Many of you may have heard on The Grizz radio station that Royal Bliss, an alternative rock band from Utah, is returning to Quincy to play an acoustic show at the State Room Wednesday night. Well, if you didn’t, then now you know.

Stopping in Quincy on their way to perform with Saving Abel and Buckcherry in St. Louis Thursday is quite a gesture that shows they enjoyed their sold out Backwaters show last year.

I suggest you take your Wednesday night (what were you going to do anyway?) and go see a show that will doubtfully pass through again.

Acoustic show with Royal Bliss (rock)
WHEN: 8 p.m. Wednesday
WHERE: State Room
HOW MUCH:
INFO: www.myspace.com/royalbliss

Look out for another blog Thursday and have a great week!

Contact me at jmartin@whig.com.

Descending New Angels is traveling from St. Louis to Quincy Friday to headline at Turner Hall with Quincy’s Predawn Hour and Downcast of Macomb.

Descending New Angels’ lead singer, Randy Shanks, sounds remarkably like Scott Stapp of Creed with a little Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam mixed in. If you are really into Creed, then this should be a reason to check Descending New Angels out.

If you’re not into Creed — like me — don’t let this deter you, because not only does Shanks seem to lack Stapp’s ego, but he also conveys genuine feeling, which is where he sounds a bit more like Vedder.

The music is a mix of acoustic and electric guitars and makes it clear this band began with two guitarists — Shanks and Erik Simpson. Their 3 Doors Down influence is obvious, as many of their songs begin with just a guitar riff and often with an acoustic guitar.

It’s hard to find a band that pays this much attention to writing their music and playing their instruments and still has an interesting singer.

Seeing them live will really show their ability to blend rock, southern blues and alternative. So, if you are missing some actual ROCK music, and not watered down alternative with nasal-sounding vocals, go to this show. I will see you there!

Descending New Angels, Predawn Hour and Downcast (rock)
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Turner Hall
HOW MUCH: $5, all ages welcome
INFO: www.myspace.com/predawnhour

For a ton of other options in live shows this weekend, please read below!

UPCOMING SHOWS

Argyle Road (country/classic rock)
WHEN: 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. Friday
WHERE: The Lucky Star Saloon,
St. Francisville, Mo.
INFO: www.myspace.com/argyleroad

Atlas Lost Balance and Bury the Ocean (Christian)
WHEN: 9 p.m. Friday
WHERE: The Crossing
HOW MUCH: free
INFO: www.myspace.com/burytheocean

Joker Moon Band
WHEN: 7:30 – 10:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Eagles, Quincy
HOW MUCH: $3

Imbakt (country/classic rock)
WHEN: 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. Friday
WHERE: City Limits, Mount Sterling
INFO: www.myspace.com/impaktband

Bury The Ocean, Believing In Autumn, Goat (Christian/metal)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Uturn Youth Group, 415 Spring St.
HOW MUCH: $5
INFO: www.myspace.com/burytheocean

Johnny Henry (acoustic)
WHEN: 2 – 6 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Crown Valley – Tievoli Winery, 25795 Highway N, Clarksville, Mo.
INFO: www.myspace.com/johnnyhenrymusic

Impakt performing as Nashville Bound Band (country/classic rock)
WHEN: 6 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Illinois Veterans Home, Quincy, Ill.
INFO: www.myspace.com/impaktband

Transfer To Red, Dope Boy Allstars and Comatose Kitty (rock)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Music @ the Mall, 300 Main, Keokuk, Iowa
HOW MUCH: $5, all ages welcome
INFO: www.myspace.com/musicatthemall

The Cheeseburgers (classic rock)
WHEN: 8 p.m Saturday
WHERE: The Dock, 1021 Bonansinga Drive
INFO: www.myspace.com/thecheeseburgersquincy

TORQUE (rock)
WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: River City Billiards, Hannibal, Mo.
HOW MUCH: $5
INFO: www.myspace.com/torquerocks 

Raised On Radio (blues/classic rock)
WHEN: 8:30 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: The Grove Inn, Quincy
INFO: www.myspace.com/raisedonradiolive

Thru the Ashes (rock)
WHEN: 9 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Club Mississippi, Louisiana, Mo.
HOW MUCH: $5
INFO: www.myspace.com/thrutheashesacoustic

Ridgerunner Jamboree (country/bluegrass/gospel)
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: 111 E. Main, Ewing, Missouri
How Much:  $7, all ages welcome

Be safe and have a great weekend!

