Time: 02-09-2012 19:43 User: bdgray PubDate: 02-10-2012 Zone: KY Edition: 1 Page Name: D7 Color: CyanMagentaYellowBlack

KY VELOCITY | courier-journal.com/features THE COURIER-JOURNAL | FRIDAY,FEBRUARY10, 2012 | D7

the argument music WHATROCKS, WHATDOESN’T Want more reviews? Get them at www.courier-journal.com/music Has ‘30 Rock’ jumped the shark?

By Jeffrey Lee Puckett Paul McCartney, ‘Kisses The Fray, ‘Scars &Stories’ VanHalen, Who could use agood laugh on the Bottom’ It’snot in the nature of anthemic piano ‘A Different Kind of Truth’ Standards are awonderful thing, espe- rock bands like The Fray to do avast over- Well, it looks like VanHalen, mostly “30 Rock” ended its fourth season cially those that make up the heart of the haul of their sound. Coldplay waxed grandi- anyway, and it sounds like VanHalen. But in 2010 with an episode so funny,and Great American Songbook. But albums of ose about last year’sBrian Eno-backed “My- does that make it VanHalen? so in tune with the show’saesthetic, standards by fading rock stars, even a lo Xyloto,” but when the dust settled it was “A Different Kind of Truth” is the band’s that it could have stopped there and no former Beatle, are never agood idea. They really just Chris Martin being Chris Martin. first album with original singer David Lee one would have complained. Except smell like giving up. The Fray’slast album debuted at No. 1, and Roth since “1984,” released 28 years ago, for fans of Cerie, but they aren’tthere “Kisses on the Bottom” is too inoffen- the band’ssongs have appeared in every- and his return goes along way toward for the jokes. sive to be truly grating, but that’sits own thing from marriage videos and graduation reminding us of why VanHalen was agame- By that point, the show had perfect- kind of problem. Although these are songs mixes to prime-time procedural dramas. changer.Even though Roth’svoice has lost its ed an absurdist reality unmatched by that fueled McCartney’sinitial passion for The question is: Is this band brave top end, its personality is fully intact. That’s anything else on television. The humor music, and by extension brought us The enough to stick with what works? Not a halfthe battle with this guy. Eddie and Alex has always started with aconnection, Beatles, the overall vibe is overly polite, too problem. This is the Fray at their glitziest, VanHalen also sound revitalized, with vin- however tenuous, to reality and then comfortable and with precious little fire. tritest and — in away only possible for these tage soloing from Eddie. exploded into unreality even as the But how much fire can you generate with kinds of groups — most successful. Their The songwriting is where things get characters’ reactions remain ground- “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write third studio album is aperipatetic collection dicey. At its best, VanHalen wrote songs ed in normalcy.Inthat 2010 finale, Liz MyselfaLetter,” or “Inch Worm”? Not of tracks partly based on travels the band that are nearly uncategorizable — if “Jump” met the perfect man (named Carol), much. members made before heading to the stu- or “Jamie’sCrying” weren’tanaccepted part played extravagantly well by At this point in McCartney’scareer,the dio, and have all the earnest lyrics and of your rock ’n’ roll DNA, how would you Matt Damon. There were temptation is to cut him some slack, even sprawling choruses of patent Fray hits like describe them? “A Different Kind of Truth” Somalian pirates at Grizz’s YES slap him on the back when he doesn’t “How to Save aLife.” does echo that classic first phase, in part wedding, Jenna’sboyfriend deserve it for an album of ordinary origi- Highlights include the song most likely to because much of it reportedly dates from dressed as Cher (and Jenna) nals. But even that would be far more be inundating the airwaves for at least afew the late 1970s and early ’80s. and Kenneth the page got fired, lead- preferable than this collection of slight more months, indelible premiere single That makes them outtakes, not quite ing to the best drunken farewell songs and light jazz, punctuated by aStevie “Heartbeat,” the elegiac “1961” and the good enough for “Women and Children speech ever. Wonder harmonica solo so obligatory that soaring vocals on “The Fighter.” This