The Pat McGee Band comes to the Windjammer

The Pat McGee Band

Friday at The Windjammer

Since its formation in 1996, Virginia-based quintet the Pat McGee Band has proven itself to be one of the hardest working bands in the business. The pop/rock outfit has averaged an astonishing 250 shows a year and built a cult following around the country with its solid musicianship and physical live performances.

And while the praises of the band's live shows have not fallen on deaf ears, singer/guitarist Pat McGee says he wanted to make a record that received as much notice as his band's performances. "... at the end of the day we wanted them (audience) to be as impressed with our record and feel like we've finally made something where we actually have to better our live shows."

That hope created the 2005 album "Save Me," which produced three singles, "Must Have Been Love," "You and I" and "Don't Give Up." The result saw the band sounding stronger, tighter and more dimensional than ever before.

The band continued that recording strength with its follow-up album, "These Days (The Virginia Sessions)" in 2007.

The Pat McGee band will perform Friday at The Windjammer, 1008 Ocean Blvd., with Shane Hines. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door and are available at the door or online at etix.com. Doors open at 9 p.m., show starts at 10 p.m. Visit the-windjammer.com for more information.

The Hellblinki Sextet

Friday at The Tin Roof

It's like a musical for "A Clock Work Orange" but darker and more creepy, in that devilishly humorous kind of way.

Asheville's The Hellblinki Sextet is the creation of multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and singer Andrew Benjamin and has been aptly characterized as "pirate blues" by music writers since the band first began nearly 10 years ago.

With punk-rock tendencies and vaudevillian theatrics that span a range of influences of both a musical and theatrical nature, The Hellblinki Sextet has made a name for itself as one of the most entertaining area bands.

The band usually performs as a trio and a typical show consists of members dressed in costumes and using props to drive their bizarre world of gypsy-folk, opera and horror-punk like a stake into the hearts of audiences across the country.

The Hellblinki Sextet will perform Friday at the Tin Roof, 1117 Magnolia Road, Saturday.

Visit myspace.com/westashleytinroof or hellblinki.com for more information.