Contact me at jmartin@whig.com.

The Trampskirts‘ performance at Music @ the Mall Friday was exactly how I thought it’d be; raw, loud and awesome.

The all-girl punk/grunge band performed like stage-veterans as the crowd ate it up while dancing and ramming into each other.

One highlight of the show was when the lead guitarist asked for a cigarette lighter over the PA, claiming, "Don’t worry, I’m not going to smoke in here" — then proceeded to play her guitar with it. Quite well, I must say.

As I stood there taking in the show from the back of the crowd, I heard, "So I guess grunge is back," from the person next to me.

I really had to agree that grunge is at least making an attempt, from the plaid shirt the lead guitarist was wearing to the unpolished vocals wailing from the speakers.

One thing I think could of made it better would be a full-time bass player instead of the lead singer having to contain her thrashing about every other song to play.

Long story short, Trampskirts put on a must-see live show, but you can also buy their CD here.

VENUE
I want to commend Music @ the Mall for creating an underground venue vibe in the Keokuk mall While still maintaining a professional feel with concessions, retail and self-promotion.

Week after week, the Music @ the Mall crew brings in new lineups to perform in front of a music-loving crowd with a built-in light show and room to move.

Check out their page for this week’s show.

UPCOMING
Heads up for this week: There a ton of shows this weekend, so just know now to plan on at least one. Everything from acoustic to rock to Christian hardcore will be available. Check out my next blog Thursday for all the listings. Have a great week!

Contact me at jmartin@whig.com.

I’m having one of those weeks where I NEED a live rock show.

Well, I’m in luck, because there is an awesome one this Saturday with Nashville’s all-girl punk band Trampskirts at 7 p.m. at Music @ the Mall in Keokuk, Iowa.

I have not seen Trampskirts live, but I like what I have heard. It promises to be a show where if nothing else you can let go and rock out to loud music.

Plus, how often do you get to see a bunch of awesome girls play instruments and sing all their own music around here or anywhere for that matter?

They are getting ready to start recording their second release with Supernova Records at the beginning of 2009, so it’s a good time to say you saw them when they weren’t that big.

I would like to commend Music @ the Mall for bringing in a touring act promoting this show so well.

Trampskirts, Dead Zebbra, Trash and the Timebombs
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday.
WHERE: Music @ the Mall, 300 Main St., Keokuk, Iowa.
HOW MUCH: $5, all ages welcome.
www.myspace.com/musicatthemall

OTHER SHOWS THIS WEEKEND:

Street party with B-Ville Bombers and Staggard (rock)
WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday.
WHERE: Down on the Corner, Marcelline, Ill.
INFO: Call (217) 964-2464

Vertigo (rock)
WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday.
WHERE: The Back Alley Bar and Grill, Pittsfield, Ill.
www.myspace.com/thebackalleybarandgrill

NOWAKE (rock)
WHEN: 10 p.m. Saturday.
WHERE: Twilight Zone, Quincy.
www.myspace.com/nowakemusic

MIXED TAPE
"Human Being," by Guns n’ Roses
"Come Clarity," by In Flames
"Eddie Vedder," by Local H
"Hand Of Blood," by Bullet For My Valentine
"In Regards To Myself," by Underoath
"The Razor," by Head Automatica
"The End Of The World," by Cold
"Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja," by Lostprophets
"Nutshell," by Alice In Chains
"Sticks and Stones," by Alien Ant Farm

— Geoff Eighinger, Ashland, Ohio

Submit 10 tracks of your own for publication to jmartin@whig.com.

Contact me at jmartin@whig.com.

Quincy’s rock quintet TORQUE had nearly everything working against them Saturday night when they took the stage to perform at O’Griff’s East Room.

Between a last-minute venue/city change and the constant rain showers, they could have gone through the motions to an empty room. This was not the case, and even though this was the first time I saw them perform, I could tell that they probably go all out every time they play.