is a First” but with adirect lineage to the pum- Then last season was worrisome. it borders on parody. band that should be commended for not meling spirit that dominated the band’s The jokes slipped, the situations An extra halfstar has been added in pretending to retool aformula that so clear- early years. So yeah, VanHalen is back and seemed alittle forced, but aslowish honor of “Rubber Soul” and “Revolver.” ly works. the cradle is rocking, but not quite as hard. start gradually got better.But now. — Jeffrey Lee Puckett, The Courier-Journal — Lucy Mueller,Special to Metromix — Jeffrey Lee Puckett, The Courier-Journal Well. Now is adifferent story.The ee eee ee½ first four episodes were pretty close to unwatchable, with acouple so poor that they played like an imitation of “30 Rock,” as if someone had the tem- calendar WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR AREA the five Christy Lemire Associated Press plate but not the rampant genius. Istared at the television, distraught DeStefano, viola; Paul York, 543-6239. CONCERTS cello; and Dror Biran, piano. The Super Bowl has that one of the few things left in this $15,$5for students. (502) world capable of making me laugh was 852-6907. Flamenco passed, but it made Carl gone. Sigh. Yeah, the fourth episode Bluegrass University of Louisville Espiritu Gitano (Arturo us reflect on the Weathers Student Composers & Martinez), guitarist. Caffe had its moments. Some of the fire was The Little Roy and Lizzie Double Bass Studio. Classico, 2144Frankfort Ave., many,many football back, and Hazel Wassername’spos- Show. Shepherdsville Music Comstock Concert Hall, 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. players who’ve sibly clueless racism was classic “30 Barn, 1833 Ky. 44 W, Shep- University of Louisville School Barbara Martinez, singer and herdsville, 8p.m. Friday. $12. of Music, First Street and dancer,will also perform. $10. branched out into Rock.” Ieven laughed out loud. Once. (502) 552-9771. Brandeis Avenue, 8p.m. (502) 895-0076. movies. We’d be And once is not enough. Thursday. Free. here all day if we Blues Pop/Rock pondered college Robert Cray. Horseshoe Country Nellie McKay. Bomhard Casino &Hotel, 11999 Casino Corydon Jamboree. Town Theater,Kentucky Center,501 standouts like John Wayne Center Drive S.E., Elizabeth, square, Hurst Lane, Corydon, W. Main St., 7p.m. Sunday. and Dwayne Johnson, so 7:30 p.m. Friday. $23-$38. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Theresa LEO ALittle OffCenter series. (800) 745-3000 . Dunn, Ronnie Gaddis, Broken $25. (502) 584-7777. we’re sticking to the NFL. Hearts Band. $10,$6for ages Classical 6-12.(270) 422-3122. Jefferson Hill Farm and R&B Colin Andrews, organ. Jamboree. 10704 Jefferson New Edition, K-Ci and JoJo, »O.J.Simpson: Afterwinning theHeisman Cathedral of the Assumption, Hill Road, 7p.m. Saturday. El DeBarge. KFC Yum! 433 S. Fifth St., 7:30 p.m. Rayburn Brothers, Country Center,1Arena Plaza, 8p.m. Trophy as arunning back at USC in 1968, Simpson Friday. “A Tale of Three Creek Band. $7, $6 seniors, Friday. $48.50-$75. (800) put together astellar career over nine seasons with Cities: London, Leipzig and free for ages 12 and younger. 745-3000. the Buffalo Bills before retiring with the San Fran- Paris.” Part of the Kelty (502) 375-1539. Trey Songz. Louisville Palace, Endowed Organ River City Jubilee. 2901 625 S. Fourth St., 8p.m. cisco 49ers in 1979. But he’d already begun his Recital Series. A Seventh Street Road, 7:30 Friday. $49.50-$67.50. (800) acting career ,playing asecurity chief in “The reception will follow. p.m. Saturday. Ricky Puckett, 745-3000. Free. Silas Eisenback, Amanda Towering Inferno” (1974) and an astronaut in “Cap- Emilie Strong Smith. Priddy. $10,$5for ages 6-12. ricorn One” (1978) and in the “Naked Gun” trilogy. Locust Grove, 561 (502) 235-5186. Various »Jim Brown: One of the greatest running backs Blankenbaker Lane, 5:30 Ross Country Jamboree. 31 Nappy Roots, Skyscraper p.m. Sunday. Refresh- E. Wardell St., Scottsburg, 7 Stereo, Scanners, DJ El in football history,Brown played nine seasons with ments served at 5p.m. p.m. Saturday. Dave Camp- Dawg, Jalin Roze. ZaZoo’s, the Cleveland Browns, from 1957 to 1965. Brown Part of the Chamber bell, Mike Boughey, Megan 102Bauer Ave., 9p.m. Friday. was arevolutionary presence on the screen —a Music Series. $20. (502) Stout. $10.