Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds sounds like a band that knows a thing or two about mixing in some gritty soul music with The Band-inspired rock ‘n’ roll and a taste of funk, and throwing it all down in an electrifying live show. And that’s just what the Brooklyn outfit — led by Sister Sparrow (lead singer Arleigh Kincheloe) — will do during an early-week visit to Stickyz. Bring dancing shoes. The opening act is The Wandas with their Boston-bred, Americana-fueled rock, and the music starting at 8:30 p.m. with a $5 cover for the 18-and-up show.
The last time The Dillinger Escape Plan came to town, it was as a support act for Massachusetts’ Killswitch Engage at the now-shuttered The Village in January 2008. It was a show presented by 100.3 The Edge so it makes perfect sense that the Little Rock new rock station presents The Dillinger Escape Plan’s return to Little Rock, this time at Downtown Music and as a headliner. Expect pummeling, smart progressive hardcore music. The doors open at 7 p.m. with an 8 p.m. start time to the music. Tickets are $17 in advance and $20 day of show. Central Arkansas post-hardcore band My Hands to War opens the show.
Here’s Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds with their “Boom Boom”:
Florida’s Lighthouse Music states their influences as Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Miles Davis, James Brown, Mozart and Philip Glass. So how does one fit all those influences into a musical genre? They don’t. Lighthouse Music warps all those influences and creates a new sonic tapestry, with all five members rotating instruments (brass, percussion, woodwinds, turntables, accordion, synths, bass, guitar and more) throughout a performance, creating classical or rock melodies that are somehow powered by a funk rhythm. Check it out at Stickyz. The music starts at 8:30 p.m. with the music of Loud Valley and their “symphonic mood swing” music. Cover is $5 for the all-ages show.
Attack Attack! is one of those bands that is hard defining. Call it metalcore with elements of electronica. And please avoid the crabcore label as it’s no genre at all; just mindless Internet message board chatter. The group — Caleb Shomo, Andrew Whiting, John Holgado and Andrew Wetzel — comes to Downtown Music with their electronica-powered metal. The music starts at 8 p.m. with tickets $13 in advance and $15 day of show. The doors open at 7 p.m. with a trio of local acts performing first: Through The Looking Glass, Words Like Waves and My Hands To War.
Downtown Music kicks off the week with a uppercut of metal music with Alabama metalcore — of the Southern variety — band Maylene & The Sons of Disaster headlining a show that includes support from local band central Arkansas post-hardcore band My Hands to War. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the music starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 day of show. Maylene and the Sons of Disaster’s new album IV is coming out Sept. 27.
What’s better than free music? How about free music while also helping a good cause? That’s what the Rev Room, 100.3 The Edge, and Silver Lining Concerts and Events is offering with a show offering the music of Echoes The Fall, Don’t Wake Aislin and Distal. The music starts at 8 p.m., and all music lovers have to do to gain free entry is show up with one or more canned goods. All the canned goods will benefit the Arkansas Food Bank. Phoenix’s Echoes The Fall is coming off a tour with Ten Years and will headline the show with their alternative rock. Don’t Wake Aislin is a Dallas-based Christian alternative rock outfit, and Distal is an Oklahoma alternative rock band.
Here’s Maylene & The Sons of Disaster with their “Step Up (I’m On It)”:
Get your Corona in hand as the beer presents a visit to Verizon Arena from Kenny Chesney, that country music superstar who enjoys easy-going music and beach-going themes. The doors open at 6 p.m. with the music at 7 p.m. Tickets are $26.50, $44.50 and $75 at the Verizon Arena Box Office, or at all Ticketmaster outlets, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000 or on line at www.ticketmaster.com for an additional cost. Chesney’s Goin’ Coastal Tour 2011 is sure to present such summer-sounding country hits as “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” and “Summertime,” and new tracks from Chesney’s 2010 release Hemingway’s Whiskey. The opening acts are Billy Currington, the country musician who is “Pretty Good at Drinkin’ Beer,” and Uncle Kracker, the rap rocker turned country star.
