Slow Loose Gravel

All ages concert at Elks Lodge, Jan 29

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 17:43:00 +0000

On the 29th of january there will be a concert at the elks lodge on main street in pocatello for local bands. cost is only $3, doors ar 6:30, doors at 7:00. there is a bar down stairs for 21+ but this is an all age show.

The Art of Repulsion

A Constant North

The Sakai Incident

Danny and the Skeleton Horse

Through Eyes Once Blind

Eric John Kaiser plays at FlipSide, Jan 25

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 17:34:00 +0000

Eric John Kaiser will be appearing in Pocatello, Jan 25 at the Flipside Lounge.

Eric John Kaiser, billed as "Portland's French Troubadour," delivers a modern pop-rock sound fusing rock, hip-hop and reggae wrapped in sophisticated French lyrics. (Think Manu Chao meets the 1969 Rolling Stones). He has been a fixture of the Portland music scene for several years now, since arriving from his native Paris, France, with more than 350 performances to his credit. He hosts the weekly "PDX Songwriter Showcase" at the Thirsty Lion each Tuesday night, and has performed in most of Portland's biggest venues, including the Wonder Ballroom where he opened for Stereophonics.

Eric tours also tours extensively in the US and Europe. This spring he headed through Canada and down to New Orleans (performing at the Smithsonian in DC), and from Portland to San Diego this June (performing at the prestigious deYoung Museum in SF).

He has recorded three full-length CDs.

He does a show set called "Pardon My French" - classic American rock songs covered in French. They're huge crowd-pleasers, with a great tavern/bar vibe - it gets people up, dancing & singing every time and - HONESTLY - while touring in June, Eric and the band got a $500 (!!!) tip from a guy in LA who was thrilled to hear "Take Me Home, Country Road"!

www.ericjohnkaiser.com
www.myspace.com/ericjohnkaiser

"Padam Padam" (by Edith Piaf) - Full Stage Band - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZUTHzt8GrY
"Princess & the Frog (by EJK) - Full Stage Band - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nhIpZH5vwo
"French Troubadour" (by EJK) - Full Stage Band - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huQ_z2bw8-0
"Pardon" (by EJK) - Solo - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgqvXcnan_c

“Like über-producer/recording artiste Daniel Lanois, he's adept at seamlessly blending French and English lyrics with tasteful, sun-dappled sonics.”
-- Barbara Mitchell, The Portland Oregonian

“Seeing as we've managed to snag these continental talents, let's enjoy 'em!”
-- Cary Clarke, The Portland Mercury

“Eric John Kaiser's 2009 CD release 'French Troubadour' contains a full spectrum of great old style pop/rock songs, expertly written and delivered with engaging storytelling.”
-- Zaph Mann, OPB Music

"...you'd best get used to hearing French in Portland: Along with garage-pop cover band Les Étrangers, Kaiser is leading a bit of a Francophone resurgence in town, and it's one you don't need a beret to dig."
-- Michael Mannheimer, Willamette Week

News from Goodnight Sunrise

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:11:00 +0000

goodnight sunrise

We've released a new acoustic EP! Goodnight Sunrise "Acoustic Sessions" is now available on iTunes!

Check it out ;)

Also, let us know what you think of an acoustic performance of "Queso, I Have an Idea"

Check out more videos HERE
-goodnight sunrise

"Imagine," John Lennon documentary at the Vinyl Perk

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:35:00 +0000

Imagine all the people living life in peace.

The documentary Imagine, on the brilliant but all-too-brief life of John Lennon, airs Thursday (Jan 13) at 7 PM at Vinyl Perk. The film was produced by filmmaker Andrew Solt, who also did documentaries on Marilyn, Elvis and the Muppets, and features rare footage of Lennon in concert and at home. Free.

VP now serves Tripled-Certified (organic, shade-grown, fair trade) coffee from Café Ibis roaster in Logan UT. We’re the only place in Bannock County offering this bodacious bean. Come try a free sample.

Friday, Jan 14 – Rock N Roll Hall of Fame Inductees Shindig. 7-9 PM. Celebrate the music of brand-new Hall inductees Alice Cooper, Leon Russell, Darlene Love, Neil Diamond and Tom Waits.

Thur, Jan 20 – Vinyl Appreciation Society. This month’s theme: The British Invasion. Dust off your Dave Clark 5 and Herman’s Hermits records and come on down! 7 PM. Free

Best sweet tea this side of Stem.

Vinyl Perk
where the music meets the bean

150 S. Main Street
Pocatello Idaho
208-478-7375

Crystal Monee Hall in concert, Idaho Falls, 11/20

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:30:00 +0000

“Soul Alternative” Singer Crystal Monee Hall

To perform at the Colonial Theater

"Hall is a discrete, scrupulous vocalist whose unhurried phrasing belies the intensity of her music. Don't let the smooth look fool you — she's fierce."- East Bay Express

"The title track (River Train) sounds like an old spiritual...Hall sings in a style that recalls protest singers of the Sixties and Seventies: liquid, chillingly pure, full of vibrato without being ostentatious. -Rachel Swan, Music Critic

Idaho Falls, ID- Only one year out of RENT, Crystal Monee Hall has broken onto the scene in 2010 with her debut album "River Train", and performances at major festivals such as the Montreal Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, and the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl. On Saturday November 20th, Crystal Monee Hall will be performing a very special show at the Colonial Theater in historic downtown Idaho Falls . Tickets are $29 and available by calling 208-522-0471.

Crystal Monee Hall is one of the most extraordinary vocal talents to emerge in recent years. Her voice, an intoxicating synthesis of effortless clarity and raw, soul-bearing grit, is an instrument capable of tremendous power and sensitivity. Matched with a down-home songwriting style marked by poetic lyrics and simple, elegant arrangements, Crystal ’s music smoothly combines the sounds of folk, gospel, jazz and blues. Before she began her solo career, Crystal was a featured vocalist with the nationally touring and Broadway productions of the Tony Award winning musical RENT.

Crystal Monee Hall's debut album, “River Train”, is full of strikingly candid songs of love, heartbreak, and sepia-toned memories of her southern roots. She is backed by an all-star ensemble of some of the Bay Area’s finest musicians including drummer Scott Amendola and members of the Jazz Mafia. Featuring beautifully stripped-down production and soulful instrumental accompaniment, River Train showcases Crystal ’s remarkable vocal talent and songs that grow more and more captivating with each repeated listen. Rachel Swan of the East Bay Express says that the title track (River Train) “sounds like an old spiritual”, and that “Hall sings in a style that recalls protest singers of the Sixties and Seventies: liquid, chillingly pure, full of vibrato without being ostentatious.” Crystal was also recently part of a smash hit YouTube spoof on Lady Gaga's hit song, "Telephone", where she played Beyonce in "Telephone: The Office Version." As of October 15, 2010, the video has over 1.25 million views. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsU9tz3d3OY

Sponsored by: CH2M-WG Idaho (CWI), Miles Willard Technologies, Rex & Tiffany Redden, Doug Whatmore & Kimmon Richards, KISU- FM Radio

www.idahofallsarts.org

Column for November 10, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 17:00:00 +0000

There are all kinds of music in the southeast Idaho live music scene; jazz, folk, rock and Elvis are all in town this week. Here’s a peek at where to be when.

On Wednesday the 10th, the Idaho State University Jazz Big Band is in concert, upstairs in the loft of Portneuf Valley Brewing, S. 1st. Avenue in Pocatello’s warehouse district. The concert, from 7 to 9:00 p.m., is free and open to the public of all ages; food and beverage service will be available.

On Thursday the 11th, the Riverside Restaurant and Lounge, located on E. Portnuef Avenue in Lava Hot Springs, is pleased to welcome Kory Quinn, performing dinner music from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. Call (208) 776-5504 for more information.

Quinn, a Chicago native now based from Oregon, plays folk and folk rock. The Vancouver Voice recently wrote, “Kory Quinn successfully caries a sound from a rocking chair on a worn wooden porch, to the bustling streets of Portland, which is a truly daunting transition.” Find out more at www.myspace.com/koryquinn.

Marigolds Wine, on Flandro Drive in Pocatello, has Recycled Rocks scheduled to perform on Friday and Saturday starting at 7:00 p.m. The band, based from Lava Hot Springs, plays vintage rock, blues, jazz and a “little bit country.” Marigolds is open to those 21 and over; music entertainment is free.

All the way from Hatcher Pass, Alaska, Matt Hopper and the Roman Candles are set to play at Portneuf Valley Brewing on Friday the 12th starting at 8:30 p.m. Entertainment at the pub is free and open to all ages.

Matt Hopper and The Roman Candles' first full length album, “Bang! Bang! Bang!” released in 2003, scored on CMJ charts when Hooper was a 24-year old college student in Anchorage, Alaska. The most recent release, “Jersey Finger,” was released on Hatcher Pass Records in June of this year. Hopper, a prolific singer-songwriter with a 300+ catalog of original material, has collaborated with musicians from Alaska to Nashville and most points in between, including several regionally-known artists in the Boise area. Find out more at www.matthopper.com.

