The Eastern Idaho Fair in Blackfoot is in full swing, and one of the most eagerly anticipated concerts will be on Thursday night when Chicago takes the stage. Playing almost non-stop for forty years and with record sales in the hundreds of millions, it is safe to say Chicago is one of the most successful bands ever.

According to the band's website, www.chicagotheband.com, 18 of their albums are gold, 13 are platinum, 12 have reached the top ten, and 5 have hit number one. Of their singles, Chicago enjoys 20 top ten hits, 5 number one records and 5 gold singles. In addition, they have also received Grammy Awards and a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Chicago continues to donate a portion of each ticket sold to the Parseghian Medical Research Foundation, which is seeking a cure to Neimann-Pick Type C disease. Tickets are $27, including the Chicago Concert, Track Standing Admission and Gate Admission, available online at www.funatthefair.com/store. Concert starts at 8 p.m.

Friday the 7th in Idaho Falls, The Sammus Theory, The Unread and Hate Locker are playing at The Tropics starting at 7 p.m. This is the area's best chance to see three of our best heavy rockers. Tickets are $8 advance at Budget Tapes & Records in Pocatello or $10 at the door.

The Sammus Theory has a great local following, with music that might be compared to Seether or Tool. The songs Pillbox, Something Special and Counterfeit off of the new album "See It Through" have gotten a great response so far.

Sammus grew up in Idaho Falls but moved to Phoenix to further his musical career. "The biggest thing is that I don't ever want to forget where I came from. As long as S.E. Idaho supports The Sammus Theory, we'll always bring a show there when we can."

The Unread is based in Idaho Falls and also has a great local following. They've had several shows this summer � I caught the one at the First National Bar in June. We couldn't get enough of the heavy grungy riffs and soulful vocals.

These two bands paired up earlier this summer when sharing the stage with Smile Empty Soul and The Exxies. This time, they're joined by Hate Locker, a Pocatello-based hardcore metal band. Band websites are www.thesammustheory.com, www.myspace.com.theunread and www.myspace.com/hatelocker.

More locally, Spittin Lynt, Greyhouse Effect and Nyr Lif, all Pocatello based, will perform a free concert at the Bengal Caf� on the ISU campus, Friday night the 7th, starting at 7 p.m.

Spittin' Lynt is an energetic funk jam band with a definite jazz influence. Fans of Spittin' Lynt range in age from young to old � younger fans dig the old funk grooves as if hearing them for the first time, and older fans love to hear young musicians playing the tunes they grew up with.

Derrick Strang, drummer for Spittin Lynt told me, "We just think that everyone needs to come out and support the local music scene whenever they see that there is a band playing." He continued, "The fans just need to know how important they are to the music scene. If there weren't people there to enjoy it there would be no scene."

Greyhouse Effect has gained popularity by moving around in the coffeehouse circuit and with some outdoor shows this past summer. They're music has an acoustic rock feel with syncopated rhythms. The band can be found online at www.myspace.com/greyhouseeffect.

Nyr Lif plays gentle ambient music with guitar, beats and some electronica. It's rather experimental, but from what I've heard, quite promising in its talent and conception. I'll be looking forward to hearing more. Check out www.myspace.com/leafintherain

My pick for your live music Saturday night would have to be at Portneuf Valley Brewing. Acoustic blues guitarist Steven Swift is coming up all the way from Cedar City, Utah for this performance, starting at 8 p.m.

Swift puts on a fun, live, throw back to the old days of the one man band, and it's so hard to beat a good blues jam. Come prepared to buy a CD. Swift says the way to get his music out there is by "� selling CD's and playing shows. I think that downloading is killing the music industry, one kilobyte at a time."

Fans can visit Steven Swift online at www.stevenswift.com.

L Alexander
slowloosegravel@yahoo.com
myspace.com/showmetheband

Well, it’s back to school for many of us and the end of many summer concert series. The Civitan’s Revive at Five has its final concert tonight, with Band Gap making a repeat performance. The event is on the corner of Fremont and Main in downtown Pocatello, this week sponsored by Fort Hall Casino and catered by Sandy’s Ghett-oh Dogs. A real treat.

Band Gap is a locally-based cover band with a set list that spans 50 years of music, including one original about Idaho, popular with the local crowd. Expect covers of Greenday, Tom Petty, Nirvana, The Beatles, Offspring, Eric Clapton, ZZ Top, CCR, & Jimmy Buffett to name a few.

Thursday morning, a fun indie band from Pocatello will be playing at Mocha Madness. You might remember Spondee from their show at the Bengal Café or more recently at the College Market. Be their friend at www.msypace.com/spondee123.

Thursday night, all the way from Dallas Texas, the glam rock 80’s cover band Poison Cherry, "The Ultimate 80's Hair Metal Experience," hits Idaho State University. Expect tunes from Poison, Bon Jovi, Ratt, Guns ‘N Roses, and the like. The street party will be located on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd starting at 6 p.m.

Formed about three years ago, the popular group is Nikki Lixx, vocals; D.D. Semons, guitar, vocals; Thrash, guitar, vocals; Rikki Slambora, bass, vocals; and Jakk Wylde, drums.

About their show, Lixx and Semons said, “‘Hair Metal’ as a genre is about more than just the music; there is a certain energy that can only be found in late eighties metal. Other than the music we also present the entire stage show, choreography, outrageous outfits, big hair, guitar flips, make-up and everything else that sets this music and the bands that made it famous (and so much fun) apart from other genres. The whole era was known for decadence, partying, excess, and reckless abandonment. All these qualities, and so much more, are exemplified by this music. We want the fans to feel like they are front row at a Poison or Bon Jovi concert circa 1987.”

Poison Cherry has opened for such acts as Styx, Loverboy and Bad Company. “We make a point of letting every person that comes to see us feel appreciated and comfortable talking to us.”

For more information, listen to Poison Cherry’s demo, video and contact them directly at www.myspace.com/poisoncherry.

My picks for back-to-school live music entertainment this weekend: For an all-ages, smoke free environment, Swingshift is playing at Portneuf Valley Brewing on Friday at 9 p.m., and Dr. Bob Fisher on Saturday at 8 p.m.

