The second part of our conversation with Jay Batista, who helped WOXY-FM make the transition to the 97X we all know and love. Jay was the station manager, was involved in programming, did sales, and also knew how to whip an ancient transmitter into shape. In this episode, we hear about Dr. Demento, an “Army of Ticks” (not a Dr. Demento song, but it could be!) and the infamous “Beer or Buns” guerilla promotion for the station.
And he wrote a chapter of The Media Workflow Puzzle, a non-fiction book that provides a comprehensive look at the entire media workflow from start to finish.
Jay is an accomplished acrylic collage artist as well.
Another week, myriad opportunities to check out live music.
On Monday, Nektar is at Ludlow Garage. That’s a Brit prog rock band that’s been around since 1969. And the name is pronounced like “nectar”… although it’d be cooler if it were “Neck-Tar”… and it came from the instrument that was the ill-fated, banned-due-to-choking hazard follow-up to the Keytar.
Where was I? Oh, that’s right, gigs. Also on Monday, Relient K plays Bogart’s. (The “K” stands for Keytar!)
On Tuesday, Colin Hay (of Men at Work) comes all the way from the Land Down Under to the Peter Brady Icon Music Center, creating a magical marriage between vegemite sandwiches and pork chops & applesauce.
That same evening, Greta Van Zeppelin… I mean Led Fleet… I mean Greta Van Fleet, plays the Coliseum, creating a magical marriage of a band that reeks of the 70s and an arena that reeks of the 70s.
Also on Tuesday, Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia play Southgate.
Sylmar plays MOTR on Wednesday – it’s an 8 p.m. ticketed ($12 advance) show. And finger-style guitarist Yasmin Williams is at Ludlow Garage.
Thursday, Ludlow Garage has Church of Cash. It’s a tribute to Johnny Cash, not Kash Amburgy… although I’d be fine with either.
Friday is April Fools’ Day.
Celebrate with some Negative-Calorie Cookies and Tree Frog Beer… or just get sad that a formerly progressive radio station is now a parody of itself.
That evening, Johnnyswim plays the Ovation. The band features the marriage (literally) of Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano. Amanda is the daughter of Donna Summer, so she probably grew up around keytars.
Also on Friday:
Kishi Bashi is at the Madison Theater
The Wooks play Southgate’s Revival Room
Rumpke Mountain Boys kick off a two-night stand at the old Annie’s
EXTC plays Ludlow Garage. EXTC features Terry Chambers (drummer for XTC) plus Steve Tilling (vocals, guitar, ex-TC&I, the band of XTC’s Colin Moulding and Terry Chambers), Steve Hampton (guitar, vocals) and Matt Hughes (bass, vocals).
Saturday shows:
Shawn Colvin is at Memorial Hall, and she’ll be playing her brilliant 1989 debut Steady On acoustically, along with other favorites.
Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle/The Harmed Brothers have a nice twin bill show at Southgate in the Revival Room.
Rumpke Mountain Boys are back at Annie’s.
The Ben Levin Blues Band plays Ghost Baby
The Yugos play a free show at MOTR.
On Sunday, list member Dale Doyle just might win a Grammy in the Best Recording Package for his artwork/design on Matt Berninger’s solo album Serpentine Prison.
They should’ve used a keytar image
Even though Dale’s work should be feted during the evening telecast, he’s not a teenage pop songstress (at least he wasn’t the last time we checked his…er, recording package…). So you’ll have to tune in to the afternoon event where more than three-quarters of the 86 winners will be announced. The live stream will start at 3:30 EDT and will be available on the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel as well as on the website live.grammy.com.
After Dale picks up his hardware, Ben Levin has a 6:30 show at Schwartz’s Point, the cool jazz club in OTR. The building’s been around since about 1870, and a keytar has never darkened its doorway.
Motherfolk is at Top Cats — yes Top Cats — on Sunday.
R.I.P. Taylor Hawkins
New tunes
Here’s a fun new song from Lucius:
Grant-Lee Phillips always delivers:
Digging the new one from Soccer Mommy too:
Old tunes
Gospel great Sister Rosetta Tharpe, born on March 20th, 1915 in Cotton Plant, Arkansas, was as rockin’ as any rock star. Here she is just shredding on a 1965 gospel TV show:
https://youtu.be/cyrQJVxP6Ec?t=28
Album Cover of the Week
We heard that Bob was a fan of The Kinks. Or something like that.
Spring has officially arrived… meaning we should only have four more snow days before May. But the gigs are popping up like crocuses. (Sorry, no gigs from Krokus though. Guess you’ll have to settle for their “Live at Wacken” album.)
Krokus fans and Wacken – they go together
Graham Nash rambles into Memorial Hall on Tuesday for “An Intimate Evening of Songs and Stories.” Graham’s 80 now, so I don’t know how “intimate” we want to get with him… that’s a hard pass even for Joni Mitchell.
