CONCERT NEWS

CONCERT NEWS
Additions and changes
On sale at noon Saturday: Tickets to Butch Walker and American Hi-Fi, performing at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at Mr. Small's Theater in Millvale, Pa. Tickets are $12 if purchased in advance; call Ticketmaster, (330) 747-1212 or (412) 323-1919. Over the summer, AHF performed its own music and remained onstage as Walker's backing band, which made for a seamless transition between sets. AHF is out to prove that it's more than a pop-punk act, and Walker is trying to expand his reputation beyond being the writer and producer of songs by Avril Lavigne, The Donnas, Simple Plan, Bowling for Soup and SR-71.
Down, but not out: There's good news and bad news from the Slayer camp. Tom Araya, vocalist and bassist of the thrash-metal band, is suffering from vocal fatigue after the band's recently-concluded European tour with Slipknot. As a result, the Jagermeister Music Tour featuring Slayer, Mastadon and Killswitch Engage, didn't kick off Friday night in Springfield, Mo. after all. Four shows have been canceled, including tonight's performance in Des Moines, Iowa; a Nov. 9 show in Belle Vernon, Pa. near Pittsburgh; and Nov. 26 in Tampa, Fla. Doctors told Araya to take a week off and not to sing more than four consecutive nights if he didn't want to permanently damage his vocal cords. The good news is, Slayer and company still are scheduled to perform Nov. 19 at Agora Ballroom in Cleveland. Moreover, Slayer will use a special effect called "Wall of Blood" when it performs the song "Reign Blood. The musicians will be drenched with theatrical blood by a a tress and sprinkler system that was designed especially for them. Call Ticketmaster about tickets.