Guns n' Roses: "Chinese Democracy"

Grade: C+

CD: Guns n' Roses' first album of original material since 1991, "Chinese Democracy," is not worth the wait, though the first half of the album shows flashes of crackling energy with Buckethead, Robin Finck and others making up for Slash's absence.

Lead singer Axl Rose, the only original member, has improved what was already the most evocative voice in popular music (he has added an appealing falsetto to his expansive range) but he needed the other members of the original band to veto his excesses, like over-production, too many bland "Don't Cry"-type ballads, an avoidance of melody and concept, and an inexplicable lack of a rhythm section.

Worst of all is that Axl writes lyrics and stories that are simply vague and uninteresting: devoid of the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll that gave "Appetite to Destruction"-listeners vicarious thrills of the sins of an unrepentant life.

Note: I would give "Appetite for Destruction" an A, "Lies" B, "Use Your Illusion I" a B+ and "Use Your Illusion II" a A-. As for "the Spaghetti Incident," that's a B.

Memories of better times:

Notable shows this weekend. I would add a snarky one-liner here, but I hungry and starved of food and wit.

Drowning Pool (left)
The Texas metal band Drowning Pool continues on after its lead singer died of heart
disease in 2001. The band's latest album was the first one featuring former SOiL singer Ryan McCombs. Drowning Pool has shared the stage with Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Judas Priest and Stanid.
When: Friday night at 7
Where: Club Vegas, 445 S. 400 West, Salt Lake City
Tickets: $15 in advance, $18 day of, at SmithsTix

Keith Stubbs
The morning radio host on 101.5 "The Eagle" and owner of the Wiseguys Comedy Clubs takes the stage himself. In 1991, he set aside a career as a PaineWebber stockbroker to pursue his dream job: being a comedian.
When: Friday night at 8
Where: Wiseguys, 970 W. University Parkway, Orem
Tickets: $10 at the door

B.D. Howes Band
The B.D. Howes Band is four experienced local musicians who write slice-of-life tunes with an adult contemporary soft-rock sound influenced by the blues-based rock of the 1960s.
When: Friday night at 10
Where: Cisero's, 306 Main St., Park City
Tickets: $5 at the door

Marcus
The runner-up of "Last Comic Standing" takes a short break from the NBC tour to perform in his home state. Marcus is not only a Man of 1,000 Voices, but also an incisive observational comic. His new DVD will be available.
When: Friday night at 8 and 10. Also, Nov. 22 at 8 and 10 p.m.
Where: Wiseguys, 269 25th St., Ogden
Tickets: $15 at SmithsTix

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
This Vermont-based band blends funk, blues, soul and classic rock and has opened for The Black Crowes and Govt. Mule. In 2006, the jam band won the Jammy (from the Web site JamBase) for Best New Groove and was nominated for two Boston Music Awards (Album of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year).
When: Nov. 22. Doors open at 9 p.m.
Where: Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, Salt Lake City
Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 day of at SmithsTix

Guess Who
Guess Who was the first Canadian band to have a No. 1 in the United States: "American Woman," in 1970. Original members Jim Kale and Garry Peterson now tour as The Guess Who.
When: Nov. 22 at 7 p.m.
Where: Peppermill Concert Hall, 1045 Wendover Blvd., West Wendover, Nev.
Tickets: $20 to $40 at wendoverfun.com or 800-537-0207

Here is the Guess Who with their signature hit, who still perform it better than Lenny Kravitz:

Coldplay, the band that aspires to be The Only Band That Matters (sorry, U2 and The Clash) will be in Salt Lake City Saturday for its world tour in support of its "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends" album.

Despite earlier success with singles like "Clocks," "Yellow" and "Speed of Sound," the British quartet blew up this year with its first No. 1 hit in America, "Viva la Vida," which eschewed the normal conventions of what top-40 hits sound like by employing an orchestra and using very little guitar.

Country-rockers Sleepercar and Electronica artist Jon Hopkins open. Hopkins worked as a producer on much of Coldplay's latest album and a Coldplay EP out Nov. 25.

He said in an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune that during the production of the album, the band asked him if he would open for it later. He thought it was a joke, but Coldplay asked again as it prepared to tour.

For the tour, Hopkins will be spinning turntables synchronized to "psychedelic" visual effects, he said, and he is "finding [himself] more relaxed" as the tour progresses, since he is not used to huge arena crowds.

