Bulletin Board

By Bryan Mullins

MullinsMania.com

Here we are, approaching the ninth weekend of 2010 and I’d have to say it has already been a fantastic year for live music in Rome. As spring approaches, we can only expect more.

Tonight: Imagine opens a busy weekend of downtown entertainment

-The Rome City Auditorium will host the opening night of Imagine, the 13th annual Berry College Dance Troupe concert. Expressions of tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, modern contemporary, and Latin dance will be exhibited throughout the evening. The troupe will perform Friday evening as well and perform two shows on Satruday.

Russell McClanahan & the mOOn Crew will be picking and strumming old time string band music for the dinner crowd at Harvest Moon.

Friday: Scott Thompson upstairs at 333 on Broad

Local favorite Scott Thompson returns to 333 on Broad Friday evening to play all kinds of songs that folks love. He always puts on a great show and brings a great vibe as well.

Kanebrake is a fresh acoustic duo that plays unplugged styles of Southern rock and metal. They’ll be heading up from Acworth to perform at All Things Artistic. Once again, ATA continues with diverse music and programs.

Backswing is another local favorite and consists of a vast amount of talent and experience when it comes to rocking the crowd. Tonight, they’ll return to the Moon Roof Bar.

Saturday: Lemons, Hookers &Peach Palace. 333: meet The Hip-Notiks

Saturday night at 333 on Broad will be a band of familiar faces with a brand new name. The Hip-Notiks are Gene Brigham, John Schroeder, Kelly Lane and Jon Littlefield. They are members of The Beatless and the Hugh Jorgen Trio. Imagine the Beatless, without being restricted to only Beatles songs.

The 400 Block Bar offers up another great night of music with two great bands, Precious Lemons and The John Lee Hookers. The Lemons area a group of extremely talented individuals who you might file under Americana and rock. The John Lee Hookers are the latest Clay Broome experiment paying homage to blues and rock origins with a driving rhythm section.

Comedy returns to MB’s this Saturday evening bringing two hilarious entertainers to town. Greg Ray has 25 years of experience in stand up comedy and has made over 100 television appearances and has performed in all 50 states and 35 countries. Michelle Thomas may not be quite as experienced but who is? She’s no stranger to hilarity regardless. Both acts are clean comedians this month.

Another group of familiar faces that have donned an new name will perform at The Peach Palace this Saturday. 53 to Nowhere is the new name for the band that was formerly Haven. Under whatever name, these guys really know how to rock a crowd and will be doing just that.

-More Mullins: Check his Web site, MullinsMania, for expanded entertainment coverage. Plus join Mullins and Matt D on The Ridge 95.7 FM each weekday from 7 to 9 a.m.

This Saturday (March 6th) the VFW post #4911 will host a Corn Hole Tournament. 

Corn Hole Toss is like indoor horseshoes. Corn filled bags are tosse4d into 6″ holes and two member teams go against each other to the score of 21. It makes for a lot of fun for anyone 18 and older. Food and drink will be available. First place winners will receive 1/2 of teh door intake as their prize.

The VFW is located at 2632 Cedartown Hwy in Rome. Registration is from 5 to 6pm and the tournament begins at 6pm.

…as seen HometownHeadlines.com…

TONIGHT/Wells at 333; Muletide at 400 Block; mOOn Crew, too.

Todd Wells is a solo artist from Marietta who has been playing classic rock influenced music all over Georgia, occasionally stopping by 333 on Broad. He’ll be there tonight for an evening of acoustic rock.

Muletide Perkins will set up shop at the 400 Block Bar to pick some raw country blues originals on the guitar and have a good ol’ time.

Russell McClanahan & the mOOn Crew will continue to entertain the dinner crowd at Harvest Moon with that old time string band adaptations of old time classics and originals.

FRIDAY/Scott Warren, Collard Green Berets, Precious Lemons, too.

-Scott Warren & the Collard Green Berets return to 333 on Broad to wail on some original Southern rock & blues tunes, as well as some choice covers. Warren’s guitar skills and booming voice sounds great at 333 and the Collard Green Berets hold it down nice for him, allowing him to jam on these tunes however he feels best at the moment. A true staple of the local music scene.