On Saturday at the pub, Father Bob and Dr. Bob Fisher, a singer / songwriter duo, play an acoustic set starting at 8:30 p.m. And in the loft on Saturday night, Bender provides music entertainment for Mug Club members. Call (208) 232-1644 for more information.

Saturday night is a busy live music night in Pocatello. Starting at 6:30 p.m., Pokapalooza Warped 2010, a local battle of the bands hosted by the Idaho State University Marketing Club, gets under way at the Pond Student Union Ballroom on ISU’s Pocatello campus. Madison Lights is scheduled to headline the event. Tickets are $15 at the door, open to all ages.

Also at Idaho State University, Blue Suede Shoes, an Elvis experience, is scheduled at the Jensen Grand Concert Hall, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at www.isu.edu/tickets or by calling (208) 282-3267.

Scot Bruce and Mike Albert are a tribute team to the "King of Rock & Roll." Bruce performs as Elvis, the early years, followed by Albert who is superb as Elvis in his Vegas years. Find out more at www.a-c-t-s-inc.com.

And the First National Bar, W. Center Street in Pocatello, is hosting a benefit concert on Saturday the 13th starting at 6:00 p.m. Shawn & The Marauders, Catagory 3, State of Mind and Through Eyes Once Blind are set to provide music entertainment through closing. The event is open to those 21 and over.

"Jammin' for Tawnie" will raise funds for Tawnie Wigington, injured in a bizarre accident in July 2010. On her way home from a camping trip at Twin Lakes, Wigington was impaled by the fork of a front-end loader. There will be a potluck dinner, raffles and door prizes from a variety of local merchants, including Black Swan Inn, O'Dells Furniture, Carmike Theaters, Perkins, Big-O-Tires and El Herradero. A $5 donation is requested at the door.

Shawn & The Marauders are an up-and-coming, Pocatello-based rock, folk and funk group, lead by guitarist, singer and songwriter Shawn Barnby. Catagory 3 is a new, Pocatello-based band, with Dan Ditto on drums, Steve Graham on bass, Brian Miera on guitar and fronted by vocalist Brandy Anderson. Expect covers from ZZ Top to Janis Joplin, Shinedown to Gretchen Wilson.

State of Mind plays standard covers from the 70's to the 80's & 90's, and Through Eyes Once Blind is a local metal band.

And to wind up a busy live music weekend, Pineapple Crackers, a Hawaiian, reggae and rock group will play at the FlipSide Lounge, N. Main Street in Pocatello. Music starts at 7:00 p.m., open to those 21 and over.

Linda Alexander
a.k.a. Lana Banana for Idaho Live Music
slowloosegravel@yahoo.com
slowloosegravel.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/showmetheband

From John Shipe, New CD! PitBull Ringtone

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 01:21:00 +0000

JOHN SHIPE

Folk / Freeform Americana / Indie Pop

There is a lot going on now that I've relocated to Hollywood. My local ranking has dropped from #1 to #21 now that I'm a smaller fish in a bigger pond. (But #21 ain't bad for not having lived here until now.)

The new CD is swell, both lookwise and soundwise. We're proud, and moving on to a massive promo stretch with Michigan-based Green Light Go. They have a nice media page up for me: http://www.greenlightgopublicity.com/clients/?client=johnshipe

We have a National release date set for February 1, 2011. But friends and fans from my home state of Oregon won't have to wait that long: special pre-release starts in December. (Check out the show schedule.)

Pit Bull Blues fans! By popular demand, I've created a ringtone for y'all. You should be able to get it now: http://www.reverbnation.com/store/store/artist_326668?item_type=ringtones

I've been hanging out with Ebbage, getting used to city life, and I'm on the prowl for SoCal gigs, house concerts, and songwriting jobs.

Thanks for the support, I need it now more than ever. I have many to thank, starting with Ebbage, Amy, and the core band of Sean Peterson and Kevin Powell. I will duly thank the rest in blogs, further e-mails, and effective e-shout-outs on all profiles. (They deserve support, too.)

THE JOHN SHIPE STORE

Best of the First Decade 1998-2008
Album
$9.99
view this item »

Better Off Without You
Single
$0.99
view this item »

RETAILERS

iTunes Amazon Mp3 Rhapsody Napster CD Baby CD World

UPCOMING SHOWS
Back Alley Bar and Grill	Fullerton, CA	Mon Nov 15 10	11:00 PM
Viento y Agua	Long Beach, CA	Thu Nov 18 10	07:30 PM
Marine Room Tavern	Laguna Beach, CA	Tue Nov 23 10	08:00 PM
> See More / Details

ReverbNation MySpace Facebook Artist Website Other

via

Bret Michaels, A Rockin' Christmas 12/7/10

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:54:00 +0000

BRET MICHAELS
A ROCKIN’ CHRISTMAS
W/ GUEST
THE STUDENTS FROM IDAHO FALL’S OWN
MOCKLI’S MUSIC SCHOOL

CIVIC ADITORIUM, IDAHO FALLS, ID, DECEMBER 7, 2010:

This is a rare Christmas show involving the student youth musicians from Idaho Falls, ID. There will be a toy drive to help the community and collect donations for those in need. Come support your local kids and watch them and Bret make history at this very special event. AND… if you’re at the show, don’t be surprised if you find yourself on an upcoming episode of “Life as I know it” on VH1.

Tickets Go on Sale the morning of November 5th at:
CD WORLD / BUDGET TAPES & RECORDS
WWW.78PRODUCTIONS.NET

Column for November 3, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 16:00:00 +0000

It’s all indie from rock to blues this week in Pocatello’s local live music scene, with local and national independent bands, duos and solo musicians performing in the area.

On Thursday the 4th, WahnderLust makes an appearance at the Flipside Lounge, located on S. Main Street in downtown Pocatello, view on map. Music starts at 9:00 p.m., open to those 21 and over.

WahnderLust, based from Los Angeles, CA, is a rock and funk duo featuring Kim Manning and Lantz Lazwell on vocals, keyboards and guitars. Expect a spirited performance, with bouncy, infectious , funky rhythms, groovy guitar riffs and A+ vocals.

Manning was a featured vocalist for George Clinton and the P-Funk Allstars, has appeared on The Grammy Awards, The David Letterman Show, Jay Leno, and VH1’s Flavor of Love, and has recorded with Snoop Dogg, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and recently with Sly Stone.

Lazwell has been compared to Jimi Hendrix, Jack Johnson and Stevie Wonder, taking home the L.A. Music Award for Best Rock Vocalist in 2007. WahnderLust has played at the House of Blues, San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall and SXSW. Find out more at www.myspace.com/wahnderlust.

On Friday the 5th, a new regionally-based band, Volcano, plays at Cynthia’s boutique at the Whitmore Hotel in downtown Pocatello, starting at 5:00 p.m. for First Friday Art Walk.

Also on Friday night, Soul Full of Blues, fronted by Ramona Awes on lead vocals and backed by Robert Miron, Dan Lauer, Steve Howard and Kerry Pepper, plays at Porntneuf Valley Brewing on S. 1st Avenue in Pocatello, view on map, starting at 8:30 p.m. Music entertainment is free and open to all ages at the pub. Visit the band online at www.myspace.com/soulfullofblues.

And the locally-based rock cover band, Kaught Lookin’, who had a featured spot at the 10th Annual POW-MIA Awareness Rally, plays classic and current rock favorites at Duffy’s Bar on N. Main Street in Pocatello, view on map, on Friday night. Music starts at 9:00 p.m., no cover, and open to those 21 and over. Expect to hear favorites from Lynrd Skynrd, Alice in Chains, Buckcherry and more. Visit www.myspace.com/kaughtlookin.

On Saturday the 6th, 18 Switchbacks, a bluegrass, rock and Americana band from Boulder, Colorado plays at Portneuf Valley Brewing starting at 8:30 p.m., no cover and open to all ages.

18 Switchbacks blends influences from folk, rock, pop, jam, world music, jazz, and even country. Expect rich vocal harmonies, a dancey rhythm section, and a mélange of music styles to keep the set interesting and entertaining. Find out more at www.myspace.com/18switchbacks.

Also on Saturday, the First National Bar, W. Center Street in Pocatello, view on map, is pleased to welcome Aloud to their stage starting at 9:00 p.m. Aloud, from Boston, MA, is the young, dynamic indie-rock duo of Henry Beguiristain and Jen de la Osa. They are most known for their strong vocal harmonies.

Aloud is currently on tour in support of their most recent CD, “Exile,” released earlier this month on Lemon Merchant records. "Exile" is Aloud’s third full-length CD, fan-funded, and the debut album from talented producer engineer Daniel Nicholas Daskivich.

Aloud is excited to make their Pocatello debut as the fourteenth of over fifty performances on the Exile Tour. The duo has given up virtually all of their material possessions to make this tour happen. De la Osa told the Boston Phoenix, “instead of buying a house, we're touring cross-country.”