Swingshift is known by many in the local music scene as a collection of the finest musicians in the area, playing jazz, blues and R&B with great vocals. Bob Fisher is a local acoustic guitarist and singer, playing relaxing Americana. He is also an accomplished classical guitar player, as those of us on the 3rd floor of the physical science building at ISU well know.

And for the bar crowd, check out Uncommon Sense, playing country and easy rock at Taps Bar both Friday and Saturday nights.

Saturday night, back by popular demand, Jeremy Buck & the Bang makes a return to the area with a performance at the First National Bar; show starts at 9:30. Their first visit to Pocatello was last spring, opening for Blues Traveler at Holt Arena. Within just a few songs of their set, they had four thousand people standing up, arms in the air, singing along, clapping, whooping and hollering.

Check out www.myspace.com/jeremybuck for a promo video from that performance. Really, I mean it. You’ve got to see ‘em to believe ‘em.

Jeremy Buck & the Bang is Jeremy Buck, drums, keyboards, vocals; Joel Geist, guitar, vocals; Chris Hanna, guitar, vocals. All talented musicians, but more than that, they are performers and entertainers of the highest order. It’s all about the fun.

The band came back to ISU two weeks later, filled the quad with fans, and again at The Nash the next night. By the end of their set, everyone was on their feet, eager to buy CD’s and to get an autograph. Not a single person left without a toothy grin.

Jeremy Buck & the Bang recently released their CD, “Fool’s Gold” to critical acclaim, and even more recently, placed in the top 15 of a video competition with their submission, Take Me Away.

If you hadn’t made plans for Saturday night yet, now you have.

L. Alexander
slowloosegravel@yahoo.com
www.myspace.com/showmetheband

By Mike Richmond Rubber-faced British comic Rowan Atkinson pratfalls his way through a trip to France in "Mr. Bean’s Holiday," a harmless but only occasionally satisfying follow-up to 1997’s "Bean: The Movie." For those unfamiliar with Atkinson’s Bean character, think Forrest Gump crossed with Charlie Chaplin – a simpleton of few words, mining comedy from visual gags. The character scored commercially and critically during a run on British television in the 1990s and was successfully exported around the world due in part to the series’ scarcity of dialogue. The first Bean movie was met with tepid critical notices, but it grossed $230 million worldwide on a mere $22 million budget. And therein, apparently, lies most of the inspiration for the follow-up. Not that there’s anything wrong with making a buck (or a pound) on a sequel, but there is something wrong with "Mr. Bean’s Holiday": it’s just not consistently funny, despite Atkinson’s nonstop clowning. The plot of "Holiday" is little more than Bean getting from Point A to Point B – in this case, England to France – during which he gains the companionship of a young boy on a train who’s been accidentally separated from his father. Because both Bean and the father are heading for Cannes, where the father is a judge at the Cannes Film Festival, Bean takes responsibility for getting the boy there – an intention as reassuring as entrusting Mr. Magoo to escort old ladies across busy intersections. Various transportation glitches vex Bean and the boy, setting up abundant opportunities for slapstick. But only a handful of them strike their marks with adequate forcefulness. The funniest features Bean at an open market, dancing, lip-synching, and hamming up an impromptu reenactment of an opera scene for money. Other good bits find Bean on a clunky bicycle effortlessly passing a pack of racing cyclists and Bean attempting to make off with a ridiculously slow motorized scooter. But for each of the handful of gags that generate laughs, a dozen or so do not. Bean eating a lobster. Bean chasing a chicken. Bean wiggling his ears. Bean propping his eyes open with toothpicks. One after another, the gags induce weak smiles, nothing more. Certainly, not every shtick needs to be a firecracker, but far too many explode with all the percussive power of a popcorn kernel. The film finishes relatively strong by lampooning tediously artful movies (the typical darlings of Cannes and other film festivals) when Bean’s travels intersect the screening of one such film. The juxtaposition of Bean’s "Holiday" slapstick with the screening movie’s dull pomposity humorously contrasts two widely different forms of the moviemaking art. This clever bit would have been more impactful, however, had "Holiday" been more superior to the film being lampooned.

Rather than write about all the live music shows this week, I’d like to introduce four artists in the area, with concerts on Thursday and Friday of this week.

Crucial777, a locally-based Christian hardcore rock band, is playing on the ISU quad Thursday the 23rd at 2 p.m.

Formed in 2006, Crucial777 is Caleb Fadness, vocals, guitars; Colton Carbol, drums, vocals; and Quinn Carbol, bass. “We are a Christian band and our goal is to let kids know that there is hope! That true life can be found in Jesus Christ,” said Fadness. “That is our message; that is who we are.”

Fadness, originally from Anaheim, California lived in Russia for 14 years with his family as a missionary. He and his wife moved to Pocatello last year, when he joined with the Canada-bred Carbols.

The band hopes to have a CD recorded this fall or winter. Fans can contact Crucial777 at their website, www.crucial777.com, and can pick up t-shirts and stickers at the show.

Also on Thursday, Separation of Self, Neckbrace and the Marada Project perform at the Booth Barn in Pocatello at 7 p.m.

Neckbrace, formed in 2004 and based in Pocatello, plays hardcore death and thrash metal. The band is Nick Poppleton, vocals; Pat Moran, guitar; Dave Stevens, bass; and Dan Ditto, drums.

Neckbrace also has a message. Poppleton told me, “The two things we hate most in life are meth addicts, because they lie, cheat, steal and have no self worth or aspirations in life to do anything but get high on dope, and sex offenders.” Three members of Neckbrace are fathers, and as such, have a vested interest in securing a safe community for their children.

The band has a strong following in the Pocatello area, and they love their fans who come out to sing and dance. Three fan fav’s are Large In Charge Marge, Punish Them All, and Curbstomped. Check out Neckbrace’s website at www.myspace.com/neckbracemusic for more information and to drop them a line. The band has a 6-song EP that will be available for purchase at the show.

Friday the 24th, Acardia, Take Over Tuesday, Greyhouse Effect and Amber Lynn are slated to play a free all-ages back-to-school dance at the Westwood Mall.

Amber Lynn is a solo acoustic guitarist, singer/songwriter, who grew up in Southern California and moved to Rexburg for school. Lynn has found the Idaho local music scene to be more than she expected.

