June’s tunes

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Gee, Wally, is it nearly June already?

My how time flies! (Or, as Townes Van Zandt liked to say, “Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana.”)

June is super-cool though.

Although this is my favorite June:

June Foray. From her Wikipedia entry: “best known as the voice of such animated characters as Rocky the Flying Squirrel, Natasha Fatale, Nell Fenwick, Lucifer from Disney’s Cinderella, Cindy Lou Who, Jokey Smurf, Granny from the Warner Bros. cartoons directed by Friz Freleng.”

June Foray also was the voice of Chatty Cathy.

And in a fun case of art imitating life, being “Chatty Cathy” got June cast as “Talky Tina” in a classic Twilight Zone episode:

Oh snap, Kojak! Let’s put a tarp over this interwebs rabbit hole before my brain gets completely lost in space.

Where was I? Oh yes, June. There are plenty of good gigs coming our way in June. No jive!

This Wednesday, Robin Hitchcock plays a full band show at the Southgate House with the lovely Emma Swift (also Robyn’s ladyfriend) opening the show. I’ll be there.

It’s also WEEN Wednesday at The Columbia in the East End. And Organized Gentlemen (featuring my co-worker George on guitar) play a free “Jazz Alive” show the American Sign Museum. You can even bring your own snacks from home! Full list of Jazz Alive shows is here.

Shows on Thursday:

  • Nashville-based soul artist Jed Harrelson plays the Woodward, with Samuel James as the opener
  • RiversEDGE in Hamil-tucky has a free(will) show: The Rush Experience
  • Not to be outdone, the Levitt pavilion in Dayton also has a free show. It’s the Pride Month celebration featuring the best stage name in this month’s missive: Flamy Grant

On Friday:

  • Stacy Mitchhart plays the Ludlow Garage
  • Greensky Bluegrass plays the Ovation
  • TopHouse plays Whiskey City’s Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, with Good Morning Bedlam
  • The Woodward has a dose of Dylan & the Dead featuring the bands Shelter from the Storm and The Dead Revival Band.
  • The Redmoor in Mt. Lookout has Chest Fever (The Band tribute) and Saturday’s Children (Dylan tribute).

Not a music show, but the Taft has Comedy Bang Bang Live. CBB is one of my favorite podcasts, and I’m bummed to miss this show. (Don’t feel too bad for me, the missus and I are visiting Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone NP.)

I’m even more bummed to still be out of town this Saturday when Cereal Killers play The Belle & The Bear in Montgomery. I guess you’ll have to buy your own first drink. (If you go, please yell out a request for “Convoy” since it’ll be “the dark of the moon on the 6th of June…”)

That same evening, the Ween tribute band Fluffy will be playing Stanley’s Pub.

And Mic Harrison & the High Score play Southgate’s Lounge. (Mic was in the V-Roys and later Superdrag.)

Next Sunday, June 7, Ludlow Garage has Jackrabbit (a band featuring actor Dermot Mulroney and his brother Kieran – watch your back, Bacon Brothers!)

Sharp Pins are back at the Woodward on Monday, June 8, with Winston Hightower and Eatt.

On Tuesday, June 9:

  • The Black Crowes and Whiskey Myers play Riverbend
  • The Rose Music Center in Dayton has “A Night with David Lee Roth”

If you can’t make it to the latter gig, this DLR soundboard will provide a reasonable facsimile:

List member John Sandman’s band TyeDye plays Arnold’s on Wednesday June 10 (6-8 p.m.)

Shows on Thursday June 11:

  • Devon Allman’s Blues Summit at Ludlow Garage
  • Mountain Grass Unit with Steph Strings at RiversEDGE (free show!)
  • Hippies and Cowboys with Velvet Daydream at the Woodward Theater
  • Jake Speed & the Freddies play a freebie at the Behringer-Crawford Museum in Covington

There are a whole slew of shows on Friday June 12:

  • The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band plays a free show at the Levitt Pavilion in Dayton
  • The Local Honeys are at Woodward with Casey Campbell
  • Multimagic with DYAN and PBAJ play a free “513 Airwaves” show on Fountain Square sponsored by Inhailer Radio (full summer lineup is here — it includes national artists J. Roddy Walston & the Business and The Jayhawks!)
  • Last but certainly not least, the Fraze Pavilion in Dayton has Warrant. (Please tell me the concession stands will be selling cherry pie!)

Shows on Saturday June 13:

  • Journey brings their “Final Frontier” tour to the Coliseum
  • Augustana and Phantom Planet play Bogart’s
  • Ludlow Garage has The Dark Side of the Moon
  • The Funky Ducks play Stanley’s Pub with Colour Phase
  • If you’re into road trips Tyler Childers headlines the “Buckeye Country Superfest” at the Horseshoe in C-bus.

If you’d rather stay closer to home, you can hit up the Sayler Park Sustains Festival. Here’s the music lineup:

Sunday, June 14 shows:

  • Deer Tick plays Ludlow Garage with Jobi Riccio as the opener
  • The Wailin’ Jennies at Memorial Hall
  • The Taft features Edwin McCain and Five for Fighting

On Monday June 15 you can catch Horse The Band (NOT Band Of Horses) at Bogart’s.

Tuesday June 16:  

  • Ben Folds and a Piano at the Taft Theatre
  • Tommy Stinson (of The Replacements) & Friends play the Woodward with Tim Schweiger & the Middle Men and featuring Karla Rose
  • The Animeros play Southgate’s Revival Room

On Wednesday June 17:

  • James McMurtry is at the Woodward with Betty Soo as the opener
  • Brandy Clark plays Ludlow Garage
  • Santana and The Doobie Brothers play Riverbend for the 900th consecutive year

The Nelsonville Music Festival kicks off on Thursday, June 18 (it runs Th-Sat this year), with Wednesday and Geese topping the bill on Thursday (yes, Wednesday on a Thursday…). Friday’s lineup includes Ryan Davis, Mavis Staples, S.G. Goodman, and Gillian Welch & David Rawlings. On Saturday, Fruit Bats and the Marcus King Band will be the evening acts on the big stage. See the full daily lineups here.

Other shows closer to home on Thursday June 18:

  • Paul Simon plays PNC Pavilion
  • The Record Company plays a free show at RiversEDGE with Kyndle Wylde as the opener
  • Liberty Theater has a free Songwriters in the Round show with Fred Steffen, David Lacey, and Austin Tyler Lee
  • Acoustic Alchemy at Ludlow Garage
  • My son’s band The Collies will be play the June in Olde Williamsburg Festival from 7-10 p.m.

(“Come for the music, stay for the corn dogs!”)

Friday June 19 gigs:

  • The North Mississippi Allstars are at Ludlow Garage
  • Fruit Bats play an outdoor show at The Burl in Lexington
  • Sonny Moorman Band at Liberty Theater
  • Mike Holmes (Spookfloaters) plays the Anderson Tap House
  • The Woodward Theater has Nearly Nicks (yes, it’s a Stevie Nicks tribute band)

On Saturday June 20, Cereal Killers play Big Ash Brewing (OK, fine the LaRosa’s Taphouse). I WILL be there for that show, which means you can cash in your free beer coupon.

Other shows that evening include:

  • Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country with Marty Stuart & his Fabulous Superlatives at the Rose Music Center
  • The Pharcyde at Ludlow Garage

Sunday June 21 is the first official day of summer. This year, it will also mark 29 years of wedded bliss agony for my long-suffering bride. That evening, I won’t be taking her to see Silverada (nee Mike & the Moonpies) and Kelsey Waldon at Southgate, or Hot Mulligan with Joyce Manor at the Mike & Carol Brady. But maybe we’ll go shopping.

 On Monday June 22, Jessica Simpson (yes that Jessica Simpson) plays the Fraze Pavilion in Dayton.

Taft Theatre has a supa-funky twin bill on Tuesday June 23: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave. with Dumpstafunk

On Wednesday June 24:

  • TyeDye plays Wunderbar in Covington (“Come for the music, stay for the sausage!”)
  • Ludlow Garage has Mason’s Children (a tribute to the Grateful Dead). Here’s the press release: Mason’s Children brings the raw, psychedelic energy of the Grateful Dead’s early years to life. Formed by musicians who met while following Dead & Company and Bob Weir & Wolf Bros, the band built their following by playing Shakedown lots and surprise sets on the corner of Haight & Ashbury. Their shows are a full-on revival of the 1960s spirit—authentic, electric, and deeply rooted in the music. Expect deep jams, vintage tones, and that unmistakable Dead magic from the ’60s and ’70s.

That show is BYOLSD.

The Great American State Fair kicks off on Thursday, June 25 in D.C. It’s a two-week celebration of America’s 250th egofest with musical acts like Morris Day & the Time, Young MC, Milli Vanilli, The Commodores, Bret Michaels, and Martina McBride. Wait, this just in: all of those artists have pulled out of the sh*tshow. Damn, I was really looking forward to seeing Young MC “Bust a Move” – although these days it might be more like “Bust a seam.”

Wait, this just in, Vanilla Ice may not make it, but vanilla ice cream will be available for purchase ($50 per scoop* – order ahead with your proudly-American** Trump Gold*** Phone****), and it’ll be the best ice cream ever, like nobody’s ever seen before. Big strong men, with tears in their eyes, will be saying “Sir, this is the best vanilla ice cream.”

