By Eric Lochridge

OK, so tell me what’s worse: A Steven-Tylerless Aerosmith or no Aerosmith at all?

It’s probably good that Hagar is all tied up with Chickenfoot, huh?

By Eric lochridge

I’ve never really been sure if The Reddmen play pop-punk songs or punk-pop songs.
But whichever it is, there’s always been something more to the Rapid City trio’s tightly packed music.
Listen closely and you hear bits of the blues, and occasionally, you can hear the muffled sound of an arena rock classic trying to kick its way out of the locked trunk.
On its new album, “White Omega,” the band cranks the power pop up a notch, though, and comes closer than ever to letting its inner pop star take center stage.
The influences here make up a laundry list of some of the best pop, punk and power pop artists known to humankind—Nirvana, Foo Fighters, the Pixies, Buddy Holly, the Beach Boys.
Lyrically, The Reddmen owe a debt to Nirvana here — even if a line in the title track claims that “Nevermind is just an album that I listen to”—but musically, “White Omega” is the spiritual descendant of the Foo Fighters’ debut album. That said, Dave Grohl only wishes he could still make an album like this.
“White Omega” hits its stride with the Cobain-ian guitar solo of “Transylvania Blood Drive,” and segues into the jangly harmonies of “Cordially Blue,” which recalls the Foo Fighters’ 1996 hit “Big Me.”
The band — J. Waylon Porcupine, Miyo One Arrow and Trevor Leo — ratchets up the melodic tension again on “Paper Aviator,” then releases it halfway through the following song, “Town of Tears,” and rides the momentum through the cathartic “Why Are You Always On?”
“White Omega” follows last year’s split LP with Denver band Eyes and Ears. Before that, the band released the stellar full-lengths “Arsenic Ballads” (2006) and “Sons of the Morning Star” (2003).
The Reddmen’s four-song contribution last year to the split LP seems to pack a harder punch than most of “White Omega.” That’s not to say the new album isn’t as good, though. “White Omega” tends to melody and harmony over sheer impact, and by tipping its sonic balance just a bit, the band shakes up its sound just enough to make us think ahead to what could come next.
Follow The Reddmen on MySpace at www.myspace.com/ thereddmen.

Hip-hop’s KOD plots ‘Blackhills Takeover’
Local hip-hop performer KOD (Andre Truitt) is back with “Blackhills Takeover.” The 17 songs on the “mixtape” CD are just what we’ve come to expect from KOD, who has been on the local music scene since 2002, first with his single, “Hear My Cry,” which got notable radio play here. Check it out at www.my space.com/kodbiggdoggrecords.

Call Eric Lochridge at 394-8321 or e-mail eric.lochridge@rapidcityjournal.com.

By Seth A. McConnell

I attempted to cover the Flo Rida concert tonight.

I showed up at the alloted time, which was 9:00 p.m., to catch opening act Chingy who was supposed to take the stage at 9:15. When I got near the Rushmore Room I was informed that the second act had just taken the stage so the timing would be a little off. How far off I wasn’t sure and neither were they.

“It’s a rap concert” I told myself “They don’t have any instruments to set up or tear down, the switch over time between performers should be short.” Heck all they need is a laptop with the songs programmed in or two turntables and a microphone. Pretty simple, right?

When I walked I noticed they had the equipment already on the stage back lined -back lining is when the artists equipment is already setup on stage all you should have to do is hit the power switch, make sure everything is working and bam, rock n’ roll- and the second act was performing to a cd. The artist, who I’m not sure to be honest I wasn’t planning on writing a review when I knew I had a photo deadline to meet, wrapped up nearly on time it was just a couple of minutes past 9:15. The lights went down and Chingy’s DJ walked up to his equipment, my thoughts were sweet he’ll take the road cases off the turntables, hit the power switches and rock n’ roll were ready to go. Much to my dismay they apparently set the equipment up but didn’t plug a single thing in. 15 minutes later the turntables are set up and roughly 15 minutes after that Chingy finally takes the stage.

It’s rock n’ roll (I know its rap but the term works) and I’ve never expected any concert to start on time but this, to me, was blatantly disrespectful on the part of both the artists and the promoter. To leave your audience waiting for over a half an hour is unacceptable in a professional production. I’ve been going to shows for over a decade and I’m used to Punk Rock 7 o’clock -which means a show will start anytime between 7:45 and 8:15- but I’ve never been to a concert that has not started on time or with in 10 minutes of the advertised time. Anymore with big concerts that have more than two artists on the bill, the first band starts playing right as the door opens. Any contract I’ve signed has a stated start time for the headliner and often there are clauses that include fines if you stray to far from that time.

I made a couple of photos of chingy during my allotted first two songs, that were both about a minute long.

Chingy left the stage at roughly 10:10. Flo Rida was supposed to hit the stage at approximately 10:15. My deadline 10:30. With the blazing speed it took them to set up Chingy’s tables I knew there was no way that Flo Rida would be hitting the stage any earlier than 10:30 if I was lucky and a more realistic time of 10:45. I wasn’t willing to gamble and the copy desk already told me if it came down to it an image of Chingy would be fine.

So if you picked up the paper today expecting to see an image of Flo Rida or wondered why there was a picture of Chingy instead, this is your long winded answer.

I’m a little annoyed that I didn’t get to make photos of the headliner but that happens with deadlines and events not staying on track.

This is NOT a review, just an explanation.

-S

By Seth A. McConnell

Mr. Mraz has freakishly long fingernails

There is a lot of room out there tonight, so if you guys want to just back up, spread out and dance feel free to Mr. Mraz told the small crowd.

I was positive I had lost these images when I left for vacation merely minutes after I finished shooting the concert -well at least the first three songs- and reformatting my cards on my way to Yellowstone. Luckily though I apparently dumped the full take on my laptop and so I present to you Mr. Jason Mraz.

This was an interesting show to shoot. While Mr. Mraz is an incredible musician he doesn’t have a lot of stage presence and he doesn’t move around a lot which makes it slightly difficult to make a bevy of interesting images. Normally I would shoot the rest of the band but since this was the Jason Mraz show I just stuck to making images of Mr. Mraz. What Jason lacks in stage presence he makes up for in charisma with plenty of great facial expressions and hand gestures that make it at least worth while to make photos of.

-S

By Eric Lochridge

Erin Lester, a recent journalism graduate of South Dakota State University, attended the Jason Mraz concert last week on her birthday and submitted these photos.