Holy schnikes, it’s June already? This month, we celebrate grads.

We also celebrate Dads.

But mostly we celebrate rad dads… and moms… and anybody who still goes to concerts. Let’s get to those June gigs!

On Wednesday, the Pixies, Modest Mouse, and Cat Power play the Peter Brady. (Yes, a Cat and a Mouse, together… chaos surely will ensue).

This not-so-rad dad will be at that gig, with my oldest son Gabriel, a.k.a. Chris Cornell Junior.

That same evening, there are a couple of freebie shows of note:

• Leroy Ellington plays Fountain Square from 5-8
• The Comet Bluegrass All-Stars are at Burnet Woods from 7-9

On Thursday:

• Ludlow Garage hosts An Evening with Noah Gunderson
• Buffalo Wabs and the Price Hill Hustle play a free gig at Washington Park
• Blessid Union of Souls does a freebie at Fairfield Village Green
• Motherfolk plays a free show at the Levitt Pavilion in downtown Dayton, with Matt Rouch & The Noise Upstairs as the opener.

[Keen readers — all three of you — will no doubt note the abundance of free shows in this post. That’s thanks to the hard work of Luann Gibbs (a.k.a. “Miss Kitty” from 97X/woxy.com). She compiled this exhaustive list of free summer shows for Cincinnati.com/The Cincinnati Enquirer and your humble scribe combed through it to find the gems. You’re welcome! – Ed.]

Hootie and the Blowfish play Riverbend on Friday, with Collective Soul and Edwin McCain.

That same evening, we have dueling Maggies:

• Maggie Rogers plays the Marsha Brady’s outdoor stage, with The Japanese House (not Japanese Breakfast) as the opener.
• Maggie Rose plays a free show at RiversEDGE in Hamilton, with Crowe Boys also on the bill.

And the Cincinnati Nature Center kicks off their “Music Under the Moon” concert series with the Gina and Johnny Band.

Set against the idyllic backdrop of Krippendorf Lodge, this summer concert series will feature a different local band each month. Each date will feature a different local food truck with food for purchase. Wine, beer, and a signature foraged cocktail will be available for purchase as well. Event time is 7-10pm, with music from 7:30-9:30pm.

I’m duty-bound to mention the CNC’s summer concert series because list member Anne Robinson works there and apparently forwards this silly little whozeewhatzit to several co-workers, thus doubling my readership from three people to a whopping six people! Watch your back, The Skimm!

On Saturday:

• Haley Reinhart is at Memorial Hall
• Electric Citizen and Moonbow (apparently different than Moonbeau) play Northside Tavern
• Orville Peck plays the Mike Brady, with Durand Jones and Debbii Dawson also on the bill. Fun fact: if you attend four Orville Peck concerts, you will have seen a bushel of shows.

Faye Webster plays the Ovation next Tuesday (6/11), with Benet.

Next Wednesday (6/12):

• The Ark Band plays Reggae Wednesdays at Washington Park
• Just Strange Brothers will be at Factory 52’s “Wild Card Wednesdays”
• Leggy and The Harlequins play Northside Tavern

A whole bushel (four pecks!) of shows are on the docket next Thursday (6/13):

• Michael Franti & Spearhead team up with Stephen Marley for the Togetherness Tour at the old Annie’s.
• Whiskey Bent Valley Boys play the Washington Park “Roots Revival” freebie
• Eddie 9V and CFG & the Family play a freebie at RiversEDGE
• The Huntertones play a free gig at Levitt Pavilion in Dayton
• Camp Springs Tavern hosts their bi-weekly bluegrass jam
• Tower Park in Ft. Thomas will host the induction ceremony (and free concert) for the Northern Kentucky Music Legends… one of the legends is list member Daniele Cusentino’s hubby Chris. (Another is Doug Hils, brother of my former co-worker Mark. Per the Kevin Bacon “Bacon number” rules, I’m practically NKY music royalty!)

On Friday, June 14th, S.G. Goodman plays Southgate. I’ll be at that gig, along with list members Matt and Pam F., and “Rico” (trust me, he needs an alias).

That same evening, Sarah McLachlan and Feist have a sold-out show at PNC Pavilion. And, in a clever bit of counter-programming, Warrant, FireHouse and Bullet Boys play the Rose in Dayton.

Camp Springs Tavern hosts a wine release party from 4 Mile Wine Co. on Saturday, June 15th. Music by Evan McMillan. And Carriage House Farm has Zapruder Point, Sarah Asher and Tim Reisert as part of their Summer Music Series (shows every Fri/Sat/Sun in June – full list is here.)

Two big shows on Tuesday, June 18th:

• Little Feat and Los Lobos play PNC.
• Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue at the Rose in Dayton.

New tunes from old friends

Buffalo Tom and Richard Thompson both released new albums this past Friday.

I’m very happy about that.

New tunes from newer friends

Charly Bliss has a new album coming out soon. Here’s one of the advance tracks.

I’m your StubHub… or your SeatGeek… or just a geek.

Got this note from list member Jason Hipskind:

I think the real mistake is going on a golf trip with list member Chris “Jonesy” Jones. That’ll wind up costing Jason more than the four Franklins he dropped on Green Day tix. (BTW, Green Day has come a long way from their $5 shows at Gilman in Berkeley…) If you’re interested in the tickets, text Jason at the # above and tell him a geek sent you. Show details are below.

Take that, Fetchin Bones!

Remember the band Fetchin Bones? Remember their killer 1986 tune “Greensburg” that starts with the line “Stuck in Greensburg, Indiana…”?

Wellsir, Greensburg (“Tree City” and the home of William Cumback, Civil War Army paymaster and 16th lieutenant governor of Indiana!) wasn’t going to take that abuse lying down. Nearly 40 years later, they’re rockin’ out with a summer concert series featuring Pearl Jam (OK, a Pearl Jam tribute band, but potato/po-tah-toe) and Yacht Rock!

Surely the ghost of William Cumback would approve.

William Cumback also probably would approve of the…

Album Cover of the Week(s)

This eponymous album came out on 5/24. Much to the delight of music writers everywhere, and much to the dismay of their editors.