Joe's music blog

Halestorm moves, Brother Ali returns

Joe Lawler — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:44:05 GMT

The March 5 Halestorm show at the House of Bricks sold out last week, so promoters are moving it to People's Court. Adelita's Way and Mindrite open.

Tickets are still $14 in advance through Iowatix.

80/35 act Brother Ali is returning to town, playing the Vaudeville Mews on May 2. No word yet on prices or an onsale date.

Cobra Starship, 3OH!3 at Val Air Ballroom

Joe Lawler — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:06:44 GMT

Jeez, it's Music Monday or something. Just announced today is a Cobra Starship/3oh!3 concert at the Val Air Ballroom with special guest Travie McCoy of Gym Class Heroes. McCoy provided the "Ladies and Gentlemen, these snakes are slitherin'" bit of Cobra Starship's first hit, "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)."

Tickets are $25 and will go on sale Feb 13 through Ticketmaster.

Haiti relief concert

Joe Lawler — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:42:12 GMT

Some Iowa rock bands are teaming up for an Earthquake Relief show Feb. 19 at the House of Bricks. The Atudes, The Top Floor Sound, E.G.G. and The Dustin Smith Band perform.

Tickets are $5, witht he money going to the Des Moines chapter of the American Red Cross. There will also be raffle tickets for $1, with that money also going to Red Cross.

Bret Michaels at 7 Flags Events Center

Joe Lawler — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:59:19 GMT

Poison vocalist Bret Michaels is coming back to town, playing the 7 Flags Events Center March 20. Michaels played the Iowa State Fair in August.

Rumor is a new season of Rock of Love will start this year. He recently appeared in the modern classic "American Pie: The Book of Love."

Hat Trick Heroes and Standing Hampton will open the show. Tickets are $20 in advance through Iowatix, $30 day of show.

Sixx Sense starts tonight on 105.1

Joe Lawler — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:54:08 GMT

105.1 Channel Q is giving a big chunk of its evening airwaves over to Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx for his new radio show, Sixx Sense, debuting tonight and running 6-11 p.m. weeknights on the station.

Kerri Kasem, daughter of Casey, is his co-host. You can read an interview with Sixx about the show here.

The program will feature interviews with rock royalty (Nikki's neighbor, Ozzy, is already in) and music. I chatted briefly Tony Tarbox of Channel Q and he said the station has been playing a more "active" setlist for months, but that fans shouldn't expect to hear "Kickstart My Heart" on the station.

Date, new location for Gross Domestic Product

Joe Lawler — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:25:27 GMT

The Des Moines Music Coalition has announced that Gross Domestic Product will be held March 27 at All Play. The event will feature 10-15 local bands, to be announced the week of Feb. 15.

The event is moving from its previous location of the Hotel Fort Des Moines because of planned renovations at the hotel that have kept bookings in limbo. People's Court, which hosted the DMMC's Little Big Fest in November, was not an option since GDP aims for a younger demographic and all ages restrictions would make it difficult for minors to access both stages.

"We had been exploring other places and All Play has a similar sized event room to the ballroom at the hotel, and another area we could use," DMMC member Amedeo Rossi said. "So it looks like it will work out just fine."

Bands interested in playing GDP should contact gdp@desmoinesmc.com. Submissions will be accepted through Feb. 11.

Sugarland coming to town, but when and where?

Joe Lawler — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:04:49 GMT

Sugarland just sent out a press release about the band's The Incredible Machine Tour, kicking off April 23 in Primm, Nevada. Des Moines is on their list of destinations, but very few of the cities have announced dates yet.

Sugarland played Hilton in Ames in September, so if they're playing Des Moines Wells Fargo Arena is a certainty. Twin Lakes and Eau Claire, Wisconsin have been announced as July 23 and 24, respectively. That's not so far away from us, so a Des Moines show shortly before or after one of those dates seems most likely.

I'll post more info once the band shares a little more.

Enter to win Shinedown concert tickets

Joe Lawler — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:38:47 GMT

Shinedown tickets have been sold out for a bit now, but if you don't have tickets yet, don't give up. You can win a pair here. Right now. It'll be easy, I promise.

Last week I interviewed Brent Smith from Shinedown, and he talked briefly about his time at the Iowa State Fair last year. He specifically mentioned two animals he interacted with and two foods he ate.

If you want a shot at winning two tickets to see Shinedown Feb. 12 at the Val Air Ballroom, add a comment to this blog post by noon Feb. 10 guessing (a) an animal and (b) one food item Brent saw or ate at the fair. We'll select one winner at random to receive the pair of tickets. (You must be at least 18 and an Iowa resident to enter.)

This isn't a trivia contest, so if you're wrong, you're still entered. But if you're funny at least I'll get a laugh out of this.

Read the official rules. Then post a comment below.

