produced tracks for such heart melters as Brian McKnight, who lamentably made a recent appearance in a 1-800-COLLECT spot and even more unfortunately won't be making a trip to Kansas City to perform with his onetime collaborator. Another R&B heavyweight will be in town, but Erykah Badu's soulful séance at the Uptown Theater is already sold out (not Souled Out, which plays at the Roxy Bar). Ticketless fans in search of smooth vocals can either run the scalper gamut or head down to the Plaza III to catch Sharon James or to the Blue Room for a rich set from the incomparable Ida McBeth.

On the other hand, partiers who are in no mood for soul might sensibly flock to Soulless, one of the hard-hitting acts on a Niener's bill that also includes Stone Walk and Child. The night's other big metal bill at Memorial Hall might seem to provide safe refuge for headbangers who would like to avoid all things green; bands such as Disturbed, Spineshank, Godhead and Skrape aren't known for being especially festive. However, this concert, sponsored by KQRC 98.9, is billed as "Psychotic St. Patty's Day," which means that decorative shamrocks and DJs dressed as leprechauns might come with the package.