April 30, 2008Benevento-Russo Duo show at Blue 5 is canceled... due to scheduling conflict, according to Blue 5's Kerry Hurley, who added that he is in talks with B-R's booking agent to reschedule -- so keep your eyes open. April 29, 2008Jimi Hendrix -- sex video experience?If it's out there, a porn movie company will find it: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hzhHh2hle8-MWSjHXr2furgNyczAD90BNRCG0 http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h3xbMi1lnmNQLuGj6MdME02KOYJg Should we order a review copy? If so, should we compare notes with the Plaster Casters' results? April 28, 2008Question of the week: What did we miss?I was on vacation last week. Ralph wasn't around too much. Blue 5's May music scheduleGood music here, as always, starting with locals Lenny Marcus Trio and Los Gatos, then national and regional acts Nicole Hart, Galen Kipar Project and Jason Ricci (amazing harmonica player). Big news -- Benevento-Russo Duo is on the schedule! April 25, 2008Sun Music Hall shines againThe renovations are just about complete and the Sun Music Hall in Floyd is re-opening for a new slate of shows. See the schedule below. April 24, 2008Riffs becomes the Outdoors column.No, I ain't dragging my muddy feet across Mark Taylor's turf. I'm just highlighting some of the best outdoor music events around Roanoke. Keep reading for a preview. Don't forget to check out Riffs tomorrow in the good ol' RT. April 23, 2008Illbotz makes a return to the top 5From The Roanoke Times' New Channels Editor Dwayne Yancey: For the fourth week in a row, The Seed holds down the top two spots in our Top 5 list of the most-played local music videos on the MusicCast. And the Roanoke Allstars continue to hang in there, as well. But this week's surprise: Illbotz makes a return. The band announced recently it's breaking up, so perhaps fans are coming here to get another fix of the Roanoke rappers. April 22, 2008Where's all the news??Tad and Ralph are on hiatus this week. Both are out of the office until early next week. Until then, keep an eye on the music page at roanoke.com. April 21, 2008Awful scheduleActually, it's a pretty good schedule. Check out the Awful Arthur's lineups from Roanoke to Blacksburg: High Point on the music calendarHigh Point Coffee and Tea is living up to its name as a relative newcomer on the Roanoke music scene. Alternative rock, jazz and folk are brewing in May. May 3 7:30P May 9 7:30P April 19, 2008Concert review: Henry ButlerHere's the printside review, on roanoke.com. What's up with Roanoke not showing up for New Orleans music? Only 230 came to the Jefferson Center, capacity about 940, for the Henry Butler Trio. Before the show, I spoke to a couple of concert-goers who had gone to 202 Market on Friday to hear Bonearama, a New Orleans horn act. They said that attendance was light, as it had been at 202 when Porter, Batiste Stoltz played there a few months back. Sure, Southwest Virginia is Scots-Irish roots country, so people show up for big bluegrass shows, and for some reason it's a good-enough blues town to support acts that come through. But if you don't dig New Orleans, you're missing out. Butler, as I wrote in the deadwood version, is more than simply a New Orleans-style player. He has deep jazz knowlege, and played a lot of stuff outside the norm of what conventional soloists would try. He's obviously studied at the church of Thelonius Monk and Herbie Hancock. He mixes in classical stylings too, and his timing is impeccable -- a trait his sidemen, Tony Gullege (bass) and Kindler Carto (drums), share with him. But he also studied with Professor Longhair and Allen Toussaint, paragons of the New Orleans style, so he's well locked in to the Storyville style of piano, and can drop it into practically anything he's playing at a second's notice, it seemed. April 18, 2008Road trip alert: Dixie Bee-Liners CD release shindigHear a really good band, pretty new to Abingdon, celebrating the release of first its Pinecastle Records disc, "Ripe." By the way, bandleaders Brandi Hart and Buddy Woodward seem to be excellent human beings. Go to Top Tickets for sound samples, and more show info for Roanoke (switching to outer-space TV show announcer voice) *and beyoooooooooond." Details: 7 p.m. Monday. Barter Theatre Stage II, 127 West Main St., Abingdon. $10. (276) 628-3991, bartertheatre.com, dixiebeeliners.com. Continue reading "Road trip alert: Dixie Bee-Liners CD release shindig" » Sprucing up for FloydFest 7FloydFest has survived and thrived for three primary reasons, in my humble opinion: 1.) Founders Kris Hodges and Erika Johnson have willed the festival to success with a commitment and sense of purpose that borders on fanatical. You can be part of No. 3 May 3-4, when the FloydFest gang holds the first of its workday weekends. According to the organizers, much works needs to be done: "Scheduled activities include clearing the woods for additional camp spaces, cleaning up brush and winter debris, building a stilt-walking platform, landscaping, and general maintenance projects. Suggested items to bring include tools, chainsaws, pick-up trucks, shovels, rakes and hoes, sunscreen and gloves for poison ivy. Children are welcome. Interested persons should RSVP to vendor