The cure for Cowell

If you’re feeling a bit queasy after watching American Idol bastardize the music industry, perhaps a dose of real, acoustic jamming might do the trick. Davis’ Mad Cow String Band has made great strides since its inception in 2003. Its sound, an amalgam of bluegrass and high-energy folk, may not cater to the masses, but at least it’s not being covered by Taylor Hicks. A listen to the band’s Live at the Delta of Venus LP will conjure memories of hayrides and old Westerns, and induce an indulgence in some sippin’ whiskey. The Mad Cow String Band plays Old Ironsides, located at 1901 10th Street, on Friday at 9 p.m. with the Devastates and the Devil Makes Three (who’ve been tearing up the Bay Area and Santa Cruz circuit for quite some time). The cover is $10. Say hello to Art Rodriguez, Old Ironsides’ longest-running bartender, for me.