Rock Candy: August 2009 Archives

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Monday, August 31, 2009 - 14:03:31

Monday: Travs, Lauris Vidal, jazz

On this last day of August (where'd you go summer?), the Travs continue their last week of home games at Dickey-Stephens. Tonight, the first 800 adults through the door get Dallas Cowboy bobbleheads, 7:10 p.m., $6-$10.

From Florida, Lauris Vidal picks a banjo and various other stringed instruments and usually tours with a rhythm section, 10 p.m., free, at White Water..

It's a Monday Night Jazz jam at the Afterthought, 8 p.m., $5 or $1 if you're jamming.

Also, there's some karaoke happening at Juanita's, 8 p.m., $5.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 02:03 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]

Friday, August 28, 2009 - 16:20:22

Worth driving for

On Sunday, the Silver Moon Club in Newport is hosting a massive memorial concert in memory of Billy Lee Riley, featuring all those folks above, a veritable who's who of rockabilly talent.

The concert runs from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $10. The Silver Moon club is on the Rock 'n' Roll Highway. Contact Rapidbc1@aol.com with questions.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 04:20 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]

Saturday To-Do: Eclipse Glasses Bands / Velvet Kente

joshua of Velvet Kente. Photo by Brian Chilson.

ECLIPSE GLASSES BANDA / VELVET KENTE
10 p.m., Arkansas Queen, North Little Rock. $15.

A normal gig featuring Eclipse Glasses and Velvet Kente should be at the top of anyone's weekend plan. The former is a mostly instrumental local super group of sorts, trading in everything from Ethio-jazz to weird disco — just so long as it bumps. The latter, of course, is the reigning champ of the Times Musicians Showcase, offering a formidable combo of reggae, funk and a bit of Afrobeat, anchored by vocalist joshua's room-quieting vocals. But this isn't a normal gig. It's a dance cruise, y'all. Just about when the old folks are starting to doze off (10:30 p.m.), the Arkansas Queen pushes off shore for a three-hour tour (uh-oh: a three-hour tour!). In addition to live music on the first deck, there'll be records playing up top under the stars — funk, punk, soul, reggae and everything else dance cruise-appropriate. I'm emceeing. What that means, I'm not quite sure. Telling people not to lean too far over the paddlewheel? Pointing out nighttime flora and fauna? Regardless, I'm counting on it being a good time. But, alas, only for those 21 and older, who buy their tickets in advance at the Station Grocery and Deli. To make a reservation, call 372-5777

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 01:14 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]

Saturday To-Do: Robert Earl Keen

ROBERT EARL KEEN
9 p.m., Revolution. $25.

A few years back, Robert Earl Keen put out a greatest hits compilation with a title that says it all: “The Party Never Ends: Songs You Know from the Times You Can't Remember.” For a quarter century, the Houston native's been cranking out country ditties that stay with you. A master of the double entendre and pun — the bedrock of country songwriting — but always with a little bit of edge, Keen's a little to the left of the establishment. His finest narrative songs usually end in death or despair. His love songs forego grand gestures for the simple pleasures — a cold beer in the shade, a glimpse of a grin across the room. Hell, even his Christmas song starts out, “Mom got drunk and Dad got drunk at our Christmas party.” In sum, Keen makes music for the happy misanthrope inside all of us, built around lyrics that are really fun to holler along to drunkenly. In addition to the ultra-familiar (it's the 20th anniversary of “The Road Goes on Forever”), look out for a few you won't know. Keen's first studio album since 2005 is due out Sept. 29 on Lost Highway. It's got a guest appearance by Billy Bob Thornton and a tribute song to Levon Helm. Bet we'll hear about it.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 01:09 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]

Saturday To-Do: Three Dog Night

THREE DOG NIGHT
8 p.m., Timberwood Amphitheater, Magic Springs. $35.99-$45.99.

