Friday, October 1, 2010
What's going on Saturday To-Do: Harvestfest 2010
HARVESTFEST 2010
11 a.m., Kavanaugh between Spruce and Walnut. Free.
The annual Harvestfest is back in Hillcrest for its 16th year and we're going to go ahead and predict the low-key, family-friendly festival is going to be as great as they come, if only by coincidence. It's a bye week for the Razorbacks. The weather will be perfect with a low of 51 and a high of 72 and no chance of rain. And my God, the leaves are turning to their autumnal splendor, to boot. As with every year, music — lined up by Burt Taggart, the head of Hillcrest-based Max Recordings — is a highlight. This year features The Moving Front, the post-punk crew fresh off of releasing a new album, "Everyday Dissonance"; Velvet Kente, the brilliant fusion act that's fated for — and flat out deserves — enormous successes; The Reds, maybe playing one of its final shows after releasing its last album, "Welcome to Stifft Station", and Isaac Alexander, the multi-talented musician whose solo album, "See Thru Me," underdogged its way onto last week's "Greatest Arkansas Albums."
Again, food is a huge part, with restaurants galore setting up kiosks and offering samples. The crown jewel of this year's culinary offerings is the first annual Harvestfest Burger Cookoff, which offers $300, $200 and $100 awards for best overall burger, best grill station decoration and best burger presentation, respectfully.
While you're burying your sunburnt face in burgers and beers, kids — when not flexing their "Yo Gabba Gabba" moves in front of the music stage — have plenty of opportunities for distraction with face painting, bean bag tossing, sidewalk art, ring tosses and a bounce house.
In the evening, the yearly, ever-popular Box Turtle Fashion Show returns, showcasing Little Rock's young designers. This year, locals Missy Lipps, Summer Daniel, Linda Thomas, Trisha Timmerman, Ashley Murphy and Lauren Roark unveil their new designs with dozens upon dozens of models working the catwalk.
And if all of this isn't reason enough to get excited, Harvestfest organizers just announced that they've tracked down the elusive-to-the-point-of-mythical (and Times-celebrated) Mexicana Alicia taco truck. Ole!
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (5)
What's going on / Music Friday To-Do: Michael Franti & Spearhead
MICHAEL FRANTI AND SPEARHEAD
9 p.m., The Village. $25 adv., $28 d.o.s.
For years, Michael Franti has been a figure supreme in the world of jam-fusion. He spent the early-'90s providing a fiery, political mouthpiece for electronic jazz outfit The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy before forming Spearhead in 1994. Since, Franti has melded reggae optimism to the same politically alarmed manifesto-songs in an attempt to find anything resembling a ray of hope in an otherwise miserably bleak political climate. It's not always a formula for mainstream success, but the road-worn Franti finally scored a big chunk of mainstream admiration last year with "Say Hey (I Love You)," a choogling, super-sugared piece of happy, shiny pop, written in Woody Harrelson's bathroom. Just last week, he released his seventh album with Spearhead, "The Sound of Sunshine." Don't expect anyone to cry "false advertising" over the title.
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Thursday, September 30, 2010
What's going on Thursday: Nick Charles, Steven Curtis Chapman, Jonathan Tyler and Northern Lights
In Hot Springs, Maxine's offers up acoustic roots and blues from Australia's Nick Charles, 9 p.m., free.
Steven Curtis Chapman, the Christian pop megastar, plays the Church at Rock Creek alongside his wife, Mary Beth Chapman, 7 p.m., $20-$45.
Roots rockers Jonathan Tyler and Northern Lights should be familiar to regular show-goers around town; they return to Little Rock for a show at Sticky Fingerz, 9 p.m., $10.
In bar/lounge music, the Ted Ludwig Trio smooths it out at the Capital Bar & Grill, 5 p.m., and Jim Dickerson holds down the Sonny Williams' piano room, 7 p.m., both free.
Nu-metal act Drowning Pool takes to Juanita's, 9 p.m., $18.