Lee Shealy and Alan Smith are the foundation of the local band Backswing, who display effortless talent and experience to welcome fans all over Rome. Friday they’ll return to the 400 Block Bar for an evening of choice tunes.

Precious Lemons is a great new group of extremely talented individuals who blend acoustic and electric instruments throughout the night. They have great originals and do some really fantastic covers. Plus, they have a great time while they are doing it. The Moon Roof Bar is a sweet place to catch the Precious Lemons and that’s where they’ll be on Friday.

I have only managed to see the Jazz Merchants one time before in Rome, and it was magnificent. They are a classic jazz duo that performs hit standards from the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s. Go to their web site and check out their song lists. It’s most impressive. The folks at All Things Artistic have been doing a great job of bringing in fresh and diverse music and are looking forward to welcoming the Jazz Merchants on Friday.

SATURDAY/Black Friday at Peach Palace; ‘Hookers’ at 400 Block Bar

-When Sam Thacker got the bug to write songs, he got it hard. Since then he’s been working hard at writing, recording and honing in on his songwriting talents which has allowed him to experienced great acclaim. He released his first album, Above the Underneath, in 2005 and is currently promoting his latest album entitled Lines. He’ll be performing songs from these albums and more at 333 on Broad this Saturday.

The John Lee Hookers is a little project with a lot of sound put together by the one and only Clay Broome. This trio that Clay has put together is rooted in paying homage to the real raw blues that pioneered the beginnings of rock & roll. He knows it, he loves it, and his group plays the fire out of it. He’ll be bringing the heat to the 400 Block Bar on Saturday.

Black Friday will return to the Peach Palace to crank it up and blast out some of that Southern twang heavy metal thunder that have earned them great respect among the heavier listeners.

-More Mullins: Check his Web site, MullinsMania, for expanded entertainment coverage. Plus join Mullins and Matt D on The Ridge 95.7 FM each weekday from 7 to 9 a.m.

..as seen on HometownHeadlines.com…

Eclectic weekend begins tonight at downtown venues

By Bryan Mullins of Mullinsmania.com

TONIGHT: Todd Weaver at 333; museum’s ‘Snapshot in Time’

Tonight there is a very special event at the Rome Area History Museum. It’s a program called “Snapshot in Time”, in which locals will provide first hand accounts of the events and effects of the Civil Rights movement that took place right here in Rome. It sounds like an interesting and educational event.

333 on Broad continues to support local talent as well as bring in fresh names to the Rome music circuit. Tonight, Todd Weaver will set up for an evening of acoustic music.

Russell McClanahan & the mOOn Crew will pay homage to that old time string band music that has graced the street of Rome since its inception. They perform every Thursday evening for the dinner crowd at Harvest Moon.

FRIDAY: Cornbread Killers at Moon Roof; Muletide Perks at ATA

Backswing will unfold an excellent display of musicianship and a diverse catalog of favorites for a welcome crowd at 333 on Broad. They always put on a good show.

All Things Artistic will be hosting an exhibit for local artists Ty Morgan and Brian Brooks through next week. The artists reception will take place Friday evening with live music from Muletide Perkins.

Willie Heath Neal has been burning up the highways lately in support of his latest album, Out of Highway, which has been a hit in the alt country scene in the Southeast. They’ll bring it in to the 400 Block Bar for an evening on Friday. They’ll be rounding out this winter at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas.

The Cornbread Killers bring it back to the Moon Roof Bar for an evening of great originals and classic covers. The two Jeffs (Caldwell and Bridges) picked up Shane West on bass, and have been putting on great shows ever since.

Darlington Fine Arts presents their production of Hello Dolly, which that have been working extremely hard on for months. Enjoy the production at the Rome City Auditorium, one of the nicest venues in town. Hello Dolly will run Saturday and Sunday as well.

SATURDAY: Cory Tucker, Thunderbolt Patterson, Blake Jeffs

Local singer and songwriter Cory Tucker will take the stage at 333 on Broad this Saturday night. Tucker has become a regular up there with great songs and a great following.

