Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Contests Enter our Foo Fighters ticket give away
Start practicing your best air guitar, y'all. The Times is looking for your best cover/karaoke/dance interpretation/music video treatment of a Foo Fighters song. In exchange, we've got a handful of tickets to the band's May 18 concert with Motorhead at Verizon Arena.
(And hey, rappers and producers—their catalog is ripe for the sampling.)
We'll accept submissions, in just about any digital form—YouTube, Vimeo, Soundcloud, mp3—through April 30. From May 1 through 7, we'll put all the entries online and ask our readers to vote for their favorite.
Send links or digital files to calendar@arktimes.com.
Free tickets to Foo Fighters/Motorhead: How can you pass that up?
Lil' update: Grohl's getting gimmicky and, hell, we think it's pretty cool.
Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Music / Coming soon Magic Springs announces 2011 Concert Series
This year, the water and theme park is ratcheting it up with an admittedly tighter-than-anticipated lineup.
Highlights include Blake Shelton, who joins Christina Aguilera, Cee-Lo Green and Maroon 5's Adam Levine on the judge's panel for NBC's new reality talent show, 'The Voice;' Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (above), who commemorate the 30th anniversary of their signature song, "I Love Rock and Roll"; and the incredibly resilient modern rockers 3 Doors Down, who release their first new album in three years the week before their Hot Springs engagement.
The season kicks of on May 28 with country kicker Easton Corbin.
Tickets are available online at the Magic Springs website. Admission for all concerts is free for season pass holders.
Check out the rest of the schedule after the jump.
Posted by John Tarpley | Permalink | Comments
Coming soon Matt & Kim to UCA — next week!
The hyperactive synth/drums dance-pop duo come to Conway on Tuesday, April 5, for UCA's Spring Fling. 5 p.m., free.
Also, this afternoon, a mashup/remix thing of Matt & Kim's "Cameras" and Big Boi's "Shutterbugg" dropped on Fader.
Posted by John Tarpley | Permalink | Comments
Reviews / Theater Last night: 'The Aluminum Show'
'The Aluminum Show'
March 30, Robinson Center Music Hall
First, a confession: I’ve never attended a rave, you know, one of those drug-fueled, dance-happy events where young hedonists gather together to party hard under an umbrella of industrial techno music. But I think "The Aluminum Show," which is playing at the decidedly non-ravish Robinson Center Music Hall, would have qualified had I ingested psychedelics instead of, ah, cheese dip before the show.
Was there lots of thumping techno music? Yep. Were there scantily clad dancers who hoped around on stage with abandon? Oh yeah. Did the audience toss around big, silver, pillow-shaped balloons? Yes. Were there buckets of strobe lights? Check. About the only thing missing rave-wise was somebody sucking on a pacifier — and I couldn’t see all the kids in attendance.
Posted by Werner Trieschmann | Permalink | Comments
What's going on Friday To-Do: Tyrese Gibson
TYRESE GIBSON
7 p.m., Central High School Auditorium. Free.
Philander Smith College's popular "Bless the Mic" series closes out a successful season this Friday night with a lecture from Tyrese Gibson, the multi-talented rapper, R&B singer, action movie actor and former model. And now the Renaissance man can add another title to his diverse resume: self-help author.
It's his bookshelf debut, "How to Get Out of Your Own Way," that brings the heartthrob to town. Inside, Gibson bares himself in a confessional tell-all, exploring his childhood in the rough streets of Watts, Calif., and his problems with weight, recent divorces and other obstacles he chalks up to a cycle of self-destructive behavior. Says Tyrese, "I was merely ... a man who learned to get out of his own way before it was too late." Copies of the book will be available after his appearance.
Posted by John Tarpley | Permalink | Comments
What's going on / Music Friday To-Do: Kenny Chesney
KENNY CHESNEY
7 p.m., Verizon Arena. $75-$44.
He is, by anybody's count, one of the biggest country singers to twang his way to CMT-era superstardom. He's the voice behind 18 singles and nine albums to reach the top of Billboard's Hot Country Songs charts, one of the biggest touring names in music, period. Huge achievements all, no doubt. But with the personality-driven world of Walmart-country choked with faux authenticity, Kenny Chesney is just about the only one of his caliber who actually comes across as the "regular dude" he's branded to be. That, combined with the fact that he's an embodiment of the "hardscrabble singer turns huge" storybook tale, makes him even more endearing. Not bad for a guy who grew up in a pop. 900 town under the shadow of local hero Chet Atkins.