When: Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: EnergySolutions Arena, 301 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City
Tickets: $49.50-$97.50 at Ticketmaster (801-325-SEAT)

You might expect "Kurt Bestor," "David Archuleta" and "Jell-O salad" to be the biggest hits of Utah residents' Google searches.

You wouldn't expect "Connie Talbot."

She's the 8-year-old singer who finished second on "Britain's Got Talent" in 2007 and now is cheerfully invading the consciousness of the United States.

And it seems her point of entry is Utah, as she's Googled here about as often as funeral potatoes and the Utah Jazz's Carlos Boozer.

"It is a very Christian audience that listens to her," said Peter Kuys, Talbot's U.S. publicist, in an effort to explain her local appeal. "Grandparents buy [her music] for their grandchildren."
If you ask the young singer, she'll tell you she has no idea why she's successful in Utah. Mostly because she simply has no idea where Utah is.

In an interview, Connie sounded like a shy, polite girl, a phone demeanor that belies her strong singing voice. Which, of course, sounds like that of a young lady and is pitch-perfect.

The girl singer enjoyed an Archuleta-esque rise, finishing in second place on the popular British show, the creation of "American Idol" judge and producer Simon Cowell. But the show's winner, Paul Potts, topped the voting charts with an even more populist story. Potts, a likable, self-doubting cell-phone salesman with bad teeth, tugged his audience's heartstrings by singing operatic arias. Come to think of it, maybe Connie could qualify in the bad teeth category, too, but only because she's of the age when she's still losing baby teeth.

Undeterred by losing the popular vote, Connie signed a record deal, released the gold-selling album "Over the Rainbow" in the United Kingdom and is now in the process of jumping the pond. That's thanks to the release of her album in the U.S. and a guest performance on "Oprah" Nov. 17. Overall, at age 8, she has sold more than 250,000 albums.

"I can't believe I made it so far," said Connie, who said Cowell is "not that nasty in real life. He was really nice."

Connie began singing when she was only a year old, watching "The Wizard of Oz" with her grandmother "millions of times." She also grew up listening to Whitney Houston, to whom she pays tribute by singing "I Will Always Love You" on her album of standards.

In an interview, Connie's father, Gavin Talbot, admitted he also didn't know where Salt Lake City was, but said his daughter's music seems to sell well in what he termed "family-friendly" and "God-fearing" places. "That's probably why we have lots of people ask me if she's an angel," he said.

According to Barry Burmaster, director of marketing for music and entertainment retailer F.Y.E., Connie's album has enjoyed sales boosts after the young singer's appearances on "Oprah" and "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." "The Salt Lake City region has shown Connie an enormous amount of support and we are positive this CD will be successful throughout the holiday season," the marketer said.

Despite her singing and TV success, Connie's siblings, Molly and Josh, said their sister doesn't act spoiled, while her father said Connie is "the same as she was before the show."
Only with more teeth.

Best Buy, the big-box chain electronics store, has spent a lot of money advertising the fact that "Chinese Democracy," the first album of original material from Guns N' Roses in 17 years, will only be available there. The long-awaited album will be released Nov. 23.

So why has the long-awaited "Chinese Democracy" been on sale since Wednesday at all seven Utah Graywhale Entertainment stores?

That's due to the efforts of Music Monitor, a national coalition of indie record stores, working together to subvert the trend of record labels to strike exclusive agreements with chain stores. The coalition buys albums in bulk from overseas distributors, often in Australia, to offer the music for sale in member stores.
Some coalition stores, like Graywhale, have been selling the embargoed albums days before the official release, disregarding the industry's "street date" standard. That's similar to an indie movie theater screening "Twilight" five days before the studio-set release date.

The object isn't to make money, said Graywhale co-owner Jonathan Tueller, but to make a statement about business survival. "Our whole drive is that if you're a fan of music, and there's an artist you want, we want to have it," he said. "We need to find a way to get this into our stores."

The Music Monitor effort was motivated, in part, by recent exclusive deals. First, there was the contract between Columbia and Wal-Mart to sell AC/DC's new album "Black Ice," which was released Oct. 20, followed by Best Buy's exclusive agreement with Guns N' Roses' label, Interscope Records, to sell "Chinese Democracy."

"It's a little dig at the labels," said Graywhale co-owner Steve Brit. "The little guy can still compete without being dictated to."

Another indie store official, Steve Duncan, head of purchasing for the Arizona- and Nevada-based record chain ZIA, is even more emphatic. "It's unethical for [the labels] to not make [the albums] available," Duncan said. In his view, since record labels depend on independent record stores to promote and break new artists, the independents also should be able to sell popular albums by big-name artists.

