Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

Exene live in NYC. Via Brooklyn Vegan.

Though it was a brief encounter in a night of three, Exene Cervenka's visit to White Water proved to be a charmingly intimate set. The punk maven is unmistakably confident wielding a guitar. Her whole band was acoustic, without even substantive percussion — where the drum kit normally would have sat, a vase of flowers rested on a trunk like a bedside table.

Exene, under the moniker "The Alien Lord," introduced her band as "Conquering Lion" on a vintage "Carter-family-style" Gibson, "Wolf Maiden" on backing vocals, and "Black Scorpion 35" on bass, banjo, and handheld percussion. Like someone's spunky aunt bedecked in multiple rosaries and a silk apron, she grinned and chatted the whole time, engaging in banter with even the youngest and the drunkest present. Later, she took a moment to thank the crowd saying with a smirk, "Thanks for listening. We really like it when you do that."

Her set was comprised mostly of her newest album's material, and it ended with a triad of fraught love songs with titles like "I'll Admit It Now," all of which were heartfelt with a wicked tinge of humor.

Exene's set was followed by the Dexter Romweber Duo (and preceded by Brother Andy and His Big Damn Mouth), with Romweber himself brutalizing a vintage guitar so rocked out it looked like it had been dragged behind a truck. Dex and his drummer/sister Sara executed meaty, rough-hewn rockabilly with studied sneers. Sara pored over her drum kit like a spider, her red, shaggy head hanging down, her whole demeanor reminiscent of the world's biggest Cramps fan. Dex peppered in a few instrumental surf numbers, and even covered the old standard "Brazil" to merciless effect.

—Natalie Elliott

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

Second and Cumberland.

Just got out for a minute to fetch a staffer who got his car good and stuck up in his yard. The road's aren't particularly bad, but as you're crossing the Third Street viaduct, be ready for a thud. There's an encampment of snow ballers hidden on the northwest corner of the bridge.

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last year at the amphitheater. Photo by Brian Chilson.

For the first year since 2002, Riverfest will not incorporate North Little Rock into its traditional entertainment offerings. Instead, the north side of the river will play host to hot air balloon races, a 5K fun run and a stage devoted to, what festival director DeAnna Korte termed, “inspirational music.” Access to those activities will be free. 

The shift southward comes in response to feedback from festival goers, according to Korte.

“Last year, people enjoyed having the Clinton Center stage and the amphitheater stage so close together. They really like having everything on one side of the river.”

This year, attendees will be able to move westward from the festival’s two biggest stages, at the Clinton Center and at the Riverfest Amphitheater, to the Arkansas Music Tent, which moves from the foot of the Junction Bridge to near the back side of Rumba-Revolution, and then on to the Triple-S Stage, which returns to the parking lot under the Broadway bridge after a year away on the North Shore Riverwalk in North Little Rock.

Korte said she doesn’t anticipate any more congestion than at last year’s Riverfest, which drew around 250,000. The Little Rock grounds will extend farther west than they did last year and, to combat crowd bottlenecking, the southeastern boundary will shift to allow crowds to travel behind and in front of the Museum of Discovery when traveling to and from the Clinton Center stage, according to Korte.

Also in response to festival goer feedback, the annual Sunday fireworks display will start at dark, around 9 p.m., and the day’s headliners will follow.

There will be no charge to watch the fireworks from the North Shore Riverwalk.

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

LIPIZZANER STALLIONS
2 p.m., 7:30 p.m., Verizon Arena. $24.35-$31.35.

Of all of Verizon Arena's annual events — the Globetrotters, the Gaithers, Monster Trucks, wrestling — this one is the most bad-ass. Granted, there's a lot to peel back before you get to the essence of the Lipizzan. Epaulet-adorned jackets are de rigueur for those who ride the centuries-old breed. And riders do so in a style called dressage, which is all about harmony between horse and rider, but, at its highest levels, embraces moves that recall both ballet and battle. The latter is what makes the Lipizzan “world famous.” In four ancient maneuvers called “Airs Above the Ground,” the horses do moves originally intended for war. Each has a name — Mezair, Capriole, Courbette, Levade — that sounds misleadingly effete. One involves a horse “punching” with his forequarters. Another, the most difficult apparently, features the horse hopping on its hindquarters in a move meant to break through infantry lines while protecting the rider. Yet another finds the horse leaping and kicking mid-leap, presumably to ward off pursuers while jumping gulleys. Still, I bet they still look real pretty amidst all the equine boxing.