Want to know what Arkansas rock sounds like? Go see Kevin Kerby + Battery at White Water Tavern. Fronted by the aforementioned and former Mulehead member Kerby on guitar, the band delivers brass-knuckle tough rock ‘n’ roll with a soul of gold. The band’s 2009 Beautiful & Bright, released in high-quality vinyl by Last Chance Records and in other formats by Max Recordings, is a roaring, meat and potatoes rock ‘n’ roll ride with chunky riffs chugging along with lumbering rhythms, but the music also includes stunning organ work and gorgeous harmonies. The music starts at 10 p.m. Also on hand is another excellent Arkansas rock act, Chris Michaels and the Cranks, a local outfit known for their rock ‘n’ roll with a touch of soul.
For a different take on Arkansas rock — a heavier, howling take — Downtown Music has lined up a number of bands who like their rock with a heaping side of hardcore. The acts include Pearcy hardcore metal band Our Friends Fall Silent, central Arkansas post-hardcore band My Hands to War, Perryville experimental electronica band Medic Red, Little Rock Christian hardcore band Words Within, Mountain Home hardcore act Words Like Waves, Arkansas Christian screamo act The Front Line and Heber Springs screamo outfit On Hollowed Ground. The doors open at 6 p.m. with a $7 cover.
Following Kenny Chesney’s triumphant return to Verizon Arena, head back across the river to Rev Room where Arkansas country rockers Riverbilly kick off their 2011 tour with a Kenny Chesney after party. It’s an all-ages show with the doors opening at 7 p.m., and admission is $7 for 21 and up, and $10 for 20 and under. Also on the bill are Arkansas country music up-and-comers Matthew Huff and The Luke Williams Band, opening the show. Riverbilly’s spring tour includes headlining dates and opening slots with artists such as Charlie Daniels and Kris Allen.
Here’s Kenny Chesney with his “Somewhere With You”:
Kentucky alternative metal band Flaw formed in the mid-1990s and released a series of independent albums. But it wasn’t until their Universal Records release Through the Eyes that the band became nationally know, thanks to a string of mainstream rock hits such as “Payback.” While the band broke up earlier this century, the band has since regrouped and is back on the road, including a stop at Juanita’s. The doors open at 8 p.m. with the music at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 day of show with the night opening with Osceola rock band Finding Jimmy Hoffa and Flaw touring partners Saturate, a Baytown, Texas, hard rock band.
Hot Springs industrial rock band The Vail comes to Downtown Music with a couple of other local acts: central Arkansas hardcore band My Hands to War and North Little Rock punk cabaret band Flameing Daeth Fearies. After playing the part of KISS at a local Halloween party, the Fearies continue with their Get Your Red Wings Tour 2010 to celebrate the release of their newest EP, Lightish Red, a collection of tunes showcasing the band’s “comedic cabaret pop punk” sound. The music starts at 8 p.m. with a $6 cover. Also on the bill is West Memphis hardcore metal outfit An American Tragedy.
Perhaps the best trumpet player in Arkansas, Rodney Block, returns to one of his favorite haunts with a visit to The Afterthought. Block’s live act is a stone cold, cool fusion of jazz, hip-hop, R&B, funk and soul. The music starts at 9 p.m. with cover $10.
Days of the New hit it big with the stripped down, acoustic rock tune “Touch, Peel and Stand” in late ’97 and early ’98, and then three members split a year later, forming post-grunge act Tantric. While Days of the New has struggled, Tantric has gone on to release such mainstream rock hits as “Breakdown” and “Astounded” from their 2001 debut album and “Mind Control” from their 2009 album of the same name. The Kentucky rock band is continuing to tour, including a stop at The VillageJuanita’s presented by 100.3 The Edge. Tickets are $15 advance and $20 at the door. Joining Tantric are California rock band Adema and California/Oklahoma rock outfit Burn Halo. Doors open at 7 p.m. with the music at 8 p.m.
