Arkansas State Fair « Facing the Music

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Sunday’s Music

Published on: October 22, 2011

Categories: General

Tags: Arkansas State Fair, Dead People, Deer Tick, Helmet, Iron Tongue, Juanita's, Stickyz, Texaco Country Showdown, Virgin Forest, Wendy's Main Stage, Zucura

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Deer Tick.

Giving you the music a day early:

Rhode Island’s Deer Tick is a rock ‘n’ roll band. Loud. Boisterous. Road tested. And since the release of 2007′s War Elephant, this quintet has released some of rock ‘n’ roll’s best music with traces of folk and country. The band’s winning streak continues with the new release Divine Providence — 12 more tracks of grand 21st century rock ‘n’ roll — and Deer Tick is touring in support, including a stop at Stickyz. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 day of for the 21-and-up show with the music starting around 9 p.m. with Brooklyn rock ‘n’ roll band Virgin Forest (featuring four members of Phosphorescent) as well as Dead People.

Back in the early ’90s, Interscope Records signed Helmet — the New York City band Page Hamilton founded in 1989 — and released the group’s Meantime in 1992, 37 minutes of mesmerizing guitar riffs, jazz-influenced solos and spartan rhythms with a seething vocal delivery. In a world being introduced to grunge and saying goodbye to hair metal, it was intelligent music, a break from traditional heavy metal by a band comfortable in shorts, T-shirts and short haircuts. Nineteen years later and reunited (after disbanding in the late ’90s), Hamilton and his gang still play smart, muscular metal influenced by jazz. The band’s latest is 2010′s Seeing Eye Dog, and Helmet plays Juanita’s. The opening acts are local bands Iron Tongue with their Little Rock-bred rock thunder, and Zucura with their North Little Rock grinding metal sound. The show starts at 8:30 p.m. with tickets $16 in advance and $20 day of show.

It’s the last day of the Arkansas State Fair so that means the last day of rides, food, games, and, of course, music, and the last day features the state final of the nationwide country music talent search the Texaco Country Showdown. All shows are on the Wendy’s Main Stage and free with a paid fair admission. Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 12 and senior adults ages 60 and over, and free to children ages 5 and under. Parking at the fairgrounds is $5 per vehicle.

Here’s Deer Tick with their “Easy”:

Easy

Saturday’s Music

by sstewart

Published on: October 21, 2011

Categories: General

Tags: Arkansas State Fair, Black P*ssy, Eagle Claw, Elenowen, JohnCalvin, Rev Room, Rwake, Snakedriver, Stickyz, The Meanies, Wendy's Main Stage, Will Hoge

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Will Hoge.

Giving you the music a day early:

The world almost lost Americana singer/songwriter Will Hoge and his honest, workingman music, smudged with folk, blues and country fingerprints and stamped with his gruff, soulful voice, following a scooter wreck back in 2008. Fortunately, after almost a year of recovery time, Hoge returned to making music, including his latest album Number Seven, the seventh LP of his career. A local favorite, Hoge comes back to Little Rock and Stickyz. The opening act is indie singers from Nashville, Tenn., and The Voice contestants Elenowen with the music starting at 9 p.m. Cover is $10 for the 18-and-up show.

Coming back from a short tour in support of their new album, Rwake plays the Rev Room. The all-ages show begins at 8 p.m. with a $7 cover, and includes opening acts Black P*ssy, Eagle Claw, Snakedriver and JohnCalvin. The sludge-y metal, North Little Rock band Rwake just released their newest album Rest on Relapse Records, a record featuring tunes such as the 12-minute long “It Was Beautiful, But Now It’s Sour,” a doom-in-slow-motion track that contains a little Southern rock guitar work. As noted on the Rev Room website, Pitchfork called it “ingenious, forward-thinking metal.”

This Arkansas State Fair isn’t going anywhere until Sunday night so that means two more days of rides, food, games, and, of course, music, this night from local hair metal cover act The Meanies on Saturday. All shows are on the Wendy’s Main Stage and free with a paid fair admission. Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 12 and senior adults ages 60 and over, and free to children ages 5 and under. Parking at the fairgrounds is $5 per vehicle.

Here’s Will Hoge with his “When I Get My Wings”:

When I Get My Wings

Friday’s Music

by sstewart

Published on: October 20, 2011

Categories: General

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Guitar Shorty.

