2009.03.31
Podcast: Charlie Hunter
Seven-string guitarist Hunter covers the bass, rhythm and melody. He performs on Thursday at Kirk Avenue Music Hall with drummer Eric Kalb. Read profile and get show details here.
Radio station format changes
Here's the unedited version of a brief that will run in tomorrow's Virginia section ...
Fans of classic country music radio station The Bull were surprised on Friday. Their music was gone.
The Bull, FM 106.1, was now STEVE FM, 106.1. Instead of George Jones, Vern Gosdin and other old-school country hitmakers, they were hearing the likes of Billy Joel, Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen and Fleetwood Mac.
2009.03.30
Music at the Coffee Pot in April
Every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday - Karaoke with Eric - (Rocky Top Karaoke)
Every Wednesday - Bluegrass with The Guard
4/3 - AJF
4/4 - Pullouts
4/10 - DJ/Karaoke with Eric
4/11 - Hired Guns
4/17- and 4/18 The Distryct
4/24-Frantic Recovery $5 cover
4/25-Austin Creek
2902 Brambleton Ave SW
(540) 774-8256
The Avett Brothers coming to Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre
FloydFest favorites The Avett Brothers, who mesmerized a sold-out Jefferson Center crowd in September, are coming back to Roanoke -- this time to the larger RPAT.
A lot has happened for the band over the past couple of years, not the least of which was hooking up with uber-producer Rick Rubin for a project on American Recordings/Columbia Records. Avett's bassist Bob Crawford talked with us about it before the Jeff Center show.
The show is set for 8 p.m. July 11. Tickets are $25 plus fees. Get yours at the Roanoke Civic Center box office, tickets.com or (888) 397-3100.
Tickets go on sale Friday.
2009.03.28
This week's CD reviews
There wasn't enough room on the printside for this week for more than one review, so here are the rest.
PRINCE
"Lotusflow3r"
Three has become the new purple.
Remember when Prince did three hometown shows in one day on 7/7/07? Now he’s releasing a three-disc album Sunday, exclusively via Target, for the thrifty price of $11.98.
To promote the new three-pack, he is performing three consecutive nights on "The Tonight Show" and three concerts Saturday in Los Angeles with three different bands.
About the only promotion missing is a trio of fragrances (how about Mplscent?), though Prince does talk about cologne in two — but not three — songs on the new set.
Enough about the marketing. How’s the music?
2009.03.27
Concert review: Rene Marie at Jefferson Center
Things got so interesting toward the end of jazz singer Marie's show at Jefferson Center Friday night (read print version here to see what I mean), I wasn't able to focus the review so much on the music, singing and playing itself.
So let's get to that here, starting with Marie's voice. I had only heard her live once before, nearly three years back at the final Taste of the Blue Ridge Blues & Jazz Festival, where she headlines. She blew me away then, and I have to say she has still got it.
Deb Callahan at Blue 5 Restaurant on Saturday night
CORRECTION: Blues and soul performer Deb Callahan performs tonight at Blue 5 Restaurant. The date was incorrect in Friday’s Extra and in an earlier online version of this story.
Read more about Callahan and DJ Jon H, who also plays on Saturday night, at Metro! http://www.roanoke.com/extra/wb/199049.
April live music at The Sun Music Hall, Floyd
Fred Wesley & The New JBs Sunday April 5, 7:00pm
With: Laura Reed & Deep Pocket
Alliens Friday April 17, 9:00pm
Enter the Haggis Friday April 24 , 9:00pm
Market Street Pub live lineup for April
4.03.09 Half Moon
4.04.09 Kerosene Willy
4.10.09 PolaRiTY
4.11.09 Funk Punch with The Boogie Monsters
4.17.09 Kerosene Willy (Matt’s Birthday!)
4.18.09 Frantic Recovery with Thresher
4.24.09 DJ Bubblegum and FUZZ
4.25.09 PoeMack
5.01.09 The Royal Greens
Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill live lineup for April
413 1st St. SW
Roanoke, VA 24011
Jmart1175@aol.com
www.martinsdowntown.com
April 2009
2 – Harmonic Cellar
3 – Lazy Man Dub Band
Half Moon Band
4 – Electric Chameleon
7 – Snarky Puppy
9 – The Mason Jars
10 – Crobar Cane
11- Benefit for Tricia Scott
Numerous Acts/Early Show
14 – Crobar Cane
Blackout with Ben Trout
16 – Blackwater
17 – Palominos
The Royal Greens
18 – Heywire
21 – Crobar Cane
Blackout with Ben Trout
23 – TurboPro Project
24 – DJ Williams
25 – Loud, Clangin, & Bangin
28 – Crobar Cane
Blackout with Ben Trout
30 - TBA
