Steve ’n’ Seagulls w/ClusterPluck

On the eve of the Americana Music Association’s annual grab-bag of a festival devoted to, uh, roots music and all that jive, the philosophy of Finnish bluegrass-rock-pop geniuses Steve ’n’ Seagulls gives me solace. Talking in late 2018 to reporter Dylan Morley of the University of Bristol’s student newspaper Epigram, Steve ’n’ Seagulls leader Irwin Remmel weighed in on the subject of authenticity. “Well, we’re not sure how much Finnish culture we are exporting,” Remmel said. “Of course, as Finns we represent our culture and country somehow.” On their superbly titled 2016 album Brothers in Farms and the equally piquant 2018 collection Grainsville, Remmel & Co. tackle songs by Van Halen, Pantera and Guns N’ Roses. The band’s Grainsville version of Van Halen’s “Panama” will make you smile, while the album’s “I’m Broken” beats Pantera’s. These guys use drums, backing vocals and accordion, and they make similar post-bluegrass jokers Hayseed Dixie sound anemic. Progressive bluegrassers ClusterPluck will open. 8 p.m. at Mercy Lounge, 1 Cannery Row EDD HURT