The Revolution Music Room opens its doors to present a night of local music. The bill includes Maumelle electronica metal group The Science of Sleep, who released an EP The World Awaits in December 2009; central Arkansas hardcore band My Hands to War; Believe the Hype!, a Little Rock act coming together from the metalcore and hardcore scenes; and experimental electronica band Medic Red from Perryville. The all-ages show begins at 9 p.m. with a $6 cover.
Between tours with artists such as Ryan Cabrera, Apache Stone and Under the Elephant, the five members of Tucker Jameson & The Hot Mugs also find time to study at Boston’s Berklee College of Music. And in between all that, the quintet records and tours solo, including a stop at Vino’s where the band will run through its pop-flavored rock sound. Cover is $7 with the music starting at 8 p.m.
This is the rather cryptic e-mail I received last week: “Rikki ‘D’ formally known as Taxes Rikki ‘D’ will be returning to the Little Rock circuit, but will be returning as ‘Little Rockin Rikki D.’ He will make his return at White Water Tavern on Thursday Aug. 19th, 9:00 pm. $4.00 at the door.” I also received a phone call from “Rikki D,” asking me to run the information. The show is also on White Water Tavern’s website so, check it out.
Here’s Tucker Jameson & The Hot Mugs with their “Summer Whine”:
The pop-melody injected rock ‘n’ roll sound of Los Angeles outfit Rooney returns to Juanita’s. The band, known for their love of Beatles pop, Tom Petty rock, Queen bombastic operatic rock and Beach Boys harmonies, released their third album Eureka on June 8. Joining the group will be The Young Veins, a California rock band consisting of Ryan Ross and Jon Walker, the former lead guitarist and bassist, respectively, of Panic! at the Disco; and Brooklyn dance rock duo Black Gold. The 18-and-up show starts at 9 p.m. with tickets $13 advance and $15 day of show.
Onestone Productions is joining forces with Big Brown and Big Wink Entertainment to present The Ultimate Old School Party at Revolution Music Room, an event being headlined by the hip-hop group Whodini. Known for their ground-breaking rap anthems “Friends,” ‘Freaks Come Out at Night” and “Five Minutes of Funk” from their 1984 album Escape, Whodini is old-school rap at its best. Joining the hip-hop act will be a who’s who of Little Rock talent, including Little Rock trumpeter extraordinaire Rodney Block and the Real Music Lovers featuring Jeron, Ultimate Groove featuring Tawanna Campbell and local hip hop star 607. The music starts at 8 p.m. with tickets $25 advance and $30 day of show, and VIP tickets $50 advance and $60 day of show.
Damn Bullets — Joe Sundell on vocals, guitar, banjo and harmonica, DJ Bennett on bass and vocals, and Graeme Higgins on drums — are still electrified and still boogieing, working up a fever with their collection of rock ‘n’ roll, delta blues, rockabilly, folk and bluegrass. In the process of writing new tunes for a new album (The band has already polished off the excellent “Fool’s Gold,” the sound of The Beach Boys meeting The Band.), the Damn Bullets play White Water Tavern. Sharing the bill is Austin, Texas, act Sad Daddy, a “new old-time country outfit” Sundell formed with Hot Springs singer/songwriter Brian Martin and bassist Melissa Carper of The Carper Family in Austin.
Speaking of musical graduations in Little Rock, Texas metalcore act Sky Eats Airplane graduates to headlining a show at The Village. Blending hardcore punk and heavy metal influences into an aggressive sonic annihilation filled with electronica flourishes, the Texas quintet produced an incendiary live show. Local support will be provided by Little Rock hardcore/pop punk outfit Safe to Shore, central Arkansas hardcore band My Hands to War, El Dorado hardcore outfit Fear the Aftermath and Maumelle electronica metal group The Science of Sleep, who released an EP The World Awaits in December 2009. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the music starting at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $12 advance and 415 at the door.