Giving you the music a day early:

Guitar Shorty didn’t learn blues the old way (he had a teacher), but the result is still some of the best blues a person will ever hear — white-hot slices of contemporary blues. A one-time member of Ray Charles backing band and Sam Cooke’s backing band, Guitar Shorty visits Stickyz for a night of his blistering guitar theatrics and soulful vocals. The opening act is to be announced, but expect the music at 9 p.m. with tickets $8 in advance and $10 day of for the 21-and-up show.

Way back about five year ago, Ryan Cabrera was known for dating Ashlee Simpson, appearing in an episode of MTV’s Super Sweet Sixteen and scoring a string of pop hits including “On the Way Down” and “True.” Years later, Cabrera still moves in celebrity circles, tours and plays his acoustic-powered pop rock music, including a stop at Juanita’s. The opening act is fellow pop rock singer/songwriter Jerad Finck with the music starting at 9 p.m., and tickets $12 in advance and $15 day of show.

Langston “TaylorMade” Carr, the owner and CEO of www.ILiveTheGoodLife.com and TaylorMade Events, is turning 30 and throwing quite the party. Presented by TaylorMade Events (Who else?), Sketches of a Man is more than a birthday party though. Held at Rev Room, the night includes performances by local artists Rodney Block & The Real Music Lovers, Epiphany, Bijoux and Sutter Kaine along with a performance by soul singer Dwele. There’s also a complimentary sushi bar and music from DJ Mike Blaze. Admission is $15 with VIP tables going for $150. The party starts at 9 p.m. and goes until 2 a.m. Dress to be admired.

That dapper dresser, soul/R&B singer and really great rapper SeanFresh is hosting an event at Mediums Art Lounge simply titled Stronger. Presented by Conduit/IAmTheLife.net, the night includes performances by some of the best soul/R&B/jazz/hip-hop performers in the area in SeanFresh, J White, Jeron Marshall, BWare, The Bully Gang, Southwest Boaz, Zii and more. The doors open at 9 p.m. with a $10 admission (women get in for $5 before 11 p.m.) for the 21-and-up show.

Christian music star Chris Tomlin last visited North Little Rock in June 2010 on the Hello Tonight Summer Tour with fellow Christian music superstar TobyMac. This time around Tomlin, an artist known for Christian chart hits such as his latest “I Lift My Hands,” returns to Verizon Arena on his And If Our God Is For Us … Tour with speaker and author Louie Giglio, and Christian singer/songwriter Christy Nockels, a former member of Christian contemporary music group Watermark. The doors open at 6 p.m. with the music at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20.50, $26.50 and $35.50 at the Verizon Arena Box Office with tickets going up $5 day of show.

This Arkansas State Fair isn’t going anywhere until Sunday night so that means a weekend of rides, food, games, and, of course, music. Friday is a night of back-to-back classic rock performances with Foghat and Jefferson Starship. All shows are on the Wendy’s Main Stage and free with a paid fair admission. Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 12 and senior adults ages 60 and over, and free to children ages 5 and under. Parking at the fairgrounds is $5 per vehicle.

And just because this song is so darn cool, here’s Foghat with “Slow Ride”:

Slow Ride

Thursday’s Music

by sstewart

Published on: October 19, 2011

Categories: General

Tags: Arkansas State Fair, Blue Mountain, Haven Hill, Jim Mize, Ryan Couron, Stickyz, Travis Tritt, War Chief, White Water Tavern

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Blue Mountain's Cary Hudson

Giving you the music a day early:

Mississippi’s Blue Mountain is one of those legendary bands that many outside a certain circle don’t know about but should. The legendary duo of Cary Hudson and Laurie Stirratt (sister of Wilco bassist John Stirratt) created some of the best roots rock … well, ever, with such classic albums as Dog Days (1995) and Homegrown (1997). But after years of touring and the dissolution of the pair’s marriage, the band called it quits. But the band reformed in 2007 and tours from time to time, including a show at White Water Tavern. Joining Blue Mountain (seriously, they are freaking good) will be a man who needs no introduction: Jim Mize — a masterful songwriter whose tunes channel rock ‘n’ roll, country honky tonk and dirty Delta blues into must-hear roots rock. Admission is $10 for the show which begins at 10 p.m.

Memphis band Haven Hill describes themselves as such: “a new band with an old soul.” What that means is the quartet is a still relatively young group of music veterans influenced by acts from The Black Crows to the Foo Fighters. Haven Hill brings that rock ‘n’ roll sound to Stickyz. The opening act is the Grayson Shelton-led War Chief with its rollicking and smart rock ‘n’ roll, including the historical rock of “Stand Watie” and its tale of the Cherokee chief and Confederate general who commanded American Indians in the Civil War. The show starts at 9 p.m. with a $5 cover for the 18-and-up show.

