Column for April 22, 2009

Happy Earth Day.

Idaho State University is celebrating Earth Week with several events, including a concert with the Kratz Brothers Band in the Canoe Room of the ISU Student Union Building, Thursday the 23rd from 10 p.m. to midnight. The free concert follows the Wolf Event, hosted by the Student Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE).

The Kratz Brothers Band is John Kratz, guitar; Luke Kratz, keyboards; Dorian Hitchcock, cello and Chris Sherburne, drums.

And on Saturday the 25th, the 2009 Community Environmental Fair is held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Tydeman / Optimist Park on N. 7th St. in Pocatello. Admission is free, including free lunch (hamburgers, hotdogs, & veggie burgers) and a free raffle entry. Local musicians will entertain on the main stage, with the Lost Boys at 11, singer / songwriter Shawn Barnby at 12:30, a young rock group Seven Feet Below (formerly Starbent) at 1:15 and Against the Flow at 2:15 playing folk-inspired hip hop.

On Wednesday the 22nd, the ISU Jazz Band makes an appearance at Portneuf Valley Brewing. Music starts at 7 p.m.

Thursday the 23rd, the straight edge hardcore metal band Liferuiner was scheduled at Barrie’s in the Westwood Mall, but difficulties with meeting Idaho State building codes is preventing concerts from being held there. The Liferuiner concert, with The World We Knew, Right On Track and the locally-based Neckbrace, has been moved to The Eagles Lodge at Benton and Main Streets in Pocatello. Find out more visiting www.myspace.com/flyingmonkeybooking.

Liferuiner, by the way, is on a grueling twenty-nine shows in twenty-nine days tour. The band has had some fifty member changes since it was formed five years ago.

Saturday night’s all ages concert with No Bragging Rights, Destruction of a Rose and Madison Lights (who recently opened for Sugarcult at ISU) is in a similar situation. Saturday’s show was scheduled at Barrie’s, but it may be canceled or moved to a new venue. Check first with Flying Monkey Booking or here for the most recent updates.

More into acoustic music? I’ve got that for you too. Against the Flow is the featured performer at the First National’s open mic on Thursday. And Ben Burdick and Bill Liles have three area appearances this week. They’ll be at the Sandpiper, 8 p.m., in Pocatello on Thursday the 23rd and at The Cellar and Vino Rosso in Idaho Falls on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m.

Two live music choices for your Friday night: the Blackfoot South Blues Band featuring Ramona Awes is scheduled to play at Portneuf Valley Brewing at 8:30, no cover and open to all ages. And several hip hop artists on the bill called “The Gathering” at Benton St. Bar & Grill, starting at 9 p.m., open to 18+, tickets are $12 available at Budget Tapes & Records, Track 101 Outfitters in the Pine Ridge Mall or at the door.

Some 20 artists are on the billing, including Mastermindz, Deeper Entertainment, 33 Deep, Taz, The Expo, Verbal Trikz, Draggz, Statick and Pocatello’s own MCCP. The Gathering is a collection of hip hop artists from Idaho, Utah and as far away as South Dakota. To preview the music and more information, check out The Gathering www.myspace.com/464413099.

Saturday in Blackfoot will rock all day long with twenty bands at Rockfest, Tony’s Billiards. Music starts at noon and goes until they run out of bands. Tickets are $10 for all day admission, available at the door.

Two new artists to the area will perform on Saturday night. Polyphonic Pomegranate, from Boise, ID, plays jazz and funk at Portneuf Valley Brewing at 8:30. From their website, they say of themselves,

“Polyphonic Pomegranate is a collection of some of Boise's most talented musicians. … we play mostly all original music. We provide a high energy electric set that gives the entire crowd restless leg syndrome, and we also provide a groovier jazz set for quieter venues.”

And Jordan Booth, from Utah, makes his debut Pocatello appearance at the First National Bar on Saturday night. Music starts at 9:30, open to 21+. Booth has performed in Australia, Europe, and various U.S. States, from cafes to smoky bars. He’ll fit in nicely.

Finally, on Tuesday of next week, locally-based Spawning Fondness takes the stage at Hooligans off Center Street.

Read more in-depth information, including links to bands’ websites, at http://slowloosegravel.blogspot.com and see a full schedule of live music events at www.myspace.com/showmetheband.

Linda Alexander
a.k.a. Lana Banana in Idaho