With many thoughts swirling around in my head, I send you late January greetings. From the shooting in Arizona and Gabby Giffords’ recovery progress to the announcement of Cake’s show at The State and making plans for a winter escape, this decaffeinated girl is in a thought frenzy to beat the band.

And speaking of bands, I’m sending you to Bayside Bowl twice, once to Empire Dine & Dance and once to Port City Music Hall for an array of winter wonderment of the live music kind.

It’s an apres ski party Friday night at Empire Dine & Dance. In fact, sport your ugliest ski sweater, and you just might win a prize. The music will be provided by Jeff Beam and The Ice Storm of ’98 (best name for a band pretty much ever) along with a set from Britta Pejic. Ice Storm is Jeff Beam on vocals and guitar, Dan Capaldi on drums and backing vocals, Travis Kline on guitars and percussion, and Sam Peisner on bass. Pay Mr. Beam a visit at www.myspace.com/jeffbeamrocks to hear some tracks.

Then head to www.myspace.com/BrittaPejic to hear the fantastic sound of her psychedelic pop-rock. Hearing is believing, and “I Wanna Clone You” proves the point. What’s extra-groovy about this show is that the cover is only $2, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Maine Handicapped Skiing program.

Jeff Beam and The Ice Storm of ’98 with Britta Pejic. 9 p.m. Friday. Empire Dine & Dance, 575 Congress St., Portland. Ages 21 and older. $2.

Friday night also offers the option of the Bottom of the East Fuzz Fest with psychobilly tunes from The Outsiders (www.myspace.com/theoutsiders). The group will be joined by the Jonee Earthquake Band (www.myspace.com/thejoneeearthquakeband), purveyors of punk/rockabilly/surf music, and you’ll also experience a performance from Portland’s very own Whistlebait Burlesque.

Bottom of the East Fuzz Fest with The Outsiders, Jonee Earthquake Band and Whistlebait Burlesque. 9 p.m. Friday. Bayside Bowl, 58 Adler St., Portland. Ages 21 and older. $5.

Saturday night, it’s back to the Bowl for Buck Edwards’ CD-release show. His second record is called “Loaded Gun,” and it’s loaded with 11 new original tracks of his “redneck rock ‘n’ country.” Find all things Buck, including several samples of the new disc’s foot-stompin’ merriment, at buckedwards.com. You can also do-si-do your way onto a lane and bowl yourself silly to a soundtrack of live Edwards. Get the lowdown on this hoedown at www.baysidebowl.com.

Buck Edwards CD-release show. 8 p.m. Saturday. Bayside Bowl, 58 Adler St., Portland. $5.

Another Tuesday night in our seaside metropolis, and another reason to head to Port City Music Hall for the ongoing Two series. If you were born on or before Jan. 25, 1990, you’re old enough to make your way to 504 Congress St. for the double bill of The Pete Kilpatrick Band and The Coloradas. In the words of the immortal paper boy from “Better off Dead,” the cover and the Shipyards are only “Two Dollars!”

Pete Kilpatrick Band with The Coloradas. 9 p.m. Tuesday. Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland. Ages 21 and older. $2.

Aimsel Ponti is a Portland freelance writer. Contact her at:

aimselponti@yahoo.com