This Arkansas State Fair isn’t going anywhere until Sunday night so that means a few more days of rides, food, games, and, of course, music. Thursday, local country act Ryan Couron opens for Grammy-winning country superstar Travis Tritt. All shows are on the Wendy’s Main Stage and free with a paid fair admission. Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 12 and senior adults ages 60 and over, and free to children ages 5 and under. Parking at the fairgrounds is $5 per vehicle.

Here’s Blue Mountain with their “Midnight in Mississippi”:

Midnight in Mississippi

Wednesday’s Music

by sstewart

Published on: October 18, 2011

Categories: General

Tags: Arkansas State Fair, Don't Stop Please, Ha Ha Tonka, Josh Noren and The Good Day, Kate Hansen, Monsters of Rock, Stickyz, Vino's, Wendy's Main Stage

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Ha Ha Tonka.

Giving you the music a day early:

The Ozarks are usually known for producing bluegrass or variations of hillbilly music. Enter Ha Ha Tonka, a decidedly not old-time-y music group, but a quartet known for their sound that mixes classic Southern rock with modern indie rock. The hard-charging group is best summed up by their April release, the excellent Death of a Decade. Anthony Bourdain is a fan, featuring the group on an Ozarks episode of No Reservations, and now you can be, too, when Ha Ha Tonka visits Stickyz. The opening act is to be announced, but expect the music at 8:30 p.m. with cover $6 for the 18-and-up show.

Josh Noren grew up in northwest Arkansas, moved to Nashville, Tenn., about a year ago and started a band: Josh Noren and The Good Day. Now Noren is returning to the Natural State with his pop rocking band for a show at Vino’s. Joining Josh Noren and The Good Day at Vino’s will be Australian singer/songwriter Kate Hansen (now a Nashville resident as well) with her roots-rocking, pop music. Hansen’s newest work is her record Wrapped Up in Light, which was released earlier this month. The opening act is Conway six piece Don’t Stop Please with their music that mingles folk rock with touches of jazz, vocal harmonies and pop on tunes such as the horn-infused “Ma Belle.” The music starts at 8 p.m. with a $8 cover.

This Arkansas State Fair isn’t going anywhere until Sunday night so that means a few more days of rides, food, games, and, of course, music on the Wendy’s Main Stage. Wednesday’s music is a supergroup of classic rock all stars (including former AC/DC drummer Chris Slade) with the Monsters of Rock playing classic rock covers. Admission is free to the shows with paid fair admission which is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 12 and senior citizens ages 60 and over, and free to children ages 5 and under. Parking at the fairgrounds is $5 per vehicle.

Here’s Ha Ha Tonka with their “Usual Suspects”:

Usual Suspects

Tuesday’s Music

by sstewart

Published on: October 17, 2011

Categories: General

Tags: Arkansas State Fair, Big Silver, Bryan Frazier, Dangerous Idiots, Glittercore, Iron Tongue, Juanita's, KABF 88.3 FM, Kingsdown, Mandy McBryde, Pop Evil, Shoog Radio, Spoken, The Evelyns, The Grunge Party, White Water Tavern

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The Grunge Party.

Giving you the music a day early:

KABF 88.3 FM program Shoog Radio is throwing a party at White Water Tavern, and it promises to be a doozy: It’s The Grunge Party with 11 local acts covering grunge and alternative rock bands from the ’80s and ’90s. Cover is only a donation at the door, and the music starts at 9 p.m. with acts Big Silver, Dangerous Idiots, The Evelyns, Bryan Frazier, Glittercore, Iron Tongue, Mandy McBryde and more. And the music they are covering? The night will include nods to grunge stalwarts such as Mudhoney, Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Screaming Trees, and other non-grunge, but still alternative rock bands such as The Breeders, Belly, Hole, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth, Stone Temple Pilots and Toadies. Doors open at 8 p.m. with the music at 9 p.m., and guests are encouraged to dress grunge.

Pop Evil call themselves the best thing to come out of Michigan since the automobile and Kid Rock. (What about Motown? Or Bob Seger? MC5? The Stooges? The White Stripes?) Anyway, the post-grunge act, whose debut album Lipstick on the Mirror spawned two Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Track hits, has released their sophomore album War of Angels, and is touring in support of it, including a stop at Juanita’s. The doors open at 8 p.m. with the music at 9 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door with the opening acts to be announced.