Instead, with AC/DC's album, Duncan claimed Columbia turned its back on indie stores while still expecting them to promote and sell the band's back catalog.

The response from record labels and big-box retailers has been quiet -- but possibly threatening. Best Buy spokeswoman Emily Shroeder would only say, "We're unable to discuss the actions of others in the industry."

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Melissa O'Brien, in a voice-mail message, stated there could be "legal ramification[s]" for the coalition. "It's with [Columbia's parent] Sony and Columbia where there may be issues," she said. When contacted by phone for clarification, she declined further comment.

Columbia and Interscope record companies didn't respond to repeated calls and e-mails for comment.

Tueller, of Graywhale, said he heard from his suppliers that "Interscope is trying to squeeze" the distributors, "trying to limit supplies." However, "We have more than one supplier," he said.
Because Australia is one of the few countries where the dollar remains strong, some coalition members are buying albums from there, Tueller said. At $8.50 per copy, plus shipping costs, Graywhale and other stores are breaking even when they set their retail price at $1 less than the price at Wal-Mart and Best Buy.

Kayvon Motiee, a radio DJ for 97.5 FM "The Blaze" (KZZQ), has been a vocal supporter of Graywhale's efforts. "If I could let my listeners know about a better deal, and support a local business at the same time, I'd do it every day," Motiee said. "I'm very excited to help them out."
Motiee acknowledged that "Wal-Mart did not get hurt one bit by independent record stores" because of the massive sales of the album at the massive national chain.

But Graywhale owners believe offering such big-name albums for sale is essential for the survival of their business. Some members of the coalition have even talked about filing litigation against record labels for unfair business practices.

And if the labels were to restrict overseas distributors from selling albums to indie stores, Graywhale employees plan to buy albums at Best Buy or Wal-Mart and resell them to Graywhale customers, at the same price -- or even lower. "We don't like people to come in and not find what they want," Tueller said.

That's exactly how Graywhale got the inventory to sell some 230 copies of AC/DC's "Black Ice" since late October, the album that's only for sale at Wal-Mart. Or so we thought.

When Carrie Underwood auditioned for
"American Idol" nearly five years ago, judge Randy Jackson, after applauding her voice, told he she needed to "work a little bit more on the stage presence."

At the E Center Wednesday, Underwood showed she had heeded his advice.

The 25-year-old woman from Checotah, Oklahoma showed one of the largest E Center crowds in recent memory that she was entirely comfortable onstage, whether sweetly bantering with the crowd, bringing a gushing 14-year-old on the stage to help her sing "All-American Girl," or playing both the acoustic and electric guitar.

The 100-minute set, her first headlining gig in the area, consisted of 18 songs (the bulk of her two multi-platinum albums, "Some Hearts" and "Carnival Ride" )that included two surprise covers: Fleetwood Mac's "You Can Go Your Own Way," and, even more surprising, Guns n' Roses' "Paradise City" (and all of its tongue-twisting verses) during the two-song encore.

The sound at the E Center was predictably pristine, capturing the nine-piece band's country nuances (which included a steel guitar, banjo and a fiddle), which made the songs seem more like genuine country songs with a pop influence, as opposed to pop with a country influence. (And having a fiddle, rather than a violin, makes all the difference.)

Underwood's vocals were front and center, and just as an American Idol winner should, she proved that she could handle the demands of both ballads and high-energy hootennanies like "Before He Cheats" and "Flat on the Floor." A long catwalk from the stage to nearly the end of the floor seats enabled the wholesome singer to connect to more of the audience.

The only complaint is that while her songs are undeniably catchy and lyrically interesting in their storytelling (most of her songs are written by others) she ended nearly every song with bombastic vocal hysterics. She should use the scalpel of her voice rather than the sledgehammer by learning when to use restraint and when to let her voice soar.

But the concert was a winner, especially for the near-sellout family-friendly crowd. Five costumes were used in the show, with nothing that showed any skin that would hint at sex appeal. It was more like first-base appeal.

The seven Graywhales in Utah are participating in a coalition of indie record store chains and stores that buy AC/DC and G n' Roses albums overseas, and then sell them in their own stores. This is how they are fighting back against Wal-Mart and Best Buy, which singed exclusive deals with the bands' record labels to be the only U.S. retailers to sell the albums.

