PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- Before they can rock the stage, musicians need to rock the page with their songwriting.
In his latest Rave 'N' Rage segment on the MORNING REPORT, Xander Nelson tipped his hat to that part of the creative process which happens far away from the screams of adoring fans.
Xander's list of upcoming performances began with Junco, and he made special note of the awards the band has won for excellence in songwriting.
Another band to get Xander's stamp of approval was Mouth Washington for the wordplay that went into its name.
Including those two bands and all the others in between, here are Xander's picks of the live acts that are worth seeking out in the weekend ahead:
FRIDAY
Junco
8 p.m. at Stone Mountain Arts Center in Brownfield
Devil’s Nite Out with 3FD, My Tempered Soul, Reaver
9 p.m. at Live at 212 in Westbrook
Grateful Dead movie screening
9 p.m. at Port City Music Hall in Portland
SATURDAY
KGFREEZE Initiator Release Show with Mouth Washington, Burr, $300
9 p.m. at Portland House of Music
Twiddle
8 p.m. at State Theatre in Portland
See more of Xander's musical musings at WCYY radio's Rave 'N' Rage homepage.