  • *some melting may occur during transit from the Epstein Ballroom construction site
  • **not made in America
  • ***not gold
  • ****the same one you can get for $500 less elsewhere

Shows on Friday June 26:

  • Punch Brothers at the Taft
  • Wayne “The Train” Hancock at Liberty Theater, with Andrew Hibbard
  • Ernie Johnson from Detroit has an album release party at the Woodward
  • Izzy Escobar and Illiterate Light play a free show at Fountain Square
  • Kathy Mattea is at Memorial Hall
  • Darius Rucker plays Riverbend
  • Amy Grant (not Flamy Grant) plays Ludlow Garage

Saturday June 27 is a super-busy day for shows:

  • My son’s band The Collies play Anderson Township Pub (7-10p)
  • Levitt Pavilion in Dayton has a free Blues Fest with Shemekia Copeland headlining.
  • The Guess Who and Don Felder play Riverbend. (In a related story, every time Don Henley’s lawyer calls Don Felder, he says “Guess who?!” even though Felder has heard his voice a gazillion times.)
  • Spyro Gyra plays the Ludlow Garage
  • Last and certainly least, several former 97X staffers, including Steve “Bakerman” Baker, Jen Dalton from Channel 12, Matt Sledge, Dave Tellmann, and yours truly will be at a 97X “Back to the Future” event that’s a fundraiser for the Butler County Historical Society. Yes, we’re now old enough to be considered “historical.”

(Remember, it’s a fundraiser. And Dave will sign body parts.)

Dave and I talked to Bake, Jen Dalton and Sledge about the event in our most recent episode of the 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast.

(It seems quite fitting that the event is being held in the Fairfield Freshman Building given that Dave, Sledge and I act like 14 year olds.)

Speaking of 97X, R.I.P. to the WOXY call letters. 97.7 FM on your radio dial is now known as WKRP.

OK, back to the shows. On Sunday June 28:

  • Chris Knight plays Southgate’s big room
  • Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE play Bogart’s
  • Insane Clown Posse plays the Ovation in Newport.

Which means I’ll probably get two-day-old Faygo stuck to the bottom of my sneakers when I’m at Ovation on Tuesday June 30 for the fantastic triple bill of Spoon, The Beths, and Squirrel Flower.

Also on 6/30, Wynonna Judd and Melissa Etheridge play the Rose Music Center with special guest Maggie Rose. Speaking o’ Maggie Rose…

We love it live!

My son Gabriel (he’s the drummer in The Collies) and I went to The Burl in Lexington on May 15 to see a co-headlining show featuring Maggie Rose and Molly Tuttle. My first cousin once removed (a.k.a. my cousin’s son) MP Gannon is the lead guitarist for Maggie Rose.

Two nights before that gig, Jason Narducy played a house concert at our place. Great songs, hilarious stories, and Jason’s a very nice dude.

And we capped off a big weekend with Built to Spill and a “Chuck-less” Wussy at the Ludlow Garage.

Lest I forget (I can’t – it was an amazing experience), waaay back on May 1, I joined list members Matt and Deuce at the David Byrne show in Indy. May we all be so creative and so energetic at 73 (he’s 74 now, BD was 5/14).

Oh, and then there was the Afghan Whigs hometown show at Bogart’s on May 6.

[Afghan Whigs photo is from Ben Gastright’s gallery on CincyMusic.com… my phone’s camera isn’t so great.]

S.G. stands for “So Good!”

While we’re on the live music tip, definitely check out the full taping of S.G. Goodman’s set for an Austin City Limits episode.

Under the Radar Album(s) of the Month(s)

Thomas Dollbaum’s new release Birds of Paradise is really scratching that Jason Molina itch:

And the new album from The Blue Herons is some of the dreamiest dreampop that I’ve laid my ears on in a while. Clearly the Spotify algorithm is broken (or more likely rigged) if they only have 413 listeners. Make it 414 and thank me next month!

TicketBastard still sucks, but we’re gonna Hold Steady

Franz Nicolai of The Hold Steady testified before Congress about how much LiveNation/Ticketmaster blows. Read more from former 97X Rumblings podcast guest Chris DeVille on Stereogum, and you can watch Franz’s testimony at the 55-minute mark of the C-SPAN recording of the session, or read his transcript and some other thoughts on his Substack post.

I’m not a huge Jack Antonoff fan but this quote about playing to small crowds from an NPR interview is rock solid:

It’s not just fun, it’s Funbury!

Bill Donabedian is back at it, trying to organize multi-day music festival at Clear Creek Park in Anderson Township near Newtown. Part of me hopes it happens, but the part of me that likes playing pickleball down at Clear Creek agrees that traffic and parking would be an absolute cluster.

Photo Phun

Here’s a phun photo courtesy of list member Rico:

Sayeth Rico: Never considered Pixies to be a sing-in-the-shower band but alas here we are.

Respondeth d2: It’s good stuff, but these days you can never get a Deal on it.

Album Cover(s) of the Month

Really bad as an album cover, probably a lot worse as an adult film. (Although I’d love to hear more about the decision to include a butterfly net in the shot.)

.More like permanent press on.

I picked the wrong business to be in. Teams calls are not nearly as fun as this.

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97X Rumblings from the Big Bush: The Future of Rock and Roll is now history. And historical!

97X, Music, podcast

It’s been 43 years since 97X first started airing “modern rock for Cincinnati and Dayton” from a nondescript building in Oxford, Ohio. And it’s been 22 years since it signed off – and 16 years since woxy.com went silent. Time flies… and the Butler County Historical Society wants to celebrate the station in a fundraising event on June 27, with THE Voice of 97X, Steve “Bakerman” Baker, Jen Dalton, co-host of Good Morning Cincinnati on Channel 12 (she got her media start as a student intern at 97X), Matt Sledge (who worked at 97X, WNKU and Inhailer radio) and your ol’ 97X pals Dave and Damian. We talked to Bake, Jen and Sledge about the upcoming trip down memory lane. 

The event is a fundraiser for the Butler County Historical Society. And it should be a lot of fun. You can get tickets here.

Bake’s a stone cold double legend. The voice of 97X (that’s his voice in the movie Rainman), longtime co-host of The Breakfast Club, and also THE voice of Miami University football and basketball. (He’s quite fittingly a member of Miami U.’s Hall of Fame.

Jen Dalton has been gracing the Cincinnati TV airwaves since 2006.

Jen landed her first television job as co-host of Cinema 64 with Bob Herzog. She was then reunited with Bob when she made the switch to Local 12 in October of 2006. They now work together on Good Morning Cincinnati and co-anchor the ARC Cincinnati program at 8am on STAR-64. Jen also co-anchors the 9am news on Local 12 and anchors the breaking news/traffic desk.

Matt Waller (better known simply as “Sledge”) not only spent a decade at 97X, he later worked weekends for WNKU-FM, another Cincinnati area radio station that played similar artists and was near and dear to its listeners’ hearts. And he spent a few years doing a weekly airshift at Inhailer Radio, the current bastion of “modern rock” in Cincinnati (and streaming worldwide!). Inhailer also hosted the 40th anniversary Modern Rock 500 in 2023, and every year since has presented their own spin on that cherished countdown with their “Indie 500” over Memorial Day weekend.

And your friendly neighborhood 97X Rumblings podcast co-hosts (and 97X alums) Dave and Damian will be there. Mostly because we thought we could dress in period clothing and do a reenactment of the infamous Goo Goo Dolls/sound man fight at “Day in Eden” back in 1993.

Warning: May contain May concerts (and nuts)

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Mayday, mayday… May Day is on the way!

See you at the big parade! Don’t forget to bring the hot hors d’oeuvres… and a blanket!

The Merry Month of May is kicking off with a bang tomorrow night: The Collies (a.k.a. the band my son plays drums for) will be at Big Ash Brewery… er, the LaRosa’s Taproom (same location, different name).

(Normally my “first beer’s on me” offer would be in effect, but I’ll be in Indy for the David Byrne show.)

Also tomorrow evening, The Outlaws play Ludlow Garage.

Saturday is Derby Day!

Saturday shows:

  • Tommy Castro & the Painkillers at Southgate
  • Dravin & the Ravens at MOTR
  • Blackhawk at Ludlow Garage
  • Buckethead at Bogart’s

Nice getup, Mr. Buckethead, but Dumb Donald still has you beat:

Liz Cooper plays the Southgate on Sunday. I loved her on 30 Rock. Wait, that was Liz Lemon.

The Lemon Twigs play Southgate on Monday, with Josephine Network.

Tuesday is Cinco de Mayo.

Shows that evening:

  • Wolf Eyes at the Woodward
  • St. Paul and the Broken Bones* play the Taft, with Brother Wallace.

*We cannot confirm that you can use your Health Savings Account funds to buy tickets to this show, but it DOES count toward your annual concert deductible.

