Sound Check music blog - dailypress.com

Bay Days music lineup will include Mike Aiken, Bria Kelly and Snuff reunion

By Sam McDonald — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:00:00 GMT

An official announcement is still a few days away, but Bay Days organizers say they are looking at a musical lineup filled with a variety of accomplished local and regional players, from Norfolk's Mike Aiken Band to Smithfield's Bria Kelly .

Logan Layman and her UnXpected bandmates prepare for busy summer

By Sam McDonald — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:54:00 GMT

When the photo above was taken back in March, 12-year-old Williamsburg resident Logan Layman already knew she was heading to north to play the Chicago Blues Festival on June 6 as part of a youth all-star band.

Free Thursday concerts at Fort Monroe, Mariners' Museum begin in June

By Sam McDonald — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:07:00 GMT

A popular summer concert series has seemingly escaped looming federal budget cuts. Fort Monroe's Music By the Bay series will begin June 13 and with a performance by the U.S. Fleet Forces Band Wind Ensemble.

Nellie McKay, quirky songstress, to perform in Hampton with string quartet

By Sam McDonald — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:57:00 GMT

A Sunday story from my colleague David Nicholson included a nugget of exciting information. Nellie McKay , a piano-playing songwriter known for witty, irreverent tunes, will play The American Theatre in Hampton Nov. 1.

Backstreet Boys to play Virginia Beach in August

By Sam McDonald — Mon, 13 May 2013 20:39:00 GMT

What the world needs now is ... The Backstreet Boys ? Someone seems to think so. The group's "In a World Like This Tour" will touch down in Virginia Beach Aug. 17, promoters announced on Monday.

Slapwater band avoids legal fight, renames itself Slapnation

By Sam McDonald — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:13:00 GMT

Slapwater , the Peninsula's premier party band, has renamed itself in hopes of leaving behind a bitter fight over rights to its name. The group led by drummer George "Dody" Hunt III is now called Slapnation , according to its website.

Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers to play Portsmouth in August

By Sam McDonald — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:22:00 GMT

Williamsburg's Bruce Hornsby hasn't been a stranger to local audiences recently. I've seen him show up and jam with both Jackson Browne and Rosanne Cash at area gigs. Last summer, he played a headlining gig at OpSail in Norfolk.

Nelson County's Chamomile & Whiskey brings Appalachian rock to Hampton Taphouse

By Sam McDonald — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:08:00 GMT

The Hampton Taphouse bolsters its status as the region's premier venue for Americana music tonight as it hosts Chamomile & Whiskey , a Nelson County band that draws inspiration from both mountain folk and big-city funk.

Beach music series at Yorktown waterfront launches in June

By Sam McDonald — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:19:00 GMT

Once again, a beach music series will give dancers a chance to shag at the historic and picturesque Yorktown waterfront. The Shagging on the Riverwalk Beach Music Concert Series will return June 6 with Band of Oz .

EVER-G, RastaMiles among winners at Virginia Reggae Awards

By Sam McDonald — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:44:00 GMT

The Virginia Reggae Awards were presented Saturday, May 4, at Hampton's Mill Point Park. As many as 15 acts performed for a crowd of nearly 400 over the course of the afternoon.

Kiss to strut at Portsmouth amphitheater in August

By Sam McDonald — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:49:00 GMT

What's summer without a 1970s-style rock spectacle complete with greasepaint, flash pots and fist-pumping choruses? Kiss wants to make sure you don't find out.

Hampton Roads songwriters sue Justin Bieber, Usher over rights to "Somebody to Love"

By Sam McDonald — Mon, 06 May 2013 18:55:00 GMT

Two local songwriters filed a $10 million lawsuit last week accusing Justin Bieber and Usher of stealing their tune "Somebody to Love" to create the hit single of the same name that reached No. 15 on Billboard's pop chart in 2010.