Roxi Copland CD release show

Joe Lawler — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:27:47 GMT

Roxi Copland is playing a CD release show for her new album "Back Out of the Blue" March 6 at People's Court. The show will feature a special VIP reserved section with $45 tickets which includes:

A $15 bottle of wine to enjoy during the show (with the corkage fee covered), a copy of "Black Out of the Blue, an autographed tour poster and a CD signing with Roxi. If you're interested in this package contact afinetime4wine@aol.com or call 314-4472.

General admission will be $15, which includes a copy of the CD. The show also kicks off a three week Midwest tour for Copland.

Copland's Calliope Concert series continues at the Des Moines Social Club. All shows are $5. Upcoming dates are:

Feb. 26: Keri Noble and Copland

March 25: Shannon Curtis and Copland

April 17: Bonne Finken and Copland

The Nadas residency starts tonight

Joe Lawler — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:05:35 GMT

This week The Nadas kick off a four week residency at the Vaudeville Mews, playing every Wednesday at 7 p.m. It's the kick-off for a busy spring for the Iowa group.

Next month the band plays the Maintenance Shop in Ames (March 4), releases its year-in-the-making "Almanac" March 16, and heads out on a tour that includes a stop at the SXSW Music Festival.

April 16 the band returns for a show at People's Court.

Tickets for the February shows at the Mews are $10 each. Expect to hear some tour warm-ups, "Almanac" songs and maybe a few rarities.

Uncle Kracker, Matt Kearney, Ingrid Michaelson

Joe Lawler — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:49:32 GMT

There were a couple new shows in my inbox this morning:

Kid Rock and Kenny Chesney's buddy, Uncle Kracker, plays March 18 at People's Court. Rehab and Jessie James (how many celebrities are there named Jessie James, anyway?) open the show. Tickets are $23

Mat Kearney, who played Nitefall on the River last year, and Ingrid Michaelson, who played the mainstage at 80/35 in 2010, play People's April 3. Tickets are $27

Tickets for both shows go on sale Friday through Iowatix.

Ludacris opening for Black Eyed Peas

Joe Lawler — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:13:59 GMT

The Iowa Events Center just tweeted that Ludacris will be opening for Black Eyed Peas March 25 show at Wells Fargo Arena.

I always feel conflicted when I'm more interested in the opening act than the headliner. LMFAO is also on the bill.

Tickets are on sale now through Dahlstickets.

Iowan Shondrae Crawford, AKA Bangladesh, helped break Ludacris into the mainstream, producing "Back for the First Time" and "Word of Mouf."

80/35 dates set

Joe Lawler — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 00:25:26 GMT

At this week's Backstage Ball the Des Moines Music Coalition announced that 80/35 2010 will be held July 3-4 in Western Gateway Park.

No word yet on headliners or support acts (I vote Nick Cave!). Interestingly, July 3-4 means the festival falls on Saturday and Sunday, not Friday and Saturday as it has in the past. That's likely due to the fact that most people will have July 5 off since the Fourth of July falls on a Sunday.

"The days will probably be a little fuller. I don't know if we'll start at noon or two, but it will expand by a few more hours," Project Manager Amedeo Rossi said.

Tickets going on sale Friday

Joe Lawler — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:02:14 GMT

First Fleet just sent out a list of new shows that are going on sale Friday through Iowatix.

Feb. 28: Sick Puppies at People's Court, $15 in advance, $18 day of show.

May 15: Needtobreathe, Stephen Kellog & The Sixers, Seabird at People's Court. $15 in advance, $18 day of show.

And if you feel like making a road trip, Every Time I Die is playingthe Blue Moose Tap House in Iowa City on March 17. Tickets will be $16 in advance, $18 day of show.

Sick Puppies opened for Breaking Benjammin at the Val Air Ballroom in December.

Tonight's Howie Day show at the M-Shop delayed

Joe Lawler — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:23:56 GMT

I put some thought into a "Day-layed" headlined, then thought better of it.

Anyway, due to illness, tonight's Howie Day show at the Maintenance Shop in Ames has been postponed to Feb. 2. Tickets already purchased for tonight will be honored on that date, but if you can't make it you can return them to the box office before Feb. 2.

Serena Ryder and Matt Lowell will perform for free tonight at the M-Shop in his place. Lowell will also open for Day on the make-up date.

Cold War Kids set for 10,000 Hours Show

Joe Lawler — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:48:14 GMT

The 10,000 Hours Show of Central Iowa has announced that Cold War Kids will play this year's concert at Iowa State University, April 9 in the Memorial Union.

To attend you need to volunteer for 10 hours with various non-profit organizations. No tickets will be sold. For more info on how to attend, go to their website.

The California band released a new EP, "Behave Yourself," last month and returns to the studio in February for a follow-up. The group has played Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo and Coachella and had music (often "Hang Me Out to Dry") featured on "Entourage," "Numb3rs" and "Gossip Girl."

