Column for April 8, 2009

The Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo is in town with a regional Nashville Star to kick things off right.

Charley Jenkins is in concert at Holt Arena, Wednesday the 8th after the rodeo. Jenkins is most known for his brief appearance on Nashville Star’s sixth season, aired last fall; he was the first finalist eliminated from the show.

Based in Murray, UT and just 29 years old, Jenkins has a bright future. He is scheduled to perform at the E Center in West Valley City on May 9, joined by other reality TV stars from American Idol and American’s Got Talent. For more, visit www.charleyjenkins.com.

On Thursday April 9, Jack’s Mannequin headlines with Thriving Ivory and Low vs. Diamond at the Idaho Falls Civic Auditorium. Show starts at 7 p.m.; tickets are $24 available at www.eastidahoconcerts.com.

Jack's Mannequin is from Los Angeles, CA, fronted by Andrew McMahon, the vocalist, pianist and primary songwriter for the bands Jack’s Mannequin and Something Corporate.

Jack’s Mannequin was formed in 2004. A year later, McMahon was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He has made a full recovery via a stem cell transplant.

In July 2006, McMahon founded the Dear Jack Foundation, a non-profit charity serving as a source from different charities that channel their proceeds into those organizations that raise money, awareness and do research with blood cancers. Now some three years healthy, McMahon is feeling good and can't complain.

Josh Tielor, of SE Idaho's 92.1 The Edge radio, spoke briefly with Andrew McMahon about his fight with cancer, the Dear Jack Foundation and the upcoming show. To hear the full interview, visit his blog at www.theedge921.com.

This is Jack Mannequin's first trip to Southeast Idaho, "so we're excited. This tour is actually really cool since we have the opportunity to go to a lot of places we haven't been before." Expect to hear a mix from both Jack Mannequin's records, “Everything in Transit,” released in 2005 and “The Glass Passenger,” released in September of last year.

"We like to throw stuff in there like a Something Corporate song or a cover. ... We like to keep it loose enough ... and keep it spontaneous. You never know what you're gonna get, I guess." For more, visit www.jacksmannequin.com.

It’s another Jeremy Buck & the Bang weekend in Southeast Idaho with three area shows. On Friday, April 10, the band plays at the Bennion Student Union Building on the ISU campus in Idaho Falls: all ages, music starts at 7 p.m. On Saturday find them at the First National Bar, in Pocatello: 21+, music starts at 9:30 p.m. And on Easter Sunday an 18+ show at the Benton Street Bar & Grill: doors open at 6 p.m.

In case you’ve missed Jeremy Buck & the Bang before, here’s your chance to repair that oversight. Jeremy Buck is, well, Jeremy Buck. He’s vocalist, drummer, keyboardist, songwriter with signature mohawk extraordinaire and front man for the Bang: Joel Geist on bass and guitarists Chris Hanna and Jeff George. The front man is a drummer? Yup.

We first met Jeremy Buck & the Bang when they opened for Blues Traveler at Holt Arena two years ago. Within just a few songs of their set, they had four thousand people standing up, arms in the air, singing along, clapping, whooping and hollering. Not a single person was left unaffected by their performance, including me.

I hadn’t had much faith in this band when I first researched them. So I stood some 20 feet from the stage, determined not to like them. Instead I saw how they win over a crowd – pure energy and charisma with a bit of comedic acting that can only come from pure talent. I’d forgotten that rock n roll is about having fun, and these guys entertain 100%.

John Popper, of Blues Traveler, said a curious thing to me after that show. “It’s not often I have to show up an opening band.” Right.

Expect a few covers, perhaps The Rolling Stones or a rousing cover of Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall Part 2.” Expect to see Buck’s playing keyboards with his drum sticks, drum rolls on the helmeted heads of his guitar players and if you’re very lucky, he’ll channel the spirit of Bob Dylan. Also expect to hear some of the band’s originals from “Fools Gold,” released in 2007, or their most recent self-titled EP, released in January of this year.

To preview the music and the band, visit www.jeremybuck.com.

For a full schedule of S. Idaho and N. Utah live music, visit www.myspace.com/showmetheband.
Lana Banana