Above: Blue Oyster Cult has been around for more than 40 years, but the guys don't need to fear the reaper, yet. They'll be in town this weekend at the Rib America Festival.
It’s not Bonnaroo or even Wakarusa, but the American Royal Rib America Festival has its lure and appeal: Fs four days of inexpensive (even free) entertainment down in the parking lot outside Kemper Arena (remember that place?).
The music agenda touches an array of genres, from alternative rock and modern country to sacred steel, Motown pop and lots of classic rock. Here’s a rundown on some performers who may not be too familiar.
KingBilly: These guys are from Nashville. On their MySpace page, under “sounds like,” it says: “Rascal Flatts is about to be unemployed.” They are modern/contemporary country but they sound more country and a little less pop than the Flatts. Must be all the dobro, lap steel and mandolin. 4:30 p.m. Friday.
The Outlaw Junkies: A six-piece country band from Kansas City — in the vein of Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley. 6 p.m. Friday.
Jason Jones: He’s a singer/songwriter from Nashville (not the guy on “The Daily Show”). He says his influences are Kenny Chesney, George Strait and Garth. True. You can sense some Chesney in the ballad “Little Bit of Life.” He doesn’t mention Keith Urban, but you can hear him in the piano ballad “You’re My Favorite.” 7:30 p.m. Friday.
The Elms: They’re from Seymour, Ind., Mellencamp country. They used to be a CCM band — spiritual/Christian rock. Now they’re just secular rockers who like the big arena-sized anthems, in the style of Bon Jovi. Other times, they sound more Heartland-ish. They call it “Midwestern-bred rock ’n’ roll.” And pop, too. Noon Saturday.
Fabulous Motown Revue: According to its Web site, the revue has been “many members of the Fabulous Motown Revue have played with the Four Tops, Martha Reeves, Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Mary Wilson, the Temptations and many other Motown favorites.” They cover lots of Motown tunes — the ones everybody knows and a bunch that aren’t as well-known but are as good. 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Lee Boys: This is one to catch. They’re a sacred-steel ensemble — the blend of gospel music with rock, blues, jazz and soul and the world that produced Robert Randolph. The Lees comprise brothers Alvin, Derrick and Keith and three of their nephews. Here’s what the Chicago Sun-Times said: “The Lee Boys, whose House of God-inspired sacred steel music may be what Jimi Hendrix had in mind with his grand plan for ‘electric sky church music.’” Calling them “part Robert Randolph, part Holmes Brothers,” the Sun-Times said the Lee Boys “sang the praises while whipping the crowd into a frenzy with hypnotic grooves, innovative pedal-steel/lead guitar interplay and funky rhythms.” Noon Sunday.
Silver Bullet: They're a Bob Seger tribute/cover band. 5 p.m. Thursday.
The others
Rick Derringer: Was in a band called the McCoys (“Hang on Sloopy”) before he hooked up, and blew up, with Johnny Winter. Biggest hit: “Rock ’n’ Roll, Hoochie Koo.” 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Blackfoot: A Southern rock (and all American Indian) band from the 1970s. Hits: “Train, Train” and “Highway Song.” The band’s original lead singer, Rick Medlocke is a former Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer/vocalist and the son of Delta bluesman Shorty Medlocke, who wrote “Train Train.” The 2008 version includes founding members Greg T. Walker (bass) and Charlie Hargrett (guitar). 5 p.m. Sunday.
Blue Oyster Cult: A heavy-rock band from New York that enjoyed some chart success in the mid-1970s to early 1980s. Hits: “Don’t Fear the Reaper” and “Burnin’ for You.” 9 p.m. Thursday.
Jo Dee Messina: She was one of the most successful female country stars of the 1990s, she has three gold and two platinum records in her catalog. Among her hits: “Bye, Bye,” “I’m Alright,” “Stand Beside Me” and “You’re Not in Kansas Anymore.” 9 p.m. Friday.
Soul Asylum: Alternative rock band from Minneapolis. Got some face time on MTV in the 1990s with hits like “Runaway Train” and “Misery.” 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
Los Lonely Boys: A rock band from Texas featuring the Garza brothers, Henry, Jojo and Ringo. Their rock is a blend of their Texas and Hispanic roots, which they call Texican. Hit: “Heaven.” 9 p.m. Saturday.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd: He was one of several teenage blues-guitar whiz-kids in the mid-1990s. He turned 31 recently and is now a mainstay at blues festivals. Hit: “Blue on Black” was No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock charts in 1998. 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Dennis DeYoung: Former lead singer for the band Styx will sing the music of Styx. 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
Get more information here.
i really enjoyed listening to Los Lonely Boys Saturday night.
It was $15 for two beers tho. They were 5 tickets each. 7 tickets for 10 bucks, then had to buy 3 tickets for 5.
made some videos. www.youtube.com/EStTramp
Posted by: Scorp | June 23, 2008 at 02:36 PM
Man, 2 members of our own KC blues champs, Trampled Underfoot, went up and jammed on 2 songs with Kenny Wayne Sheppard, & not one mention anywhere! wtf!!!
Posted by: kmoon | June 26, 2008 at 08:45 AM