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School is back in session, and Pocatello’s live music venues are celebrating with concerts large and small this week.

Idaho State University in Pocatello continues their Week of Welcome, Wednesday the 27^th, with the White Tent Event and BBQ, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Quad. Get connected with students, faculty and staff, campus amenities and organizations with free food and a live music performance at noon by Joe Hunt of Greyhouse Effect.

Welcome week comes to a roaring peak on Thursday the 28^th with a Street Party. The event starts a 6 p.m. with food, arts and crafts venders between ISU’s library and the Rendezvous. The party is high gear at 7 p.m. with a free concert by Broke City and Royal Bliss.

Broke City plays rock music with diverse influences from The Cure, NIN and Dave Matthews to Zeppelin and Hendrix. Although their songs come from different angles, Broke City has a very identifiable sound.

Vocalist Joel Pack and The Rob, drummer for Broke City, have been playing together for some six years. With beginnings as a funk band, the duo picked up two more members, changed their name to Broke and signed with Maverick Records. They toured, recorded an album, and fell victim to the record label’s restructuring just weeks before the record was to be released. Essentially, anyone who wasn’t named Alanis Morissette had their funding pulled.

Fortunately, the renamed Broke City got licensing rights to their own recordings and released “The Answer” independently. I got my hands on a copy just over a year ago; it is hands down my favorite CD, period, a limited number of which will be for sale at the concert. Get one.    

Broke City has toured with The Used, 30 Seconds to Mars, and The Taste of Chaos Tour with The Deftones, Dredg, and My Chemical Romance. They’ve played locally at The Eagles Lodge, ISU and the First National Bar. They are one of the top three most popular and requested local bands from northern Utah.

Listen for a live radio interview with Broke City on 92.1 The Edge at noon on Thursday. “When we talk to fans and friends before shows, the three most requested songs The Pill, More Than We Could Chew, and Save It for Your Boyfriend.” Hear these and more at www.myspace.com/broke.

Royal Bliss is perhaps the best known regional rock band in the mountain area. Their single Save Me was recently released for purchase on iTunes. After three weeks, it is #36 on Billboard’s Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. Other crowd favorites from their yet-to-be-released new album “Life In-Between” are We Did Nothing Wrong and my own favorite, I Was Drunk. It sounds like an Irish pub drinking song. Trust me, you’ll be singing along before the first chorus is done. Find out more at www.royalbliss.com.

Listen to 91.1 KISU on Thursday morning at 8 a.m. for an interview and acoustic songs with Royal Bliss and on TV with Matt Davenport on KPVI’s Newschannel 6 News at Noon.

The First National Bar is bringing two real treats to their historic live music venue this weekend. Ruby Dee and the Snakehandlers on Friday and Pocatello’s favorite Jeremy Buck and the Bang on Saturday, both shows start at 9 p.m.

Ruby Dee and the Snakehandlers, from Seattle, can be described as high octane Americana roots and rockabilly, or perhaps twang with attitude! Think of a crossroads where old style country music and original rock and roll meet up - not your new fangled country, nor new country rock, rather original Americana roots music with a foundation in true blue country and heartfelt rock-n-roll.

Listen for Since You Went Away and Round and Round off their fourth release, “Miles From Home.” They’ve opened for the legendary Wanda Jackson, Christie McWilson and with the Wilders at the Yellowstone Music Festival. Expect to hear some great live music accompanied by stories about where some of the tunes came from, a whole lot of jabber back and forth with the audience, and some serious showmanship.

Ruby Dee and the Snakehandlers will make an appearance on Friday at Budget Tapes and Records at 3 p.m. on Friday to meet fans, sign CDs and answer questions. Please visit www.myspace.com/rubydeeandthesnakehandlers.

Jeremy Buck and the Bang made their first appearance in Pocatello opening for Blues Traveler at Holt Arena. They rocked our world, won our hearts, and we’re eager to welcome them back. With a slogan, “More Bang for your Buck,” you can bet your bucks I’ll be there on Saturday night. See you then.

L. Alexander
slowloosegravel@yahoo.com
www.myspace.com/showmetheband