Big Leg Emma's new album starts strong and doesn't let off the gas. Called "Revival," none of the album's dozen genre-spanning tracks would sound out of place on the radio.
The smooth vocals and gentle sounds of the opening track, "Back to NY," flow into the riff-led, vocal-driven "Rain's Gonna Fall," my favorite song on the disc.
The band shows its diversity in the next two tracks: the up-tempo "Prophecy" and the ballad "Rock a Bye," before moving into another of the disc's highlights, the seven-minute "The Kettle."
"Revival" slows back down with "Two of Us," a track featuring a radio-friendly hook, and moves into the upbeat "Sing to Me." Big Leg Emma shows it would be a worthy cover band, sampling Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall" during the eighth track, "Whisper." Other highlights include the ballad "Salvation City" and the upbeat "Sometimes."
Big Leg Emma recently returned from a 16-day tour that led the band down the East Coast and onto the NBC-affiliate show "Charlotte Today" in North Carolina.
Presented by Blue Moon Management, the band will perform a CD release show with The No Good DooGooders Saturday, April 7, at Roberto's Restaurant, the former Fenton Grill, at 2 W. Second St., Jamestown. Doors will open at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 for the 21-and-over show. Call Blue Moon Management at 499-9638 for more information.
HIGHLIGHTS
Edsels To Play White Swan April 14: The Edsels, known for their 1961 hit "Rama Lama Ding Dong," will perform on Saturday, April 14, from 8-11 p.m. in Wrightsville, Pa., at The White Swan Ballroom. Doors will open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20, and only 200 will be sold. Call 814-723-7239 to place an order. No tickets will be available at the door.
The group formed in 1958 in Youngstown, Ohio. "Rama Lama Ding Dong" reached No. 20 in the U.S., and the Edsels had other hits with "What Brought us Together," "My Whispering Heart" and "Got to Find out About Love." The group appeared on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" several times.
Today, 10 men make up the Edsels, including four vocalists and six musicians. The group recently recorded a CD called "Doo Wop Never Dies" and will play a couple new songs April 14, along with their hits and several covers.
The Edsels will play two 45-minute sets April 14. The first will begin at 8. The second will start at 10:15. Recorded music will be played between shows, and roast beef will be sold. Complimentary ice and glasses will be available. Attendees should bring their own beverages and snacks.
To find the White Swan Ballroom from Jamestown, drive to Sugar Grove, Pa., take Route 957 west to Lottsville, Pa., and make a left onto Route 958. Take 958 south for 3 miles, and the venue will be on the left. The drive from Sugar Grove to Wrightsville is approximately 9 miles.
Local Acts Have Chance To Perform Warped Tour: OurStage.com, a digital music destination for unsigned artists, is offering musicians the opportunity to play on the OurStage.com Stage during the 2012 Warped Tour. For the first time, OurStage will sponsor a stage for 22 stops of the festival.
Fans will rank the competing artists to determine which acts will showcase their talents at the stops closest to them. A different fan-voted band will perform at each of the 22 stops on the OurStage.com Stage.
Regional entrants can submit their music on OurStage.com through April 22 for a chance to play at the tour stop in or near their hometown.
To help determine who will perform, log onto OurStage.com through April 30. Five fans will receive two tickets each to the 2012 Warped Tour stop nearest to them.
The tour is scheduled to make a stop at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on July 17.
HAPPENINGS
To include an upcoming show or event in this column, call Scott Shelters at 487-1111, ext. 253 or email sshelters@post-journal.com.
Tonight
Woodsongs: 7, Labyrinth Press Company, 12 E. Fourth St., Jamestown. Kev Rowe and Gina Vecchio are this month's guests for the live recording of Woodsongs Coffeehouse Radio Hour with Ken Hardley. The audience should be seated by 6:30.
Blue Grass Jam: 7-10, Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave., Celoron. All area bluegrass musicians are welcome to sit in and play.
Friday Night
Brian Hanna and Scott Horton: 6-10, The Spoon Saloon, 11849 Main St. (Route 39), Perrysburg. There will not be a cover.
A Cappella Explosion: 7, 1891 Fredonia Opera House. The show will feature five of SUNY Fredonia's a cappella singing groups: The Guerrillas, Much More Chill, Premium Blend, The Riveters and Some Like it Hot. Call 679-1891 for tickets, which start at $8.
John Latini and Ken Hardley: 9-1, Jamestown Hotel, 150 W. Fourth St., Jamestown. John Latini is an award-winning songwriter and blues musician from Detroit. The duo will perform in the Tropicana Lounge of the former Clarion Hotel. There will be a $2 cover.
Saturday
Jamestown Thunder Community Drum Circle: noon-2:30 p.m., Cibo Cafe, Third and Pine streets, Jamestown. Some extra drums will be available. Contact Rich Schuler for more information at 484-8121.
"The Artist": 8 p.m., 1891 Fredonia Opera House. Tickets for the screening are $7 for adults, $6.50 for seniors and Opera House members and $5 for students and children the night of each screening. Call the Opera House box office for more information at 679-1891.
The Allergic Reaction Band: 8 p.m.-midnight, Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave., Celoron.
The Bogarts: 9 p.m.-1 a.m., Kennedy Grill, 674 Route 394, Kennedy.
Tuesday Night
"The Artist": 7:30 p.m., 1891 Fredonia Opera House. Tickets for the screening are $7 for adults, $6.50 for seniors and Opera House members and $5 for students and children the night of each screening. Call the Opera House box office for more information at 679-1891.