Wednesday is a big night for gigs:

  • The Afghan Whigs (more on them later) play their old stomping grounds of Bogart’s (of course I’ll be there!)
  • Yungblud plays a sold-out show at the Cindy Brady (you know you’re getting old when you’ve never heard of the acts who are selling out theaters)
  • Ludlow Garage has An Evening with Shawn Mullins
  • It’s WEEN Wednesday at The Columbia – free, BYOB
  • Memorial Hall hosts Live Dead & Brothers – here’s the PR blurb:

The line-up is pedigree and generational featuring Berry Duane Oakley from The Allman Betts Band, Les Dudek from the Allman Brother family, Mark Karan from Bob Weir/ Rat Dog & The Other Ones, Scott Guberman from Phil Lesh & Friends, and Pete Lavezzoli from JGB, Jazz Is Dead and Oteil & Friends. Together, these accomplished musicians skillfully recreate the magic of the Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers Band’s co-billed concerts during the period of 1969 to1973.

Shows next Thursday, May 7:

  • J. Roddy Walston and The Magicals are at Northside Tavern
  • UB40 “featuring Ali Campbell, Junior Marvin & The Legendary Wailers” plays the old Annie’s
  • Ludlow Garage has Magical Mystery Doors – the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Doors mashup* that America’s been longing for… or not!

*I feel like Zep got cheated out of having a reference in the band name… then again “Magical Mystery In Through the Out Doors” wouldn’t fit on the marquee.

On Friday, May 8, the Satchvai Band, featuring Louis Armstrong Joe Satriani & Steve Vai (and Kenny Aronoff on drums!), plays the PNC Pavilion. And The Funky Ducks play Stanley’s Pub.

Saturday, May 9 is an album release double-shot at Southgate – Ben Walz has an EP release show in the big room with Sami Riggs, and Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters have an album release show upstairs in the Revival Room with Joe’s Truck Stop opening. And Maurice Mattei & the Tempers play a freebie in the Lounge.

May 10th is Mother’s Day.

Take a page from Mr. T’s book:

(You also can take a necklace from Mr. T’s jewelry box… he won’t even miss it!)

The Woodward Theater has two nights of The Garcia Project on May 11-12.

The Garcia Project performs full, unaltered classic Jerry Garcia Band setlists from 1976–1995 — song for song, set for set — using era-correct arrangements, tempos, instrumentation, and gear to recreate the authentic sound that defined those legendary shows.

Speaking of tie-dye, the TyeDye Band (feat. list member John Sandman) plays Arnold’s on Wednesday, May 13 (6-8 p.m.)

Jason Narducy plays a house concert at… *checks notes*… my house on Thursday, May 14!

Tickets are available here.

That same evening, Ludlow Garage has Guitar Women: An Evening with Sue Foley, Rory Block & Cindy Cashdollar. Organized Gentlemen play Caffe Vivace. And Southgate has a Country Jamboree with Kyle Eldridge and Chris “Sugarballs” Sprague. I have no idea how Mr. Sprague got his nickname, and I have no desire to find out.

Shows on Friday, May 15:

  • Brit Floyd at the Rose in scenic Huber Heights, Ohio (“the worlds largest community of brick homes”… oh, and home of The Deal sisters too.)
  • S.G. Goodman plays an outdoor show at The Burl in Lexington, with Abby Hamilton and Andi Marie Tillman also on the bill.
  • Southgate has XSIV: a tribute to INXS (ah, so it’s pronounced “excessive”… got it! For a second I was trying to figure out what Roman numeral “S” was…)
  • Ludlow Garage features Hell’s Belles (all-female AC/DC tribute)
  • Downtowne Listening Room has a “Listening Factory” series at Factory 52, and this month A Tale of Two and Honey & Blue are on the bill, along with “musical forewoman” Sami Riggs

On Saturday, May 16, I’ll be down at The Burl in Lexington for an outdoor show featuring Molly Tuttle and Maggie Rose. (My first cousin once removed Michael Patrick Gannon is the guitarist for Maggie Rose!)

Closer to home, Ludlow Garage has Live at the Fillmore (“#1 tribute to the Allman Bros. Band”)

Sunday, May 17, Built to Spill plays Ludlow Garage, with Wussy. (Need you even ask if I’ll be there?)

John Wesley Harding (a.k.a. Wesley Stace) plays Ludlow Garage on Wednesday, May 20. (Wes opened for Buffalo Tom in Boston last November and he sounded great.) And Highly Suspect is at Bogart’s.

Michael Martin Murphey is at Ludlow Garage on Thursday, May 21. (But Wildfire is nowhere to be found.)

On Friday, May 22:

  • Beloved Youth and The Spectacular Fantastic play the Liberty Theater
  • Foghat and Nazareth bring 1975 (the year, not the band) to the Hard Rock Casino on Friday, May 22. Let’s hope they get the names right on the marquee.

On Saturday, May 23:

  • Parker Barrow plays the Liberty Theater, with CFG & The Family
  • The old Annie’s has Zepparella, which, as the name suggests, is a tribute to former Channel 5 sports anchor Zip Rzeppa.

Wait, check that, it’s an all-female tribute to Led Zeppelin. Sorry to disappoint you.

Monday, May 24 is Memorial Day. Formerly known as Decoration Day.

Also known as the unofficial start to summer grilling season.

Ryan Bingham & The Texas Gentlemen play the Taft on Tuesday, May 26 and Liquid Mike is at Southgate.

TyeDye plays Wunderbar in Covington on Wednesday, May 27.

Southgate House hosts the Midwest Friends Fest May 28-30. Daily lineups and ticket info here.

On Friday, May 29, Mac McAnally* plays a sold-out show at Ludlow Garage, and The Toadies play Bogart’s.

*his last name is pronounced like “Mac-in-alley” not like how Hamburglar gets his prison sausage delivered.

And the Merry Month of gigs culminates with Into the Blue (ELO tribute) at Ludlow Garage on Saturday, May 30.

We love it live!

April was action-packed. Jim Lauderdale at Southgate.

Brett Newski at Southgate one night later.

Gladie crushed it at Northside Tavern, along with local bands EATT and Maura Weaver.

The Silos have still got it, and my 97X homie Dave and I saw it in Southgate’s Revival Room, with Ric Hordinski as the opener.

Sun, Sand & Soul at Miramar Beach was five days of great weather on the beach, and three nights of great music (Tedeschi-Trucks Band, Jason Isbell, Drive-by Truckers, Molly Tuttle, Taj Mahal…)

And I loved the Gladie show at Northside Tavern so much that I drove to Bloomington, IN on Tuesday to see them again!

We love it live on bootleg tape too!

Waxahatchee and MJ Lenderman together in a mostly acoustic setting? Yes please!

(And how about the artists they covered in the encore? Iris DeMent, Lucinda Williams, The Jayhawks, and Kathleen Edwards… “game recognizes game.”)

Flip Your Afghan Whigs

Jason Gargano has a nice profile of the local boys in CityBeat. Killer quotes from Mr. Dulli:

Take that, TicketBastard!

“For far too long, Live Nation and Ticketmaster have taken advantage of fans and artists by raising prices for tickets and stifling any competition that threatened their power,” the statement reads. “A jury found what we have long known to be true: Live Nation and Ticketmaster are breaking the law and costing consumers millions of dollars in the process.”

(quote above from this NPR article)

Speaking o’ tickets, Ludlow Garage has reduced their box office hours:

Shameless self-promotion… and another thing

The latest episode of the 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast features Jae Forman talking about her 97X days and her current “Planet of Sound” gig at Inhailer Radio on Tuesday afternoons (3-7 p.m.).

Oh, and because Dave and I are perma-teenagers and do what the Bakerman asks of us, we’ll be in a high school building for a throwback event Steve Baker has had a hand in organizing:

If you ask me, $30 is too much to pay… by about $30. But Dave and I will sign body parts. Unless you’ve visited Hamburglar in prison lately.

I do wish I could go “back to the future” and get back my beloved Conway Twitty t-shirt that I was wearing at 97X long ago:

Words of wisdom

Amen, Brother John, amen!

Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)

Subtitle: The Ticketmaster Song.

Also, those fingernails are almost as stylish as Jay Ferguson’s macramé shoes:

Jay invented the “Blue Steel” look.

Keep it in your Sansabelts, Woody… at your age, it’s more like “Songs for Hip Replacements.”

97X Rumblings from the Big Bush: Jae Forman and her Planet of Sound

97X, Music, podcast

Jae Forman just couldn’t quit radio – although she did take a 23-year “gap year” after her long stint at 97X back in the 90s and a few stops at other stations in Nashville and Albuquerque.

Now she shares her energy, enthusiasm, and ear for great tunes on Inhailer Radio on Tuesday afternoons (3-7 p.m. Eastern). We talk to her about her Inhailer show, Boston, Beastie Boys, boxcutters, music festivals, the grunge-splosion, and… reptiles. 

As Jae mentioned in our podcast interview, her radio revival started over Memorial Day weekend in 2023 when nearly three dozen former 97X DJs teamed up Inhailer Radio to broadcast a very special edition of the beloved “Modern Rock 500” as a way to pay tribute to 97X, which came on the air 40 years prior.

You can listen to the archive of that broadcast here: https://www.inhailer.com/2023modernrock500

These days, you can catch Jae’s “Planet of Sound” show on Inhailer via the website or the app (Apple or Android). And if you’re in the Cincinnati area and have a high-definition radio, you can tune in on 90.9 FM HD-3.