Expect to hear beautiful acoustic tones and vocals from the songs on "Exile," like the mid-tempo single “Old Soldier,” which starts with a whisper and grows into a brilliant, psychedelic and driven song, or the slightly sad and macabre “To Die At Sea.” Find out more at www.allthingsaloud.com.

Metal fans are eager for the upcoming CD release from Denots, showcased in a day-long Metal Extravaganza open to all ages at the Shilo Inn in Idaho Falls, Saturday the 6th, beginning at 3:00 p.m. Riksha, Ixxion, Rezination, Crimson and Shades of Interpretation are also on the billing. Denot’s fourth full-length CD, "Illusions of a Fictional Reality," went on sale on the 18th of October. Find out more at www.myspace.com/denots.

One last note: the ISU Marketing Club is searching for more bands to play this Fall’s Pokapalooza, set for November 13, 2010. The contest entry fee is $50, with $25 returned after a 20 minute set. Madison Lights is scheduled to appear as a guest band and will have a jam session with the winner. The winner will also get studio and air time on K-bear 101 and open for the Springfest concert at ISU. Interested bands should email Tyson Gunter at gunttyso@isu.edu for more information.

Linda Alexander

a.k.a. Lana Banana for Idaho Live Music
slowloosegravel@yahoo.com
slowloosegravel.blogspot.com

www.myspace.com/showmetheband

Pokapalooza looking for more bands

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:08:00 +0000

Hello my name is Tyson Gunter and I am with the ISU Marketing Club. We hold Pokapalooza every year at the ISU Ballroom on Nov. 13th at 7.

We are currently looking for more bands to play. I have found your page and see that you are a big music fan. could you spread the word for us? And if you wanna come watch that would be awesome too. here is the info. oh and if you would like to put this event on your page too that would be great.

I am with the ISU marketing club and we are looking for a few more bands to play at Pokapalooza on Nov. 13 at 7pm in the ISU ballroom entry is $50 but you get $25 back after you play 20 minute sets with 5min to set up and 5 mins to take down, so a total of 30 mins.

Madison lights will be a guest band and will have a jam session with the winner.
the winner will also get in studio and air time on K-bear 101. I believe your song will play for a week. Also the winner will open for the springfest concert at ISU which in the past has been a huge name band.

Please message me back or email me at gunttyso@isu.edu for more info and questions. I will get you the entry form as well. please spread the word too. we need a couple more bands. Thanks

Tyson Gunter

Aloud, in concert at The Nash, 11/6/10

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:27:00 +0000

Who: Aloud, indie-rock group
What: in concert (21+)
Where: First National Bar, W. Center St., Pocatello ID - view on map
When: Saturday, November 6, 2010, Doors @ 9:00pm

Aloud is known for their strong vocal harmonies, two lead singers (newly weds Henry Beguiristain and Jen de la Osa), and strong songwriting. They released their new CD, "Exile," on 10/12/10 on Lemon Merchant Records, and are on a 50+ date national tour.

They will be performing in Pocatello at First National Bar on Saturday, November 6th, a Pocatello debut.

Visit www.allthingsALOUD.com or their Myspace at www.myspace.com/aloud.

Aloud: Mick Murray, In Your Face Photo

Young, dynamic indie-rock group Aloud is proud to present their newest album, "Exile," to be performed live on the National Exile Tour, arriving in Pocatello on Saturday, November 6, 2010, doors at 9:00, Aloud performs at 11:30 at First National Bar.

"Exile" is Aloud’s third full-length CD, and is the debut album from talented producer engineer Daniel Nicholas Daskivich. The album was fan-funded via Kickstarter.com, and will be released nationally in 10/12/10 on Lemon Merchant Records.

Aloud is excited to make their Pocatello debut as the fourteenth stop on the Exile Tour, encompassing the entire US in over 50 performances this fall. Aloud is based in Boston, MA, and has given up virtually all of their material possessions to make this tour happen. “Imagine getting married, selling off all your random material crap, and heading out on tour? Aloud are living the dream. ‘Instead of buying a house, we're touring cross-country,’ says de la Osa, laughing.” (Boston Phoenix)

See the new video for "Old Soldier":

www.youtube.com/user/allthingsaloud

"Exile" represents a sea change for Aloud. Bandleaders Henry Beguiristain and Jen de la Osa spent over a year in the studio creating the album, following the departure of their original rhythm section. The result is a new sound. Screaming guitars and crashing cymbals, previously two of Aloud’s greatest assets, are nowhere to be heard on "Exile." They’ve been replaced by acoustic and strange sounding guitars, string instruments, horns, pared down drum kit, finger snaps, handclaps and sound effects. Many of the tempos are much slower, revealing a previously unheard of intimacy and vulnerability, especially in the vocals. "Exile" is a stunning and strange collection of songs, featuring often-unfulfilled, complex characters coming to terms with bleak circumstances, while searching for hope and relief in unlikely places. Playground Boston says, “Front-to-back, this new album is downright beautiful!”

The mid-tempo single ‘Old Soldier’ starts with a whisper and grows into a brilliant, psychedelic explosion of sound and instrumentation, including heavily effected electric guitars, marching drums, euphonium, trumpets, strings, mandolin, and Henry and Jen’s opulent vocal harmonies. Boston Band Crush says, “’Old Soldier’ is a mature piece… deliciously advanced, as if Aloud was imbued with some next-level skills of composition and arrangement, beyond the ken of your average, everyday songwriter.”

In the love-turned-death ballad, ‘To Die At Sea’, Jen sings longingly over an acoustic guitar and lush string quartet. The song is so beautiful and alluring that the listener easily ignores the deeper macabre message, as the siren entices her lover to dive with her to “the bottom of the sea.”

Title track, "Exile In The Night," is dominated by a Latin-tinged rhythm, ghostly soundscapes and a haunting melody. The Deli describes the song as, “one of the most effective songs the band has written to date… the perfect combination - the chorus melody is a beautiful, lilting duet between Jen de la Osa and a high register piano over a groovy rhythm propelled by a guiro.” The song was heavily influenced by the music of Feist and the memoirs of Reinaldo Arenas (the celebrated, exiled Cuban poet). Jen explains the song’s origin, “There's a history of exile in our families, so it always been something that was always around. I wanted to write about that feeling of seeing some other place in the city you now find yourself in, or seeing ghosts and old faces in those of strangers.”

Overall, "Exile" is Aloud’s most sophisticated and experimental album to date, showcasing their new-found love of orchestration, Sgt. Pepper-like production, and rich, lyrical imagery.

Press:
"’Exile,’ is arguably their most expansive, sophisticated, and stylistically diverse work to date." -The Boston Globe

"Aloud has delivered a stunning, multifaceted opus... Exile exudes confidence, and great things are still to come." –The Weekly Dig

"...one of the best straight-up rock shows you can see/hear... Be prepared to be blown away." –Cheap Thrills

ALOUD UPCOMING CONCERT DATES:
11/2/10 – Front Range Community College, Westminster, CO
11/2/10 – Astroland, Boulder, CO
11/3/10 – Moe’s, Englewood, CO
11/5/10 – The Woodshed, Salt Lake City, UT
11/6/10 – First National Bar, Pocatello, ID
11/8/10 – Reef, Boise, ID
11/10/10 - Wenatchee Valley College, Wenatchee, WA
11/11/10 – Mars Bar, Seattle, WA
11/12/10 – Backspace, Portland, OR
11/13/10 – Diablo’s, Eugene, OR
11/16/10 – The Mint, Los Angeles, CA
11/17/10 – Blue Café, Huntington Beach, CA
11/18/10 – San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
11/20/10 – The Bunkhouse, Las Vegas, NV
11/22/10 – The Hut, Tucson, AZ
11/28/10 – The 806, Amarillo, TX
12/1/10 – Hole in the Wall, Austin, TX
12/2/10 – Stafford on Main Street, Bryan, TX

More dates are being added daily. Visit www.allthingsALOUD.com for the latest concert dates.

"Jammin' for Tawnie" at The Nash, 11/13/10

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 17:59:00 +0000

Tawnie Wigington was injured in a bizarre accident on July 11 2010. On her way home from a camping trip at Twin Lakes, when she was impaled by the fork of a front-end loader. The road to recovery is going to be a long journey involving many hours of therapy. Thanks to the support of my family and friends it will be an easier journey to make.

Friends & loved ones will be having a benefit to support Tawnie during her recovery process.

"Jammin' for Tawnie"

FIRST NATIONAL BAR - view on map

232 W. CENTER

SAT. NOV 13TH - 6 P.M.

$5 DONATION @ DOOR

LIVE MUSIC featuring : Shawn & The Marauders, Catagory 3, State of Mind, Through Eyes Once Blind

THERE WILL BE RAFFLES, & DOOR PRIZES FROM A VARIETY OF LOCAL MERCHANTS, & A POTLUCK DINNER

Prizes from these local merchants will be raffled: Sams Gun, Maple St. Sit & Sleep, Black Swan Inn, Clip-its, O'Dells Furniture, Carmike Theaters, Perkins, Big-O-Tires, Maurices, The Quilt Shop, El Herradero

COME SUPPORT A GREAT CAUSE!!

