Music

Royal Southern Brotherhood

The Redstone Room

Sunday, September 23, 7:30 p.m.

On September 23, the Redstone Room will host a concert with Royal Southern Brotherhood, a group whose self-titled debut CD, released this past May, was praised for its "exciting mix of down-home Cajun-creole funky blues and good old Southern rock" by CoolAlbumRevue.com. Which begs the question: If you're being reviewed on a Web site called CoolAlbumRevue.com, are the specifics of your album's coolness even necessary?

Theatre

Next to Normal

District Theatre

Friday, August 24, through Sunday, September 9

Occasionally, I'll recommend an emotionally wrenching movie or play to friends and family members, and invariably, after they've sobbed their way through the entertainment, they'll hit me with "Why didn't you tell me I'd need tissues for that thing?!" Well, the District Theatre is opening Next to Normal on August 24, and while I haven't yet seen this musical on-stage, its Broadway soundtrack is also emotionally wrenching. If you listen to the CD, though, I'm here to tell you that it doesn't require tissues. It requires a freakin' squeegee.

Music

John Fullbright

Rozz-Tox

Friday, July 27, 9 p.m.

Discussing the widely acclaimed musician who will perform a special concert at Rock Island's Rozz-Tox on July 27, the legendary singer/songwriter Jimmy Webb is quoted as saying, "I have no doubt that in a very short time, John Fullbright will be a household name in American music."

I can't imagine how Webb knew that Fullbright would eventually be highlighted in the Reader's What's Happenin' pages, but let's get cracking on that household-name thing!

Theatre

Xanadu

The District Theatre

Friday, June 29, through Saturday, July 14

In the new musical at Rock Island's District Theatre, California chalk artist Sonny Malone finds himself frustrated with the design for his latest sidewalk mural, and plans to commit suicide. Viewing his distress from Mount Olympus, the muse Clio decides to travel to Earth to cheer him up, disguised as an Australian roller-skater in leg warmers. Upon meeting Clio, Sonny is inspired to open a lavish roller disco, an idea that doesn't sit well with Clio's evil sisters Melpomene and Calliope. Eventually, a retired-clarinetist-turned-real-estate-broker gets involved, and then the winged horse Pegasus, and then Zeus ... and if you think this sounds like the stupidest storyline ever conceived for a stage production, I couldn't agree more.

Race you for tickets.