There are six more days of the Arkansas State Fair and all that entails: food, rides, fun, games and, of course, the music on the Wendy’s Main Stage. A night of Arkansas rock starts at 7 p.m. with Fayetteville’s Spoken and their mixture of hard-hitting metal and soaring alternative-rock flavored music. Taking the stage next at 8:30 p.m. is Little Rock rock ‘n’ roll act Kingsdown, who released their self-titled debut album last summer — an energetic alternative rock album built upon their faith and lyrics of hope.

Here’s Pearl Jam with their “Immortality”:

Immortality

Monday’s Music

by sstewart

Published on: October 16, 2011

Categories: General

Tags: Arkansas State Fair, Downtown Music, Turbid North, Tyrannosaurus Chicken

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Turbid North.

Giving you the music a day early:

Turbid North is a metal band. Three of the members of the quintet call Alaska home. Calling themselves “Alaskan mountain metal” (although they are now based in Fort Worth, and include a Texan and Englishman among their members), Turbid North come to Downtown Music for a early week night of metal that is of the death and doom variety with rhythms influenced by thrash and death metal. Cover is $8 with opening bands to be announced. Doors open at 6 p.m. with a 7 p.m. start time to the music.

There are seven more days of the Arkansas State Fair and all that entails: food, rides, fun, games and, of course, the music. The lone act of the night is Tyrannosaurus Chicken, taking the Wendy’s Main Stage at 7 p.m. Straight out of Fort Smith, the duo plays self-described “freestyle trance Delta blues,” which is really a musical blend of covers of old blues and modern blues tunes, and original songs played with guitar, kick drums, fiddle, harmonica and slide guitar. Admission is free to the shows with paid fair admission which is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 12 and senior citizens ages 60 and over, and free to children ages 6 and under. Parking at the fairgrounds is $5 per vehicle.

Here’s Turbid North with their “Between the Glacier and the Sea”:

Between the Glacier and the Sea

Sunday’s Music

by sstewart

Published on: October 15, 2011

Categories: General

Tags: Arkansas State Fair, Confederate Railroad, Marshall Tucker Band, Stickyz, These United States

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These United States.

Giving you the music a day early:

It’s hard deciding what one calls the band These United States. Rock ‘n’ roll? Indie rock? Folk? Garage rock? Alt country? Psychedelic rock? Whatever one calls the music that the five guys from Kentucky, New York and North Carolina make, let it be known the band’s music is rambunctious and toasts just being alive. These United States comes to Stickyz. The opening act is to be announced, but expect the music at 8:30 p.m. with a $7 cover for the 18-and-up show.

There are eight more days of the Arkansas State Fair and all that entails: food, rides, fun, games and, of course, the music on the Wendy’s Main Stage. There are two great acts tonight with a 7 p.m. performance by Confederate Railroad followed by the Marshall Tucker Band at 8:30 p.m. Confederate Railroad straddles the blurry line between outlaw country and Southern rock with well-known tunes such as “Trashy Women.” The Marshall Tucker Band is one of the pioneers of the Southern rock sound, with a number of memorable classic rock tunes, including “Heard It in a Love Song.” Admission is free to the shows with paid fair admission which is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 12 and senior citizens ages 60 and over, and free to children ages 6 and under. Parking at the fairgrounds is $5 per vehicle.

Here’s These United States with their “Honor Amongst Thieves”:

Honor Amongst Thieves

Saturday’s Music

by sstewart

Published on: October 14, 2011

Categories: General

Tags: Arkansas State Fair, HarvestFest, Hayes Carll, Historic Hillcrest, Jason Campbell, Mandy McBryde, Rev Room

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Hayes Carll.

Giving you the music a day early:

Hayes Carll, a Hendrix College alum and a songwriter influenced by Bob Dylan, Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt, returns to Little Rock and the Rev Room for a night of music, including new tunes from his early 2011 release KMAG YOYO (& Other American Stories). No word on the opening act, but expect the music at 9 p.m. with tickets $15 for the 18-and-up show. Carll’s hilariously heartbroken “She Left Me For Jesus” from his 2008 Lost Highway Records release Trouble in Mind won the Americana Music Association Song of the Year award, and Trouble in Mind appeared on several best-of lists at the end of 2008.

