Rock Candy: May 2009 Archives

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Friday, May 29, 2009 - 14:18:59

Sunday To-Do: 'Hot Springs Music Festival'

HOT SPRINGS MUSIC FESTIVAL
6:45 p.m., Arlington Hotel. $5-$125.

Now in its 14th season, the Hot Springs Music Festival continues to pair musician mentors from respected orchestras, conservatory faculties and the like with promising pre-professional musicians, all of whom receive full scholarships and housing for the two-week festival. The two groups, playing side-by-side, offer 20 concerts and more than 250 rehearsals open to the public. This year the theme is “Sound and Fury.” The highlights include an English-language production of Peter Brook's re-staging of Bizet's “The Tragedy of Carmen,” an orchestral performance of Ravel's “Daphnis and Chloe Suite No. 2” and a joint performance, by the orchestra and festival chorus, of Mendelssohn's “The First Walpurgis Night.” The festival runs through June 13 in downtown Hot Springs. A limited number of season passes are available for $125. Otherwise, single concert tickets range from $5-$25. The complete schedule is available at www.hotmusic.org.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 02:18 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]

Saturday To-Do: Jimbo Mathus

JIMBO MATHUS
10 p.m., White Water Tavern. $10.

Clarksdale-born Jimbo Mathus makes “Mississippi music,” he says. “I keep the old stories alive while they help keep me alive.” Luther Dickinson, of the North Mississippi Allstars and the Black Crowes, once did Mathus one better when he described him as a link in “the ‘crazy Mississippi white-boy' chain of music that goes all the way back through Elvis Presley to Jimmie Rogers … white musicians playing black music and influencing people in both cultures.” Most, however, probably remember Jimbo as the cheeky front man of the swing revival act Squirrel Nut Zippers. After a five-year hiatus, that band reunited to tour in 2007 (it'll appear at the Mulberry Mountain Music Festival near Ozark in August). But since the early 2000s, Mathus has been busy with his own projects. He's toured with Pine Bluff's CeDell Davis, served as musical director for Buddy Guy, recorded Elvis Costello in his Delta Recording Service studio in Clarksdale and released a host of records, moving easily between swamp rock, country and the acoustic blues. His latest, “Jimmy the Kid,” stretches across all those genres. Live, it's bound to sound like an ideal soundtrack for White Water Tavern.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 02:07 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]

Saturday To-Do: Charlie Daniels Band

"Ho, ho, ho, you commie bastards."

THE CHARLIE DANIELS BAND
7 p.m., Timberwood Amphitheater, Magic Springs and Crystal Falls. $35.99-$60.99.

Did Riverfest whet your appetite for massive crowds, nostalgia-driven concerts, funnel cakes and people misguidedly not wearing shirts? From Saturday through the end of August, Magic Springs and Crystal Falls hosts a weekly concert series every Saturday in its Timberwood Amphitheater that will help you re-experience that festive feeling. For just park admission — or $10 more if you want a reserved seat or $15 for a VIP seat — you can finish a day of water-parking or ride riding at concerts by everyone from Colbie Caillat (June 13) to Three Dog Night (Aug. 29). The series kicks off with a Southern institution, the Charlie Daniels Band. At 72 and looking more and more like Santa Claus with every passing year, the fiddle-playing Southern rocker has emerged, particularly in the last decade, as a right-wing firebrand, advocating for a stringent immigration policy, arguing that global warming is a myth and regularly railing against the “gonadless politicians” in Washington.

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

The Weekend: Cool Shoes, g-force, 'Coppelia Ballet,' Revfest and more

FRIDAY 5/29

Cool Shoes celebrates its one-year anniversary with DJ sets and performances by all the folks above. It's 18 and above again, 10 p.m., $5.

Local DJ king g-force gets butts on the floor at the Peabody RiverTop Party, 8 p.m., $5.

Horrorcore heroes Twiztid headline at Juanita's with Boondox, Prozac and Potluck, 9 p.m., $17 adv., $20 d.o.s.

