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 Todd Williams

I’ve never seen the Who Live At Leeds (I did, once, however, see Apocalypse live at Lead, but that’s a whole ‘nuther post), so I likely can only emphasize to a point when it comes to what truly qualifies as ear damage.

However, at a pre-rally concert back in the late 1980s, I did take in a concert at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center that put a permanent dent in my previously not-that-great-already hearing.

After staying awake for nearly three days straight, I joined a couple of friends of mine who really wanted to see .38 Special in concert. (That should have been the first hint that they might not have had my best interests in mind)

But it was the warm-up act that single-handedly put a ring in my ear that remains some 20 years later. Oh, yes, Ted Nugent’s tower of speakers blaring a mere five to 10 feet from my poorly placed noggin took a good chunk of my hearing that night.

Of course, I mostly have myself to blame. First, no ear plugs. Few wore them back in the late 1980s, and certainly college age students that I knew of. Second, why the *&%$#!! did I stand so close to those towering speakers. And lastly, and most importantly, why would I have ever subjected myself to the cacophony of a .38 Special/Ted Nugent double billing.

Caterwaul, anyone?

Anyway, as I gear up for my 27th rally, I take a look at the lineup and wonder aloud (really loud, so I can hear it, actually), who is to compare in this year’s lineup?

Kid Rock? ZZ Top? John McCain?

Hey, at least McCain and I have about the same hearing age.

By Eric Lochridge

I spent Saturday and Sunday in Memorial Park, taking in the spiritual rock of the free Hills Alive concerts. I wasn’t a big fan of any of the bands playing this year, so I took the opportunity to open my ears to some new sounds. And it occurred to me once again that it’s hard to go wrong with live rock and roll.

From the hip-hop of Group 1 Crew (who my wife mistakenly told an onlooker was 2 Live Crew, whoops!) and the soulful gospel of Mandisa to the varying intensities of the rock stylings of Brandon Heath, Superchick and Switchfoot, I was repeatedly surprised at how much I was enjoying myself, especially during the performers whose genres don’t usually float my boat. Even the rumors that Toby Mac puts on one of the highest-energy shows around proved to be true. It was as good as any I’ve seen.

Live music, I think, has an immediacy that transcends the labels that marketers put on certain bands. The music overcomes the images that too often limit what people will listen to.

By: Aubrey Watts

Journal Staff

The boards are open for full on discussion…….

Whether you are riding in your car, stuck in an office or out enjoying the weather on a beautiful sunny summer day, what is the best genre/band/group of bands you like to listen to?

By Crystal Hohenthaner
Journal staff

“Hi, my name is Crystal and I like pop music.”

“Hi, Crystal.”

I gotta tell you guys, every time I’m about to admit to my music listening tastes on this blog I feel like I’m standing up in front of a room full of discerning experts — or a firing squad. I’m not that hip. I’ve known that for years. I also don’t have — or take — the time to find out all about the vast majority of music out there. I just absorb the music that comes to me.

Now for the confessions: I listen to the radio. I watch VH1. I don’t even own and IPod. And — horror of all horrors — I am a Matchbox 20 fan. That’s right I am one of the many unwashed, uneducated, casual listeners.

Gasp!

Many of the self-proclaimed music snobs here at the Journal are usually laughing quitely and shaking their heads at me (especially when I start to talk about how “Mad Season” is a great piece of art despite the fact that it is commercially viable).

I just don’t see why selling a million or more albums means you’re a sell-out. It can still be art even if someone pays for it — right? Well, if I’m wrong I am willing to accept it. But I need you guys to convince me. (Maybe that particular topic will be better kept for a later blog.)

Well, with the help of fellow bloggers Eric, Todd and Aubrey, I have been trying to become a more discerning listener. I don’t imagine that I will ever be a qualified music snob — nor do I aspire to be — but I need to learn more.

So help me out guys. The last 5 CDs I bought were: Sara Bareilles, Matchbox 20, Maroon 5, Dashboard Confessional and Switchfoot. And I would like some Panic at the Disco and I need to get some old-school Prince. But honestly, there’s so much music out there I don’t really know where to start. What do I need to get next?