For all the worries about the future of The Horned Hand (507 N.W. Colorado Ave., Bend) as a music venue a couple months back, the place sure is cooking with sounds right now. Every week, it seems they host two to four fine shows, and the schedule — at www.reverbnation.com/venue/thehornedhand — doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Here’s what’s on tap for this week.
• Tonight brings about a delectable double bill of darkened-door Americana. First up (presumably) will be locals Wilderness, who’ve been busy making a name for themselves ’round here by staying busy with gigs. Then, it’s time for Terrible Buttons from Spokane, Wash., a band that cites Tom Waits, Fleet Foxes, Arcade Fire and Bonnie Prince Billy as influences. I, however, think the songs they have online sound like the mellow, horn-laden solo work of Archers of Loaf’s Eric Bachmann. Anyway ... good band. Two good bands. 8 p.m. $5.
• Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank are two brothers, originally from New Jersey and now based in Minnesota, who make classic, rambling folk-blues music. Their sound is mostly raw and rocking, with heavy doses of harmonica, like Bob Dylan at his most ornery. (OK, not that ornery. Dylan’s most ornery is pretty ornery. But you get the idea.) They’ll return to Bend on Saturday night after an opening set by local rustic-folk troubadour Bill More. 8 p.m. $5.
• The Horned Hand has started an open mic night on Tuesday beginning around 4 p.m. Guest artists will sometimes sit in, but otherwise, the stage is open. Bring down your instruments and your songs.
• Wednesday night will be a midweek treat at The Hand as The Preservation rolls into town from Austin, Texas. A jangly, roots-rockin’ five-piece, the band draws from ’60s pop, ’90s alt-country and modern-day indie rock, and the result is quite, quite pleasing. Pleasing enough to require two quites, I guess. Check out their fine “Two Sisters" album at www .thepreservation.bandcamp.com. Opening will be local doom-folk band Rural Demons, who are great as well. 8 p.m. $5.
