Boroughs Are Band of the Week-plus my dog in Halloween Costume!

So I know this is way off topic but its just too darn cute! Oh and of course check out the Band of the Week - lots of hot guys and great pics thanks to Erin Oleary- The Boroughs!

Halloween Parties in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Need plans for Halloween on Friday? There's a plethora (yea I love that word) of shows going on in the Boro-and for those of you on a tighter budget now that the economy is spiraling out of control, staying here in town is cheaper than driving all the way down to Nashville, paying to park and shelling out some more cash for cover-not to mention ticket prices for shows like Nine Inch Nails. Plus, this is a great holiday to support local talent! Right here in downtown Murfreesboro's, Wall Street is hosting THB and SkyHi-a double wammy Band of the Week with a cover of just $5! Blue Rooster's got Hellbillies and a $500 cash prize for best costume but no word on the cover. Down on Main Street, Club 527 has The Incredible Heat Machine, Old Union, and The Last Straw starting at 9:30 pm with just $5 cover! Don't forget about the new bar on Ruutherford-Graffiti is having a Halloween bash with a $500 cash in cash and prizes plus great drink specials. Coconut Bay Cafe is hosting its 9th annual Monster Mash with tons of games , prizes and giveaways, costume contest and $1 Halloween shots! Also there are usually plenty of Halloween parties around the houses just off campus in the Bell Street area. I am sure I have left out a few people so leave a comment and I'll update the post. Whatever your plans are, dress up, go out and party like a rock star!

Beware of the Zombies!

What band features four undead zombies that rock your face off plus might just take a bite of it? Zombie Bazooka Patrol, of course. Their last local show at Club 527 on Thursday night will have to sustain local fans for a while. Today they headed out on a month-and-a-half-long "Dress Like a Zombie Tour," which will take them to Chattanooga, Knoxville and Johnson City in Tennessee and then out of state to Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas. But don't worry, ZBP will drop the brand new album this week, titled Zombie Bazooka Patrol at the Center of the Earth. That should contain the hysteria until they return to claim local stages in the Burro again. If deader than dead zombies eating brains and playing in a rock band is your thing, check out ZBP. The next local show is Dec 5th at House Pride in Murfreesboro. Special guests Emotron, Mose Giganticus and Tigers con Queso will help welcome the zombie's back to home. This promises to be one HELL of a show with an undead nightcap! If you want to check out my article along with some ultra cool pics set to a new track off of their upcoming album click HERE.

Older and Wiser

So last weeks Band of the Week, Stretta, is a little band out of Nashville that has worked both together and individually with some big names. I mean, Garth freekin' Brooks people! They are real talent. Older and wiser than all the other featured bands, they offered some practical advice for those going into the whole music thing as a career. They all agreed that following your dreams with a backup plan is a smart investment. With so many artists in Middle Tennessee it is easy to set your sights on a career in the music and entertainment business, but sometimes hard to succeed. If you know what you want and don't take no for an answer, Stretta taught me that you can reach star status even if it sometimes means doing so on a small stage. Click here for bios of all five band members or view the Stretta blog, which captures some classic Stretta tour stories.

Get Out There Murfreesboro

Murfreesboro and Nashville have some great local musical talent. In the MTSU area alone there are hundreds of bands forming, changing, and performing every week. Most of the 21+ crowd can be found on any given night crowding Graffiti, Wall Street, Liquid Smoke, Blue Rooster (formerly Bluesboro), The Burro , Club 527 and many more venues listening to live music and drinking cheap beer. These venues offer students a chance to sample some of the local bands for next to nothing. I would advise you to go out and make the most of this opportunity. Though many of you have never heard some of the bands featured at any of these fine establishments, you should step out on a limb and try something new. This was my experience on Friday night and I got an unexpected treat. A band from Nashville was featured at the Blue Rooster-which by the way is almost exactly like Bluesboro-and they were great. They not only covered some of the best hits throughout the 80-90's, there were some highly acclaimed artists on that stage that have worked very close with the likes of country star Garth Brooks to funny man Conan O'Brian. Don't forget to check out this week's 'Band of the Week' to find out who I saw last weekend and get out there this weekend to sample some music for yourself.
Cheers!

Ladies and Gentlemen.....SkyHi

The best band in the Burro, and this week's Band of the Week: introducing SkyHi! Along with the privilege of writing for Sidelines, I get to talk with some pretty talented individuals, but Dee Adams, Aaron Heffron and the other members of SkyHi top them all. I'll admit I'm a little star-struck but who wouldn't be? Spending any time with Dee is a pleasure and getting to meet with the other band members is the cherry on top! He is so grounded, has great taste in music, is educated, young, and immensly talented. With the new but nameless album scheduled to drop in early 2009, fans are on the edge of their seat. The wait for the album will be well worth it, but you can catch a sneak peak of whats to come on October 31st, 2008 at the Wall Street Halloween show with former Band of the Week, THB, and again at Club 527 on November 14. See you there!

This Week

This week is going by so fast! Already its Tuesday and my editor is asking me..."You got my piece yet?" Ummm....... Yes.....Is it perfect?.....Not yet!......But it will be-On Wednesday! I feel good about it but it has to be perfect since this weeks article is about my personal favorite band in the Burro. Is the suspense killing any of you yet? Who will it be? I'M NOT TELLING- but just know that it will be good! Check out this Thursday's edition of Sidelines to find out who will be this week's Band of the Week.

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

I am sad to report that I will not have an article in Sidelines for Band of the Week, though someone else will. I had a band but could not get the interview on time so look for a great article next Thursday. Mean while, don't miss me too much!

October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

A quick note to the ladies...October is here and as you probably already know it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. As most everyone does, I had cancer hit home in a very real way last year when my mom's sister was diagnosed with breast cancer-she survived because her docters caught it early before it spread. So please, lets take care of our health. MTSU has a brand new facility with a wonderful women's clinic. If you are putting your annual check-up off, go now! It might just save your life.