By Crystal Hohenthaner
Journal staff

When I was in high school and college there were always those aspiring rock-star guys who would bring their guitars with them everywhere. (I always secretly suspected that they were trying to get the ladies). Plus there were those theater folks who always had a new Broadway-style audition piece that they were willing to perform for anyone. Or does anyone else remember that guy who always managed to find a piano to sit behind?

Those are the folks I would consider “living room musicians.” And their tours usually didn’t go much further than the city – or neighborhood – limits. Well, imagine my surprise when I heard that there is a guy who is going all across the country touring people’s living rooms! Plus he’s doing it for only $100 a venue.

Check out his press-release:

Living room Musician to visit Rapid City on 100-dollar tour

Finding an audience for your music is always a challenge for a young musician, but Jon Troast isn’t waiting around for listeners. Armed with a guitar and a tank of gas, Troast is currently embarking on what he’s calling the “100 Dollar Tour.”

The concept is simple: For one hundred dollars, Troast will come to your house and play. For the money, you’ll receive one hour of acoustic music and some CDs. People from Massachusetts to California have been taking him up on his offer, hosting parties for friends with Troast’s music as the centerpiece.

“I’ve played in plenty of noisy bars,” Troast says. “It’s so great to play for people who are actually listening.”

With an easy guitar style and a Jim Croce/David Gray voice, Troast’s music is full of hope and heart. During his one hour set, Troast answers questions, explains the stories behind the music and is as approachable as a performer today will ever be.

“The show was much more than we ever expected,” says Lisa Merchant, a recent $100 Tour host from South Portland, Maine. “Jon gave us a great reason to throw a party and an unforgettable night with our friends. It was like getting to hang out with James Taylor at the start of his career.”

Troast was recently featured on “Prairie Home Companion” with Garrison Keillor. He’s a native of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. To learn more about the tour or to contact Jon Troast directly, visit www.jontroast.com.

So, how crazy is that? Well, the craziest part might be that Troast is going to be performing in a Rapid City Living room tonight.

More from the release: “Wisconsin singer/songwriter Jon Troast will be playing at the home of Linda and Tom Kushman in Rapid City on July 30 at 7 p.m. This private concert is the latest stop on musician’s unique “Living Room” tour.”

Tom Kushman took some time to talk to me about tonight’s event. Tom and his wife actually heard Troast when he was recently featured on Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor.

“After the show we went to his website and got one of his albums,” Tom Kushman said. “We really like it and we started corresponding with him about the living room tour.”

After the Kushman’s living room was added to Troast’s tour the Kushmans sent out invitations. I asked him if the event was open to the public.

“It was by invitation, but if some one shows up to hear him I don’t think we will turn them away,” Kushman said.

It is a private living room which means the Kushmans won’t be able to accommodate a whole throng of people. So, for folks who are interested in seeing the Rapid City portion of this living room tour, Tom said you could give him a call: 484-4963.

I just think this is such an interesting idea. If there’s any way to swing it I might try to go down to the Kushmans to catch a bit of the concert.

So, how famous do you think a person can be if he performs cross-country one living room at a time? Does this inspire any of our local musicians to try a living room tour? Personally I think it sounds a little dangerous…but then I don’t really have that adventurous rock-star spirit. I’m a writer, not a rocker.

By: Aubrey Watts

Journal Staff

When I was asked to join the blogging world here at the Journal one of my first questions was, “Where are the blogs on Country music?”

So here’s one to all the Country music fans.

I have been listning to Country music since before I was born. Not saying I am forever a die hard fan, but it was more or less forced on me from day one. As much as I fought being a fan in high school for fear of being labled a ‘Nerd’ I always gave in.

To me Country music is like home. A Marine Brat through and through I have never had a true town/city/state to call home, so to me that’s what Country music represents. I knew I could always count on it to be around.

It seems to always remind me of the folks, my friends and the many memories tied into every song. Today I seem to follow more of the punk/rock/indie bands but honestly at the end of the day Country always reminds me of myself.

The couple of artists I can’t seem to get enough of as of late are Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Toby Keith and of course Garth Brooks.

Do you have a favorite Country artist that just always sounds good to you?

By Molly Albrecht, Online Editorial Assistant

She & Him is perhaps my favorite new indie band of 2008. The duo features actress/singer/songwriter Zooey Deschanel and folk singer/songwriter M. Ward. Their first album is titled “Volume One” and was released in March on Merge Records.

In addition to original hits such as “Change is Hard,” “Sentimental Heart,” and “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?,” the album includes covers of the Beatles’ “I Should Have Known Better” and Smokey Robinson’s “You Really Got a Hold on Me.”

I’ve been a fan of Ward since I heard his 2003 album “The Transfiguration of Vincent,” but I never knew Deschanel had such a stunning voice. Unfortunately, I’m not an expert at describing the music that I enjoy. I’ll never have a career at “Blender” or “Spin.” But two words that do describe this band are “retro” and “raw” (few voices sound as pure as Deschanel’s). I’d definitely recommend this disc, and I’m already looking forward to “Volume Two.”

By Crystal Hohenthaner
Rapid City Journal staff

I was home sick in bed yesterday for most of the day. Which sucks – especially since it was such a nice day. Now, I didn’t go outside yesterday, but I still knew it was a nice day because I was awakened around dawn by the sound of my neighbor peeling out on his motorcycle.

There were also birds outside my window chirping like crazy. It was kind of annoying because I had a sinus headache. But otherwise it really sounded like spring to me.

I heard some of those same sounds of spring today as I got into my car (my neighbor is so obnoxious about that stupid motorcycle) and I started thinking about the music that makes me think of spring.

Something about classic rock and folk music is really spring-ish to me. I even put Simon and Garfunkel’s greatest hits in my CD player today because I wanted it to feel like spring on the ride to work.

So what about you all; what music do you associate with this season?