Downtown Music has new ownership in Samantha Allen (replacing founder Alan Wells), and the night is celebrated with Memphis melodic black metal band Epoch of Unlight, Arkansas doom and gloom black metal group Fallen Empire, Little Rock hard rock/metal act Iron Tongue, Little Rock hardcore metal band A DarkEnd Era (formerly known as A Darkened Era) and Fort Smith death metal quartet Macrocosm. There will be an open house of sorts from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with food and drink specials. The music will start around 8 p.m. with a $5 cover, and the music blaring till around 2 a.m.
The Arkansas Community Arts Cooperative celebrates its First Friday by unveiling its featured artist for July, Little Rock artist John Kushmaul. The opening of the monthlong show will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with refreshments including Thai green curry bowls and Vietnamese coffee with donations encouraged. Kushmaul’s first solo show since 2008 will include 30 oil paintings (all for sale) Kushmaul created through collaborations with photographers and other artists from Arkansas and from around the country. The show will be displayed until July 31. Kushmaul has works in the permanent collections of the Historic Arkansas Museum, the Governor’s Mansion and the Central Arkansas Library System.
Here’s Rooney with their video to the tune “Tell Me Soon”:
The last time David Kimbrough Jr. visited White Water Tavern it was with poet, former MC5 manager and White Panther leader John Sinclair. Kimbrough, the son of legendary North Mississippi hill country blues artist Junior Kimbrough, returns to White Water for a night of his gritty, droning hill country blues, along with Little Rock’s Mockingbird, a five-piece band of diverse talents who create hillbilly psychedelia, a dose of music influenced by Ozark folk music and aliens. Formerly of Little Rock now of Fayetteville musician Stacy Mackey is also on the bill with her adventurous music. Cover is $10 with the music at 9 p.m.
Pay at the Pump is not only a way to avoid the temptation of purchasing scratch-off lottery tickets, but also the name of the Oklahoma City musical outfit visiting Vino’s to unleash their Southern-flavored hardcore sound. Joining them are Maumelle electronica metal group The Science of Sleep, Little Rock metal outfit Take It to Heart and Conway hardcore act Hollywood Homicide. No word on cover or start time. Pay at the Pump will also play a Sunday night gig at Soundstage, being joined by Conway metal group Still Reign and Better Alone.
Texas outfit Oh, Sleeper shout, scream and growl over their metalcore rhythms to reach to the heavens and praise the Lord. The group’s Son Of The Morning sophomore release chronicles the battle between the devil and God from start to finish so expect the quartet to shred through their version of praise anthems during a visit to The Village. Joining the band for their The Blast & The Furious Tour are Arizona metalcore outfit Greeley Estates, Jacksonville and Rise Records artist pm today with their guitar-driven, alternative rock and New Jersey post-hardcore Christian act I Am Alpha and Omega, with local support from central Arkansas screamo band My Hands to War and the hardcore metal of Star City’s Kingdom Under Siege. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the music starting at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $10 advance and $13 at the door.
The Town Pump welcomes The Pope County Bootleggers to Riverdale with a $5 cover and music starting at 10 p.m. Splitting their time between Little Rock and Fayetteville, the Bootleggers are fresh off an appearance at South By Southwest, performing at The Hideout in Austin, Texas, with a couple of Austin acts, The Ripe and Spells. Expect The Bootleggers to collect several musical genres — blues, classic country, rock, bluegrass and rockabilly — and create their unique Americana music.
The Weekend Theater is holding its annual gala, and you along with Sordid Lives creator, writer and comedian Del Shores are invited. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at Little Rock’s Unitarian Universalist Church with a reception followed by Shores at 7:30 p.m. with his one-man show Del Shores: My Sordid Life, a performance dishing on how he created the play, film and TV series Sordid Lives along with Daddy’s Dyin’ (Who’s Got the Will?) and Southern Baptist Sissies. Also included in the night are a silent auction, hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer. Tickets to the event are a suggested minimum donation of $50.