Click here for my interview with Shawn & The Marauders.... ( great guys, fun band!)

CATAGORY 3 is a new, Pocatello-based band, with Dan Ditto (drums), Steve Graham (bass), Brian Miera (guitar), Brandy Anderson (vocals).

Miera wrote,
We play a variety of different cover material, where you can expect anything from ZZ Top, to Janis Joplin, Alanis Morissete, Melissa Etheridge, Miranda Lambert, Journey, to newer stuff like Shinedown & Gretchen Wilson. We have a real diverse range of material & we definitely will play the crowd. Brandy is a really great singer, who I am really excited to get out & do some regional gigs with. She has been singing for most her life & has done well in some regional singing contests. We all have a great chemistry & lots of experience that really shows in our performances.

They will soon be unveiling some band websites to promote their up & coming shows.

State Of Mind - is Richard Green, former guitarist for Andeconda (guitars, vocals), Robb Gregg (guitar), Joe Acosta (bass), Mark Harveston (drums). They play the standard covers from the 70's to the 80's & 90's, with some country for flavor!

Through Eyes Once Blind - is a local metal band out of Pocatello, formed in early 2010. Members are Talon McConnel, Nick "Scar" Scharbrough and Kyle Kennedy. Keller Wigington began a band to portray their simillar interests in music and messages to be conveyed through that music, writing, "we're definately not going anywhere for a while now that we have a legit lineup."

Through Eyes Once Blind has shows booked and will be playing in the Pocatello area. For any more information, visit the band's myspace page at www.myspace.com/througheyesonceblind.

Postponed column this week

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 22:01:00 +0000

My column in the Idaho State Journal, Linda Alexander's Band Scan, will be in Thursday's paper, 10/28/10 this week, instead of Wednesday.

Sorry about the delay

--L

Column for October 20, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:24:00 +0000

We have a big week in store for the southeast Idaho live music scene, with concerts at large and small venues throughout the weekend.

Tomorrow the 21st, Destino is in concert at the Blackfoot Performing Arts center. Concert starts at 7:00 p.m., and tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students to age 18, available at Tweedy's Music or online at www.blackfootpac.com. For more information, call (208)317-5508.

Although Destino formed only a few years ago, their musical fusion blend of opera and pop music, coined as “popera,” has been received with praise from audiences and critics alike. A few of their peak performances have been at the 2008 Miss America Pageant, the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

The Canadian-based group includes vocalists Terance Reddick and Joey Niceforo, pianist Roy Tan and violinist Rosemary Siemens, who draw on influences from gospel, soul, R&B, jazz and musical theater. Their debut CD, “Forte,” released in 2008 included the single "Show Me the Way Back to Your Heart," composed by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Diane Warren. For more, visit www.destino3.com.

Ok, popera not your style? The FlipSide Lounge has a psychobilly / punk show that may be of interest. On Thursday the 21st, Trigger Itch and Demoni, both based from Boise, will crank it up starting at 8:00 p.m. The FlipSide is open to those 21 and over.

Demoni calls themselves “surfified punkabilly,” a collaboration of many different music styles. Find out more at www.myspace.com/demonipsycho. Trigger Itch plays alternative rock and punk. Find them online at www.myspace.com/triggeritch.

And on both Thursday and Friday, the 21st and 22nd, Sweet Rain plays at the Riverside Hot Springs Restaurant & Lounge in Lava. Music entertainment is free to the public of all ages and starts at 5:30 p.m. The Riverside is located at 255 E. Portneuf Ave., just off Main Street in Lava. Call (208)776-5504 for more information.

Sweet Rain is a guitar and piano duo of husband and wife, Vince and Jena, based from Colorado. Expect instrumental, easy listening music that ranges from nostalgic standards to light classical. “Of course I’ve done piano bar and corporate party type gigs as a single,” Jena writes from their website, “but playing in a duo setting with Vince has let me blend my classical training with his years of jazz, country and pop experience.”

Listen for their single, “Miracle of You,” which was used for Dateline NBC’s piece “A Long Way Home.” Read more at www.sweetrainmusic.com.

Two concert cancellations of note: folk singer Judy Collins’ concert at the Colonial Theater in Idaho Falls, which was scheduled for Friday the 22nd by an independent promoter, was cancelled last week. And Blood On the Dance Floor, the electronica / powerpop band based from Florida, has moved their Friday concert from The Icon on Main Street in Pocatello to The Basement in Ogden, UT, according to their website.

On a more positive note, Idaho’s Douglas Cameron is scheduled to play at Marigolds Wine on Flandro Drive in Pocatello this weekend, Friday and Saturday nights beginning at 7:00 p.m. Music entertainment is free; Marigolds is open to those 21 and over.

Douglas Cameron released his first CD, “The Consequence of My Choices,” in 2004. His most recent CD, “Songs of September,” was released in 2009. Cameron plays folk, rock and pop with a twinge of country. Visit www.douglascameron.net.

At Portneuf Valley Brewing this weekend, located on S. 1st Ave. in Pocatello, the Kevin Young Jazz Quartet takes the stage on Friday the 22nd beginning at 8:30 p.m. Music entertainment is free and open to all ages.

Kevin Young has been playing saxophone for 35 years. In 2001, Young released his first CD of jazz standards, "Sax for the Soul," and a few years later released a collection of holiday songs. Expect to get up and dance; this jazz quartet has been known to swing. For more, visit www.jazzsaxrecords.com.

And on Saturday the 23rd, the locally-based roots rock and reggae band, Bender, plays at the pub starting at 8:30 p.m.

Bender has been a long-time area favorite band, appearing at many outdoor local events as well as on regular rotation at Portneuf Valley Brewing. Formed in 2008, Bender plays mostly original music, a few covers now and then, on guitars, lap steel, harmonica, banjo and percussion. If you haven’t caught one of their shows, Saturday night will be a good time to do it. They’re groovy, man.

Find Bender online at www.myspace.com/benderpocatello or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Bender.

Linda Alexander
a.k.a. Lana Banana for Idaho Live Music
slowloosegravel@yahoo.com
slowloosegravel.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/showmetheband

Column for October 13, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:58:00 +0000

Marigolds Wine, located on Flandro Drive near Golds Gym, is fast becoming not only a center for wine and gourmet delicacies, but also for live music. On Thursdays, Marigolds’ is hosting an open mic night, from 5 to 8:00 p.m. Marigolds is open to those 21 and over. Visit www.marigoldswine.com for more information.

On Friday and Saturday, the 15th and 16th, Jory Dax performs funk-based blues at Marigolds starting at 7:00 p.m. Music entertainment is free. Jeff Young, guitar and vocals, and long-time friend Henry Evans, percussion, started The Jory Dax Band several years ago. The Jory Dax Band has been an on-again-off-again favorite band in the area, with fits and spurts of success and plenty of member changes. But every time they’ve played, the audience response has been encouraging and supportive.

Young, based in Pocatello, is an inarguably a talented guitar player; perhaps not in virtuoso technique, but certainly in passion and lightning-quick fretwork. I’ve sat in the audience surrounded by other guitar players and musicians who, in a soft whisper for my ears only, have compared Young’s potential to Robin Trower and Stevie Ray Vaughn. If you’ve missed Jory Dax in the past, now’s a good time to get in on the groove.

At Portneuf Valley Brewing this weekend, Train Wreck, based from Idaho Falls, takes the stage on Friday the 15th. Music entertainment is free and open to all ages, starting at 8;30 p.m. And on Saturday the 16th, Unstable Ground is at the pub playing rock and country.

Train Wreck is a duo project with Shawn Good and Amber Lytle. I interviewed Good last year for the Grand Opening of the Vinyl Perk, and shortly thereafter he began his collaboration with Lytle. Listen for covers of songs from Ani Difranco, Blake Shelton, Cream, Otis Redding, Lynard Skynard, Jack Johnson, Eric Clapton, Missy Higgins, Melissa Ethridge, and more.

“I think TrainWreck appeals most to its fans because of the diversity of music that we represent,” Good said. “Coming to a TrainWreck show, you're not going to hear just one type of music. You're more than likely going to hear a song from every radio station on the airwaves, except for the gospel channel. That’s why we call ourselves TrainWreck, because it's all these genres of music meshed into one set.”

The duo has played throughout southeast Idaho, either separately as solo musicians or together. They’ve played at Vino Rosso and The Cellar in Idaho Falls, Fort Hall and the Vinyl Perk in Pocatello. For more, find Train Wreck on Facebook.

Unstable Ground is a locally-based rock and country cover band, a regular favorite at the pub. The four-piece band is fronted by Gene Taylor and Mark Holbrook on guitars and vocals, backed by bassist Chris Willock and Eric Stanley on drums. The band is also scheduled at Marigolds in mid-November.

