* Another good show for a good cause will take place at Amos' Southend on Saturday, March 23, when Ace & TJ from KISS-FM 95.1 host their first annual Queen City Jam, which will benefit their Grin Kids fund. Each year, Ace & TJ's Grin Kids take terminally ill and chronically handicapped children and their entire families to Walt Disney World for an all-expense paid trip. In addition to Ace's band Charity Case, Thirteenth Door, 4th Ward, Jill Austin Band, Bel Air Saints and Bridge are also scheduled to perform. Tickets cost $13 in advance and $16 at the door. For more info, go to www.grinkids.org.
* Redeye Distribution has launched a new regional record label aptly called The Redeye Label. On Tuesday, March 26, the label will release its first offering, the latest effort from Weekend Excursion titled Take Me Home. Label manager Glenn Dicker says the label is a natural progression for the Redeye company and it will allow the staff to be more proactive with artists above their standard distribution arrangement. According to Dicker, the label will continue to seek out promising music from the Southeast. The Redeye Label is slated to release material from Gran Torino later this year, as well as a regional compilation.
* The acoustic duo known as Robin & Tony Rogers will be joined by the Bargain Basement Blues Band (Rusty Barkley, Uncle Grubb, Bob Dunlap and Michael Cline) at their upcoming show at the Double Door Inn on Friday, March 29. Robin, formerly known as Mama Ham, recently released an album titled Time For Myself. The recording features a plethora of local artists, including Barkley, Rick Blackwell, Jon Thornton, Mark Stallings, Joe Lindsay, Ron Brendle and Jim Brock, who also produced the album. For more details, visit www.robinrogers.com.
* Black Lagoon have been working on an EP they're calling The Devil's Beatin' His Wife at Pughjet Studio with engineer/producer Steve Pugh. The vocal tracks have been completed and Rodney Mills (Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine) will be mastering the material in Atlanta. The band also recorded an additional track which is only available at their website, www.theblacklagoon.com.
* Charlotte's got a new band going by the name of ShowFur. The group features twin brothers Ken Foust (lead vocals, guitar) and Doug Foust (drums) along with Jason Hawthorn (lead guitar) and Darryl Tuck (bass). Ken and Doug were founding members of Hot Wax. Hawthorn has played with the likes of the Blue Dogs, Soup and The Other People, while Tuck has spent time in Blind Taxi and Blind View.
* Another relatively new act making their way around town is an outfit called Toast. The five-piece features Darin Helms (lead vocals and percussion), Rob MacWilliams (bass), Hank Smith (banjo), Ryan Benton (keyboards) and Richard Eliason (drums). The band is scheduled to perform at Jordan's Bar & Grill on Friday, March 22. For more details, go to www.toastbandinfo.com.
* Joey Bishop, formerly of SuperGlide, is now lead vocalist for Rodeo Flyer. The band has also added Johnny Webb on keyboards. The new line-up made their debut at the Palomino Club earlier this month. Check out www.rodeoflyer.com, for more details.
* Jason Donaldson has joined the Bel Air Saints as their new drummer. The band also has a new website at www.BASrocks.com.
* Divakar, host of 90 Minutes on 106.5 WEND-FM, has several in-studio guests lined up for some upcoming shows. CL's own Tim Davis is expected to sit in on March 31, Jamie Hoover of Hooverama is the scheduled guest for April 7, and Noah Lazes of Ark Management is slated to appear on April 21. This week's upcoming show (March 24) will be an all e-mail request show. To send a request, e-mail Divakar at 90minutes@clearchannel.com. For more details, check out the 90 Minutes page at www.1065.com. *
