FRIDAY 4/26

J. RODDY WALSTON & THE BUSINESS

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9 p.m. Stickyz. $10 adv., $12 day of.

J. Roddy Walston & The Business probably don’t need much introduction for the discerning fan of goodtime rock ‘n’ roll living in Central Arkansas. Dudes have played here multiple times over the last six years or so. But if you still haven’t heard them yet, I’d give it a go. J. Rod himself is the main-man of the band, tickling the ivories and strumming the guit-box. They make a kind of Southern rock/power pop hybrid that’s pure, beer-swilling recreation music. This is not the band that you’re gonna put on so you can sit around your bedroom in the dark wallering in self-pity and overanalyzing all the places your life went off track and who’s done you wrongly. I was going tell you they’re kind of a hybrid of Thin Lizzy energy and Skynyrd-y swagger. Then I looked back in our archives and Times Editor Lindsey Millar has already pretty much said the same thing: “Think Thin Lizzy channeling Jerry Lee Lewis.” So there’s that. They just signed to ATO Records and have recently been recording down in Georgia, so some newer songs will probably be on tap. Also on the bill at this 18-and-older show is the very, very good Nashville rocker Pujol. He’s been through town a couple times as well and has a crackerjack album out, “The United States of Being.”

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FRIDAY 4/26-SUNDAY 4/28

‘AMERICAN IDIOT’

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Various times. Walton Arts Center. $53-$79.

For a certain species of crusty old punker — maybe, say, the sort of miscreant who grew up worshipping Cometbus and once dubbed all of Sewer Trout’s records onto one handy cassette — it’s still really weird on some level that Green Day made a Broadway musical. Sure, the band has been enormously famous for the better part of two decades now, so there’s certainly a case to be made for telling those sorts of folks to just get over it, you know? And it’s not that there’s anything wrong with making a Broadway musical … with a pop-punk soundtrack … about a bunch of bored suburban kids who turn to drugs and alcohol … and have names like St. Jimmy and Whatsername … which would become hugely popular and go on to gross millions of dollars and win a Grammy and two Tony Awards among others … . Sure, there’s nothing wrong with any of that. But man, it still seems kinda weird. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

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SATURDAY 4/27- SUNDAY 4/28

‘RODEO IN THE ROCK’

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9 a.m. Arkansas State Fairgrounds. $15 per day or $24 for both.

All right, rodeo fans, it’s time for “Rodeo in the Rock,” presented by the Diamond State Rodeo Association. The event, sanctioned by the International Gay Rodeo Association, is three days of ropin’ and ridin’ and racin’ and all-around good times. On Thursday night, Miss Kitty’s Saloon hosts “A Loyal Royal Welcome” for all the out-of-towners and on Friday night, they’ll host “A Rodeo Royal Night” after registration at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds. Also on Friday, Trax in North Little Rock hosts a Homorodeo.com meet-and-greet and will be firing up the grill to provide the rodeo fans with burgers and fixings, starting at 5:30 p.m. The rodeo competitions start up Saturday and Sunday at 9 a.m. and there’s lots of other activities throughout the day. There’s a cookout at 6 p.m. and a dance party at 8 p.m. on Saturday. The awards ceremony will be Sunday at 6 p.m.

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SATURDAY 4/27

JENNA JAMESON’S 39TH BIRTHDAY BASH

9 p.m. Juanita’s. $20-$50.

Huh. This event is called Jenna Jameson’s 39th Birthday Bash, but according to the ol’ Wikipedia, her actual birthday is technically April 9. Maybe she’s just extending the birthday fun into one long, never-ending celebration. Anyways, Jenna Jameson is a famous actress who has starred in lots and lots and lots of movies with other actors and actresses and apparently she also likes to dance around in front of people. She’s also wealthy, or anyway that’s what she implied when she endorsed Mitt Romney when he was running for President of the U.S.A. “I’m very looking forward to a Republican being back in office,” she told a reporter from CBS San Francisco, apparently while she was drinking champagne in a club there. “When you’re rich, you want a Republican in office.” Don’t mind Jenna y’all, she’s just truthin’. In addition to watching Jenna celebrate her 39th birthday, you can also catch some bands and comedians performing as well, including The Revolutioners, Angry Patrick, Roger Scott, Pool Boy, Bright, Paul Prater Sideshow, Electroniq and Linwood Polk. If you opt for the $50 VIP ticket, you get reserved seating, a private meet-and-greet with Jenna, a photo and autograph.

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SATURDAY 4/27

ETSY INDIE ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL

11 a.m. Shoppes on Woodlawn.

For all of you artsy, craftsy, DIY-y, food-y, music-y types residing in Central Arkansas or hereabouts, this here is a must-do for your Saturday: The 3rd Annual Indie Arts & Music Festival, presented by Etsy Little Rock. I imagine most folks have some familiarity with Etsy, the e-commerce hub for all things arts, crafts, handmade and vintage. Roughly three dozen local Etsy vendors will be there to vend their wares. Do you require hand-crafted soaps? Vintage clothing? Handmade jewelry? Tote bags with animals on them? This will be the place where you can find and purchase such items all without cracking open the laptop. I would predict that most of these folks will have those little card swipe-y things that plug into a smartphone, but maybe bring some cash just in case. Starting at noon, there will also be live music from the following acts, in order of appearance: Michael Leonard Witham, Isaac Alexander, Mike Mullins, Ming Donkey, Paul Morphis, Reed Balentine, The Winston Family Orchestra and Booyah! Dad. Of course, you’ll likely require food at some point to satisfy your music listening- and shopping-induced famishment. As such, there will be food trucks on site to provide you with some nosh. You can choose from kBird, Loblolly Creamery, Palette Catering and Event Planning, Philly’s To Go, The Southern Gourmasian and Sugar Shack Sweets & Treats.

SATURDAY 4/27-SUNDAY 4/28

GLOBAL KIDS ARKANSAS FUNDRAISERS

Various times and venues.

You might recall a few weeks back, the Times caught up with Chane Morrow, known to most everybody as Big Piph, about his upcoming fundraiser to help establish the Global Kids program in Arkansas. Piph and a bunch of other folks are seeking to raise $100,000 by April 29. Rock Candy has been posting exclusive $1 song downloads from a variety of Arkansas artists all week, with the proceeds going toward the fundraiser. You can donate directly at Arktimes.com/globalkids. And there are also several events, including a three-on-three basketball tournament and an open mic night Saturday (details are still being fleshed out, check Globalkidsar.org for updates) and a concert on Sunday at Revolution. The concert starts at 8 p.m., with Amasa Hines, Collin vs. Adam and Big Piph & Tomorrow Maybe. It’s hosted by Cheyenne Matthews and Bryan Frazier and Poebot will DJ.

MONDAY 4/29

BILL CALLAHAN

9 p.m. White Water Tavern. $10.

Bill Callahan is a singer/songwriter who lives in Austin, Texas, and recorded for many years under the name of Smog. He’s released many albums of very high quality over the course of a couple of decades, mostly on the Drag City label out of Chicago. He sings in an even and unfussy baritone, his words mostly clipped and clear. I really dig Callahan’s “Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle” from 2009 and “Apocalypse” from 2011. He played a last-minute show at White Water Tavern in 2011, and I suspect there was a great deal of forehead slapping done by the folks who found out about it the next day. So no excuses this time! Opening for Callahan will be Cass Roberts, performing solo tap dancing.

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