Rock Candy: November 2007 Archives

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Friday, November 30, 2007 - 15:52:03

Cancellations

Bad news for all y'all biding your time before work ends to go grab your rain coat and yuck it up with Gallagher through "hilarious" songs and fruit smashing. Tonight's show is canceled.

More devastatingly, the Billy Joe Shaver show at Revolution, scheduled for Monday, was canceled, before I even heard about it.

There will be tomorrows, friends.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 03:52 PM | Permalink | Comments [1]

Suga City ink deal with Koch

After months of speculation, local rap duo Suga City has secured a distribution deal with Koch, a national indie label, who put out albums by folks like Jim Jones, UNK and Styles P. Long affiliated with local collective Conduit, the duo, which includes Arkansas Bo (L) and Goines (R), is aiming for a mid-08 release, according to Conduit head dude Epiphany.

This is great news. We've been writing about Bo and Goines and Conduit for a long time, and I've been a fan even longer. It's hard to imagine anyone out of Arkansas better poised to breakthrough nationally. They're funny and smart, but most of all, they're sound is largely unique — laid back, deeply Southern, soul-infused rap that falls somewhere on the sonic map between UGK and g-funk without really sounding derivative of either.

Check one of their classics.

In other Conduit news, our favorite toe-hatting rapper Epiphany has a new video, "Can't Tell." It's the latest from Jordan Atwater's "HAPS" series, which kicked off with Rockst*r's "Radio."

I'm not mad it. It's a good song. Epiphany manages to look pretty cool throughout. Their are lovely ladies. Etc. But it might be a little to same-ish. You know what would've made this: a high speed car chase. Or maybe a car wash scene. Bikinis. Explosions. Or just a few more locations.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 02:25 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]

George Strait returns

George Strait, who set Alltel's attendance record with more than 18,000 last year, returns to the arena on Sat., Jan. 12. Tickets go onsale at 10 a.m. next Sat., Dec. 8 at the Alltel Box Office, (501-975-7575) or through Ticketmaster Express (866-448-7849). Little Big Town and Sarah Johns open. Prices run from $54.50 to $64.50.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 01:56 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]

Friday To-Dos: Hip-Hop Coup and 'Keely and Du'

HIP HOP COUP
8 p.m., Vino's. $5.

Almost a decade ago, a group of likeminded students at UALR pooled their resources and started throwing massive hip-hop shows. Put off by the commercial movement of rap, the group, which called itself Under the Ground, aimed to return the culture to its roots, with emphasis on touchstones like MC battling and turntablism. Lately, UTG has been inactive, though its alums are ubiquitous in the scene — g-force, Dirtbag and 607 chief among them. So it's fitting that a new group of young hip-hop traditionalists is emerging to carry the flame. Blockade is a group of teenagers who formed during “Hip Hop School,” an after school hip-hop education program directed by TJ Deeter with guidance provided by a number of UTGers. Though fresh-faced, the six young rappers in Blockade come just as hard as anyone on the local scene, and they feature the acrobatic dancing team the Yung Stars. They'll perform along with the 4X4 crew, an enterprising collective of six rappers, a dance troupe and a DJ. All in their early 20s, the 4X4 has its hand in everything. They perform frequently. They've put out two volumes of the excellent local compilation “Radio Ain't Ready,” and they host a web/public access TV show called “Rocktown Lockdown.” They'll be filming the concert, which will also include a performance by 607, who is both an early member of UTG and an instructor in Hip Hop School. Plus, up-and-coming dancers and MCs will battle it out for $50 in prize money.

‘KEELY AND DU'
7:30 p.m., Weekend Theater. $10-$14.

Never afraid to tackle controversial material, the Weekend Theater presents Jane Martin's Pulitzer-nominated drama centered on the abortion debate. Keely, who works two jobs to take care of her invalid father, is raped by her alcoholic, estranged husband. In terror of hurting her child — because she knows it will be a part of him, too — she seeks an abortion. But outside of a clinic, a religious pro-life group kidnaps her and plans to hold her until she gives birth. In confinement, Du, a grandmotherly former nurse, is Keely's constant companion and caretaker. A love-hate relationship between the women emerges, with, as the Weekend Theater describes it, “each tiptoeing toward mutual empathy.” Ralph Hyman, the theater's artistic director, directs the play.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments [0]

Thursday, November 29, 2007 - 16:47:39

Thursday To-Do: Aids Benefit

Also: We got this info after deadline. Chris Denny is headlining a benefit for the Arkansas Aids Foundation tonight at Revolution, 8 p.m., $5. Local pop hero Matt Anders is also on the bill along with the Roller Derby Girls, who'll hopefully be giving a demonstration.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 04:47 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]

Endorsements

I'm done with this super-pitch-corrected, Roger Troutman shit, but this is pretty undeniable.

Similarly, Fritz points me to Rap charts, handy flow charts of rap lyrics. Waste away what little time you still have at work.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 04:38 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]

Thursday To-Do: R. Kelly

Linkage in preparation for tonight's R. Kelly show:

My short sex-obsessed preview story.

The complete "Trapped in the Closet" hip-hopera.

A breathless review of the opening show on the "Double Up Tour" in the New York Times.

Rumors from "ROCK SOLID" sources on why Kelly's longtime publicist, who recently left Kells, really quit.

And Camden-native Ne-Yo's theory on why he was booted from the "Double Up Tour." Here's a hint: He was too awesome.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 04:07 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]