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

CH3MEX.

FRIDAY 2/5

At the ACAC space, muralist CH3MEX DJs his own art opening, “La Pinche Situacion!” 7 p.m., free (Leslie Peacock's Arkansas Art Notes blog has more).

Hugely popular Memphis-based '80s cover act The Venus Mission returns to Sticky Fingerz for what's likely to be a packed house, 9:30 p.m., $6.

One of the few local cover bands to rival Venus Mission in popularity, The Gettys come to Denton's in Benton for a free concert, 8 p.m.

Rising country singer/songwriter Ryan Couron continues his run of playing out often and at a wide variety of venues at the Underground Pub, 9 p.m., $5.

Little Rock's favorite husband-and-wife-fronted pop band, AKA the Boondogs, play a rare show at Maxine's in Hot Springs, 9 p.m., $5.

At White Water, future Showcase contestants and rock acts Underclaire and Dangerous Idiots share a bill with the White Glove Test, 9:30 p.m., $5.

At Reynolds Hall at UCA in Conway, the Cadron Company presents the kids-geared stage play “Billy Goats Gruff,” 7:30 p.m., free.

And at the Children's Theatre at the Arkansas Arts Center, “Little Women” enters its last weekend, 7 p.m., $11-$14.

SATURDAY 2/5

Longtime local metal heroes Living Sacrifice return to Juanita's with War of Ages, Shai Hulud, Lionheart and The Great Commission in tow, 9 p.m., $13 adv., $15 d.o.s.

Cool Shoes makes up last Friday's iced-out (literally) dance party at Downtown Music, 10 p.m., $5.

Revolution hosts a birthday bash for Bob Marley with local reggae act Fire & Brimstone and Butterfly featuring Irie Soul, 8 p.m., $10.

To make up for last weekend's canceled performances, the Weekend Theater returns to the Del Shores comedy “Sordid Lives,” 7:30 p.m., $10-$14 (the final performance is 2:30 p.m. on Sunday).

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

Trista Moldovan as Maggie, Michael Ellison as Brick, Joe Vincent as Big Daddy and Kathleen Doyle as Big Mama.

'CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF'
8 p.m., Arkansas Repertory Theatre. $20-$35.

Brick! The Cat! Big Daddy! They sweat! They drink! They lie and bicker! It's Tennessee Williams' best-known work and possibly the most famous contribution the South ever made to theater. And yes, it's deserving of an egregious amount of exclamation marks! Is there a plot? Of course! But it all hinges on the aforementioned sweating, drinking and lying. And, brother, there's a whole lot of each. If you frequent thea-ter, you'll know The Rep's production of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” is a must-see. If you shy away from the stage, this is a great opportunity to not only take a chance on one of the great American plays but also to add the word “mendacity” to your vocab. The drama runs through Feb. 21.

—John Tarpley

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

GHOSTFINGER
10 p.m., Juanita's. $15.

Sounding like “Midnight Mile” Rolling Stones one minute and a rootsy Smashing Pumpkins the next, Lucero's poppier compadres, Ghostfinger, have developed a reputation around these parts for their eclectic, manic live shows and attention-deficit twist on Tennessee alt-country. Led by a frenzied, mustachioed Richie Kirkpatrick (named Nashville's best front man of 2007), they're a three-piece that doesn't hesitate to bounce back and forth from post-punk to anti-folk to straight-up metal. For a taste of their peculiar twist on the ordinary, dial up their unbelievable, Auto-Tuned cover of Fleetwood Mac's “Landslide” on YouTube. Drunken Angels and Brother Andy and His Big Damn Mouth open the 18-plus concert.

—John Tarpley

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

New Found Glory.

NEW FOUND GLORY/ SAVES THE DAY
7:30 p.m., The Village. $18 adv., $21 d.o.s.

I won't name names, but there's an unspoken understanding that a chunk of Little Rock's biggest music snobs and musicians intend to indulge their inner 15-year-old by forgoing the usual Friday night shows to dive into The Village. Like Southern preachers in a liquor store, there will be a lot of silent nodding and not much eye contact. Let's face it, for people of a certain, small age group, bands like The Ataris, The Get Up Kids and Friday's headliners occupied a now questionable lump of our, ahem, their CD wallets. But it was inescapable: For two awkward years before the end of the century it seemed dudes singing like, about and for girls echoed in mom basements and Mazda Miatas everywhere. So if you're through being cool for a night, check out the show. It may not be something to write home about, but here's betting you'll be able to spot the nostalgia peeking out through lowered hats and sunglasses towards the back of the room. Join us, er, them. Hellogoodbye and Fireworks share the bill.