Jay Briscoe, left, and
Alan Lawless

They nearly busted out of the East Room with five members and a giant sound system (with smoke machine) that didn’t just thud in your chest but shook the floor. I’d like to hear them in an appropriate sized venue, where they have room to breathe and really turn it up.

The guys are rightfully very proud of having the best PA system in the area, which is run by Copper Mine Studios owner Alan Lawless. There is even an entire photo album of their sound and lighting equipment on their Myspace page. If you are a struggling musician, go and check out their page, but make sure to have a tissue ready as you tear up with envy.

TORQUE performed mostly covers Saturday of Breaking Benjamin (alternative/rock) type songs. Honestly, I’m not really a cover band person myself, but they did a good job of vocally making them their own. They do have some interesting originals which you can check out here.

Frontman Jay Briscoe puts everything on the line with each song and that along with their performance quality, sound and look, makes it feel like an arena rock show even on a rainy Saturday at the East Room.

Check them out:

TORQUE (rock)
WHEN: 8 p.m. Sept. 27
WHERE: River City Billiards, 603 Broadway, Hannibal
HOW MUCH: $5
INFO

Please check out the live events blog on Thursday and have a great week!

Contact me at jmartin@whig.com.

What kind of music do you feel like hearing this weekend? Because there’s a good chance that there is a show in the area for you. Everything is represented from choices of a dance party, metal, classic rock and hip hop there for the picking.

CHECK THEM OUT HERE:

Starlit Platoon (rock)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: 1 University Circle, Western Illinois University, Macomb
INFO

Fielder (indie/alternative)
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Turner Hall, 922 Hampshire
INFO

Predawn Hour (rock)
WHEN: 8:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: The Dock, Quincy
HOW MUCH: $5
INFO

Thru the Ashes (rock)
WHEN: 9 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Sportsman Bar, Hannibal, Mo.
INFO

Dance party with DJ Vorhees
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Music @ the Mall, 300 Main, Keokuk, Iowa
HOW MUCH: $2, all ages
INFO

Raised on Radio (blues/classic rock)
WHEN: 8:30 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: The Dock, Quincy
INFO

Longshot (classic rock)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Vandalia Shrimp Festival, Vandalia, Mo.

INFO

Vertigo (rock)
WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: SeptemberFest at Blessed Sacrament, Quincy
INFO

RENAE, Bury The Ocean and InLow (metal)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Music @ the Mall, 300 Main, Keokuk, Iowa
HOW MUCH: $5, all ages
INFO

Awdazcate, Pugs Atomz, Elevation, Tre-P and Paradox (hip hop)
WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: The Day Old Basement, 1111 W. Adams, Macomb, Ill.
INFO

Country Soul (classic rock)
WHEN: 9 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Club Mississippi, Louisiana, Mo.
INFO

Have a great weekend and look for a new blog on Monday.

Contact me at jmartin@whig.com.

Billboard’s Hot 100 LIst of All Time has rightfully offended many music lovers.

However, blaming Billboard is misguided. Instead, blame the millions of people who actually bought their own copy of No. 5 on the list, "Macarena." Those people owe anyone who reads the Hot 100 List of All Time an apology.

The list is compiled by a point system, which
awards more points for higher rankings on the Top 100 and rankings are determined by
single sales.

Here are the top 10 with some notes from me.

1. "THE TWIST," by Chubby Checker (1960/1962)
ME: You know a song was super popular when over 40 years later its a wedding reception staple.

2. "SMOOTH," by Santana Featuring Rob Thomas (1999)

ME: Shhhh, don’t tell anyone, but I think I may be guilty of owning this single in high school.

3. "MACK THE KNIFE," by Bobby Darin (1959)
ME: You may not recognize the song title, but you will recognize the finger-snapping tune when you hear it.

4. "HOW DO I LIVE," by LeAnn Rimes (1997)
ME: Guilty as charged; I owned this in high school as well. The 90s were not a great time in mainstream music with the advent of boy bands and pop tarts. I’ll redeem myself by saying most of the music I own did not make this list.

