[Friend of Buzz Bands Doug Kresse was on hand at Spaceland on Saturday night and passed along this account:]

By Doug Kresse
Not even a power outage a half-hour into his set could sap the energy and heart from 81-year-old country music legend Charlie Louvin on Saturday night at Spaceland. With a backing cast of local musicians and guest turns from the likes of Lucinda Williams, Louvin carried on in the dimness of emergency lights and delivered a heartfelt set rich in the art of storytelling.

After sets by Frank Fairfield and local treasure Mike Stinson and his band (who would become Louvin’s backup band), Louvin took the stage in front of a packed house about 11:15 p.m. Plenty of fellow musicians populated the crowd, including Chris Isaak. With occasional turns from guest vocalists, Louvin sang a lot of his great gospel hits, and classics like “I Don’t Love You Anymore.”

Then, around 11:45, the lights flickered and everything went black inside the club. Emergency backup lights kicked on, and the Spaceland crew scrambled to keep the show on the road (somehow the sound system was not affected). Working with little light, Charlie and the band shifted to working without the reliance of the sheet music.  At one point, bassist Rob Douglas attempted to scan the sheet music, trying to get the chords down, but Louvin just told Douglas not to worry. He helped the bassist and Stinson along, and the set went on in conditions that may have rattled many musicians — but not these.

Later, Louvin welcomed Lucinda Williams on the stage to sing with him. But one of the things I’ll remember most were the stories Charlie told between songs.  He connected with the audience, recounting a life of great memories.  One was the time — long ago — that he and a band had just finished a long set, were packing up to go home, then saw some miners, just getting off their shift, who suggested it’d be wise to play some more. Louvin honored their request. He also told of the times when club patrons who talked during a set and disrupted it (not an uncommon occurrence in Eastside environs) were “carried out.” His anecdotes spanned several decades.

It’s clear Charlie Louvin has created a rich history of music — and added to it with Saturday’s show. In the midst of what to him was a minor inconvenience, he showed true class.

[If I had time to trawl all the Hollywouldya sites, I'd clue you in on all the Grammy parties you won't see me at. As it is, read about some of them here. Meanwhile, it'll be a busy weekend even without the award-dispensing, or the Garth Brooks birthday party ...]

Tonight: What a night to start the weekend — especially on the Eastside. Lady Sovereign has a new album on the way (Spin has a blurb and a stream of the single “So Human” here, and where can I sign up to be one of the Cure’s lawyers?). She plays the Echo, where it will surely be a madhouse. Same goes for downstairs at the Echoplex, where the band with the name I still can’t bring myself to type, F***ed Up, performs along with Mika Miko. … Oliver Future makes its debut as a three-piece at Spaceland, along with another very good local three-piece, Gliss. … Local quartet the Idyllists celebrate the release of their debut at the Hotel Cafe (check out “You’re Gonna Break My Heart Someday”), and Angela Correa also plays a stripped-down set. … Of course, you can start your evening at First Fridays at the Natural History Museum (upside, you’ll be out of there by 10; downside, the food is way overpriced), where the Bird and the Bee perform. … Singer-songwriter Todd Snider is in town for a show at the El Rey, while NOFX plays the second of its three shows at the Music Box @ Fonda. … If smart, passionate punk is your style, Mike Park visits the Knitting Factory. … Death to Anders leads a brigade of locals at Pehrspace, and Seasons heads another local bill at Mr. T’s. … Of course, all of that assumes you’re not anteing up for the big MusicCares Foundation shindig honoring Neil Diamond at the Convention Center. Coldplay, Adele and Josh Groban (whom I could’ve sworn I spotted coffeeing unmolested at Starbucks in Silver Lake last week) are among the performers.

Saturday: How about 81-year-old country legend Charlie Louvin [pictured] playing Spaceland? That’s pretty amazing. … Scott Weiland is holding forth at the Music Box @ Fonda, while Ne-Yo has sold out downtown’s Club Nokia. … Fol Chen celebrates the release (Feb. 17) of its debut, “Part I: John Shade, Your Fortune’s Made,” at Pehrspace. … The Fold has begun a series of shows at Home restaurant (at Riverside and Fletcher in Silver Lake), and Benji Hughes appears with a host of other quality people. No cover, either. … Fiction Family plays the Largo at Coronet. … Amy Kuney brings her serene sounds to the Hotel Cafe. … Carney, along with His Orchestra, team up at the Troubadour. … And the pride of Riverside, the Voodoo Glow Skulls, tee it up at the Knitting Factory.

Sunday: You’d think this would be a barren evening for shows because of the Grammys, but Ne-Yo and NOFX reprise their gigs at their respective venues, and T.S.O.L., along with Black President, punk it up at the Echoplex. … Alex & Sam play at Home. … And it’s Hungry Ghost at the Echo and Suki Ewers at Spaceland.

Obligatory self-promotional bit: Join me on the Buzz Bands show on Little Radio at 10 this morning, and every Friday, when I will be spinning new music by some of these artists.

And, as always, I recommend You Set the Scene for a more complete list.