Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday: Adam Richman, Lee Brice, "A Night at the Rep"
Adam Richman, Alton Brown adversary and host of "Man vs. Food," discusses his new book, "America the Edible: Why We Eat, What We Eat, Where We Eat," as part of the Clinton School's Public Programs series tonight at the Robinson Center, 6 p.m. E-mail publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu for reservations.
Good ol' boy country singer Lee Brice lands in Juanita's tonight, 8 p.m., $10.
Brother Andy and his Big Damn Mouth play White Water Tavern, 10 p.m., donations.
The Rep hosts their 12th Annual "A Night at the Rep" event, featuring silent auctions and cocktails at 5 p.m. before a sneak preview performance of "A Christmas Story" at 7 p.m. $40.
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (0)
What's going on / Music Tuesday To-Do: Blood on the Dance Floor/Roxy Cottontail
BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR/ROXY COTTONTAIL
6:30 p.m., Downtown Music Hall. $10 adv., $12 d.o.s.
After more than a quarter century of indiscriminately sticking random bits of music in my ears, I can honestly say I've never heard anything like Blood on the Dance Floor. Halfway into "Sexting," the biggest single released by the Florida-based glamtronica outfit, I was ready to pack my bags and go live in a cave. It's all kissy babytalk about club drugs and "[verb]ing in your [body part]" on top of the synthesized equivalent of pink sequin. (You got it: that's eight-bit techno beats.)
Roxy Cottontail, on the other hand, is a little more digestible. A staple in New York City's club scene for years, the electro princess has ushered Diplo, Spank Rock and Baltimore's infamous Hollertronix crew into the spotlight when not churning out her own, self-described brand of "electro-disco nursery rap." If all these subgenre neologisms weren't gobstoppingly insane enough for you, the night's lineup also features Dot Dot Curve, an emo-crunk duo. Afterpartiers, steer your gears towards Ernie Biggs where Roxy Cottontail, Brooklyn DJ/rapper Jasmine Solano and the night's organizer, DJ Big Brown, man the speakers for the night.
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (1)
Monday, November 29, 2010
Arkansas Sports More from Hogs' win over LSU
Check out all of Brian Chilson's pics from Saturday's game on the jump.
Posted by Lindsey Millar on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Billy Bob back behind the lens
Here's some damn good news, especially for those who have watched with horror as Billy Bob Thornton made the long, slow slide from Indie genius ("Sling Blade") through life as Mr. Jolie, to bit part craphood in dreck like "Armageddon" and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's "Faster": Thornton says that he's finished a new script with old writing partner Tom Epperson called "Jayne Mansfield's Car" and plans to direct, probably this spring.
Will he come back home for the production, as with "Daddy and Them"? Cross your fingers, both for a central Arkansas shoot and that he can recapture some of the "Sling Blade" magic. The boy needs a hit.
Posted by David Koon on | Permalink | Comments (0)
What's going on Monday: EOTO, "Monday Night Jazz," Christmas in Burns Park
- EOTO
Wild stuff at Revolution tonight when the electro-jam duo of EOTO takes the stage for a night of dubby techno, all improvised and done live on the spot. Looks really cool. Local DJ Wolf-E-Wolf supports, 9 p.m., $10.
The Afterthought hosts their weekly "Monday Night Jazz" session with Steve Struthers, Brian Wolverton and Dave Rogers leading the evening. $5 general, $1 for jammers.
North Little Rock gets into the holiday mood with the "Holiday Lights in Burns Park" kickoff, 6 p.m., free.
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Coming soon Kid Rock to Verizon
Kid Rock returns to Verizon Arena early next year on his "Born Free Tour."
He'll be in town at 7 p.m. February 9, with country singer Jamey Johnson opening.
Tickets, which range from $25 to $89, go on sale this morning at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster outlets and the Verizon Arena box office.
