Those who wish to rub elbows with visiting Oyster Run bikers will find plenty of entertaining diversions in the city’s licensed establishments this weekend.
Leading the pack are fun punks Fanny Alger, a Skagit County group billed as the “world’s first for-profit salvation company,” whose annual “Fanny Alger Oyster Run Explosion” starts at about 9 p.m. Saturday at the Brown Lantern.
With pierced tongues still firmly in cheek, Fanny Alger members call their performances “revivals” and promise multi-media exhibitions, snake handling, mind reading, spoon bending, faith healing and beer witching.
The band’s songs tackle such issues as cults, Wal-Mart, keeping the peace, calling the shots, fishing, vodka, and A-Town. This irreverent repertoire led the Corner Pocket radio show to call Fanny Alger “Skagit Valley’s answer to California’s Offspring,” and to laud the group’s sense of pop/punk.
The lineup includes longtime members Shane Gildnes and Quinn K. Thompson and more recent additions Jeff Kyle, Chris Drake and Henry Szankiewicz.
Don’t be surprised if they shamelessly hawk their fourth CD, “Fanny Alger Does Memphis,” which was released this month.
Fanny Alger has reason to boast — they were the last band allowed to record at the legendary Sun Studio, in the very same room where Elvis, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and other music giants recorded their earliest hits.
Also this week:
• Majestic Inn, 419 Commercial Ave., presents Oyster Run entertainment: Too Slim and the Taildraggers 8:30-11 p.m. Sept. 26, $10; One Eyed Jack, noon-4 p.m. Sept. 27. Call 299-1400.
• Rockfish Grill, 320 Commercial Ave., presents Fidalgo Swing, Sept. 23; Ravinwolf, Sept. 25; Alice Stuart, Sept. 26. Music is 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, 8 to 11 p.m. Thursdays and 9 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays. Call 588-1720.
• Star Bar, 416-1/2 Commercial Ave., presents C. Eger Band, Sept. 25; Howlin’ Lane and the Angels of Sin, Sept. 26. Call 293-6747.
• Department of Safety, 1011 12th St., offers new music for all ages: Phantogram, Mountains, The Drink Up and Honey, Sept. 25. Call 293-2994.
• Anacortes Eagles presents live music 7:30-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays: Sept. 26-27, Tony and the Tigers. Members and guests only. Call 293-3012.
• Brown Lantern Ale House, 412 Commercial Ave., hosts Open Mic Thursdays with Neil Stuchal, 9:30 p.m. to midnight. Movie night is after Monday Nigh Football; Tuesday is trivia night. No cover. Call 293-2544.
• Watertown Pub, 314 Commercial Ave., offers live music most weekends. Saturday is ladies night with top 40 DJ Ben Brown; Wednesday is karaoke night with DJ Steve, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Call 293-3587.
• Johnny Picasso’s, 501 Commercial Ave., presents live music/open mic 7-9 p.m. Thursdays.
• Thai Season restaurant, 710 Commercial Ave., presents Emily Leopold 5-7 p.m. Sundays. Call 293-4004.
• Swinomish Northern Lights Casino presents Jazz Lunches 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays. Call 293-2691.