“I think that the local live music scene is great. Kids just want to hear music.” She continued, “I think there is a huge difference between the live music scene and the recorded music scene. There're plenty of people who can hide scratchy vocals and crappy lyrics behind a couple of 5 ft amps and a sexy drummer during a show. So I respect and support those that are actually able to sell their music around here … it's great to do live shows and really promote the best of both worlds, both live and produced.”

This will be Lynn’s premier performance in Pocatello. Her recording should be ready for release in a few months. In the meantime, contact Amber Lynn at www.myspace.com/amberlynnmusic.

Also Friday, check out Portneuf Valley Brewing, where The Buckhorn Mountain Boys, a traditional four piece bluegrass band, take the stage at 9 p.m. They do it ‘old school’ by wearing suits when performing, and using a single microphone with vocal harmonies.

The Buckhorn Mountain Boys are Al Jackson, guitar, mandolin, vocals; Mike Bond, banjo, vocals; Rue Frisbee, fiddle, guitar, vocals; and Donna Bond; bass, vocals. Originally formed in 1976, the band reorganized in 2001 and is based out of Nampa Idaho.

The BMB has shared the stage with the Del McCoury band, Quicksilver and more. They have also appeared at the prestigious Darrington Bluegrass Festival, the largest outdoor bluegrass festival in the northwest, and will have a repeat performance this weekend at the Bannock County Bluegrass Festival, which starts on Thursday evening and runs through Sunday.

Jackson informed me, “Bluegrass music differs a lot from most of the commercial music that you hear on the radio mainly in the fact that we don't get the radio play or exposure that other country or rock artists get. The radio play that most bluegrass bands receive is usually on specialized shows aired once or twice a week on college or public radio stations.”

The Buckhorn Mountain Boys have three recorded CD’s available at their shows, with a fourth on the way. Folks can find out more about the band at
www.buckhornmountainboys.com.

By Mike Richmond

In a truth-in-advertising sort of way, it’s necessary to scrutinize the terms “super” and “bad” when assessing the film "Superbad."

“Bad” can mean crude, immoral, or naughty – all of which "Superbad" is. But “bad” can also mean lousy, of inferior quality, or inaccurate – all of which "Superbad" is not.

And then there’s “super.” Modifying “bad” (the crude kind), “super” conveys the film’s nature, proclaiming, “It’s not just crude, folks – it’s ‘super’ crude.” For some, in fact, it’s walk-out-and-get-a-refund crude, to be followed by sneaking into "Ratatouille" for a wholesome, G-rated cleansing.

On the other hand, “super” also describes the film’s hilarity. It’s “super” in its provision of non-stop, off-color humor, and if you’re not offended by the coarseness, "Superbad" will splinter your funny bone.

The film chronicles one night of misadventure for three high-school seniors named Seth, Evan, and Fogell, a trio of schlemiels with nothing on their minds but scoring – scoring booze with a fake ID, thereby scoring points at a party, and, ultimately, scoring in a copulatory manner with some of the comely lasses at the party.

But their plans go immediately awry. Just as ultra-geek Fogell (hilarious newcomer Christopher Mintz-Plasse) brandishes his fake ID to a liquor-store cashier, he gets punched in the face and knocked out by a thief who robs the register.

Meanwhile, Seth and Evan (Jonah Hill and Michael Cera) miss the robbery because they’ve temporarily vacated their parking-lot vantage point to ogle an attractive female they’ve spotted nearby. When they return, they witness Fogell being driven off in a police car and assume he’s been busted.

Quite to the contrary, Fogell is getting the joyride of his life by the pair of dimwitted cops who responded to the robbery. With Fogell in tow, they arrest a barfly, drink on the job, blow in the breathalyzer for sport, shoot holes in a stop sign, and abuse their squad car.

Elsewhere, Seth and Evan are having considerably less fun, but they soldier on. Motivated by hormones, they embark on a kind of sophomoric "Odyssey" (forgive me, Homer) to finish their quest – a quest that leads to drunkenness, fights, an ill-gotten blood stain, booze smuggling, mistaken identity, bad singing, a run-in with the law, and even a touch of personal growth.

Writers Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg (a Seth and Evan writing about a Seth and Evan) first drafted "Superbad" when they were teenagers themselves and living, presumably, the lives of their screenplay counterparts. This may explain the feeling of authenticity that accompanies the raunch. Like no other rampaging-teenage-hormones movie that comes to mind, the lead characters actually seem real, which renders the ample crudity something less than gratuitous – a “super” feat for a generally “bad" genre.

Tonight’s Revive at Five concert features the DC Power Band. The Wednesday night weekly concert is on the corner of Fremont and Main in downtown Pocatello.

Based in American Falls, The DC Power Band is Mike Spangler, bass; Neil McGraw, lead guitar, vocals; Jason Carney, drums; and Ron Lee, rhythm guitar, vocals, entertaining with a fun blend of classic rock and a few originals.

DC Power band has opened for the King's Men (Louie Louie) and has twice played for Phil Meador's Fourth of July Show. They frequent the Blue Moon Bar and Grill in Lava Hot Springs every three to four months each year.
Thursday night the 16th, the hardcore metal band Kohabit headlines a concert open to all ages at The Oasis in Pocatello. Locals Neckbrace and Abcent Myndid, Terrorist from Nevada and Riots of Eighty from Utah open.

Formed in 2003 and based in Salt Lake, Kohabit’s current lineup is Chris Hussey, guitar; Justin Rodabaugh, bass; Jared Rodabaugh, vocals, Ryan Roybal, guitar and the newest member, Joe Arrington, drums.

One of Kohabit’s most popular songs is Black, a heavy but melodic song with plenty of sing-along parts that the crowd enjoys. Another favorite is Cease To Exist, with airplay on XM satellite radio. Locally, Kohabit appeared at the First National Bar last year and played the Warped Tour in 2006.

Kohabit will have their full-length CD “Beyond These Confines” for sale, as well as T-shirts for all and booty shorts for the ladies. Kohabit will also appear at the Peppertree in Idaho Falls on August 26. Fans can contact the band at www.myspace.com/kohabit.

Friday the 17th at Tony’s Billiards in Blackfoot, a double-header of metal mania is open to all ages. The local band Acardia opens for Boise’s Ripchain, starting at 8 p.m.

