My buddy Robinson, who used to live next door to the Cowboy, has been playing with his new band the River Otters for a while now, but I’m a terrible person who stopped leaving the house for a while. Trav and I went out Saturday night, though, and of course I wasn’t disappointed — the River Otters are playing a fabulously tight three-piece blues, and I was reminded once again how much I like Robinson’s subtle, cheeky songwriting. I feel like blues are a genre that might not always draw in the Triangle, but seriously, the River Otters are phenomenally talented musicians, and their set — a mix of originals, covers you know, and covers only people who love the blues (Robinson and Trav, say) know — is perfectly paced and absolutely captivating.

They’ll be at Mystery Brewing in Hillsborough in April, so go see ’em. Buy me some barbeque before.