Talk about infectious energy. North Carolina folk-rock band, The Avett Brothers, have it. I've seen the three-piece a few times before, but last night's show at Rams Head Live really showed all their strengths. Their music was, at times, piercingly raucous and, at others, poignantly beautiful. And the crowd absorbed every emotion.

The band consists of two brothers, Seth and Scott Avett, who play all over the stage (everything from guitars and banjos to keyboards and drums), as well as stand-up bassist Bob Crawford and frequent addition, cellist Joey Kwan (if you think cellists can't rock out, think again). The Avett Brothers are on tour promoting their latest album, I and Love and You, released in September. Known for their rock and bluegrass infusion (sometimes dubbed "grungegrass"), the band is veering a little bit with their latest release, which contains a lot of softer, piano-driven tracks.

Their softer side was reflected in opening act Jessica Lea Mayfield, a Ohio-based singer-songwriter, whose brand of music is, well, downright sad. Whether she's singing about a lost love or her own loneliness, Mayfield's songs, including a cover of Buddy Holly's "Words of Love," were pretty dark and melancholy. But she carries the emotional weight with a beautiful voice—kind of a like a twangy Sarah McLachlan.

Needless to say, after the opening act the crowd was in the mood for something a little more up-tempo. And the headliners delivered, with songs like the poppy "Slight Figure of Speech," the Paul Simon-esque "Salina," the foot-stomping "Pretty Girl From Cedar Lane," and the extra-country "I Killed Sally's Lover." But throughout their set, they weaved a very tangible sentimentality, especially felt in new tracks "Head Full of Doubt, Road Full of Promise" and "January Wedding." Another particularly beautiful song was "Letter to a Pretty Girl" (and the crowd appropriately roared when they sang the lyrics "sunset over Chesapeake Bay").

They ended their first set, typically, with "Go To Sleep" and came back out for an amazing encore of the heartbreaking "If It's The Beaches," then "Die Die Die, " and "The Perfect Space." The last song was extremely fitting, as everyone in (sold out) Rams Head felt lucky to be in just the right place to see an amazing live show from The Avett Brothers.

[Image: courtesy of ramsheadlive.com]

Primarily know as the ceviche and tapas restaurant that opened in Harbor East in May, Talara surprisingly also has a spirited (and inexpensive!) nightlife scene. Described by general manager Nick Rizzo as "old South Beach," Talara's decor includes brightly colored walls and Cuban-inspired artwork. This vibe is also carried over into the bar area, with fiery light fixtures and a bright, geometric design.

Besides the look of the place, the deals aren't bad either. Monday-Saturday, from 4-7 p.m., Talara offers $5 tapas, $5 cocktails, $4 glasses of wine, and $3 South American beer (like Quilmes from Argentina or Palma Louca from Brazil). But their drink menu is defined by their mojitos. They have more than eight options to choose from—ranging from their crisp mojito classico to the more ecclectic mint bubble gum mojito. My favorite that I've tried so far is the passion fruit mojito, which has a perfect mix of sweet and sour flavors. I'm a big fan of late-night happy hours, so I like that Talara has specials on Saturdays from 10 p.m.-1 a.m. (and that the kitchen stays open late!)

In addition to their drink selection, Talara also offers free salsa and dancing lessons every Monday night from 9 p.m.-midnight. I haven't tried it yet, but I've heard that the vibe is more low-key and relaxed than other salsa nights around town, making it less intimidating for beginners.

"It has been said that Talara is not a Baltimore place," says Rizzo. "We know this and we use it to our advantage." So check out Talara if you're in the mood for something new.

[Image: courtesy of baltimoresun.com]

Last night I attended an art opening at Patterson Park restaurant/bar, Three. While not a gallery space, Three is among many local businesses that support artists living in its community. The artist being celebrated last night was M. Jordan Tierney, who was debuting her exhibition "Falling in Love in Patterson Park."

Tierney's pieces (like "Phoenix," pictured) play with texture and light to ultimately give the viewer a very tangible feeling of optimism. "This show is so great because it’s about happiness," Tierney says. "And I think there’s something weird in the art world where it’s taboo to do something positive. I was finally able to express that without judgement, mainly because I am so happy."

It's no wonder that Tierney's 22 pieces, and overall theme, express such a joyous emotion. Last Friday, she brought her girlfriend, Molly, by the the exhibit just to show her some of the pieces she had hung. Molly got to one piece that incorporated text, "Do you want to sit on this park bench with me forever?" Then, Tierney handed Molly the label for the piece, which was called "Proposal." Molly instantly started crying and, of course, said yes.

This kind of story, though a little bit exceptional, is an example of what can happen when businesses support local artists in the community. Neighborhoods like Patterson Park, and others like Station North, have a plethora of local exhibits hosted by neighborhood spots (like Three, Romans, High Grounds, Patterson Perk, and Yellow Dog Tavern, to name a few).

Tierney, a trained artist and MICA alum, says that these sorts of shows are unique in the art world. "I lived in Washington D.C. for 20 years and most of those coffee shops and businesses have gotten gentrified," she says. "There is no local presence, so this idea is definitely particular to Baltimore."

This phenomenon could be attributed to the area being so walkable, Tierney suggests. "I think this neighborhood art phenomenon is also due to this being a pedestrian, as opposed to car-based, lifestyle," she says. "We support each other in a radius of what can be reached on foot, and we build relationships with those around us instead of going to chain stores by car and seeing strangers."

Along those same lines, Tierney's studio is going to be one of the spaces featured in School 33's Open Studio Tour on October 18, where the general public can tour more than 70 artist studios around the city. As Tierney put its, "Baltimore is so cool because everyone is encouraged to do their own weird thing."

[Image: courtesy of M. Jordan Tierney]

1st Mariner Arena (still hard not to call it Baltimore Arena) has really been stepping up its game lately. A couple weeks ago, the arena announced that Bruce Springsteen will play there for his first Baltimore show since 1973, when he opened for Chicago. Yeah, The Boss is also playing in D.C., but 1st Mariner will be one of the smaller venues on his tour.

Today it was just announced that hip-hop heavyweight Jay-Z will also be performing at the arena this fall as apart of a "College Arena Tour" to promote his latest album, Blueprint 3. His October 27 Baltimore show looks unique to the tour, as most venues are stadiums on college campuses, from Penn State to UMass to University of Texas, Austin.

According to the press release, there are 21 dates confirmed (which you can view here). Additionally, Jay-Z will hold a charity concert at Madison Square Garden on September 11, where 100 percent of the concert's proceeds will go to the New York Police & Fire Widows and Children's Benefit Fund.

Tickets for the Baltimore show go on sale September 11 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased at livenation.com. Can't wait to see who's going to play the arena next!

[Photo: courtesy of wired.com]