Ripchain is lead by David Sean Ford, vocals, guitar; Joff Stone, guitar, vocals; Dan Garrett, bass, vocals and Ryan Anderson, drums. The band formed in 2004 in Boise with attitude. Ripchain has a sound that can be defined as modern hard rock built on a solid foundation of old school heavy metal. Their live performances are known for their high energy level and fervent crowd response.

In 2006, Ripchain cut its first radio single, Defiant, and played to a packed house at the Big Easy concert House in Boise. The band has opened for national acts such as Prong, Broken Teeth and Wednesday 13.

Ford commented, “We recently had the extreme pleasure of playing Blackfoot. We opened for Static-X and OTEP. Soon after, our Myspace was flooded with requests for us to return.” For more information on Ripchain and Acardia, visit www.ripchain.com and www.myspace.com/acardiarock.

If less thrash and more dance is your style, Duffy’s Bar in downtown Pocatello is pleased to have the rock cover band Transient performing this Friday starting at 9 p.m. Transient swept the crowd away at Taps a few weeks ago and is sure to become one of Pocatello’s favorite house bands.

Alternatively, some of Pocatello's finest acoustic singer, songwriter and musicians, Angier Wills, Steve Byers, Bret Gordon, TJ LaTour, and Bill Chalmers have formed a new band, One Night Stand, performing at Portneuf Valley Brewing Friday night at 9.

The big even this week is the BFE 2007 concert at Sandy Downs in Idaho Falls, Saturday the 18th. Locals Ixxion, Fortunate Son, Dimmencha and Denots are opening for a host of national acts, including Candlebox, Living Colour, Seether, Papa Roach and more. For times and ticket outlets visit www.myspace.com/bfellc.

And for those who appreciate acoustic melodic pop, Portneuf Valley Brewing is hosting London-born Rupert Wates Saturday night at 9 p.m.

Formed in 2006, Rupert Wates, backed by Stacey Lorin on vocals and Scott Shrock on bass, is based from Seattle. Recently they played a showcase concert for the Los Angeles Music Awards, turning the show into a launch for Wates’ new CD, “Coast To Coast,”

Wates commented, “I think that melody is a bit of a neglected art in music today, and I flatter myself that I'm helping to bring it back. Melody is what catches your ear, before you hear any words, and when it's caught you, you should stay hooked.”

His songs have been nominated for six songwriting awards. After The Rains was named 'song of the month' by Songwriters Universe. In March it received 'Honourable Mention' in the International Singer/Songwriter Awards, and in June it was a top 20 finalist in the Acoustic category of the 11th Unisong Song Contest. For more information, visit www.rupertwates.com.

L. Alexander
slowloosegravel@yahoo.com
www.myspace.com/showmetheband

Country fans will be pleased to hear that tonight’s Revive at Five concert features Country Drive, sponsored by Kruse Insurance and catered by Grecian Key. The weekly Wednesday evening fund-raiser is located at the corner of Fremont and Main, at the Old Town Pavilion.

Also tonight, the local acoustic folk rock band Greyhouse Effect is playing a free concert at the College Market on S. 8th in Pocatello, at 6:30 p.m. Greyhouse Effect is Joe Hunt, rhythm guitar, vocals; Matt White, bass, keyboard; and Seth Kasunick, drums. For sample songs and more information, visit www.myspace.com/greyhouseeffect.

Although coffee and acoustic music is hard to beat, a Friday night of beer and acoustic music is also appealing. The acoustic alternative rock artist Zico takes the Portneuf Valley Brewing stage at 9 o’clock.

From Kansas City, Missouri now based out of Las Vegas, Nevada, Zico has been touring as a solo artist nationally and internationally since the summer of 2000. Zico has four recordings, the most recent release is “Recovering Failure.”

Zico has shared the stage with such varied artists as David Allan Coe, the Gin Blossoms and more, playing as many as 200 shows each year.

Zico also has performances nearby in Idaho Falls August 4, Park City UT August 24 and in Boise ID on October 11. For more information on Zico, including his music and tour dates, please visit www.myspace.com/zicomusic.

For the rockin’ 21+ crowd, Duffy’s Bar on Main Street is the place to be Friday night, starting at 9 p.m. Kaught Looken is one of the area’s favorite rock cover bands, with Ed Horn, vocals; Rick Veilleux, guitar; Jody Andersen, bass; and Tony Roberts, drums.

This southern rock / modern rock band is based in Pocatello and features two of the founding members of the late lamented band, Exit 69. They cover a broad range of classic southern rock and blues, including Lynard Skynard and Stevie Ray Vaughn, grunge favorites from Stone Temple Pilots and Alice in Chains, and modern rock from Creed, 3 Doors Down and more.

The appeal of their set list is that everyone in the bar is going to be singing along and dancing to every song, comfort music like a big plate of spaghetti.

The First National Bar usually has live music on Saturdays. But I’m told that this week, they’ve moved their schedule around to accommodate a really terrific acoustic bluegrass quintet from Athens Georgia, The Packway Handle Band. Show starts at 9:30 p.m.

Formed in 2001, the band’s appeal lies in tight three- and four-part harmonies and energetic performances. They have won the Miller Lite “Locals Only” Battle of the bands, were finalists three consecutive years in the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition, and have been voted Athens’ Best Bluegrass Band four years running in the readers’ choice Flagpole Music Awards.

The Packway Handle Band has released two CD’s: the debut album “Chaff Harvest,” and their most recent album, “(Sinner) You Better Get Ready.” For more information on the Packway Handle Band, visit www.myspace.com/thepackwayhandleband.

My choice for Saturday night, August 4, would have to be the Eagles Lodge. Pocatello’s best all-ages venue for metal, hard rock and punk is bringing their biggest show of the year this weekend. If you’ve never been to one of the Eagles Lodge’s shows, this is the one to see. Emmure, Carnifex, Unite and Conquer and Neckbrace are on the bill. Show starts at 7 p.m., but get there early.

Formed in Conneticut in 2003, Emmure is Frankie Palmeri, vocals; Jesse Ketive and Ben Lionetti, guitars; Mark Davis, bass; and Joe Lionetti, drums.

About their music, Palmeri commented, “We like to write songs that contain depth and meaning but are also a lot of fun for both us and the listener. I would say that what appeals most to our fans is that we are completely on there level. We are kids just like them, just looking to vent and have a good time doing it.”