—John Tarpley

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

'Idol' hopeful Charity Vance.

ARKANSANS 4 HAITI
5 p.m., Statehouse Convention Center. $25 and donations.

ROCK 4 HAITI
8:30 p.m., Revolution. Free-$5.

Two rock benefits titled like a Prince song? Surely, there's brand collaboration at work here. In any case, the first gig is the big tent gathering. The governor and first lady are hosting. All proceeds will go to the Clinton Bush Haiti Relief Fund. It'll be held in one of the giant base-ment ballrooms at the convention center, and it lasts a really long time. Local R&B act Kemestri featuring Nicky Parrish opens the event at 5 p.m. and party band Tragikly White hits the stage at 11 p.m. In between a host of Little Rock's longest running cover acts — The GroanUps, First Impressions, The Rockets, Crisis — perform. And at 8:40 p.m., in what's sure to be the most anticipated performance of the night, 16-year-old Little Rock native and “American Idol” hopeful Charity Vance offers a short set. At Rev, admission is free to those of drinking age and only $5 for those below, which Dwaine Roark, lead singer of the headlining act Kingsdown, says is meant to get as many people into the club, where the Red Cross will have a donation center. The concert, which also features Siversa (the latest project from former members of After the Tragedy), WishTribe and Third Degree, marks Kingsdown's final Little Rock gig before it heads to Nashville to record an album with Grammy-nominated producer Travis Wyrick. Over the last several years, the pop-rock band's toured 35 states. It's hoping that this album will propel them on the road pretty much fulltime in the near future.

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

Continue reading "Ark. Times Musicians Showcase Round 2: Video recap" »

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (1)

Photo by JM Liles.

Second times a charm for Elise Davis, who made her live debut at the Showcase back in 2004 with her high school band Sandbox Lizards. Last night, she won round two of the Showcase with a strong set of relationship-heavy pop-rock.

Big Boots, who shares bassist Trevor Ware with Elise Davis' backing band, head to the play-in round.

Good showing by 3 Penny Acre and Matt Stell and the Crashers, too.

More coverage coming directly.

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (1)

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

Matt Stell and the Crashers

Formed: Stell started performing at house parties and local bars in the mid-part of last decade when he was in school at Drury University in Springfield, Mo. The Crashers came aboard a little more than a year ago.

From: Center Ridge

Band: Adam Freitas (lead guitar, harmony vocals), Matt Richardson (drums), Joey Rowlett (bass guitar), Matt Stell (vocals, rhythm guitar).

Album: Stell put out a solo album, “The Sound and the Story,” in 2008. At the end of the month, former Drive-By Trucker and current alt-county star Jason Isbell will produce Stell and the Crashers' first album as a full band at legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals.

Arkansas' Wayman Tisdale: 6' 5" Stell was a standout basketball player at Drury.

Music:

"Shirt"



"King of Caldwell County"

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jordan Trotter, Elise Davis, Joshua Tate, Trevor Ware. Photo by JM Liles.

Elise Davis

From: Little Rock, currently a senior at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Debut: She started singing and writing songs at 12. When she was 17, she debuted onstage with her high school band, Sandbox Lizards.

Backing band: Jordan Trotter (lead guitar), Trevor Ware (bass) and Joshua Tate (drums).

Albums: Three already with plans to soon record in Nashville with a producer who's worked with Alison Krauss.

Up next: Feb. 5 at UBU in Little Rock, Feb. 11 at George's Majestic in Fayetteville.

Music:

"Travelin' Man"



"Sniffin'"

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

Trevor Ware, Mason Maudlin, Michael Motley.

Big Boots

Formed: Late 2007

Members: Mason Maudlin (guitar, vocals) and Michael Motley (drums, vocals), Trevor Ware (bass).

Roots: Maudlin and Motley co-founded Sugar in the Raw (later, after the threat of litigation, Sugar and the Raw), the Little Rock party band that packed out local rooms in the early part of the decade like no one in recent memory.

Like Spinal Tap, but for bassists: Big Boots can't seem to keep em around. In just two years, the band's gone through three — Will Boyd, Jonathan Trotter and Luke Hunsicker.

