Columnist Spencer Patterson: Jones rides Grammy wave to Joint

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Aug. 15, 2003 | 8:37 a.m.

It has been nearly six months since Norah Jones' Grammy sweep, and February's big winner has come a long way since.

The 24-year-old vocalist/pianist has reportedly been working out a batch of new material at her recent concerts, and is likely to do so again Monday at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel.

The new music is said to deviate somewhat from Jones' jazzy debut album, "Come Away With Me." In a recent article, Billboard reported: "Such songs as the blue-grass tinged 'Creepin' In' and rootsy 'In the Morning' show Jones moving into Americana territory."

Those new stylistic approaches may surprise some of the fans who bought tickets to Monday's show back on May 3, when they first went on sale. Jones was still riding her Grammy wave at that point, after taking home five awards of her own and watching as her music captured three more trophies for producers, engineers and songwriters.

Jones' album also remains near the top of the charts a whopping 75 weeks after its release, holding fast at No. 7 on The Billboard 200 this week.

It's enough to make any musician get a little full of herself. But word is, you don't get that feeling watching Jones perform these days.

My parents actually caught her show in Sedona, Ariz., last month, and were impressed with her casual approach. From her understated attire (jeans and a T-shirt) to the informal way in which she chatted with her audience, Jones came across as anything but a budding superstar.

I'm glad to hear that, and that Jones won't simply be rehashing "Come Away With Me" in its entirety. As she reportedly told a Los Angeles crowd this week, fans can go home after the show and spin the disc if that's what they're looking for.

By working in some stylistically different new material, Jones is giving her fans an early glimpse at where her next album, and her career beyond the wildly successful "Come Away With Me," might take her.

It marks a bold move away from that which makes her famous, and it's enough to excite me about a concert for which, until recently, I had virtually no expectations.

Music notes

Trick or cheese: The String Cheese Incident has unveiled its fall tour schedule, which has the popular jam band playing Las Vegas' Cox Pavilion Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.

Local String Cheese fans could be in for quite a treat on Halloween. Last year, the band performed a "Dead Rock Stars" segment between its two main sets. The members dressed up as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Freddie Mercury and Jim Morrison and covered songs recorded by the five deceased musicians.

Rodeo roundup: Once again, the National Finals Rodeo has attracted some of country music's biggest names to Southern Nevada during the first two weeks of December.

Nearly four months before the 10-day event begins on Dec. 5, the concert calendar for those dates already includes Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Randy Travis, Brad Paisley and Darryl Worley.

And all but official: Willie Nelson at the House of Blues on Dec. 5.

Super stars: Local rock band the Higher, formerly known as September Star, has signed with Los Angeles independent label Fiddler Records. The pop-punk quartet has announced plans to release its debut EP, "Star is Dead," this fall.

Quick hits

A look at a few of the shows scheduled to hit Southern Nevada in the next week:

Live plays the Palms' Skinpool Lounge at 8 tonight. The band, which scored with alterna-rock hits "I Alone" and "Lightning Crashes" in the mid-1990s, released a new album, "Birds of Pray," in May. Tickets are $25.

Metal fans have two inexpensive options this week. Saturday, the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay hosts Static X at 7 p.m. Soil and Lo-Pro open. Tickets are $20 for the all-ages show.

On Thursday the Huntridge Theatre will be home to a three-band bill featuring Adema, Spineshank and Manmade God. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance, $14 the day of the show.

Local singer/songwriter-made-good Franky Perez pops into the Mandalay Bay Events Center Wednesday night at 7:30 to open for a little blues-rock trio called ZZ Top.

Show up early to see if Franky grew a beard for the occasion, and to hear him play songs off his debut album, "Poor Man's Son." Tickets are $35, $45 and $65.

On sale

Aerosmith and Kiss pair up for a pair of concerts at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Oct. 24 and 25. Tickets are $60, $100 and $200 and go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. at the MGM box office, TicketMaster outlets, by phone at 474-4000 and at ticketmaster.com.

The White Stripes make their Las Vegas debut Sept. 20 at The Joint. Tickets are $42.50 and go on sale Saturday at noon at the Hard Rock box office, by phone at 693-5066 and through TicketMaster.

Tickets for three upcoming shows at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay go on sale Saturday at noon: Brian McKnight and Mya on Sept. 27 ($37.50, $50, $60), Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen on Oct. 10 ($40, $55, $70) and Wynton Marsalis on Oct. 28 ($30, $50).