The music? Well, he's no Brad Paisley. His discography is freckled with songs that became punchlines and even sputtered on the country charts. But for every "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy," Chesney can unload a melodic, gorgeous track like his recent "Somewhere With You," a smart, inspired track with hooks rooted in Elton John, melodies from Rod Stewart's finer handbooks and a moody air akin to "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum's Grammy-sweeping 2010 single.
He's joined by Billy Currington, who returns to Arkansas for his third time in less than a year, and Uncle Kracker, the PG-rated Kid Rock whose own story, which takes him from rap-rock to family-friendly country, is one of the strangest in recent memory.
Posted by John Tarpley | Permalink | Comments
What's going on Friday To-Do: Eggshibiton XX
- PAMMA HENDERSON
EGGSHIBITION XX: 'EVOLUTION OF THE EGG'
7 p.m., Jack Stephens Center, UALR. $75.
What began 20 years ago as an ambitious and, let's face it, pretty odd idea for a charity benefit — auctioning off egg-shaped objects decorated by artists and celebrities — has since turned into one of the biggest local fundraisers around. Since its inception, Eggshibition has raised upwards of $2 million for Youth Home, the outreach agency for troubled adolescents.
This year, in addition to the decorated eggs, the event is offering weekend trips to New York, Rio and Las Vegas and, for the football fan, primo tickets and a catered tailgate for the Nov. 19 Razorbacks game against Mississippi State as well as two seats in the Jones Family Suite at Cowboy Stadium for a yet-to-be-announced game.
Posted by John Tarpley | Permalink | Comments
What's going on Thursday: The Smittle Band, "The Aluminum Show," Donald Glover at UA
The Afterthought hosts a night of intricate, toe-tapping jazz/folk from The Smittle Band, 9 p.m., $7.
Alize plays the Cajun's Wharf deck for happy hour, 5:30 p.m., followed by Fjord Mustang, 9 p.m., $5 after 8:30 p.m.
DJ Silky Slim mans the booth at Sway, 8 p.m., $3.
Thirst n' Howl gets a dose of peppy acoustic folk from Ol' Puddin'haid, 7:30 p.m., free.
Country bar rocker Steele Jessup returns to Grumpy's Too, 9 p.m.
"The Aluminum Show" ends its three-day run of acrobatic spectacle at Robinson Center Music Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Maxine's Pub in Hot Springs brings in a double-bill of poppy, multi-instrumental folk from Nicholas Altobelli and Bravo, Max!, 8 p.m., free.
Alt-country folks, look out: Ghost Shirt and Jason Kutchma (of Red Collar) land in White Water Tavern, 10 p.m.
The popular party series "Posh" tries out a new venue when "My Little Black Dress" goes down at Revolution, 9 p.m.
And, in Fayetteville, comedian, "Community" cast member, beast emcee aliased Childish Gambino and the rightful Spiderman, Donald Glover does his thing in the UA Union Ballroom, 8 p.m. (Psst: check this out. Childish Gambino - "Get Like Me," one of my favorite songs of the last few years.)
Posted by John Tarpley | Permalink | Comments (1)
Music Videos Epiphany releases "Love Jones Gone Wrong" video
Early this morning, our man Epiphany released the Jordan Atwater-directed video for "Love Jones Gone Wrong," a stand-out track from his latest mixtape—and final installment in his terrific "Respect" trilogy—"Respect Pt. 3: The Wait." You can (and totally should) download the mixtape here.
Gotta love those "Touch the Sky"-esque keys on the beat.
Posted by John Tarpley | Permalink | Comments (1)
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Coming soon Del McCoury Band, Preservation Hall Jazz Band to Walton Arts
Bakersville is set to meet New Orleans in Fayetteville when the Del McCoury Band and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band bring their "American Legacies" tour to Walton Arts Center on Sunday, April 17 at 7 p.m.
Great googly moogly: putting these bands on tour together is something like a stroke of brilliance. Few, if any, bands have dedicated their careers to preserving traditional American music as skillfully and faithfully as these two. I mean, I think I would be overwhelmed with reverence for both acts if I wasn't so damn entertained the entire time.
Tickets range from $32 to $52 and are available at the Walton Arts Center website.
Posted by John Tarpley | Permalink | Comments
What's going on / Music Thursday To-Do: 'Livestock'
- GUSTAV CARLSON
'LIVESTOCK'
7:30 p.m., The Peabody. $5 donation.
Little Rock keeps rocking for a good cause the following night, as well, with a triple-bill of energetic indie bands taking to the downtown hotel to raise money for, this time, a superstar charity, Heifer International.
