http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/ Treasure Valley entertainment guide Local News en-us news@idahopress.com (Idaho Press-Tribune newsroom) webmaster@idahopress.com (Idaho Press-Tribune) The www.idahopress.com Site, Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy Copyright 2009 by IPT, Llc. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/?Hey-Canyon-its-been-a-fun-ride http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/?Hey-Canyon-its-been-a-fun-ride Proud 2B 2C or Proud 2 not B 2C? That is no longer the question, as least for this writer.I feel lucky to have been able to spend most of 14 years either living or working in Canyon County. The peanut butter(?) smell from the local sugar plant is now comforting. So are the rock chips that pelt my windshield during my commute from Boise to Nampa and back each day on I-84. The frequent blaring from those train horns took a little getting used to as a freshman at Albertson College of Idaho. That was in 1994. But I'm over it now.So, basically, it's time to leave. I'm headed for greener pastures in Bellingham, Wash., meaning it's gonna rain a lot more. And I think PLAY magazine will continue to flourish under the new editor, Christin Runkle. I'll let Christin, the former education reporter at the IPT and frequent PLAY contributor, introduce herself next week. But some of you might remember her from the time she wrote about stalking Matt Damon. That was funny.As for you, Canyon County, you're in an enviable position. I've written this before, but growing up into a big city isn't all bad. With more people, more traffic and, possibly, more crime, come more big city amenities, like sweet concerts, restaurants and other fun stuff to do. Right now, you can sample the abundance in Boise or stay here and lay low. Or you can eventually get there on your own. The opportunity is there if you'll just seize it.It's been fun. No really, it's been fun. We'll see you later. I am (gulp) proud 2B 2C.CD RELEASE: Country outlaw Jeremiah James, who has spent years living in Nampa and Homedale, is releasing a new CD. He's gonna celebrate at the Record Exchange on June 19 at 7 p.m. Track this guy down. Tell him to play in Canyon County.ROCK THE VOTE: As a former crime reporter for the IPT, I feel OK in saying congrats to Chris Smith for winning a second term as Canyon County Sheriff. Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:41:09 MST http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/?ZZ-Top-headed-to-Nampa http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/?ZZ-Top-headed-to-Nampa The bearded blues rock trio that provided so many memorable guitar riffs will stop in at Nampa's Idaho Center Amphitheater on Aug. 5. Yep, that's another outdoor show. Hooray! Tickets for ZZ Top cost $29, $39 and $49 and will go on sale Friday, May 30, through IC Tickets and TicketWeb outlets. Fri, 23 May 2008 16:56:59 MST http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/?Winners-from-Sundays-43rd-Annual-Academy-of-Country-Music-Awards http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/?Winners-from-Sundays-43rd-Annual-Academy-of-Country-Music-Awards — Entertainer of the year: Kenny Chesney— Top male vocalist: Brad Paisley— Top female vocalist: Carrie Underwood— Top vocal group: Rascal Flatts— Top vocal duo: Brooks & Dunn— Top new male vocalist: Jack Ingram— Top new female vocalist: Taylor Swift— Top new duo or vocal group: Lady Antebellum— Album of the year: “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” Miranda Lambert— Single record of the year: “Stay,” Sugarland— Song of the year: “Stay,” Sugarland (Jennifer Nettles, composer)— Video of the year: “Online,” Brad Paisley (Jason Alexander, director)— Vocal event of the year: “Find Out Who Your Friends Are,” Tracy Lawrence with Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney Mon, 19 May 2008 14:49:12 MST http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/?Column-correction-Big-Easy-official-name-change-scheduled-for-June-21 http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/?Column-correction-Big-Easy-official-name-change-scheduled-for-June-21 In Friday's Ramblings column in PLAY, the date was incorrectly listed as this Thursday, May 21. On June 21, a sign will go up that reads Knitting Factory Concert House. Mon, 19 May 2008 14:47:13 MST http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/?Hipsters-rejoice-Wilco-at-Winery-at-Eagle-Knoll http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/?Hipsters-rejoice-Wilco-at-Winery-at-Eagle-Knoll Well, I'd heard that Canyon County was an option to host the Chicago-based American rock band this summer, but the Eagle/Star area isn't far off. Wilco, a Grammy winning band and critical darling, will stop in at the Winery at Eagle Knoll on April 20. The show is part of the Vintage '08 Summer Concert Series, presented by the Record Exchange and brought to you by Idaho