By T.J. Tranchell

I’m a rocker at heart, so a week’s worth of rock ‘n’ roll gets me excited. There are a few performances that raise my temperature higher than others. Everbody has favorites. These are just the shows I’m looking forward to the most.

George Thorogood and the Destroyers, 10 p.m., Sunday @ Buffalo Chip.

I always sing when I hear Thorogood. B-b-b-bad to the bone. His cigarettes and whiskey voice is difficult to impersonate, despite “Bad to the Bone” being a karaoke staple. I can almost guarantee everyone else will be singing during that song, too. A few will even pipe up during “I Drink Alone.” The good news is that no one will be drinking alone during the show.

Lita Ford, 8:45 p.m., Monday @ Buffalo Chip.

I could go on forever about Lita Ford’s place in the pantheon of 1980s hair metal. Instead, I will let her speak for herself in this interview conducted by the Journal’s Deanna Darr.

Korn, 10:30 p.m., Monday @ Full Throttle.

Jonathan Davis,  “Munky” Shaffer and “Fieldy” Arvizu are still the core of Korn and that is good enough for me. A few days ago, I didn’t even know Korn would be playing during the rally. This is one of the few truly not-to-be-missed music events that isn’t at the Buffalo Chip this year. You will need a ticket, if there are any left. My only request is that Korn avoid doing anything acoustic.

Cheech & Chong, 9:25 p.m.,Tuesday @ Buffalo Chip.

I wasn’t around for the first wave of stoner humor from Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong. I did see their movies, usually on cable, late at night, and eventually listened to their comedy albums. And, of course, I watched Chong when he appeared on “That ’70s Show.” I may have to bring my nose plugs for this one. I think you can get a contact high just from being within 500 yards of the duo.

Aerosmith, 10:30 p.m., Wednesday @ Buffalo Chip.

It’s Aerosmith. I shouldn’t have to say anymore. This should get you ready for the show.

That’s just a sample of all the music events taking place. There will be local acts and tribute bands of all sorts. So tell me, who do you want to see?

By T.J. Tranchell

Rock godfather Chuck Berry isn’t going to make it to the Black Hills for undisclosed reasons. That’s sad and everyone wishes him well. That still left a prime slot at the Buffalo Chip open. So why not replace one innovator with another?

Easier done than said. Berry’s replacement are The Family Stone, progenitors of “hard funk,” best known for hits like “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People” and “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” as well as one of rock’s all-time best titles, “Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin.”

While you might think disco when hearing The Family Stone or immediately classify their sound as “black music,” there has always been more to the group than any genre label or racial identity could contain. Yes, author Joe Selvin once stated “there are two types of black music: black music before Sly Stone and black music after Sly Stone,” but even that doesn’t tell the whole story. When the group began they had blacks and whites, men and women, and a wide variety of musical influences. They were, and still are, one of the best examples of setting aside differences for the sake of music. The group later delved into political and social commentary, as did many bands of their time.

There aren’t many bands that can take the place of a legend like Chuck Berry. Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famers The Family Stone will be more than adequate.

The Family Stone will perform at 10:30 p.m., Saturday August 1 on the Wolfman Jack Memorial Stage at the Buffalo Chip.

By Seth A. McConnell

Hot out of my inbox, directly to you.

Slip-hop act I-45 will be performing two dates in the Rapid City, SD area on Fri. July 31 and Sat. Aug. 1, 2009.   Originally based in Houston, this quirky hip-hop band now has members in Rapid City, SD; San Diego, CA and Austin, TX.  With 1000’s of shows under their belt and a fourth album now available on iTunes, I-45 has maintained their original following and gained 20,000+ followers on MySpace.

I-45 is also known for playing anywhere and anytime. They were the first non-punk rock band to play the legendary Gilman St. club in San Francisco and a week later opened for Ice-T’s first Hustler convention in Denver, CO.   These shows in the Rapid City area will be just as amazing as the concert venues they are use to performing but will be in a hotel bar and at a pow-wow.

Fri.  July 31     The Grand Gateway Hotel, Cheers Lounge               11 pm     1721 N. La Crosse, Rapid City, SD 57701                  No Cover     21+

Sat. Aug. 1       24th Annual Oglala Lakota Nation Fair & Rodeo       8 pm      Daniel Stands Memorial Arena, Pine Ridge, SD        $7                 All Ages

-S

By Eric Lochridge

In maybe a last-ditch attempt to save the album from total annihilation by the single, Apple and the record labels are cooking up a plan. From the AP:

Apple Inc. and the four major recording labels are working on launching a music offering code-named “Cocktail” that aims to add value to digital albums sold on the online iTunes Store.

Translate “add value” to mean “costs more” and I think we’re on the scent of what this is really about.

By Seth A. McConnell

The Civic Center announced this morning that Mr. A-Z, Jason Mraz would be bringing his Gratitude Cafe to Rapid City on September 22nd.

Tickets are $39.50 and will go on sale this Saturday.

2009 so far has  been a great year for music in Rapid City. The Civic Center has been doing a good job at bringing in a variety of big concerts this year (Elton John, Taylor Swift, Jason Mraz, The Offspring, etc…) and local DIY promoters have brought in some amazing shows. The Deadwood Jam is coming up as well.  So what concert/show are you looking forward too or what has been your favorite show/concert so far in 2009?

Personally my favorite show so far has been Babyland.

A performance based electronic junk punk duo from LA. The music was intense. The show included construction lamps on the floor that were flipped on and off during the show. Vocalist Dan smeared his face with a shiny black substance that looked like oil. Percussionist Smith’s drums were made up of old barrels and pipes. I was told the next day that they normally set the barrels on fire and have a skill saw they take to the drums that adds another element to the show. It was genius, it truly was art. Art that got everyone in the T.R.E.A. Bingo Hall bar dancing, including the old cowboys playing pool at the bar. Hopefully they will be rolling back through in the not to distant future.

…they also sprayed air freshner during their set… Strange yet it added another element to the show. It is one of the few times I can say I left a shoot with my gear smelling good.

So tell me about your favorite show.

-S