Archive for the ‘Listen Here First’ Category
Overcoming the sophomore slump
Friday, July 16th, 2010
Benjamin Del Shreve
Benjamin Del Shreve knows this is an important record for he and the band that carries his name.
The group’s debut recording, “Brilliant & Charming,” was released in late 2007 and met praise. Songs from that recording found their way radios here locally and as far away as Australia.
Then came weeks (and months) on the road in support of that record. The band estimates they performed more than 500 gigs in the past two years. It almost came at the expense of their collective sanity.
The band’s second album, “Sleeping Sweetly,” which will be released Saturday (July 17) at George’s Majestic Lounge, address some of that.
Del Shreve says the album serves as a personal journal of sorts. It talks about long nights after long days, and, in the title track, feeling creative.
The track is called “Sleeping Sweetly,” but Del Shreve tells me in a story published today in What’s Up! [Note: subscriber only content at the link] that the song is about not being able to rest because of all the thoughts flooding your mind.
It’s that kind of driving attitude that pervades Del Shreve and company. They want this second album to prove to fans that they’ve still got what it takes and that the three years spent on the road between the release of the last album and this offering were well spent. Del Shreve believes “Sleeping Sweetly” will keep old fans happy and win over new ones along the way.
The album was also a bit of a respite. The band’s last public performance in Northwest Arkansas was at a New Year’s Eve party. The group took time off to re-energize and to finish the recording process.
The CD, recording with Adam Putman of Insomniac Studios, contains 13 tracks, and I got an exclusive listen this weekend as the band prepared for Saturday’s party.
If you want to hear the new tracks, you can catch them at George’s. The show begins at 8 p.m. and includes support from ROTC and Randall Shreve, brother to Benjamin Del Shreve. Admission is $8, and you can get tickets in advance, if you prefer.
If you’d like a taste of the new tracks, you can listen to the song below. The song is “Now That She Knows”:
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We’ll see you at the show.
Tags: Benjamin Del Shreve, George's Majestic Lounge, Randall Shreve, Sleeping Sweetly
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The softer (feminine) side of Led Zeppelin
Friday, July 9th, 2010
Lez Zeppelin photo by Kyra Kverno
Robert Plant wore women’s shirts while onstage, Steph Paynes said. Jimmy Page was a huge fan of Joni Mitchell.
So, perhaps Led Zeppelin didn’t need much in the way of feminization, Paynes argues by phone from her New York residence.
She takes it there anyway. Paynes is the leader of the all-girl Led Zeppelin tribute band Lez Zeppelin, who bring their high-caliber rock show to Neumeier’s Rib Room in Fort Smith tonight (July 9) and to George’s Majestic Lounge on Saturday (July 10).
Still, even if you you believe that the original British quartet Led Zeppelin — revered by many to be the world’s greatest rock band — had some feminine qualities, it might be hard to digest the band portrayed from a female perspective. Paynes hears that all the time.
“They don’t want this. It’s like burning the American flag or something,” Paynes tells the NWA Media group for a story that was printed today [Note: Contains subscriber-only content].
Paynes argues that her band has the chops — and the equipment — to pull it off. She was in a band before Lez Zeppelin, and she’s worked hard to mimic the parts of Jimmy Page. Others in the band have the attitude and swagger, Paynes says.
They also use vintage equipment, the same brands and models that Zeppelin would have used in its heyday. Paynes, for instance, plays a Gibson Les Paul and a Gibson EDS-1275, the same double-necked model that Page popularized in the concert documentary “The Song Remains The Same.”
Additionally, Paynes plays theremin and, during select solos, plays her guitar with a violin bow.
If you trust publications like The New York Times or author and pop music critic Chuck Klosterman, who called Lez Zeppelin “the most powerful all-female band in rock history,” then you have to believe it’s done well.
Tickets to tonight’s show in Fort Smith are $15. It’s the same price for Saturday night’s show in Fayetteville.
Bonus Video: That violin bow solo? Watch Paynes do her best Page below.
Tags: Chuck Klosterman, George's Majestic Lounge, Gibson guitars, Led Zeppelin, Lez Zeppelin, Neumeier's Rib Room
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A fabulous foursome: Four new releases from local acts debut this weekend
Friday, June 18th, 2010
If you like local music, especially original local music, this is your weekend.
The music of four different artists will be released this weekend. And, coincidentally, someone could attend all four release parties if they so desired. So, here’s where (and how) to see it all:
Strange Heroes
WHEN — 7-10 p.m. today (June 18)
WHERE — George’s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville
COST — $5
INFO — www.strangeheroes.com
The Fayetteville folk/dance group releases will release their third album and first in several years. The new release is called “From the Musk to the Moon.”