Boogie-woogie roots trio Sad Daddy picks and harmonizes at the Town Pump, 10 p.m., $3.
"Evita" returns for its final weekend of performances at The Rep, 7 p.m., $20-$40.
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (0)
What's going on Jay Jennings tonight at Clinton School
Times columnist Graham Gordy wrote glowingly about the book last week.
Where "Friday Night Lights" is good reportage that reads like a novel, "Carry The Rock" is more like a briskly-paced sociology book. Jennings deserves a broad audience with this effort; whether he gets one or not doesn't change the fact that he has told a more absorbing, elaborate and haunting story than some simple season-on-the-brink account.
Posted by Lindsey Millar on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Reviews / Music Last night: Ty Segall
With Ty Segall there are a few inevitable Cobain throwbacks, so let's get that out of the way. His Fender Jaguar, for instance. His mussed chin-length blonde locks. His stage poise that's more like a hunched-over kid doing a difficult math problem than a dude performing for a group of people. And while most of his three-piece's original tunes are scuzzy head-bobbing garage numbers, a few grungier, drone-drenched songs crept through, revealing hints about his true influences.
Ty and his band are an unassuming group. He's backed by two women who look like your friend's cooler little sister. Emily, the drummer, has the severe aquiline profile of silent film star, and an over all vamp-y composure that lends itself to playing the half-sneering Poison Ivy role to Ty's Lux Interior.
Of course, Ty isn't really like Lux, ingesting microphones and whatnot. Despite rocking out for (close to) a living, Ty's disposition is downright sunny. He entertained crowd requests for covers, including a truncated version of Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" that seemed to irk his bandmates a bit. He joked around like a chill California bro, and this matched the crowd's almost teenage fervor, which while crowded around the stage, somehow evoked an uncanny house party vibe, even though we were clearly attending a venue.
Most of the stronger songs were accessible garage jams, with chords so meaty and fat they almost make you feel unclean, but they played a new song that required Emily to beat one of her floor toms with a tambourine instead of a stick — a much slower-paced, atonal number that actually showcased Ty's vocals more than anything else in the set, and crested with a straight-off-of-"Blue Album" super-melodic power-pop solo.
Then after volunteering a crowd-pleasing encore, it was like all of our suspicions were finally confirmed. A dude in the audience kept screaming for Weezer covers, and Ty half-heartedly picked out "Say It Ain't So" in the wrong key. From there, apropos of nothing, he launched into "Smells Like Teen Spirit" with his band speciously responding. Of course, thankfully, the whole tour of his middle school CD collection dissolved before it could totally destroy his charmingly cavalier garage-punk cred.
Posted by Natalie Elliott on | Permalink | Comments (0)
What's going on / Music Thursday To-Do: The Romany Rye/Velvet Kente
THE ROMANY RYE/VELVET KENTE
10 p.m., White Water Tavern.
Does it buzz any harder than this? The Romany Rye is poised for national success and has shuffled together a consistent fan base in Arkansas. Fronted by Los Angeles' Luke MacMaster and backed by Little Rock rockers Whitman Bransford, Jesse Bates, Ryan Hitt, Judson Spillyards and Joshua Spillyards, the folk-rock outfit has toured with Dawes and Delta Spirit, both brothers in genre, and have scored an approving thumbs-up from mega-stars Kings of Leon. Romany Rye co-headlines the night with Velvet Kente, fresh off of opening for award-winning British songstress Corrine Bailey Rae and getting knighted as the sixth greatest local act ever in last week's Arkansas Music Poll. If your local music checklist is looking under-inked, take this chance to check out two must-sees under the same roof.
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (0)
What's going on / Music Thursday To-Do: Nappy Roots
NAPPY ROOTS
9 p.m., Revolution. $15.