Palmeri continued, “I think record companies are starting to take risks with bands and other artists that are trying to do something new and different. I think it’s a great time for young bands to really get serious about what there doing. Especially with MySpace, new avenues are available to spread the word and let people know about our music. Possibilities are just endless.”

CD’s and band merchandise will be available for sale at the show. Fans can visit www.emmure.com to contact the band personally and find more information.

L Alexander
slowloosegravel@yahoo.com
www.myspace.com/showmetheband

      Every Wednesday night from now through the end of August, the local Civitans host a three-hour concert from 5 to 8, complete with food and beverage vendors on the corner of Fremont and Main in downtown Pocatello. This week, the band Rockin Horse is featured, sponsored by Ireland Bank, catered by Dough Boyz Pizza.
      Rockin Horse is based here in Pocatello, but they travel all over the region playing rocking covers from grunge to hard rock and a bit of country. For more information on Rockin Horse, visit www.myspace.com/rockinhorseryan.
      Idaho State University’s Wednesday night concert series comes to a close tonight with an exciting conclusion. One of ISU’s favorite performers Shannon Curtis is back on the quad, bringing her own roots-rock opener from Northern California, Nick Bearden. Show starts at 6 o’clock.
      The last time Curtis was in Pocatello was last spring, and before that she performed here several times with her former rock band Paradigm. Curtis told me, “Each time we had such a great time because the people were so enthusiastic. Over the course of my touring history, I think I've stayed in Pocatello more nights than any other city on the road.”
      Curtis, a northern California native recently transplanted to Los Angeles, plays piano and sings love songs. Some of them are poignant love songs, but more of them are the jilted lover kind of love songs.
      She is touring in support of her new CD, “Boomerangs & Seesaws” released in July by Curtis’s own label, Saint Cloud Records. As a performer, she endears her audiences with her living-room demeanor and sparkling humor. As a songwriter, she is unflinching.
      Curtis welcomes contact from fans at www.myspace.com/shannoncurtismusic, at her website www.shannoncurtis.net or via email at skc@shannoncurtis.net. Her CD will be available for purchase at the show.
      The Oasis Bar in downtown Pocatello has a thrash metal show Wednesday night starting at 7. Call the Paramedics from New Jersey headlines, with locals AbCent Myndid and Neckbrace. All three bands have MySpace pages at www.myspace.com/calltheparamedics, /abcentmyndid, and /neckbracemusic.
      And there is a rare ska / reggae show in Blackfoot. Wednesday at 8 o’clock, the Idaho-based Opskamatrists from Rexburg and Safe & Easy from Idaho Falls perform with California’s Mad Conductor at Tony’s Billiards.
      The Opskamatrists originally formed in December 1998 under the name Super Skank. The new line-up has had great success in the South East Idaho music scene. They have competed in several different local band competitions, winning first and second places at the Chesbro Music Battle of the Bands, ISU’s Pokapalooza, Ifapalooza and BYU-Idaho’s Guitars Unplugged winning best original song in 2004.
      The Opskamatrists have been featured several times on local radio station KBEAR 101’s “For Locals Only”, as well as Idaho Falls former station 98X. Find out more at www.myspace.com/theopskamatrists
      This weekend, the big show is Blue October, Friday night, at the Idaho Falls Civic Auditorium. Doors open at 6, and advance tickets are available in Pocatello at Budget Tapes & Records.
      Blue October is perhaps best known for the single Hate Me, a break-up song where the unworthy, recovering alcoholic singer dumps his girlfriend for her own good. The band’s music is soulful pop, frequently acoustic, and most markedly vocally and lyrically strong. There is definitely an emo bent, attractive to the younger crowd. But I guarantee parents who take their kids to the show will enjoy the musicianship of this band, somewhat reminiscent of the romantic pop movement of the late 80’s.
      For those unfortunate souls who can’t make the Blue October concert, there is plenty on the agenda for Friday night’s local live music scene.
      Die to Yourself, a metal band, is slated to play at Tony’s Billiards starting at 7 p.m. Sonic Devastation, a thrash metal band, is performing at the Peppertree Lounge in Idaho Falls at 9. The Shape Shifters Blues Project will be at Duffy’s Bar in Pocatello Friday night starting at 9 o’clock, as does Swing Shift at Portneuf Valley Brewing.
      And to finish up the weekend, top recommendation for your Saturday night is Zach Murphy at Portneuf Valley Brewing.
      Zach (Chris) Murphy, 5-string banjoist extraordinaire, will play old-time songs and tunes from North America starting at 9 p.m. Murphy, famous long ago in Pocatello for his bagpipe and flute playing, has lived and played music in Seattle for many years; this is a rare opportunity to see him perform locally.
      I’ve always said that you just can’t be sad listening to a banjo. Go, be happy.

L Alexander
slowloosegravel@yahoo.com
www.myspace.com/showmetheband

There’s something for everyone this week in Pocatello’s local live music scene.

Sponsored by Drive for the Cure, this Wednesday night’s Revive at Five in downtown Pocatello features the jazz-based group Swingshift. Expect great music from rock to romantic, grand ballroom to Grand Funk. Route 66 is one of their signature tunes, but also keep an ear out for Mustang Sally and Take Five (Dave Brubeck).

Swingshift is Ramona Awes, vocals, sax; Mike Banks, vocals, bass; John Anderson, drums; Terrel Merkley, keyboards; and Mahdi Underwood, vocals, horns. The group formed two years ago and has been playing steadily since in Sun Valley, several outdoor venues promoted by the Idaho National Laboratory and several local benefits, notably the Free Clinic in Pocatello. Swingshift regularly performs at Portneuf Valley Brewing and Vino Russo in Idaho Falls.

CD’s will be available for sale at the show, or contact Swingshift at www.geocities.com/swingshift_jazz.

The Clumsy Lovers are welcomed back again to the Idaho State University quad, also on Wednesday. The locally based rock and blues band Graybeard will start the show at 6 o’clock.

Clumsy Lovers is touring in promotion of their seventh album, “Smart Kid.” This is the second release for their Nettwerk Records label with producer John Webster.

