The arrival of Rob Thomas at the Reno Events Center this Saturday offers more than just Thomas. It provides a chance to hear two up-and-coming bands, both of which have hit recently with true impact – OneRepublic and Carolina Liar.
OneRepublic debuted two years ago with "Dreaming Out Loud" and its first single, "Apologize," shattered digital sales and airplay records. It and the second single, "Stop and Stare," shot the album to platinum plus. Now OneRepublic is preparing to release "Waking Up" in November; its first single, "All the Right Moves," already is in play.
Carolina Liar has just released "Coming to Terms" after hitting with "Show Me What I'm Looking For," which millions heard in that barrage of TV ads for "The Time Traveler's Wife." Carolina Liar became a VH1 "You Oughta Know" band and appeared in an episode of "90210," in addition to having its songs placed in "The Hills," "One Tree Hill, the 2008 Summer Olympics and "American Idol."
But it is, of course, Thomas who is the reason for the concert in this large venue. His Matchbox Twenty career (a band he said he started because he "had a bunch of songs") and his solo career (which went meteoric with "Something To Be") have put him in the 50 million- albums-sold club.
Now he's got "Cradle Song," his new album, and "Someday," his new video.
Thomas is known as much for his songwriting as for his singing. The Matchbox Twenty songs are instantly known – "Little Wonders" was featured in "Meet the Robinsons," and the new album has a highly personal single called "Her Diamond" about a couple struggling with the wife's illness, much like his wife, Marisol.
This is Thomas' second solo Reno Events Center appearance, and it is expected to be popular. Maybe Matchbox Twenty will stop by. It did recently at his show in Atlanta.
Around the Silver Circle
• The Carson Valley Inn's banquet staff turns the Shannon Ballroom into an old-time German beer hall for the hotel's popular Oktoberfest this Friday. All the favorites are served buffet style, from all the wursts to spaetzle. There's a hot pretzel bar, too.
• Matthew Montfort, leader of the pioneering world fusion ensemble Ancient Future, will perform music from his new release "Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar." The instrument is a modified guitar able to produce sounds more characteristic of the sitar. His concert will be Saturday at Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Reno, a historic building on the Truckee River.
• When "Reno 911" first debuted on Comedy Central, the city took issue with the portrayal of its law enforcement personnel.
Now that the show has been canceled, there's a concerted effort to bring it back via petition at savereno911.com.
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