Department of Homeland Security, which was created in the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Though relatively young, DHS has been criticized for many things, from the typical charges of wasteful spending to more pointed complaints about privacy violations and security gaffes such as the thwarted “Underwear Bomber,” Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. But if nothing else, we can all be thankful that Napolitano replaced that ridiculous color-coded terrorist alert system. Seating at these events is limited, and this one will probably fill up quickly, so make reservations by calling 683-5239. RB. GOOD NEWS FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE BLUEGRASS: Blackberry Winter, whose tunes graced the soundtrack to “Winter’s Bone,” headlines the Eureka Springs Family Bluegrass Weekend. The band plays at 7 p.m. at Basin Spring Park. couple months ago: The band is headlining this here bluegrass festival. You might remember Blackberry Winter from its hauntingly beautiful folk songs, which were featured extensively on the “Winter’s Bone” soundtrack. Singer and bandleader Marideth Sisco’s voice is incredible, buoyed and propelled by fiddle, guitar, mandolin and all manner of plucked strings. The group has been getting some well-deserved attention and playing the sort of clubs that usually host indie rock acts, including such houses of ill repute as The Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, N.C., or The Earl in Atlanta. Sisco has been blogging about the band’s awesomely titled “The Amazing Geriatric Hillbilly U.S. World Tour.” Sample observation: “Boston was another surprise, another indie rock place painted all black and with a bare green room, no amenities and with the bathrooms clear over on the other side of the facility. Don’t know what the rest did, but I changed clothes and cleaned up in the handicap stall on the women’s side. Not a good start.” I don’t know that Basin Spring Park has a green room but nonetheless, it will be a great venue to see Blackberry Winter, as well as the dozen or so other bluegrass bands that will play this rainor-shine jamboree, which kicks off Friday night and goes through Sunday. RB.
els were to hippies. A recent EP of covers finds the band in an even more subdued mood. Neil Young’s “Borrowed Tune” eschews the broken-down-drunk-at-thepiano feel of the original for a Xanaxnumbed, contemporary interpretation. Similarly, Bob Dylan’s “You’re a Big Girl Now” feels detached, cold and distant. It’s the sound of heartbreak on the dark side of the moon as opposed to the smoldering, earthly ember of pain that is Dylan’s original. This band will probably sound excellent inside Artchurch Studio. RB.
MON D AY 8/22
JANET NAPOLITANO
6 p.m. Clinton Presidential Center. Free.
n The Clinton Presidential Center has certainly brought in some serious political heavyweights. While Arne Duncan and Ray LaHood have both been to Arkansas within the last year or so, it’s not every day that Little Rock gets a presentation from the acting director of a high-profile, Cabinet-level department of the federal government. Former New Mexico Gov. Janet Napolitano is the third secretary of the
T UE SDAY 8/23
COUNTRY BUCKS
8 p.m. Downtown Music Hall. $8.
n Mark Deutrom — aka Mark D. — has a resume to make any heavy music fiend turn green with envy: He went to school at the California Institute of the Arts, attending seminars with such luminaries as John Cage, Morton Subotnick and Aaron Copland; he started the Alchemy label in the ’80s, producing and releasing albums by Neurosis, The Melvins and Rich Kids on LSD, among others; he played bass for The Melvins — arguably one of the most influential metal bands ever — during an incredibly successful period in the band’s long history, even opening what turned out to be Nirvana’s final show; and he collaborated with Sunn 0))) on a European tour, among many other very awesome, very metal things. Earlier this year, he released “The Value of Decay,” a darkly psychedelic solo album that captured the sturm und drang of sprawling metal acts like Neurosis, but sounds less angry, more contemplative and bluesy. His band Country Bucks naturally incorporates more than a little bit of demented, Melvins-style heaviness, but with an added ZZ Top-style boogie rock sound. RB.
S U ND AY 8/ 21
ROYAL FOREST
4 p.m. Artchurch Studio. $5.
n Austin’s Royal Forest traffics in midtempo, modern psychedelic rock, with reverb-heavy vocals, swirly washes of guitar and sound effects galore. The band’s self-titled EP from last year treads similar ground as Grizzly Bear or a slightly more restrained Tame Impala. The pulsing “Civilwarland” gets things off to a rollicking start and a name-check of “CivilWarLand in Bad Decline,” the short story collection by George Saunders that is totemic among 20- and 30-somethings nowadays in the way that Richard Brautigan nov-
HEAVY METAL VETERAN: Mark Deutrom — producer, label founder, Melvins bassist, solo artist – comes to Downtown Music Hall Tuesday night at 8 p.m. with his band Country Bucks.
■ inbrief
THURSDAY 8/18
n DJ Silky Slim helps “bring sexy back to your Thursday night” at Twelve Modern Lounge, 9 p.m., $10 after 10:30. Jackson Taylor & The Sinners keep the Outlaw country spirit alive with old-school honky-tonk tunes that are the perfect soundtrack for doing body shots of Evan Williams straight off a stripper’s navel base, Stickyz, 9 p.m., $7. Of course, if that sounds good, you might have to toss a coin between that show and JB & The Moonshine Band and Ryan Couron, Denton’s Trotline, 9 p.m. If bustin’ a gut sounds like your speed, comedian Dante is at The Loony Bin through Saturday. The Thursday show starts at 8 p.m. and costs $7. Red Octopus Theater’s “Caged Heat” returns to The Public Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $8-$10.
FRIDAY 8/19
n Cool Shoes’ monthly dance party keeps things thumping at Downtown Music Hall, starting at 9 p.m., $5. The indefatigable Bonnie Montgomery takes her Montgomery Trucking outfit to Dugan’s Pub, 8:30 p.m., free. New Orleans natives Butterfly and The Rebirth of Irie Soul host an evening of stories and remembrances from Hurricane Katrina survivors for the six-year anniversary of the storm, with Darria Johnson, Tim Anthony and more at Cornerstone Pub & Grill, 9 p.m., $10. Elise Davis and Floorwalkers play the reopened Browning’s Mexican Grill, 9 p.m., $5. Also from New Orleans, The Iguanas play good-time roots rock with a Latin tinge at Juanita’s, $12 adv., $15 door, 9 p.m. For a late night of rock ’n’ roll debauchery, you probably won’t do better than Joecephus & The George Jonestown Massacre at Midtown, $5, midnight-30.
SATURDAY 8/20
n Former Black Oak Arkansas and Krokus member Andy Tanas brings his distinctive country rock sound to Artchurch Studio in Hot Springs, with opener Ben Robbins, 7 p.m., $10. The Blue Ribbon Healers play jazzflavored old-timey tunes about drinking and carousing and such, The Afterthought, 9 p.m., $7. North Mississippi bluesman David Kimbrough plays Midtown, 12:30, $5. “Soul on Fire” is a musical that explores abuse, recovery and healing. The show is fresh off the main stage of the (2011 National Black Theatre Festival) and comes to Robinson Center Music Hall at 7:30 p.m., $36.50-$48.50. Boys & Their Toys 2011: A Rockin’ Bow Tie Affair benefits the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation, with KTHV anchor Craig O’Neill as emcee, music from the B Flats and a runway show with the latest men’s fashions, Argenta Community Theater, 7 p.m., $100. www.arktimes.com • AUGUST 17, 2011 61