Posted by Lindsey Millar on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Friday, November 26, 2010
What's going on / Music Sunday To-Do: "Sin Sunday"
SIN SUNDAY
9 p.m., Revolution/Ernie Biggs. $10.
The tagline, Sin Sunday, is for the party we told you about last week — local promoter, DJ and owner of GreenGrass Rock 'n' Roll Bodega Mike Brown's new weekly shindig at Ernie Biggs aimed at folks who work in the service industry. It's about a diverse line-up of live and DJed music, cheap admission and drink specials and late-night fun on Sundays. This first go 'round, it folds nicely into the return of Pretty Things Peep Show at Revolution. Back in town after a successful show in February, the vaudeville show returns with not just be-tassled, nearly naked ladies, but also a fire-breather, a sword swallower, a contortionist and a fast-talking MC. The Diamond Dames Burlesque Troop and Revolution Go Go Girls shake it in support. The after party at Ernie Biggs features locals Father Maple, Cody Belew and The Break Through downstairs and UK breakbeat star DJ Deekline upstairs. The $10 cover charge gets you in both events. Go to Brown's new social networking site, RSVPsociety.com for special deals.
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (0)
What's going on / Music Saturday To-Do: Mannheim Steamroller
MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER
8 p.m., Robinson Center Music Hall. $37-$77.
Is it hip to like Mannheim Steamroller yet? If not, can it be? The progressive rockers have been synthesizing Christmas since 1984, providing bottomless laughs and endless opportunities to play air MIDI keyboards over the holidays. Little did Chip Davis, Mannheim Steamroller founder, know he'd change the entire Yuletide soundscape when he decided "Deck the Halls" didn't sound enough like a promotional VHS for Minnetonka, Minnesota's 1982 Chamber of Commerce. The group's annual, cross-country Christmas tour is a yearly staple and their stops in Little Rock are as reliable as their sweet electronic drum fills. It's a one-night-only affair, so get to getting while the getting's good. After all, if you miss this one, you'll have to wait three whole weeks before you get another chance to see hokey prog-rock Christmas when Trans-Siberian Orchestra comes to town.
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (0)
What's going on Saturday To-Do: Arkansas Razorbacks v. LSU Tigers
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS V. LSU TIGERS
2:30 p.m., War Memorial Stadium. Sold out.
The game may be sold out, but a War Memorial tailgate is never full. A grill suggestion courtesy of my cousin: Wrap a thick cut of pork or chicken around sausage and leftover dressing with kitchen twine — and bam! — a game day delicacy. Typically, a War Memorial game is more about drunken revelry and smoked meats than dedicated fandom, but this year, with a potential Sugar Bowl berth at stake (go Auburn!), Hog fans are likely to bring their game faces (which, of course, doesn't preclude food and drink so much as it puts a cap on it). Here are several things I'd be willing to bet on with regard to the game: Les Miles will make at least one stupid — but probably at least two — costly decision(s). LSU's ground game will give us the same sort of troubles Mississippi State's did. The crowd will be the difference maker. For a more astute preview, see A Boy Named Sooie here.
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (0)
What's going on / Music Friday To-Do: Hinder
HINDER
8:30 p.m., The Village. $22.50-$25.
Are you looking for rock 'n' roll fame? Maybe not the sort of everyone-will-know-your-name fame that, say, U2 enjoys. But still a fame that will make you rich, allow you to wear leather pants and not be mocked, possibly employ a weed carrier and have lots of groupie sex? Well, you're in luck. Hinder, the Oklahoma hard rock five-piece that comes to Little Rock days before releasing its third album, "All American Nightmare," has distilled the formula for that sort of modern rock success into three easy-to-follow steps.
Step one: Steal liberally. Song titles. Riffs. Lyrics. Why write a song when, as Hinder does on its new song "Put That Record On," you can just string together references to classic rock hits?
Step two: Get really, really stoned and fill in the gaps of what's left with your best prison-style poetry about your ex-girlfriend (e.g. "I wanna lay you down in a bed of roses / For tonight I sleep on a bed of nails").