A much larger story about this issue will be in Friday's paper and online, but here is a bit I wasn't able to include in the story:

Not all Utah independent record stores are participating in the coalition, some choosing not to stock the albums at all. Anna Brozek, co-owner of Salt Lake City’s Slowtrain Records, applauded the effort, because of the big-box retailers’ strategy that seems to be becoming more prevalent. She called Best Buy’s and Wal-Mart’s efforts as trying to establish “a mini-monopoly.” But Cedar City’s Groovacious record store co-owner Lisa Cretsinger didn’t wholly support Graywhale’s position. She said her store would still support future albums from Columbia or Interscope — which Graywhale has considered boycotting. “That’s like shooting our foot,” she said. Cretsinger added that any attempt, even by Graywhale, to get people to buy AC/DC or Guns N’ Roses only makes those artists and record labels richer.

What do you think?

If you want to check out Guns N' Roses' new album before deciding whether to buy it, you can go the band's official MySpace site (http://www.myspace.com/gunsnroses) today through Sunday. You can stream "Chinese Democracy" in its entirety, listening the the band's first album of original material since 1991. (Actually the only original member is Axl, though keyboardist Dizzy was with the band during the recording of the band's "Use Your Illusion" albums.)

If the Guns aren't your style. Paul McCartney's project with Youth (called "The Fireman") is also available for streaming at The Fireman's official MySpace site (www.myspace.com/thefiremanmusic). The project is 10 years in the making — a long time, but not as long as the Gunners' 17 years.) The Fireman's album, out Nov. 25, is the 3rd studio album from the duo, but the first to feature vocals from the duo.

Rest assured, Carrie Underwood's Utah concert on Nov. 19 will be a carnival ride -- compared with her schedule the past week.

On Wednesday, she hosted the 42nd Country Music Association Awards on live TV, and she readily admitted her nerves about the prospect in an advance interview.

So nervous was she, in fact, that she did her research, watching tapes of past shows to learn from the hosts, including her role model, Reba McEntire. "I feel like I got to practice it more than you'd think," Underwood said.

The 25-year-old Underwood, winner of the fourth season of "American Idol" and seller of more than nearly 10 million records since then, will bring her "Carnival Ride Tour" to the E Center tonight with opening act Little Big Town.

The girl from Checotah, Okla., promises a "high-energy" show for her fans, with a set list that includes songs from her debut album "Some Dreams," as well as her second, "Carnival Ride." Besides charting numerous country singles ("Jesus, Take the Wheel," "So Small" and "All-American Girl"), she has had two certifiable crossover hits ("Before He Cheats" and "Last Name"). "I consider myself really lucky to not be pigeonholed," Underwood said.

While Underwood admitted to some fatigue as she nears the end of the long tour -- "I love being on the road, but I love being back with my family" -- she is excited about playing with Little Big Town. She appreciated the band's musical skills when she watched them rehearse without amplification and electricity, and they sounded good without all of that.

As for the opening act, "Talk about things you want to put on a Bucket List," said Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town about touring with Underwood, arguably the biggest current draw in country music.

Formed a decade ago -- about the time Underwood was celebrating her 15th birthday -- Little Big Town consists of four musicians who share lead singing duties, and the band is known for its sublime four-part harmonies.

The band has charted 10 country singles, but saw some of its biggest success this year when a live cover of "Life in a Northern Town" (performed with Sugarland and Jake Owen) was leaked to radio and became an unexpected hit. "I was completely shocked" by its release, Fairchild said.
Fairchild herself has been in demand for her voice. A friend of John Mellencamp, she sang on nine songs on his 2007 album "Freedom's Road" and four on this year's "Life, Death, Love and Freedom." She and bandmate Kimberly Schlapman sang a duet with the late Elvis Presley on the recently released "Elvis Presley -- Christmas Duets."

Playing with Carrie Underwood and Elvis Presley. Sounds like a big year for Little Big Town.

Thought you had to wait until Sunday to buy the new Guns n' Roses album?

Thought you had to go to a Best Buy to buy it (because of an agreement with Interscope deal with Best Buy)?

You don't have to, if Graywhale has its way.

Guns n' Roses' first studio album of original material since 1991 is on sale at Graywhale ... right now.

I bought my copy this morning for $11.74, including tax.

And the album is mild. The first half is great, but the second? Not so much.

Graywhale went overseas to buy import copies, and are selling them for even lower than what Best Buy will charge on Sunday.

Graywhale officials said they are beating the "street date" because it is an import. They are, in effect, sticking it to The Man.

But will The Man get mad at them?

