Don't Stop Please returns; good weekend for a road trip to see Eliot Lipp

Rising star of electronica-jam music Eliot Lipp of Brooklyn headlines a psychedelic dance party at George's Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville Saturday evening. Tickets are available at http://www.georgesmajesticlounge.com.

This six-member experimental jazz-Americana band with roots founded in rock and folk influences has been rapidly rising through the ranks of musical acts in The Natural State and winning over audiences with every new venue they play.

This band has been quickly making a name for itself by constantly raising the bar, show after show, and was a standout in the Arkansas Times Musicians Showcase this past spring, winning its semifinal round and impressing judges (and a skeptical me) at the finals competition. Here's a link to a video of them competing in the first round of the Showcase:

With smooth jazz sounds, euphoric vocal harmonies, and amazingly tight rhythmic changes, Don't Stop Please produces a high-energy psychedelic showcase of original sound and presence that exceeds expectations of even the most demanding music enthusiasts. And, the band includes a local -- at least one member, the lead singer, hails from Berryville.

Their music and stage presence is guaranteed to keep your toes tapping and your butts shaking and will have you begging: Don't Stop Please!

Saturday's show begins around 8 p.m. at Squid and Whale, 10 Center St., Eureka Springs, 479-253-7147.

If you feel like taking a little road trip and seeing some live music that we aren't likely to ever get in Eureka Springs, I highly suggest going over to Fayetteville Saturday evening for the show at George's Majestic Lounge.

George's features headliner Eliot Lipp, an outstanding electronica-jam act from Brooklyn, N.Y. that has been likened by critics to Pretty Lights, Big Gigantic, Pnuma Trio, STS9 and other explosively popular electronic acts that use both instruments and made-from-scratch beats (pun intended) using keyboards, synthesizers, turntables and/or a laptop (depending on the group and the venue). Lipp, the newest addition to the Pretty Lights Music label, continues to travel the country to celebrate the release of his new album, "Shark Wolf Rabbit Snake." The show at George's is expected to celebrate the brilliantly crafted and expansive record that features a darker, weirder and heavier approach for Lipp's genre-melding sound.

Lipp's omnivorous tastes are apparent, from the obvious funk and myriad manifestations of hip-hop though less explicit reference points as jazz fusion, folk and techno. The new album incorporates everything that has recently been in Lipp's sonic world, including hip-hop, drum & bass, funk, techno, jazz, and more, while still remaining a cohesive whole. This album demonstrates a side of Lipp's sound that is heavier and more aggressive, with tracks that build tension and suspense, while still maintaining an underlying humor.

Here's a recent video of Lipp performing in Denver:

If you enjoy electronic dance music and live performances of such, then you better get out your dancin' shoes and make plans to get to Fayetteville Saturday night.

(Incidentally, both Lipp and Nadis Warriors also perform in Little Rock together on Thursday, Sept. 6 at Revolution Music Room, in case you have any friends down there who might like to be alerted. Tell 'em about the show; if they go, they'll surely love it and will then believe you're the coolest guy around for knowing about it!)

The Huffington Post wrote of the rising star: "Eliot Lipp is in no way bound by any limits on how his music sounds, but would rather explore his musical wealth when producing."

"He maintains the same almost Pretty Lights electro hip-hop soul sample-based style blended with his more abstract beat music style. The result is completely against the grain, yet so catchy and soulful," wrote the critics at ThisSongIsSick.com.

And Techibeats writes: "Eliot Lipp seems to draw influences from genres all across the board and somehow manages to synchronize them in simple harmony."

Tickets to the show at George's are $12 in advance and are available online via www.GeorgesMajesticLounge.com. Show begins at 9 p.m.

Following is the entertainment schedule for this weekend for Eureka Springs venues:

* Jack's Place / Centerstage Live, 37 Spring St., 479-253-2219: DJ Goose, 8 p.m. till midnight.

* New Delhi Cafe, 2 N. Main St., 479-253-2525: Birthday Blowout with Skillet Lickers, 6 p.m.

* Rowdy Beaver Tavern, 417 W. Van Buren, 479-253-8544: Bike Night & Karaoke with Big Dawg, 7:30 p.m.

* Squid and Whale, 37 Spring St., 479-253-7147: Open Mic Musical Smackdown with Bloody Buddy & friends, 7 p.m.

* Berean Coffee House, 4032 E. Van Buren, 479-244-7495: Live music, 7 p.m.

* Cathouse / Pied Piper, 82 Armstrong St., 479-363-9976: Tommy Nolen, 8 p.m.

* Chaser's, 169 E. Van Buren, 479-253-5522: Blue Moon, 8 p.m.

* Chelsea's, 10 Mountain St., 479-253-6723: Pee Wee Moore (outlaw country singer/songwriter from Georgia), 9 p.m.

* Eureka Live!, 35 N. Main St., 479-253-7020: DJ & Dancing 9 p.m. to close

* Jack's Place / Centerstage Live: A Cool Million, 8 p.m.

* The Lumberyard, 104 E. Van Buren: Bike Night, 4 to 9 p.m. or later, food and drink specials, karaoke and prizes

* New Delhi Cafe: Amber Gardner, 6:30 p.m.

* Rowdy Beaver Den, 45 Spring St., 479-363-6444: Jukebox, 7 p.m.

* Rowdy Beaver Tavern: Third Degree, 7:30 p.m.

* Squid & Whale: Dayton Waters, 8:30 p.m.

* Cathouse / Pied Piper: Tommy Nolen, 8 p.m.

* Chaser's: Ozark Thunder, 8 p.m.

* Chelsea's: Elisha Israel (reggae from Kansas City), 9 p.m.

* Eureka Live!: DJ & Dancing 9 p.m. to close

* Jack's Place / Centerstage Live: A Cool Million, 8 p.m.

* The Lumberyard: Slam Boxx, 9 p.m.

* New Delhi Cafe: Skillet Lickers, 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.; Vine Brothers, 6:30 p.m.

* Rowdy Beaver Den, 45 Spring St., 479-363-6444: John Harwood, 7 p.m.

* Rowdy Beaver Tavern: One Night Stand, 7:30 p.m.

* Squid and Whale: Don't Stop Please with Merry Mobile, 8:30 p.m.

* Chelsea's: Vine Brothers, 4-8 p.m.

* Eureka Live!: Customer Appreciation Night specials 5 p.m. to close

* New Delhi Cafe: Gospel Sunday Brunch with Brick-Fields, 11:30 a.m., Don't Stop Please, 4:30-8 p.m.

* Squid and Whale: Revolt Revolt, 8 p.m.