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Posts Tagged ‘Fire to Reason’

Friday’s Music

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

Drive-By Truckers.

Giving you the music a day early:

After selling out Revolution Music Room in late 2009 on the last touring cycle of their Brighter Than Creations Dark album tour, Southern rock ‘n’ roll (but not Southern rock) outfit the Drive-By Truckers returns to the Rev Room, this time touring to support their newest album, The Big To-Do. The new album is 13 tracks written by band members Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley and Shonna Tucker, and mostly a return to gut-punching rock. It’s the perfect time to catch the band, as the Truckers will have just come from opening two arena shows for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and should be ready to rock out. The opener is Amy Cook, an Austin, Texas, singer/songwriter who brings her impassioned blend of folk, rock ‘n’ roll and Americana. Tickets are $25 and $30 day of show with the music starting at 9 p.m. with a to-be-announced opening act. It’s an 18-and-up show.

Leg Up Promotions is hold a third anniversary show The Village and inviting a few hard-rocking friends along with a weird stepbrother. Sychosys is a Little Rock, Southern-flavored metal band known for metal influenced by bands such as Pantera, Black Label Society and Black Sabbath. Monoxide Project is a Gravel Ridge Southern-rock-flavored metal outfit with a hard-charging sound based on ’70s rock-influenced heaviness mixed with down tempo, blues-tinged tracks. Finding Jimmy Hoffa is the pride of Osceola, a five piece concerned with creating hard-charging slices of heavy rock-flavored Southern grunge. Iron Ton features two members of Sychosys and hammers out white-hot portions alternative metal tracks such as “Here I Stand.” And the weird stepbrother? North Little Rock’s beloved Flameing Daeth Feaires, a punk cabaret act that promises to kick off the show with quirky punk and possibly a crazy prank or two. The doors open at 7 p.m. with the music at 8 p.m. General admission tickets are $8.

Conway’s Soundstage celebrates its 11th anniversary with a special show and welcomes the return of Conway hardcore band Fire to Reason, the hardest-touring quartet in Arkansas who will be wrapping up their Bang Your Head Tour. Expect energetic music created with rapid-fire, brutal rhythms from the outfit. Also on the bill are Soundstage regulars Conway hardcore act Hollywood Homicide, Vilonia hardcore metal act The Curse Follows and six piece Conway progressive metal act Still Reign. The celebration also welcomes a touring trio: Lafayette, La., melodic hardcore band Change Today, New York hardcore band Kills and Thrills, and Chicago progressive hardcore group Through the Fire.

The Peabody Little Rock RiverTop Party season comes to an end where it started, with Tragikly White. Whether they call themselves “the most awesome party band,” “the South’s premier party band” or “Tragikly White, dance band from Little Rock,” what is certain is that the four guys in Tragikly White know how to throw a party. Expect party favorites from the 1960s to today when the band takes the stage, from classics such as “Soul Man” and “Brown Eyed Girl” to today’s party anthems such as “SexyBack” and “Stronger.” Joining the band will be CRISIS, a Little Rock, cover act that plays the best rock music of the ’70s and ’80s. Expect covers of music from artists such as The Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Johnny Cash and more. The music is from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. with a $5 cover for the 21-and-up show.

Juanita’s welcomes American Idol season nine contestant and Little Rock resident Charity Vance for a showcase of her self-described indie pop. Joining Vance will be central Arkansas rockers Benjamin’s Army, fronted by Ben Ghormley. The all-ages show starts at 9 p.m. with a $9 cover.

Here’s the Drive-By Truckers with “This F*cking Job,” starring Ray McKinnon and with explicit language:

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Friday’s Music

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

Bob Schneider.

Giving you the music a day early:

Austin, Texas, musician Bob Schneider’s solo work showcases his appreciation of guitar-powered pop melodies, including the absolutely beautiful “40 Dogs (Like Romeo and Juliet).” It’s Schneider’s cunning blending of sparkling pop with raunchy bar rock that led Esquire to don him the “high priest of live music” in Austin. And he’s got the awards to prove it, recently being named Musician of the Year at the Austin Music Awards. Come see what all the fuss is about when Schneider appears at Juanita’s, with opening act Smile Smile, a Dallas folk pop act kicking off the music at 10 p.m. Tickets are $15 advance and $20 day of show for the 18-and-up show.