The hip-hop quintet entered the spotlight in 2002 when it traded in the Dirty South for the Greasy South with country soul-infused love songs to rural Kentucky in "Po Folks" and "Awnaw," both off the group's debut album, "Watermelon, Chicken and Grits." But, as these things go, Nappy Roots seemed to vanish as soon as it appeared. Now eight years, one added member and a squad of mix tapes later, the South's answer to The Roots is back with a new album, "The Pursuit of ..." (wait for it) "... Nappyness," which, in spite of the rancid title, is loading up some decent reviews, thanks in no small part to some studio sorcery by Dave Sitek (TV on the Radio) and Jay Electronica (the next Dr. Dre). Local rap/emo-poppers EKG open the night while g-force works the graphics with a special VJ (video jockey) set.
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
What's going on Wednesday: Ty Segall, Starfucker, Steven Curtis Chapman
- Ty Segall
Alright. Big night in Little Rock. Let's run this down.
My pick? Ty Segall at White Water Tavern. The prolific 23-year old uberwunderkind's stock is sky-high right now after the release of his newest LP, "Melted," which sports some of the greatest surf/garage punk in recent memory—a welcome piece of quality in a one-note genre—and one of the scariest/coolest pieces of cover art I've ever seen. Oh, and I'm going to add that the album's second track, "Caesar," is amazing. I'll see you there. 10 p.m.
At Juanita's, electropop act The Octopus Project plays an odd, mostly instrumental reworking of twee music that They're co-headlining with dancey, sunshiney fellow electro act, Starfucker. Offended by the name? They're changing it. But, purists, don't worry. They'll probably still sound like an Old Navy commercial. 9 p.m., $10.
Call your friends' moms: Christian M.O.R. megasuperstars Steven Curtis Chapman and Mary Beth Chapman are playing at the Church at Rock Creek. 7 p.m., $20-$45.
Metalcore at Downtown Music tonight: MyChildren, MyBride hits the stage with Kingdom Under Siege and Still Reign. 7 p.m., $12.Canceled.
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Music Last night: Times New Viking @ WWT
For a band so divisive—they are the 5-star generals of "shitcore," after all—Times New Viking made Tuesday night at White Water Tavern an elbow-to-elbow affair.
With a surprisingly long set that ran a bit over an hour, the Matador Records trio was right on for every damn song. Having tested their metal while opening for Pavement over the last few weeks and, now, on their way to support Guided by Voices, we got a band at their sharpest.
They opened up with "No Time, No Hope," (one of the best indie-rock singles in years, if you ask me) and closed with a Half Japanese cover, "Thing With a Hook," and "Move to California." (Which was covered this month by Yo La Tengo, indie rock godfathers and long-time champions of Times New Viking.)
In the between time, I was too busy bomping around to one of my favorite bands to keep track of a set list. Um, it was loud. Sometimes I had trouble hearing over my huge grin.
But everyone won. Judging from the massive stumble of the crowd, the bar did well. Little Rock got a great show. The band, I understand, got a nice hunkadough for their coffers and, as their drummer told me afterward, a new humdinger of a venue to brag on to their friends.
I'm hoping the the Times New Viking/Ty Segall double-header can usher in a new wave of similar acts into White Water. It's hard writing a blog post with your fingers crossed this tight.
Also, see Reptar as soon as possible. I'm calling it right now: they're the next big Little Rock band.
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Music / Coming soon Grace Potter & The Nocturnals to Hendrix
Hendrix College, Central Arkansas' best music venue, is opening up their doors to the public this time around for an October 7 show featuring folk-rock/blue eyed soul outfit Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.
Tickets are available on the Hendrix campus at Village Books in Market Square or The Village.
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (1)
What's going on / Music Tuesday To-Do: Times New Viking
TIMES NEW VIKING
10 p.m., White Water Tavern. $5 suggested donation.
Full disclosure: I've been completely dedicated, starry-eyed and fawning, to this trio for years. When some bands were trying to hunt down some insta-cred by trying to squeeze into the lo-fi, bedroom-made sounds of the early '90s, Times New Viking managed to wear the DIY ethos like a tailor-made suit. The reckless guitar-pop, played, seemingly, through yard sale instruments, is so melodic and uninhibited that it simply wouldn't sound right if it wasn't recorded through a $10 Ampeg 2-track recorder. Now the unlikely heroes are signed to Matador Records, a big-time small label if there ever was one, and Times New Viking's blown-out transistor radio pop has made the Columbus, Ohio, trio one of the most venerated acts in the whole, spotty indie rock universe. Buzzy, new locals Reptar open the show alongside brand new lo-fi act Heart Takers.
