Mike Dillon hasn't hammered his vibraphone in George's since before the pandemic, but he can't wait to get back.He's back in town with Mike Dillon & Punkadelick featuring Brian Roy Haas (Jacob Fred Odyssey) and Brenden Bull at 7 p.m. Dec. 13.
He tells me that he and Haas have fond memories of the former JR's Lightbulb Club and Chester's from back in the day and that most people remember him from his days with Billy Goat in the 1990s. Nowadays he's a percussionist for Ani Difranco and Rickie Lee Jones when he's not part of Les Claypool's Frog Brigade or Critters Buggin with Matt Chamberlain.
"Our live shows are very high energy still. People usually leave smiling, scratching their heads a little bit at what the heck has happened," he says.
Just this year, Dillon released the all-instrumental "rock' album "Inflorescence" with Haas and Nikki Glaspie (Beyonce). The album was recorded during the pandemic lockdown which gave Dillon, who is already a fan of experimentation, a new way to think about playing and recording.
Dillon says that people call him a punk rock vibraphonist for his music that pulls from classic rock influences like Rush, King Crimson and Black Sabbath and punk rockers The Minutemen and Black Flag. A classically trained musician, Dillon prefers to explore his influences through his vibraphone.
"Everyone calls it a xylophone, and that's fine. I run it through pickups, and I run it through a pedal board, guitar pedals, into a guitar amp [to create] a lot of the same textures that the guitar does," Dillon says.
"My goal and my mission is to lead a rock band with a vibraphone AKA the dirty uncle of the xylophone ... actually the nephew of the xylophone. It's really fun because it's wide open. I feel like there's a lot of things that haven't been done with my instrument in the rock 'n' roll contexts."
Patti Steel Band opens at 7 p.m. for the Dec. 13 show at George's Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville. Tickets are $12.
"I'm glad to be playing with Patti," Dillon adds, saying that she's a big supporter of live music and touring bands. "I love it that she has her own band. She's playing all the time. I always get her up to sit in with me if she shows up. I'm looking forward to what the night bequeaths upon us."
Also coming up at George's is Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country & Eggy -- a combination of Southern rock, bluegrass, classic country and honky-tonk with Southern California folk and Northern California musical exploration -- at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 12. The show is presented by Hillberry Festival. Tickets are $20-$25.
BENTONVILLE
Meteor Guitar Gallery -- Amy Winehouse Christmas, 7 p.m. Dec. 16-17; Songwriters in the Round with John Henry Holthus, Shilah Molina, Brennan Johnson and Adam Johnston, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 21; Randall Shreve and Molly Healey, 8 p.m. Dec. 23; New Years Eveee with Fight Dream, Sloeth'n Steady, Bootleg Royal, The Big Sad, The Misdemeanors and Samantha Hunt, 7 p.m. Dec. 30. meteorguitargallery.com
The Momentary -- Beer and Carols with Beer & Hymns, 5 p.m. Dec. 10; ROSSY & Mija, 8 p.m. Dec. 16; Adeem the Artist and Dylan Earl, 8 p.m. Jan. 5; eTown Live Radio Taping: Langhorne Slim and Briscoe, 7 p.m. Jan. 10 and with James McMurtry and Erin Rae, 7 p.m. Jan. 12; Soccer Mommy, 8 p.m. Jan. 13; Astral Project, 7 p.m. Jan. 26; Junior Brown, 7 p.m. Jan. 27. themomentary.org.
Undercroft -- Jeff Gray and the Forte Quartet, 7 p.m. Tuesdays; Randall Shreve, 7 p.m. Wednesdays; Vinyl Nights with Bentonville Radio, 7 p.m. Thursdays. undercroftbar.com/events/.
