If there was a retro feel to The Process' standing-room-only show last March at the historic Vassar Theatre, it was totally by design.

The Pigman -- guitarist Garrick Owen in an oversized pig head -- returned to the stage, as did the Skullman, the embodiment of a 1,000-year-old Ethiopian holy man.

The music, lead singer David Asher and drummer Gabe Gonzalez locked a powerful fit of "Rasta madness" and bass player Bill Heffelfinger and Owen flying high, embracing the scope of the rock-reggae band's existence.

And the journey continues in a DVD that captures the experience in its multi-media entirety. Catch it Saturday, Nov. 29, at the official DVD release party at Indian Barry's in Bay City. Also performing are the band KMJ and Born.

Here's a list of the Genesee County music scene at area nightclubs, bars and related businesses:

Blues

• BEALE STREET SMOKEHOUSE & BBQ, 2461 North Road, Fenton - Witch Doctor, 7 p.m. Saturday. (810) 750-0507.

• HITCH-N-POST, 1636 Imlay City Road, Lapeer - Whisky Brothers featuring Greg Ellis, 8:30 p.m. Thursday. (810) 664-9154.

• LATINA RESTAURANT AND PIZZERIA, 1370 W. Bristol Road, Flint Township -Lester's Blues, 9 p.m. Saturday; Grace Thomas Experience, 8 p.m. Wednesday. (810) 767-8491.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Dr Pepper is making good on its promise of free soda now that the release of Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy" is a reality.

The soft-drink maker said in March that it would give a free soda to everyone in America if the album dropped in 2008. "Chinese Democracy," infamously delayed since recording began in 1994, goes on sale Sunday.

"We never thought this day would come," Tony Jacobs, Dr Pepper's vice president of marketing, said in a statement. "But now that it's here, all we can say is: The Dr Pepper's on us."

Williams

Flint School of Performing Arts faculty member Pia Broden Williams, a soprano, and pianist Sangmi Lim will perform at 3 p.m. Saturday in the MacArthur Recital Hall at the Flint Institute of Music, 1025 E. Kearsley St.

The recital will feature the music of Francis Poulenc, Gioachino Rossini, Sir William Walton and American composers Samuel Barber and Ricky Ian Gordon.

Broden Williams, a Flint resident, also will perform a duet with Sylvia Pittman, FSPA voice department chairperson.

Nickelback "Dark Horse" 1 out of 4 stars

There's a site, followcost.com, that measures how annoying it is to track specific users of Twitter, the thought-a-second social network. You enter in somebody's Twitter user name, and it calculates how frustrating following this person would be, based on number of posts each day and how many of those posts mention politics.

The idea of measuring Twitter nuisance strikes me as unproductive, since if you don't want to be annoyed you could just as easily not use the site. But I digress, because my Followcost rating has nearly doubled in the past couple of days, based on a recent spike in my milliscoble rating, which is the made-up unit of measurement Followcost employs. Confused? Don't worry. Suffice it to say I'm more annoying than I was earlier this week, and as with many problems in my life, I choose to blame this on Nickelback.

The other day a package came in the mail from Roadrunner Records containing "Dark Horse," the sixth(!) album from Canadian rock band Nickelback, who in this decade have probably soundtracked more rural teenage base-roundings than any other artist. I listened to "Dark Horse" and Twittered it (see the feed in the upper left-hand corner), to hopefully spare others the misfortune. I'm a hero like that.

Carlos Santana's latest CD, "Multi-Dimensional Warrior."

It would be understandable if music fans familiar only with Carlos Santana's celebrity-filled albums over the past decade wondered aloud, "what's the big deal?"

After all it would be almost impossible not to churn out pop hits with guest line-ups that include; Dave Matthews, Rob Thomas, Mary J. Blige, Michelle Branch, Will.i.am, Chad Kroeger, Wyclef Jean and Eric Clapton — to name just a few.

Santana's latest CD, "Multi Dimensional Warrior," answers that question by revealing how and why Santana earned that "legendary" status.

Flint Journal file photoThe Whiting will celebrate Christmas this weekend with song and dance, courtesy of the Michigan/Ohio Concert Choir.

Singer Dan Fernelius admits that it's not always easy coordinating a choir that consists of almost 300 members.

But the Flint-based vocalist, a 12-year member of the Michigan/Ohio Concert Choir, said the group will have its act together when it brings some yuletide sounds to town this weekend.

"K7 Tapes"

Label: K7 Records.

Genre: Pop/funk/hip-hop.

My take: The Rapture have become one of the most loved indie-disco, No Wave bands of the 21st century, and their newest release is filed with all the inspiring artists who have shaped their musical style. "Tapes" is exactly that, a mixtape of cult classics and new classics, which have an electro/dance/funk groove. Greats like Ghostface Killah, Arcade Lover, Don Armando's Second Avenue Rhumba Band and Paul Johnson grace this album with their most dance-inducing tracks. The Rapture don't alter any of the songs; they are as they were originally released. And no, it doesn't take an artistic genius to make a mixtape. However, what The Rapture have compiled is infectious, and it's impossible not to dance to it.

Indie rock band Ender is one of eight bands playing at Mustache-a-Palooza.

KALAMAZOO -- Mustache-a-Palooza gets a part deux Friday at Papa Pete's.

Started last year when creator Devon Bynon and friends were talking about Kalamazoo's declining music scene, the festival includes a wide range of music and mustaches.

"We have eight bands coming who all have a different sound," Bynon said.
"We have some metal bands, grind core, pop, indie and punk. We are going to have a band for everyone, and they are all going to have a mustache."

Courtesy of Andy McFarlane.Seth Bernard will perform at Bell's Eccentric Cafe Nov. 20.

Bell's Eccentric Cafe

355 E. Kalamazoo Ave., 382-2332. 

THU -- The Seth Bernard Experience, 9:30 p.m., $6.

FRI -- Zion Lion, reggae, 9:30 p.m., $6.

SAT -- Strange Arrangement, rock, 9:30 p.m., $6.