Up next: March 6 at Maxine's, March 13 at Juanita's and March 20 at White Water, opening for Gringo Star.

Music:

"Silver Trees"

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bayard Blain, Bernice Hembree and Bryan Hembree.

3 Penny Acre

Debut: 2008

From: Fayetteville

Members: Bayard Blain (guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, vocals), Bernice Hembree (upright bass, vocals), Bryan Hembree (guitar, brush bucket, vocals).

Albums: A self-titled album with another coming soon.

Bona fides: The band won “Best New Band” at the Northwest Arkansas Music Awards last year. When he's not playing with 3 Penny Acre, Blain works as a professional luthier. He counts Ezra Idlet, of Trout Fishing in America, and a number of other folk music standouts as his clients.

What's in a name: 3 Penny Acre is a reference to the Louisiana Purchase, which cost a little less than three cents and acre. The trio all grew up in the land covered by the Purchase —even Blain who's from Montana.

Up next: A house party at Good  Folk in Fayetteville on Friday and next week, dozens of performances at the Folk Alliance in Memphis. More here.

Music:

"Coal Mine Moonshine"



"Dig a Little Deeper"

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

2010 Ark. Times Musicians Showcase guest judge Burt Taggart.

Who? Label head, singer/songwriter, guitarist and drummer.

Claim to fame: Fouder/owner of Max Recordings, lead singer/songwriter in the Big Cats, major player in the release of the Towncraft compilation, owner of an independent record store at 16.

Up next: A new Big Cats album, sometime this year. On Max, new records from Dave Raymond & Present Company, Dragoon, The Reds, The Moving Front, Magic Hassle and a 12" from Grand Serenade.

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

Photo by Ashley McLelland.

LOVE GHOST
10 p.m., White Water Tavern. $5.

It's hard to think of anyone who's stayed busier in local music in recent years than Jason Weinheimer. When not recording albums for acts like the Moving Front and Chris Michaels and the Cranks at Lucky Dog Audio, he's lent his sideman skill to bands like Jim Mize and the Germans and the Greg Spradlin Outfit. Then, of course, there's his regularly consuming work with the Boondogs, the band he co-leads with his wife, long Little Rock's most reliable pop group. But with Weinheimer's latest project, the pop-rock band Love Ghost, he's been forced to slow down. Mainly because Love Ghost's lead guitarist spends most of his days traveling the world and playing award shows. So when Jeff Matika gets a break from touring with Green Day, Love Ghost is playing. It'll be a rare opportunity to see Weinheimer, Matika and mates play punchy pop-rock that's bound to get stuck in your head for just about as long as it takes the band to schedule another date. Chris Michaels and the Cranks open.

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

KELLER WILLIAMS
8:30 p.m., Revolution. $19 adv., $23 d.o.s.

Okay, dig this: A guy who looks like your younger uncle that spends his summers stoned, kayaking and cooking at a Yellowstone resort with folks in their 20s, is going to come to Rev on Thursday with a mounted guitar, stand-up bass, loop pedals and a drum machine. He's gonna beatbox, he's gonna dance and he's gonna turn the stage into a spectacle by transforming into a one-man jam band. Kind of a synthesis between Trey Anastasio and Loudon Wainwright III, Keller Williams received a good bit of attention in 2002 for his album “Smile,” its subse-quent remix album, “Dance,” and “Freeker by the Speaker,” a classic of the genre and one of my all time favorite guilty pleasures. It's a totally inoffensive, clever, jam-y affair that's worth checking out. And it's open to all ages.

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (1)

MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA
8:30 p.m., Juanita's. $12 adv., $15 d.o.s.

Manchester Orchestra worships at the temple of '90s alt-rock. The loud/soft dynamics of the Pixies and Weezer. The swirling guitars and grunge-filtered pop of Nirvana and the Smashing Pumpkins. The pissed-off brattiness of Isaac Brock and Perry Farrell. All shines through in the Atlanta five-piece's 2009 album, “Mean Everything to Nothing.” Recorded with indie-heavyweight producer Joe Chiccarelli (The Shins, The Raconteurs, My Morning Jacket), the album finds the band inching ever closer to the sort of major commercial success their forebears enjoyed. Hard touring never hurt. The band returns to Little Rock just a little more than four months after supporting the Silversun Pickups at Revolution. Look for a big crowd. Little Rock indie collective Bear Colony and Nashville pop-rockers Harrison Hudson open.

