By Michael Swanger michael@dmcityview.com

The roots of western swing music may be steeped in southern Oklahoma and northern Texas thanks to founding fathers like Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies and Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, but the genre's leading modern-day purveyors Asleep at the Wheel are sure to fill "Iowa's finest dance floor" when they play Lake Robbins Ballroom (2642 150th St.) in Woodward on Saturday.

The nine-time Grammy Award-winning large band's concert is part of Perry's Sentimental Journey, a two-day celebration of Perry's history. The festival includes a street dance, parade, classic car and arts shows and other free family events on Friday and Saturday. The weekend event culminates with Asleep at the Wheel's performance Saturday at the ballroom. Tickets are $35 for seats on the dance floor and $25 for all other seats and can be reserved by calling the Perry Chamber of Commerce at 465-4601 or the ballroom at 438-2305. Doors open at 5 p.m. and food will be served. Route 66 opens the show at 6:30 p.m., followed by Asleep at the Wheel at 9 p.m.

Slipknot's beef with Burger King

Slipknot is threatening Burger King with legal action claiming its image and persona have been ripped off in a television commercial for the fast food chain's new chicken fries. In an Aug. 4 letter to Burger King executives, the group's lawyers charge that the commercial's fictitious metal band Coq Roq - which wears chicken heads and horror masks - is "designed to conjure up the image and persona of a live performance of Slipknot." They also claim that Coq Roq wears masks that are worn by Slipknot members Joey Jordison, Sid Wilson and Corey Taylor.

Smokinggun.com reports that Burger King officials have asked a U.S. District Court judge to issue a "declaratory judgment" that the advertising campaign "does not infringe on Slipknot's publicity and trademark rights."

Scene notes

The Des Moines Music Collectors Show will be held Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Downtown Holiday Inn, 1050 Sixth Ave. Admission is $1... Popular Genius, a Nashville pop-rock band, will play two free shows Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at Des Moines Area Community College in West Des Moines, 5959 Grand Ave.... Punk rock legend Henry Rollins will present his annual spoken-word performance at Stephens Auditorium at 8 p.m. on Sept. 9... Local blues musicians will host a tribute concert to Jimmy "Midnite Cowboy" Pryor Sept. 10 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the State of Iowa Historical Building. Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie will present Pryor a key to the city at 2 p.m. The event will include about 14 acts, food and auctions. Proceeds will benefit the Jimmy Pryor Scholarship Fund and help pay Pryor's medical bills... Metro Arts Alliance of Greater Des Moines officials announced that the Two Rivers Art Expo is moving back downtown. This year's event will be held at the new Hy-Vee Hall Nov. 12-13 and will include 150 artists, an interactive children's workshop, music and other live entertainment. For more information, visit www.tworiversartexpo.org... Former Des Moines bluegrass mandolin player Nick Amodeo won first prize last month for best mandolin player at the RockyGrass Music Competition in Lyons, Colo. Amodeo's winning performance, which was held during the three-day RockyGrass bluegrass music festival headlined by the likes of Ricky Skaggs and Bela Fleck, earned him a Gibson Sam Bush model mandolin valued at about $9,000. CV

CD Reviews

Josh Lederman y Los Diablos
"Let's Waste Another Evening"
Nine Mile Records
Boston's "Kings of Irish-Jewish folk-punk" Josh Lederman y Los Diablos capture their lively genre-twisting pop-rock sound here. The title of the album, inspired by a series of shows at the famous Plough & Stars nightclub, sums it up perfectly - a happy mix of Celtic, klezmer and zydeco appropriate for listening to while drinking with friends and killing time. Cheers. -Michael Swanger

(Josh Lederman y Los Diablos play People's Bar and Grill on Saturday at 9 p.m. and AK O'Connors on Sunday at 8 p.m.)

Sean Costello
"Sean Costello"
Artemis Records
This album captures Sean Costello's immense talents, not to mention his wide-ranging influences, like no other. More importantly, it best demonstrates the soulfulness and maturity of this 25-year-old who sings and plays like a grizzled veteran. The album's gospel-like vocals and tight beats sounds like Al Green at his pinnacle, but it also bridges the gap between traditional blues and soul blues. -Michael Swanger

(Sean Costello plays Blues on Grand Friday at 9:30 p.m. Admission is $10.)

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