I've written about these guys before, but if you're looking for some entertainment on a Saturday afternoon, they're your men.

They're Bill Toms and Tom Breiding. Tom plays guitar in Bill's band, Hard Rain. And for good measure, Bill has been playing with Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers for a couple of decades, and Tom also has his own band, American Son.

Their regular Saturday gig is from noon to 3 at Leaf & Bean, at 22nd and Penn in the Strip District. They bring along a couple of acoustic guitars - Bill his Takamine and Tom his Alvarez Yairi - and spend the afternoon playing and singing their own well-written material.

I dropped in to check them out on New Year's Eve, joining a crowd that pretty much filled the Leaf & Bean. While enjoying a good maduro smoke (at the recommendation of the owner, Jim; I forget the brand) I took in a good bit of their set, during which they were joined by harmonica player Marc Reisman, another longtime Houserocker. His playing added depth to some bluesy numbers by the guitarists, some of which focused on the theme of trying to get ahead in the world of music. (Bill's lyrics: "I've been paying my dues/Won't somebody pay me?")

If you can't catch them on a Saturday, the guys have some upcoming dates they wanted me to mention.

Tom Breiding & American Son will perform at the Icicle all, an event to "benefit Pittsburgh's entire vibrant arts & entertainment community." Festivities start at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, at the Boardwalk in the Strip. Other artists to be featured are After the Fall, Big House Pete, Kaj, Rockabilly Junction and Shonuff. The Icicle Ball is a Managerie project.

Bill Toms & Hard Rain will play at Cefalo's in Carnegie on Saturday, Jan. 28, for Bill's birthday bash. Another really talented singer-guitarist-songwriter, Tony Lee, will open for the band.

This just in: Bill will play a solo acoustic gig Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Square Cafe on South Braddock Avenue in Regent Square. His opening act will be singer-guitarist Hayley, who sounds like, as sources tell us, "a cross between Natalie Merchant and Sarah McLachlan."