Column for March 17, 2010

This week in the Pocatello local live music scene, one of the most diverse sets of music genres I’ve seen – from heavy metal to Irish rock, A Cappella to Country music stars – we’ve got it all.

Tomorrow night, Thursday the 18th, Flying Monkey Booking is pleased to produce another metal show at the Elks Lodge, corner of Main and Benton Streets in Pocatello. Show starts at 7:00 p.m., open to all ages and $6 at the door with Rose Funeral, Wretched, And Hell Followed and more on the bill. Find out more at www.myspace.com/flyingmonkeybooking.

On Friday night, continue your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at Portneuf Valley Brewing, S. 1st Avenue in Pocatello with The Wailing O’Sheas. Music starts at 8:30 p.m., no cover and open to all ages.

Based from Salt Lake City, The Wailing O’Sheas are a tribute band to the upbeat Irish punk rock bands Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphy, The Pogues and more. We’ll just call it “sham-rock,” and call it good.

Fronted by bassist and vocalist John Chatelain and joined by fiddle player Andy Reiner, a graduate of the Berklee College of Music, The Wailing O’Sheas play some of the most memorable and emotionally driven Irish punk rock to date. The music is familiar, loud and ruckus, just the way the original bands created it. Find out more at www.myspace.com/thewailingosheas.

Alternatively on Friday night, see alternative rock and electro pop bands Kill Paradise, the Stereos and Missing Method at The Icon, N. Main Street in Pocatello. Show starts at 8:00 p.m., open to all ages and $10 at the door.

Kill Paradise is based from Denver, CO. Their music was recently optioned by MTV for use in an upcoming television series on the cable station. Find out more at www.myspace.com/killsparadise.

And based more locally from Salt Lake City, Missing Method is formed with front man Dan Cutler, guitarist Chris Henderson and David Dean on drums. The band uses 80's melodies with 90's moody rock to created a new spin on familiar, classic rock sounds. Comparable to a heavier Maroon 5, Depeche Mode or the Stone Temple Pilots, the band has opened for Everclear and are currently recording with Mike Greene (David Archuleta, B.B. King, Wynona Judd) on their debut CD, due for release in mid 2010. Visit them online at www.myspace.com/missingmethod.

On Saturday the 20th, see more independent rock at The Gateway Theater, S. 2nd Avenue in Pocatello with the locally-based alt. rock / punk band Last Regrets. Concert starts at 7:00 p.m., open to all ages, $4 at the door or $3 in advance by calling Brian Hermansen at (208) 252-2536. Last Regrets will be joined by Skylar Huffield at the show.

Formed some 18 months ago, Last Regrets is an all-acoustic band. Their CD, "When We All Break Down," is slated for an April 2010 release. The band has shared the stage with Rookie of the Year, Spondee, Madison Lights, Airlift, Sidelined, Seven Feet Below and many more local musicians and bands. Find out more at www.myspace.com/lastregrets.

Country rock fans and fans of all-girl bands, rejoice! Portneuf Valley Brewing is bringing Girls Night OUT to their stage on Saturday the 20th, starting at 8:30 p.m. Girls Night Out is a locally-based band performing country rock.

And there is an A Capella Extravaganza, featuring Vocal Point, scheduled at the Jensen Grand Concert Hall on the Idaho State University campus on Saturday the 20th, starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets prices are $15 for reserved seating and $12 for general seating, available at Vicker's Western Stores in Pocatello and Idaho Falls.

The big concert of the week is the eagerly-anticipated Jason Aldean concert with Luke Bryan at Holt Arena, Sunday, March 21st, starting at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for the Wide Open 2010 Tour are $24.75 to 34.75, available at www.isu.edu/tickets, at the Holt Arena ticket office and also at Vicker’s Western Stores in Pocatello and Idaho Falls.

Jason Aldean has recorded three albums: “Jason Aldean,” “Relentless” and “Wide Open,” generating ten singles on the Billboard country singles charts. Number 1 hits include "Why," "She's Country," "Big Green Tractor" and "The Truth."

When commenting on the latest album, Aldean explained, “Wide Open is the only way I know how to live … I don’t do anything half-ass, and you never have to guess on where I stand on things. I’m pretty much an open book. I understand there may be hitches along the way, but if I’m in, I’m in no matter what.”

For more information on Jason Aldean, please visit his website at www.jasonaldean.com.

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