Kevin Seconds free acoustic in-store tomorrow

Ernie November record store will host a special in-store concert tomorrow with hardcore punk front man Kevin Seconds. The show is free and is one of a few stops Seconds is making across America for his current tour.

Let me spare you the Google search (which I actually had to do) and tell you that Seconds was the singer for 7 Seconds, an influential hardcore group in the late 1970s and 80s. Seconds is also know for being straight edge, though Wikipedia tells me that he is no spokesperson. More like a guy who likes that lifestyle and doesn't see the need in forcing it on everyone else. While he is known for hardcore punk, Seconds has built an imprissive acoustic career. That path has taken him across the U.S. and Europe since 1989, playing with people like Elliott Smith and Ben Lee as well as groups like the Bouncing Souls.

Most of my non-Googled knowledge on Seconds and his band comes from my friend Seneca Flowers who will be opening up the show tomorrow. He was kind enough to answer some questions for me ahead of the show including what an honor he thought it was opening for a guy like Seconds.

Bluegrass group The HillBenders will play Cheyenne in April

Bluegrass group the HillBenders will play in Cheyenne in early April.

In the same vein as the Steep Canyon Rangers, the group hails from Missouri and brings the heat with party stomping bluegrass. They are touring in support of their 2012 release "Can You Hear Me" and their album "Down to My Last Dollar" is currently available on Spotify.

Mac Miller at UW this spring

"I'm white boy awesome."

Hip Hop rising star Mac Miller is going to play a show at the University of Wyoming April 13. Students get in for free, public gets in for $20.

Things that are going to be going over well at the show:

* Converse shoes

* Clear Eyes drops

* Tim Lincecum jerseys

* Tribal armband tattoos

* Flat billed - strap back hats

* Flat billed hats of teams that are not in the Rockies

* Beanies with balls on the top

* A lot of guys saying the word "bro"

Local and regional Valentine’s Day events

Happy early Valentine's Day everyone.

Here is a list of events in Denver, Cheyenne and Laramie going on in and around Valentine's Day. If you know of others feel free to post them in the comments. 

Duo Dmitri: Valentine’s Day Concert

What: Luba Agranovsky and Dmitri Kasyuk will perform on the piano and flute. Winners of numerous competitions, they grew up in Moscow before moving to Jerusalem. Wine and cheese will be served.

When: Feb. 14, 7-9 p.m.

Where: Mt. Sinai Synagogue, 2610 Pioneer Ave.

Cost: Tickets are $10 each or two for $18 with discounts for seniors and military.

“Exit the Body” 

What: Mystery/farce from the Cheyenne Little Theatre Company set in New England.

When: Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Mary Godfrey Playhouse, 2706 E. Pershing Blvd.

Cost: Tickets are reduced to $10 each.

Online: www.cheyennelittletheatre.org

The Toasters- Atlas Theatre 1-29-13

"This one goes out to you Cheyenne. Because living here must be a real *Explative*" -Bucket 

The Atlas was empty Tuesday evening, save for about 80 people who braved the weather on a school night to see The Toasters. Still, I'm not sure there would have been a bigger crowd even if Cheyenne wasn't an ice rink already. While they are ska legends, the Toasters are hardly name brand, especially in a place like Cheyenne.

Their case wasn't helped by a string of incoherent local openers, which were often terrible and mostly unlistenable. In their defense, when some 60-80 people (in a room built for hundreds) are there specifically to see one act, any opener is going to have a hard time  Of course that doesn't excuse the terrible NOFX ripoff set (complete with incoherent yelling and swear words) that Ackrite put up or the random collection of over-energized/unintelligible covers and originals that locals It Gets Worse put together. Touring opener Mrs. Skannotto out of New York were the one highlight of the early sets, and I have to commend them for playing with such class and skill to a room which mostly just stared and leaned on the railings.

Upcoming shows of note in the area

The music scene is going pretty well in SE Wyoming these days despite it being the dead of winter. Here are a few shows to mark on your calendar in the upcoming weeks.- JJ

1/29 The Toasters @ The Atlas Theatre, 6 p.m. $10 in advance or $12 at the door. 
The Toasters are a legendary ska band that have been making music for more than 30 years. The lineup is in constant fluctuation as there is only one original member, Bucket, but that's not a bad thing. Bucket invites his friends, often ska legends in their own right, tour with him. The result is a heck of a good time from some real pros. Check out my story here  and the Facebook invite here.