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

Trista Moldovan as Maggie and Michael Ellison as Brick in Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."

Tonight, before a special preview showing of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" at The Rep, Tennessee Williams scholar Robert Bray delivers a brief lecture and there's a reception featuring free booze from New Belgium (their new IPA is great) and food from Boulevard, 6 p.m., $30. All proceeds benefit the Oxford American.

At White Water, Memphis' Jump Back Jake shares the bill with The Bulletproof Vests, 9 p.m., donations.

The Smalltown Shakedown Tour features The Ghost Inside, For the Fallen Dreams, Suffokate, Your Demise, This City Screams and Judging the Silence, 7 p.m., $13.

And like he just about always does, pianist Carl Mouton leads a jam session at the Afterthought, 8 p.m., free.

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

CHRIS DUARTE GROUP
9 p.m., Juanita's. $10 adv., $12 d.o.s.

Confession: I don't get dudes who play electric guitar. Rather, I don't get Dudes Who Play Electric Guitar. So much of their panache seems so unaware, so self-serving. I'm talking about the gear fetishism, the fine-tuned tone snobbery, the obscene ponytail ratio, the grotesque facial contortions. I'm talking about the race to see who can play the most unnecessary notes in the shortest amount of time. So I have Dudes Who Play Electric Guitar filed in the “I'll never get this” drawer right alongside “improvisational comedy” and “saxophones.” But that's not to say there isn't incredible skill and discipline displayed on stage and on record by self-styled guitar virtuosos like Chris Duarte. After a coming-of-musical-age in 1980s Austin, a mecca for Texas blues-jazz guitar, and receiving Guitar Player's “Best New Talent” award in '95 (not to mention fourth in the magazine's “Best Blues Guitarist” category behind a helluva triumvirate — Clapton, Guy, and King), Duarte's older, wiser and bringing his power trio to Juanita's for a night of, well, electric guitar music. If it's down your alley, then this is a must-see. The Joe Pitts Band opens.

—John Tarpley

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase Rd. 1 winner Bobby. Photo by Brian Chilson.

Editor's note: We'll blame the snow and ice for not getting up a recap of last Thursday's first round until now. But in the meantime, just the announcement that Bobby took home round one has set up a rip roarin' comment thread here. It's worth checking out.

Now here's John Tarpley on round one:

I’d say Gerard Matthews, Arkansas Times writer and the night’s emcee, put it best while bidding the audience goodbye after Bobby’s set with a simple exclamation of “holy S***.” He certainly said what everyone else was thinking. Amplified, at that.

When Bobby took the stage for the final act of the night, playing to a crowd of night owls and those willing to brave the icy roads, everyone expected a great showing but I doubt many realized they were about to see what could very well be remembered as a legendary set. I’m certainly still thinking about it. The younger Tillman absolutely ate the stage and flawlessly needled half an hour of no B.S., no filler lyrics through the beat. If there was a single, polite golf clap in the room, I didn’t see: It was all whoops, fist pumps and “yeaaaaahs” from where I was standing. Eloquence be damned. Bobby shredded it and I can’t wait to see what he has up his sleeve for the finals.

Continue reading "Ark. Times Musicians Showcase Round 1 Recap" »

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)

Continue reading "Ark. Times Musicians Showcase Round 1: Video recap" »

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (1)

Bobby soars.

What a great night.  All around good performances from all participants.  Bonnie Montgomery's voice was sweet, Stella Fancy rocked it out, Cody Belew and his band were sonically skillful and Bobby blew IT UP.  According to our esteemed judges, Bobby came out on top.  Congratulations to all.  Stella Fancy placed second which means they'll get a second shot.  More tomorrow from J.T. Tarpley.  Stay Tuned. 
 

Posted by Gerard Matthews | Permalink | Comments (64)

Stella Fancy

Formed: 2008, but in in a different incarnation; this version of the band has only been together since October, and tonight marks the first time they'll be playing all new songs.

From: Little Rock

Members: Jen Shaw (vocals, guitar), JP Langston (guitar), Jon Bierman (bass), Damian Thompson (congas), Dan Huff (drums).

All dudes, one lady: Jen Shaw: "I’m kind of mothering to them and they’re disobedient to me, so it’s a good dynamic."

Music:

"Ocean Side" (recorded live, with old members)

Posted by Lindsey Millar | Permalink | Comments (0)