Nancy Cooper Maier
Nancy Cooper Maier
WHEN — 7 p.m. Saturday (June 19)
WHERE — First United Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville
COST — Free
Friends of the late songwriter Nancy Cooper Maier will offer songs from her album for children, “Every Little Thing.” Performing are artists such as John Two-Hawks and the Everyone Can Sing Community Choir, which Maier founded and directed. Proceeds raised from CD sales will be donated to charity.
Cletus Got Shot
WHEN — 8 p.m. Saturday
WHERE — Smoke & Barrel Tavern in Fayetteville
COST — Free
INFO — cletusgotshot.bandcamp.com
The punk-grass band will offer their second album, “Unamerican,” at their regular Fayetteville playground: Smoke & Barrel Tavern. The mostly acoustic group recorded the album this winter. The album will also be offered to the public at cletusgotshot.bandcamp.com after the release party for name-your-own-price downloads.
3 Penny Acre
WHEN — 7 p.m. Sunday (June 20)
WHERE — Greenhouse Grille in Fayetteville
COST — $10 in advance and $12 day-of-show; available at the venue or at www.wix.com/3pennyacre/3pennyacre
INFO — www.3pennyacre.com
The award-winning trio 3 Penny Acre will release their second album “Highway 71″ on Sunday at Greenhouse Grill. The album is full of story songs from the acoustic-driven folk/bluegrass group.
Tags: 3 Penny Acre, Cletus Got Shot, Everyone Can Sing Community Choir, First Presbyterian Church of Fayetteville, George's Majestic Lounge, Greenhouse Grille, Nancy Cooper Maier, Smoke & Barrel Tavern, Strange Heroes
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A conversation with Gregg Allman
Friday, May 28th, 2010
Gregg Allman
Gregg Allman does not want to be a nostalgia act.
He constantly reworks The Allman Brothers Band songs such as “Midnight Rider” and “Whipping Post” that made him famous.
He’s been working on a new solo album in partnership with famed producer T Bone Burnett, the man behind the “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou” and “Crazy Heart” soundtracks.
And he’s happy to be on the road, promoting both the new and the old.
Allman chatted with the Northwest Arkansas Newspaper group about his new album and the concert that fans can expect when he plays Sunday (May 30) evening at The Venue at Downstream Casino, located west of Joplin, Mo., on U.S. 44.
Although he’s a household name now, Allman says it almost wasn’t so. He almost wasn’t even a member, he recalls. It was his brother, the late great slide guitar player Duane Allman, that had assembled a band. They were looking for a lead singer, and Duane asked Gregg if he would audition. Gregg did, playing the group four songs that were met with disapproval.
“I was sweating peach pits,” Allman says of that audition.
He then played the song “Dreams,” a tune that found its way to the Allman Brothers Band’s self-titled debut.
Things began to click from that point forward. The band, with Gregg Allman as lead vocalist, sold millions of records and earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the best live bands in the world.
That group remains an active touring group with players such as Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks rounding out the lineup.
But when the Allman Brothers Band is not touring, Gregg often takes his own band, a group that is steeped in the soul and blues, and plays solo shows.
They are playing Allman Brothers songs, in addition to several new songs that are set to be released in January on “Low Country Blues,” an album of obscure blues songs covered by Allman and a backing band that included Dr. John.
To read the full story, you can check it out here, if you a subscriber to our online or print products.
You can also see him live on Sunday. Tickets are $15-$50 and available through the venue or ProTix.
Tags: Downstream Casino, Gregg Allman, The Venue
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The weekend in music, including the Fabulous Thunderbirds
Friday, May 28th, 2010
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
It’s Memorial Day weekend, in case you didn’t know.
Go to the lake. Barbecue something. Go camping. Do something fun, at least.
Like, perhaps, go see some live music. Local venues aren’t taking the weekend off, and there is plenty of music happening.
The Fabulous Thunderbirds, for instance, play two shows at Cherokee Casino in West Siloam Springs. The Southern rockers responsible for the song “Keep Your Hands To Yourself” play at 10 p.m. today (May 28) and tomorrow. The shows are free.
Elsewhere, songwriter Bill Staines is at GoodFolk Productions today at 8 p.m. Admission is $12; make reservations by calling 521-1812.
Fayetteville’s Tiffany Christopher, who recently released a new EP, is at Landry’s in Fort Smith tonight.
You can see a list of other concerts to the right of this post.
What will you be seeing or doing this weekend?
Tags: Bill Staines, Cherokee Casino, Fabulous Thunderbirds, GoodFolk Productions, Landry's, Tiffany Christopher
Posted in Concert Reminders, Listen Here First, Music Industry News, NWA Music News | No Comments »