If you miss the old 97X message boards, don’t forget that you can connect with Jae and the other Inhailer staffers via their Discord server here: https://discord.gg/aZtGJHJ72V. Maybe Jae will even hook you up with a throwback 97X keychain…

And of course the inspiration for the name of Jae’s Inhailer show came — fittingly enough — from a Boston band.

April showers bring more tunes

97X, Concert Listings, Concert review, Music, podcast

Actually, April showers bring May flowers. And Mayflowers bring Pilgrims. And Pilgrims bring smallpox. But that’s not why we’re here. (Actually, it IS why we’re here here.)

Man, this turned dark quickly… let’s make like Plymouth and Rock this month! 

But first, before the strong rains come and wash all the crops away (shout-out Clarence Carter’s “Patches”), some non-broken breaking news: my son took a hard tumble in his backyard (the perils of homeownership) and messed up his elbow. Thankfully no bones are broken, but his band The Collies had to cancel their gig Friday night at The Vault. (Despite our pleas to channel his inner Rick Allen.) 

Instead of the Collies, you can catch the Funky Ducks, Eastwood, and Dilly & the Doves at MOTR or Organized Gentlemen (featuring my co-worker George Simon) at Ghost Baby.

Here’s hoping our son recovers quickly — and that he doesn’t become the Wally Pipp of the Collies.

There’s more animal action on Saturday: Gorilla Biscuits and the Circle Jerks at Bogart’s. (BTW, Circle Jerks are the official band of April.) 

That same evening, Southgate House hosts a Jimmy D Celebration of Life.

Here’s the full lineup:

And Ludlow Garage has Sabbath: Long Live Ozzy. (Do you want to tell them or should I?) 

Patterson Hood (of the Drive-by Truckers) and John Moreland play Ludlow on Sunday. I’ll be in the house Garage for that one. Over at the (Southgate) House, it’s Handsome Dick Manitoba, The Strains, and Rat Trap. And the Comet Bluegrass All-Stars play the venue that gave them their name.

Mirah plays the Woodward on Tuesday to wrap up March. Oh, and Good Flying Birds, Touch Girl Apple Blossom, and Personality Hire play an in-store gig at Feel It Records on Ludlow in Clifton.

This coming Wednesday isn’t just Ween Wednesday at The Columbia. It’s also April Fool’s Day. 

For people of a certain age who grew up in the Cincinnati area, it’s the annual reminder that WEBN used to not suck.

On April Fool’s Day, my slightly less sarcastic brother-from-another-mother Daniel Tosh will celebrate at the Peter Brady.

Meanwhile, Mammoth (Wolfie Van Halen’s band) will be at Bogart’s. The Aronoff hosts The Simon & Garfunkel Story. And Memorial Hall has “Seals & Crofts 2” (Brady Seals, cousin of Jim and former co-lead singer of Little Texas, and Lua Crofts, daughter of Dash Crofts). 

True story: Dash Crofts (at right in the photo above) was the real inspiration for the middle child in The Incredibles. 

Uh, they took some artistic liberties.

On Thursday, April 2, it’s a double dose of Jo(h)nny and Nicole. Tunes & Blooms kicks off at the Cincinnati Zoo (6-8 p.m. – free admission after 5) with Jonny Estep on the main stage, and Nicole Polara in the Grove. Meanwhile, Danielle Nicole plays Ludlow with Gina & Johnny.

Friday, April 3:

  • Nick Hexum (311) plays Ludlow Garage
  • The Redmoor has “Fins Up!” (a Jimmy Buffett tribute show)
  • Ludlow has “Rick Nelson Remembered (starring Matthew and Gunnar Nelson).” I don’t really remember Rick, but I remember Matthew & Gunnar had — and perhaps still have — luscious manes of hair. 

(Are we sure they’re Rick Nelson’s kids, and not Fabio’s?)

On Saturday, April 4:

  • The Tillers and Harlot play Southgate
  • Avery*Sunshine plays Ludlow
  • Rachel Holt and Brooks Werner are at the Liberty Theater.

Jeffrey Lewis & the Voltage play Southgate on Sunday, April 5. 

On Tuesday April 7, “platinum-selling* indie superstar” Ben Rector plays “Songs from America” with the Cincinnati Pops at the Aronoff, and Our Lady Peace rocks Bogart’s.

*Let’s call Ben Rector on April Fool’s and say “I would like to purchase some platinum from you.”

On Wednesday the 8th, Madison Cunningham plays Memorial Hall with special guest Sam Weber, list member John S. and his TyeDye band play Arnold’s from 6-8 p.m., and The Emo Orchestra featuring The Spill Canvas is at the Taft.

“Known for transforming emo and alternative hits into cinematic arrangements alongside a popular band from the genre, Emo Orchestra and The Spill Canvas bring a unique show that merges nostalgia, emotional storytelling, and orchestral grandeur. Together, on stage, they will perform a curated mix of their own fan-favorite songs alongside reimagined classics from across the emo genre—backed by the full orchestra. Fans will hear songs by My Chemical Romance, New Found Glory, A Day To Remember and more in a way they never have before.” [Guyliner sold separately – Ed.]

Shows on Thursday April 9:

  • Jim Lauderdale & the Game Changers play Southgate House with Krystal Peterson opening – I’ll be there!
  • Memorial Hall has An Evening with Chris Thile
  • Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers at the Taft
  • Tunes & Blooms: Jake Speed & the Freddies (main stage) and Clark Jenkins (Grove)
  • Stillhouse Junkies and Stone & Snow play a listening room to be named later in Northside
  • The old Annie’s has The Broken Hearts: A Tribute to Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
  • Soul Asylum plays an acoustic set at Ludlow Garage with special guest Corey Glover – it says so right on the LG website visual:

Not so fast, my friend! Turns out that it’s not Living Colour lead singer Corey GLOVER.

Instead, it’s Corey CLOVER.

It’s pretty bad when AI is calling YOU a deepfake:

(Good luck searching the interwebs for “Corey Clover” though. Our computer overlords keep trying to give Corey Glover results.)

Gigs on Friday April 10:

  • Wayne “The Train” Hancock plays Southgate’s main room, with Kyle Eldridge opening
  • Brett Newski plays a free show in the Southgate Lounge — I’ll be at that one
  • Ludlow garage has Steely Dead (“a sonic fusion of the Grateful Dead and Steely Dan”)
  • AJ and Allie play Bogart’s
  • Sami Riggs hosts a “Listening Factory” show at Factory 52 featuring Ryce Mullins and Scott Siefferman
  • Beth Stelling

Gigs on Saturday April 11:

  • Lee Fields and the Monophonics are at the old Annie’s
  • 49 Winchester place the Ovation
  • Pat Metheny’s Side Eye III+ is at the Taft
  • Jim Trace & the Makers play Plain Folk Café
  • Tony Holt and The Wildwood Valley Boys play the Liberty Theater
  • Southgate has Back 2 Mac (Fleetwood Mac tribute) with No Good Ponies (music of Linda Ronstadt)

My under the radar gig of the month (UTRGOTM for short) is Sunday April 12 at the Northside Tavern: Gladie headlines with Maura Weaver and Eatt also on the bill. Damn straight I’ll be there- school night be damned! Gladie’s new album absolutely rocks.

Their previous one was great too, and lead singer Augusta was kind enough to include a personal note when vinyl versions were delayed.

 That same evening (4/12), Southgate’s Revival Room has “Girls Rock Cinci Remix Showcase” with Girl Gordon, Moonbeau, Swelle, Milque, and Blue Light Room. And Penny and Sparrow played the Ludlow Garage

Lake Street Dive is at the Ovation on Tuesday April 14

The Surfragettes play Southgate on Wednesday the 15th with Bethlehem Shalom as the opener.

Thursday April 16:

  • The Del McCoury Band plays Memorial Hall
  • Tunes & Blooms features the Shelby Lore Band and Cecil Jackson & Dry Ridge
  • Stick Men featuring Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto and Markus Reuter at Ludlow Garage
  • The Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg, IN has their “Third Thursdays Tribute Series” with “Aja, the Music of Steely Dan.”

On Friday April 17:

  • The Silos place Southgate House. I’ll be there along with list members Dave T. (co-host of the 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast) and our friend El Blanco.
  • Organized Gentleman (a Cincinnati-based instrumental trio blending guitar, organ, and drums into a groove-forward mix of funk, soul, and jazz, inspired by bands like The Meters, Soulive, and Ghost-Note) play Radio Artifact. You can get tickets here.
  • Hard Rock Casino has many temptations but it’s doubtful any of them will be in the band listed as “The Temptations” (actually Otis Williams is still in the mix!). The other band on the bill is The Four Tops (minus all four of the original members).

Dead Centric and The Electric Indigo place Southgate on Saturday April 18 and the Michelle Robinson Band plays the Liberty Theater.

On Sunday the 19th Puscifer (Maynard James Keenan of Tool with some friends) plays the Taft with the amazingly hilarious Dave Hill as the opener.

That same evening  Ambrosia plays Memorial Hall, and my son’s other band VanWinkle plays MOTR, with Bugday and Hummingbird.

Chuck Meade from BR549 plays Southgate on Wednesday April 22 with Laid Back Country Picker as the opener.