EUREKA SPRINGS
The Aud -- Free Christmas movies every Friday and Christmas Eve; Ozarks Chorale Sounds of the Season Holiday Concert, 7 p.m. Dec. 10. visiteurekasprings.com/events/category/the-aud/
Wanderoo Lodge and Gravel Bar -- Sprungbilly, 6 p.m. Dec.11; Patti Steel Trio, 7 p.m. Dec. 15; Justin Larkin, 7 p.m. Dec. 16; Shelly Watson Holiday Show, 7 p.m. Dec. 22; Mountain Alice, 7 p.m. Dec. 23; Whiskey Menders, 7 p.m. Dec. 29; Dominic Bryan Roy, 7 p.m. Dec. 30; New Year's Eve Party with Lead Pipe Conservatory Band, 8 p.m. Dec. 31. facebook.com/wanderoolodge/events
Basin Park Hotel -- Ozark Mountain Music Festival with Pixie and the Partygrass Boys, The Hillbenders, Pert Near Sandstone, Cate Brothers, Kyle Tuttle, Handmade Moments, Stillhouse Junkies, 3 Penny Acre, The Fretliners, Chicken Wire Empire, Chucky Waggs & The Company of Raggs, Front Porch, Dance Monkey Dance!, Justin Hiltner, Reverend Hylton, John Depew, Goldpine, Ron Landis, Trevor Clark, The Nighttimeers, Casey and the Atta Boys, The Spooklights, JR Soapbox Band, Dead Man Flats, Dimetrip, March to August, Kate Kristine, Steve Jones, Dale Kellison, Mountain Alice, Jeff Lee and Korey McKelvey, Jan. 18-21. ozarkmountainmusicfestival.com
FAYETTEVILLE
JJ's Live --Now That's What I Call a New Year's Party, 8 p.m. Dec. 31; Fit for a King and The Devil Wears Prada, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17; Breaking Benjamin Unplugged, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20; Red NOT Chili Peppers, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27; Dylan Scott, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8; Blank 281, 7 p.m. Feb. 10; Warren Zeiders, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16; Casey Donahew, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17; Randy Rogers Band, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23; Jake Scott, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24.
Morano's -- Jim Mills Easy Sunday, 5 to 7 p.m. Sundays; Brick Fields, 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays.
George's Majestic Lounge -- Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country & Eggy, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 12; Mike Dillion & Punkadelick with Patti Steel, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 13; Andy Frasco and Maggie Rose, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 16; Brick Fields, 6 p.m. Dec. 20; happy hour with The Cate Brothers and the Nance Brothers, 6 p.m. Dec. 22; Grateful Talking Deadheads, Dec. 22-23; Protohive album release concert with Phlegms, Modeling and Mildenhall, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 28; Isayah's Allstars, 6 p.m. Dec. 29; The Fabulous Freddie Mercury Experience, 9 p.m. Dec. 29; Arkansauce & Friends with Opal Agafia, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 3o; NYE Bash with Arkansauce & Friends with Feed the Dog, 9 p.m. Dec. 31; happy hour with Boston Mountain Playboys, 6 p.m. and 1Oz Jig, 9 p.m. Jan. 5; Ozark Blues Society Bound for Beale Street, 6 p.m. Jan. 7; Musicians for Suicide Awarenss, 6 p.m. Jan. 8.
Walton Arts Center -- Squirrel Nut Zippers, 7 p.m. Dec. 19; A Very Mariachi Christmas, 7 p.m. Dec. 21. Live music starts at 6:30 p.m. for Winter Nights with Devanee Williams, Dec. 14; Drew Rogers, Dec. 15; Jason Burrow, (piano) Dec. 16; TJ Scarlett, Dec. 21; Jason Burrow (piano), Dec. 22. waltonartscenter.org.
Six Twelve Coffeehouse & Bar -- Tyler George, 7 p.m. Dec. 14; Michael Rowan, 7 p.m. Dec. 15; DJ Soulfree, 8 p.m. Dec. 16; 3levated Dance, 6 p.m. Dec. 17; Ben Harris, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 20; JerGriffin Live, 7 p.m. Dec. 21; Chris Arcana, 6 p.m. Dec. 22; Woven, 7 p.m. Dec. 23; open mic, Dec. 26; Asher Perkins, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 28; Awayne, 7 p.m. Dec. 29; New Years "Eve" with Brian Reding and Montel Chan, 7-9 p.m. Dec. 30; Meadowlark, 7 p.m. Feb. 16.
