Pop

Hound Dog Taylor. Must've been two years ago when an absolutely unknown Hound Dog and the Houserockers played a devastating concert at Winthrop House, under the benevolent auspices of the Boston Blues Society. Which I, in turn, missed. Because I had a date. Which was lousy. But Hound Dog plays a rare form of blues, one designed primarily for dancing. In spite of that preference, Hound Dog has managed to construct a respectable following, in Chicago, as well as on this coast, and is one of the more frequently mentioned "bluesmen's bluesman." He plays a $29.95 El Cheapo Sears Electric Guitar, and runs a band with no bassist, just a second guitarist, who may be Hound Dog's cousin or brother-in-law, and a drummer. But make no mistake about it, any joint with Hound Dog Taylor in it, will jump.

Loudon Wainwright III. This man is considered a comic genius. I have not heard his entire recorded work. On the basis of a song called "Nice Jewish Girls," I will make my judgment. This man is a comic genius. He also sings about illicit assignations, dead skunks and smashed guitars, among other things. He does not make lots of money, but people who've seen him have fun, even though a lot of them think he's pretty warped. But he's not, at least not any more so than Martin Mull. Or Atilla the Hun. --F.V.B.

Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers. Joe's Place, 1281 Cambridge St., Thru Mar. 26. 354-9385.

Loudon Wainwright III. Sat., Mar. 17, Jordan Hall. Tickets: $4 and $5.

Doc Watson and Chris Smither. There may be a flatpicking bluegrass guitarist better than Doc Watson. Then again, there may not be. Doc and his son, Merle, a blazing banjo player in his own right, brought their repertoire of traditional ballads, mountain rags, re-interpreted standards and blues to Sanders Theater last Spring. Not even Paul Freund gets the ovations they got. The foot-stomping and clapping were too spontaneous to be corny, even with Doc's shaggy-dog stories thrown in.

I've never seen Chris Smither in concert, but on record he has everything James Taylor hoped to have (except Carly Simon). He's one of the few white folk-blues singers worth taking seriously, and a favorite son of Cambridge's slowly-dissolving folk community.   --P.M.S.

Doc and Merle Watson and Chris Smither, Symphony Hall. Sun., Mar. 18, 7:30 p.m.

CABOT LIVING ROOM, What Four, a barbershop quartet from Kirkland House, Mar. 17, 8:30 free.

ELIOT HOUSE LIBRARY. Ragtime Harpsichord Concert by Don Angle Mar. 17, 8:30, free.

KIRKLAND HOUSE JCR, Modern Jazz: female vocalist and 8-man band led by Rick Wilson '73, Mar. 17, 8:30, free.