It’s HarvestFest in Historic Hillcrest along Kavanaugh Boulevard with a day that kicks off with a bird walk through Allsopp Park and a pancake breakfast at Pulaski Heights Presbyterian Church cooked by the Hillcrest Residents Association, and ends around 10 p.m. after a live rock ‘n’ roll show from local favorites Mulehead. In between there will be children’s activities, vendors, sidewalk sales from Hillcrest merchants, an antique car show and a burger cookoff. That’s not mentioning a fashion show from Box Turtle with local designers such as Linda Thomas, Erin Lorenzen and Korto Momolu. The music includes Mandy McBryde, Boondogs, The Salty Dogs, Jim Mize, The Elise Davis Band, Bonnie Montgomery & Montgomery Trucking, Mulehead and more.

There are nine more days of the Arkansas State Fair and all that entails: food, rides, fun, games and, of course, the music on the Wendy’s Main Stage. The headliner tonight is two up-and-comers. The night starts at 7 p.m. with Little Rock singer/songwriter Mandy McBryde and her blending of folk, country, rock ‘n’ roll and roots music. The headliner for the night at 8 p.m. is Jason Campbell, a Russellville artist who plays Red Dirt-flavored country music with his backing band Singletree. Admission is free to the shows with paid fair admission which is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 12 and senior citizens ages 60 and over, and free to children ages 6 and under. Parking at the fairgrounds is $5 per vehicle.

Here’s Hayes Carll with his “She Left Me for Jesus”:

She Left Me For Jesus

Friday’s Music

by sstewart

Published on: October 13, 2011

Categories: General

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Todd Snider.

Giving you the music a day early:

Yes, it has been 17 years since Todd Snider had his “hit” with “Talkin’ Seattle Grunge Rock Blues.” Let’s hope that’s not all you know about this gifted Americana singer/songwriter. Snider’s “Alcohol and Pills” name checks Hank Williams, Elvis (Though the claim Elvis “came up from Jackson” is wrong.), Janis Joplin, Gram Parsons and Jimi Hendrix over its howling, country rock chords. The 2004 tune is just one of the Americana gems written by Snider in his career. Snider comes to Juanita’s. The doors open at 9 p.m. with the music at 10 p.m. Tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door. No word on the opening act.

And to think all it took was one listen to The Edgar Winter Group’s “Frankenstein.” The synthesizer breakdown in the ’70s rock tune was the reason that Florida electronica artist DJ Icey started creating music, pioneering the Florida Breaks genre with his broken beat, bass heavy sound. “The King of The Funky Breaks” comes to Rev Room. The opening acts are Fresh Millions, Jared Lawler, Justin Sane vs. Balance and Spencer RX with the music starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance for the 18-and-up show.

The Little Rock Folk Club returns with a visit from Claude Bourbon, an European born and raised, and classically trained guitarist and singer whose music is a fusion of a little of everything it seems, from classical and jazz to Eastern influences to Spanish and Latin elements to American folk and blues music. And when he plays live he interweaves all these influences into a hybrid that defies categorization. Bourbon comes to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Little Rock’s Thomson Hall with a 7:30 p.m. start time. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for students, and free of children 11 and under.

The Clear Channel Metroplex will host a night of hip-hop featuring Yo Gotti and CMG for a Power 92 Jams exclusive concert. Hosted by JoJo Everythangs, the music starts at 10 p.m. with tickets $20 in advance and $50 for VIP. Other music will be supplied by Dr. Feelgood. Yo Gotti is a Memphis-raised hip-hop artist known for his hardcore, Dirty South hip hop who released the single “We Can Get It On” earlier this summer as fans of this underground rapper await the release of his first studio album Live From The Kitchen.

Back in May, beloved local singer Cody Belew announced he was departing for Nashville, Tenn, and the better promise of a music career, and then followed it up with his going-away show. Half a year later, Cody Belew is back in town for a show at Cajun’s Wharf as Cody Belew & The Mercers deliver their energized music that includes nods at R&B, Americana, soul, jazz, gospel, pop and country. The music starts at 9 p.m.. and there’s a $5 cover after 8:30 p.m., but if you want a good seat you better get there at happy hour. Or before. Maybe noon.

The Arkansas State Fair Complex is home to 10 days of music with the annual return of the Arkansas State Fair and all the music that goes along with it. There will also be rides, food, games, livestock and more, but the music on the Wendy’s Main Stage includes Friday night headliner Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Admission is free to the shows with paid fair admission which is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 12 and senior citizens ages 60 and over, and free to children ages 6 and under. Parking at the fairgrounds is $5 per vehicle.

Here’s Todd Snider with his “Looking For a Job”:

Looking For a Job

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