The band has taken a new approach to recording in these last two releases. Chris Jonat, a spokesman for the Clumsy Lovers comments from their website, “For a long time I was a big proponent of ‘Make sure your CD represents your live show,’ especially for us because we tour so much. And, before After the Flood, 95 per cent of our sales were off-stage,” explains Jonat. “I’m a late learner, but what works live doesn’t necessarily work in the studio, and vice versa. More than I ever did before, I view them as two separate art forms. You definitely still want it to sound like you, but what bears repeated listening is different from what’s fun to hear in the pub or in the concert hall.”

If you’ve never seen one of the Clumsy Lovers’ live performances, don’t miss this one. Learn more about the band at www.clumsylovers.com.

This weekend, Portneuf Valley Brewing is pleased to host the Desert Flyers on Friday and Gene Galloway with Bill Chalmers on Saturday. Both shows start at 9 o’clock, are open to all ages and free.

For the hard rockers out there, the Eagles Lodge has two shows this weekend. Saturday the 21^st, Amicus, Monroe, Neckbrace and Ambria are on the bill. And Sunday the 22^nd, Amicus and Neckbrace are back for a repeat performance, with From Overland To Deadwood and Frank Castle. Both shows start at 7 p.m.

Lastly, on Tuesday of next week, University, Acardia, Half As Bad and Take Over Tuesday are playing a free outdoor concert at the Ross Park Bandshell, starting at 7 o’clock.

University is an indie rock, powerpop band from Denver. They have a well-done video of the single Workout Buddy available on their myspace page at www.myspace.com/universityrock, along with several other demo songs and pictures. Take Over Tuesday and Half As Bad are both local to Pocatello.

Acardia is made up of local boys, all graduates of Marsh Valley High School. They have a small but dedicated following in the area, drawn to a band with a message, emotion and mostly about fun. Fans say that Acardia’s shows are more like a party with friends than a concert.

Acardia’s music could be called pop metal, an alternative hard rock sound. They play a fast punk-beat song, The Greatest Way to Die, shuffle rhythms on Snowshoe Hare and anthemic songs like Faceless Dreams or The Day Before the Fourth.

The current lineup is Buddy “Gallagher” Romriell, vocals; Mike Anderson, guitar; Eric Yazzie, guitar; Mitch Mulholland, bass; and Andy Correll, drums. Anderson and Correll have been playing for about five years, with the rest of the band forming in the last year.

Anderson commented, “As far as the local music scene, it looks as though it is developing into something incredible.  I'm so excited that we are getting such a variety of artists in our town every week.  The underground seems to be the only place where interesting musicians are able to thrive.  Well, maybe not thrive.  I've met some stinky musicians.  But at least they're interesting.”

Acardia is also slated to play at Tony’s Billards in Blackfoot, August 17 with Ripchain. For more information on Acardia, free downloads or to contact them for a free CD, visit www.myspace.com/acardiarock  or www.purevolume.com/acardiaid.

 

Linda Alexander

slowloosegravel@yahoo.com

www.myspace.com/showmetheband

 

By Skip Carter

This summer marks the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love. Our country went through a lot of changes in the 1960s (war protests, flower power, love-ins, psychedelic drugs, etc.) and so much of it was reflected in the music that was released in 1967. With all that was going on in the country and the world, there was an amazing burst of creativity in popular music.
Besides the great “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” by the Beatles, the list of albums in ’67 included debuts by the Doors, the Grateful Dead, the Velvet Underground, and Pink Floyd, and new releases by the Who, Bob Dylan, Cream, the Rolling Stones, the Moody Blues, the Byrds, and the Beach Boys. Songs that were heard for the first time included “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison, “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix, “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum, “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane, “Mellow Yellow” by Donovan, and “Respect” by Aretha Franklin.
The Summer of Love discussion sparked a debate at Pocatello Arts Council member Jesse Robison’s recent birthday party. In the past 40-plus years, what are the best rock albums of all time?

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There are plenty of concerts this week for live music fans of all ages, some indoor and plenty of outdoor shows.

 

Wednesday, the Armed Forces Band is the featured act at the Revive at Five in downtown Pocatello, sponsored by New Day Products and Resources. The concert starts at 5 o’clock at

420 N. Main Street

. And Zane Williams is the headline act on the ISU quad, with local favorites The Jory Dax Band opening at 6 o’clock.

 

Singer songwriter Zane Williams has been touring the college circuit since 2001. Originally from Abilene, TX, he’s made a name and a home for himself in Nashville when not on the road. He plays country music with a folk / bluegrass / americana feel.

 

Williams’ songs tell stories and range from slow and somber to quick and bright. The single Back Porch Band is my favorite of the samples I’ve heard, reminding me of a Steve Miller Band tune, sung with a Tennessee twang. For more information on Zane Williams, visit his official website at www.zanewilliams.info.

 

The Jory Dax Band, led by guitarist Jeff Young, plays a mix of rockin’ blues covers and originals. Please visit www.myspace.com/jorydaxband for sample songs and video.

 

Friday the 13^th, head down to the Ross Park Bandshell for a full afternoon of free music. The Super Show Summer Tour ‘07 hits Pocatello starting at 2 o’clock, with several bands playing punk, metal, rap, nerdcore and rock. The bulk of the touring bands are from Washington, but two Idaho bands are also on the bill, Josef Grool and When Legends Die.

 

Portneuf Valley Brewing is bringing a new group to Pocatello on Friday night at 9 p.m. Lost by Reason, an alternative folk band, plays original vibrant music.

 

Based in Salt Lake, Lost by Reason is Katie Lloyd, vocals, acoustic/electric guitar; Carol Dalrymple, vocals bass, acoustic/electric violin; Jamie Backman, drums, percussion.

Friends for the past three years, the band formed last September and released a debut CD "Seven Years of Insomnia". By all accounts, this is the first all-girl band to play at the brewery. Visit www.myspace.com/lostbyreason.

 

Saturday at noon the McMinn Inn outdoor concert series continues with the Moose Creek Music Fest, featuring Graybeard, Steelhead Redd and the Lost Boys on the Bonneville stage. Local solo artists Glen Allen, Nick Mullet and Alicia Severs are slated to play the Courtyard stage.

Gates open at noon; reduced-price advance tickets are available at Budget Tapes and Records in Pocatello. For more information, call 208-775-4596.

 

Saturday night, the Eagles Lodge has put together another great line-up for an all-ages crowd. Doors open at 6 p.m. Morgans Door is headlining, with support from My Life in Red and more.