This guy was a laid back country picker too:

Shows on Thursday April 23:

  • Kenny Wayne Shepherd plays a 30th anniversary of his album Ledbetter Heights at the Taft
  • Jess Lamb & Friends are at MOTR
  • Tunes & Blooms: The Tillers and Stick & Bindle
  • Ludlow Garage has Bohemian Queen – which is either a tribute to Freddy Mercury’s old band or to the barefoot, dreadlocked lady who sells grilled cheese sandwiches in the parking lot at Phish shows.

Oh, speaking of barefoot, I’ll be here:

On Friday April 24:

  • The Reverend Horton Heat, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, and Piñata Protest play Southgate’s big room while in the Revival Room you can catch Portland (Oregon) singer-songwriter Jeffrey Martin
  • Ana Popovic plays Ludlow
  • Memorial Hall has Genesis ReTouched… which is not nearly as dirty as it sounds.

(It’s actually a tribute to the Genesis concerts of the late 80s through the late aughts.)

Shows on Saturday, April 25:

  • Ethel Cain plays the Ovation
  • The Hard Rock Casino has Starship featuring Mickey Thomas (I guess the “Jefferson” part of Jefferson Starship moved on up)
  • Downtowne Listening Room Sirens of Spring tour: Mama’s Black Sheep + Regina Sayles + Colleen Clark

Vanessa Carlton plays Ludlow garage on Sunday the 26th

On Wednesday April 29:

  • Mary Gauthier and Stephen Kellogg are at Ludlow Garage.
  • The Toasters celebrate 45 years of reggae with Rat Trap and U.S. Daggers at Southgate House.
  • TyeDye plays Wunderbar in Covington

And the month wraps up on Thursday April 30 with a Supertramp tribute at Memorial Hall. (Breakfast in America sold separately.)

Taking a quick sneak peek into May: I’ll be heading to Indy on Friday, May 1 with list members Deuce and Matt for the David Byrne show at the Old National Theater. That same evening, The Outlaws play Ludlow Garage.

We love it live!

The supergroup R.E.M. tribute show at the Bluebird in Bloomington was absolutely amazing. Some dude named Mike Mills sat in on several songs. 

And he had great things to say about his experience:

Future house concert performer Jason Narducy was all agog too!

Hat tip to list member John Sandman for the Shawn Colvin ticket – great show at Memorial Hall. 

List member Matt Lacefield (catch his “Side Effects” show on Inhailer Radio Saturday evenings 7-9 p.m.) and I  I brought up the average age of attendees by about 20 years at the Snõõper, Shrudd, and Pal show at the Woodward. But all three bands brought such great punk energy that we felt decades younger.

Check out Blair from Snõõper getting into the crowd:

The Downtown Listening Room singer-songwriter showcase at The Columbia was a bit twangier than my usual musical adventures but thoroughly enjoyable. Such a great venue!

And last but certainly not least, Wussy rocked the Woodward!

It was great hanging with list members Ken “Lobby Boy” Laube (on Inhailer Fridays 11a-3p) and David & Amy Groff. 

We love live poetry too! 

Manuel Iris is a treasure, and his readings from his latest book of poetry called The Whole Earth is a Garden of Monsters at the Mercantile Library were powerful and moving. He says he writes poetry as if it’s music – by rhythm. 

Manuel’s new book also won the 2025 Ambroggio Prize. The Prize is given annually for a book-length poetry manuscript originally written in Spanish and with an English translation. His English translator is Kevin McHugh, a friend from my ad agency days.

Radio people are happy even when they’re sad

Gary Burbank’s Celebration of Life was a wonderful tribute to a radio legend. It was good to reconnect with my old radio homies too. They’re all crazy, of course, which is what makes them so much fun to be around.

Former WLW superstar salesman Dan Lewis was not in attendance. He had another modeling gig.

Jason Narducy at my place – Thursday, May 14

Jason’s playing a “songs and stories” solo gig at Casa de d2 on May 14th. 8-9:30pm (perfect timing for a school night). You can get tickets here. If you’re not familiar with Mr. Narducy, his first band inspired Dave Grohl to start making music. And he not only organized the R.E.M. tours with Michael Shannon (read more here and here) and assembled a killer band, but he’s also the bassist for Bob Mould, touring bassist for Superchunk, makes solo records as Split Single, and has a new book of road stories out.

Here’s a fun video for a Split Single tune, with the aforementioned funnyman Dave Hill and Anya Marina:

And here’s the full Split Single live set on KEXP:

Don’t let the TicketBastards get you down

Last week I made a box office run to Ovation, Bogart’s, and Ludlow Garage to get tickets for my friends and me. 7 shows. 19 tickets. 1 hour of my time. And we saved $180 in fees.

They don’t make it easy (Ovation box office is only open Tuesday through Friday from 10a-3p… although the woman at the box office said they stay open until 4.) But it’s totally worth it if you know the show won’t sell out. FWIW, the Mike Brady box office is open M-W-F 11a-3p (and you can park right by the box office) and they also sell tickets to Taft and Riverbend/PNC shows there. Ludlow’s box office hours are W-F, 4-9p, and Sa-Su 11a-9p. Bogart’s is noon-5p M-F and also longer hours on show days.

College rockin’

List member Daniel passed along a fun article from Loudwire:

Check it out here and let the debates begin!

Shameless self-promotion

The latest episode of the “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast features Rob Mason, who interned at 97X and later went on to start Old Flame Records.

Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)

I mostly love your track suit. And your Doug Henning vibes.

Who knew Julia Child had a side hustle?

I’ve never seen someone less excited about love. I think he’s being forced to play guitar against his will, and the Stockholm Syndrome hasn’t fully kicked in yet.

Speaking of kicking in, we can smell what Larry’s smoking with his “High Time” album title and the greenery behind him. But his shirt has made me forget all about Mickey Thomas’ track suit.

97X Rumblings from the Big Bush: Rob Mason of Old Flame Records

97X, Music, podcast

After discovering 97X as a Miami University student and interning for Barb Abney, Rob Mason channeled his love of music into founding and running a record label. Old Flame Records featured releases from a slew of bands, including Cloud Nothings, Twin Tigers, and Cincinnati artists such as Carriers, Moonbeau, Frontier Folk Nebraska, and Dawg Yawp. And he’s our only guest (so far) to have released music from a group that won a Norwegian Grammy. Rob shares his stories (including babysitting Kings of Leon during their Oxford visit) and talks about how he’s still passionate about helping cool bands get their music heard.

Here’s an excerpt from Rob’s description of Old Flame in Impose Magazine:

From my days as a Music Director at WMSR to being an intern at WOXY, I found my love of discovering and exposing people to new music. Different jobs at labels and record stores and even mortgage lenders helped shape me in terms of learning what I liked, what worked/didn’t work, and what I wanted to do and not do with my time and my life.

Here’s a screen grab of the Old Flame roster on Bandcamp -it’s quite impressive:

You can check out Old Flame playlists on YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazing Radio, among others.

During our interview, Rob mentioned the self-titled debut release from Dawg Yawp, produced by Rob Fetters (Raisins, The Bears, Psychodots).

Here’s Dawg Yawp’s NPR Tiny Desk performance:

March-ing Music

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It’s almost time for a March! Take it away (literally), Stork!

March 28 is No Kings Day, but we DO still have one king this month:

Fun fact: J.P Sousa and his pal J.W. Pepper* invented the sousaphone to be:

  1. easier to play while standing or marching than its bigger counterpart, the tuba but
  2. still just as much of a chick magnet.

*J.W. Pepper would be a great name for a brand of salsa. Or maybe even a salsa band.

Note: the sousaphone is not to be confused with the Geckophone.

Before March… um… marches in… let’s sneak in a few gig reminders for February, because it’s the shortest month. (BTW, happy non-Leap-Year non-birthday to list member Ted G!)

Friday:

  • Wussy (full band) at the Woodward with Advance Base and Moontype. I’ll be there to get another punch on my Wussy Superfan Fan Club card.
  • Nat Myers plays Southgate, with Jay Skaggs

[Late breaking news: list member (and podcast co-host) Dave T. can’t make the Wussy show – text me if you want his ticket.]

Saturday:

  • An evening with Joe Bonamassa at the Taft. (Please contact your doctor if your Bonamassa lasts longer than an evening)
  • The Columbia (4311 Eastern Ave) hosts a Downtowne Listening Room singer/songwriter showcase with Sami Riggs, Lydia Shae and Ash Taylor. All proceeds go to the performers. Request an invite here.
  • Sylmar has a record release party at the Woodward
  • The Roger Klug Power Trio and Frontier Folk Nebraska will be playing a free show across the street at MOTR starting at 9 p.m.
  • Nicholas Jamerson plays Southgate
  • Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty is at the Hard Rock Casino
  • Tasting Color (a jam band from Dayton) plays Stanley’s
  • Noah Wotherspoon is at the Mansion Hill Tavern
  • Laid Back Country Picker with Adam Wade Gilliam at Liberty Theater

On Sunday, Sunday, Sunday we March, March, March:

  • Snõõper plays the Woodward with Shrudd and Pal
  • The Wood Brothers play the Taft
  • The Turkeys do two sets at MOTR, starting at 7:30 p.m.
  • Memorial Hall has All You Need is George – an All-Star tribute to George Harrison (Jam-band legends Jackie Greene, Steve Kimock, Pete Lavezzoli, Reed Mathis, Berry Duane Oakley, and Gil Assayas unite for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of George Harrison’s timeless legacy)

[Late breaking news: list member (and podcast co-host) Dave T. can’t make the Snõõper show either – text me if you want his ticket.]