Singer/songwriter Todd Snider’s “Alcohol and Pills” name checks Hank Wiliams, 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 16-year career (including the John Prine-like classic “Talkin’ Seattle Grunge Rock Blues”). Snider appears at Revolution Music Room for an 18-and-up show. Tickets are $15 advance and $20 day of show, with the music starting at 8:30 p.m. The opening act and Snider’s backing band is Great American Taxi, a band led by Vince Herman born out of Leftover Salmon that mixes bluegrass, country, jazz and rock.

And Conway’s Fire to Reason is off yet again. The hardcore band that takes its name from Supreme Court justice Oliver Wendell Holmes’ quote, “Eloquence may set fire to reason,” kicks off its latest tour at Soundstage. The quartet is the hardest-touring band in Arkansas, hitting the 79,000 mile mark in less than five years, June’s Bang Your Head tour is a monthlong romp around the nation showcasing their energetic music created with rapid-fire, brutal rhythms. Joining the band for the tour kickoff celebration is Little Rock down-tempo metal band Pallbearer, six piece Conway progressive metal act Still Reign and Vilonia hardcore metal act The Curse Follows. The music starts at 8 p.m. with a $6 cover.

The man responsible for writing such classics as “Illegal Smile,” “Angel from Montgomery” and “Dear Abby” along with countless other American folk classics is visiting Little Rock. John Prine is set to play Robinson Center Music Hall at 8 p.m. with tickets ranging in price from $48.45 for balcony to $59.25 for orchestra. It’s an all-ages show with the doors opening at 7 p.m. There are a few great songwriters in the canon of American 20th century “pop” music — people like Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson — and Prine deserves a spot right there along with them.

After a Friday night off due to Riverfest, The Peabody Little Rock RiverTop Party returns with the I Am The Life presented Sky High Party II featuring hip hop artist Epiphany, who didn’t take a weekend off for Riverfest, instead performing with several acts during the festival. Lasting from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., cover is $5 for the 21-and-up show. Joining Epiphany is DJ G-Force, a DJ known for his spinning at clubs around the region, drawing from his interest in genres as far ranging as jazz and funk to ’70s and ’80s hits to R&B, rock and hip-hop. Epiphany? He’s simply one of the best hip-hop artists in Arkansas. Last year Epiphany packed the patio with his One Night Stand backing band so expect a full house.

The one-two rock duo of David Tweed and Bekah Manning returns to Vino’s as Lollipop Factory performs. Expect high-powered, heavy rock from the duo, who describe their music as “bombastic, Frankensteined pop-metal contraptions.” The Little Rock trio Dangerous Idiots — Paul Bowling, Shayne Gray and Aaron Sarlo — open the show with their self-described “gulch rock,” a combination of power pop, late ’70s punk, and stoner and psychedelic rock. The show starts at 9 p.m. with a $5 cover.

Here’s Bob Schneider with his “40 Dogs (Like Romeo and Juliet)”:

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Friday’s Music

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Wade Bowen.

Giving you the music a day early:

Wade Bowen is Texas country, but closer to the vein of Red Dirt country rock rather than dusty, Texas troubadour country. Him and his four-piece band, including a twin guitar howl, appreciate the high-powered rock of Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith (the drug years; not the MTV video years). Following the success of 2008’s If We Ever Make It Home, which hit No. 29 on the country album charts, Bowen and gang are preparing for the release of Live at Billy Bob’s Texas on April 27, a live album that captures the band’s passionate and intense live shows. Watch the band’s emotional live set up close and personal during a show at Revolution Music Room. The opening act is to be announced, but expect the music at 9 p.m. with a $10 ticket price for the 18-and-up show.

It’s certain that Supreme Court justice Oliver Wendell Holmes never foresaw his quote, “Eloquence may set fire to reason,” being used to name a band, especially a hardcore rock band such as Conway’s Fire To Reason. But 75 years after the death of Holmes, the quartet is the hardest-touring band in Arkansas, hitting the 79,000 mile mark in less than five years with their recent Lead or Silver Tour. Yet, amazingly, the band has no dates scheduled until a June jaunt with Give Em Hell titled Band Your Head. But the dynamite-going-off sound of Fire To Reason is not silent, with the energetic band who create rapid-fire, brutal slices of music playing Soundstage on a bill that includes two fellow Conway hardcore acts in Dead Beat (formerly known as JohnnyCage) and Hollywood Homicide. Joining the local bands is Gainesville, Fla., hardcore punk band Battle! The music starts at 8 p.m. with a $6 cover.