Salt Lake City's independent record store Slowtrain will have "Local Nights" starting Dec. 15. As long as they can fill the spots, they will have a local act playing live in the store each Monday night.

On Dec. 15, the series starts off with Tolchock Trio, who opened for Weezer back in October. (Tolchock Trio's new album "Abalone Skeltone" will be available).

All Local Night shows start at 7 p.m. and will be over by 8:30 p.m.

(For bands interested in playing a Local Night...check Slowtrain's Website [www.slowtrainmusic.com] in the upcoming weeks for more information.)

Island Def Jam has three of the most anticipated albums of the year, and the label has decided to jumpstart the Thanksgiving shopping week by releasing the three of them on Monday, a day earlier than the traditional CD release date of Tuesday.

(Interscope's Guns n' Roses is releasing "Chinese Democracy" on Sunday.)

The three albums are: Kanye West's "808's and Heartbreak," Ludacris' "Theater of the Mind" and The Killers' "Day & Age." Kanye and Ludacris are sure to be big sellers, and Tke Killers too, even though I've heard rumors that people will be boycotting The Killers because the lead singer is Mormon. (No joke. The Prop 8 protestors are serious.)

The albums will also be available for purchase on digital Web sites on Monday, too.

Look for Kanye (above) to be No. 1. If he's not, I don't think he'll be able to handle it, with him being the voice of our generation and all.

The album at left is being released on Sunday, Nov. 23 (not Tuesday, like normal albums).

But this is no normal album.

I have been waiting for this since my Dad bought cassette tapes of "Use Your Illusion I" and "Use Your Illusion II" back in September of 1991.

Five more days.

Five more days.

Five more days.

Five more days.

Here are two shows tonight: one with lots of fake bodily fluid, and one without. Presumably.

Grampall Jookabox (left)
Grampall Jookabox, the nickname of David "Moose" Adamson, blends blues with hop-hop and is touring in support of "Ropechain," which furthers his development as more of an avant-garde rocker. Ben Johnson and Shark Speed are also on the bill.
When: Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.
Where: Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, Salt Lake City
Tickets: $7 at SmithsTix

GWAR
GWAR is a satirical metal band known for its horror-film-inspired costumes and graphic lyrics, plus stage performances that lampoon current events. For example, GWAR likes to squirt imitation bodily fluids into the audience. Kingdom of Sorrow and Toxic Holocaust are also on the bill.
When: Nov. 17 at 9:30 p.m.
Where: Saltair, 12408 W. Saltair Drive, Magna
Tickets: $22 in advance, $24 day of, at SmithsTix

Here's GWAR interviewed by Jerry Springer:

Here is most of the transcript of a conversation I had with comedian Jamie Kennedy, who will be at Wiseguys in Ogden on Saturday night. I couldn't print most of it for space, but also because of some of the language. The questions I asked are different from what I actually said, because I "uh" and mumble a lot.

Have you been to Utah?
I don't know if I've ever been to Utah. Is Utah going to be cool or are they going to be all weird? You can curse, right? I don't know a lot about Mormons, I just know they're supposed to have a lot of chicks.

Are you a member of the LDS faith?
Uh, no.

Why are you on "Ghost Whisperer"?
Jay Mohr was on there, and then he got his own show, Gary Unmarried, and then they decided they needed another funny guy and I met with them. And I ended up getting a job. It's been going great. They've had some of their highest ratings ever, this year. I'm on all season.

Do you believe in ghosts?
Yeah, definitely. It's one of those things where there's too many coincidences. I was thinking about them last night. When it's light, I don't get scared, but when it's dark, it's spooky.

Do they let you improv on the CBS show?
Yeah, you gotta get your story points in, but they definitely let me have fun. I get to add my stuff. They let me improv.

Why stand-up?
I was always wanting to be an actor. I have a lot of energy. An actor's job when you first start out, you try to hustle up jobs and going on auditions and you wait. I thought, I can't just wait anddo nothing. I gotta do something. So I started doing stand-up as a way to act out things that normally I would act out in a room. I started getting jobs, and movies, and other things, so I'd have more time, in my trailer, writing. My brain is just so active I put it into that.

What's your act?
I talk about my experiences. Things I've done, and things personally. Things that have happened to me. Things in my life. It just grows as I grow. It's not like me on TV. I, like, do characters and stuff, but I talk about the first time I had sex. I talk about going to the Playboy Mansion, I talk about different girlfriends I've had, just different stuff like that. It's adult, but it's not dirty. it's fun. It's all things that have happened in my life.