Thunderbolt Patterson, one of my favorite acts around, will return to Old Havana, a great place to see such a dynamic duo. These guys have an onslaught of guitars and a bottomless pit of material, including excellent originals and very choice covers from the roots of rock, blues, folk and Americana music.

Proclaim the Fall is a Canton band that will be bringing their fresh mix of hardcore and experimental music to All Things Artistic on Saturday.

Blake Jeffs has been playing all week long at venues around Georgia and will show up in Rome Saturday to set up shop and blow away the folks at the Peach Palace.

-For a more extensive list, please see Bryan Mullins’ Mullinsmania.com

-Listen to The Ridge 95.7 FM  for Matt D & Mullins in the Morning,weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m.

…as seen on HometownHeadlines.com… 

Rome Songwriters, Blu Train highlight weekend entertainment

By Bryan Mullins

of Mullinsmania.com

TONIGHT

Rome Songwriters to perform at RACA

-Even though the news has spread that the Rome Area Council for the Arts location on Broad Street will soon be closed, it’s not too late to catch your favorite songwriter’s as the Rome Area Songwriter’s Association will host their songwriter’s night tonight featuring Ernie Palmer, Pamela Kirk, and the Grand Imagineer Gary Greene.

Stevie Monce, who has been playing nonstop lately all over the Southeast will return to 333 on Broad for another great night of original acoustic rock.

Muletide Perkins will be picking tunes for all the lovers out there at the 400 Block Bar as a nice little Valentine’s Day prep.

Russell McClanahan & the mOOn Crew will continue to entertain the dinner crowd at Harvest Moon with their homage to old time string band music.

FRIDAY

Blu Train’s southern rock at 333 on Broad

-Blu Train is a collaboration of some of Rome’s finest musicians. They rocked the crowd at the Rome Rock for RACA benefit last month with their Southern rock and blues stylings. They’ll return to 333 on Broad Friday night for more of the same.

Scott Warren & the Collard Green Berets will migrate over to the Moon Roof Bar to play their honest and soulful country rock and blues for the Moon Roofers.

Local world music band Devidasa is hosting a benefit for earthquake victims in Haiti that will feature a diverse array of music and belly dancing from Sundari. They’ll be taking donations and getting down at the Ford Auditorium at Berry College.

All Things Artistic will continue to foster local talent with another open mic night which welcomes anything from songwriting, comedy, poetry, prose, or whatever you got.

SATURDAY

-Sam Hunt played a fantastic New Year’s performance this past year at 333 on Broad and Saturday he’ll be returning to pick up the pieces with his acoustic country. He’s worked hard with good folks in Nashville to get his music career started after being the star quarterback at UAB. Quite a switch, I’d imagine.

The Groundhawgs don’t care if they see their shadow or not. They will no doubt be picking their hearts out at the 400 Block Bar this Saturday. These guys keep it acoustic while rocking great string band originals and deep cuts from some of the greatest songwriters of the genre.

Atlanta area songwriter Kristen Hope Justice blends soul, jazz, and rock with her original material. She’ll be performing at All Things Artistic this Saturday evening.

Don’t forget to bring your own ladle to the Peach Palace Saturday night as Self Serve serves up high energy alternative rock to local fans once again.

MORE MULLINS:

-For a more extensive list, please see Bryan Mullins‘ Mullinsmania.com

-Listen for Bryan on The Ridge 95.7 FM  with Matt D in the Morning weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m.

…as seen on HometownHeadlines.com…

Downtown entertainment guide by Bryan ‘MullinsMania‘ Mullins

TONIGHT

Russell McClanahan & the mOOn Crew uphold their longstanding Thursday night residence at Harvest Moon, performing old time string band versions of multiple genres for the dinner crowd.

Summerville’s finest, Matt Chambers, brings acoustic Southern rock and country to 333 on Broad.

FRIDAY

Local favorite Scott Thompson always brings a joyous crowd to wherever he’s playing. Friday night he’ll set up shop at 333 on Broad for an excellent evening of acoustic picking.

Lee Shealy and Alan Smith will bring the Backswing band back up to the Moon Roof for another night of devout musicianship and much loved classics.