Keep in touch with Unstable Ground by email at contact@unstablegroundband.com, or visit their website at www.unstableground.com.

Some other big concerts coming up in and around the area soon include Destino, an opera and pop fusion group, performing at the Blackfoot Performing Arts Center on Thursday the 21st. Tickets for Destino are $20 for adults and $15 students under 18, available at blackfootpac.com, Tweedy's Music in Blackfoot, or by calling (208) 317-5508.

Judy Collins, pianist and folk singer / songwriter is in concert at the Colonial Theater in Idaho Falls on Friday the 22nd. Tickets are $35 in advance or $38 at the door. For more, call (208) 522-0471.

On Sunday the 24th , The First National Bar hosts a fund-raising concert for a recent house fire victim with Forgiveness Denied, Valley of Unrest, the Art of Repulsion and more. Call (208) 233-1516.

And tickets are on sale now for The Freakers Ball at the Old Ernst Building in Idaho Falls, presented by 78 Productions. Royal Bliss headlines with support from Anchored, Somewhere In the Middle and Some Day Sane. Tickets are $15 in advance, available online at www.78productions.net or at CD World in Idaho Falls. The concert is open to all ages; minors 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Royal Bliss recently spent six weeks in Nashville, TN, recording a new album, due for release in spring 2011. I heard a preview of the new record a few weeks ago, and it’s heavy, man. Fans will love it.

Also on the 29th, Straight No Chaser is scheduled to perform at the Idaho Falls civic Auditorium. Tickets are available online at www.idahofallsarts.org.

Linda Alexander
slowloosegravel@yahoo.com
slowloosegravel.blogspot.com

Royal Bliss headlines Freakers Ball, 10/29/10

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 15:51:00 +0000

Tickets on sale now

Seventy Eight Productions Presents
The 2010 Freakers Ball with

Royal Bliss
Anchored
Somewhere In the Middle
Some Day Sane

Friday, October 29, 2010 at the Old Ernst Building, Idaho Falls
Doors open at 6:00 p.m.; show starts at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets: $15 advance or $20 at the door
www.78productions.net and CD World in Idaho Falls

Open to all ages; 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. [I suspect this isn't right - must be 17 and under accompanied ... ~SLG] Alcohol available with ID.

Over $3500 in cash and prizes given away for Costume Contest.

Interview with Michael Gross and the Statuettes

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 03:13:00 +0000

Who: Michael Gross and the Statuettes
What: Indie Rock / Pop band from Salt Lake City in concert, with locals Rising Son and Somewhere In the Middle opening.
Where: Idaho State University, Canoe Room
When: Friday, October 8th, 7:00 p.m.
How Much: Free! and open to all ages

Michael Gross, front man and guitarist for Michael Gross and the Statuettes contacted me recently about his upcoming show at ISU. I promised to get the show in last week's column, and didn't.

I AM SO SORRY!

So readers, you'll have to help me out by getting the word out. Here's a little bit about the band.

SLG: Describe your genre of music in as much detail as you like. Maybe list your three best crowd-pleasing songs? Can you explain in what way do you most appeal to your fans?

MG: I think we would be considered an indie/rock/pop band. We have a lot of melody in our songs, and i suppose they can be a catchy sometimes. Combine that with driving guitars and vocal harmonies, and there you have it.

SLG: Band member first and last names / instruments. How long has this line-up been together?

MG: The band is Michael Gross (vocals, guitar), Ben Johnson (bass, vocals), Jimmy Kelly (guitar), and SLC legend Andy Patterson (drums). We have been together for about 2 years or so, except for Andy. He joined us about a month ago when our previous drummer left for grad school. He's been a great addition to the group.

SLG: Tell us where you're from and currently based in what town?

MG: We are based in Salt Lake City and have all lived in Utah for most of our lives.

*Past shows or venues you'd like to brag about? Past or future shows in the Pocatello area?

MG: We have all been in different bands in the past, and I'm sure the other guys have played some cool shows, but since they aren't here right now, I can't really answer for them.

I used to be in a band called The Brobecks that played some cool shows before the group split up a few years ago. We played at South by Southwest 2007, The Roxy Theater (Los Angeles) W/Fallout Boy (lame I know), as well as some other notable Los Angeles venues. We were also lucky enough to open for some cool national artists passing through Salt Lake such as The Walkmen, Ben Kweller, The Elected, and The Ataris.

As far as The Statuettes are concerened, we are still building our resume (if you will), but have opened for The Lemonheads, and These United States in Salt Lake, and are booking better and better shows as we go along. It's a process. We have never actually played Pocatello before, but are looking forward to doing so.

SLG: Describe this particular show. What can people expect if they go?

MG: Our show in Pocatello is on the night of Friday, October 8th on the ISU campus (Student Union Building, Canoe Room). The show starts at 7pm with locals Risingson, and Aaron Ball opening, and we will go on last around 9pm. Its all all ages show, and its absolutely FREE of charge. So there are really no excuses to miss it. People can expect a fun show with bands that won't make your ears bleed (unless requested).

SLG: Any comments about the local live music scene, the music industry in general? What do you think is the best way to get your music out there?

MG: I don't really know much about the local scene around Pocatello, so i can't really comment on that, but I do have some experience with the music industry, and I'm not very impressed by a lot of the stuff major labels try to push. It seems the industry is changing anyway, so it's probably not a great time to get involved with a major label at the moment.Unless you are Bruce Springsteen or something.

Although major labels are in a weird place right now, it seems that more and more indie bands are being discovered and heard than ever before. So thats a good thing.

I don't really know the key to success, but I think the best advice for a band trying to pursue music would be to 1. Not suck 2. Work hard (record music, hit the road, network via internet etc.) 3. Get involved with people who beleive and enjoy your music, and have connections of some form or another with people in the music industry.

SLG: Do you have any favorite videos of your band or your music on YouTube?

MG: We have our own youtube channel with a bunch of different video's on there. some better than others. You can find them at www.youtube.com/mgstatuettes

SLG: Recordings? If so, where did you record? Who produced your recording? Will you have CD's or more for sale at the show?

MG: We have recorded two EP's, and one full-length album to date. Our full-length, and one of our EP's were recorded by ourselves in our former drummer Matt Glass' house, and the other EP was recorded by our friend Aaron Hubbard. We have plenty of CD's, and they WILL be available at the show ranging from $5-$10.

SLG: How can fans contact you? Myspace? or another website?

MG: Myspace has pretty much become a barron wasteland for spammers, but you can still contact us on there if you wish www.myspace.com/michaelgrossmusic. You can also contact us on our official web page www.michaelgrossmusic.com or facebook www.facebook.com/michaelgrossmusic and lastly Twitter @MGstatuettes.

Column for October 6, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 15:43:00 +0000

This week exemplifies, to some extent, the Pocatello live music scene. Available to the local listening audience this week, we have everything from instrumental rock / jazz fusion from a local band of young men, to indie pop imported from the northwest, an American blues legend playing “Booker’s Guitar,” to a metal “feast” in nearby Idaho Falls.

At the Vinyl Perk on N. Main Street this Friday the 8th, Blind Autumn has scheduled their CD release party from 7 to 10:00 p.m. Music entertainment is free and open to the public of all ages.

Blind Autumn is still just getting started in the southeast Idaho music scene. This group of young men, who went to Pocatello High School together, have plenty to which they can look forward. See interview.

“Our style is kind of a fusion of rock and jazz,” drummer Patrick Kennedy said. “We mix in some funk, reggae, blues, and other stuff. There's a lot of variety in our songs. Some of our songs could be considered straight-up rock while others are a lot jazzier. We have an alto sax player which makes us different than a typical rock band. Right now all of our songs are instrumental, but we hope to add in some vocals in the future.”

Isaac Frantz plays alto sax and keyboards, with John Hunt on guitar, bassist Terran Engle in Blind Autumn. The song "Topsy Turvy" is a fan favorite, “it starts out with a catchy melody on the sax, and the whole thing builds to a guitar/sax solo at the end. It was one of our first songs and kind of our ‘signature’ song.” For more, visit www.myspace.com/blindautumn.

Also on Friday night, Matt Murdock plays acoustic at Marigolds Wine on Flandro Drive starting at 7:00 p.m., and Cappi plays solo at the gourmet wine shop on Saturday the 9th. Marigolds is open to those 21 and over, and music entertainment is free.

At Portneuf Valley Brewing this weekend, Tom Murphy plays solo contemporary music starting at 8:30 p.m. And Hosannas, an indie pop band from Portland, OR, is also scheduled at the pub on Friday the 8th, upstairs in the loft starting at 9:00 p.m. Music is free at the pub and open to all ages.

Formed some three years ago, Hosannas (formerly Church) is best known for their haunting vocal harmonies, lyrics and unpredictable melodies. Church released “Song Force Crystal” on Tender Loving Empire Records in 2009, and this year released “Then & Now & Then” on Hush Records as Hosannas. For more, visit www.hosannasmusic.com.