Rush, playing Virginia Beach, ignored the tug of nostalgia | A review

By Sam McDonald — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:23:00 GMT

The Rush rock 'n' roll experience, circa 2013, is best appreciated as a head-spinning, high-tech pageant of light and sound.

Mother's Day gifts? Concert tickets for Tim McGraw, Lil Wayne and Bob Dylan go on sale

By Sam McDonald — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:32:00 GMT

For those hard-to-buy-for mothers, consider picking up tickets to one of the big concerts going on sale this weekend. Virginia Beach shows by Lil Wayne, Tim McGraw or Bob Dylan and Wilco could solve your Mother's Day problem.

Rush fan Marian Clayton of Newport News wins free tickets to Sunday's show

By Sam McDonald — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:17:00 GMT

"I'm literally shaking right now," said Marian Clayton, a Newport News resident who works at NASA. "I'm such a big fan. You have no idea." That was Clayton's response when she learned that she'd won the Daily Press Rush trivia contest.

Seth Stainback and Roosterfoot hung with the big boys at Scope on Tuesday

By Sam McDonald — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:23:00 GMT

Playing opening slot for Bob Seger was memorable for Virginia Beach singer

Seth Stainback , a 29-year-old rock singer from Virginia Beach, stood in front of a crowd of thousands Tuesday night, opening for Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band.

Rush trivia contest finale: Question No. 3

By Sam McDonald — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:31:00 GMT

A winner will be announced after 4 p.m. today

We've reached the finale of our Rush trivia contest. If you answer the following question correctly -- and you also got the right answer on the two previous questions -- your name will be entered into a drawing.

Jackie Scott, recovering from surgery, reschedules her Hampton Block Party gig

By Sam McDonald — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:58:00 GMT

Full Block Party music schedule announced

Organizers of the Hampton Block Party have made a change to the entertainment for Saturday's season launch. Blues singer Jackie Scott has been replaced by Blues Empacts, Mojo Collins and Herbie D and the Dangermen .

Bob Seger's Detroit rock machine still roars: Concert review

By Sam McDonald — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:36:00 GMT

Bob Seger 's high stature as a blue-collar poet and rootsy rocker was taken as an article of faith when I was growing up in the late 1970s. While I didn't fall in love with Seger's music, I marinated in it. I had no choice. It was everywhere.

Rush trivia contest: Question No. 2

By Sam McDonald — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:03:00 GMT

We're running a Rush trivia contest and the grand prize is a pair of tickets and admission to a meet and greet with the band at its show in Virginia Beach on Sunday.

Win a pair of tickets to see Rush and a pass to attend a backstage meet and greet

By Sam McDonald — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:03:00 GMT

Rush is one of the top power trios in rock history. The Canadian band was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and it's now on a victory lap around America. The band's tour brings it to Farm Bureau Live amphitheater on Sunday.

DJ Law and Mic Lord will be remembered at fundraising event in Newport News

By Sam McDonald — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:49:00 GMT

Two beloved voices from the region's recent hip-hop past will be remembered Saturday, May 4, in Newport News. Fans and friends of DJ Law and Mic Lord will get together to honor their memories and to party.

Lil Wayne, T.I. and 2 Chainz to play Virginia Beach in July

By Sam McDonald — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:32:00 GMT

Want to put a little Weezy in your summer? Folks at Farm Bureau Live amphitheater in Virginia Beach want to help you out. The America's Most Wanted Festival will play the shed and tickets go on sale this week.

Rolling Stone once again names NorVa one of nation's best music clubs

By Sam McDonald — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:47:00 GMT

For at least the second time, The NorVa in Norfolk has made a Rolling Stone list of the nation's finest live music clubs.

George Jones, country giant, dead at 81

By Sam McDonald — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:27:00 GMT

One of country music's greatest voices has been silenced. George Jones , who depicted heartache like no other American singer, died Friday in Nashville, according to a press release from Webster & Associates.