Courtenay will be serenaded Feb. 12 by the smart sounds of Dave Lang so come down to Joe鈥檚 Garage.

Lang was destined to be a musician. He was named in remembrance of Dave Barker, a piano playing friend of his parents who was killed before he was born.

Lang studied piano himself as a kid, eventually learning how to play the guitar instead of finishing a history degree. Right from the start he wrote songs.

Funny songs that made strangers laugh. Funny songs that made them angry. Songs that made musicians like Corb Lund, Geoff Berner and Neko Case learn them, play them and love them.

Lang has performed them all around Canada from Halifax to Tuktoyuktuk to his adopted home in Victoria.

Lang has written music for film and television and received glowing reviews online and in print magazines such as the Georgia Straight and Spin.

鈥淒ave Lang is an original throwback to a time when subtlety and good humour meant something. A literate mind, with a touch of Tom Lehrer attached to a subversive heart. This is a show to experience.鈥� 鈥� Mitch Podolak (artistic director of Home Routes and co-founder of the Winnipeg Folk Fest).

鈥淒ave Lang writes perfect songs. He鈥檚 a master storyteller with a sly, incisive wit. I鈥檝e seen him about 20 times and it鈥檚 always great.鈥� 鈥� Geoff Berner

Joe鈥檚 will serve a special dinner for the night and will offer the show as a by-donation or pay-what-you-can (PWYC) event.

鈥淲e know that Dave Lang and the Black Squirrels are an amazing band and want to pack the room, so by offering the show as a PWYC event we鈥檙e hoping to attract people out to the show that might not have had the pleasure of seeing them but want to show their support,鈥� says Joe鈥檚 operator Milo Yakibchuk.

The kitchen opens at 5 p.m. with the show starting just after 8. You can either drop in or call to reserve.

Call 250-702-MILO (6456) to reserve.

鈥� Joe鈥檚 Garage