So Axl Rose delivered the newest Guns N’ Roses album, the long-awaited Chinese Democracy … and it was a dud. (Really. We waited 15 years for that load?) But luckily for fans of Guns N’ Roses (And they are out there, slapping the ceiling of their car in time to “Sweet Child o’ Mine” and whistling the melody of “Patience” during board meetings.), the Guns N’ Roses tribute band Paradise City will deliver the music of GN’R during a visit to Sticky Fingerz. The opening act is to be announced, but expect the music at 9 p.m. with a $8 early admission price for the 21-and-up show. Expect the hits: “Welcome to the Jungle,” “You Could Be Mine,” “Civil War,” “Used to Love Her” and more. (What! No “14 Years”?)

The Arkansas Community Arts Cooperative is hosting an interactive painting and art event titled The Art Party from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Admission is $5 for the all-ages party including an art show and sale, and live music with guests being asked to engage in the art, whether it be by painting pictures, molding clay or photography. Models will be available for drawing and photography, and art supplies will be available. Other events scheduled include dance performances, glowing body art and an event simply titled “Collaborative Art Piece.

Here’s Wade Bowen with his “God Bless This Town”:

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Friday’s Music

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Rock 4 Haiti.

Giving you the music a day early:

A quartet of bands are joining forces with the American Red Cross and Hope for Haiti (a local initiative started by Clinton School of Public Service student Ivan Noisette) to raise money for earthquake disaster relief in Haiti with Rock 4 Haiti at Revolution Music Room. The night starts with North Little Rock alternative rock act Third Degree kicking off the music at 8:30 p.m. followed by Little Rock’s Siversa with their energetic alternative rock. Following Siversa’s set, an American Red Cross representative will speak along with Noisette. Buckets will be passed around the audience, taking donations with 100 percent of donations going to Haiti relief efforts. Little Rock alternative rockers Kingsdown will resume the night of music followed by a set from modern rockers WishTribe. The cover for the all-ages event is free for 21 and over, and $5 for 20 and under with all cover charges going to relief efforts.

Charismatic is one adjective to describe the stage presence of Richie Kirkpatrick, the frontman of Nashville, Tenn., rock ‘n’ roll outfit Ghostfinger. With his perfectly curled at the edges handlebar mustache, Kirkpatrick is the mad musical mastermind of the trio that tears through a number of musical genres — guitar-powered indie rock on “Let It Ride,” twang-fueled roots rock on “Anne Marie” and atmospheric, cosmic country on “Follow the Water” — in a given night. The trio visits Juanita’s with two local bands opening: the Americana punch of Drunken Angels, and the gritty, lo-fi garage rock tunes of Brother Andy and His Big Damn Mouth. The 18-and-up show kicks off at 10 p.m. with a $5 cover.

Music Hates You frontman Noah Ray likes to ensure his audiences have a good time, but he also likes to ensure his audiences are totally focused on the gritty, hardcore punk-flavored rock the band cranks out so don’t be surprised to see Ray break the fourth wall and wade (or dive) into the audience when Music Hates You plays Downtown Music. Also on the bill are Conway down-tempo metal act Crankbait, the grunge-flavored metal of Little Rock’s Iron Tongue and Little Rock death metal trio Jolene. The music starts at 8 p.m. with a $6 cover.

It’s been 10 years since energetic pop punk band New Found Glory first released their self-titled record, and the Coral Springs, Fla., five piece is hitting the road on the aptly titled The 10 Year Anniversary of the Self-Titled Record Tour, including a stop at The Village. The quintet plans to play their first album from start to finish during live shows, displaying their catchy choruses and slick guitar hooks. Joining the group on their celebration tour are emo rockers Saves the Day, synth-filled power pop act hellogoodbye and pop punk band Fireworks. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the music starting at 7:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $18 advance and $21 at the door.

The odometer on Conway hardcore rock act Fire to Reason’s touring schedule reads 70,000 miles, and the quartet, who create rapid-fire, brutal slices of music such as “Miles and Miles,” is preparing to hit the road again, kicking off their Lead or Silver Tour at Sound Stage in Conway. The monthlong jaunt will take them to locales such as Nashville, Tenn.; Cheyenne, Wyo.; and Las Vegas (and that’s just in 10 days time) before arriving back in Arkansas on March 6. Formed in October 2005, the pummeling, energetic act, who have a melodic side, have played every state in the lower 48. Joining the band for the tour kickoff are Vilonia hardcore metal act The Curse Follows and Conway progressive metal act Still Reign. The music roars to live at 8 p.m. with a $6 cover.

And here’s a shot of Ghostfinger, working through their tune “Love My Head”:

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