The Band of Heathens

Austin, Texas group The Band of Heathens returns to the area for a show tonight (Aug. 25) at Neumeier’s Rib Room in Fort Smith. The group has in recent years performed at Wakarusa, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and in 2010 released their third studio album, “Top Hat Crown & The Clapmaster’s Son.” Admission to the 8:30 p.m. show is $15. Tickets can be purchased at the venue or through the venue’s website.

Here Come the Mummies

Some of you likely saw them at Wakarusa, waddling toward stage, wrapped in linens… and carrying a trumpet or some other instrument.

This is the signature entrance of Here Come the Mummies, a Nashville, Tenn.-based 12-piece that performs neo- funk and soul.

The group is waddling back into the area, starting this weekend. They’ll perform tonight (Aug. 19) at Neumeier’s Rib Room in Fort Smith. Admission to that show is $20. They are also scheduled to perform on Dec. 8 at George’s Majestic Lounge.

I interviewed one of the band members. Sort of. The mummies like to cloak their identities, so to speak, but a  semi-anonymous group member returned an email question-and-answer session. That resulted in a story you can read online, or you can see the full transcript below if you click on the ‘more’ link at the end of the story.

What’s Up!: Tell me a little bit about Mummy headquarters. Where are you writing from right now?

Here Come the Mummies: We write and record at The Crypt, an exclusive, state of the art, secret, undisclosed, yet sexy, studio in Nashville, Tenn. It really only lacks a better stocked fridge.

WU: Which mummy (or mummies) is/are responding to these questions?

HCtM: Java Mummy, (loud) mouth of the band.

WU: Tell me a little bit about how you got your Mummy name.

HCtM: Not really sure, for I have had it for such a long time. Memory is not something I possess in abundance.

WU: Is keeping your costume in shape and clean quite an ordeal?

HCtM: Costume? Who’s wearing a costume? Clean? What is clean?

WU: When I saw you live in June, it looked like a few of you might of tucked Camelbaks under your linens. Is that original Mummy equipment?

HCtM: That would be awesome, but not the case. For mummies, we stay too dry during shows, and it is dangerous … and not in a cool way.

WU: Is the type of funky rock music you play common to Egypt, or were you inspired elsewhere?

HCtM: Over the last several thousand years, we have made it our mission to make as many ladies dance as possible. Our current blend of funk, rock, pop and Latin styles makes them shake and shimmy in droves.

WU: The band is also known for its parade-like entrances. Is that a dance move, or is that just the way you walk?

HCtM: We just like to make a big and memorable entrance, and the drums, commotion, etc seem to make such a lasting impression.

WU: The band doesn’t mind being a bit salacious in lyrics and onstage actions. Trying to make up for lost time while you were buried, huh?

HCtM: Salacious, we love it. It is just the way we are, and for the most part, it brings out the same mindset in the crowd, which leads to a great night for all involved. Let’s face it, we could all use a little, safe naughtiness in our lives, and we just help uncover the buried freak in all of us.

WU: A lot of people from this area were introduced to you when you performed at Wakarusa this summer. What were your thoughts about that gig?

HCtM: It was HOT … very HOT.

WU: For a bunch of dead guys, you try to keep things pretty lively onstage. How do you explain that contrast?

HCtM: Well, you have to understand our history. We were cursed into mummy-dom by a pharaoh for busting moves on his lovely daughters. Thus, we were preserved with our functioning organs fully intact. This means that instead of your dusty mummy stereotype, we get down.

WU: Mummies can be a little terrifying. What about you guys?

HCtM: We are often misunderstood, but we are like Mike: lovers, not fighters. I think people tend to like the juxtaposition of our sound and appearance.

Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights

Texas rockers Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights have been frequent visitors to this part of the state, but it’s been some months since they’ve visited. The group returns for a gig at Neumeier’s Rib Room tonight (July 14). They’ll bring with the songs they recorded for their major-label debut, “Pardon Me.” Admission to the 8:30 p.m. show is $10.

Buckcherry performs “It’s A Party,” their latest single. They’ll be partying in Fort Smith tonight.

Touring on the strength of their fifth studio album, Buckcherry, authors of songs such as “Lit Up” and “Crazy B****,” will visit Neumeier’s Rib Room tonight (July 7).

The the new album comes on the heels for the band’s revival, which began with the 2006 self-titled album that spent nearly 100 weeks on the Billboard album chart.

Aranda opens the show at 9 p.m.

Tickets to tonight’s show are $50 and are available at the venue.

Colt Ford

Alternately labeled as country, Southern rock and ‘rural rap,’ Nashville, Tenn.-based artist Colt Ford has found success telling homespun yarns. Ford, who released his third album, “Every Chance I Get,” in May, performs tonight (June 23) at Neumeier’s Rib Room in Fort Smith with opening act Sunny Ledfurd. Admission is $25.

This is an older Buckcherry song, but some of their newer materials is questionably suitable for inclusion on the blog because of language. And this song, ‘Lit Up,’ is about cocaine, so you can probably guess the content of the other tracks.

Well, this announcement certainly slipped by while we were away…

Hard rockers Buckcherry, who first had a string of hits in the late ’90s before revitalizing themselves with tracks such as “Too Drunk” and “Crazy B****” in the last few years, will visit Arkansas for a show on July 7, a Thursday.

The group will perform at Neumeier’s Rib Room downtown. Tickets are on sale now and are $40 for this 21 and older show.

Cody Canada and The Departed

After his former band, Cross Canadian Ragweed, took an indefinite break late last year, frontman Cody Canada formed a new group that will perform Thursday (June 16) in Fort Smith. Cody Canada & The Departed will visit Neumeier’s Rib Room for an 8:30 p.m. show. Sam Sliva & The Good will be the opening act. Tickets are $15 in advance through the venue’s website or $20 at the show.

The Eli Young Band has found a ‘Crazy Girl.’ They love her anyway. Ain’t that nice?

Texas country act Eli Young Band is back for another pass through this part of the country. The group will perform tonight (June 9) at Neumeier’s Rib Room in Fort Smith.

The group has yet to record a Top 10 country hit, but they’ve come close, with five of their songs finding their way into the Top 50.

Tickets are $30. The show starts at 8:30 p.m. with opening act 2 Steps Back.

Delbert McClinton

Blues harmonica player and songwriter Delbert McClinton has recorded hits such as “Givin’ It Up For Your Love” and “Tell Me About It,” a duet with Tanya Tucker. McClinton will perform tonight (May 19) at Neumeier’s Rib Room in Fort Smith. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 day-of-show. Michaels Burks will open at 8:30 p.m.

There’s “No Trash in My Trailer,” according to Colt Ford. You can find him at Neumeier’s Rib Room this summer. [Slight disclaimer: Bikini-clad women, beer and mild country hillbilly language are contained in the video above.]

If the warm weather over the weekend wasn’t enough of an indication that we’re nearing patio season, how’s this for evidence: Neumeier’s Rib Room is announcing several of the the artists who will perform this spring and early summer at the open-air venue in downtown Fort Smith.

Among the names on the roster are: Texas Hippie Coalition on April 22; Delbert McClinton on May 19; Eli Young Band on June 9; Colt Ford on June 23 and more. The full roster can be found on the venue’s event website.

Tickets are on sale now. Get them through the venue’s website.