Note: Times New Viking just finished opening gigs for the reunited Pavement and are in transit to begin their tour supporting Guided by Voices. That's 100 proof, y'all.
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (0)
What's going on / Music Tuesday To-Do: 'The Three Phantoms'
'THE THREE PHANTOMS'
7:30 p.m., Reynolds Performance Hall, UCA. $30-$40
Who needs a full Broadway show? Just give me the good stuff. That's the premise of "The Three Phantoms," a concert that brings together three Broadway vets — Craig Schulman, Brad Little and Gary Mauer — who've all logged many, many performances (3,000 all together) as the Phantom of the Opera. Another plus to a greatest hits show: no need to stick to just one show. Look, also, for songs from "Les Miserables" and "Miss Saigon." The Conway Symphony Orchestra performs in support.
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Monday, September 27, 2010
Mattie, Rooster, Tom and 'The Beef'
At last!
Now we can get to fantasy casting "Dog of the South."
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (2)
Right click Arkansas Bo's new single is the jam
The latest from one half of Suga City, Conduit's own Arkansas Bo, is called "Cup Inside a Cup" and the hook, looped throughout the track, samples a chopped and screwed bar from a Drake song: "cup inside a cup, smokin' Ghostface Killah."
Put him on the "Smoker's Club" tour with Curren$y and co. already! Who's doing laid-back, kickin' it music any better?
Preview the track and buy it on Bandcamp or iTunes. The edited version is all that's available, but the bleep's aren't that distracting.
Posted by Lindsey Millar on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Have you seen this man?
Age: 37
Height: 6'0"
Race: African-American
Aliases: Clayton Bigsby; Tron; Chuck Taylor; Leonard Washington; Silky Johnson, Player Hater of the Year, 2000; Sir Smoke-a-Lot
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Event Calendar
-
Re: The dude from 'Twilight' is making a movie about 'The Band'
You hear that noise??.......it's Levon spinning in his grave.....this has the thieving Robbie Robertson and…
- on May 25, 2012
-
Re: Willie Nelson to Johnny Cash Music Festival
Yes, good point Pygface. I'll inquire about all that and give an update when we…
- on May 24, 2012
-
Re: Willie Nelson to Johnny Cash Music Festival
Or don't buy your ticket yet if you want to ride the bus as last…
- on May 24, 2012
Top Commenters
Site Index
News
Cover Story / Arkansas Reporter / The Week That Was / Smart Talk / The Insider / The Observer / Editorial / Max Brantley / Ernest Dumas / Gene Lyons / Bob Lancaster / Words / Guest Writer / Letters
Entertainment
A&E Feature / To-Do List / In Brief / Movie Reviews / Music Reviews / Theater Reviews / A&E News / Art Notes / Graham Gordy / Books / Media / Dining Reviews / Dining Guide / What's Cookin' / Calendar / The Televisionist / Movie Listings / Gallery Listings
Slideshows
-
Pictures from the rocker's first ever performance in Arkansas on April 21 at Verizon Arena.
-
Barefoot in Arkansas, performing for rabid fans in Hawaiian shirts.
-
Fins to the left, fins to the right.
Fox16 Local News and Weather
-
Chad, Do My Job: Coleman’s Dairy edition
May 25, 2012On this week’s Chad, Do My Job, Chad helped process milk for thousands of Arkansans. fox16.com /more/ -
2 have minor injuries after plane crashes in Ark.
May 25, 2012Authorities in western Arkansas say two people suffered minor injuries when the small plane they were in crashed while trying to make an emergency landing in Ozark. fox16.com /more/
This Week's Cover
Quick Links
Special Publications
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