Step three: Shape your voice into an unholy mix of the dude from Goo Goo Dolls and AC/DC's Brian Johnson and make sure every time before you sing, you get completely wasted. On Jagermeister, preferably.
Who's ready to be famous?
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (0)
What's going on / Music Friday To-Do: Big Silver's Thanksgiving Special
BIG SILVER'S THANKSGIVING SPECIAL
10 p.m., White Water Tavern. $5.
Late-year holidays in Little Rock — they always bring out some killer local rock shows. This Thanksgiving's big 'un finds dizzyingly prolific Isaac Alexander bringing his least prolific band back to the stage for the first time in so long he couldn't remember when Big Silver last played when asked early this week. Like all bands Alexander fronts, the twang-pop quintet specializes in Fab Four-esque melodies and earwormy lyrical hooks. Friday sees the group getting a little help from its friends. Massive bearded singer/songwriter extraordinaire Adam Faucett, folk-pop chanteuse and opera composer Bonnie Montgomery, Big Cats front man and Max Recordings head honcho Burt Taggart and folk standout and radio hostess Amy Garland are all scheduled to lend their talents to Big Silver for a song or two. In exchange, the band'll back each performer in one of his or her songs. A Big Silver-backed version of "Virginia's Aria" from Bonnie Montgomery's "Billy Blythe," maybe? You never know.
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (0)
What's going on Friday To-Do: Arkansas Razorbacks Men's Basketball v. University of Alabama-Birmingham Blazers
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS V. ALABAMA- BIRMINGHAM BLAZERS
7 p.m., Verizon Arena. $25.
As appealing as a weekend of lying on the couch or, for the masochistic, finding incredible bargains might sound, make room for the Hogs, Central Arkansas. And not just on Saturday. Friday, the men's basketball team makes its annual visit to Verizon to play its toughest opponent yet, Conference USA's University of Alabama-Birmingham. Yes, we're still a year away from welcoming THE GREATEST RECRUITING CLASS IN THE HISTORY OF ARKANSAS SPORTS. But it's time to hop back on the bandwagon again, Hog fans. Because fair-weather fandom is for pro sports. Because, for the first time in recent memory, this team does not feature an often dazzling point guard prone to ridiculous turnovers. Because Marshawn Powell is the best basketball Hog since Joe Johnson. Because John Pelphrey knows that, even though he's likely to be granted a pass until next year to try to work his heralded freshmen into the mix, if he blows it too terribly this year, he's likely gone; as a consequence, hopefully, that means he's going to get the guys to run an actual offense. And, because football's almost over, and you'll need something else to channel all those unreasonable hopes and dreams into.
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (0)
What's going on Weekend: Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe, "Friday Night Blackout," The Frontier Circus
FRIDAY 11/26
Sticky Fingerz hosts a night of buck jumping and jiving when zydeco outfit Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe (above) return to Little Rock, 9:30 p.m., $5.
Searcy-based grunge act 3 Miles From Providence headlines at Maxine's; experimental industrial rockers The Vail and Southern hard rockers Finding Jimmy Hoffa support, 8 p.m., $5.
Comedian Alex Ortiz continues his stand at The Loony Bin, 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., $6-$9.
Local party starters Boom Kinetic take to Revolution, 9:30 p.m., $8.
"Friday Night Blackout" showcases some of the best in local rap and hip-hop when Grim Musik, 4x4 Crew, Ear Fear, E-Dubb and more take to the Cornerstone Pub & Grill stage, 8 p.m., $5.
Goldylocks, a modern rock band from Nashville that's fronted by a female wrestler, begins their two day stint at West End Smokehouse and Tavern, 10 p.m., $5.
Fox and Hound hosts local country rocker Ryan Couron¸ 10 p.m., $5.
SATURDAY 11/27
Colorful Memphis soul-rockers The Venus Mission play the hits from the '70s and beyond at Sticky Fingerz, 9:30 p.m., $6.
