Rock Candy: July 2009 Archives

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Friday, July 31, 2009 - 16:17:37

48-hour film project kicks off

Just an hour and half until hundreds of local folks start running around trying to write, produce, score and edit a short film in two days time. At 6 p.m. tonight, each team gets the character, prop and line of dialogue its required to include in its film, and by 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, they've got to have a finished product to be eligible for prizes.

Then, all the films screen Aug. 10-11 at Riverdale, and the "best of" show a week later, also at Riverdale.

Below, I've posted all the participating teams, their team leader and when their film screens.

Go Team Arkansas Times! It's helmed by easily the most talented guy on staff, David Koon, with several other staffers pitching in. I think they've got a chance.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 04:17 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]

Lost Gunbunnies album coming soon on Max

Max Recordings announced today that the lost Gunbunnies album I told you about several months back will be released on Aug. 18. It's called "Great Big Diamond," and it's a collection of really polished demoes Warner Bros. paid for after "Paw Paw Patch" came out. For a limited time, it's streaming on the Max website.

Max is putting out the album in 140 gram vinyl and digitally. The vinyl copies will come with a download code. Pre-orders, available now via the Max website, will ship in advance of the street date.

Save this date: Chris Maxwell, the Gunbunnies' chief singer/songwriter, is coming to town on Aug. 29 for a solo show.

If you missed it last week, check the Gunbunnies in this old NBC Nightly News piece on KABF.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 03:54 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]

The Gossip Wii themselves in the skating rink

Love Long Distance

Balloons gone bad, I guess.

I like the concept generally, but the after-effects are terrible. All the characters look like the Mooninites. In a bad way.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 02:39 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]

Saturday To-Do: Hip-Hop Showcase

Bobby, with big bro 607.

HIP-HOP SHOWCASE
8 p.m., Vino's. $7.

For those (like me) who worry local hip-hop is, at best, treading water and, at worst, sinking quickly, a rejoinder. Or at least that's the idea behind the Arkansas Hip-Hop Showcase. Organized by believers Max Farrell, Conduit Entertainment and OnthaGrind.net, the contest pits 10 mostly up-and-coming local acts against each other. Much like the Times Musicians Showcase, judges will score on originality, showmanship, lyrical cohesiveness and production. An audience vote factors in, too. The contestants include a lot of rappers who could use better names — Koop Da Villain, Lunchroom Bullies, Duke, L. Capo, Bobby, Rah hoWard, J3, K2 the Goon, Mista Mayhem and Cat Daddy. The winner gets $200, a feature on local DJ Discipline's forthcoming “Disciplinary Actions” mixtape, a $50 gift certificate to Rock City Kicks and a feature in NuSouth Online Magazine. There are cash prizes for first and second runners up, too. Farrell and SJ from the 4X4 Crew emcee and DJ Discipline works the ones and twos.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 02:24 PM | Permalink | Comments [1]

Saturday To-Do: Emery

EMERY
7 p.m., the Village. $15 adv., $20 d.o.s.

With neckties, sweater vests and library outfits from the 1970s, Emery's appearance sure doesn't match its post-hardcore sound, full of screams and breakdowns, catchy hooks and melodies. Steering clear from being labeled a Christian band, although all members are open about their faith, Emery attempts with its latest album, “… In Shallow Seas We Sail,” to continue mixing themes of spiritual missions with those of inner turmoil in relationships (yawn). This Seattle crew, originally from South Carolina, comes to town with Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, Kiros and Secret and Whisper on the “Thee Summer Bailout Tour.”

—Paul Peterson

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 02:21 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]

Saturday To-Do: The Diving Bell Ball

DIVING BELL BALL.
8 p.m., Revolution. $7.

There are a number of access points to the Diving Bell Ball. It doubles as a CD release party for the local indie act Free Micah. “We Sure Do Get Around to Living” is the six-piece's debut. It's filled with big boy-girl harmonies, lush, layered instrumentation and earnest lyrics about love, God and Little Rock (what else is there, really?). It's also another chance to celebrate the latest release from Chase Pagan. “Bells & Whistles” finds the Wynne-born musician applying his sweeping falsetto to bounce-y pop arrangements, a fairly stark departure from his more somber prior work. It's not been long either since local troubadour Kevin Kerby put out his latest, “Beautiful and Bright.” It's as full of cheek and wit as anything the former Mulehead front man has released. Ditto, at least it seems, for Damn Bullets, whose aptly named “Electric Folk Boogie” remains in regular rotation. But, more than anything else, the reason these four acts are grouped together and Diamond Bear and others are sponsoring the event, is to support the Northwest Arkansas-based nonprofit Overlooked. The group raises funds for the poor and oppressed through the sale of artsy, message-driven T-shirts. They'll, of course, be on-sale at the show.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 02:15 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]

The Weekend: Cool Shoes, Rigby Fawkes, Gavin Degraw, Flash Larue and more

Rigby Fawkes.

FRIDAY 7/31

Cool Shoes returns to Downtown Music, with DJs Shortfuze, Risky Biz and Ike, 10 p.m., $5.

Young local alt-rockers Rigby Fawkes come to On the Rocks, 9 p.m., $5.

At Juanita's, the band Rayburn reunites and shares a bill with local singer/songwriter Jessica Carder and pop-rockers Falcon Scott, 9 p.m., $10.

Little Rock's finest bluegrass band Runaway Planet sets up shop at White Water Tavern, 10 p.m., $5.

At the Afterthought, the Groan Ups play Little Feat, Otis Redding and everything in between, 9 p.m., $7.

Local party band Tragikly White returns to Revolution, 9:30 p.m., $5.

SATURDAY 8/1

Pop rock singer/songwriter Gavin DeGraw comes to Magic Springs' Timberwood Amphitheater touring behind his third album, “Free,” which includes the single “Stay” (one syllable is all you need), 8 p.m., $35.99-$45.99.

Local rockers Flash Larue play Pizza D amidst a light show and a screening of Fritz Lang's “Metropolis.” Sounds heady, 10 p.m.

From Oklahoma, the Hosty Duo plays a joke-y brand of genre-bending rock at Sticky Fingerz, 9 p.m., $10.

At Discovery, Justin Sane mans the disco, while Michael Shane works the lobby, midnight, $10.

Earlier, the documentary “Hip Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes” examines the sexism and degradation of women in the genre at the Central High Museum Visitor Center, 2-4 p.m., free.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 02:09 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]