On Saturday the 9th, the pub warmly welcomes the return of Hot Flash, a regionally-based, all-woman country rock band. Visit www.portneufvalleybrewing.com for their full schedule of music events.

And Smoochknob, pop-punk band also based from Portland, OR, is making a return engagement on Saturday night to the FlipSide Lounge, S. Main Street in Pocatello. Doors open at 8:00 p.m., open to those 21 and over. Find out more at www.myspace.com/smoochknobmusic.

And the big concert of the week is at the Stephens Performing Arts Center on the Idaho State University campus. Eric Bib is in concert on Saturday the 9th. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.; $14 to $18 tickets are available online at www.isu.edu/tickets or at the Performing Arts Center box office.

Eric Bibb makes a return to campus by popular demand. He plays American blues and folk, inspired by Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and the music of the pre-war Delta blues. His most recent CD, “Booker’s Guitar,” is inspired by the music of bluesman Booker White. The story goes that Bibb recorded with a 1930’s vintage Resophonic National guitar that once belonged to Booker.

Bibb recently told NPR that his inspiration is the culture that surrounded the Delta blues legends. "When we think of the prewar blues, we're concentrating on this wonderful music — this incredible sound born of all this pain and oppression," he said. "As a musician who feels connected to the blues tradition, I felt it was appropriate to make a reference to those things."

Bibb has received multiple Grammy nominations for Acoustic Blues Album of the Year and Acoustic Blues-Artist of the Year. For more, visit www.ericbibb.com.

And on Sunday the 10th, Synapse Defect headlines “Metal Feast” with local support from Denots, Ixxion, Shades of Interpretation, 10 Years Gone, Life Has A Way and more. The show is open to all ages; doors open at 3, with music from 4 to 10:00 p.m. Tickets are $10. For more information, visit www.projectindependent.net.

Linda Alexander
a.k.a. Lana Banana for Idaho Live Music
slowloosegravel@yahoo.com
slowloosegravel.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/showmetheband

Metal Feast at Shilo Inn, Idaho Falls

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 01:20:00 +0000

Rock and metal maniacs, this is an event you won't want to miss:

Featuring
Synapse Defect

With Special Local Guests
Denots
Ixxion
Shades of Interpretation
10 Years Gone
Life Has A Way (LHAW)

This is a Project Independent Event.
The Age Of Aggression Tour will be held at

The Shilo Inn Convention Center
780 Lindsay Blvd
Idaho Falls, ID 83401

Door Open at 3:00p.m.
Show Starts at 4:00p.m.
This Event is ALL AGES!!

Presale tickets for $10 Available from The Bands, Project Independent and at CD WORLD in Idaho Falls

For more information, visit
www.projectindependent.net
www.rockymountainhardcore.com

Column for September 22, 1010

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 20:20:00 +0000

Good things happen in two’s? Poctello’s local live music scene has paired-up entertainment this week, Thursday and Friday or Friday and Saturday. Find a friend, buddy up and hit the town. Twice. Here’s where to be when.

On Thursday the 23rd, The FlipSide Lounge, located on S. Main Street in Pocatello, welcomes Phantoms, a rock band based from Seattle. Then on Friday the 24th, see Smoochknob headline with n.m.e. and special guests opening. Doors open at 8:00 p.m., open to those 21 and over. For more on the FlipSide, visit www.reverbnation.com/flipsidelounge.

Phantoms was formed in June of 2009, when singer / songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, Johnny (just one name, like Sting or Prince) recruited guitarist John Luzzi, drummer Nick Anderson, Trong Nguyen on keyboards and bassist Doug Rehfeldt. With the support of a local Seattle-based radio station, Phantoms are playing to packed houses and touring the region.

Influenced by Jimmy Eat World, Queen, The Rolling Stones, Taking Back Sunday, Dashboard Confessional and Nirvana, expect Phantoms to play new and original music with a familiar, if edgy, feel. Listen for fan-favorite songs, “Take That, Karl Marx” and “Dust.” Find out more at www.myspace.com/whatisphantoms.

Smoochknob is a pop-punk band based from Portland, OR, led by dummer and vocalist Donnie Rife. He named the band after the Midwest slang for a suicide knob on the steering wheel of a car. His catchy tongue-in-cheek songs draw comparisons to Weezer or the Presidents of the U.S.A.

Smoochknob’s CD, “Jr. High Anthems,” is due for release in spring 2011. Find out more at www.myspace.com/smoochknobmusic.

Rumors Bar on Garrett Way in Pocatello returns Twisted Deuce to their stage. Music entertainment is free and open to those 21 and over. Twisted Deuce, a locally-based duo using loop technology, plays covers of all your favorites. Call (208) 478-2525 for more information.

Marigolds Wine, located on Flandro Drive in Pocatello, has paired up two, locally-based singer / songwriter, acoustic guitar-playing soloists this weekend. On Friday, Scott Balsai performs his fingerstyle techniques on the guitar from 7 to 10:00 p.m., and on Saturday, Randy Johnson plays folk and Americana. Visit Marigolds online at www.marigoldswine.com.

Scott Balsai two CD’s, collectively called "Acoustic Reflections," have been met with praise from Taylor Guitars. His first CD, “Waiting for the Sun,” was recorded in Pocatello in 1998 with the help of Steve Eaton. "Each piece," Balsai said, "reflects a sliver of my life, but taken together, they can be seen as musical diary of 'tone poems' which reflect my life as a whole." The second, “Falling Colors on Prairie Braid,” was recorded with the help of Dan Mihlfeith, in Pocatello in 2004. For more, visit www.acousticreflections.net.

Randy Johnson has been a consistent player in Pocatello’s acoustic rock and folk scene. He has collaborated with other locally and regionally-based musicians Dan Hillebrant, George Asboe, Angier Wills and more, as well as having been a member of the now-defunct Greybeard band.

My final musical weekend pairing suggestion is Portneuf Valley Brewing, where the very popular Swingshift takes the stage on Friday night, and the party of the weekend will be hosted on Saturday. Music entertainment inside the pub is free and open to all ages

Swingshift, fronted by vocalists Ramona Awes and Mike Banks, play jazz, blues and light rock. Their regular last-Friday-of-the-month appearances at the pub are eagerly anticipated; I would suggest arriving early for the band’s 8:30 p.m. start time.

On Saturday the 25th, Portneuf Valley Brewing celebrates Oktoberfest with a street party, all along the 600 block of S. 1st Avenue in Pocatello. Gates open at 4:00 p.m., with live music from 5 to midnight, featuring Soul Full of Blues, Elvis Has Left the Building and Jonny and The Electric Polka Dots.

The annual Oktoberfest block party helps raise funds for the Pebble Creek Ski Patrol. The Ski Patrol will cook hamburgers and bratwurst outside, and the pub will be open with Oktoberfest food and beverage specials for the occasion. Tickets are $5 in advance, available in the pub and at Scott’s Ski and Sport, Raven’s Nest, Barrie’s Ski and Sport, College Market or the Grapevine, or $8 at the gate, kids under 12 are welcome free.

Fronted by Ramona Awes on lead vocals, Soul Full of Blues includes Robert Miron, Dan Lauer, Steve Howard and Kerry Pepper. Elvis Has Left the Building, a trio with Angier Wills, Greg Mladenka and Bill Chalmers, plays original acoustic Americana.

Find out more on Soul Full of Blues at www.myspace.com/soulfullofblues; Elvis Has Left the Building is online at site.elbinfo.com. For more on Oktoberfest, visit www.portneufvalleybrewing.com.

Linda Alexander
slowloosegravel@yahoo.com
http://slowloosegravel.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/showmetheband

Interview with Shawn and The Marauders

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 13:16:00 +0000

Who: Shawn and the Marauders
What: Rock and funk band in concert / Masquerade party
Where: The First National Bar, W. Center St., Pocatello ID
When: Saturday, September 18, 2010. 8:00 p.m.

Shawn and the Marauders are an up-and-coming, Pocatello-based rock, folk and funk group. Lead by guitarist, singer and songwriter Shawn Barnby and backed by a two-piece rhythm section, this will be the go-to band for rock concerts in the area. I recently caught up with bassist James "Bird" McCoy (who, by the way, has an incredibly sexy deep voice on the phone. Just sayin') to find out more about the band.

SLG: Describe your genre of music in as much detail as you like. Maybe list your three best crowd-pleasing songs? Can you explain in what way do you most appeal to your fans?

JM: We call it "Americana," a blend of folk rock, southern style, pop, rock & roll, blues, hip-hop and funk.

3 crowd favorites are: "Scarface" a tribute to the 90's gangsta rap artist, "Hot Corn Cold Corn" a beefed-up folk song about moonshining, and "Hoodrat Love" a groovy, 70's pop inspired arrangement about a hot girl who's playing hard-to-get.

Our songs generally encompass a variety of more "adult" material; mainly sex, booze, being naughty, talking smack, getting in trouble etc.

