Column for October 21, 2009

Two big concerts this week in southeast Idaho: tonight and tomorrow night. And there is plenty of live music at the regular haunts over the weekend.

Tonight, Boys Like Girls headlines a pop punk concert at the El Rey Event Center in Blackfoot (map). Doors open at 5:30; concert starts at 6:30. Tickets are $26.50 plus fees, available at CD World in Idaho Falls, Budget Tapes and Records in Pocatello or online at www.eastidahoconcerts.com.

Based in Boston, MA, Boys Like Girls is a four-piece band, with vocalist and guitarist Martin Johnson, lead guitarist Paul DiGiovanni, Bryan Donahue on bass and drummer John Keefe Their music is in the genre of Jimmy Eat World, Blink-182 or perhaps Dashboard Confessional.

Boys Like Girls’ first effort was a self-titled album in 2006, now certified Gold. The band is on tour in support of their most recent album, “Love Drunk,” released last month. It’s done well so far, hitting #1 on the U.S. Rock Charts. For more, visit the Boys Like Girls official website at www.boyslikegirls.com.

Cobra Starship is another pop punk band, perhaps best known for the single “Good Girls Go Bad.” And perhaps also known for a recent news story stemming from the MTV Awards show in Los Angeles. Mike Wentz, known for the Chicago-based Fall Out Boy and host of an MTV program, printed the personal phone number of Cobra Starship’s vocalist Gabe Saporta on a T-shirt and wore it to the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Saporta was inundated with phone calls, but got his revenge by revealing Wentz’ e-mail address at the Los Premios MTV awards in Los Angeles. Ah, youth.

For more on Cobra Starship, visit www.cobrastarship.com. The Maine is an emo/ pop punk band from Phoenix, Arizona, online at www.wearethemaine.net.

Thursday night’s big show is at the Idaho Falls Civic Auditorium (map), where Kenny Loggins joins with Jimmy Messina in concert at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $43 to $39, available online at www.idahofallsarts.org.

Loggins and Messina first joined efforts over 35 years ago, forming one of the most popular and successful duos of the 70’s, and they’re credited by many for defining the rock / country sound of that time. Expect them to play many of their classic hits, “Danny’s Song,” “House at Pooh Corner” and “Your Mama Don’t Dance.”

There has been a difficult 30-year break-up between Loggins and Messina, but recent talks cleared the air, making this 46-city tour possible. Now, they’re putting a fresh spin on their classic tunes. It's also about two musicians who have managed to turn friction into friendship. During the break-up, Loggins pursued a solo career and Messina worked with Poco. For more on the tour, visit www.kennyloggins.com/tour.

Over the weekend, several popular local and regional bands are hitting their regular spots. On Friday the 23rd, Ande Conda plays classic rock and hard rock covers at the Benton Street Bar & Grill on S. 2nd Avenue in Pocatello (map). Music starts at 9:00 p.m.

And on both Friday and Saturday nights, Kaught Lookin’ takes the stage at Taps Bar on Garrett Way (map), starting at 9:00 p.m.

At Portneuf Valley Brewing on S. 1st Avenue (map), locally-based acoustic musicians Bob Picard, Steve Byers and Greg Mladenka team up for a performance on Friday night starting at 8:30 p.m. There is no cover, and the venue is open to all ages.

On Saturday the 24th, Salt Lake City’s The Gorgeous Hussies will make their debut appearance at Portneuf Valley Brewing from 8:30 to 11:00 p.m. The group is known for their jam rock. The three-piece, with Jordon Olsen on guitar, John Chatelain on bass and drummer Ryan Smith, is best described as an alternative jam band. “To our knowledge we’re the first to describe music that way,” Olson commented, “but we think it’s the most fitting sub-genre that describes our live show.”

The group has inspiration from the likes of Umphrey's McGee, Perpetual Groove and fusion bands like Robert Walters and Galactic. “But we can’t escape our rock tendencies,” Olson said, “so we’ve done our best to find a balance of both worlds.” Find out more at www.myspace.com/thegorgeoushussies.

And on Monday of next week, the 26th, Attica, Dr. Acula, American Me, Chelsea Grin and Neckbrace are in concert at Studio 208, located at 633 S. 2nd Ave. in Pocatello (map). The venue is open to all ages; tickets for the show are $10. Find out more about the show and the new venue at www.myspace.com/studio208idaho.

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