They also do a pretty great cover of Fiona Apple's "Fast As You Can."

Trans-Siberian Orchestra returns

Joe Lawler — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:28:02 GMT

Is it Christmas already? According to Pollstar, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is returning to Des Moines April 23 for a gig at the Civic Center.

This year TSO is touring outside the Christmas season for the first time in support of the album "Night Castle," which isn't tied to the holidays.

No word yet on ticket prices or an onsale date.

Rothbury canceled for 2010 (80/35 ramifications?)

Joe Lawler — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:23:39 GMT

On the Rothbury website, festival organizers announced that the festival will not be held in 2010, saying:

"For 2010, we have had to make the tough decision to postpone our efforts. A contributing factor in our decision is that, due to various artists’ recording and touring schedules, we now believe that timing will not allow for us to assemble the cutting edge roster that everyone has come to expect from ROTHBURY. The result for this year is that we are not able to move forward with the integrity and high standards that we demand from ourselves and for the festival."

The Rothbury Festival was held in Rothbury, Michigan over the July 4 weekend, at the same time as 80/35, and both started in 2008. In both years the bands shared some common acts:

2008: Yonder Mountain String Band, Jakob Dylan, Drive-By Truckers, Ingrid Michaelson. Additionally, Snoop Dogg played a show at the Val Air Ballroom the day before Rothbury.

2009: G. Love and Special Sauce, Broken Social Scene, Man Man, Matisyahu. And Gov't Mule played the Simon Estes Amphitheater five days after Rothbury.

So what does this mean for 80/35 this year? Does one less festival free up more acts, or does Rothbury shutting down mean fewer acts will be routing through Iowa, cutting down on the quality of acts available to 80/35?

"It's going to be a little bit more difficult booking," 80/35 Project Manager Amedeo Rossi said. "Both years we've had some of our primary support play Rothbury, but some have done Summerfest as well, and that's still going on (June 26-July 4 in Milwaukee).

"Rothbury throws a lot of great bands in circulation, a lot of the jammier things. But a lot of those bands are out and about as well, playing amphitheaters and summer events. The highest level of acts sometimes don't need to be touring, they'll make (festivals like 80/35) a one-stop type of thing."

None of 80/35's headliners have come from Rothbury, and only The Roots have also played Summerfest.

The 10K Lakes Festival in Minnesota is also not being held this year. Florida's Langredo Music Festival was cancelled in 2009.

The Des Moines Music Coalition's Backstage Ball will help the DMMC raise money for 80/35 2010 this Wednesday at People's Court. More information here.

Shinedown sold out

Joe Lawler — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:08:22 GMT

According to the Val Air's website, the Feb. 12 Shinedown concert has sold out. I'm set to interview frontman Brent Smith next week, so if you can't make it to the show at least you'll be able to read an article about the band. I'm sure that will be the next best thing, right?

If want tickets, Craigslist and eBay might be your best bet.

Random Tim McGraw post

Joe Lawler — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:22:00 GMT

Let me tell you something about guys named Joe: We hate "Hey Joe" references. A lot. I can't count how many times I've been asked where I'm going with that gun in my hand. Probably after the person who asked.

But Tim McGraw just called me for an interview and kicked off singing that to me. I might have to start making exceptions for my loathing of that song and its association with my name if I can get big stars to sing it to me. I know Nick Cave did a version of it, if I ever get an opportunity to interview him (fingers crossed) maybe I can hope for similar treatment.

But everyone else needs to stop. Seriously.

Cracker Duo in Ames

Joe Lawler — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:52:58 GMT

David Lowry and Johnny Hickman of the group Cracker will play a special duo show Feb. 19 at the Maintenance Shop in Ames.

Tickets are $13 in advance for students, $15 for everyone else. Ticket prices go up $2 day of show.

Future Faces 2010 first of a series

Joe Lawler — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:47:40 GMT

Next week 97.3 The Hawk is holding its Future Faces 2010 concert at 7 Flags, and it's just the start of a year of concerts for the country radio station. They're planning one show a month, mixing up established Nashville acts wtih rising stars.

Back to Future Faces, tickets are $10 in advance through Iowatix, $20 day of show. The line-up is:

Love and Theft

Easton Corbin

Josh Thompson

Mallary Hope

Megan Mullins

The Band Perry

Five for Fighting at People's

Joe Lawler — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:13:03 GMT

John Ondrasik, AKA Five for Fighting, will be at People's Court March 21. FFF hit it big in 2001 with the hit "Superman (It's Not Easy)" which struck a chord following the 9/11 attacks.

After that hit, Ondrasik earned another hit in 2004 with "100 Years." In October he released a fifth album, "Slice."

Matt Wertz will open the show. Tickets are $25 and go on sale Friday through Iowatix.

