Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Music Paste lists '12 Arkansas bands you should listen to now'
Stupid, lazy lede ("I know what you’re thinking: 'Music from Arkansas? It’s got to be just a bunch of hillbillies singing through toothless mouths and stomping bare feet.') aside, it's a pretty solid list that includes a lot of bands the Times has championed: 2012 Musicians Showcase winners The Holy Shakes, 2010 winners Brother Andy and His Big Damn Mouth, Bonnie Montgomery. Huge omissions: Tyrannosaurus Chicken, Velvet Kente (Amasa Hines makes the cut), 607, Rwake, Iron Tongue, The See. Also folks who've been doing it for a minute: Isaac Alexander, The Boondogs, Kevin Kerby, The Salty Dogs, Greg Spradlin. Etc.
Who else?
Posted by Lindsey Millar on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Music 607 is not retiring
"I can't just keep putting out music like I have; it's like throwing it out in the air and seeing what happens," he said Tuesday. "The money I make off of albums is increasing, but so is the cost of living."
So rather than put out his 38th album in June as planned, he's decided to go on a release hiatus, while he focuses on marketing and promotion.
"The only scenes that are sustainable are in Houston and Atlanta," he said. "That's because Houston and Atlanta sold a lifestyle."
Asked how Central Arkansas could ever hope to compare to such massive metro areas, he said, "Black people spend millions of dollar at the hair store. We fill up the 2 Chainz concerts. We situated. The money is there. We just have to make them subscribe to our brand.
"I wake up and go to sleep thinking about rapping. But I've got to carve out time to focus on getting money, so I'm not going to release music until I can get some legs, because this shit deserves some legs.
"I just want a chance to fail. One of my homeboys said to me the other day, 'Maybe you're just not meant to be the one in the front. Maybe you should focus on mentoring the next generation.' But I haven't even been to the combine, to tryouts even. I just want my chance to fail on a bigger stage."
607 cited the "start-up" money one of his heroes Tech N9ne got after years of middling success that helped propel him into a new level of fame. Which might be a good way for Six to present himself during his hiatus: "Invest in my start-up rap career."
Lest you remain unconvinced that 607 can hang with national rappers, see his remix of Azealia Banks' banger here. Or all the flips he did with Ants in My Trance. Or check out Six's latest, "Yikes!," which he's temporarily giving away free.
Posted by Lindsey Millar on | Permalink | Comments (0)
What's going on / Theater Thursday and Friday To Do: Arkansas New Play Fest 2012
ARKANSAS NEW PLAY FEST 2012
7 p.m. Oxford American. $7 per reading, $20 full pass.
This marks the second year that The Arkansas Repertory Theatre has teamed up with TheatreSquared of Fayetteville to host a Central Arkansas production of The Arkansas New Play Fest (the Northwest Arkansas dates for the festival are May 18-20 at Nadine Baum Studios).
"The collaboration is designed to introduce promising new works for the stage to audiences in Northwest and Central Arkansas and to encourage conversation about the themes of these new plays," according to TheatreSquared.
This year's lineup includes readings of "Uprooted," a family drama by Clinnesha Dillon Sibley about a successful actress returning to her small hometown for her mother's funeral; "The Football Project," the story of a high school football team that becomes enmeshed in controversy and the reaction of the team's hometown, by Samuel Brett Williams; Robert Ford's "The Spiritualist," about a school cafeteria cook and self-proclaimed psychic who communes with dead composers; and "The Ballad of Rusty and Roy," the tale of two brothers — both musicians — whose careers follow different paths after they move to New York City, by Troy and Jonny Schremmer.
Posted by Robert Bell on | Permalink | Comments (0)
What's going on Thursday: Josh Abbott Band, Flying Saucer anniversary, Tiger High and more
Rising country act The Josh Abbott Band comes to town, with Rob Baird opening. Abbott captures small-town Texas life via image-rich tunes, like "Idalou," "Flatland Farmer" and the humorous sketch "FFA," all from his latest album, "Small Town Family Dream." The all-ages show is at Revolution and starts at 9 p.m., $12 adv., $15 d.o.s.
