ACOUSTICAL: Karen Mal.

Nashville song larks Karen Mal and Laurie McClain will appear at Acoustic Sounds Cafe at the Second Presbyterian Church on Friday, Jan. 27.

The twosome have been playing together for three years and have recorded a live CD, “Live at the Main Street Cafe.” They have a songwriting style that perfectly complements each other — a combination of lush, original compositions by the pair, with both singing vocals and playing guitar and Karen occasionally grabbing a mandolin for flavor.

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“Dark-Eyed Sailor” is Mal’s current solo album, and McClain is working on a new album to follow up 2003’s “The Trumpet Vine, a Tribute to Kate Wolf.” Instrumental guitarist Michael Gulezian is a late replacement for Bruce Piephoff as the opening act at 7:30 p.m.

Admission for the venue has changed; the cost now is $10, with students and seniors being charged $8. The venue, run by Joe Henry, remains non-smoking and alcohol-free.

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For more information, call 227-0000.

The college town of Athens, Ga., is the home of swampy rock and blues band Tishamingo, which is coming to Sticky Fingerz on Friday, Jan. 27.

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On the jammy side of Southern rock, the four-piece has just released its album “Wear and Tear,” and is on tour in support of the record. Tishamingo gets it together with smoky vocals, two-guitar interplay (one is a slide), keys and organ and a commanding rhythm section, which combines for the good down-to-earth ’70s rock bands like the Allman Brothers. The show starts at 9 p.m. with a $7 cover charge. 

 Also at Sticky Fingerz, the much-sought-out Oklahoma indie act The Hero Factor, from Tulsa, Okla., will appear Saturday, Jan. 28. The Hero Factor is a funky and innovative rock band with a vintage feel enhanced by boutique amplifiers and a retro keyboard sound.

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Opening will be Spiraling, a rock band from New Jersey that includes keyboardist Tom Brislin, a one-time member of YES.

Admission is $5 for the 9:30 p.m. show.

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VooDoo Organist (real name Scott Wexton) mixes the growl of Tom Waits and the weirdness of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins to create one of the most interesting lounge acts you’ll see. Voodoo Organist will play Tuesday, Jan. 31, at Sticky Fingerz.

Wexton is a self-contained product: writing, arranging and recording his eerie organ-goth ballads, which come across like a Vincent Price movie set in a tiki lounge. If you like the Reverend Glasseye, who visited the venue last year, you’ll definitely like this show.

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Josh the Devil and the Sinners will open at 9 p.m. Admission is $8.

A KABF dance and benefit and all-around hootenanny is set for Saturday, Jan. 27, at Downtown Music Hall. Spinning will be I Kill Eternally, DJ Brain and DJ James with special guests Fits and Starts. Admission for the 9 p.m. event is $4 for all ages, and proceeds will go to the community radio station.

Heads up: Tickets are now on sale for the Thursday, Feb. 9, Son Volt show at Juanita’s for $15.

And cool news about local artist Shannon Boshears: Her song, “If Anybody Asks You,” will be featured at the ending credits for the Joey Lauren Adams movie, “Come Early Morning,” which was filmed here last year and is premiering this week at the Sundance Film Festival.

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Boshears also informed us that she received a royalty check — a whopping $37, she said — from Taiwan Must Radio. Apparently, her song “Jaded,” from her album “chicksinger,” is a big hit there.

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