The Nadas Haiti tribute

Joe Lawler — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 13:43:15 GMT

I don't normally just post press releases, but this is a good cause with a lot of info. My copy of "Almanac" came in the mail today. I look forward to giving it a listen this weekend.

Press release starts here:

The bands new album, Almanac, is set for release on March 16th through Authentic Records and included on this unique album is a poignant song called “Wrecking Ball”. Eerily, the lyrics reflect much of what is happening right now with the victims and rescue workers after the devastating earthquake struck Haiti earlier this week. “If we stand together….” sings frontman Mike Butterworth. “All we really want is to stand united. All we really need is to just hold on, And we’ll withstand colliding with this human wrecking ball… If I could take away the things that bring you pain; if I could make the sun shine through the pouring rain.”

Moved by the images coming from the devastated country, the band was determined to help in any way possible. Spontaneously, the band entered their studio this morning to re-work a new, live version of “Wrecking Ball.” It was all streamed live for their fans to watch and experience as they recorded as well. You can see the process by clicking: www.thenadas.com/tv. Singer/guitarist Jason Walsmith has also edited a video montage of images from the riddled Haiti. This moving tribute can be seen here.

The new version of “Wrecking Ball” will be available through the bands website, starting today, with all proceeds being donated directly to “Yele Haiti”, a charity begun in 2005 by the Haitian musician, Wyclef Jean. The song will be priced at $1.00 and there is an option for additional voluntary contributions.

Blogging Brad Paisley/Miranda Lambert tonight

Joe Lawler — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 04:59:38 GMT

Tonight I'll be reviewing the Brad Paisley show at Wells Fargo Arena and posting thoughts here and on my Twitter, @JoeLawler. Feel free to shoot me messages or thoughts if you're there, or if you're at home and have questions you would like me to address.

And what are you looking forward to at tonight's show? Log in a leave a comment below.

Everyone is leaving the stage after "Alcohol." Looks like that's the end.

Some pretty awesome lasers are shooting over the crowd. I feel like "The Great Gig in the Sky" might start playing.

And now the break before the encore.

I think we just saw Don Knotts, Ronald Reagan and James Brown in the same video tribute during "When I Get Where I'm Going."

"This is a song about not being a sissy. Those of us who cling to being real men, even though you women try to change us. This being Iowa, it wouldn't matter if every man in here wore Este Lauder face lotion and had hair highlights and wore Chanel #5 perfume, but this is Iowa and it's 20 degrees below zero here, so you're a real man no matter what." — Brad Paisley during "I'm Still a Guy."

"Hello all you Hawkeyes! Is that what you guys are?" — Brad Paisley

"Welcome to the weekend, everybody." Thanks just kicked into high gear with "American Saturday Night." There are some pretty cool animations on the screens.

Brad Paisley has taken the stage, coming out to the extended center stage alone with his guitar and opening up with "Start a Band."

Paisley setlist:

1. "Start a Band"

2. "American Saturday Night"

3. "Mud on the Tires"

4. "Wrapped Around"

5. "Celebrity"

6. "Waitin on a Woman"

7. "You Do The Math"/portion of Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line.

8. "I'm Still a Guy"

9. "Catch All The Fish."

10. "She's Everything"

11. "The World"

12. "Letter Tom Me"

13. "When I Get Where I'm Going"

14. "Feel Like Making Love"/"Ticks"

15. "Online"

16. "I Thought I Loved You Then"

17. "Welcome to the Future"

18. "Alcohol"

Miranda Lambert has left the stage and it is being cleared.

"Maybe you haven't heard, but I'm one of those redneck chicks. One of those crazy kind. I mean a beer drinking, hell raising redneck chick."

"I do have a song I want to sing tonight just for the ladies in the house," followed by "More Like Her."

"We're gonna start a revolution tonight."

"Let me shake my booty, Texas style" then going into "Stay With Me."

"We came all the way from Texas to sing some country music for you tonight." — Miranda Lambert

The lights went dark while Steve Earle's "The Revolution Starts Now" played in its entirety.

Lambert's setlist

1. "Only Prettier"

2. "Kerosene"

3. "Famous in a Small Town"

4. "Dry Town"

5. "Dead Flowers"

6. "Stay With Me"

7. "Maintain the Pain"

8. "The House That Built Me"

9. "More Like Her"

10. "Me and Charlie Talking"

11. "Sin for a Sin"

12. "White Liar"

13. "Gunpowder and Lead"

Moore is off the stage and the lights are up.

Moore: "Everybody ready to see miss Miranda Lambert?"

Moore is really laying it on with thanking places like Des Moines for sending "Small Town U.S.A." to #1. He did have a lot of people singing along.

Justin Moore's set:

1. "Back That Thing Up"

2. "Hank It"

3. "Small Town U.S.A."

4. "I Could Kick Your Ass"

5. "Backwoods"