Flying Saucer Draught Emporium is throwing a 90s-themed party to celebrate its 14th anniversary. There will be live music from Chris Henry and they'll be giving away prizes and tapping several rare beers for the event, including a Bourbon Barrel Coffee Stout from Goose Island.
Memphis garage-rockers Tiger High play White Water Tavern with Booyah! Dad and The Foul Play Cabaret, 10 p.m. All three also perform at Maxine's in Hot Springs on Friday, 8 p.m., $10 adv., $12 door.
Beer-lovers take note: The American Craft Brew Week Beer Dinner includes craft beer and food from Vino's and Bosco's, with additional beers from New Belgium and Boulevard Brewing, Vino's, 6:30 p.m., $35.
Posted by Robert Bell on | Permalink | Comments (0)
What's going on Memorial set for Michael Burks
The family of Michael Burks recently announced a public memorial and musical celebration for the late Arkansas bluesman, set for 3 p.m. this Sunday, May 20 at Riverwoods on the Ouachita in Camden. Guests are encouraged to bring musical instruments, lawn chairs and coolers.
Burks died May 6 in Atlanta after returning from a European tour.
See the full press release on the jump.
Posted by Robert Bell on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Music Videos Check out this video from The Dangerous Idiots
This video for The Dangerous Idiots' "Can I Get a Role Model" is a finalist for the 2012 Arkansas International Music Video Competition. The contest has categories for international and Arkansas videos, and the showcase — May 31 at Stickyz — will include live performances as well as screenings of videos from both categories as part of this year's Little Rock Film Festival.
Posted by Robert Bell on | Permalink | Comments (0)
What's going on / Music Wednesday To-Do: Elizabeth Cook
ELIZABETH COOK
9 p.m. Stickyz. $13.
Before a few days ago, I didn't know anything about Elizabeth Cook, but I do now and I'm here to tell you, this gal is a genu-wine country charmer and a fine singer and songwriter as well. She hails from the Sunshine State, but not from the Real Housewife-and Lamborghini-infested climes of Miami. No, she's from Wildwood, a "total pit cow-town; it's not like Disney World," she told Craig Ferguson.
She got started playing music young, accompanying her parents. Her mother was a West Virginia native and a mandolin picker and guitarist and her daddy a musician and a welder by trade, one he learned while incarcerated for running moonshine. Her folks met after he'd served eight years. Cook moved to Nashville after college and wasted no time at all, releasing five albums, making hundreds of appearances on the Grand Ole Opry and hosting her own radio show, "Elizabeth Cook's Apron Strings," on SiriusXM's Outlaw Country channel.
Her 2007 album "Balls" was a welcome shot of real country, sure to please everyone who prefers Dolly and Loretta over So-and-So or Whatshername or whoever's on top in the pop-oriented world of mainstream country. Those two legendary country ladies are name-checked in Cook's paean to working women, "Sometimes It Takes Balls to be a Woman" (which, as certain Internet pundits have conjectured, is sure to be immortalized as a drag-show standard).
Her latest long-player, 2010's "Welder," includes the playful "Snake in the Bed," and "Yes to Booty," but also takes some heart-wrenching turns with "Mama's Funeral," a tribute to her mother, and the lilting tale of "Heroin Addict Sister."
Check out "Sometimes It Takes Balls to be a Woman" after the jump.
Posted by Robert Bell on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
What's going on / Music Tonight: Morning Teleportation, The Nigh Ends, The Hidden Rex, Outernational
Over at Stickyz, they've lined up an evening of psychedelic pop, with Morning Teleportation, or Portland, Ore., and Nico's Gun, of Philadelphia, 8:30 p.m., $10. (Check out Morning Teleportation's "Expanding Anyway" after the jump.)
