Column for March 10, 2010

Spring is springing; the other day I went to work without a coat! And the Pocatello local live music scene is springing too. This week: an Elvis tribute act, CD release events for a locally based rock band, a big concert by a Nashville #1 country music artist and a debut performance by an Oregon pop rock band.

Ryan Pelton does an Elvis show that rivals the best of the best. He has performed all over the world, from at casinos, fairs, theaters, festivals, production shows and professional sports arenas. Pelton is one of the few who performs all the eras of Elvis Presley.

Recently, Pelton appeared with Celine Dion on American Idol performing a duet of “If I Can Dream,” and he played the role of Elvis in Dakota Fanning’s film, “Hound Dog.”

Ryan Pelton’s show, “American Icon,” will be live in concert at the Blackfoot Performing Arts Center tonight, March 10, starting at 7:30, with a repeat performance at the Hillcrest Performing Arts Center in Idaho Falls on Thursday the 11th. For ticket information, visit www.ryanpelton.com.

Rooted in Southeast Idaho, the alt-rock band, Somewhere in the Middle, is releasing their self-titled EP, recorded at Fudge Studio in New Orleans. The band consists of lead singer and guitarist, Aaron Ball, Jake Tolle on lead guitar, bassist Chris McElprang and Johnathan Brownly on drums and vocals.

They play original music that spans genres from sad ballads to danceable disco songs and humorous ditties. Comparable to Better Than Ezra or The Bare Naked Ladies, Inside Pocatello Magazine wrote of the band, “energetic, enthusiastic, and passionate, melodic, soulful rock music!”

Somewhere In the Middle’s EP contains four songs, “Inspiration,” “Wounds,” “Piece of Me” and “Second Gear,” the latter currently on regular rotation on Star 98.5 FM and on 99.9 The Buzz in Twin Falls, ID. The band has toured from Los Angeles to Nashville, performing over 100 shows last year, including guest spots with Shinedown, Sick Puppies, Great White and Hawthorne Heights.

Kicking off their EP release week at Budget Tapes & Records (website) tomorrow, Thursday the 11th at 5:00 p.m. and Friday the 12th at CD World in Idaho Falls (map) with acoustic sets, SIMT has scheduled their full EP release party at The Icon, N. Main St. in Pocatello (map) on Saturday the 13th starting at 9:00 p.m. They will be joined by The Ciminals, Rising Son and more, before starting a northwest tour. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/aaronballmusic.

On Friday the 12th, Nashville country music star James Otto is in concert at the Stephens Performing Arts Center on the Idaho State University Campus. Tickets are $5 to $15, available online at www.isu.edu/tickets.

Otto is perhaps best known for the lead-off single “Just Got Started Lovin’ You” from his 2008 release, “Sunset Man.” The song hit #1 on Billboard’s country music charts. For more, visit www.jamesotto.net.

At Taps Bar on Garrett Way this weekend, you can catch Kaught Lookin’ playing rock covers from 9:00 to close. No cover, open to those 21+.

And Robert Meade, an acoustic singer / songwriter will be playing two shows on Saturday the 13th. Catch him at the Vinyl Perk on S. Main St. at 2:00 p.m., and again at the Flipside Lounge at 9:00 p.m.

The locally-based and popular roots rock and reggae group, Bender, is scheduled to play Portneuf Valley Brewing on S. 1st Avenue (map) on Friday the 12th starting at 8:30 p.m. And on Saturday the 13th, Crown Point is scheduled to take the pub’s stage, playing pop rock.

Based from Portland, Oregon and formed just three months ago, Crown Point plays memorable, meaningful, danceable music with an emphasis on harmony and lyrics. Fronted by vocalist and guitarist Jon Davidson, the four-piece also includes guitarist Russel Stafford, Rober Finn on bass and Tyler Chen on drums.

The individuals in Crown Point have shared the stage with such varied artists as Saliva, The Exies, Hurt, Russell Crowe and more. “The coolest experience I've ever had at a show,” said Davidson, “is when a fan came up to us after a concert and said that the lyrics to one of our songs had given her the courage to forgive her father and make amends with him. In the long run, those are the types of things that make shows matter, not the size or place.”

Davidson has played five times in the Pocatello area, but this is the first Crown Point show in town. Read my full interview with Crown Point at slowloosegravel.blogspot.com, and find out more about the band at www.myspace.com/crownpointmusic.

Linda Alexander
a.k.a. Lana Banana for Idaho Live Music
slowloosegravel@yahoo.com
http://slowloosegravel.blogspot.com
www.myspace.com/showmetheband