By Michael Swanger michael@dmcityview.com

Tickets to Drowning Pool’s concert on Saturday at Vieux Carre in West Des Moines are $15.

Let the bodies hit the dance floor

Drowning Pool’s performance in perhaps one of the unlikeliest of places this weekend should be no surprise to longtime fans who have followed the alternative metal band through a series of improbable twists and turns. The four-piece Texas group headlines the “Know Your Enemy Tour” at Vieux Carre, a dance club in West Des Moines on Saturday. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for the all-ages show, which includes openers Egypt Central, Revelation Theory and Another Black Day.

On tour to support its aptly titled new album, “Full Circle,” Drowning Pool has seen its share of ups and downs since forming more than seven years ago. Its 2001 debut album, “Sinner,” was certified platinum six months after its release despite the fact that radio stations and music video channels stopped playing the album’s first single, “Bodies,” following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that year. Less than a year later, Aug. 14, 2002, to be exact, the band’s lead singer Dave Williams died of heart disease.

Following Williams’ death, Drowning Pool hired his successor Jason “Gong” Jones. Together they recorded one album, but in 2005, Jones left the band to join AM Conspiracy and former SOiL singer Ryan McCombs was called upon to take over vocalist duties. With McCombs onboard, the band left Wind-up records in 2006 and signed to Eleven Seven Music, which released the group’s new album last August. Since then, the band has remained intact and has played a variety of venues and tours from headlining clubs to opening for larger acts at stadiums. See them up close when they play Vieux Carre on Saturday.

Grandstand lineup announced

Contemporary country, Christian and ’80s rock acts will headline the 2008 Iowa State Fair’s Grandstand series Aug. 7-17 — though oldies fans will have to visit the fair’s free stages to see their favorite performers because the longstanding annual oldies reunion concert has been dropped from the Grandstand lineup. Tickets go on sale May 17 at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster. On July 7, the fair’s ticket office opens for walk-up orders. Visit www.iowastatefair.org or call (800) 545-FAIR.

The lineup includes performances by Michael W. Smith with Natalie Grant and Matthew West, Aug. 7, $25; Josh Turner and Craig Morgan, Aug. 8, $32; Rick Springfield and Patty Smyth and Scandal, Aug. 9, $25; Cinderella, Warrant and Night Ranger, Aug. 10, $25; Deery Brothers Summer Series for Late Models, Aug. 11, $5-$15; Volunteer Jam with The Charlie Daniels Band, .38 Special and Shooter Jennings, Aug. 12, $32; Grand Outlaw National Tractor and Truck Pull, Aug. 13, $10 and $20; Vanessa Hudgens and Corbin Bleu, Aug. 14, $30; Tracy Lawrence and Blake Shelton, Aug. 15, $28; Demolition Derby with Doctor Danger Daredevil Stunts, Aug. 16, $5 and $12; and Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion,” Aug. 17, $25.

Scene notes

Country music legend Loretta Lynn plays Meskwaki Casino Friday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 and $40. … Veteran Iowa City roots-rockers and longtime pals Greg Brown and Bo Ramsey play Hoyt Sherman Place on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $32 and $45. A review of Ramsey’s new CD, “Fragile,” appears on page 22. … Valley Junction in West Des Moines will host its annual Cinco de Mayo celebration on Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. A variety of free family activities are planned, including live music by Calle Sur, Latino Pride and the Tony Valdez Large Band. … Local bluesy alt-rockers Ski Bunny Suicide — which includes singer-harmonica player Tony Jefferson, drummer Mike Lacey, guitarist Todd Carter and bassist George West — host a CD release show Saturday at 10 p.m. at the Vaudeville Mews to celebrate the release of their debut album, “Sideways Man.” Admission is $5. Visit www.myspace.com/skibunnysuicide. … The Annual Global Marijuana Rally will be held Saturday at high noon at the state capitol. A concert, featuring performances by local bands Johnny Reeferseed and the High Rollers, Mooseknuckle and Steve Robinson, will follow at Birdland Park. … Noted New York jazz saxophonist Frank Perowsky, a 1953 graduate of Roosevelt High School, returns to Des Moines on Sunday at 3 p.m. to play a benefit concert for his alma mater. Perowsky will perform with Susie Miget and the Des Moines Big Band at Roosevelt’s auditorium for a jazz celebration to benefit the school foundation’s $10 million fund drive. Tickets are $10 for students, $30 for adults and $50 per couple, and can be reserved by calling 277-9553. Upgrades to the school include improvements to its music and fine arts areas. Perowsky, who also studied at the Julliard School of Music in New York City, has performed with the likes of Woody Herman, Sarah Vaughan and Stan Getz. In 2002, he collaborated with his son, drummer Ben, on an album entitled “Bop on Pop.” … The Myriad, winners of MTV2’s 2008 Dew Circuit competition, which has crowned bands like Taking Back Sunday and Yellowcard, plays People’s Court on Monday. The band is on tour to support its new album, “With Arrows, With Poise.” A video for the band’s hit single, “A Clean Shot,” is now in rotation on MTV and MTV2. Visit IowaTix.com for details about the show. … Metal band High On Fire, which has been on tour with Megadeth, headlines an all-ages show with local rockers The Autumn Project on May 8 at the Vaudeville Mews at 6 p.m. Advance tickets are $12. … The Crossroads Entertainment Conference and Showcase is accepting submissions from local bands to perform at its Dec. 4 showcase to be held at Court Center in downtown Des Moines. Artists of all genres are encouraged to apply via Sonicbids at www.sonicbids.com/crossroadsiowa. Up to 15 slots are available for bands playing original material. Deadline for submissions is June 15 and the bands that are selected will be notified by Aug. 1. Sonicbids requires a $20 submission fee. Last year’s participants included Mr. Baber’s Neighbors, On A Pale Horse and DJ Starscream. For more information about the conference visit www.crossroadsiowa.com. … Also, if your band wants to be part of a compilation CD being organized by Max Kenkel of the rock band Hold For Swank, you’ll want to visit www.isnotawasteland.com to apply. Again, bands of all genres are encouraged to apply. Kenkel said the disc is limited to about 24 bands. Each band that makes the disc will get 50 copies to sell for $10 each, though there is a $150 fee to participate once your band is selected. The compilation CDs will also be sent to newspapers, radio stations and record labels in hopes of drumming up some interest in local music. … One of the best Americana singers deserving of more recognition, Chris Gaffney, died April 17 at a hospital in Orange County, Calif., following a battle with liver cancer. He was 58. Gaffney recorded and toured with Dave Alvin & the Guilty Men and the alt-country group The Hacienda Brothers, which included the Paladins’ Dave Gonzalez. He also released a number of solo albums. His only Des Moines appearance with Alvin nine years ago at Nitefall on the River stands out as one of the series’ most memorable performances in the eyes of this music critic. Gaffney had finished recording a new Hacienda Brothers album due this spring before his death. Adios amigo. … In other sad, farewell news: I mentioned this before, but a reminder that the last issue of No Depression magazine, featuring Buddy Miller on the cover, is on the racks now. As usual, it’s well written and packed with intelligent stories about roots music — the likes of which are increasingly difficult to find at your favorite book or music store. CV

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