THE ROMANY RYE
9 p.m., Union Station. $10.
When Chris Denny ditched The Natives — Jesse Bates, Ryan Hitt, Judson
Spillyards and Joshua Spillyards — a few months after he and the band
cut what was supposed to be their debut on a national indie with juice,
the local consensus had the backing unit returning to Little Rock and
joining the legions of local musicians who’ve glimpsed national success
only to become the victim of unfortunate circumstance. Through members
of Dawes, who toured with Denny and the Natives, the guys met Luke
MacMaster, once the leader of a buzz-y California band called The
Colour, who now records as The Romany Rye, and they hit if off (and
brought their buddy Whitman Bransford, of Mammoth Orange and Silverton,
into the fold). Now, they’re soon to hit the road for a two-month North
American tour opening for The Delta Spirit. Thursday, this incarnation
of the group plays its first official concert. The first 50 people get a
copy of Romany Rye’s debut, “Hello Good Bye” (recorded before the local
guys joined). It’s open to all ages. There’ll be food and, according to
Judson Spillyards, “cheap drinks.” Catch the band again at Riverfest at
4:30 p.m. on Sunday on the Triple-S Alarm Stage and then not again
until July 13 at Juanita’s.