Concerts, which also includes concerts by Steve Earle on July 11 (guest Allison Moorer) and Neko Case on April 29. Thu, 15 May 2008 12:54:55 MST http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/?Steve-Earl-Allison-Moorer-Neko-Case-at-Winery-at-Eagle-Knoll http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/?Steve-Earl-Allison-Moorer-Neko-Case-at-Winery-at-Eagle-Knoll Two stellar shows from the alt-country scene have been added to the Treasure Valley's outdoor concert schedule: Steve Earle, the "hardcore trabadour," with guest Allison Moorer on July 11 and Neko Case, also of the New Pornographers, on Aug. 29. Both shows will be held at the Winery at Eagle Knoll, a gem of a venue for outdoor concerts so long as the weather cooperates. Tue, 13 May 2008 19:09:11 MST http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/?Watch-Rambo-get-whacked-when-First-Blood-hits-big-screens-Thursday http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/?Watch-Rambo-get-whacked-when-First-Blood-hits-big-screens-Thursday Visit the bizarro world! For the first time, Rambo fans can see their beloved hero get waxed during a never-before-seen alternate ending that will be shown as "First Blood" hits theaters Thursday night for a one time showing. Locally, all three Edwards Theaters in the Treasure Valley will carry the movie, including Nampa's Edwards 14 which has a showing slated for 7:30 p.m. Tue, 13 May 2008 17:59:30 MST http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/?CANCELLED-POSTPONED-KAPUT-OTEP-Primer-55-Aiden http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/?CANCELLED-POSTPONED-KAPUT-OTEP-Primer-55-Aiden It's not so strange when a band has to cancel a show, but we're looking at three artists bowing out of Boise in less than a week: 1) Sunday's OTEP show (also Creature Feature, Eyes Set to Kill and New Revolution) has been postponed due to illness. A rescheduled date is expected to be announced shortly. Mon, 12 May 2008 18:33:48 MST http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/?Coldplay-offers-free-download-from-new-album-sound http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/?Coldplay-offers-free-download-from-new-album-sound I can't begin to tell you how tired the Coldplay-esque piano-rock sound has become. So I'm rather excited to hear Chris Martin and crew have decided to blow things up a bit for their new album 'Viva La Vida Or Death and All His Friends," due out June 17. Will Coldplay followers embrace the band's thirst for creativity? Who knows. After two listens, "Violet Hill," a single off the new album available for download at www.coldplay.com, has yet to bowl me over like some of the band's past and excellent material. But it's probably best to give Coldplay the benefit of the doubt. They've earned it. Mon, 05 May 2008 17:09:27 MST http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/?Local-music-The-Very-Most http://www.idahopress.com/blogs/True_Ramblings/?Local-music-The-Very-Most Nampa grad, The Very Most to release ‘Congratulations Forever’ Maybe it’s the water. Or the plumes of smoke and steam rising from the local sugar plant. Or backlash from generations of ridiculous over-exposure to all things country music. The fact is Nampa has produced some of the Treasure Valley’s most talented musicians devoted to creating excellent indie music. You’ve read about The Invasion in these pages. Indie songstress and Nampa native Kris Doty, who has developed a faithful following, has also been featured. This time, pay attention to Jeremy Jensen, a 1994 graduate from Nampa High School who writes and performs as The Very Most. Jensen, who actually attended Nampa High with Doty, has deep roots in the local music scene, performing in multiple bands as well as recording them through Coming in Second, a label he’s run from a studio located in the backyard of his Boise home. “Congratulations Forever” marks Jensen’s second release as The Very Most in four years, and it’s basically akin to sucking on a giant lollipop. Jensen has crammed a lifetime of sunshine into 13 tracks of well-crafted, quirky indie pop, layering melody upon melody and instrument upon instrument, with help from roughly two dozen local talents, including Doty, John McMahon (Built to Spill, Kris Doty), Aage Nielson (Darkwood Consort) and Jonah Shue (Frim Fram Four), among others. This indie pop is in a great, great mood ... even for indie pop. For kicks, Jensen offers up what he believes to be the first-ever hidden track — titled “Hidden Tracke” — that calls attention to itself. Another first, he believes, includes a cover of a Built to Spill song (“When Not Being Stupid is Not Enough”) by a local band. The band currently performs as a trio, with Jensen on main vocals and guitar, Zach Von House on bass and Allen Ellie on drums. — Ben Fletcher, PLAY editor (Visit www.theverymost.com for more info) Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:58:40 MST