As reunions go, Three Dog Night acquits itself pretty well. Of the original seven-man line-up, four — including two of three lead vocalists, Cory Wells and Danny Hutton — remain in the incarnation of the band that closes out the Timberwood Amphitheater Concert Series at Magic Springs on Saturday. So you should count on this line-up to be able to approximate the band that, in the late '60s and early '70s, enjoyed massive success. To the tune of 21 consecutive Top 40 hits and 12 straight Gold LPs. Even if you weren't around to experience them, you probably know those hits. Many lent early exposure to their songwriters — “One” (Nilsson), “Eli's Coming” (Laura Nyro), “Mama Told Me (Not to Come)” (Randy Newman), “Joy to the World” (Hoyt Axton). Look for a hefty sing-along crowd to ring in this Magic Springs finale.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 01:04 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]

Saturday To-Do: Arkansas Puzzle Day

ARKANSAS PUZZLE DAY
1 p.m., Clinton School of Public Service. Free.

Puzzle nerds, your day is here. For the third year, Arkansas Puzzle Day comes to the Clinton School's Sturgis Hall for a full day of word and number brain benders. Arkansas crossword king Vic Fleming joins with Bonnie Gentry of Scottsdale, Ariz., to officiate the event, which features crossword and Sudoku contests and a “multi-puzzle fun-and-games hour.” Fleming and Gentry are co-editors of “Random House Casual Crosswords.” On Friday, the Peabody hosts a reception and book signing at 5:30 p.m. On Saturday, after the puzzling, Fleming and Gentry will talk crosswords history, strategy and tips.

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

The Weekend: Cowboy Mouth, the New Up, Cool Shoes, Think Floyd USA and more

The New Up.

FRIDAY 8/28

Alt-rock survivors Cowboy Mouth return to Revolution, where Jeff Coleman and the Feeders play in support, 9 p.m., $10.

At Downtown Music's Cool Shoes, DJs Wolf-E-Wolf, Shawn Lee and Matt Terry make the kids go crazy, with a visual assist by regular video collagist Cameron Holifield and Britton Dunn, 10 p.m., $5.

From San Francisco, the female-fronted New Up plays Vino's with local rockers Notion and Fort Smith's Radio Sky, 9 p.m.

Local crooner Cody Belew performs at the Afterthought, 9 p.m., $7.

Freeverse is at Sticky Fingerz, 9:30 p.m., $5.

In Spa City, two of Little Rock's finest — Kevin Kerby and Battery and the Moving Front — share a bill at Maxine's, 9 p.m., $5.

The musical “Jekyll and Hyde” continues at the Weekend Theater, 7:30 p.m., $14-$18.

SATURDAY 8/29

At Crush, Conduit presents a Bachelor and Bachelorette Auction with performances by Gina Gee and Ment2Be to benefit the nonprofit Women and Children First, 9 p.m., $10.

For those who can't get enough of soap bubble-lubricated grinding, Jester's Foam Party returns to Juanita's, with DJs Jared Lawler and Ewell providing the soundtrack, 9:30 p.m., $10 with a swimsuit, $12 in street clothes.

Think Floyd USA combines Pink Floyd covers and lasers at the Riverfest Amphitheatre, 6:30 p.m., $10 adv., $15 d.o.s.

At Cajun's, local blues rocker Shannon Boshears headlines, 9 p.m., $5.

Central Arkansas' finest bluegrass act Runaway Planet comes to the Afterthought, 9 p.m., $7.

At Vino's, up-and-coming rapper JG celebrates the release of his demo CD, “Lil Roc Built,” 9 p.m, $10.

Fayetteville folk rockers the Sarah Hughes Band headline at White Water, 9 p.m., $5.

Late night, Justin Sane mans the disco, while Balance holds it down in Discovery's lobby, midnight, $10.

SUNDAY 8/30

Hot Springs-born jazz vocalist Roseanne Vitro, billed by Jazz Times as, "[o]ne of the most singularly exciting vocalists of the past two decades," headlines the Arkansas Jazz Hall of Fame Concert on Sunday, Aug. 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Capitol Keyboard, 13401 Chenal Parkway. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 d.o.s. For more information, call 228-9999.

Posted by Lindsey Millar at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments [0]