Heavy Grain is a new project that I don’t know too much about, except that Stephen Smith is in the band, and sure that can’t be a bad thing. Check them out at the 400 Block.

There will be a reception for Henry Punpkin’s Little Flood art show will take place at All Things Artistic on Broad Street.

Rome Little Theatre presents the final weekend of 12 Angry Men. You won’t want to miss this one at the DeSoto Theater. Friday, Saturday and a Sunday matinee are your last chances.

SATURDAY

Keir, Clay Miles bring comedy back to MB’s

The Village Theatre is bringing comedy back to MB’s and comedy fans are thrilled. Saturday they’ll host multitalented Kier and hilarious Clay Miles. I highly recommend clicking on their links from MullinsMania.com as they are two very unique comedians.

Scott Warren & the Collard Green Berets will get down on some bluesy roots rock and country picking at 333 on Broad. Warren picks the heck out of his guitar and can rattle the room with booming vocals.

Ben Bagley will bring country and Southern rock acoustic to the 400 Block Bar for a nice evening in a fine environment.

More Mullins:

-For a more extensive list, please see Bryan Mullins’ Mullinsmania.com

-Listen for Bryan on The Ridge 95.7 FM  with Matt D in the Morning weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m.

Well, just as you may have suspected, 10-time Grammy Award winner Willie Nelson put on one heck of a show this past Friday night at the Forum (Jan 29th, ‘10). I just love this guy all the way around. Having written and performed some of the most influential and significant songs in American music, (Crazy, Hello Walls, Pretty Paper, Whiskey River, etc.) he could have easily hung it all up and returned to the front porch for a nice retirement. But, that’s not what Willie does. Willie plays. He plays the guitar like no one else on the planet and sings with as much soul as ever. Willie has made his name in country music but his musical ability and compassion stretches beyond multiple genres. His guitar playing skills range far beyond that of classic country and honky tonk, branching out into early raw blues, classical, and even reggae. Most of all, his playing is reminiscent of his favorite guitarist of all time, the legendary gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. To be able to see Willie here in our own backyard was truly something to be thrilled about.

He performed an onslaught of many of his most famous songs like Crazy, Whiskey River, You Were Always on My Mind, Georgia on my Mind, Night Life, Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground, On the Road Again, etc. He also played Good Hearted Woman in honor of Waylon and finished up the show with a medley of Hank Williams songs. It’s pretty much safe to say that everybody loved it. He also brought his son, Lucas Nelson, to play some blues together and that was definitely a treat. So, to put it simply, Thanks Willie!

These photos were contributed by the lovely Amber Butler. Thanks Amber.

The Rome Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director and Conductor Richard Prior has received the prestigious 2009-2010 Emory University Winship Faculty Award. This competitive award allows a senior faculty member to take a one-semester leave of absence to pursue a major research or creative project. Also a Pulitzer-nominated composer, Dr. Prior will be using the time to write both a clarinet concerto and his third symphony.
The clarinet concerto will be performed and recorded by the National Symphony of Ukraine, the Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra late this summer and his third symphony will receive its premiere performance in October at Emory University.
Dr. Prior will however, continue to conduct the RSO throughout the season as well as the Emory University and Youth symphony.

….as seen on HometownHeadlines.com….

Country music is the theme to this weekend’s lineup, led by one of the genres greatest artists, Willie Nelson, at The Forum.

By Bryan Mullins of Mullinsmania.com

TONIGHT

Russell McClanahan & the mOOn Crew will be tossing old time string band adaptations of a wide variety of music once again for the dinner crowd at the Harvest Moon.

Eric Dodd is an acoustic country rock songwriter from Atlanta. He’ll be performing at 333 on Broad tonight.

Muletide Perkins will bang on some acoustic songs at the 400 Block Bar tonight looking for a good ol’ time as usual.

FRIDAY

An American icon and country legend (and personal hero) is coming to The Forum on Friday. It’s an honor for him to return to Rome after his last great performance at The Forum. Willie Nelson has done so many things in his 50-plus-year career that it would be pointless for me to try to name them here. I mean, it’s Willie Nelson. You know who he is. (And that’s him with Mullins from last time he played here.)

