Thursday, April 17, 2008
Top Tickets: Man on a musical mission
Some of the week’s best live music
IO Jukebox
Courtesy of Tommy Edwards
Tommy Edwards
Buster B. Jones
Afterdawn
Matt Ramsey
Bill Kirchen
Bonearama
Henry Butler
The Dixie Bee-Liners
Gaelic Storm
Saturday
Heart of Virginia Foundation Fundraiser
with Tommy Edwards, Jess Pillmore, Kristi Emmons, Ben Hurt Band and more
Once upon a time, he was “Touchdown” Tommy Edwards, a multi-sport star at Radford High School. More than a decade and a lot of changes later, Edwards is a man on a different type of mission. His Heart of Virginia Foundation aims to raise money and awareness for the need to expand mental health services in Virginia. The April 16, 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech, which left 33 dead — including gunman Seung-Hui Cho — sparked him to action. Edwards wore No. 33 in his time at Virginia Tech, as did his father, Ken. Tommy Edwards said he, too, suffered from psychological issues, so he has tried to understand what happened with Cho.
Ever since, the always artistic Edwards has been using his talent to build up his foundation. The Saturday night show at High Point, loaded with special guests, is as good a place as any to see what Edwards is up to these days. Read more about him at roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/152853.
Details: 4 p.m. Saturday. High Point Coffee, Brambleton Plaza, 4210 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke County. No cover charge; $5 donation suggested. highpointcoffeeandtea.com, myspace.com/tommyedwards, theheartofva.org.
Thursday
EOTO
With Groova Scape
String Cheese Incident members Michael Travis and Jason Hann combine to bring a musical experience. On this gig, they’re doing all-improvised electronic music.
Details: 9 p.m. Thursday. 202 Market, 202 Market Square, Roanoke. $10. 343-6644, 202market.net, myspace.com/eotomusic.
Friday
Bonearama
With Bill Kirchen and the Hammer of the Honky Tonk Gods
Get the best of two disparate worlds in this double-bill. Bonearama is a New Orleans horn band that will make you shake your rump. Kirchen’s country music will make you turn up your glass.
Details: 9 p.m. Thursday. 202 Market, 202 Market Square, Roanoke. $12. 343-6644, 202market.net, bonerama.net, myspace.com/billkirchen.
Night of the She-J
Will this be a disco rollergirl kind of night? The Star City Rollergirls derby team is scheduled to be in the house with DJ Scizza (electro house/breaks), Lady Kutlass (electro disco/synth rock), Resonance (drum ’n’ bass, hip-hop) and DJ Michelle (progressive house/trance).
Details: 10 p.m. Friday. The Mix One6, 16 Campbell Ave., Roanoke. $5. 344-4494.
El Prezidino
Christian rap from Demetrius “El Prezidino” Doss, ex-Marshall University and professional football player.
Details: 9 p.m. Friday. Awful Arthur’s, 108 Campbell Ave., Roanoke. $2. 344-2997, prezidino.com.
Sean Carney Band
Hear some laid-back, old-school, swinging, jazzy blues from the 2007 winner of the International Blues Challenge.
Details: 9 p.m. Friday. Blue 5 Restaurant, 312 Second St., Roanoke. $5. 904-5338, blue5restaurant.com, myspace.com/seancarneyband.
Virginia Tech Jazz Concert
Tech’s student big band and faculty combo will perform. Bonus: Guitarist Jeff Miley, brother of Tech jazz prof James Miley, will join both bands. The Los Angeles-based six-stringer is pretty amazing.
Details: 8 p.m. Friday. Virginia Tech’s Graduate Life Center. $5 general; $3 students. 231-5685, music@vt.edu, myspace.com/jeffreymiley.
Saturday
Afterdawn
Salem High School and Roanoke College grad Corynne Wilder returns for alumni week with her hard-hitting band.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday. Roanoke College’s Olin Theatre, 221 College Lane, Salem. $10. All ages. 375-2333, roanoke.edu/tickets, myspace.com/afterdawnnyc.
Buster B. Jones
Jones is a onetime Roanoker who happens to be a world-class fingerpicker. If you like Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Merle Travis and the like, don’t miss this show. Don’t believe us? Watch this — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2w2S-3IqF0.
Details: 9 p.m. Saturday. Blue 5 Restaurant, 312 Second St., Roanoke. $5. 904-5338, blue5restaurant.com, myspace.com/seancarneyband.
Matt Ramsey
Looks like Saturday is old-home night around Roanoke. Ramsey is a Buchanan guy who is making his mark in Nashville. Read more here — roanoke.com/entertainment/insideout/music/wb/xp-153407.
Details: 9 p.m. Saturday. 202 Market, 202 Market Square, Roanoke. $5. 344-6644, 202market.net, myspace.com/mattramseymusic.
Henry Butler Trio
Jefferson Center’s latest Jazz Club offering features a New Orleans piano master. Butler will also take part in the Jeff Center’s final installment of “The Blind Leading ...” series. Read more at roanoke.com/entertainment.
Details: 8 p.m. Saturday. Jefferson Center, 541 Luck Ave., Roanoke. $22; $18; $12; half-price for children and students. Free pre-show discussion including members from local blind service organizations at 6:30 p.m. 345-2550, jeffcenter.org, henrybutler.com.
Truenoke Music
With Poe Mack, Case Jones, Tre’Mendous and more
Bob your heads to some hot rhymes from Roanoke hip-hop stalwarts Mack and Jones, with DJ Samson behind the turntables.
Details: 9 p.m. Saturday. Buddy’s, 928 Colorado St., Salem. $5. 375-0333, myspace.com/poemack, myspace.com/casejones2.
Monday
The Dixie Bee-Liners
Excellent roots music from the Bee-Liners, who are celebrating the release of their Pinecastle Records debut, “Ripe.”
Details: 7 p.m. Monday. Barter Theatre Stage II, 127 West Main St., Abingdon. $10. (276) 628-3991, bartertheatre.com, dixiebeeliners.com.
Wednesday
Pnuma Trio
Electronica-jam from a band that describes its new music as “Pac-Man on a rampage, gobbling up Squarepusher discs.”
Details: 9 p.m. Wednesday. 202 Market, 202 Market Square, Roanoke. $12. 343-6644, 202market.net, pnumatrio.com.
Gaelic Storm
It’ll probably seem like an Irish pub party, except you can’t drink inside Jeff Center’s Shaftman Hall. So get loaded beforehand in the Atrium.
Details: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Jefferson Center, 541 Luck Ave., Roanoke. $22. 345-2550, jeffcenter.org, gaelicstorm.musiccitynetworks.com.
