Up & Coming Weekly

CRACKER BRINGS SOULFUL ROCK TO TOWN a STAFF REPORT CHARLIE MIKE’S PUB 195 Star Point Road • 826-6453 Tues. Open Jam — Bring your own instrument THE DOGHOUSE 3049 Owen Dr. • 910-826-9761 www.thedoghousegroup.com June 23 Mike Odonell June 25 Reactor June 26 Alter Eagles June 27 Johnson Kinlaw HUSKE HARDWARE- HOUSE Cracker, the group that veri- tably introduced brash irreverence and irony into alt-rock, is back and in top form on their 429 Records debut, Sunrise In The Land Of Milk And Honey. And you can catch them on Tuesday, June 29 at The Rock Shop. This rich new trove of sharp- witted songs showcases a bristling, late ‘70s, early ‘80s power pop punk aesthetic which hits as hard as it did at the band’s formation 17 years ago. Eight albums (one plati- num and three gold) and a barrel full of anthemic hit songs later, Cracker endures, using their ability to weave decades of influences into an album that is seamlessly riveting. On Sunrise In The Land Of Milk And Honey, long-time part- ners David Lowery and Johnny Hickman, 12-year Cracker drum- mer Frank Funaro and bassist Sal Maida (since 2006), train a watch- ful eye on the current socio-musical landscape as they weave an eerie yet strangely soothing story of escapism, apocalypse and renewal. Friends John Doe, Patterson Hood and Adam Duritz (whose mega- band Counting Crows was once produced by Lowery) make spirited guest appearances. The explosive title track that wraps the 11-song collection is thematic, belying its seemingly cheery title to take a tough-edged look at the precarious times we live in. Ever the observant story- teller, Lowery calls it like he sees it: the affluence and wealth America seemed to have these past decades 18 UCW JUNE 23-29, 2010 was built on a mirage. The sun shines a harsh light on a landscape of decay. The golden age, the promised land, the land of milk and honey, never materialized. Lowery and Hickman took a new approach to their creative process, joining Funaro and Maida to write most songs from scratch. Band members were very disci- plined in their approach — writ- ing together one week every two months, between tours, for a year. The goal was to work on two songs per day — and somehow, the com- bined force of their distinctive and mutual influences gave rise to a crackling, raw musical factory of sorts. Says Lowery, “The coolest part of making the new album was the self-imposed time structure we cre- ated, the fact that we all gathered to write these songs like it was an actual job. At one point, when we had four songs that needed lyrics, Johnny and I went to the legendary punk studio, The Blasting Room, in Fort Collins, Col., and rented the B room, where we stayed until we had the right words. “It was refreshing to do it this way, to challenge ourselves to write with the clock ticking. We got down to work, found the punk and glam rock in our blood and woke up to Sunrise In The Land Of Milk And Honey.” If you want to catch the band, and hear its latest offering, the show starts at 7 p.m. at The Rock Shop, 128 King St. Tickets are $16 in advance and $18 at the door. 405 Hay Street • 437-9905 www.huskehardware.com Thurs. 80’s Ladies Night Fri. & Sat. Live DJ and Dancing Sun. $1 Drafts IT’Z ENTERTAINMENT CITY 4118 Legend Ave. • 910-826-4635 www.itzentertainmentcity.com June 23 Liquid Pleasure June 25 DL Token June 26 The Fifth June 27 DL Token June 30 David “The Piano Man” Parker July 2/3 The Dickens JESTER’S PUB 6577 Fisher Road • 910-426-5800 www.jesterspub.com July 3 He Pe/Kutt Calhoun/Big B/ Johnny Richter/Slaing/The Omega Project July 10 Drowning Pool CALLING ALL LOCAL BANDS Fayetteville wants to know you! So here’s your opportunity. We will feature all local bands in our Concert Connection, but it’s going to take a little effort on your part. 1. E-mail Stephanie@upandcomingweekly.com for our Q&A. 2. Fill it out and e-mail it back to us. 3. Send a recent, high-resolution photo of your band. 4. Look for your article in an upcoming issue. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM July 16 Days of the New LIDOS — THE EURO SPOT 102 Person St. • 222-8237 Wed. Karaoke Thurs. Live Music Fri. & Sat. DJ and Dancing PADDY’S 2 606B Raeford Rd. • 910-677-0055 www.paddygibneypub.com Wed. Steel Tip Dart Competition Thurs. Autumn Nicholas, Paddy & Bill Fri. Paddy & Bill POINDEXTER’S SALOON 115 Dunn Rd. • 433-2089 Wed. Bike Night with live music THE ROCK SHOP MUSIC HALL 128 S. King St. • 910-321-ROCK www.therockshoplive.com June 23 Pericles June 25 Betray Your Own/Legacy Kills/ Eastern Sky/Memphis Witch June 26 Blues Gala June 29 Cracker/Evans City Saints/The Few/Silverstate SOUTHERN STYLE SALOON 4939 Bragg Blvd. • 860-1787 THE STRIKE ZONE 3319 Raeford Rd. • 677-9900 THEE BACK DOOR BAR & GRILL 3109 N. Main St., Hope Mills • 429-9913

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