First up: Carver, a new act from Conway that leans a healthy roots influence up against its indie-rock swagger. If the guys of Carver were a Heifer gift, they would be the $20 flock of chicks, because they're young and all over the place.
Next up: Whale Fire, the long-lived sunshine rockers whose whip-tight harmonies and surfboard-ready guitar licks should be no stranger to regular readers of this column. If Whale Fire was a Heifer gift animal, it would most definitely be the $30 box of honeybees, because the band is sharp, fast and prone to making sticky, sweet music.
Finally: Sea Nanners, the blossoming rookies and Times favorites who are soon to release "Queen of the Brodeo," their debut 7" with relentlessly catchy songs that have been on heavy rotation in my headphones for weeks. And if Sea Nanners were a Heifer gift animal, it would be the $120 goat, and not just because, on the webpage, it has a cute, longing look that fits the band's sound, but because singer Thom Asewicz's vocals — some of the best and most idiosyncratic in town — are shuddered and vibrato, much like that of a singing goat.*
*I really do mean that in the best way, Thom!
Posted by John Tarpley | Permalink | Comments
TV Miss Arkansas is KTHV's new morning anchor
KTHV, the local CBS affiliate, has named Alyse Eady, current Miss Arkansas and recent runner-up at Miss America, as its new morning co-anchor. Hopefully, she'll conduct all of her interviews via ventriloquist dummy.
Read all about it here.
Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments
Film / Music / Coming soon Excited for Foo Fighters yet?
Maybe this killer trailer will get ya a little more rared up.
"Back and Forth" gets a one-night only screening this Tuesday, April 5, at Rave on Colonel Glenn. Pick up tickets here.
Be sure to stick around after the credits, though. You know how, say, Pixar always hides stuff after all the acknowledgments? Well, Foo Fighters are going to broadcast an entire, live concert in 3D of the band playing their upcoming album, "Wasting Light," in its entirety.
Sure, it may end up to be a love letter to Dave & Co., but I'm not passing up on the chance to see the Foos record in a garage and team up with Butch Vig, who produced "Nevermind" by that other band Grohl was in, and—hopefully this got on film—Chris Novoselic (also of that other band), who plays bass and accordion on a cut from the new album.
Also—don't forget: we're giving away a fistful of tickets to the band's May 18 show with Motorhead at Verizon. Just give us your take on a Foo Fighters track. Karaoke, music video, musique concrete: anything. (And hey, rappers and producers—their catalog is ripe for the sampling.)
Free tickets, y'all. Make a night of it. You could even call it a Foos Ball.
More info on that contest here.
Posted by John Tarpley | Permalink | Comments (3)
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
What's going on / Music Wednesday To-Do: Monkhouse
- JUDEA JACKSON
MONKHOUSE
8 p.m., White Water Tavern. $5.
When the "Holy Ghost Rock & Roll Revival" pitches its proverbial tent each first Wednesday of the month at White Water, the tavern becomes what the band describes as "a sort of a church for pagans — saints and sinners." Now, let's not delve into the whole "saloon as church, bar as communion table, rock as gospel and tequila is the Eucharist" metaphor that's been belched up by show-going drunks for decades.
Instead, the still-new Monkhouse taps directly into the long-standing, patently Southern well of gospel-sweetened roots, soul, swamp rock and blues music with "no preaching, no church-i-ness and no religion." But there is an undeniable sheen of religion that lies thinly atop the music, an ever-present hint of old-time church goodliness that's never proselytizing and only present if you're out to see it there. (Much like that wooden cross that's suggested over guitarist Nathaniel Greer's head in the picture.)
All of this, if not in the lyrics, lives in the actual reason behind the shows; Monkhouse donates the night's $5 cover to SOAR and Helping Arkansas, two homeless advocacy groups based in Little Rock.
Posted by John Tarpley | Permalink | Comments
Music Pics: Valley of the Vapors 2011
Couldn't make it down to Hot Springs for this year's Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival? Thankfully, the only thing more plentiful than bands were photographers.
Check out a few of our favorite snaps of the week-long festival after the jump, courtesy of Jim Miller, Dwayne Zeke Ezekiel and regular Rock Candy contributor, Aaron Brewer.
(And for more photos, including hi-res shots of the ones below, click through their names above for their respective Flickr pages.)
Posted by John Tarpley | Permalink | Comments (1)
Event Calendar
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Re: Review: 'Avenue Q' at Arkansas Repertory Theatre
Worth noting that the original director of Avenue Q, Jason Moore, is from Arkansas. Might…
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