Mount Sequoyah Center -- The Undertones, 5 p.m. Dec. 14; Ukulele Jam, 5 p.m. first and third Sundays. mountsequoyah.org.
Folk School of Fayetteville -- Irish Jam, 6 p.m. Dec. 11; Original Songs Open Mic, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12; Tony Furtado with Luke Price on fiddle, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14; Holiday Carol Singing on the Lawn, 5 p.m. Dec. 15; Ernie Hill presents Story Songs with special guests Still on the Hill and Smokey and the Mirror, 5 p.m. Dec. 17; Old Time Jam, 6 p.m. Dec. 19; Robert Ellis songwriting workshop and concert, Jan. 27. folkschooloffayetteville.org.
Fayetteville Square -- Will Gunselman, 6 p.m., School Band, 7:30 p.m. and Jon Dooly, 8:15 p.m. Dec. 15; Christmas Carolers, 6 p.m., Ashtyn Barbaree, 6:45 p.m., Elite Dance Group, 7:30 p.m. and Leyton Robinson, 8:15 p.m. Dec. 22.
LOWELL
The Grove Comedy Club -- Kristen Lindner and Barry Lamnick, Dec. 15-16; magician Andy Gross, Dec. 22-23; La Ron Wright, Dec. 29-30; Tony Deyo, Jan. 5-6; Claude Stuart, Jan. 12-13; Adam Hunter, Jan. 19-20; Kevin McCaffery, Jan. 26-27; Mike Palascak, Jan. 31; David Koechner, Feb. 1-3 and Office Trivia with Todd Packer, 4 p.m. Feb. 3; Paul Varghese, Feb. 9-10; Lynne Koplitz, Feb. 14; Michael Longfellow, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16-17.
RIVER VALLEY
Skokos Performing Arts Center -- David Phelps, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16; Ryan and Ryan, 4 p.m. Feb. 4; Portrait of Aretha, 7:30 p.m. March 2.
Club Kinkead's -- Pollyoke, 8 p.m. Dec. 10; Skinny Dennis, 8 p.m. Dec. 13, All Of Her, 8 p.m. Dec. 20; Vanessa's Talent Night, 8 p.m. Dec. 21; Comedy Night, 8 p.m. Dec. 26; Austin Calvillo, 8 p.m. Dec. 27. Dragged out Thursdays and Sunday's Best with Polly start at 8 p.m. facebook.com/ClubKinkeadsFtSmith.
Fort Smith Brewing Company -- Comedy with Sean Patton, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20. facebook.com/rivervalleycomics
TempleLive -- Josey Scott's Saliva, 7 p.m. Dec. 16; Tyler Halverson, 7 p.m. Jan. 26; Tracy Byrd, 7 p.m. Feb. 9; Saint Asonia & Black Stone Cherry, 8 p.m. Feb. 16; That Arena Rock Show, 7 p.m. Feb. 17; Marty Stuart, 8 p.m. Feb. 22; Blackberry Smoke, 7 p.m. March 1; Frank Foster, 8 p.m. March 16; Shenandoah, 8 p.m. March 21; Croche Plays Croche 50th Anniversary, 7 p.m. March 26; Hairball, 8 p.m. March 6; Creed Fisher, 8 p.m. May 3; Zach Rushing, 7:30 p.m. May 31.
Hero's -- Frailstate, JoyBomb and Spacer, 8 p.m. Dec. 15; War Pony, 8 p.m. Dec. 16; Ozark Riviera, 8 p.m. Dec. 22; Kiyoko Lee, Steddy Beats and Sweetmotions, 8 p.m. Dec. 23.
Majestic Fort Smith -- Nolan Taylor, 7 p.m. Dec. 30; Craig Wayne Boyd, 7 p.m. Jan. 12.