What do some fans say to you?
I can't say it in the paper, but you can bleep it out. Like I have people come up to me and ask for autographs and stuff, and I don't know if they like me or not. Like Mexicans, 'cause everything they ask for my autograph, they end the sentence with the word "f____er." They're like, Ay, Jamie, I like your movies, it cracked me up ... f____er. And I'm like, are you mad at me? They're like, No, I just want your autograph ... f____er. I never know if they're pissed at me.

Will you be in "Scream 4" if there is one?
I got shot in Scream, and everyone thought I was dead, and then I crept back, and in Scream 2 I got killed, and then I was in Scream 3 in a video tape from Scream 2. If there's a Scream 4, maybe there will be more video tape. Who knows? You can always come back, right?

Do you regret that most people know you for being in "Scream"?
No, it's a classic movie. I was happy and lucky to be a part of it. If you think of Freddie, if you think of Jason, you think of Michael Myers, and Scream is one of those classic things. It is weird when people still call me "Randy," 14 years later. I'm like, really, I've done things since then.

Did the network ever prohibit you from doing sketches on "The Experiment"?
A lot of stuff, We had this whole thing where I wanted to do "Baby Sale." You know how people go to the store, and you always run into a hippie, and they're working for Greenpeace, and they're giving away puppies or kittens. So I wanted to have a store with a box with like four babies in it. I'd have an Asian baby, an African-American baby, these cute little babies, and I'm just like, "Baby Sale." Like how people sell puppies. And I would watch these people freak out. The network wouldn't let me do it. I also wanted to do this thing. Our make-up man was so good that he could do anything. He can make a v_____ for you and put it on you. It looks like you have a v_____. So I wanted to put a v_____ on and go home, and it would be called "Jamie's New Addition." I'd meet all my friends and tell them that I decided to get a v____ and see if people would believe that because it looked so real. It's connected to you,and it looks like you tucked [your p_____] away. It looks like you have a v_____. Again the network wouldn't let me do that.

Celine Dion has rescheduled her Nov. 21 concert at EnergySolutions Arena because of illness, her representatives said today.

She is taking no chances, apparently, during her "Taking Chances World Tour."

Celine is recuperating from a recurrent naso-pharyngeal infection which was further complicated by inflamed vocal cords, reps said. Her doctor has told her to refrain from singing in order to recover.

Already purchased tickets will be honored at the new show, now scheduled for Feb. 22. If you want a refund, you can get one at the original point of purchase.

Jill Cohn, from Seattle, is one of the performers this weekend in the area:

Jill Cohn
Seattle singer-songwriter Cohn tours in support of her new CD, "Every Street Inside of You -- Mexico City," released earlier this year. It's an account of Cohn's two years of living abroad in, you guessed it, Mexico City.
When: Friday at 7:30
Where: Alchemy Coffee, 390 E. 1700 South, Salt Lake City
Tickets: Free

Bishop Allen
The Brooklyn indie-rockers took their name from Bishop Allen Drive in Cambridge, Mass., where the two frontmen lived together after attending Harvard. The smarty pants have a song, "Middle Management," included on the soundtrack of "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist." An Horse and Drew Banbury are also on the bill.
When: Friday at 7
Where: Kilby Court, 741 S. 300 West, Salt Lake City
Tickets: $8 at SmithsTix

Codi Jordan
Local reggae-influenced folk artist Jordan will release his debut album at this party. SpearIT (who have opened for Slightly Stoopid and the Derek Trucks Band) and Winged Foot are also on the bill.
When: Friday at 9:30
Where: Teazers, 366 36th St, Ogden
Tickets: $5 at the door

Tracy Lawrence
Lawrence has recorded more than 30 singles that made the country music chart, including eight No. 1 hits and 14 additional Top Ten hits. The Texan's better-known songs include "Sticks and Stones," "Find Out Who Your Friends Are" and "Alibis."
When: Friday. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Where: The Westerner, 3360 S. Redwood Road, West Valley City
Tickets: $40 at SmithsTix

blue haiku
blue haiku will add oboe and violin klezmer duets and the Yiddish melody "Dona Dona" to its chamber folk repertoire as part of the Jewish Arts Festival. The group -- Phillip Bimstein, Charlotte Bell, Flavia Cerviño-Wood and Harold Carr -- will also play selections from Red Rock Rondo's "Zion Canyon Song Cycle."
When: Nov. 15 at 8:45 p.m.
Where: IJ and Jeanné Wagner Community Center, 2 N. Medical Drive, Salt Lake City
Tickets: $15 at the door