 

Based in Portland, Morgans Door has played with Kane Hodder, Coretta Scott, Rookie Of the Year, Roses Are Red, Kaddisfly and This Providence. The band is recording their first full length CD at the end of July. For more information on Morgans Door, visit www.myspace.com/morgansdoor.

 

The First National Bar is hosting The SnakeOil Stompers Saturday night, a roots rock, blues and funk band playing hip-shaking music with a New Orleans flair. The band is based in Pocatello with, Robert Miron, vocals, guitar, Shane Lindsey vocals, drums and Lisa Hall, bass. Show starts at 9 o’clock.

 

This weekend, Tony’s Billiards in Blackfoot is hosting shows on Friday and Saturday nights, starting at 8 p.m. On Friday, Bad Reaction, Dictionhead, NFFU and Evil Octopus take the stage. On Saturday, Religious Genocide, Evil Octopus, Bad Reaction and NFFU are on the billing. 

 

Monday the 16th, there’s a not-to-miss show for the 21+ crowd at Chic’s Lounge in Idaho Falls. JagerFest presents The Unread, Hatelocker, Cryptobiotic, Kicking K8, Denots and NYC. Show starts at 4 p.m.

 

As a final note, the people of Pocatello can help one of its own become a star. Last month, local country singer Darrin Allen performed on the ISU quad. Earlier this year, he submitted a video to an online competition at www.famecast.com and has just made the top 10. He has just uploaded a new video and will be going for the top 5 spot. Online voting began on July 5^th and ends July 12 at 10:00 a.m. mountain time. If he makes it in the top 5, they fly him to Austin for the final vote.

 

This competition is much like Nashville Star and is very important for not only Allen’s career, but the community of Pocatello too. Visit www.famecast.com to place your vote today.

 

Linda Alexander

slowloosegravel@yahoo.com

www.myspace.com/showmetheband

By Linda Alexander

This week there are almost too many live music shows for me to write about, so I can only highlight some special events.
Most of the events are open to all ages, so parents take your kids to a show, and kids take your folks. Make some memories.
Returning to Idaho State University Wednesday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m., Jeremy Buck & The Bang will bring down the rafters of the Student Union Ballroom.

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By Linda Alexander

Benefit concerts and awareness rallies. Live music is synonymous with supporting charitable events. Rock The Vote, Rock for Darfur, We Are The World, Band Aid, the list goes on.

A few months ago, The First National Bar hosted just about every local musician in a show called “Jam for Pam.” Next week, there will be a fundraiser for the Pocatello Fire Department at The Booth Barn with five bands. In mid-May, Portneuf Valley Brewing will host an outdoor block party and fundraiser for "Poky Free Bikes." And in July, the POW/MIA National League of Families host their annual awareness rally with a weekend Battle of the Bands.

But there are times when live music changes the world one person at a time. It’s these changes, these times when one live show has an impact on one person, that have the most moving effect.


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By Linda Alexander

At 7 o’clock Wednesday night, Libbie Schrader makes her debut Idaho performance at the Stephens Performing Arts Center on the Idaho State University campus.
It’s actually her second appearance in Idaho. She came to Pocatello when in high school with her church and worked on the Shoshone-Bannock Indian Reservation. They built a playground for kids. A community-minded pop star!

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By Linda Alexander

There is live music in several places in and around Pocatello on just about every day this week. But on Saturday there are five shows that are of particular interest, showcasing what the Pocatello live music scene really has to offer.
The Celtic Tenors will perform at the Jensen Grand Concert Hall in the Stephens Performing Arts Center starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets can be purchased online at www.isu.edu/tickets, or by calling (20 282-3595 Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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By Mike Richmond

At this very moment, a glut of turtle-themed merchandise is being trucked, shipped, airlifted, and probably even rickshawed into retail outlets around the globe.

And somewhere amidst the lunchboxes, electric toothbrushes, action figures, pajamas, video games, and plastic nunchucks, you’ll find the fourth big-screen offering of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

This time, the movie is called, simply, "TMNT." And why not? The acronym fits better on all the stuff.

Unfortunately, the curtailment mindset seems also to have been administered to the turtles’ personalities, which are overshadowed by the film’s high-tech computer animation. The result is 89 minutes of whiz-bang eye candy without enough of the humorous interplay between turtles that fans of the franchise have come to expect.

Still, as eye candy goes, "TMNT" is as good as it gets. The beautiful texture and agility of the animation, coupled with imaginative creatures and battle sequences, divert the viewer throughout, even as a somewhat nonsensical plot from writer-director Kevin Munroe induces head scratching.

The storyline involves an immortalized warlord intent on world domination, his ancient generals who’ve been turned to stone, and 13 monsters released on the planet 3,000 years ago when a vortex of power beamed through an alignment of stars. Now, as the stars are set to align once again, the monsters are being rounded up to break a curse and free the generals for resumption of their world-domination aspirations. Suffice to say, "TMNT" is not “based on true events.”

The monsters and generals are there to give the turtles something to smite, of course, which they do quite entertainingly. Plus, the turtles’ arch-enemy, The Foot Clan, shows up to supply henchmen for the bad guys, thus providing additional fodder for turtle-style fanny kicking.

Human cohorts Casey Jones, the hockey-stick-wielding vigilante, and April O’Neil, the spirited former TV reporter, get into the action, too, while mutant rat Splinter, sensei to the turtles, shuffles around preaching the importance of teamwork.

Splinter’s exhortations are necessary because a rift has developed between turtles Raphael and Leonardo over leadership of the team. The rift seems trivial, but it’s given so much attention that the other turtles – Michelangelo and Donatello – are all but missing in action, which is the movie’s greatest shortcoming. The surfer-dude personality of Michelangelo, in particular, is needed for comic relief and to lend the film more of its “cowabunga” groove. Yet, mysteriously, Michelangelo is given few scenes and little dialogue.

Munroe’s script and direction compensate, though, with admirable pacing that never lets much time elapse between superbly presented action scenes. Moreover, he maintains a PG-light tone suitable for most youngsters.

On the balance sheet, "TMNT" is energetic, kid-friendly fun, much closer to “cowabunga” than “cowabungle.”

