Texarkana Entertainment Blog

One of the best local live shows last year, in my estimation, was the California-based Dusty Rhodes and the River Band’s summertime concert at Club Next. The band is hard to classify but the music they make is easy to love: ebullient, soulful, catchy, and original stuff to make you think, dance, and get happy. They’ve been working on a new, self-titled album to be released soon and just came out with a brand new video for the tune “All One.” Catch it below …. and if you ever get the chance to see them live, go do it. More info: Dusty Rhodes MySpace page.

- Aaron Brand

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A few music notes to pass along your way. If you saw the North Carolina-based band American Aquarium at Club Next at the end of February and liked the sound you may want to check out their new album, “Small Town Hymns,” which just came out this past Saturday. The band’s straight ahead, alt-country, roots rock approach to music has garnered plenty of praise, and according to a schedule released by the band they’ll be coming back to Texarkana for a Sunday, June 27, show at Fat Jack’s.

Also, now free from their deal with Warner Music, the Tyler, Texas-based band Eisley will be playing relatively local on their “Mild Mild Midwest Tour,” which brings them to Shreveport, La., on June 23, and then Little Rock, Ark., the next day, June 24. In Shreveport they play at The Collective, 1262 Dalzell Street, with a 7:30 p.m. showtime. It’s an all-ages show.

Right here in Texarkana this weekend: Voodoo Cowboy (Friday) and Too Far Gone (Saturday) at Fat Jack’s, Ms. Mac and the Groovetones go acoustic at Lee’s Catfish on Friday, Chasing Rita on Friday at Hopkins Icehouse, The Inside on Saturday at The Road Map. See the Gazette’s Best Bets on Friday for a listing of places to see, events to attend, and bands to make you get down and dance.

- Aaron Brand

North Carolina band American Aquarium looking relaxed in this submitted photo from the band.

The band Eisley will be playing dates in Shreveport and Little Rock in June. Submitted photo.

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A week from today an eclectically-minded indie band comes to town to play at Club Next. The Thursday night at 9 p.m. show (cover: $5) brings Orange County, Calif.-based Dusty Rhodes and the River Band to our heat-drenched town. They’ve received a good deal of buzz from such publications as Alternative Press Magazine, AMP Magazine, Las Vegas Weekly, the Orange County Register, and Q Magazine in the U.K. They deserve it. Their quirky take on rock, with discernible influences like  folk and gospel, is the real good deal and a sweet lot of fun. Their second album, “Palace and Stage,” was released in May on SideOneDummy Records. I talked with Kyle Divine, who does vocals and guitar for the band, earlier this week, and the story spun from that will be in tomorrow’s Gazette. 

- Aaron Brand

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A heartfelt, witty, and truly unique singer-songwriter and real regular on-the-road player, guitarist Cory Branan is no stranger to Texarkana’s Club Next stage. He’ll be making a return appearance on Thursday with his sparkling, clear-eyed, finely-chiseled songs starting at 9 p.m. for this 21 and up show. Cover is $5. Don’t miss a chance to see one of the strongest singers around and someone who makes you think, perhaps wistfully, while tapping those feet.  

- Aaron Brand

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Friday night brings the treat of a truly good-natured, fun indie rock/pop band to Club Next around 9 p.m. The Peekers, who hail from Shreveport, have some super, quirky harmonies and lyrics in their tunes and they’ll be sharing them with Texarkana folks at the cozy Club Next at 3520 N. State Line Ave. The Peekers are on Park the Van Records, which is based in New Orleans. You can check out the music here: The Peekers on MySpace. Local band Burnout Hymnals open. This show is 21 and up. Cover charge is $5. 

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Indie rock band Grey Sky Campaign created a local buzz here in Texarkana several years ago between 2001 and 2003. They had something of a hiatus, it seems, when a few members moved on to the bright lights and big city of St. Louis. Now it appears Grey Sky Campaign may be getting back together in some way. Darin Lavender, guitarist, said the band hopes to write some new material and record it along with some old favorites. I didn’t get to see them when I first moved to town, but listening to a little three-song CD “Rebuilding Year” it’s easy why they captured fans with this fun kind of post-punk emo brew. They’ll be playing a reunion show at Club Next on Saturday night. The show starts at 8 p.m., and both Hank Morris and The Infamous Jaguar Shark will be performing as well. Here’s a photo of the band practicing earlier this week.

- Aaron Brand

Photo courtesy of Chris Ford. Grey Sky Campaign jams before playing a show at Club Next later in the week.

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