Short Takes: Music news in brief

MICHELLE MALONE
Sit, grin and love every note of Michelle Malone. The raw-voiced singer will appear at O’Mainnin’s Pub in Bristol, Tenn., on Nov. 19.
Consider it another stop in a journey of a career that parallels the restless nature of her songs. And when she steps forth, plugs in her slide guitar and emotes such songs as “Honeysuckle Lullaby” and “Traveling and Unraveling,” think barbed wire and razor blades and a heart that bleeds life.
Malone is no newbie. Her latest album, “Debris,” is her 14th when coupled with albums recorded with past bands Drag the River and Band de Soleil.
Haven’t heard her? She’s Springsteen without the fame, Mellencamp without the hits. Malone needs to be heard.

IF YOU GO
Who: Michelle Malone
When: Nov. 19, 10 p.m.
Where: O’Mainnin’s Pub, 712 State St., Bristol, Tenn.
Info: (423) 844-0049
Web: www.michellemalone.com
Audio: http://new.music.yahoo.com/michelle-malone-tracks/

JOY LYNN WHITE
Welcome inside the creative minds of Joy Lynn White, Kim Lyons and Annie Robinette. Simply head over to Down Home in Johnson City, Tenn., on Nov. 20. The three talented singers and songwriters will host a songwriters-in-the-round show during which each will dig into their sinewy repertoires for fine song upon fine song.
Take White. Her evocative, strong voice heralded a superstar born with such albums as 1994’s “Wild Love” and the achingly excellent song “Tonight the Heartache’s on Me.”
Despite resounding critical acclaim, White barely registered a blip on national radio. See her with Lyons and Robinette, and hear what the country missed out on.

IF YOU GO
Who: Joy Lynn White, Kim Lyons and Annie Robinette
When: Nov. 20, 9 p.m.
Where: Down Home, 300 W. Main St., Johnson City, Tenn.
Admission: $10
Info: (423) 929-9822
Web and audio: www.joylynnwhite.com

MILEY CYRUS
Parents of pre-teen and early teen girls, Christmas can come early for your daughters.
Just pony up a couple of Jacksons, gas up the grocery getter and drive a short trip to Charlotte, N.C. for the voice of your daughters’ generation – Miley Cyrus. The biggest name in pop music today will perform on Nov. 24 at Charlotte’s Time Warner Cable Arena.
Consider it a rare opportunity – rare that your daughters will see Cyrus and rare that you can actually buy a ticket for one of the most intensely in-demand shows on the road. At press time, tickets were still available.

IF YOU GO
Who: Miley Cyrus
When: Nov. 24, 7 p.m.
Where: Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, N.C.
Admission: $39.50-$79.50
Info: (704) 688-9000
Web: www.mileycyrus.com

MUSIC NOTES
Taylor Swift emerged from last week’s CMA Awards show quite the winner. She won the annual award show’s top honor Entertainer of the Year, and at 19 became the youngest to win in its 40-plus years history.
Now recall Swift’s win during last month’s American Music Awards show. When she stepped on stage to accept, rapper Kanye West leapt on stage, butted his way to the microphone and proclaimed disgust with Swift’s win over Beyonce.
Fast forward to last week’s CMA’s.
Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley ad-libbed Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings’ “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies (Grow Up to be Cowboys)” with a few words for Kanye West.
“Mamas don’t let your babies grow up to be Kanye…,” they sang, “cowboys have manners, they don’t interrupt.”
Excellent.
New albums this week include the fabulous Norah Jones with “The Fall” for jazz and true pop music, Janet Jackson’s two-disc, 34-track “Number Ones,” which includes new single “Make Me,” and Katy “I Kissed a Girl” Perry’s “MTV Unplugged.”
And for classic rockers comes a treasure in the Doors’ scintillating, six-disc “Live in New York.” The Rhino Records release features all four complete shows that the Doors performed in January 1970 at the Felt Forum in New York City. Lead singer Jim Morrison died the following year.
An entire album highlights this week’s free MP3 download. Courtesy rock band Late September Dogs, simply go to http://lateseptemberdogs.com then scroll down and look to the right for the link to download the band’s hard rocking album “Anything But Beautiful.”
To borrow from the late Walter Cronkite, and that’s the way it is for this week’s Short Takes and Music Notes. See you next week. Meanwhile friends and neighbors, by all means stay tuned.

TOM NETHERLAND is a freelance writer. He can be reached at features@bristolnews.com.