Huey Lewis and Whipkey Three reviewed; Roundup of the weekend ahead

Apologies for the absence. I've been in and out of the office all week due to sickness. First, I had the flu, but now that's developed into a wicked cough and cold. Gotta love this weather, right?

Anyway, I caught the Whipkey Three and Huey Lewis & the News last night. Matt Whipkey was playing as Matt Whipkey for awhile and then Whipkey-Zimmerman and now the Whipkey Three (which does not include Sarah Benck, as it once did).

Anyway, they had a really short set last night, but it was good stuff. They played a few new tunes that fit Whipkey's Americana Springsteen meets Craig Finn fun-times bar rock, but with much cooler shirts. I put Whipkey's album, "Instant Heart," on my best of 2009 list, so I'm looking forward to his next effort. He seems to have the songs (and now the band) in place to do so.

Huey Lewis was delightful. An admission: I'm a total nerd for the man and I loved every minute of it last night. The show started off with some soul covers from the band's upcoming album of Stax Records covers. Then they did some B-sides, two a capella tunes and finished off with the hits.

Lewis looks like he could be your buddy's dad - just a regular guy having a good time. Except he can sing and has a really good band.

I can tell you I totally geeked out when they played "I Want A New Drug" and "Power of Love." Little disappointed to not hear "Back In Time" or "If This Is It."

But the night was a total guilty pleasure delight.

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Good shows coming up this weekend:

• Brad Hoshaw and the Seven Deadlies play tonight at the Stir Live And Loud. 9 p.m./$5 at the door.

• Also tonight is apparently The Hole's last show (in it's current location). Tim McMahan has the story.

• Satchel Grande funks out the Waiting Room tonight. 9 p.m./$7 at the door.

• Saturday is Jenny and Johnny at the Waiting Room. Jenny Lewis (of Rilo Kiley) and Jonathan Rice (singer/songwriter) put out a good album recently, called "I'm Having Fun Now." They talked to me about it as well as recording in Omaha and old stories about Lincoln.