Portugal the Man
Portugal the Man have taken an exit off the Bridge to Nowhere to play in Utah, as the indie experimental rock band is based out of, of all places, Wasilla, Alaska, the town where Sarah Palin was mayor. The band plans to head back into the studio next month.
When: Nov. 15 at 6 p.m.
Where: Studio 600, 26 E. 600 South, Salt Lake City
Tickets: $12 in advance, $14 day of, at SmithsTix

New Kids on the Block
Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood have sold more than 70 million albums but are seeking to see if fans still care about a boy band from the late 1980s.
When: Nov. 15 at 8 p.m.
Where: E Center, 3200 S. Decker Lake Drive, Salt Lake City
Tickets: $20, $39.50, $59.50 and $79.50 at Ticketmaster (801-325-SEAT)

Here's the New Kids a few decades ago:

Don't get me wrong: Bar Deluxe is a great place. I love it, love it, love it.

But even Mr. Deluxe himself would have to acknowledge that his bar doesn't quite compare to Rice-Eccles Stadium, where a billion people watched a young Italian singer named Elisa sing in 2002.

Elisa said she doesn't mind singing at smaller clubs, because she knows it's a way to break in the United States. "It's great to see her come from Italy, where she's a superstar, to America and connect with the audience," said Marc Johnston, Elisa's U.S. manager. "She loves the intimacy of these venues."

Elisa, the most popular pop singer in her homeland, last appeared in Utah when she sang the Italian national anthem during the Closing Ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Saturday, she'll perform at Bar Deluxe, trying to further her dream of being as popular in the United States as she is in Italy. "It's my big dream to have an encounter with the American audience," said Elisa, who is on her first North American tour.

The tour might not have happened if not for the Fox-TV U.S. hit "So You Think You Can Dance." In June 2007, two dancers on the popular show steamed up the screen while performing to Elisa's "Dancing."

The next day, the video of the dance became a viral YouTube clip, quickly recording more than 1 million views and turning the song into a hit.

"It came out of the blue," said Elisa, who was alerted to the phenomenon by a fan. "I was speechless looking at the [YouTube] charts, crying like a baby."

Until then, after several starts-and-stops, Elisa had just about given up on her dream on breaking into the fickle American market. But her record label and management, sensing the hungry market, decided to start introducing Elisa to America. "She's waited a long time for this," Johnston said.

A compilation album, comprising Elisa's most popular English-language songs, was released this summer. It shows the versatility of the singer (who sounds eerily like a more polished Alanis Morissette), whether she sings Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" or the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses." Most of her songs are piano-driven slower songs that showcase her voice.

She made a conscious decision to select songs for a cohesive album. "I asked myself what I would sing for my idol if he was listening," Elisa said.

Elisa didn't name her idol, but she might be one soon for American fans.

Elisa
When: Nov. 15 at 9 p.m.
Where: Bar Deluxe, 666 S. State St., Salt Lake City
Tickets: $12 in advance, $15 day of, at SmithsTix and KTix

There are some things that happen when you've made it.

You watch election results at Will Smith's house.

Weird Al Yankovic parodies one of your songs.

And you headline the E Center. (Tonight at 7:30 p.m., with tickets available at Ticketmaster.)

Atlanta's T.I., friend of Will Smith and a parody target of Weird Al, is the hottest rapper in music today.

He has not only the No. 2 song in the country ("Whatever You Like") but also the No. 1 song ("Live Your Life").

September's "Paper Trails" was his third straight album to debut at No. 1 and has already sold more than 1.2 million albums -- and this in an age when people don't buy albums.

The 25-year-old is humble about his Utah concert -- he's coming because "they asked me to come," he said in an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune -- but also said he is "absolutely" doing as much as he can to promote himself before March. That's when the rapper will begin serving a one-year prison term.

T.I. was arrested in October 2007 just hours before headlining the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta. The rapper was charged with possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. As part of a plea bargain in which he pleaded guilty to federal weapons charges, he was allowed to delay his incarceration.

Despite having three No. 1 albums, T.I. lamented that he's best known for being a felon, rather than for his music or humanitarian efforts. "Good news travels on foot," he said. "Bad news travels by air."

In the meantime, he finished filming the heist film "Bone Deep" Monday. The film, due out in 2010, co-stars Hayden Christensen and Matt Dillon, and the role follows turns in "American Gangster" and "ATL."

