McAllen, Texas, is perhaps the last place one would expect to discover challenging music, beyond the work of Little Rock favorite Dignan. (Go ahead, look it up on a map. Bottom of the U.S. applies.) But The Young Maths are a four piece bent on throwing together punk, funk and dance, creating gems such as the deep, bass rumble and rock-riff filled “Gay Bars” and the frenetic indie rock of “Sheets.” The danceable quartet make their Little Rock debut with a show at Revolution Music Room. Androids of Ex-Lovers, a duo that produces garage-flavored, experimental music created solely with bass, drums and howling, bluesy vocals, and Flameing Daeth Fearies, a North Little Rock punk cabaret band, are the openers, kicking off the music at 9 p.m. Cover for the all-ages show is $5.
It’s the week between the holidays so Movies in the Park returns to the River Market Pavilions with a free showing of the Disney movie Ice Princess, starring Michelle Trachtenberg, Joan Cusack, Kim Cattrall and Hayden Panettiere. The story of a young woman stopping at nothing to become a champion figure skater begins at 6 p.m. And, after being inspired by the film, go hit the ice at the Arvest River Market on Ice.
Arkansas pop rocker Benjamin Del Shreve just re-released his 2007 album, the power pop gem Brilliant & Charming, in 2009. But now he’s got a new album of explosive alternative rock riffs and pop melodies to release, and is doing so in central Arkansas at Sticky Fingerz. Opening the show are Free Micah, a Little Rock group of 20-somethings whose acoustic-powered music is energetic, highly infectious and emotional rock ‘n’ roll, and the musical circus of Fayetteville’s Randall Shreve with his vaudevillian indie rock. The music starts at 9 p.m. Cover is $6 for the 21-and-up show.
Revolution Music Room is the spot for a shot of local music, with appearances by Ginsu Wives, Androids of Ex Lovers and Dangerous Idiots. Here’s what Idiot Aaron Sarlo has to say about the night: “Enjoy the Clinton loop with a show to rock your socks off … chatter your teeth. Just plain have a kick ass time here in our humble city the Rock.” And here’s what to expect: Jacksonville’s Androids of Ex Lovers is no guitar; just bass, drums and howling, bluesy vocals from a two-piece that grinds out garage rock with the simplest sonic assault; Ginsu Wives is a Conway band that merges electronica-infused beats with raging rhythms to create their experimental rock; and Dangerous Idiots is self-described gulch rock. The music starts at 8:30 p.m. with a $6 cover for the 18-and-up show.
Here’s Benjamin Del Shreve with the video to his “Dance. Sing. Talk. Pretend.”:
Cincinnati piano-pounding alternative rock quartet Seabird visits Revolution Music Room, headlining a show that includes House of Heroes with their Columbus-bred and Bruce Springsteen/Muse/Silverchair inspired rock. The all-ages show starts at 8:30 p.m. with tickets $6 for the over-21 crowd and $8 for the 20-and-under crowd.
Lightning Bolt, the Providence, R.I., duo of Brian Chippendale and Brian Gibson, headline a show at the Arkansas Community Arts Cooperative with their loud and aggressive noise rock that is usually played in the middle of their crowds. Joining the duo will be the Austin, Texas, trio Transmography with their electro rock; the garage-flavored, experimental, drum and bass music of Jacksonville’s Androids of Ex Lovers; and Chapel Hill, N.C., experimental jazz/metal outfit Cracker Creeptacular. Tickets are $10 advance and $12 day of show with the all-ages show starting at 8 p.m.
Perhaps the best part of David Simon’s Treme is the HBO drama’s use of the music of New Orleans — big and funky, and full of the Crescent City’s brassy mingling of jazz and soul. Well-known New Orleans musicians and bands such as Kermit Ruffins, Galactic and Allen Toussaint have already appeared in the show, but people searching for the sound of New Orleans up close and personal should check out the Dirty Dozen Brass Band when the New Orleans outfit visits Sticky Fingerz. Expect the music at 8:30 p.m. with tickets $15 for the 21-and-up show. Dirty Dozen been kicking out their blend of Crescent City brass band peppered with funk, jazz, bebop and soul since 1977, releasing albums such as their 1984 debut My Feet Can’t Fail Me Now. Little Rock’s own jamband extraordinaires Weakness for Blondes are the openers, with their spontaneous creativity going down several rabbit holes, chasing blues rock, jazz and soul with a touch of psychedelic and funk.
The musical list of bands having eponymous titled tunes is a rather short one in the grand scheme of things (Bad Company and Black Sabbath come to mind.), but the Arkansas, Southern-rock flavored country act Steepbanks isn’t afraid to title their crunching guitar tale of drinking whiskey and smoking their mind “Steepbanks.” And speaking of whiskey, the act also has a gently lazy, bluesy number about drinking whiskey behind a barn titled “Whiskey Ways.” The five-piece, two-guitar outfit visits Juanita’s. Chris Stillman, former lead singer of HWY 5, kicks off the music at 9 p.m. with a $5 cover for the 18-and-up show.
The four members of Life Size Pizza create rock in the Rock, and claim to be influenced by acts such as Led Zeppelin and Hank Williams Jr. The band has captured their sound on CD and are prepared for a CD release show at White Water Tavern. Joining Life Size Pizza will be the scratchy, raggedy rock exhilaration of Frown Pow’r and the garage-flavored, experimental music created solely with bass, drums and howling, bluesy vocals from Androids of Ex Lovers.
