Column for May 19, 2010

The southeast Idaho live music scene is rockin’ hard this week, with two metal concerts of note. There is also family-oriented music entertainment and a few local shows of interest for evening music entertainment.

Tonight, Wednesday the 19th, Job for a Cowboy headlines a heavy metal concert at The Icon on N. Main Street in Pocatello. Whitechapel, Cattle Decapitation, Lidsore and Fire in the Skies are also on the billing. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with $13 tickets available in advance at www.smithstix.com. The Icon is open to all ages.

Formed in 2003, Job for a Cowboy is a death metal band based from Glendale, Arizona. Their debut EP, “Doom” was released in 2005, and the band was signed with Metal Blade Records. “Genesis,” their first full-length recording was released in 2007, peaking at #54 on the Billboard 200, selling 13,000 copies in its first week.

Described as a “straightforwardly brutal act” by Rolling Stone Magazine, Job for a Cowboy is fronted by Jonny Davy on vocals with guitarists bobby Thompson and Al Glassman, bassist Brent Riggs and Jon Rice on drums. They’re on tour in support of the most recent release, “Ruination.” For more, visit http://jfacmetal.com.

If classic metal is more your taste, on Thursday the 20th, Ratt is in concert with The Frank Hannon Band (Tesla) at the Idaho Falls Civic Auditorium. The locally-based punk and metal band, Scratch, is scheduled to open the show. Tickets are $29 - $34, available at 78productions.com, CD World in Idaho Falls or at Budget Tapes & Records in Pocatello.

Ratt is perhaps known best as a glam metal band from the 1980’s, producing six albums between 1983 and 1999. Based from San Diego, CA, Ratt enjoyed significant commercial success with the singles "Round and Round," "Wanted Man," "Lay It Down," "You're in Love," "Way Cool Jr." and "Back For More," selling some 11 million records in the U.S. and over 20 million world wide.

Named by VH1 as one of its "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock," Ratt is currently touring in support of their most recent CD, “Infestation,” released last month after an 11-year recording hiatus. Vocalist Stephen Pearcy is still the voice of the band, with Warren DeMartini and Carlos Cavazo on guitars, Robbie Crane on bass guitar and drummer Bobby Blotzer. For more, visit www.therattpack.com.

For some great family music entertainment in Idaho Falls, check out Riders in the Sky, a western music and comedy group presented by the Idaho Falls Arts Council, on Thursday the 20th. Tickets are $28; call (208) 522-0471.

Riders in the Sky began performing in 1977. Since that time, the group has won two Grammy Awards: “Woody's Roundup: A Rootin' Tootin' Collection of Woody's Favorite Songs” won a Grammy in 2001 for "Best Musical Album For Children," and “Monsters, Inc. Scream Factory Favorites” won for "Best Musical Album For Children" in 2003. For more, visit www.ridersinthesky.com.

Country and rock are on tap at Portneuf Valley Brewing on S. 1st Avenue in Pocatello on Friday the 21st with Unstable Ground. Music entertainment starts at 8:30, no cover and open to all ages. The band is lead by Gene Taylor and Mark Holbrook on guitars and vocals, bassist Chris Willock and Eric Stanley on drums also contribute vocally.

Holbrook and Taylor of Unstable Ground started playing acoustic sets 2001. In 2007, the band became a classic rock cover band, now playing in pubs and bars around the region. Expect classic rock mixed with modern rock and a touch of country. For more, visit http://unstablegroundband.com.

On Saturday, acoustic singer / songwriter Matt Murdock takes the pub’s stage starting at 8:30. Murdock is also known for his collaboration with Almosta Band, a locally based roots rock group.

Also on Saturday the 22nd, The Flipside Lounge on S. Main Street in Pocatello is pleased to bring Slow Trucks, from San Francisco, CA. Music entertainment starts at 9:00 p.m.

Formed in 2007, Slow Trucks plays indie rock, describing their own music as “a hook cranked through a big muff pedal, liquid bass lines and a pummeling backbeat.” Guitarist David Mitchell and drummer Melissa Funk joined with Billy Carter on bass in late 2009 and have a full-length record on the way with Future Farmer Records.

“We like to play music. We like to party. We like to play music and party,” Slow Trucks writes from their website, “musical comfort food, perfect for those of us who still occasionally break out that Treepeople CD or fantasize about an Archers of Loaf reunion.” For more, visit www.myspace.com/slowtrucksband.

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