He also says he's "open" to doing a short tour with Ludacris before his jail stint, calling his former foe "an extreme talent." (In 2007, T.I. got into a fight with Ludacris' manager, punching him in the face and choking him.)

Local radio station U92 is producing T.I.'s show, which also will feature Jadakiss, Nina Sky, DJ Unk and local Chicano rapper Chino 4 Real. "We are excited to give our listeners the opportunity to see one of the most influential rappers today," said Kevin Cruise, U92's music director. "T.I. has proven the hip-hop movement is still alive and strong."

Chino 4 Real, raised in Midvale and now living in Salt Lake City, will open the show and is understandably excited. "I'm so proud of it," Chino said. "Dreams can come true."

Chino, 25, who has been added to the playlists of not only U92, but stations in California, Arizona, Montana, Washington and Texas, believes he was one of the first Utahns to buy T.I.'s first album, back in 2001. He lists the rapper as one of his five favorite artists.

The 42nd annual Country Music Association awards were held Wednesday, and besides Lil' Wayne (who made an appearance with Kid Rock), here were the winners:

Album of the Year: "Troubadour," George Strait

Single of the Year: "I Saw God Today," George Strait

Song of the Year: "Stay," Jennifer Nettles (of Sugarland)

Entertainer of the Year: Kenny Chesney

Male Vocalist of the Year: Brad Paisley

Female Vocalist of the Year: Carrie Underwood (performing in Utah this coming Wednesday)

Music Event: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

Music Video of the Year: "Waitin' on a Woman," Brad Paisley with Andy Griffith

Vocal Group of the Year: Rascal Flatts

New Artist of the Year: Lady Antebellum (who performed at this summer's Utah State Fair)

Vocal Duo of the Year: Sugarland

Trans-Siberian Orchestra (synchronized to Christmas lights above) performs tonight at the E Center at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $39.50 to $49.50, at Ticketmaster.

I hope this isn't a music-free event, but the 2009 AVP Johnsonville Hot Winter Nights beach volleyball tour will stop in West Valley City on Feb. 14, at the E Center.

Beach volleyball, in Utah, in February. Wow.

How many tons of sand are they going to truck into the E Center, and then truck out of it a day later? If I get sand in my shoes at a music show a few days after that thing, I'm going to be upset.

Anyway, 2008 gold medalists Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers will be there, along with other Olympians and AVP players. Hopefully, Johnsonville sausages will also be present. As for music, the press release says there will be a "beach party," and presumably there will be some music present. At the least, a "Bach party." For more info, go to www.avp.com.

Volleyball and sausage info:
1. This is the first indoor volleyball tour off its kind.
2. Johnsonville sausages are available in 27 countries.
3. The tour kicks off the AVP season.
4. Johnsonville sausages are the No. 1 national brand of smoked-cooked links.
5. Johnsonville is also No. 1 in brats.

Want to get close to T.I. Friday? Prepare to give up your 14 cans of peas you've had on hand since Y2K.

From U92:

"KUUU-FM presents Atlantic Recording artist T.I. at the E Center in West Valley City, Utah on Friday, Nov. 14, 2008. U92 is providing their listeners the opportunity to sit in the first five rows and help the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake at the same time. The five listeners who bring the most non-perishable food items to the E Center by 5:30 p.m. on Friday will win tickets in the first five rows. Plus, one listener will win a T.I. iPod Touch featuring T.I.'s entire music catalog. The Rescue Mission of Salt Lake is a non-profit organization helping the homeless, hungry, addicted, and working poor. In addition the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake provides emergency services to Utah's homeless such as overnight accommodations; shave, shower, and clothes distribution; sack lunches; day rooms and family food boxes.

The Rescue Mission of Salt Lake provides over 86,000 meals; 31,000 overnight accommodations; 45,000 articles of clothing and over 300 complete family food boxes each year.

U92 listeners who bring non-perishable food items to the E Center on Friday Nov. 14 between 2:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. will be entered in a contest to win front row tickets to see T.I. The listener who brings the most non-perishable food items will win a pair of front row tickets. In addition, the top four listeners who bring the most non-perishable food items will win a pair of tickets in the second, third, fourth, and fifth rows respectively. Moreover, one lucky listener will win an Apple iPod Touch loaded with T.I.'s entire music catalog. All non-perishable food items will benefit the Rescue Mission of Salt Lake, and winners will be judged by quantity of items donated. "