From Denton, the Eli Young Band blends country and modern rock at Revolution, 9 p.m., $10 adv., $12 d.o.s.

SATURDAY 5/30

At the Arkansas Arts Center, Arkansas Festival Ballet presents the “Coppelia Ballet,” a 19th-century ballet about a doll maker and his doll that comes to life, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., $15-$25 (with an encore on Sunday, same place, same price, at 2 p.m.).

“Girls Night Out Vol. III,” at Revolution, features DJ sets by Ewell, Jared and Sleepy Genius and appearances by Vivid girls Hanna Hilton and Megan Malone, 8 p.m., ladies free, $10 for guys.

Ace Spade and the Whores of Babylon host their annual “Ho Bash” costume party and lingerie show at Downtown Music, 8 p.m., $6.

SUNDAY 5/31

RevFest, at Revolution, features a host of alt-rock and metal acts that were scheduled to play at rained-out Edgefest. That includes Wishtribe, Underclaire, Bombay Black, Altus Pocket, A Plea for Mercy, Spinning Jenny, Rusty Hook, A Darkened Era, Dark from Day One and McCuin, 3 p.m., $6. Plus, the Jager Girls, Jester Girls and Go Go Revolution Girls will be in the building.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 01:45 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]

Your opportunity to do the Halle Berry at Alltel scuttled

Halle Berry, celebrating her anthem, courtesy of Hurricane Chris.

The latest consequence of the recession: Your good time. Hurricane Chris, Pleasure P, 8ball and MJG and dozens of other hip-hop-ish artists will not be coming to Alltel as part of "Summer Jam," co-sponsored by Alice 107.7 and Power 92.

Here's the official statement:

Due to circumstances beyond their control in this present economy, Citadel Broadcasting is canceling their Summer Jam concert scheduled for June 19th, 2009 at Alltel Arena.

They do appreciate your cooperation and commitment over the years to this event and are looking forward to next year, as they will continue with their Summer Jam event.

Tickets for this event can be refunded at the original point of purchase.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments [0]

Friday To-Do: The See EP release show

Check out the See in the latest Rock Candy Presents video on our home page player.

THE SEE
10 p.m., Sticky Fingerz.

There are few, if any, new local bands with as much buzz surrounding them as the See. Formed last summer by Tyler Nance (drums), Joe Yoder (vocals) and Dylan Yelenich (bass/keyboard), the trio's built its reputation on steady gigging and a sturdy, infectious brand of indie rock that recalls power trios of yore. You know, back before everything got all twee and feely. Or went disco. In other words, the See offers the right mix of dissonance and melody, features a drummer who beats the hell out of his kit (not long ago that meant he spent the last song of the band's set standing up) and a bassist/keyboardist who plays meaty riffs and typically bounces around the stage like he's having a seizure. Plus, lead singer Yoder — tall, broad-shouldered, with short hair, a beard and severe eyes — looks kind of like an evil Russian wrestler and isn't afraid to fist pump unironically. Paired with big, earnest vocals, that helps give everything an epic, anthemic quality. All the qualities we've come to expect in the band live come across in its fine new EP, “Bars of Gold.” Its release is the reason for the show. Stella Fancy and Big Boots open.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 09:57 AM | Permalink | Comments [2]

Thursday, May 28, 2009 - 15:05:50

Thursday: Magpies, Thrones and more

The Magpies.

On the strength of dozens of performances at White Water, the twangy rock 'n' roll act the Magpies has developed a fan base in Little Rock that might rival the one in its hometown of Cleveland, 9 p.m., $5; at White Water.

One man-band Thrones features Joe Preston, a multi-instrumentalist who's played with Earth, Sun 0))) and the Melvins. He and local noise rockers Ginsu Wives and Pallbearer share the bill at Downtown Music, 8 p.m., $8.

The Pope County Bootleggers, from Little Rock and Fayetteville, mix shades of bluegrass, old time and country at Satellite, 9 p.m., free.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 03:05 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]