Robert Francis | Photo via his MySpace page

As we said yesterday in this column, Robert Francis fell ill earlier this month, prompting the cancellation of his Monday night residency at the Silverlake Lounge. Good news, though, the new favorite local artist of ours is playing tonight at El Rey at 8:45 p.m. with the Australian Missy Higgins performing after. There's no better way than letting you get to know Francis via a few songs below.

"One by One" -- Robert Francis

"All of My Trains" -- Robert Francis

"The Devil's Mountains" -- Robert Francis

The Short List
The Helio Sequence, The Builders and the Butchers @ Spaceland
Pop Noir, Venus Infers @ Key Club
Jay Farrar, Illinois @ Troubadour
Missy Higgins, Robert Francis
Correatown, Telephone & Telegraph, Cosio @ Bordello
Anna Waronker @ Largo

Related: Cary Brothers interview from this morning. He plays next in the LA area on 3/8 at HOB-Anaheim, 3/9 Hotel Cafe Tour (sold-out) and 4/12 at Henry Fonda