coordinator Danica Mingee, at volunteers@floydfest.com." Drop 'em a line, put on your work gloves and help 'em out. Music, buys at Plan 9 on SaturdayPoe Mack, the Young Sinclairs and Rootstone Jug Band are among the acts performing in-store on Saturday at Plan 9, in Raleigh Court. It's part of an independent disc shop celebration called "Record Store Day," according to a news release from Plan 9. The store, along with other indie shops across the country, will mark everything down 20 percent, and will be giving away free schwag, too. The live music will be going on all day, so even if you're too broke to buy something, you get free entertainment. Check out the store's myspace page for the full music sked. Plan 9 Music Rock 'n' roll R.I.P.Hey y'all, In today's Riffs, I suggest that rock 'n' roll is dead. Actually, I don't suggest it, I state it. Wimpy indie-rockers, Madonna in the Rock Hall of Fame, Mariah Carey surpassing Elvis ... if that's not an obituary, what is? Let me know what you think. April 16, 2008Sean Costello, young blues guitarist/singer, diesCostello, who had chops galore but kept an understated nature to his playing, was found dead on Tuesday in an Atlanta motel room, according to news accounts. He was just about to turn 29. If you don't know his work, check out this cut, "No Half Steppin,'" from a self-titled CD. As you can hear, he was a really good singer, too. Read on for a nice remembrance, via myspace bulletin, from harmonica player Richard Rosenblatt, of Tone-Cool Records. Continue reading "Sean Costello, young blues guitarist/singer, dies" » MusicCast Top 5From new channels editor Dwayne Yancey: > Our MusicCast site of local music videos is getting record traffic -- and people must like what they're seeing and hearing because for the third week in a row, the order hasn't changed. Once again, The Seed holds down the top three spots: April 15, 2008Podcast: Henry ButlerNew Orleans pianist Henry Butler is coming to Jefferson Center on Friday night. I just posted this podcast with him. http://www.roanoke.com/entertainment/wb/158309 His show concludes the Jeff's series, "The Blind Leading ...", which is all about blindness and the creative process. Check out the 'cast to hear Butler talk about being a blind musicians, about Hurricane Katrina (which ran him off from New Orleans, at least for now), and his new record, "PiaNOLA Live." And he gives us a great history of New Orleans pianists. April 14, 2008Concert review: Steve Earle, Allison MoorerFirst, the ever-lovin' deadwood version. Another good show at the Jeff. When are they going to book a dud? Earle, as is his wont, talked a little about politics. At one point, a guy in the audience yelled, "Just sing!" Earle ignored him. But c'mon. Do you expect to hear an artist like Earle and not get a dose of his opinions. It's not like we're talking Linda Ronstadt in Vegas -- and she has the right to say what she wants, too. This is a guy who nowadays is known nearly as well for his strong opinions as for his songs. And a lot of his songs have opinions in them. I guess it's just easier to ignore something about which you disagree if it has a nice guitar part with it. Still, the "just sing" guy wasn't the entertaining yeller. That honor goes to a guy who definitely loves him some Steve Earle. He was obviously one of those fans who has been with Earle from the beginning, and definitely digs the outlaw vibe of a lot of Earle's music. He just would not shut up, until finally an usher settled him down. But he did get in a couple of funny statements. Late in the show, Earle asked the audience, "Have I ever played here before?" Several people shouted no. The excitable Earle fan shouted: "Every night, at my house! In my car! In my house! All the time, Steve." Earle, who had tried to ignore most of the man's statements (lest he encourage him?), had to crack a smile at that one. Continue reading "Concert review: Steve Earle, Allison Moorer" » Homegirl comes back to rock Roanoke College
From roanoke.com's So Salem blog: RC Alumna and Salem native Corynne Wilder to rock Alumni Weekend Get more details Thursday, in Inside Out's Top Tickets. What would you pour over Heather Mills' head?We begin a new feature on the old blog: The question of the week. It'll usually be about music, or something related to music -- in today's case, Heather Mills, who is now Paul McCartney's nouveau riche ex-wife. As you know, if you follow the pop culture maelstrom, she poured a jug of water over the head of Macca's divorce attorney. If you don't know, here's the story. So, here we go -- what would pour over Heather Mills' head? We promise a more substantive question next week! Maybe ... April 11, 2008MusicCast Top 5From new channels editor Dwayne Yancey: > The Seed may be leaving town -- see our story about their move to DC -- but they still dominate our local music videos. In fact, this week's MusicCast Top 5 is exactly the same order as last week's, with The Seed holding down the top three spots. 