This is a new section of The Beat dedicated to new songs on the radio and whether or not they are worth a purchase with that iTunes gift card your grandma bought you for Christmas.

“1,2,3,4” by the Plain White T’s is a keeper. It’s a traditional, rootsy little love song that is sweet and simple. I love this band. I met them right after the release of their album STOP when they played in my hometown bowling alley about eight years ago. These guys are genuine, and their success has been a long time coming.

“You Better Pray” by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus is great. Although a bit heavy on the screaming at times, it is an overall well written song. Good beat, nice lyrics.

“Sex on Fire” by Kings of Leon was a swing and miss. I love this band, but this song is a bit too “Dancing through the Night”-meets-80’s-hair-band.

Check It:

We have some more big shows coming to the area worthy of being added to the concert calendar.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) show returns this year to the Hotel Fort Des Moines with another killer lineup featuring The Autumn Project, The Dig Angees and Cashes Rivers. GDP is a local music festival held every spring featuring acts from across Iowa. Tickets are on sale now through Iowatix.com for $10 in advance and $15 the day of show.

The Devil Wears Prada, A Day to Remember, Sky Eats Airplane and Emerosa are coming to People’s Court on April 12. Tickets are available through www.iowatix.com for $15 in advance or $18 day of show.

I mentioned this one before, but I will do so again. 311 will be playing at the University of Iowa Field House in Iowa City on April 18 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster for $35.

On May 9, Disturbed will headline the Music as a Weapon Tour at Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium with guests Killswitch Engage and Lacuna Coil. The show begins at 2 p.m and will go all day. Tickets are available through the Arena box office and all Dahl’s food locations for $39.50.

Flashback:

If you are a fan of Tom Petty and the infamous Bob Dylan, then check out The Traveling Wilburys. This band was an amazing collection of artists, including Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty.

Originally constructed in Bob Dylan’s recording studio as a group set to produce “Side B” of George Harrison’s single release “This is Love” from his Cloud Nine album, The Traveling Wilburys became one of the greatest musical collaborations of their time. However, after the group wrote “Handle with Care” for Harrison’s single release, Lenny Waronker decided the sing was too good to be wasted as a Side B song.

After hearing this, the group decided to make an album, The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1, and released it in 1988. In 1990, the group came out with a second album and strangely enough, called it The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3. Don’t be confused, there never was a Vol. 2, and yes, there were only two albums ever created.

With such a stunning lineup, this band was meant for success. Grammy-winning and legend-collecting albums such as these should not be forgotten.