The Record Company plays Bogart’s on Tuesday, March 3. (When I hear “Record Company” and “Bogart’s” in the same sentence, I think of Mole’s.)

Shows on Wednesday, March 4:

  • Shawn Colvin at Memorial Hall
  • Screaming Orphans at Ludlow Garage

3/4 also marks the first WEENsday of 2026 at The Columbia. They’ll be spinning The Pod from 7-9 p.m. 4311 Eastern Avenue. Really cool old church. BYOB.

Next Thursday 3/5:

  • Adam Wade Gilliam Band with T. Lipscomb and Mike Detmer at MOTR
  • The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys at Southgate (they must not be too po’ – they could afford two apostrophes, and have you see the price of those lately?)
  • Barry Manilow plays “the last concert” (we’ve heard that from KISS and The Who) at the Mausoleum

Friday, March 6 features the G.O.A.T of all marches: The Bockfest Parade. It starts at 6 p.m. at Arnold’s.

Shows on 3/6:

  • Ludlow Garage has Sons of Cream. (If this well-respected publication were instead a tawdry rag, we might be prone to point out that all male offspring are, in fact, “sons of cream.”) This band features two members of the Lucky Sperm Club*: Kofi Baker (son of Ginger) and Malcolm Bruce (son of Jack)
  • The Stolen Faces play the Woodward
  • The New Royals plays two sets at MOTR
  • The Bonded Spirit Bluegrass Festival features four bands for free at the Rickhaus (302 Court St. in Covington)

*University of Cincinnati basketball player Jizzle James also is a member of the Lucky Sperm Club, but we think his father, former NFL running back Edgerrin James, took that a little too literally when choosing a name for his son.

Saturday, March 7:

  • Los Straitjackets & Deke Dickerson Rockin’ Dance Party at the Woodward
  • The Bonded Spirit main event features The SteelDrivers, the Dan Tyminski Band, and Bourbon Revival. Tickets.
  • Hot Magnolias at Arnold’s
  • The Ark Band plays their annual Bob Marley Tribute at Ludlow Garage
  • The old Annie’s features Crush: The Bon Jovi Experience
  • Liberty Theater has the Homegrown Music Festival

And Southgate House hosts the 10th annual Rock’n’Revival for the Cure.

On Sunday, March 8, MOTR hosts The Sanguinaria Trio featuring Brad Myers, Michael Sharfe, and Jeff Mellott, and the Comet Bluegrass All-Stars play The Comet.

Calling all Teenage Dirtbags: please report to the Southgate House on Tuesday, March 10 for Wheatus with Keep Flying and Matt Waters.

On Wednesday, March 11:

  • TyeDye (featuring list member John Sandman) plays Arnold’s from 6-8 p.m.
  • Harpist Mary Lattimore plays the Woodward, with Planchette opening

Shows on Thursday, March 12:

  • Dar Williams at Ludlow Garage
  • Buffalo Rose plays a free show at the Liberty Theater
  • Joe Jordan (an Americana artist, not 2/5ths of New Kids on the Block) is at the Woodward
  • AM Nice plays MOTR with Sensor Ghost and Perfect Stranglers
  • Great American Novel (band featuring a former co-worker of mine) and Liv Louis play a freebie in Southgate’s Lounge (10 p.m. show)

OMG, it’s another Friday the 13th!

Shows on that super(stitious) evening:

  • Keller Williams at the old Annie’s
  • Lily Seabird with Villagerrr at MOTR
  • Pink Talking Fish (a fusion of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, and Phish) at Ludlow Garage
  • John Paycheck (son of Johnny – he’s in the Unlucky Sperm Club) and Wes Shipp at Southgate
  • The Drowsy Lads (Irish music) at Memorial Hall

Saturday, March 14 is Pi Day!

  • My Brother’s Keeper plays the Liberty Theater
  • Jason Eady and Abe Partridge in Southgate’s Revival Room
  • Ma Crow and Porch Goose in the Southgate Lounge
  • KISS Off! (a KISS tribute band) in the main Sanctuary at Southgate

Sunday, March 15 is the Ides of March

  • Beausoleil with (or avec if you insist) Michael Doucet at Memorial Hall
  • Dark Star Orchestra at the Ovation in Newport
  • Annie D and Billy Prine at MOTR
  • The Phil Collins Experience at Ludlow Garage – since Ludlow has those airline seats, maybe “The Phil Collins Experience” will be riding the Concorde to Philly to ruin Led Zeppelin’s Live Aid set?

On Monday, March 16, I’ll be in Bloomington, Indiana for the final(and sold-out) show of the Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy & Friends tour of R.E.M.’s Lifes Rich Pageant. (No apostrophe in Lifes – R.E.M. must’ve donated it to the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys.) My youngest son, who goes to IU (home of the national champion Hoosiers football team!), will be on Spring Break, as will all his roomies, so I’ll be crashing at their college apartment – classy! But totally worth the drive to see Michael, Jason, Jon Wurster (Mountain Goats, Bob Mould, former Superchunk drummer), John Stirratt (bassist for Wilco) Dag Juhlin (The Slugs, Poi Dog Pondering) and producer/keyboardist Vijay Tellis-Nayak.

BTW, only Jason Narducy is playing my living room on May 14. Not the R.E.M. band. Sorry if I confused you with my last post. I don’t think I could fit that full band into my living room. Jason solo will be awesome, too!

Tuesday, March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day!

That evening, The Happy Fits play Bogart’s.

Blues guitarist Albert Castiglia is at Southgate on Wednesday, March 18.

Shows on Thursday, March 19:

  • Lucero plays the Madison Theater
  • Chicago Farmer & the Fieldnotes at Southgate
  • Jess Lamb & Friends Jam Session at MOTR
  • Liberty Theater hosts “Bleed the Freak” (Alice in Chains tribute)
  • VanWinkle (one of the bands my son is in) plays Madison Live
  • Cardi B is at the Coliseum

Gigs on Friday, March 20:

  • The Robert Cray Band at Memorial Hall
  • The Harlequins with Stephie James and Borgemenkes Band at MOTR
  • Jim Messina (of “Loggins &..” fame) at Ludlow Garage

The Messina gig reminds me of one of my favorite parts of the Yacht Rock spoof series:

Saturday, March 21:

  • The Montvales have an album release show at the Woodward, with Emma Vulnerability and Dean Freeman & Sean Geil
  • Our Lady Peace and The Verve Pipe play Bogart’s
  • Moonchild is at Ludlow Garage, with Brittney Carter

Sunday, March 22 is a busy day for concerts:

  • The Dollyrots play Southgate’s main room with Veronica Grim opening
  • Frank Viele is in the Southgate Revival Room, with Nicholas Johnson
  • Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Memorial Hall
  • Hillary Hahn at MOTR
  • Rick Wakeman & Son (like Sanford & Son, but with fewer heart attacks and more capes) at Ludlow Garage

Ricky Nye plays “the two sides of King Records” (R&B and country) at Memorial Hall on Monday, March 23, while Filter, Finger 11, and Local H play Bogart’s.

Albert Lee & his Electric Band play Ludlow Garage on Wednesday, March 25, and TyeDye plays Wunderbar in Covington.

The Coliseum hosts New Edition, Boys II Men, and Toni Braxton on Thursday, March 26.

On Friday, March 27:

  • The Collies (yes, my son’s other band) are back at The Vault in Mt. Lookout – be there!
  • The Funky Ducks, Eastwood, and Dilly & the Doves play MOTR

March 28 is a Saturday, but also Wednesday… I’ll be in Indy to see the band Wednesday play The Vogue. Shows closer to home:

  • Circle Jerks and Gorilla Biscuits play Bogart’s
  • Ludlow Garage has Sabbath: Long Live Ozzy

Ludlow has a great double bill on Sunday, March 29: Patterson Hood (of Drive-by Truckers) and John Moreland. That same evening, Southgate hosts Handsome Dick Manitoba (of The Dictators), The Strains, and Rat Trap.

And the March ends on Tuesday, 3/31 with Mirah at the Woodward. Spoils opens that show. At ease!

Turn your home into a Honky Tonk!

List member Eric Weltner’s latest labor of love is the Honky Talkin’ documentary film. It features local bands (Jerry King & the Rivertown Ramblers and Bobby Mackey) as well as Jason Ringenberg from Jason & the Scorchers, and highlights the Southgate House (Morella Raleigh makes an appearance) and Bobby Mackey’s (home of the mechanical bull and several ghosts!). Now, you can watch Honky Talkin’ on demand on Vimeo.

Rock stars, they’re just like us!

Wisconsin indie rocker Brett Newski misspells my name just like everyone else does:

Consider yourself “my people”… and consider yourself “on blast.” Brett Newski always puts on a great show. The one on 4/10 at Southgate is a freebie in the Lounge — and I’ll buy your first beer! Be there!

