WEEKEND WATCH: 5.29-5.31
Whole lotta cool shows goin’ on this weekend, led by CD release shows for The Concept. So let’s go!
THU May 29
Some people aren’t aware of the rock goings on any particular Thursday night. That’s where the Weekend Watch series comes in. Bud Carroll & The Southern Souls (Huntington neo-blues) open for Blind Melon at Fluid (formerly the Monkeybar, located at 611 4th Ave.) in Huntington. There will quite likely be new Bud Carroll EP’s for sale, as they just released their new CD a few weeks ago at Marley’s Doghouse. We can’t confirm that, but it’s high quality speculation. Cover is $17 (at least that’s what it said on the website). So, bring money and show up around 9 p.m.
FRI May 30
The Concept is set to release their new CD “The Empire Penguin Strikes Back” Friday night as they welcome W.Va. horror punk outfit The Big Bad and their hip-hop friends Meuwl and B-Rude to The Blue Parrot (14 1/2 Capitol St.) for the release show and oh yeah — to celebrate bassist Dave Cantrell’s birthday party! The CD is rockin’, the show will be packed, so swing by, wish Dave a good one and pick up the CD. Show starts at 10, cover is $5, but you have to be 21 to get in. It does have the Weekend Watch series’ 100% satisfaction guarantee. (Satisfaction not a guarantee, but it’s a good bet.). And check out Rudy Panucci’s review of the CD and interviews at the PopCult blog at thegazz.com.
SAT May 31
After rocking the Parrot Friday night, The Concept will focus their sights on 311 D Street in South Charleston for their all-ages release show at the LaBelle Theater. Not 21 yet? Straight edge or something? Sucks for you, but you can get in to this show. You’ll get to see quality punk, including The Science Fair Explosion (Clarksburg ska) and The Underdogs (Ashland, Ky. pop-punk) and Huntington’s hardcore heroes in Holden Caulfield. Get there around 6 p.m. and bring $5 to get in. Cool bands at this one.
A really cool show out in Hurricane Saturday called “Bring The HeatFest 08,” with bands like Holden Caulfield, Timeless Memory, Hands Bleed Hope, Count Me In, and Brink of Oblivion converging on the Hurricane Skate Park at 2:30 for food and skating. Get there early, like 2:30, and expect to pay $7 at the gate.
If metal is more your thing, you don’t have to sit around carving “Slayer” into your forearm. Get to The Blue Parrot Saturday night to see Beckley’s Blackdamp and Into The Void (Fairmont, WV metal). 10 p.m., $5 cover.
If you’re more into melodic powerpop type stuff, The Empty Glass (410 Elizabeth St.) in Charleston features Mark Bates and The Vacancies Saturday night. We got to catch Bates (with 101 Studios Aaron Fisher on drums) back in February at the Glass opening for Bud Carroll. We were quite impressed. (Check out footage of Bates et al and Carroll from that show.) 10 p.m., likely $5 cover.
