Listen under the radar at The Bama

One of my friends describes me as an "optimistic cynic" - a very apt description, especially when it comes to music. Having been a working musician most of my teenage and adult life (many years full-time, which meant I painted a lot of houses), I've become pretty impervious to hype. My lame-alarm goes off whenever I start reading or hearing about the next great Dylan or Beatles: it can't be true, and usually, it isn't. The Monkees, The Knack and Vanilla Ice immediately spring to mind. But one of the great pleasures in music is to discover an artist or band that's flying under everyone's radar and be able to introduce them to other people. (OK, and there is some warranted smugness in thinking, "I heard them first.") On Oct. 17, we're bringing just such a band to The Bama Theatre when Bloodshot Records recording artists Deadstring Brothers take the stage at 8 p.m. Music critics have raved about this band from Detroit and described their music as in the spirit of "Exile"-era Rolling Stones, The Faces with Rod Stewart, The Band, Leon Russell, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and, invariably - Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris. In fact, if there ever was a band that completely embodied Parsons' idea of "Cosmic American Music" - that indefinable mix of rock and roll, country, blues, soul and gospel - it is Deadstring Brothers. They've spent the last four years touring hard, opening for people such as The Drive-By Truckers, Shooter Jennings, Will Hoge and even George Thorogood, building an audience both here and in the United Kingdom while recording and releasing three stellar albums on Bloodshot. They will be touring in support of their latest CD, "Silver Mountain," set for release on Oct. 9. You can listen to four of their songs in their entirety - as well as check out some videos - on their Web site at www.myspace.com/deadstringbrothers. An added attraction to this show is that it is the first-ever live-in-concert DVD filming to take place in the Bama Theatre. Professor Joey Goodsell of the UA department of telecommunication and film will lead an 11-person camera crew in filming the show. The completed work will be mastered for a commercial DVD release, as well as for a later television broadcast. This is the first partnership in a live show/filming by The Bama and the TCF department, but if all goes as planned, it will be an event that we will try to make happen once every semester. A great deal of its success hinges on drawing an audience - and that's where UA students come in. We have purposely kept the admission price low - just $5 - to make the show affordable for students. All of the proceeds from the door will go to the band for traveling expenses, as well as a small amount to The Bama for operational overhead. You can buy tickets at both Oz Music locations and at The Bama during events and on the day of the show. Who knows? If UA students turn out in big numbers, this could be the next Austin City Limits music festival. I'm reminded of the story of when an unknown band from England, The Police, played The Bama Theatre in 1979. A reported 87 people showed up for that concert (though the number has swelled exponentially in the ensuing years). I am confident that will not be the case with Deadstring Brothers, given the astute taste of today's UA students and their ability to listen under the radar. Be smug. Be on the cutting edge. Be part of the show. Be at The Bama on Oct. 17.

David Allgood is the manager of The Bama Theatre. You can find more information about the concert at www.myspace.com/bamatheatre or by calling (205) 222-7781.