The free music and fun for a cause with the inaugural Lime Aid Concert at Riverfest Amphitheater from noon until 5 p.m. Featuring minimalist alternative rockers Underclaire along with Ms. Tommie’s Dance Academy Dancers, Monastic’s and B.I.B Entertainment and other musical groups, the event kicks off May’s Mental Health Awareness month, promoting stress and mental health awareness, with an afternoon of showcasing Arkansas’ mental health organizations and service providers with a mental health fair. The event will also feature goodies, giveaways and a silent auction. Following the Lime Aid Concert, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Arkansas Chapter will hold a crawfish boil in the River Market Pavilions with live music from Spindown from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 per person or $70 per couple.
Here’s David Kimbrough Jr. tearing through his daddy’s classic “All Night Long” (Video starts at :30 mark with music at 2:15 mark.):
Influenced by Attack Attack! and I See Stars, post-hardcore act Everyone Dies in Utah returns to Juanita’s for a headlining gig. Joining the quintet will be central Arkansas screamo band My Hands to War (which appeared with the headliners at a January show). The all-ages show starts at 9 p.m. with a an $8 cover.
Micky & The Motorcars — headed by the brother team of Micky and Gary Braun, brothers of Reckless Kelly lead singer Willy Braun — continue to roll right along with their rock-flavored, Texas country music, with a headlining visit to Sticky Fingerz. Their fourth album, 2008′s Naive, featured guest songwriting and singing from Randy Rogers, Lloyd Maines and Mickey Raphael, and the hard touring behind the album spawned the two-disc, live album Live at Billy Bob’s Texas released in November 2009. The Culpepper Mountain Band, but expect the music at 9 p.m. with tickets for the 21-and-up show $8.
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Percussion Ensemble turns to Pink Floyd again for inspiration for a benefit concert at 7 p.m. in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall of the Fine Arts Building. Admission is $10, and tickets will be available at the door. The ensemble will include album cuts from Floyd’s legendary Wish You Were Here album, including “Shine on You Crazy Diamond (Part I-V).” During the 2008-09 season, the ensemble performed Floyd’s entire The Dark Side of the Moon album. Beyond Floyd, the ensemble will perform a new arrangement by member Virgle Lyons of Radiohead’s “Weird Fishes,” along with “Mozambique” by Chris Brooks, “Blue Rhythm” by Anthony Korf and Anthony J. Cirone’s “4/4 for Four.” The performance will raise money for the ensemble’s annual tour and also raise funds for a percussion ensemble camp for high school students in June.
Thursday through Saturday,North Little Rock’s Downtown Riverside RV Park becomes home to the Smoke on the Water USA Barbecue Championship for three nights. Admission is free Thursday night with gates opening at 5 p.m. with unlimited carnival rides for $15. On Friday, the gates open at 5 p.m. with a $5 admission, and entertainment from rock band Eden Crow, classic rock cover band Crisis and ’80s hard rock cover band The Blue Meanies. Gates open at noon Saturday, and admission is $5 with samples of world-championship barbecue, tethered hot air balloon rides and a 5 p.m. barbecue awards ceremony. Live entertainment is provided from noon until 11 p.m. on the Main Stage with Crisis, party music cover band Mr. Happy, country duo LoCash Cowboys and country musician crossed with rock and hip hop Colt Ford. Classic and current rock cover band PG-13 will provide entertainment on the Bud Stage.
Here’s Everyone Dies in Utah with their tune “1, 2, 3, 4 I Declare a Dance War”:
The culture of Brazil visits Revolution Music Room when a Cultura Brasileira 101 class is held at the River Market establishment for an evening of Brazilian Mardi Gras culture complete with batucada drumming, samba dancers, carnival costumes and Brazilian drinks. The evening begins at 8 p.m. (Doors open at 7 p.m.) with a Brazilian cultural workshop followed by free dance lessons and dancing contests at 8:30 p.m. At 9:30 p.m., the carnival kicks off with carnival band featuring Brazilian drumming and Samba dancing. Tickets are $10 advance and $15 at the door.