AACLive! -- Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, Feb. 1. aaclive.com.
Riverwind Casino -- Lee Brice, 8 p.m. Dec. 15; Ron White, 7 p.m. Dec. 30; Midland, 9 p.m. Dec. 31; Boyz II Men, 8 p.m. Jan. 12; Clay Walker, 8 p.m. Jan. 13; Joy Koy, 7 p.m. Jan. 27; Air Supply, 8 p.m. Feb. 3; Scotty McCreery, 8 p.m. Feb. 23; Jay Leno, 8 p.m. March 15. riverwind.com/events/category/entertainment/
Ava's at Fianna -- Rhythm Coalition, 8 p.m. Dec. 31.
Choctaw Pocola CenterStage -- Paul Wall, 8 p.m. Dec. 29. choctawcasinos.com/events/paul-wall/
Bricktown Brewery -- Some Guy Named Robb, 6 p.m. Dec. 30 and Jan. 27. sgnrobb.com
La Huerta on Garrison -- JJ & Tristan of JJ Taylor and Bourbon Highway, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15.
Cherokee Casino & Hotel Roland -- Muddy Boots Line Dancing, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 14; Libby Starks, 5 p.m. and Lyle Parman and The Slidebar Band, 9 p.m. Dec. 15; Deana Carter, 9 p.m. Dec. 16; Sammy Kershaw, 9 p.m. Dec. 29.
JJ's Fort Smith -- Music at 6 p.m. weeknights and 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday with Larry Pearson, Dec. 12; Jocko, Dec. 13; Robert Rauch Band, Dec. 15; The Clicks, Dec. 16; Robert Rauch, Dec. 19; Brett & Terri, Dec. 20; Mark Albertson, Dec. 22; Barenaked J-Birds, Dec. 23; Cole Huddleston, Dec. 26; Trey Russell, Dec. 27; Git in the Truck, Dec. 29 and Dirty Flannel Shirt, Dec. 30.
ROGERS
The Music Depot -- Funk Factory, 7 p.m. Dec. 15; Michael Fields Jr., 7 p.m. Dec. 22; Steve Dixon, 7 p.m. Dec. 23; The Expressions featuring Quantae, 7 p.m. Dec. 30; Arkansas Film and Music Expo, Feb. 9-10. Tuesday Night Jams each week from 6:30-8:30 p.m. musicmovesar.com/events/
SPRINGDALE
Black Apple Hard Cider -- Stand-up comedy starts at 8 p.m. on Thursdays with Thomas Nichols, Dec. 14; Home for the Holidays Showcase, Dec. 21; and Zach Peterson, Dec. 28. facebook.com/NaturalStateComedy
The Medium -- Happy Holy Gays Winter Concert with Ginger Doss and Lover Lover, 7 p.m. Dec. 15; Off Tha Top | On Tha Spot with Eddie Canyon, Dec. 16; Mixtape Music Series with Conner Brogan and Yuni Wa, Jan. 17; Jacob McCoy Burton and The Adorners, Feb. 14; Matteo Cassi and Craig Colorusso, March 13; Cameron Summer and Theresa Delaplain, April 17; Joe Distrom and Patti Steel, May 15; Pura Coco and Avery Bruce, June 12.
Tontitown Winery -- Tater, Butter Bean and Hart, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15; JR Neal Christmas Sip and Sing, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16; Benton County Line, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 22; The 44 Proof, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 29; Kevin & Murray, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 5. tontitownwinery.com
WEST SILOAM SPRINGS
Cherokee Casino & Hotel -- Deana Carter, 9 p.m. Dec. 15; Sammy Kershaw, 8 p.m. Dec. 28.
Send your music events to Monica Hooper at [email protected].
Patti Steel Band opens for Mike Dillon & Punkadelick at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at Georges Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville. (Courtesy Photo)
Daniel Donatos Cosmic Country & Eggy happens at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at George's Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville. (Courtesy Photo/Jason Stoltzfus)