Local favorite, Jon Byrd, will set up shop at 333 on Broad and host the official Willie Nelson after party. This makes sense since 333 and The Forum are convenient neighbors.

Leslie Gaddy will warm up the Moon Roof Bar with her interpretations of country and Southern rock classics.

6 Deuce returns to the 400 Block Bar with their bluesy rock show.

The Rome Little Theatre opens up their performance of 12 Angry Men at the Historic DeSoto Theatre. The show will run Saturday and Sunday as well and then Feb. 5-7.

SATURDAY

The ultimate blues and roots rock duo, Thunderbolt Patterson, will dazzle the folks up at the 400 Block Bar with and arsenal of guitars and songs from deep within the vaults of rock ‘n’ roll.

Ben Bagley will perform country classic among his own at 333 on Broad this Saturday.

Flat Busted will be at the Peach Palace.

MORE MULLINS

-For a more extensive list, please see Bryan Mullins‘ Mullinsmania.com

-Listen for Bryan on The Ridge 95.7 FM  with Matt D in the Morning weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m.

..as seen on HometownHeadlines.com…

Rock Rome for RACA dominates tonight’s line up

By Bryan Mullins of Mullinsmania.com

TONIGHT

We’re very excited about an event tonight at 333 on Broad called Rome Rock for RACA. It’s a fundraiser for the Rome Area Council for the Arts, an organization that I’ve enjoyed working with over the years in celebrating the vast amount of talent in the area. They’ve got a great lineup of music for the show beginning with an offshoot of the Rome Area Songwriters Association. The G-Men consist of four great songwriters: Jule Medders, David Bell, Rick McKee, and David Elliott. They’ll be playing each others material to open up the show. Following that will be John Schroeder, who will have Gene Brigham accompanying. The Pollard Greens will then switch gears with some cool jazz followed by Broad & Third, a collection of local musicians tapping into some classic rock. Stephen Smith will then channel electric blues rock, followed by Blu Train. Topping off the evening will be local favorites, Scott Thompson & Peachtree Station. What a lineup for a Thursday! Here’s the lineup with times:

6:30pm-  The G Men  

7:30pm-  John Schroeder  

8:15pm-  Pollard Greens

9:15pm-  Broad and Third

10pm-     Stephen Smith  

10:15pm- Blu Train  

11:30pm- Peachtree Station  

12:45am - Jam

All Things Artistic continues to bring diversity in their events on Broad Street. Tonight will be an evening of yoga called The Art of Flow with Elizabeth Witsell. All Things Artistic has done an excellent job of living up to their name since they opened last year.

The Velcro Pygmies are one of the South’s favorite party bands and with good reason. They’ll put on a heck of an energetic show very reminiscent of the roarin’ ’80s at the Peach Palace.

FRIDAY

333 on Broad delivers more quality in an evening with Chris Knight, a Kentucky songwriter truly dedicated to the art of the song. After seven albums, Knight, is a favorite among fans as well as a critic’s choice. I recommend checking out his website, watching some videos, and catching the show. Local favorites, Kneckdown, will open the show with they’re first show of 2010.

SATURDAY

I love variety and Saturday brings a nice mix of options for fun.

The Oostanaula Folk Dance Collective will hold their winter Contra Dance at the Ford Gymnasium at Berry College. If you’re new to folk dance, show up early. The dances are explained and everyone warms up a bit. It sounds intimidating but it’s a lot of fun once the dancing really gets going. Plus, the group is very forgiving. I can vouch for that.

Sam Thacker is an Atlanta based pop rocker that has been coming up strong over the last year. He’s had great shows at 333 on Broad and is returning for another round on Saturday.

The 400 Block Bar presents High Strung, a group of string band pickers from Athens with a nice blend of influences including John Prine, Woody Guthrie, and Bill Monroe. Let’s help welcome them to Rome.

The Battle of Rome VIII will bring a night of mixed martial arts fighting to the Forum, featuring special guest Kimbo Slice.

MORE MULLINS

-For a more extensive list, please see Bryan Mullins’ Mullinsmania.com

-Listen for Bryan on The Ridge 95.7 FM  with Matt D in the Morning weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m.