(812)752-8877. $20. (502) 384-8478. 897-9845. Shepherdsville County Dieter Hennings, guitar. virile, almost threatening black man. And in movies Melvin Dickinson, organ. Music Show. Ky. 44, Comstock Concert Hall, like the 1969 “100Rifles,” he did something previ- Bach Haus, 4607 Hanford Shepherdsville, 7:30 p.m. University of Louisville School ously unheard of: an interracial love scene (with Lane, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Saturday. Christy Miller, of Music, First Street and Opus Two, lecture recital. Tayler Lynch, Eric Simmons, Brandeis Avenue, 8p.m. Raquel Welch). “The Organ Works of Bach.” Doug Pinson, Pat Portman & Wednesday. Free. »Carl Weathers: Come on, he’sApollo Creed! Free. the 44 County Band. $8, $7 Kentucky Homefront. Music eX Series. Comstock seniors. (502) 807-9604. Clifton Center,2117Payne St., And he was in “Predator.” Weathers started out as a Concert Hall, University of West Point Music Ranch 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Guernsey star linebacker at San Diego State University be- Louisville School of Music, USA. 407 South St., West Brothers, Aaron and Adam fore going on to an extremely brief pro career with “30 Rock” stars, from left, AlecBaldwin, First Street and Brandeis Point, 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Bibelhauser,John Gage, TinaFey and Tracy Morgan. Avenue, 3p.m. Sunday. Jordan Chapman, Sherman & Harry Bickel and JeffGushin, the Oakland Raiders in the early ’70s. Weathers Patrick Rafferty and Brittany Destiny Tinnell. $8, free for Calamity Jane. Tickets retired from the Canadian Football League to pur- MacWilliams, violins; Dominic ages 12 and younger.(502) available at the door.$12. sue acting full time in 1974. His most important role By Larry Muhammad has been as Rocky Balboa’snemesis and eventual Who could “Rock” all night friend in the first four “Rocky” movies. Alanna Fugate. RPlace Pub. 9603 Whipps »Terry Crews: He’sdone everything from dop- “30 Rock” is just suffering from CLUBS Smoketown USA. 1153 Mill Road. Friday, Shane Logan St. Friday, Billy Hower. Dawson. Saturday, Logan ey comedies (“Soul Plane,” “White Chicks”) to bom- high expectations set by its own Street. bastic action movies (“Terminator Salvation,” “The breakout genius seasons. How soon we Downtown Wick’s. 2927 Goose Creek East End Road. Friday, Gabe Close. Expendables”). He was adefensive end and line- forget that the 2006 debut wasn’tgiv- BBC on 4th. 660 S. Fourth St. Bard’sTown. 1801 Bard- Sunday and Wednesday, DJ backer for the (then-Los Angeles) Rams, San Diego en afighting chance against “Studio 60 Wednesday, Open Mic. stown Road. Tuesday, Dave. Tuesday, Trivia Night. Chargers and Washington Redskins . on the Sunset Strip,” another series Bearno’sbythe Bridge. 131 Variety Shack. Wednesday, Wednesday-Thursday, DJ W. Main St. Friday, Another Pub Trivia. Ace. »Alex Karras: Karras was an All-Pro defensive about the behind-the-scenes dysfunc- Colour.Saturday, Three on Blue Horse Bar/Crowne Wick’s. 975 Baxter Ave. tackle who played 12 seasons for the Detroit Lions tion of acomedy show that promptly the Tree. Plaza. 830 Phillips Lane. Wednesday, Boombox between 1958 and 1970. Even before his football crashed and burned despite being the Blu Italian Mediterranean Friday, Randy Meyers. Saints. Thursday, Screaming Grille. 280 W. Jefferson St. Bluegrass Brewing Com- John and Jimmy V. career was over,Karras played himself in 1968’s critical pick. Tuesday, Doug Elmore Jazz pany. 3929 Shelbyville Road. ZaZoo’s. 102Bauer Ave. “Paper Lion.” He played the fearsome but dimwit- Trio. Wednesday, Carly What “30 Rock” had, and has still Friday, Howard, Lewis and Friday, 8, Nappy Roots, ted Mongo in Mel Brooks’ “Blazing Saddles” (1974). Johnson and Craig Wagner. Lovins. Saturday, 30 Spokes. Skycraper Stereo, Scanner, got, is Tina Fey’sawkward, well-mean- Thursday, Hickory Vaught Clifton’sPizza. 2230 Frank- Jalin Roze, DJ Eldawg, $20. Karras played the sheriff in the classic teen-sex ing adorability,Tracy Morgan’sbor- and Friends. fort Ave. Tuesday, danny Saturday, Houndmouth, comedy “Porky’s” and acloseted gay bodyguard in derline insanity with Alec Bal- Brown hotel. 