The four-piece, Austin, Texas, alternative rock band Language Room have earned comparisons to bands such as Jimmy Eat World and early Radiohead for their heartfelt, radio-friendly music. The quartet visits Juanita’s, with blues-influenced alternative rock The Breakthrough opening the show at 9 p.m. There’s a $6 for the 18-and-up show.
Two local bands — central Arkansas screamo band My Hands to War and Russellville alternative metal band The Last Shade — earned the right to open for Atreyu (Yes, it’s a The Neverending Story reference.) as the California metalcore band visits The Village so there’s a reason to be inside when the music starts at 8 p.m. Also on the bill, and touring with Atreyu, are Los Angeles punk rockers Drive A. The doors open at 7 p.m. with general admission tickets are $16 advance and $20 at the door for the concert presented by 100.3 The Edge.
Here’s Language Room in action with their tune “I Want to Scream”:
Giving you the music a day early: Former Deadboy & the Elephantmen lead singer, guitarist and songwriter Dax Riggs (he also fronted Louisiana sludge band Acid Bath before that) is closing out a May tour with a Stickyz visit. There’s a $10 cover at the door with the music starting [...]
Giving you the music a day early: Those opening piano chords in “Trouble Won’t Last Always” from Tennessee-based Glossary‘s October 2011 album Long Live All Of Us tells you quickly the 12-track record is going to be a rollicking good time filled with boogie R&B, horn-filled soul and pedal steel-laced [...]
Giving you the music a day early: These guys in Memphis-based Tiger High have quite the musical pedigree. Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jake Vest was in Jack Oblivian and The Trashed Romeos, and drummer Greg Roberson was in Reigning Sound, Arthur Lee’s Love, The Trashed Romeos, Jack Oblivian and Compulsive Gamblers. [...]
Giving you the music a day early: Have you heard Elizabeth Cook‘s “Heroin Addict Sister”? It’s one song you won’t ever hear on country radio. It’s — to say the least — a little too brutally honest, but it’s oh-so great: devastating lyrics delivered with Cook’s angelic vocals. “Sometimes [...]
Giving you the music day early: Psychedelic, electro, roots music? Well, that’s what the Portland, Ore., by way of Kentucky band Morning Teleportation offer up when they come to Stickyz. The band also likes calling their music “deep-space pickin’ ‘n’ grinnin’.” Check out the band’s 2011 debut Expanding Anyway for [...]
Giving you the music a day early: You want to hear great Americana/country/folk songs of the 21st century? You get down to the Rev Room and hear Chris Knight, a singer/songwriter who grew up in Slaughters, Ky., and sings about despair, bad luck, sorrow and the rural struggle to survive. [...]
Giving you the music a day early: Here’s what country musician Joe Nichols says about his new work It’s All Good, his sixth studio album released in November: “Yes, this is about commercial success, but if you want to make something that lasts, it’s about art, too. I want to [...]
Giving you the music a day early: Each second Thursday of the month, the William F. Laman Public Library kicks off the weekend with a free show titled Live at Laman. This week it’s Audrey Dean Kelley doing the Live at Laman thing, playing a free, 7 p.m. show in [...]
Giving you the music a day early: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is close to the deep dark woods of Canada, so it’s apt that an indie folk rock quartet from that city would name themselves The Deep Dark Woods. The group is currently on a run of shows far from home that [...]
Giving you the music a day early: It has been 11 years — give or take a few months — for Little Rock bluegrass outfit Runaway Planet. Let’s hope the band keeps on going, too, because the metro and the world needs their hard-driving bluegrass that also mixes in traditional [...]
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