SLG: Band member first and last names / instruments. How long has this line-up been together?

JM: Shawn Barnby (vocals/guitar), Casey Johnson (drums), James "Bird" McCoy (bass)

Front man, Shawn Barnby, is a very unique and captivating entertainer. Bass player, James "Bird" McCoy, and drummer, Casy Johnson, bring an undeniable blend of classic and contemporary - LIVE- funk, rock and hard bumping dance grooves.

Casey and I have been developing our rhythm section for a long time before this band started. We've backed several local artists prior to Shawn and The Marauders' birth.
Shawn had been an amateur solo acoustic artist in Pocatello for a couple of years before Casey and I recruited him in April 2010 to do a full band show with us. Together, so far, we've developed mostly Shawn's original acoustic songs into a full blown power trio performance.

SLG: Past shows or venues you'd like to brag about? Past or future shows in the Pocatello area?

JM: We've performed multiple times at Flips!de Lounge, First National Bar, Hooligans, Pie Hole, Bull Moose Lodge in Alpine, Timberline in Victor/Driggs, Lakeside lodge in Island Park, Oasis Bar in Twin Falls, Road to Hempfest tour 2010 at The Point After in Salt Lake City, Portneuff Valley Farmers' Market, Old Town Pocatello, The Wild Hare Festival 2010, and many, many private engagements.

We are available anywhere if we can afford to pay for the trip.

SLG: Recordings?

JM: We have some recordings posted on Facebook and Myspace.

Our recordings were provided by Joe Hunt of Greyhouse Effect.

SLG: Describe this particular show. What can people expect if they come to this show?

JM: We promise at least 3 hours of solid, original rock, pop, and dance music to get 'em dancing and keep 'em celebrating all night... And we do it with a professional attitude.

Although our music is all original, the sounds are all very familiar to people who are used to hearing cover songs. We draw on influences from what we believe are "everyone's" favorite popular songs from the last 50 or 60 years. We don't pay much attention to modern country music however, I have to admit. But everything else goes into the mix!

SLG: What do you think is the best way to get your music out there?

JM: It is our intention to become the most sought after original rock band in this region, and we do that by delivering an authentic, original and dynamic show, strictly for people who want to have fun and get their groove on.

TBA Magazine's September issue features an interview with Shawn and the Marauders, and it has the specifics about the Masquerade Party on September 18th.

More on Facebook.

Column for September 15, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:00:00 +0000

If you haven’t been out in the Pocatello nightlife recently, this weekend will be a good time to do it. Several locally-based bands offer a wide range of music styles within the Pocatello city limits. And if you’re traveling this weekend, I have tips on where to be when for your favorite live music.

This Friday and Saturday, the 17th and 18th, Bender plays at Marigolds Wine on Flandro Drive (view on map), starting around 7:00 p.m. Music entertainment is free and open to those 21 and over.

Bender is a 7-piece eclectic collection of instruments and styles. They play a blend of American roots music, rock and reggae. Formed in 2008, Ken Aho and Will Peterson lead on guitar and vocals, with Dan Lauer on harmonica, percussionist TJ Latour and guitarists Ed Bala, Dave Jones with Rick Williams on banjo. Everyone is based from southern Idaho.

Expect original music, written by Aho, Peterson and Bala, who draw influences from blues, reggae and roots rock. “The only rule we try to enforce,” said Bala, “is that the songs need to have a groove.”

Regulars at the brewery, Bender has also played many outdoor fairs, fundraising events and at Marigolds. Bala commented, “We’ve actually never had a gig anyplace in Pocatello we didn’t really like, because audiences here are so receptive, and the bars and other venues are great.

“The local music scene is awesome. If anyone likes live music, they can find most any genre being played somewhere in town almost any time. From a band’s perspective, the local music scene is fantastic because everyone knows one another and are very supportive.” Find out more at www.myspace.com/benderpocatello or on Facebook.

Portneuf Valley Brewing on S. 1st Ave. (view on map) also has local favorites gracing their stage this weekend. On Friday the 17th, The Desert Flyers play folk and Americana. And on Saturday the 17th, Pocatello-based singer / songwriter Father Bob plays acoustic at the pub. Music entertainment is free and open to all ages, starting at 8:30 p.m. For more, visit www.portneufvalleybrewing.com.

And at Rumors on Garrett Way (view on map) this weekend, Plain Jane plays classic rock covers on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 9:00 p.m. There is no cover, and it is open to those 21 and over.

Plain Jane recently closed out the Revive at Five summer concert series downtown. Lead vocalist Jeff Hammer said they went until 9:00 p.m., and in spite of some power failures at the end, the band was determined to get through that last song. The audience was dancing and had lots of fun. “It’s great to see Pocatelloans getting out in the sunshine, with great food, great drink and great company.”

Hammer fronts the 5-piece band, with guitarists Maurice Ross, Richard Henry, Darwin Edwards on bass and Frank True on drums. For more on Plain Jane, visit www.myspace.com/plainjaneinfo.

And to finish out a locals-only weekend, Shawn and the Marauders provide music entertainment for a masquerade party at the First National Bar on W. Center St. (view on map), Saturday the 18th starting at 8:00 p.m.

Shawn and the Marauders play a blend of folk rock southern style, pop, rock and roll. Some songs have a bluesy feel, and some a hip-hop funk groove. Listen for some fan favorites: “Scarface,” a tribute to the 90’s gangsta rap artist, “Hot Corn Cold Corn,” a beefed-up folk song about moonshining, and “Hoodrat Love,” a groovy, 70’s-sounding pop song about a hot girl who plays hard to get.

Shawn Barnby, a long-time solo artist in Pocatello, leads the Marauders on vocals and guitar, with drummer Casey Johnson, James “Bird” McCoy on bass forming the rhythm section. The power trio has played many times at the Flipside Lounge, The Nash and Hooligans in Pocatello, as well as in Island Park, Alpine, Victor, Twin Falls and Salt Lake City.

“Although our music is all original,” McCoy recently said, “the sounds are all very familiar to people who are used to hearing cover songs. We draw on influences from popular songs from the last 50 or 60 years.” Find out more at www.myspace.com/shawnbarnby or on Facebook.

Elsewhere in the region, Dala, a folk Duo from Canada, is in concert at the Carr Gallery in Idaho Falls, Thursday the 16th. On Friday the 17th, 2am Logic plays at the Peppertree Lounge in Idaho Falls, Great White is in concert at Cactus Pete’s in Jackpot, NV, and Smashing Pumpkins plays In the Venue in Salt Lake City.

And on Saturday the 18th, Royal Bliss plays the “Summer Decompression Festival” at the Ogden Amphitheater.

Linda Alexander

a.k.a. Lana Banana for Idaho Live Music
slowloosegravel@yahoo.com
slowloosegravel.blogspot.com

www.myspace.com/showmetheband

Column for September 8, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:00:00 +0000

The Eastern Idaho Fair has the big concerts this year: on Thursday the 9th, an evening with Foreigner at the fair in Blackfoot (view on map), and on Friday the 10th, the legendary Kenny Rogers with the Oak Ridge Boys. Shows start at 6:00 p.m.; ticket information at www.funatthefair.com.

Foreigner is a classic rock band formed in New York City in 1976 by English musicians Mick Jones, ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald, and American vocalist Lou Gramm. Foreigner has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide, including over 37.5 million in the United States.

The six-piece band released their debut album in 1977, staying in the Top 20 for a year with the classic rock hits “Feels Like the First Time” and “Cold as Ice.” Their second album, certified 7x Platinum, had more hits with “Hot Blooded,” “Double Vision,” and “Blue Morning, Blue Day.” And their third followed up with “Dirty White Boy” and “Head Games.”

The early eighties saw Foreigner pare down to a 4-piece, when they released their biggest hit singles, “Urgent,” “Waiting for a Girl Like You” and “Juke Box Hero” and their only number 1 album, “4.” And in 1985, “I Want to Know What Love Is” arguably became The Rock Ballad of the eighties. The hits, they just kept a-comin’.

In 2009, Foreigner released their latest record, “Can’t Slow Down,” which peaked at #29 on the U.S. charts. They have recently toured with Def Leppard, Styx and Kansas. Current members of the band include vocalist Kelly Hansen, Mick Jones and Thom Gimbel on guitars, Michael Bluestein on keyboards, Jeff Pilson on bass and drummer Jason Sutter.

For more, visit their official website at www.foreigneronline.com.

The Oak Ridge Boys were originally formed in 1945. They became popular in the 50’s as a gospel group, and in the 1970’s, concentrated more on country and pop music. The band's current lineup consists of lead Duane Allen, tenor Joe Bonsall, baritone William Lee Golden, and bass Richard Sterban.

Perhaps best known for the early eighties pop hit, “Elvira,” for which The Oak Ridge Boys won a Grammy, they have been awarded Top Vocal Group by the Academy of Country Music in 1978, Instrumental Group of the year by the Country Music Association in 1986.