Wisconsin indie rock mainstay BRETT NEWSKI & the Bad Inventions bring a collision of alt-country, Tom Petty, & 90’s alternative rock on their latest LP, ameriCONa (not on streaming). Newski is back with satirical humor, contrarian ethos, & the knack for creating anthems for outliers. The ep shows flourishes of Bob Dylan & Jonathan Richman, with production in the vein of Velvet Underground.

Left of the Dial

R.I.P. to Lynn Blakey of Let’s Active, Oh-OK, and Tres Chicas. She was the inspiration behind The Replacements “Left of the Dial.”

#33 on the charts, #1 in your hearts

The 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast (co-hosted by Dave Tellmann and yours truly) made FeedSpot’s list of 100 Best Indie Music Podcasts.

And that was BEFORE our latest episode, a very freewheeling conversation with Chuck & Lisa from Wussy.

Better watch your backs, Conan O’Brien and the Smartless boys!

Mailbag

List member Chuck Ackerman loooved my high school photo and my Rush “first concert” remembrances:

D2 – Epic photo of you – when you went to the barber, did you say “give me the Robby Benson”? I wanna see that Rush show – love “Vital Signs”! My first show was in ’81 as well: J. Geils Band with warm-up band The Motels.

Great first show, Chuck! And you’re spot-on with the Robby Benson reference:

Teen Beat really missed the boat by not including me!

Chuck’s wife Christine also shared her first concert: First show was a band called The Tubes, probably 1984 or 1985. Show was at the university in my home town: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. 

Christine hanging out with Fee Waybill and Prairie Prince on the frozen tundra – rock on!

Feel free to share your first concert memories in the comments section below.

Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)

We ALL know that our old friends from the Blue Ridge “Quartet” still can’t count.

Dony : Donny Osmond :: Damian : Robby Benson

They really spared no expense in shooting this cover photo. Meaning they spent zero dollars on it. Art director: “I’m thinking a stream, but one that looks more like a sewer ditch. With a cow. But shot from the rear…”

You haven’t returned your book to the library, Kenneth. Your fine is five dollars, also known as a “quartet” of dollars.

One response to “March-ing Music”

  1. Todd the Wet Sprocket Avatar
    Todd the Wet Sprocket

    first concert is a great icebreaker for any group including this one.
    I think I was 7-8 when my sister took me to a triple bill at Blossom Music Center 1974-5?

    John Sebastian of Welcome Back Kotter fame
    Firefall
    Seals & Crofts summer breeze

    Firefall softrocked and I was hooked on live music from then on!

    Reply

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97X Rumblings from the Big Bush: Chuck & Lisa from Wussy

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Chuck Cleaver and Lisa Walker of the band Wussy are two of the best songwriters in the known universe. They’re also an absolute blast to talk to about (in no particular order): music, their Forever Sounds radio show, bad movies, Swedish Eagle, the Eagles, TV show filling station characters, ball peen hammers, ascots, super-glued teeth, and other important matters. Oh, and fecal matter too – because we’re erudite! 

Wussy is doing a full band show at The Woodward Theater on Friday, February 27. Advance Base (the latest project from Owen Ashworth, formerly of Casiotone for the Painfully Alone) and Moontype open the show. Get tickets here. 

Chuck and Lisa also do a radio show on WAIF-FM every Tuesday morning (i.e. Monday night when the clock strikes midnight). As Lisa mentioned in our podcast interview, they play music like you’d hear on stations like 97X. And their on-air banter is equal parts enlightening and hilarious. You can find a full archive of their past episodes on Mixcloud and Apple Podcasts.

The Wussy oeuvre is chock-full of gems – there are so many amazing tunes that it’s tough to single out just one. But here’s Chuck’s favorite Wussy song:

Lisa’s description of the interplay between her voice and Chuck’s as a flipped version of John Doe and Exene Cervenka of the band X is a fitting comparison.

You can really hear it in a song like “Airborne.”

Chuck and Lisa also did an digital album of cover songs as a fundraiser for WAIF.

You can get that album here for a pledge of $25 or more.

97X fans no doubt know that Chuck also was the front man for the fantastic Cincinnati band Ass Ponys. (Or “A-Ponys” as we sometimes had to refer to them on 97X in their early days.)

Their entire catalog is stellar. You can listen to several archived live shows from them here: https://archive.org/details/AssPonys. And check out this great profile of the band by David Simutis in CityBeat back in 2000, and this 2025 article by Peter Crigler in Perfect Sound Forever featuring band interviews.

A few years ago, we interviewed Mark Messerly from Wussy for a two-part Rumblings podcast – here and here.

Last, but certainly not least, here’s the trailer for the 1979 movie Angels Revenge:

Goober says “hey!”

3 responses to “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush: Chuck & Lisa from Wussy”

  1. Fred Avatar
    Fred

    What a great episode — thank you! I’m a huge Wussy fan and could listen to their banter forever. I like Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, but honestly, I’d take their back-and-forth over Conan’s crew any day.
    And thanks for the reminder about WAIF and Mixcloud. I used to use Mixcloud to listen to former 97Xer Mike Taylor’s The Big Beat, but it kind of fell off my radar. Now that I can catch Chuck and Lisa’s show there, I’m also going to check out Trash Flow Radio on Mixcloud.
    I’ve been following Lisa’s Spotify playlist, Majestic 12 Radio, and have discovered so many great gems through it. I sometimes struggle to find good music discovery avenues, and their weekly radio show is definitely one I’ll be tuning into regularly now.
    Thanks again — I love this podcast!

    Reply
    1. Damian Avatar
      Damian

      Thanks for listening, Fred, and we’re glad you enjoyed it. Forever Sounds and Trash Flow Radio are the best – and thanks for pointing us to Lisa’s Majestic 12 Radio playlist on Spotify!

      Reply
  2. March-ing Music – Reliving the Future

    […] that was BEFORE our latest episode, a very freewheeling conversation with Chuck & Lisa from […]

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Feb-YOU-ary rocks

97X, Concert Listings, Concert review, Music, podcast, woxy.com

Don’t come at me for not pronouncing the “r” in “February.” Nobody pronounces the “r.” Other than insufferable snobs.

February is more of a “Meat Diamond” month. Even for vegheads like me!

Don’t pronounce the “r” – unless it’s in “rock!” Let’s see what’s rockin’ the Tri-State in the alleged shortest month.

Actually, because this might get to your eyeballs while Jam-uary is still winding down, just a quick reminder that the triple bill of Sharp Pins, Good Flying Birds, and Artificial Go is at the Woodward on Friday night. I’ll be there! And if JAM-uary is more your jam, Umphrey’s McGee plays the Greg Brady.

Oh, and the extremely talented and gregarious T. Lipscomb plays Camp Springs Tavern on Friday, and South of Sin is there Saturday. And The Tillers, Maria Carrelli, and 2-22s are at Southgate on Saturday, and my son’s band The Collies play The Vault in Mt. Lookout that evening (8-11) too!

FebYOUary kicks off Sunday:

  • East Nash Grass with Andrew Hibbard at Southgate
  • Downtowne Listening Room has a matinee show (2:30 start) at the Historic Boone County Courthouse featuring Buffalo Rose with Bryce Mullins
  • Ricky Nye hits the Wiedemann’s Brewing stage early, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
  • Diana Krall plays the Aronoff
  • The Lovin’ Spoonful* plays Ludlow Garage

*Note that The Lovin’ Spoonful does NOT contain a full day’s supply of vitamins and minerals. Nor does it contain John Sebastian – he’s too busy welcoming back Mr. Kotter. And he has an excuse note from Epstein’s mother.

Monday is Groundhog Day.

If we pause for a moment to think about it, Bill Murray owes a lot of his career success to rodents.

Let’s focus on seabirds instead: Dean Johnson and Lily Seabird play the Southgate House on Wednesday. [Aren’t you glad I didn’t write “let’s focus on Johnsons instead”? (Get your mind out of the gutter! I am referring to Ray, of course…)]

Actually, let’s focus on another Johnson instead, like list member Rico does. He really likes the new album by Dean Johnson, so he’ll be at that show, which mean’s it’s an official RicoReco™.

Next Friday, February 6, is a busy night for gigs:

  • Magnolia Boulevard plays the Liberty Theater, with the Mama Said String Band opening
  • The Laurelys have an album release show in Southgate’s Revival Room, with Lydia Shae, Maria, etc., and Jim Trace & the Makers joining them on the bill.
  • Ward Davis plays Southgate’s main Sanctuary room

Shows on Saturday, February 7:

  • Dead Low Brewing hosts “Brews & Browse Sweetheart Market” (a hippie-leaning local artist craft fair) from 2-6 p.m. with The Rec playing Grateful Dead tunes. So you can tie one one and tie-dye one on!
  • Highly Likely hosts the Midwinter Meltdown (boy, we sure can use that!) at Stanley’s
  • Daniel Wayne and Matt Mooney play a free show in Southgate’s Lounge
  • Ben Levin Organ Trio plays Japp’s
  • The New Wave Orchestra* plays the Taft

*per the press release: this immersive concert event takes the most iconic New Wave tracks of the 1980s and transforms them with a vibrant orchestral sound, electrifying neon-lit staging and striking 80s-inspired costuming

(Or you could just re-watch John Hughes movies.)