The Hidden Rex plays its last show ever today, with Pecan Sandy, Talk Century and Matt Wixon's Flying Circus. The show is at The Cavern in Russellville, 6 p.m., $3.
The Nigh Ends is a new band with personnel from Smoke Up Johnny, Eclipse Glasses and a bunch more. They play White Water Tavern with Color Club, 10 p.m.
New York City's Outernational brings mariachi-flavored punk to Maxine's, 8 p.m., free.
Posted by Robert Bell on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Contests Write a funny or moving essay, win a pair of passes to Bonnaroo
So Bonnaroo is coming up soon in beautiful Manchester, Tenn. (June 7-10, to be precise) and the Arkansas Times has four pairs of passes to the gigantic music festival to give away to you, our loyal readers. “But how can I win one of these pairs of passes?” you’re probably wondering. Glad you asked.
All you have to do is write us an essay of 250 words or fewer about your craziest, funniest, most awful or hilarious or heartwarming or hair-raising concert experience and you'll be entered in the contest. While that might sound like homework, just consider these two things: 1) 250 words is not that many; and 2) you’ll get the chance to see Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phish, The Beach Boys, The Roots, Alice Cooper, Feist, Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings, Tune-Yards, St. Vincent, The Shins, Skrillex, Kenny Rogers (!), Bad Brains (!!), Garfunkel & Oates (!!!), GZA, Kurt Vile, Alabama Shakes, Flying Lotus and literally dozens more.
We’ll pick the four essays that we find to be the craziest, funniest, most awful or hilarious or heartwarming or hair-raising of the bunch, and each winner will receive two passes. It’s that simple.
Now the caveats and whatnot: the contest isn’t open to any current or former Times employees or their kinfolk (sorry ya’ll!); you should only enter if you actually plan on going to the festival (no scalping!); 250 words or fewer, seriously (brevity is the soul of wit!); only one entry per person; the contest closes a week from today (May 22 at 9 a.m.); email your name, phone number and essay (as well as any questions you might have) to robertbell@arktimes.com.
So get to writing! It’ll be fun. We’ll publish the winners here on Rock Candy.
Posted by Robert Bell on | Permalink | Comments (3)
Monday, May 14, 2012
Reviews / Music Review: Dierks Bentley
- Brian Chilson
- Dierks Bentley played Verizon Arena Saturday.
A couple of recent No. 1 hits go a long way toward illustrating Dierks Bentley’s range and versatility as both a singer and a songwriter. He showcased them both Saturday night when he brought his Country & Cold Cans Tour to Verizon Arena in North Little Rock.
Bentley shines on fast-paced songs about partying and drinking, and they’ve long made up a large part of his signature energetic, hard-driving shows. The latest, “Am I the Only One,” is the handsome, curly haired singer at his best as he asks in that slightly gravelly, mostly traditional country voice “is there anybody out there wants to have a cold beer, kick it ’til the morning light.” It’s good-times country, fun and a bit rowdy, which may also serve as an apt description of the Vanderbilt graduate who’s been a staple on the country charts for almost 10 years now.
On the other end of the spectrum – and near the end of his spirited performance before 3,432 fans – Bentley is thoughtful, reflective and appreciative on “Home,” his tribute to America and the American spirit. It’s patriotic, to be sure, but it hits the spot without going overboard.
Bentley is a co-writer on both of those hits, which are on his latest album, “Home.” They’re great additions to what over the years has become a nice discography for the country star who is no stranger to Central Arkansas. He’s performed here a number of times before and was scheduled to play the Riverfest Amphitheater before inclement weather caused the move to what he termed “big, fancy Verizon Arena.” It’s his style to make any venue feel a bit intimate, so he added “if it’s all right with you, we’ll just pretend we’re at the Electric Cowboy.”