5. "MACARENA" (BAYSIDE BOYS MIX), by Los Del Rio (1996)
ME: That’s it. The world is ending. Everyone take cover, because we are all going to feel the wrath of the music gods upon us for this one. This is not just the fault of those who actually bought this album, but also anyone who ever partook in doing the ridiculous dance that went along with it. I know it’s silly fun for some people, but I wish it wasn’t able to make the list.

6. "PHYSICAL," Olivia Newton-John (1981)
ME: Call me a child of the 80s, but this song reminds me of when Kelly, Lisa and Jesse "sang" in a video to this song on a "Saved By The Bell" episode. Plus, it’s funny to know people actually purchased this song.

7. "YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE," by Debby Boone (1977)
ME: This one is a definite grocery store ballad that you hear playing as you are picking out frozen food for dinner that night. It is Pat Boone’s daughter, though, so that’s something.

Hey, at least "Hey Jude" made the list.

8. "HEY JUDE," by The Beatles (1968)
ME: Obvious choice and as far as I’m concerned the most respectable song on the list.

9. "WE BELONG TOGETHER," by Mariah Carey (2005)
ME: I’m not a fan of the song or anything Carey has done  since I was 13 and was given "Always Be My Baby" as a present at Christmas from a friend. She has better songs, but everyone who bought this one made this happen.

10. "UN-BREAK MY HEART," by Toni Braxton (1996)
ME: I did own this one in 1996 as a single, but it’s still surprising to know it was the second biggest single by a female artist ever according to Wikipedia.

I own or owned 22 out of the 100 songs on the list. If you think about it, that is not a lot, considering how many albums had to be sold to make this list.

ARTISTS
Billboard’s Top 100 Artists of All Time may make more sense to you. We all know one-hit-wonders exist, but to be a top selling artist of all time you must make albums full of songs people want to buy. The top 3 are The Beatles, Madonna and Elton John.

Find out how Billboard compiled the Hot 100 List of All Time here.

Every song you hear on the radio, MTV or the Internet is written by one person or a few people working together. The person who is singing the song is not always who wrote it.

There are ways to get a song you wrote off your shelf, out of your computer and farther than your MySpace profile.

Quincy’s Laser Images owner, Kevin Kewney, used his background in music to create an online "song promotion community," called SongNation that can help you do just that.

Kewney came up with the idea for SongNation by realizing "there are many great songs out there sitting on people’s shelves that are not being promoted."

Below is an interview with Kewney about his site and other song promotion facts.

SONGNATION.COM

FEATURES
- There are different service levels to accommodate a songwriter’s entire song catalog. A free three-song account, called “Personal Membership,” is good for beginners.

- Listeners can sign up for free.

- Songwriters can upload a photo and biography.

- Songwriters also can upload and stream songs (streaming is the ability to listen to a song using Adobe’s Flash Technology without the listener having to download the song. This protects the songwriter’s work from being illegally copied and distributed.)

- Lyrics and other pertinent information can be uploaded that might help someone who is searching for a song for a particular use.

- The site allows messaging, commenting and rating other’s songs.

- You can create a play list of “favorites.”

WRITING PROCESS
- Co-write with people at or above your level.

- Get feedback from those with more experience than yourself. Take this feedback and then keep re-writing until the song is at its highest standards. SongNation.com has an update audio feature that allows you to keep posting the latest version of your song while retaining the other data such as the lyrics.

SONG PROMOTION
- Networking is key.

- Travel to music hubs, like Nashville and LA. In Nashville for example, there are many opportunities to perform your songs at writer nights. 

COMMON MISTAKES
I think a very common beginner mistake would be to send out a bunch of CDs in the mail to publishing companies and expect that they will get listened to. Chances are they won’t. Publishers are flooded with material. The key to getting in is through someone like an entertainment attorney, record producer or other personal referral. Of course the talent needs to be there. 

QUINCY MUSIC SCENE
It needs to be more connected. This blog is a very good thing for Quincy!  I’d like to say … if you are in a band or are a songwriter, please feel free to use SongNation.com as a tool.