By Linda Alexander

Shannon Curtis is this week’s featured performer in Idaho State University’s “Too Much Rock” concert series. She will be in concert at the Performing Arts Center Wednesday starting at 7 p.m. The show is free and open to the public.
The last time Curtis was in Pocatello was June 2006, then with her former rock band Paradigm, who played at Idaho State University several times over the course of their touring career. Curtis told me, “Each time we had such a great time because the people were so enthusiastic… over the course of my touring history, I think I've stayed in Pocatello more nights than any other city on the road.”

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By Skip Carter

This one-act play by Christopher C. Taft was the inaugural offering of Shelley Canalia’s Theatre in a Barn Productions at the new performance space at Goody’s in Pocatello.
Canalia intends to use the intimate setting for works by local writers, performers and artists and the early efforts to get the project up and running should be applauded.
For example, the performances of “Internal Affairs” not only featured the debut of a never-before produced play but also the works of local artists Mick Lowenthal and Kathy Snow were displayed on the walls of the theater (This is similar to the same showcase of artists routinely done by Pocatello’s Westside Players).

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By Skip Carter

Opportunities for young people to get involved in theater in Southeastern Idaho have greatly increased of late. Besides the drama classes of the local high schools, there are also excellent workshops offered at ISU and their summer theatre program that includes a musical production open to members of the community (this year it will be “The Secret Garden”).


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By Linda Alexander

This Saturday is St. Patrick’s day, the biggest bar holiday of the year, perhaps second to New Year’s Eve.
Saturday night, any bar that hosts live music is sure to pull out all the stops to bring you the best entertainment they have to offer.

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By Spencer Case
Journal Writer

Raining Jane is second to none on stage. Every Idaho State University student who attended their performance Wednesday owes a big thanks to the ASISU program board for inviting them.
The all female folk-rock quartet brought vitality to the Too Much Rock concert series that seemed to please everyone in the crowd. Eight years on the road has certainly taught these California women how to put on a show.
One asset the band has is the diversity of instruments and musical styles used in their performance. Each member of Raining Jane knows more than one instrument. Some of these are fairly unconventional, such as the cello, the sitar and the cajon—a percussion instrument used in flamenco dancing.

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By Linda Alexander

It’s Raining Jane Wednesday night at Idaho State University.
Raining Jane is a four-piece all-female independent folk rock band from Los Angeles. The band is Mai Bloomfield, vocals, guitar, cello; Becky Gebhardt, bass, guitar, sitar; Chaska Potter, vocals, guitar; and Mona Tavakoli, drumkit, cajon, vocals. They first developed a following out of UCLA’s music scene in 1999 while in college, and have since built on that college-crowd fan base all over the country over the past four years.

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By Spencer Case

Many words come to mind while trying to describe the unique sound of Sigur Ros: ethereal, haunting, otherworldly, angelic, melancholy, beautiful.
One word that doesn’t come to mind is ordinary.

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By Mike Richmond

What’s the deal with Samuel L. Jackson and snakes?

Last year he dented his respectable reputation by starring in "Snakes on a Plane," a half-baked thriller that only avoided all-out humiliation when a cult following fell under the disputable impression that the film’s ineptitude was intended as satire.

Now, Jackson follows with "Black Snake Moan," a ridiculous drama that will need a cult following of its own to suck the venom out of this box office bomb.

In "Black Snake Moan," there are no actual snakes for Jackson’s character to exterminate. Here, his ex-bluesman character faces a much different problem: what to do with a promiscuous, boozed-up young woman he finds beaten unconscious and nearly naked on a dirt road outside his rural home.

Playing a God-fearing man named Lazarus, you’d assume correctly that Jackson’s character would respond in a kindly, Biblical manner. But you wouldn’t predict that his inner Good Samaritan would fail to summon a cop or an ambulance. Instead, he carries the woman inside, plies her with prescription cough syrup, and chains her to his radiator.

What follows (and what precedes, for that matter) is dehumanizing trash, the likes of which hasn’t been put to celluloid since Kim Basinger opted out of "Boxing Helena." Christina Ricci plays Rae, the promiscuous one, and spends most of the movie writhing, moaning, and clawing herself in nymphomaniacal agony, which is what really, really sex-crazed people do, apparently, when their carnal appetites are not served.

Despite her objections, Lazarus attempts to cure Rae by keeping her chained, playing blues for her on his guitar, walking her around outside like a leashed dog, and quoting scripture. And in ridiculous Hollywood fashion, a few days of this treatment works wonders. Eat your heart out, Betty Ford Clinic.

Most of the time, Rae is clothed in nothing but super-skimpy panties and an ultra-short belly shirt, revealing former child-star Ricci’s all-grown-up body as the movie simultaneously reveals its own hypocrisy. For a film whose lead character preaches the sinfulness of promiscuity, it sure spends a lot of time showcasing Ricci’s hot bod. Apparently the same mental blind spot that keeps Lazarus from calling the authorities also prevents him from offering Rae an overcoat or blanket.

"Black Snake Moan" is writer-director Craig Brewer’s befuddlingly pointless follow-up to "Hustle & Flow," his brilliant 2004 pimp-turned-rapper saga. "Hustle" succeeded by connecting the audience, most improbably, to its protagonist’s up-from-poverty struggle, and it did so without the benefit of stars like Jackson, Ricci, and Justin Timberlake, who plays Rae’s boyfriend in "Snake."

But no such audience connection occurs here, which at least partially accounts for the steep drop-off in quality between films.

The rest of the blame goes to the apparent jinx associated with Jackson and snakes. Thankfully, there’s an easy fix to this, if Mr. Jackson will kindly refuse any and all serpent-titled scripts henceforth.

And let’s hope he does, because, to paraphrase Snakes on a Plane, I’m tired of these (expletive) snakes in his (expletive) but otherwise commendable body of work.

By Linda Alexander

Chris Proctor is in concert Wednesday night (Feb. 2 at the Pond Student Union Ballroom at Idaho State University. The concert is free and starts at 7:30 p.m.
Proctor will be a real treat for those who enjoy acoustic guitar. He is widely known for his talents in solo fingerstyle guitar techniques for six- and 12-string guitars. His music is influenced by a mix of folk, pop, jazz and some classical music. His music certainly appeals to the general audience, but if you are a guitarist of any level, Proctor’s show is a must-see.

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