Next Sunday, February 10, is Super Bowl Sunday.

Over the Rhine (the band, not the neighborhood) plays an “Infamous Love Songs” gig at the Mercantile Library on Tuesday, February 10. Tickets were expensive ($60) but the OTR faithful snapped them up, and it’s sold out.

Mike Dawes (Brit fingerstyle guitarist) plays Ludlow Garage on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

Ralph Stanley II and the Clinch Mountain Boys play Southgate on Thursday, Feb. 12, and Liberty Theater has a Songwriters in the Round free show featuring Tanner Dane and Mason Hutchinson.

Shows on Friday the 13th:

  • Memorial Hall has “On a Winter’s Night” featuring Cliff Eberhardt, John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky and Patty Larkin
  • The Wombats play Bogart’s
  • Vicki Peterson (The Bangles) and John Cowsill (The Cowsills… and Beach Boys) play Ludlow Garage
  • Ben Levin Organ Trio feat. Candice Ivory at Caffè Vivace

Saturday, February 14th is Valentine’s Day. [This reminder brought to you by Esther Price Candies, Hallmark, FTD, and the National Restaurant Association.]

Let’s focus on another Johnson, like list member Rico does. Here’s a printable card you can use for your (current or future) sweetie:

VD shows:

  • Drink The Sea (featuring Peter Buck, Barrett Martin, Alain Johannes, and Duke Garwood) is at the Taft
  • David Lacey & Ten Pound Hammer with the Naomi Carman Trio at Liberty Theater
  • Joe’s Truck Stop plays their monthly Honky Tonk Dance at Southgate

Here’s some PR info about Drink The Sea: Expect an evening of original music from the supergroup’s two debut albums, along with classic songs from their former bands. The performance will also feature original films by award-winning filmmaker Tad Fettig, synchronized to the setlist.

(I didn’t know a band could have two debut albums… that’s impressive! Also, I think The Rock’s fanny pack is a Tad Fettig.)

The Descendents and Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls play the Jan Brady on Sunday, Feb. 15.

On Wednesday, February 18:

  • Kelsey Waldon & the Muleskinners and Gabe Lee play Southgate
  • Taft Theatre has The Rush Tribute Project, playing Moving Pictures plus “hits and deep cuts”

Your humble scribe’s first-ever concert was Rush at Barton Coliseum in Little Rock, Arkansas back in 1981, on the Moving Pictures tour. I had way more hair back then, and here’s the candid high school yearbook photo (replete with Rush concert t-shirt) to prove it:

(I’m giving Epstein’s hairdo a run for its money… )

On Thursday, Feb. 19:

  • esperanza spalding (apparently a fan of e e cummings) plays memorial hall Memorial Hall
  • There’s a James Taylor Tribute at The Redmoor in Mt. Lookout
  • Liberty Theater has The Eagles Project as part of their “Third Thursday Tribute Series”

(Oops, that’s a real Henley, not a bogus one!)

Friday, Feb. 20:

  • Ben de la Cour at Southgate
  • Badflower at Bogart’s (BYOC – Bring Your Own Claritin)

Saturday, Feb. 21:

  • Ricky Nye Inc. featuring Noah Wotherspoon at the Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg, IN
  • The New Usuals album release show, with Heavy Hinges, and The Spectacular Fantastic

OR, you can take your pick from a Tribute Band twin spin:

  • Cincinnati Transit Authority (tribute to Chicago) at Memorial Hall
  • Ludlow Garage has Classic Stones (either a tribute to Mick, Keef & the boys or a tribute to fossils… same difference, actually)

On Sunday, Feb. 22:

  • The Lone Bellow at the Taft Theatre
  • Adam & Ringo (of Mad Anthony) have a 40th Birthday Bash at Southgate House. It’s an early show (because they’re 40) and it features Mad Anthony plus pulled pork and sides! Music + food for $10. Such a deal!

Dave Hause & The Mermaid plus Two Cow Garage are at Southgate on Tuesday, Feb. 24.

Guitarist Matteo Mancuso plays Ludlow Garage on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Thursday, Feb. 26:

  • The Low Gap show that was postponed due to Snowmageddon ’26 is at Southgate (for reals this time). Julia DiGrazia opens.
  • Liberty Theater has a Songwriters in the Round free show featuring Sarah Asher, Tay Bronson, and T. Lipscomb

Friday, February 27 is more like Februar-ME, because my faves Wussy are playing a full-band gig at The Woodward Theater, with Advance Base and Moontype as the openers.

That same evening, Nat Myers and Jay Skaggs are at Southgate.

FebYOUary wraps up on Saturday, Feb. 28 with a Downtowne Listening Room show at The Columbia in the East End (home of WEENsdays starting in March!):

If you’re unfamiliar with the Downtowne Listening Room process, you need to request an invite via this link, indicate the # of tix you want, and then you’ll be on the list. More info:

We ask $20 donations (cash) per attendee at door on show day. 100% goes to the artists. There will be free snacks, sweets and soft drinks. Plus free parking.

Other shows on 2/28:

  • Sylmar has a record release party at the Woodward
  • Joe Bonamassa plays the Taft
  • Nicholas Jamerson is at Southgate
  • Tasting Color plays Stanley’s
  • Roger Klug Power Trio and Frontier Folk Nebraska at MOTR
  • Laid Back Country Picker with Adam Wade Gilliam at Liberty Theater

Laid Back Country Picker is what I would look like now if I had stayed in Arkansas:

(That’s a party line telephone, just like the one we had when I was growing up in the sticks.)

February is the Billy Barty of calendar months.

So we may as well include Sunday, March 1 in our listings:

  • Snõõper plays the Woodward
  • The Wood Brothers are at the Taft (yes, we know, Wood Brothers at the Woodward wood make it funnier)
  • Memorial Hall has “All You Need is George” (Jam-band legends Jackie Greene, Steve Kimock, Pete Lavezzoli, Reed Mathis, Berry Duane Oakley, and Gil Assayas unite for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of George Harrison’s timeless legacy)

House concert early notice

Jason Narducy (Split Single, bassist for Bob Mould, touring bassist for Superchunk, soon to be touring with actor Michael Shannon and a crack band doing REM’s Lifes Rich Pageant album – I’ll be seeing that tour in Bloomington, IN on 3/16) will be playing my house on Thursday, May 14th. Mark your calendars now. Ticket info to come later. The gig was originally slated for Friday, May 15th, but I got “Pirner-ed”:

An ovation for the Ovation venue

The PromoWest indoor/outdoor spot in Newport (with the redonk name) is finally lining up some strong gigs:

We love it live!

Real Estate put on a strong show at The Woodward!

Art Imitates Life Imitating Art (or Jeff)

Check out this surreal scene down in Mexico:

The original Instagram post is here.

Brother, can you spare a dime… and another $1,499,999.90?

The O.G. Southgate House is up for sale. Let’s go not quite halfsies and buy it!

David + David (and this dumbass)

List member David Groff has an entire box of Alpha-Bits cereal after his name:

All those letters mean he’s good with crunching numbers. He created a mega-list of all the songs that ever appeared on a 97X Modern Rock 500 (other than the missing 1998 list – help us find it!) then joined our 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast to quiz Dave and me.

Suffice it to say that the Daves I know are a lot smarter about modern rock than I am.

And if you’d like to listen to all the 97X Modern Rock 500 songs in chronological order (by release date) from oldest to newest, check out the playlist Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. 

He fought the law and HE won

Ken Katkin is one cool kat. Not only because he hosts the always rockin’ Trash Flow Radio on WAIF-FM (Saturdays, 3-5 p.m.), but also because he did this:

Let that be a lesson for all of us. Don’t let the law-breaking goons get away with it!

Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)

It’s probably not Bernie. Bob maybe, but not Bernie.

If “quartet” is what they’re going for, I’d say five is more than enough.

These fine folks are struggling with basic math too, but we’ll grade them on a curve because they used a sweet font that conjures up memories of Evel Knievel’s jumpsuit.

97X Rumblings from the Big Bush: The Ultimate Modern Rock 500 Quiz (and how to fail it)

97X, Music, podcast, woxy.com

97X superfan (and self-professed “data nerd”) David Groff crunched the numbers on all* the Modern Rock 500s from 1989-2009 and in this episode, he quizzes Dave and Damian about it.

How many different songs were #1? What band had the most different songs on the MR500 through the years? How many songs made the countdown every single year? How can Damian be so dense? Find all the answers –and a listener quiz too — in this episode:

*the list for 1998 is missing – please help us find it! 

David’s year-by-year Modern Rock 500 uber-list ( a true labor of love) is here.

And if you’d like to listen to the songs in chronological order (by release date) from oldest to newest, check out the playlist Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. 

Do you know the answer to the listener trivia question in the podcast? Email 97Xwoxy@gmail.com with your answer, and all correct entries will be entered into a drawing for… some sort of prize.

In our podcast chat with David, we reference an infamous outtake from Casey Kasem’s American Top 40. It was a long-distance dedication letter from a guy in Cincinnati. Enjoy! (But cover the ears of your kids and pets!)