Rock Candy: Thursday To-Do: The Libras as Neil Young

THE LIBRAS
9 p.m., White Water Tavern. $5.

We live in a stratified world of cover bands. At one level, the top perhaps, there’s the large contingent of touring and local bands who make their bones playing straight-up, let’s see how close we can get covers. Then there’s a growing number of novelty cover bands, like the little people version of Kiss, Mini Kiss, or the all-girl Led Zeppelin tribute act, Lez Zeppelin. And then there are bands like the Libras, who offer neither verisimilitude nor weirdness. The local coterie, which includes members of Big Silver, the Boondogs, the Easys and the Greg Spradlin Outfit, leans more on a boozey, shambolic foundation — you might not know what they’re playing until the hook comes. They’re all crack musicians, though, so even when they’re just screwing around, they’re mighty entertaining. Over the last six or eight months, they’ve become the de facto house cover band for White Water, playing sporadically on Thursdays, usually taking on a different act each time. Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Tom Waits have been featured in the past. Tonight, Neil Young is on tap. Friends of the band Dave Easely (pedal steel) and Robbie Crowell (keyboards) will sit in, too.

Comments

The Libras are one of the best kept secrets in the Little Rock music scene. Their shows are always great. I can't wait to hear their take on Neil Young.

Posted by: TheGoodDoctor | August 30, 2007 01:02 AM

STOP the tease with who's sitting in - who are the "crack musicians" (might wanna use top-notch or superb...), who make up this band?

THANKS!!

Posted by: Larry | August 30, 2007 02:55 PM

the question is, will sobriety checkpoints curtail the band's usual wanton ways?

Posted by: spinsouth | August 30, 2007 03:32 PM

Crack musicians? Or musicians on crack?

I just love seeing the word verisimiltude. It has a sexy sound to it. Eponymous is another. Work that one in somewhere before Philip Martin does for the umpteenth time.

Posted by: jimmyboy | August 30, 2007 04:39 PM

sorry bout that spelling. Yes, I meant verisimilitude. I can barely see all the i's in it anymore. Everything is a blur. After all, I'm of the "musicians on crack" club.

Posted by: jimmyboy | August 30, 2007 04:41 PM

The crack musicians: Isaac Alexander, Jason Weinheimer, Charles Wyrick, Greg Spradlin, Chris Michaels, Dylan Turner

Posted by: Lindsey Millar | August 30, 2007 05:37 PM

Great show last night, including special appearances by Kevin Kerby and Christopher Denny.

Posted by: Whit E. Knight | August 31, 2007 07:51 AM

Ditto that. It was a fine show. Cover bands are usually not my cup of tea, but I always come out for the Libras because they make it their own. Special love for the pedal steel guy, who tore it up, and for Greg Spradlin, who is one of the sickest guitarists around.

Posted by: Lorax | August 31, 2007 09:17 AM

Rock Candy

Thursday To-Do: The Libras as Neil Young

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