335 W. flanigan plus one. Justin Lewis, Gunnar &The Broadway. Friday and El Nopal. 9473 Westport Grizzly Bears, Andrew “Victor/Victoria.” dwin’sbombastic hamming it Thursday, Sue Ann Stone Road. Thursday, Wayne Combs, $8. Thursday, NO up that makes for an irresist- (piano). Harbin, John Burgard, Tim Appalatin, Heather Styka. ible sitcom. Haymarket Whiskey Bar. Dennison. 331E.Market St. Friday, Gerstle’s. 3801Frankfort There’snodenying the show Vessel, Samuel Hadfeild, South Ave. Friday, Fusionary, Hot POPULAR DOWNLOADS seems misguided of late: The Fey and Brandon Koufeldt. Saturday, Brown Smackdown, Soul 19th Hole Pub. 5603 Green- app happy Parlour,Opposable Thumbs, Baldwin characters we loved to see Circus. Saturday, V-Groove. wood Road. Friday-Saturday, R. Keenan Lawler. Sunday, The Pranksters. Entertainment with Mark W. deliciously outwitting each other now Stevie Ray’s. 230 E. Main St. Headliners Music Hall. 1386 BJ’s. 7017 Global Drive. Top5freeapps come off as aquarreling married Friday, King Bees, Big Rock Lexington Road. Saturday, Saturday, DJ Rip. for this week Show. Saturday, Clay Street Va Va Vixens presents Va Va Eezy’s. 7323 St. Andrews couple overdue for some make-up sex, All-Stars, Horizontal Boogie Valentine, $20 and $30. Church Road. Friday- ANDROID and Morgan’spreposterous antics that Band. Monday, open mic Monday, Heartless Bastards, Saturday and Wednesday, » Facebook for Android jam. Tuesday, blues jam. used to trigger juicy plot twists have $15.Wednesday, Drivin’ N Lindsey Lane &Axis. » Pandora internet radio Wednesday, Dev &Doug. Cryin’, $15. Sunday, Allen McCoy degenerated into lame nonsensical Thursday, Lamont Gillispie & Jerry Green &Friends. 2800 Band. Thursday, karaoke » Facebook Messenger gags. 100Proof Blues. Breckenridge Lane. Friday- with host Alan Bybee. » Angry Birds But you have no idea how difficult ThirdSt. Dive. 442 S. Third Saturday, Jerry Green & JT’sVariety Club. 8021 St. Friday, Johnny Berry & Friends Band (pop/Motown). Preston Highway. Friday, » Words With Friends Free it is to maintain, for six years, the high The Outliers. Saturday, Eddie Jim Porter’s. 2345 Lexington karaoke with host Chris. APPLE standards the show set for itself, and &The FMunkys. Tuesday, Road. Friday-Saturday, Old Saturday, DJ Bruce Wayne. » Card Ace: Casino Rooney Tunes. Wednesday, School, Horns, Rock Station. I’m betting these afflictions aren’t DJ Sizzle. Wednesday, Classic Rock » Temple Run terminal, more like awinning fran- Uncle Slayton’s. 1017 E. Wednesdays. Thursday, U West » Tom’sLove Letters Broadway. Friday, Chris chise desperately trying to outdo it- Call-It Dance Night with DJ Cole’sPlace. 2928 W. » Scramble With Friends Knight. $18 advance, $20 at Ron Wallace. Kentucky St. Friday and self. the door.Saturday, JK Limestone Bay Yacht Club. Saturday, DJ. Thursday, Free Its hit-making ensemble is still in Mabry, Lance Whalen. 5801Upper River Road. karaoke. » Pet Town Sunday, Home Grown Jams. place, rumblings that Baldwin’sabout Sunday, Wednesday- Joe’sPalm Room. 1821 W. For more information, Thursday, Jim Dishman. Jefferson St. Friday and to bail notwithstanding, which we’ve Central Molly Malone’s. 933 Baxter Saturday, Harmony, DJ. please visit the Android heard before and could be buzz hyping Ave. Friday-Saturday, DJ. app store at https://mar- Magnolia Bar &Grill. 1398 New Directions Bar &Grill. the show for all we know.And I’m S. Second St. Sunday, Tilford 2630 Chamberlain Lane. Indiana ket.android.com/ and the betting there’satleast another season Sellers and the Wagon Friday, Moonshine. Sat- Irish Exit Ale House. 207 E. iTunes website at of must-see TV in “30 Rock” if every- Burners. urday, Red Line. Main St., New Albany. www.apple.com/itunes/. Nachbar. 969 Charles St. Phoenix Hill Tavern. 644 Friday, Keith Wheatley. body just settles down and gets back Wednesday, VAMP (Jacob Baxter Ave. Friday-Saturday, Saturday, Adam Greene. Pandora — Distributed by MCT to basics: smart, funny,tightly-fo- Duncan, Jason Tiemann). Super 69. Saturday, Jefferson Sammy O’sBar &Grill. Internet radio Information Services cused storylines that got them on top RudyardKipling. 422 W. Tarc Bus, KTO. Thursday, 3579 Paoli Pike, Floyds Oak St. Friday, Sam Hadfield Audition Night. Knobs. Saturday, Final Shot. in the first place. Band, Trapper Hawkins,