The Afterthought hosts a night of blue eyed soul, R&B, classic rock and blues standards from the Big John Miller Band, 9 p.m., $7.
Casey Donahew Band, the Texas country act that's no stranger to Little Rock stages, returns to town for a show at Revolution alongside the locals of the Elise Davis Band, 9 p.m., $12 adv., $15 d.o.s.
White Water Tavern brings in The Frontier Circus, the band of ne'er-do-wells from The Rockin' Guys masquerading as cowboy country ramblers, and the eponymous new project from a ubiquitous local rocker, Chris Michaels and the Cranks, 9:30 p.m., $5.
Discovery Nightclub offers up a few different ways to burn your newfound Thanksgiving weight when DJ Kramer spins in the lobby, Wendy Hunt handles the techno room and Brandon Peck cranks it up in the theater, 10 p.m., $10.
"The O.D." returns to Cornerstone Pub & Grill with performances from hip-hop heavies Bware, Epiphany, Southwest Boaz and more, 9 p.m., $5-$10.
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
What's going on / Music Tuesday: Whale Fire, David's Pegasus, Joe Firstman
Things we're thankful for:
1. It's a holiday week, so, if you're lucky, tonight's a Friday night.
2. We're broke, but it's okay because tonight's full of "pay what you can" shows.
3. We're broke, but it's okay because we've been looking for an excuse to have to drink one—just one—of those 12.0% alcohol content cans of "Tilt" (AKA "LR Loko") that have been staring at us in the liquor store. Our inner 21-year old wants one—still just one—but our widening man gut requires, like, MGD 64 or something.
Sticky Fingerz holds a "pay what you can" night with local sunshine-pop act Whale Fire, ramblin', harmonic Americana from Troubadour and a solo set from prolific local singer/songwriter Matt Anders, 9:30 p.m., still "pay what you can."
It's another donations night at White Water Tavern with the spacey Fayettevillians of David's Pegasus co-headlining the night's bill with Hot Springs spazz-rockers Cold Mold, 10 p.m., donations.
Joe Firstman, the former leader for the "Last Call with Carson Daly" house band, plays a surprisingly not awful brand of chill-brocore (all rights reserved) that toes the line between Counting Crows and Cory Branan. He's supported by Nashville's up-and-coming Trey Lockerbie and Marianne Kelly, 6:30 p.m., free.
And if don't like looking as much as being looked at, karaoke's everywhere tonight: Cornerstone Pub & Grill, Prost, Town Pump, Denton's Trotline.
(With everyone still plugged into the new Girl Talk album, here's our Rock Candy Protip of the Day: use the karaoke game against itself and mash shit up. Order up, say, Hall and Oates, rap B.I.G. over it. Voila. "You Make My Juice Come True." Go start a party. Or redefine "fail" at your favorite bar.)
Posted by John Tarpley on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Reviews / Theater / Billy Blythe 'Billy Blythe' preview shows promise
"Billy Blythe" represents an "opportunity to bring opera back to the people," director Jeremy Franklin told a near-capacity crowd at its premiere Friday night at the Women's City Club. The production, Franklin reminded the audience, is "by, for and about Arkansans" — by natives Bonnie Montgomery and Brit Barber, composer and librettist, respectively; for Arkansans but also, implicitly, regular folks who don’t know Verdi from verismo and about the man who, more than anyone else, has come to represent what Arkansas means to the world abroad, Bill Clinton.
Of course, as the title suggests, "Billy Blythe" is not a familiar Bill Clinton story. Rather, Montgomery and Barber look to Clinton’s childhood, specifically to 1959, the last year kept his birth surname Blythe.
But those on Friday hoping for a story that captures that pivotal time in the future president’s life only got a tease. Because that’s all the performance was — not a true premiere, but rather a costumed workshop production of four scenes, only about half of the full opera.
Posted by Lindsey Millar 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
