Coming to next year's Western Idaho Fair: .38 Special
Submitted by Michael Deeds on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 12:27pm.Let me qualify that: Probably. The Western Idaho Fair is working on booking classic rockers .38 Special. No contract has been signed, despite Pollstar listing the show for Aug. 28, 2010. The Fair always gets an early start on hiring the following year’s free grandstand entertainment. And in case you're wondering, .38 Special still features founding members Donnie Van Zant and Don Barnes, although top-notch guitarist Jeff Carlisi is sadly absent.
What other acts should the Fair consider booking aside from the expected country singers?
Would funky stuff like the Commodores or Earth, Wind & Fire go over well? Should they go old-school pop-rock like the Doobie Brothers?
Here's what .38 Special sounds like these days:
UPDATED: Aerosmith looking for new lead singer?
Submitted by Michael Deeds on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 11:42am.Updated 11/12/09: Oops, no it's not.
Updated 11/11/09: Ridiculous drama is over. Tyler is back in the saddle again.
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Look, I'd argue that when your lead singer starts falling off the stage because he's so old, it may be time to hang up the towel. However, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry says the band isn't breaking up. However, he's claiming that the band needs a new singer.
Apparently, Steven Tyler has quit to focus on a solo career. However, Perry told the Las Vegas Sun he's having trouble confirming this because he doesn’t return phone calls. “He’s notorious for that,” Perry said. “That’s one thing I’ve learned to live with. I try to overlook it.”
Ugh. This sounds a whole lot like Axl Rose's relationship with Slash before that band imploded.
As for Aerosmith replacing Tyler? Um, no. If Tyler isn't in Aerosmith, Aerosmith ceases to exist. The best Perry can hope for is some sort of side project — sort of like Velvet Revolver was with Slash and Duff from G 'n' R.
What singer would sound most like Tyler, anyway? The guy from Buckcherry?
Midnight tonight: The biggest video game ever?
Submitted by Michael Deeds on Mon, 11/09/2009 - 6:54pm.If pundits are correct, "Call Duty: Modern Warfare 2" will be the biggest-selling video game ever released. Will there actually be lines in Boise when it goes on sale tonight? Definitely. Best Buy stores nationwide will reopen at midnight to sell the game beginning at 12:01 a.m.
Taylor Swift on "SNL"
Submitted by Michael Deeds on Mon, 11/09/2009 - 12:40pm.How can you not like Taylor Swift?
(Video removed. Thanks NBC.)
'Where the Wild Things Are' soundtrack: good stuff for big and little kids
Submitted by Michael Deeds on Sun, 11/08/2009 - 11:56am.I've sat in a rocking chair and read "Where the Wild Things Are" about 400 times in the past two months -- it's my little boy's current No. 1 naptime/bedtime choice -- but I still haven't found time to see the movie. (Why is life so busy?) However, I did dig into the soundtrack, which features several indie-rock musicians going by the name Karen O and the Kids. As Tim Johnstone and I explained two or three weeks ago on 94.9 FM's "The Other Studio," it's Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs backed by members of Deerhunter, Raconteurs, etcetera. (Incidentally, there will be no "Other Studio" tonight. Poor Tim has been sick as a dog!)
I really recommend you check this soundtrack out, especially if you have little ones eager to share in your enjoyment of music. It's nice to have guilt-free rock albums you can listen to with children and feel good about. I mean, I always feel like a questionable dad when my toddler starts dancing to Rammstein or something. (Which, I discovered this weekend as winter approaches, is the perfect sonic energy boost for splitting firewood with a sledgehammer and wedges. Anybody got some Icy Hot this morning?)
Speaking of kids: One last reminder that They Might Be Giants will perform a children's show at 4 p.m. today at the Egyptian Theatre. As far as I know, tickets are still available.
Vintage '80s animation
Submitted by Michael Deeds on Fri, 11/06/2009 - 5:40pm.It must be the weekend, because I crave a couple of "cold brew-ha-has." Anybody else remember this mind-frying cartoon as a kid? It's called Jack Mac & Rad Boy ... Go!" It aired on USA Network's "Night Flight" video show, then moved on to MTV's "Liquid Television" in the early '90s. Awesome.
Merle Haggard coming to Boise
Submitted by Michael Deeds on Fri, 11/06/2009 - 4:54pm.Pollstar says Merle Haggard will perform at the Idaho Botanical Garden on May 6, 2010. We'll just go ahead and assume it's an Outlaw Field Summer Concert Series show. Early May is, well, early for an outdoor concert, but it could be beautiful. At least if you believe the saying about April showers bringing May flowers ...
Just hung up the phone with Kathy Griffin ...
Submitted by Michael Deeds on Thu, 11/05/2009 - 5:56pm.... and, come to think of it, did I even get to speak after the initial "hello"?
That woman can talk.
Besides recommending that I become significantly more gay if I attend her show Nov. 19 at the Morrison Center (oh, boy, I can just imagine the commenters now), Kathy Griffin — who has never performed in Idaho — asked me to print this:
"I have a Boise disclaimer. You have to warn people that there's going to be a lot of cursing and negativity. You have to tell people to leave their bibles at home, leave their g*damn kids at home. This is Mommy and Daddy time — or Daddy and Daddy time. I don't think the people of Boise are prepared for this many p*ssy jokes."
Kathy claimed she was hanging out poolside next to her mansion during our phone interview. I forgot to ask if Paris Hilton was with her. More — much more — in Scene on Nov. 13.
Yo, country fan: Where were you?
Submitted by Michael Deeds on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 6:56pm.The Darius Rucker arena concert Oct. 28 at the Idaho Center essentially bombed. Ticket sales were so sorry that the promoter won't share the numbers publicly.
Rucker had three No. 1 country songs in 2008 and 2009. Any theories about why this particular gig disappointed, kids?
Hijinx Comedy Club: Yes, it's still open
Submitted by Michael Deeds on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 6:49pm.Been down to Hijinx lately? You're not alone. It was a tough summer for the Downtown Boise comedy club. But cold weather should help business. Hijinx ain't going away.
A few updates:
—Greg Hahn headlines this weekend. He's a clean comic. How many clean comics are even capable of being funny? It's a topic I'll touch on in Friday's column in Scene.