1. "No More," by The Seed 2. "Can You Understand?," by The Seed 3. "A New Season," by The Seed 4. "OxyContin Rock," by The Roanoke Allstars 5. "Untitled Waltz," by The Wading Girl Riffs: Pitchfork is now big in biz of music TVThe site is credited with boosting the careers of independent artists that include Sufjan Stevens, Arcade Fire, Grizzly Bear, Clap Your Hands And Say Yeah, Feist and other performers either ignored by or defiant toward major record labels. If you haven't heard of any of those folks, I sympathize. Being over 30 stinks. Now an established brand, Pitchfork is branching out in the biz. Site traffic hasn't been growing lately, the backlash against wimpy indie-rockers who make albums in their parents' basements has crested and other media, including other 'zines and satellite radio, have usurped some of Pitchfork's authority and coolness. It's also become lampoonable, which is what happens when you become a brand. Fork in the Alley band schedule for MayActs include Pickin' Buds, Hoppie Vaughn, Electric Chameleon -- plus several open mike nights. By the way, how goofy is it that our paper's style is mike, instead of mic. It's not a mikerophone! Sweet barking dingos! Continue reading "Fork in the Alley band schedule for May" » Illbotz is breaking upStevie D, Big Perm and DJ Samson have rocked Big Lick for a few years now, rapping and making funny with their act, as Illbotz. But they've decided to call it quits, Stephen "Stevie D" Davies said in a myspace post this week. April 9, 2008Concert review: Carolina Chocolate DropsHere's the deadwood review. Read on for some notes. Continue reading "Concert review: Carolina Chocolate Drops" » April 8, 2008The Mix One6 reduxLast week, I wrote this article about ownership of the Mix One6 cancelling much of its live music schedule. The last of those shows is Wednesday night, when Bassnectar plays the room. Owner Steve Mullens had told me that he didn't think the shows drew consistently enough. The promoters later wrote to me, saying I should've talked to them, and that the article made it look like their part of the business was messed-up. I told them I'd follow up on some of their concerns, but that the article didn't cast any aspersions on them. It simply said that the owner didn't feel like the nights were doing good business. He obviously wanted the room to sell out every night, which is impossible for a medium-sized club in a small city. C'est la vie. Lots of other folks weighed in on our message board. Check out their opinions. Lupe Fiasco plays Ferrum on WednesdayFerrum College is getting a huge dose of “The Cool” for its Spring Fling celebration. Rapper and Kanye West associate Lupe Fiasco headlines a concert tonight at the college’s fitness center. Roanoke-based soul-hop group Duality opens the 8 p.m. show. April 7, 2008April Concerts 202 Market202 has taken on dates that the Mix One6 cancelled. You can catch EOTO, Pnuma Trio and U-Melt this month, pumping through an amazing sound system. 202's previously planned dates include: > Anthony Gomes, an amazing blues guitarist > Local favorites the Seed, and the Wading Girl > New Orleans horn band Bonearama, doing the double-bill thing with Bill Kirchen > from Nashville via Botetourt County, Matt Ramsey > Christabel and the Jons Read on for more ... May Concerts at 202 MarketAs always, this club has the most going on. Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band, the Nighthawks, Groova Scape, the Biscuit Burners, the Noises 10, the Star City/DC All Stars, Civil Twilight, Luego and Jimmy Thackery are among the artists in this hot lineup. Read on for the full schedule. April 4, 2008Their Great Outdoors is Better than OursThe e-mails come almost daily: Needless to say, these e-mails are not promoting shows coming to the greater Roanoke Valley. These concerts will be in Virginia Beach and Charlottesville. Those places have amphitheatres. Continue reading "Their Great Outdoors is Better than Ours" » April 3, 2008Ticket alert: Pearl Jam, Kings of Leon in Virginia BeachPearl Jam, with Kings Of Leon, at Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater. Concert photos: The Greencards
April 2, 2008FloydFest: Amos Lee, Rusted Root, Oliver Mtukudzi added to lineupThe FloydFest folks keep pumping up the entertainment. Go to the fest's Web site for more. From a news release: > Floyd Fest's 7th Edition (July 24-27) "A Family Affair" would like to announce the following additions to the line-up: > The 2008 FloydFest artist roster now includes world rock sensations Rusted Root, Zimbabwean master Oliver Mtukudzi , and Blue Note recording artist Amos Lee! >Other additions include Klezmer-punk sensation Golem , Beck's old buddy Paleface , and legendary NE fiddler John Specker. Continue reading "FloydFest: Amos Lee, Rusted Root, Oliver Mtukudzi added to lineup" » Music videos: Top 5 at roanoke.comFrom new channels editor Dwayne Yancey, about the MusicCast: > Same songs as last week, just a different order. For the second week in a row, The Seed holds down the top spot on our countdown of top local music videos on our MusicCast. In fact, they hold down the top three spots. April 1, 2008The Feel Good Tour in LouisianaRoanoke-based folk musician Bill Hudson has headed down to Louisiana again to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. The Feel Good Tour has given more than 150 musical instruments to schools in the hardest-hit areas, Hudson said in an e-mail. |
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