Inside or outside, large arena or small club, it doesn’t really matter. Bentley’s shows are just plain fun and that was the case Saturday night. Other crowd-pleasers included “Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do,” “Every Mile a Memory,” “How Am I Doin’ ” and, of course, the “little white tank top song” – “What Was I Thinkin’ ” – which he used in an encore to close out the evening.
The Cadillac Black opened the show with a six-song set that mixed a little country with a lot of Southern rock on listenable numbers like “Tennessee Mojo,” “Get Your Buzz On” and “Down to the River.” Next up was The Eli Young Band, a group of guys who got together as students at the University of North Texas 11 years ago. If the band keeps delivering hits like the terrific “Crazy Girl” – named Song of the Year by the Academy of Country Music earlier this year – it just may be headlining the next time it’s in town. Lead singer Mike Eli and the guys blend rock and country and found plenty of love from the crowd on engaging songs like “Always the Love Songs,” “Guinevere” and “When It Rains.”
More photos after the jump.
Posted by Bill Paddack on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Music / Coming soon / Theater / Comedy The Joint opens in Argenta
The Joint, a new coffeehouse and comedy club in Argenta, has finally announced its grand opening. We've been talking about The Joint since January, and now there are actual dates — the coffee shop will be ready for business at 7 a.m. sharp on May 14. In the comedy venue, the first performance is scheduled for June 2. The debut performance will be "Little Rock & a Hard Place," an original two-act play about a man who dies in a car wreck and is banished at the Pearly Gates, sent back to Little Rock, where he died, to help the city and earn his wings. The Joint is owned and operated by Vicky and Steve Farrell, a veteran comedy team, who's work has been featured on Saturday Night Live and NPR's All Things Considered.
In addition to coffee and wifi, the cafe will serve sandwiches, craft beers and wine, and the live venue will feature a full slate of entertainment. Wednesday nights will be improv, Thursdays will be music, Fridays and Saturdays will be the comedy plays. "Little Rock & a Hard Place" runs all summer. In the fall it will be replaced by "Electile Dsyfunction," about the upcoming election.
Posted by Cheree Franco on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Friday, May 11, 2012
Dierks Bentley concert moved to Verizon Arena
Country fans, take note: The Dierks Bentley concert scheduled for Riverfest Amphitheatre tomorrow has been moved indoors, specifically to Verizon Arena, on account of the high likelihood of nasty weather.
Posted by Robert Bell on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Reviews Review: Wilco
Last night at Fayetteville’s Arkansas Music Hall, the members of Wilco took the stage like they have something to prove. And perhaps they do. In the past year the band's new album, “The Whole Love,” has been both critically acclaimed and panned as “dad rock.” Five months after its release, critic Nitsuh Abebe called Wilco “new adult contemporary” and “NPR Muzak” in New York magazine, maybe because a month earlier, NPR dubbed Wilco “perhaps America’s best band.”
I don’t own a Wilco album past “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot,” and I haven’t listened to “The Whole Love” beyond online samples. But after last night, I think I’ll buy everything the band has ever put out. The show was more than solid — it was fresh, throbbing, expansive and experimental. Wilco gave a seamless performance, befitting the band that pioneered alt-country and then continued to exorcise their discontent, culling from the groups they’ve played with (Sonic Youth, Radiohead) and the music they were brought up on (the entire cannon of American and British post-invasion rock). Wilco has come through the honky-tonk trainwreck of too many hotel rooms and too many pills and delivered an ellipses of something akin to hope — power-pop dosed with the bleeps, blips and textural effects of urban decay, filtered through the orchestral soundscapes of musical maestros. The live performance managed surprises and immediacy, without sacrificing the albums’ studio effects.
They opened with "Misunderstood," from 1996’s “Being There.” It’s pretty, sentimental and melancholic — “thank you all for nothing, nothing at all,” Tweedy crooned. It was a confounding beginning until it hit a stunning, disconcordant break — a mid-song boulder of screaming, pounding instruments and clashing lazers. Then, there was a quiet return, a sigh and a reining-in. This was to become the trademark of the show — art rock as yoga, where everything is about breath and the explosive revelation that comes after contemplation. Singularly and as a whole, these songs and this set contracted and expanded, spacing out and speeding up, rendering the studied unexpected.
