Column for March 24, 2010

The Icon is an all-ages music venue, located on N. Main Street in downtown Pocatello. It is owned and operated by a company out of Northern Utah, and there are several shows of interest there this week. Cost is $10 in advance; tickets available online at smithstix.com.

On Wednesday the 24th, Bless the Fall headlines with Greeley Estates, Fire in the Skies and more. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Bless the Fall is a post-hardcore band, of the Warped Tour genre, from Phoenix, Arizona. Their debut album, “His Last Walk,” was released in 2007, and the band is currently touring in support of their most recent release, “Witness.” For more, visit www.myspace.com/Blessthefall.

Thursday the 25th brings From First to Last to the Icon with Eyes Set To Kill, Confide, and more. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. From First to Last, another post-hardcore band, is based from Los Angeles, CA, originally from Georgia. Formed in 1999, the band recently released “Throne to the Wolves,” gaining a 4/5-star review from the Alternative Press. For more, visit www.fromfirsttolast.com.

On Saturday the 27th, the Icon welcomes Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, with After Midnight Project and more. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Maylene & The Sons of Disaster is a southern metal band, formed in 2004 in Birmingham, Alabama. The band’s third self-titled album peaked at #26 on the U.S. rock chart last year an at #7 on the Indie chart. For more, visit www.mayleneandthesonsofdisaster.us.

On Tuesday of next week, A Piece of the Action takes the Icon stage with These Cities Passing, The Brave and more. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. And on Wednesday the 31st, an eagerly-awaited Drop Dead, Gorgeous concert (yes, the comma means everything, folks) with Sky Eats Airplane, Danny The Skeleton Horse and more at a special ticket price of $13, and well worth it for DD,G. Visit www.myspace.com/iconlive for a full schedule with links to band websites and ticket information.

Portneuf Valley Brewing has a week-full of live music too. Music entertainment starts at 8:30 p.m., open to all ages, and there is no cover charge. On Wednesday the 24th, a special concert by a locally familiar acoustic rock band, The Lucas Cates Band. Expect groovy acoustic rock, blues and pop a la John Mayer, Maroon 5 or Matchbox Twenty. You can also expect to hear some alt. country, funk and a little reggae mixed in, keeping the sets interesting and fresh with each song.

The band is led by Lucas Cates on acoustic guitar and vocals, with Kenny Leiser on electric guitar and violin, bassist mark Noxon, and an incredibly impressive drummer Jesse Warmka round out the touring band. For more, visit www.lucascates.com.

On Friday the 26th, Swingshift plays jazz, rock and pop in the pub, and on Saturday the 27th, Aaron Ball’s band, Somewhere In the Middle takes the brewery’s stage, playing acoustic alt. rock and pop. Visit www.myspace.com/aaronballmusic for more information, including their recent EP release with the radio-friendly single, “Second Gear.”

On almost every Friday night, Duffy’s Tavern on N. Main has a regionally-based rock cover band entertain the crowd with music and dancing. A favorite is back at it this Friday night, Kaught Lookin’ plays Duffy’s on the 26th, starting at 9:00 p.m.

Kaught Lookin’ is one of Southeast Idaho’s favorite party bands, playing classic rock favorites along with some of the best new rock of today. Expect to hear Lynrd Skynrd, Marshall Tucker Band, Alice in Chains, the Black Crows, Buckcherry … and you’ll know every word to every song.

Formed in 2006 from the then-defunct Exit 69, Kaught Lookin’ includes Rick Veilleux on lead guitar, Mark "Claw" Clawson bass guitar; Tony Roberts on percussion and vocalist Ed Horn. The current line-up has been together since November 2007.

When Veilleux, Clawson and Roberts started out together 20 years ago, it started with a dream to play just originals, but they had to learn enough covers to be able to play the venues in Southeast Idaho. Eventually they had played their own songs enough that fans were singing along, dancing and even requesting them.

Kaught Lookin is excited to announce that they are playing the POW-MIA Rally July 30, 2010, Friday, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Bannock County Fairgrounds. See slowloosegravel.blogspot.com for a full recent interview, and keep up to date with their performance schedule at www.myspace.com/kaughtlookin.

Also, check out Jared Mees & the Grown Children, Boy Eats Drum Machine and the Kratz Bros. Band at the Flipside Lounge, N. Main Street in Pocatello on Saturday the 27th. Show starts at 8:00 p.m. for a $5 cover. Visit www.myspace.com/fliplounge for more information.

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