What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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8 WHAT'S UP! APRIL 21-27, 2019 Ukuleles, unite! SEAN CLANCY Arkansas Democrat-Gazette T he band members are talking and joking with one another as they tune their instruments. A few beers are swigged amid the easygoing cacophony and, because these are musicians and because musicians seem to always be on the lookout for gear, there's mention of a deal found online for a used conga drum. Soon, the tuning turns to grooving and the next thing you know a song — "Feeling Alright" by Joe Cocker — emerges from the swirl. As the evening progresses, the group will run through versions of songs by the Rolling Stones, Them, The Pretenders, The Faces, The Band and others. Have we mentioned that the union of players cranking out these FM rock radio nuggets is made up of a bunch of ukuleleists? They are the Dogtown Ukulele Band, a seven-piece unit that kicks out the jams on little four-string instruments more commonly acquainted with Hawaiian music and "Tiptoe Through the Tulips." The group has gathered, as it does most every Wednesday, at the home of Deb Moore and her husband, Joe Roitz, in North Little Rock's Lakewood area. After a supper of tacos, cheese dip and salsa, they've eased downstairs to start rehearsing. Dogtown Vibes The rehearsal space is large and accommodating. Christmas lights are strung from the ceiling, a spare drum kit sits off to the side along with electric guitars, a keyboard, a mixing board and other sound equipment. Several ukuleles hang on a rack, and CDs and albums line a few shelves. Framed fliers from the group's gigs, crisply designed by Moore and featuring vintage black-and-white photos that bring to mind the art for early Smiths singles and records, hang on the wall. Moore, 56, sits in a chair plucking a small electric bass ukulele, holding down the bottom end for the rest of the band, which includes her daughter, Hannah Moore, 32; Roitz, 57; Mitch Vire, 54; Michael Rodman, 46; Rick Lee, 48; and Jason Plaxco, 43. Hannah Moore and Roitz take turns behind the drum kit, while the other members play ukuleles. Roitz and Vire handle the ukulele leads, with Roitz bent over his four-string, electric tenor guitar and Vire picking on an amplified ukulele. Each member, save for Roitz and Deb Moore, takes a turn on lead vocals. Easy, inexpensive instrument gateway to fun Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/CARY JENKINS The Dogtown Ukulele Band jams out with Michael Rodman (from left), Jason Plaxco, Rick Lee, Joe Roitz, Hannah Moore, Mitch Vire and Deb Moore. The Dogtown Ukulele Band • Watch video of the band at arkansasonline.com/49ukulele. • Or visit its website at dogtownukulele.com. FYI FEATURE