The Oak Ridge Boys have charted three #1 country music albums and several in the top 50 on the country charts. Their most recent release, “The Boys Are Back,” released in 2009, peaked at number 16. For more, visit www.oakridgeboys.com.

Kenny Rogers, now 72 years old, is not only a singer and songwriter, but also a photographer, record producer, actor and entrepreneur. He has charted more than 120 hit singles across music genre map and has hit the country and pop album charts since the mid-1960’s.

Listeners of mainstream music first took note of Kenny Rogers in 1977 with his hit single, “Lucille.” It was a number one on the pop charts in 12 countries and has sold over 5 million copies. Rogers followed with a multi-million selling albums, “The Gambler” and “Kenny,” both considered highly influential albums in country music.

Rogers has paired with other music stars in what have become iconic music classics. In 1980, his duet with Kim Carnes, “Don’t Fall in Love with a Dreamer,” his collaboration with Lionel Richie on “Lady,” “We’ve Got Tonight” with Sheena Easton and “Islands in the Stream” with Dolly Parton are unforgettable music moments from the eighties.

Kenny Rogers has won more music awards than I have room here to mention. For more, visit www.kennyrogers.com.

The southeast Idaho live music scene tends to slow down during the fair, but there are still some shows of interest in the area.

On Friday, The Starlings play at Portneuf Valley Brewing, located on S. 1st Ave., in Pocatello (view on map). Based from Seattle, WA, The Starlings play alternative country music and Americana. Music entertainment starts at 8:30 p.m., free and open to all ages. Visit them online at www.myspace.com/thestarlings.

And on Saturday night at the pub, Soul Full of Blues takes the stage, with vocalist Ramona Awes and Robert Miron on guitar. Find them online at www.myspace.com/soulfullofblues.

Plain Jane is scheduled to play rock and country covers that span from the 60’s to now at Rumors on Garrett Way (view on map), Friday and Saturday nights starting at 9:00 p.m. No cover, and open to those 21 and over.

In Lava, One Drop Redemption, an 8-piece Bob Marley tribute band, plays a reggae show from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday the 11th at the Swimming Complex. Find them at www.onedropredemption.com.

Linda Alexander
a.k.a. Lana Banana for Idaho Live Music
slowloosegravel@yahoo.com
slowloosegravel.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/showmetheband

Column for September 1, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:07:00 +0000

Tonight, the 1st of September, is the last session of the Bannock County Civitans’ 2010 Revive at Five summer concert series. Plain Jane, a Pocatello-based rock cover band, provides music entertainment at the Old Town Pavilion, N. Main Street in Pocatello (view on map). This last session runs an extra hour, starting at 5 and ending at 9:00 p.m. The Health Department Preparedness Fair sponsors and food is catered by El Herradero.

Plain Jane, with the motto “Fun Music for Fun People,” was a hit area band some 10 years ago. They reformed a few years ago. The current line-up has Jeff Hammer fronting the band on vocals, backed by Maurice Ross and Richard Henry on guitars, Darwin Edwards on bass and drummer Frank True.

Expect to hear covers of oldies and classic rock, blues and soul like “Brown Eyed Girl,” “Take It Easy,” “Long Cool Woman” and “Sweet Home Alabama.” Find out more about Plain Jane at plainjanemusic.com.

On Thursday the 2nd at the Flipside Lounge, S. Main St. in Pocatello (view on map), Seattle’s folk / pop duo World History headlines a show with locals Nyr Lif and John Austin starting at 8:00 p.m. The FlipSide is open to those 21 and over.

World History formed in the winter of 2006 as a collection of songs written and recorded aboard several boats in Seattle, WA. The project evolved into a collaboration between Neil Campau and Jamie Menzel. Campau provides the majority of the vocals, also playing a rusty autoharp and guitar, while Menzel lends her soft vocals flute melodies and percussion.

Expect songs about historical characters and events and anarchist anti-politics, with strong vocals and entertaining, foot-stomping audience sing-alongs. BackForty Presents (Boulder CO) has this to say, “Neil Campau rocks the guitar and autoharp with strong vocal work. Jamie Menzel completes the duo with flute, melodica, drums and vocals. Neil’s voice possesses a warm and uncanny feeling of recognition but remains new and unique. Powerful and explosive at certain points, he has the ability to comfort and urgently bolt what he needs to say.” For more, visit www.worldhistoryband.com.

Nyr Lif’s music is a mix of indie rock and folk. There is acoustic layering of guitars, creative percussion, and great harmonies. They took first place in ISU’s Guitar Unplugged Battle of the Bands.

Listen for Nyr Lif’s popular singles, "Capoed," "Yani," and "The Bicycle of Fate." Casey Cathey and Shaun Barkdull form the duo, with other musicians filling in as needed. Find their recordings, “Experimentallation,” an EP released in 2007, and “Two Legs Broken,” a full CD released in 2008, on CDBaby.com. Find out more at www.myspace.com/nyrlif.

The Southeast Idaho live music scene has a number of regulars playing at their regular haunts this weekend.

Ray Rodriguez is playing acoustic at Marigolds Wine on Flandro Drive (view on map), Friday and Saturday the 3rd and 4th, 7 to 10:00 p.m. Marigolds Wine is open to those 21 and over, and they’re supporting ISU Back to School this weekend. Wear your orange and black to get some discounts.

At Rumors Bar on Garrett Way (view on map), Twisted Deuce takes the stage playing country and rock starting at 9:00 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday nights.

Portneuf Valley Brewing (website) welcomes back some favorite musicians to their stage this weekend also. Bluesman Fred Anderson performs on Friday night the 3rd, and the country, folk and rock band, Unstable Ground, plays danceable music on Saturday night the 4th. Music entertainment starts at 8:30 p.m. at the pub, free and open to all ages.

Unstable Ground is a four piece band, based in Pocatello. Gene Taylor and Mark Holbrook front the band on guitars, bassist Chris Willock and drummer Eric Stanley keep the beat. All four contribute vocally. For more, visit http://unstablegroundband.com.

And if a trip up to Lava Hot Springs is in order this weekend, check out the classic rock cover band, Easy Street, at the Wagon Wheel this weekend. Music starts at 9:00 p.m., open to those 21 and over.

Based from northern Utah, Joe Chintawan and Mark DeLaurier front Easy Street on guitars and vocals, and Greg Newbold on bass with drummer Dan Stephenson back them up. Expect them to play favorite hits from the 60’s to the hits of today. Find the band online at www.easystreetrocks.com.

The Eastern Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot, ID, starts Saturday, September 4 and runs through the 11th. Tickets are now on sale for Foreigner on Thursday, September 9 and Kenny Rogers and the Oak Ridge Boys on Friday, September 10. Visit www.funatthefair.com for ticket information.

Linda Alexander
a.k.a. Lana Banana for Idaho Live Music
slowloosegravel@yahoo.com
http://slowloosegravel.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/showmetheband

Tickets On Sale Now - East Idaho State Fair

noreply@blogger.com (Lana) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:28:00 +0000

The 2010 Eastern Idaho State Fair September 4 – September 11, has two big concerts this year.

Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 8:00 p.m.

Foreigner

FOREIGNER
THURSDAY 9/9….$30.00
an extra $2.50 processing fee will be added to each ticket

Foreigner is universally hailed as one of the most popular rock acts in the world, racking up scores of smash hits, multi-platinum albums, and sold out concert tours.

From “Cold As Ice” to “Hot Blooded,” “Urgent” to “Jukebox Hero,” “Waiting For A Girl Like You” to the chart topper “I Want To Know What Love is”, Foreigner’s thrilling mix of blustery blues and impeccably crafted pop continues to captivate generation after generation of music fans.

Today, over 65 million albums later, Foreigner is an ensemble of talented musicians each adding their individual credentials to the mix to make the band stronger and more powerful than ever.

$30.00 per person this includes entrance to the fair and concert tickets

Friday, September 10, 2010 at 8:00 p.m.

Kenny Rogers with The Oak Ridge Boys

KENNY ROGERS,OAK RIDGE BOYS,
FRIDAY, 9/10 ……$30.00
an extra $2.50 processing fee will be added to each ticket

Just look at the titles: “Lady,” “Ruby Don’t Take Your Love to Town,” “The Gambler,” “She Believes in Me,” “Islands in the Stream,” “We’ve Got Tonight,” “Buy Me A Rose.” Not a ditty among them. Then listen. The sweetly raspy vocals are instantly identifiable as Kenny Rogers – he sounds like nobody else. More importantly, he inhabits each song, making it vivid and tangible. For more than five decades, Rogers has delivered memorable songs, drawing fans among rock, pop, soul and country audiences.

The Oak Ridge Boys

Theirs is one of the most distinctive & recognizable sounds in the music industry. The four-part harmonies and upbeat songs of The Oak Ridge Boys have spawned dozens of Country hits and a Number One Pop smash, earned them Grammy, Dove, CMA, and ACM awards and garnered a host of other industry and fan accolades.

Find out more at www.funatthefair.com