Column for March 18, 2009

Spring has definitely sprung in the local live music scene, with concerts large and small this week in southeast Idaho.

Maya, an alternative / experimental classical music group performs at the Colonial Theater in Idaho Falls on Thursday the 19th, starting at 7:30. The group is a trio of rhythmically driven flute, harp and percussion incorporating improvisation into every innovative classical and ethnic musical performance. Tickets are $20 for adults, $5 for students K-12. Visit IdahoArts.org for more information.

And the biggest news in town this week, David Archuleta, of American Idol fame, is performing with Leslie Roy with several concerts in southern Idaho and northern Utah this week. Don’t get too excited – all of the concerts are sold out.

If you are set on seeing this American Idol this week, I found a few tickets for sale online. Stubhub.com had one ticket on auction starting at $100 for the Idaho Falls concert on Friday the 20th. On the same site I found two tickets for $50 and one for $99 for the Boise concert scheduled for Saturday the 21st.

Demand was so high for Archuleta’s concert that another date was announced for the ISU campus show scheduled for Monday the 23rd. Yes, sold out. But I found two tickets on auction at e-bay – at the time of this writing, the current bid was $100 per ticket.

And if you miss all of those Idaho Archuleta performances, your last chance in the area would be on Friday the 27th at the E-Center in Salt Lake City. I found a few tickets at DavidArchuletaTickets ranging in price from $80 to $196 per ticket. Yowsers!

The First National Bar on W. Center Street has a three-day line-up of live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights this week. On Thursday, one-man-band Brian Ernst is the featured performer at Downtown Dan’s open mic.

On Friday, Seattle’s Led Zeppelin tribute band No Quarter returns to The Nash for a concert at 9 p.m. And on Saturday night, the local rock band Something Stirring takes the stage. And yes, I checked the First National Bar’s schedule very carefully this week to ensure these shows are accurate.

Portneuf Valley Brewing, on S. 1st Avenue in Pocatello is embracing their world-view with one of Pocatello’s hottest new bands, Bender, on Friday night. Bender plays roots rock and reggae starting at 8:30.

And on Saturday night the 21st, the Wailing O’Sheas wrap up a week-long celebration of St. Patrick’s day at the pub. I spoke with Jordan Olson of the Wailing O'Sheas about their upcoming performance in Pocatello, about what the band has been doing, what their plans are and the local live music scene in general.

The Wailing O’Sheas is a tribute to Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly and other legendary Irish punk-rock outfits, so their whole catalog comes from those bands. "Flogging Molly’s music is so closely connected to the struggle of the working class; some of their lyrics are so deep and sad. And they tie it all together with amazing melodies, emotion and ruckus punk-rock. One of the funnest songs we play is ‘That Woman’s Got Me Drinking’ by Shane MacGowan of The Pogues."

Based from Salt Lake City, Jordan Olsen plays guitar, John Chatelain is on bass, Ryan Smith drums and the Wailing O’Sheas are completed with Andy Reiner on fiddle.

The first show they ever played together was at 1st National Bar in Pocatello on St. Patrick’s Day 2007. Three of the four members of The Wailing O’Sheas play in the alt-rock band The Gorgeous Hussies, and while playing a show at 1st National Bar in the winter of 2007 the promoter at the bar asked if the band new any Irish punk-rock bands to play St. Patrick’s Day. The guys didn’t know any but figured they could put one together for their St. Patty’s celebration. In less than 6-weeks The Gorgeous Hussies learned a 3-hour set of Irish punk-rock and played their first show at 1st National Bar as The Wailing O’Sheas. So Pocatello has a close connection to the formation of our band.


The Wailing O’Sheas have been very well received throughout Utah and Idaho. "We currently have roughly 20 shows booked throughout the west and will be coming back to 1st National Bar on April 17th."

One last note: on Monday the 23rd, Royal Bliss and Jet Black Stare open for Candlebox at The Depot in Salt Lake City. Tickets are $30 plus service fees, available at www.smithstix.com.

--L. Alexander

Full list of local concerts: www.myspace.com/showmetheband