CONTACT
Kevin Kewney, songwriter
DEGREE: Bachelor’s in management from Columbia College in Chicago
SongNation.com -  Song Ventures, LLC, 410 S. 10th St., Quincy, IL 62301
EMAIL: info@songnation.com

Please feel free to send me other questions to ask Kevin for future song writing blogs and please look for a weekend events blog on Thursday. Have a great week!

Contact me at jmartin@whig.com.

WIRED magazine’s supplement, FASHION ROCKS, came out for fall. It has great photos of musicians showing their personal style like cover boy Justin Timberlake, Liz Phair, Gym Class Heroes, Keith Urban, Tokio Hotel, the Kills and many others.

After glancing through the issue, I thought I’d find this week’s most fashionable lineup from the local shows this weekend. I checked out the bands via Myspace, and I must admit some of these guys could spruce up a bit or at least get promotional photos taken. A more visually marketable band is a more popular band, especially if the only way someone can check out a band before hitting up their show is by visiting their site.

Many musicians would say they want their music to speak for them and not be judged on their appearance. Well, if no one bothers to pay attention, then your music won’t be heard. If a band wants to go all the way with their music, then they must work on their image. It is a basic fact of the industry.

This was mostly for fun, but the winner is:

THE DAY OLD BASEMENT’S lineup of Chicago’s Scouts Honor (rock/hardcore), Macomb’s Ryan Joseph Brewer (acoustic) and Chicago’s Juffage
(experimental/rock).

Check out all show listings below.

UPCOMING SHOWS
Scouts Honor, Ryan Joseph Brewer and Juffage (indie)
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday
WHERE: 1111 W. Adams, Macomb, Ill.
HOW MUCH: $3
INFO

The Cheeseburgers and Burt Shackleton (indie)
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Liberty Fall Fest, Liberty Park, Liberty, Ill.
INFO

Raised On Radio (blues/classic rock)
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Smoke On the River at The Dock, 1021 Bonansinga
INFO

The Blue Healers (blues)
WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Smoke On the River at The Dock, 1021 Bonansinga
INFO

ImpaKt Band (country/classic rock)
WHEN: 10 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Port’s Place, 510 Jersey
HOW MUCH: $2
INFO

Definition Of Aggression, Garrotted, Coffin Builder and Giant Killing Machine (rock)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Music @ The Mall, 300 Main, Keokuk, Iowa
HOW MUCH: $5
INFO

Thru the Ashes (rock)
WHEN: 10 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Twilight Zone
HOW MUCH: $5
INFO

When all of you choose a show to go to this weekend, please let me know if I was right about the winners. I hope you take advantage of the nice weather and support the local music scene. Be safe and look for another blog Monday night.

Contact me at jmartin@whig.com.

I’m not unlike my colleague Steve Eighinger, because I too have a lot to share.

A book is coming out on Sept. 18 that you must get a hold of, "Bumping Into Geniuses: My Life Inside the Rock and Roll Business." Music insider Danny Goldberg, who has done PR for Led Zeppelin and managed Nirvana among many other career highs, writes about the last 35 years he’s spent in this crazy industry. You cannot get more rock and roll than that.

EDITORIAL REVIEW
Danny Goldberg has been a hugely influential figure in the world of rock and roll. He ran Atlantic Records, Mercury Records, and Warner Bros. Records and launched Stevie Nicks’ solo career. In "Bumping into Geniuses," Goldberg shares his stories about performers who represent a broad and powerful portion of the psychic real estate of the rock and roll kingdom: Patti Smith, Warren Zevon, Bruce Springsteen, KISS, Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, Hole, Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Raitt, Steve Earle, Led Zeppelin and more.

But there’s more to this story than just Goldberg’s varied career. It’s also a look at the industry itself: a business that was neither the romantic vehicle for self-expression that its most naive fans imagined, nor the purely crass money machine depicted by its most cynical critics. It was complex and chaotic — a mixture of art and commerce, idealism and selfishness — and sometimes, rock’s most gifted and influential musicians were able to transcend it all.

For anyone interested in the rock and roll industry "Bumping into Geniuses" is an incredible insider’s tale that only Goldberg could tell.

— Amazon Product Description

WORDPRESS
Blogs about: Bumping Into Geniuses

The book is being released Sept. 18. Pre-order your copy here.

My copy is on its way. I’m so excited!