Jeff Tweedy and John Stirratt are the core of Wilco. They’re the only original members, and last night, Stirratt’s backing vocals came through nearly as strong as Tweedy’s lead. Tweedy seemed relaxed but focused — he wasn’t in the mood to chat or noodle. Pat Sansone was playful and entertaining, hopping from guitar to keyboard to maracas, whirlwind arm and classic stances on display, while guitarist Nels Cline, keyboardist Mikael Jorgensen and drummer Glenn Kotche were straight up noise contortionists, constructing elaborate architecture around familiar melodies. Wilco plays as a collective rather than a collection of musicians, and this was an avant garde mission rather than a recital. Wilco has a nine album catalogue of songs, and they pulled from all of it and never stopped pushing. Over two hours (a set and two encores), the sounds and the performance increased in swagger and intensity.
The crowd was older — more middle-aged singer-songwriter types than traditional college students — and they seemed largely appreciative. The “Summerteeth” track "A Shot in the Arm" and anything off “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" were obvious hits. They played the gorgeously tragic "Jesus, Etc." and later, the nostalgic "Heavy Metal Drummer," which highlighted Striatt’s earnest vocals and showcased the crowd's penchant for singalongs.
When everything is flawlessly executed, it's hard to name standouts, but I’d go with "Via Chicago." The song itself is hypnotically beautiful, which made what came next — the hailstorm of strobes and sound courtesy of Cline, Jorgensen, Kotche and Sansone — all the more startling. But the best part was that underneath and throughout the anomalous chaos, Tweedy and Stirratt held fast to the fragile melody, coming out of the other side of the noise all the more impressive, exquisite and reassuring because of it. It was kind of a metaphor for Wilco itself.
Posted by Cheree Franco on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Music / Coming soon Here are some good shows coming up next month
Here are a few shows coming up in June that should be pretty rad:
June 5: The excellent doom metal act Cough comes back to Downtown Music Hall, with Dragged into Sunlight, Ash of Cedars and Chronic Ritual.
June 8: Jimbo Mathus and The Tri-State Coalition return to White Water Tavern.
June 16: Rwake and Pallbearer at Revolution, two of the best metal bands in the country, both of whom call Central Arkansas home.
June 17: RICHARD LLOYD! (guitar wizard from Television) at Revolution.
June 23: Unknown Hinson returns to Juanita's.
June 25: Future and Pusha T (one half of the incredible Clipse) come to Juanita's.
June 27: Long-running power-pop favorites Nada Surf play Juanita's.
June 28: Wussy, the Charles Portis of bands, plays Stickyz.
What else is coming up that ya'll are excited about?
Posted by Robert Bell on | Permalink | Comments (0)
What's going on Tonight: The OD-14
There's a big hip-hop show at Cornerstone Pub & Grill tonight, with a whole slew of the state's best performers.
Here's a new track from Sean Fresh, with K. Sparks:
Posted by Robert Bell on | Permalink | Comments (0)
Event Calendar
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Re: Write a funny or moving essay, win a pair of passes to Bonnaroo
Three cheers for Robert Bell for knowing the difference between "fewer" and "less"!!!
- on May 16, 2012
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Re: Design a poster for King Biscuit Blues Festival
@Coolbreeze: The KBBF is about Helena's blues heritage more than anything else. IIRC that's not…
- on May 15, 2012
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Re: Write a funny or moving essay, win a pair of passes to Bonnaroo
That bad, huh? But have you seen Garfunkel & Oates lately? Totally three exclamation points-worthy!!!
- on May 15, 2012
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May 16, 2012Travelers are missing flights as the Clinton National Airport expands to accommodate higher traffic. Travel is up 10% this year which means more people are clogging lines and buying tickets... fox16.com /more/ -
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