The musical night at Downtown Music is twofold: It’s owner Alan Wells’ retirement party (He sold the business recently, but it’ll stay open under new management.), and he claims, “We’re gonna get wasted all night, and I ain’t leaving until someone cleans my puke up for once.” So be prepared for that. The night will also serve as a CD release show for Little Rock experimental metal act Sh*tfire‘s A Weary Warrior Never Rests His Head. The band will have new T-shirts available, and a 12-inch split vinyl with Conway down-tempo metal act Crankbait and Arkansas grime metal act Seahag, two bands also playing the show. Rounding out the bill is Furlow band Knee Deep with their marching Southern metal and Conway death metal band Fathom Down. The music starts at 8 p.m. with a $6 cover.
Here’s the Dirty Dozen Brass Band getting funky in New Orleans:
Sticky Fingerz presents a trio of indie rock acts with visits from The Most Serene Republic, Annuals and What Laura Says. Co-headliner The Most Serene Republic are a JUNO Award-nominated sextet known for their crossing of rock with baroque pop while fellow co-headliner Annuals are a North Carolina band who describe their music as “Experimental Jungle Pop,” although it’s better described as cinematic indie rock that draws from guitar-based rock, lush vocal harmonies and experimentalism. Arizona band What Laura Says is a desert mix of stomping blues, gospel and folk. The music starts at 8:30 p.m. with cover $8 for the 21-and-up show.
A show at Revolution Music Room features Seattle indie rockers The Classic Crime, and alternative rockers Ivoryline, a Tooth & Nail Records act just like The Classic Crime. Local support will come from Hot Springs progressive rock act Stereo Sound. The all-ages show begins at 8 p.m. with tickets $10 advance and $12 day of show.
Travis McElroy’s Thick Syrup Records is celebrating its fourth anniversary with the Thick Syrup Anniversary Party at White Water Tavern, featuring reunited bar rockers Smoke Up Johnny and an also reunited Androids of Ex Lovers. Expect a rousing uppercut of central Arkansas flavored real rock from the former, and garage-flavored, experimental music created solely with bass, drums and howling, bluesy vocals from the latter. Also on the bill are Brother Andy & His Big Damn Mouth, “mystic Indian hitmakers” who kick out “white trash power pop” — better known as gritty, power trio rock. Happy birthday Thick Syrup.
I Am The Life presents The Gemini Party at Bill Street, promising two parties, one kicking it. Or, as it says on the flier for the event: “2 Parties 1 Kickin It.” The Lounge inside will include SeanFresh, Jeron and Epiphany featuring Gina Gee with Pleasant Music backing up the musicians with live music, and The Club on the patio will include DJ Greyhound on the turntables and performances by EarFear and Rockst*r Jones. The party starts at 9 p.m. with a $10 cover for the 21-and-up event. Ladies and Geminis get in for $5 before 10 p.m. The flier also says the party is the “only place you need to be on the 22nd.”
Surely no government body voted to declare Saturday National Sulac Day, but that’s what the Town Pump is calling a celebration of the man known as Sulac as three of his five dozen bands play: Hector Faceplant, Winston Family Orchestra and Physical Science. The music starts at 10 p.m. with a $3 cover.
Giving you the music a day early: Austin, Texas, indie rock band The Rocketboys are coming to Stickyz. The band’s latest is the self-released Build Anyway. So what does the band sound like? Well, the Austin American-Statesman describes the band’s music as “clear, ringing guitars and full-bodied keyboard arrangements, hard-driving [...]
Giving you the music a day early: The pop-flavored R&B group that brought the world “Cool It Now” is on the road for their 30th anniversary tour as New Edition visits Verizon Arena. Tickets are $58.15, $68.40 and $79.40 with fellow R&B act After 7 and R&B artist El Debarge [...]
Giving you the music a day early: Kris Allen at Magic Springs Water and Theme Park‘s Timberwood Amphitheater. This Arkansas resident won the eighth season of American Idol and will be promoting his new album Thank You Camellia. The concert gates open at 6 p.m. with an 8 p.m. showtime. [...]
Giving you the music a day early: Acadiana is a hotbed of Cajun music so let’s talk about Ryan Brunet of Cajun music creators Ryan Brunet and The Malfecteurs, who will be playing White Water Tavern with the music starting at 9:30 p.m. with a $7 cover. At the age [...]
Giving you the music a day early: Wussy is coming to Stickyz. So what does that mean? Well, Wussy is a Cincinnati rock band. Sometimes with pedal steel. Sometimes with a clavinet. Sometimes with harpsichord. It’s really hard categorizing them so let’s don’t. Just enjoy Wussy for what they are [...]
Giving you the music a day early: People who write off Nada Surf as a MTV-promoted one-hit wonder because of 1996′s “Popular” haven’t been paying attention for the past 16 years. The New York City trio’s buzzing guitar attack, pop choruses and harmonies have been featured on six subsequent albums, [...]
Giving you the music a day early: Scott H. Biram and Lydia Loveless at Stickyz — this is going to be quite a show. Why? Biram is a 21st-century blues sorcerer, throwing blues, psychobilly, country and punk in a jar with a few gulps of whiskey, violently shaking it and [...]
Giving you the music a day early: Jeez, it was about time. It has been since December that the self-proclaimed King of the Country Western Troubadours played Little Rock. Fortunately, Unknown Hinson returns with a show at Juanita’s. The doors open at 7:30 p.m. with the music starting at 8:30 [...]
Giving you the music a day early: Here’s a little-known fact: Outside of the city of Tahlequah, Okla., is a public use area titled No Head Hollow Public Use Area. No lie. The city is also the capital of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. Now, why are we [...]
Giving you the music a day early: It’s going to get heavy at Downtown Music. How heavy? Well, how heavy does a show that includes At Wars End, Reticient and The Revolutioners sound? Oh yeah, not that heavy if you don’t know what the bands sound like. Well, here’s a [...]
Loading ...
Not logged in 