■ to-dolist By Lindsey Millar and John Tarpley
FRIDAY 11/26
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS V. ALABAMABIRMINGHAM BLAZERS 7 p.m., Verizon Arena. $25.
n As appealing as a weekend of lying on the couch or, for the masochistic, finding incredible bargains might sound, make room for the Hogs, Central Arkansas. And not just on Saturday. Friday, the men’s basketball team makes its annual visit to Verizon to play its toughest opponent yet, Conference USA’s University of AlabamaBirmingham. Yes, we’re still a year away from welcoming THE GREATEST RECRUITING CLASS IN THE HISTORY OF ARKANSAS SPORTS. But it’s time to hop back on the bandwagon again, Hog fans. Because fair-weather fandom is for pro sports. Because, for the first time in recent memory, this team does not feature an often dazzling point guard prone to ridiculous turnovers. Because Marshawn Powell is the best basketball Hog since Joe Johnson. Because John Pelphrey knows that, even though he’s likely to be granted a pass until next year to try to work his heralded freshmen into the mix, if he blows it too terribly this year, he’s likely gone; as a consequence, hopefully, that means he’s going to get the guys to run an actual offense. And, because football’s almost over, and you’ll need something else to channel all those unreasonable hopes and dreams into. LM.
BIG SILVER’S THANKSGIVING SPECIAL 10 p.m., White Water Tavern. $5.
n Late-year holidays in Little Rock — they always bring out some killer local rock shows. This Thanksgiving’s big ’un finds dizzyingly prolific Isaac Alexander bringing his least prolific band back to the stage for the first time in so long he couldn’t remember when Big Silver last played when asked early this week. Like all bands Alexander fronts, the twang-pop quintet specializes in Fab Four-esque melodies and earwormy lyrical hooks. Friday sees the group getting a little help from its friends. Massive bearded singer/songwriter extraordinaire Adam Faucett, folk-pop chanteuse and opera composer Bonnie Montgomery, Big Cats front man and Max Recordings head honcho Burt Taggart and folk standout and radio hostess Amy Garland are all scheduled to lend their talents to Big Silver for a song or two. In exchange, the band’ll back 20 NOVEMBER 25, 2010 • ARKANSAS TIMES
BACK ONSTAGE: Big Silver, with friends in tow, at White Water Tavern. each performer in one of his or her songs. A Big Silver-backed version of “Virginia’s Aria” from Bonnie Montgomery’s “Billy Blythe,” maybe? You never know. LM.
HINDER
8:30 p.m., The Village. $22.50-$25.
n Are you looking for rock ’n’ roll fame? Maybe not the sort of everyone-will-knowyour-name fame that, say, U2 enjoys. But still a fame that will make you rich, allow you to wear leather pants and not be mocked, possibly employ a weed carrier and have lots of groupie sex? Well, you’re in luck. Hinder, the Oklahoma hard rock five-piece that comes to Little Rock days before releasing its third album, “All American Nightmare,” has distilled the formula for that sort of modern rock success into three easy-to-follow steps. Step one: Steal liberally. Song titles. Riffs. Lyrics. Why write a song when, as Hinder does on its new song “Put That Record On,” you can just string together references to classic rock hits? Step two: Get really, really stoned and fill in the gaps of what’s left with your best prison-style poetry about your ex-girlfriend (e.g. “I wanna lay you down in a bed of roses / For tonight I sleep on a bed of nails”). Step three: Shape your voice into an unholy mix of the dude from Goo Goo Dolls and AC/DC’s Brian Johnson and make sure every time before you sing, you get completely wasted. On Jagermeister, preferably. Who’s ready to be famous? LM.
SATURDAY 11/27
ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS V. LSU TIGERS
2:30 p.m., War Memorial Stadium. Sold out.
n The game may be sold out, but a War
HINDER CAN SHOW YOU THE WAY TO ROCK: In three easy steps. Memorial tailgate is never full. A grill suggestion courtesy of my cousin: Wrap a thick cut of pork or chicken around sausage and leftover dressing with kitchen twine — and bam! — a game day delicacy. Typically, a War Memorial game is more about drunken revelry and smoked meats than dedicated fandom, but this year, with a potential Sugar Bowl berth at stake (go Auburn!), Hog fans are likely to bring their game faces (which, of course, doesn’t preclude food and drink so much as it puts a cap on it). Here are several things I’d be willing to bet on with regard to the game: Les Miles will make at least one stupid — but probably at least two — costly decision(s). LSU’s ground game will give us the same sort of troubles Mississippi State’s did. The crowd will be the difference maker. For a more astute preview, see A Boy Named Sooie, on page 24. LM.
MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER
8 p.m., Robinson Center Music Hall. $37-$77.
n Is it hip to like Mannheim Steamroller yet? If not, can it be? The progressive rockers have been synthesizing Christmas since 1984, providing bottomless laughs and endless opportunities to play air MIDI keyboards over the holidays. Little did Chip Davis, Mannheim Steamroller founder, know he’d change the entire Yuletide soundscape when he decided “Deck the Halls” didn’t sound enough like a promotional VHS for Minnetonka, Minnesota’s 1982 Chamber of Commerce. The group’s annual, cross-country Christmas tour is a yearly staple and their stops in Little Rock are as reliable as their sweet electronic drum fills. It’s a one-night-only affair, so get to