“I’m not wearing any pants! (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Meanwhile Thao (of Thao and the Get Down Stay Down fame) plays the Woodward with her band (which may or may not be the Get Down Stay Down…). Becca Mancari and Why Bonnie open the show.
Urkel will not stay down
On Wednesday, David Ramirez plays Ludlow Garage, with TWILM favorite Caroline Spence as the opener.
Thursday’s gigs:
Dark Star Orchestra plays Ovation
The Other Favorites are at Southgate
Ben Levin is at Shire’s Garden
The Red Hot Chili PIPERS play Ludlow (so no Flea… also no fly, because they wear kilts)
Freekbass and the Bump Assembly hit Ludlow on Friday for FunKISSdelic – a Funkadelic/KISS mash-up.
Oops, wrong KISS mash-up.
That same evening, the equally funky Combo Chimbita plays Northside Tavern.
On Saturday, Todd Snider plays Madison Theater, and əkoostik hookah is playing the old Annie’s. That’s an indoor show – the better to smell the Hookah.
Sunday is the perfect day for Holy F*ck to play Madison Live. More for the “Holy” part than the… well, you know.
Ticketbastard!
Faithful readers of This Week in Live Music (all three of you) already know how much I despise Ticketmaster. John Oliver just add more heat to my already-boiling blood:
Listen to this!
Here’s a nice half-hour interview with Michael Stipe on World Cafe:
Watch this!
Sly Stone in a halter top… with a super-tight band… and, at the seven-minute mark, a dancer who is a dead ringer for Roger from What’s Happening!!? Yes please!
Jay Batista joined 97X before it was 97X… it was more like a real-life WKRP with “odd personnel and wacky programming.” Jay played a pivotal role in helping the station make the switch to the modern rock format. We talk to him about those formative days, going from spinning the Spinners to hanging with the Talking Heads, and he shares what he learned from station owners Doug and Linda Balogh.
Jay used his Masters in Broadcast Management at 97X… and he uses his English degree to this day, as an author specializing in Fantasy, Historical Fantasy and Adventure novels. In 2019, he published the first of his Forerunner Saga novels, following the lives, loves, tragedies and successes of the Agneson clan in England and Scandinavia circa 890.
Jay’s novel Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse was a Bronze Medal winner in the 2021 International Book Awards and also the recipient of the 2021 Bronze Medal for Young Adult Fantasy novels from The Wishing Shelf Book Awards.
A true renaissance man, Jay also is an accomplished acrylic collage artist, represented by galleries in the East and Midwestern US. Learn more about Jay on his website.
Top o’ the evening to ya. Can you believe how late it stayed light tonight? Other than the car wrecks, Daylight Saving Time is the best.
Actually I wrecked trying to change the car clock while driving.
Speaking of car wrecks, congrats to my beloved Xavier Musketeers for backing into the NIT like Jim Rockford eluding the bad guys.
That’s OK, though, I’m sure the entire Tri-State will get behind the… Wright State Raiders?
Their mascot name is Raiders and their mascot is a wolf. Makes sense.
OK, enough sporty-sports talk, let’s get to the music:
Monday, Little Feat’s Waiting for Columbus tour comes to the Taft, with opener Ida Mae. And Rob Schneider’s daughter (Elle King) plays Bogart’s.
Talent skips a generation
Sammy Rae & Friends play Memorial Hall on Tuesday
Wednesday, Manchester Orchestra plays Ovation, and Sam Bush is at Ludlow Garage.
Thursday is St. Patrick’s Day – here’s a public service announcement:
List member Howard Cohen recommends this particular brew:
If you’re looking for tunes that evening, Ludlow Garage is hosting An Evening with J.D. Souther – all the hits, some of the stories.
Friday, 10,000 Maniacs will be at Ludlow, and Jukebox the Ghost plays Taft.
Saturday is a Jethro night.
Martin Barre from Jethro Tull will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Aqualung with a show at Memorial Hall. And David Sanborn will sax up Ludlow Garage.
New tunes
A live version of a new tune from Lucius… goosebumps!
Cincy’s own Afghan Whigs have a rockin’ new tune out:
And The National’s Matt Berninger does guest vocals on a new tune from TWILM favorite Caroline Spence – mighty fine!
(If you haven’t checked out Caroline’s 2019 album Mint Condition, do so posthaste. It’s fantastic.)
Art about artists from an artist
Michael Wilson, acclaimed Cincinnati-based photographer, collaborated on a new body of work with the Visionaries + Voices community. His process, using a 4×5 format camera led to a series of intimate black and white portraits of artists with the possessions they hold most dear.
During his distinguished career Michael has worked with the likes of B.B. King, David Byrne, Robert Plant, Aaron Neville, Bill Frisell, Doc Watson, and Dr. John. See Cherished at V+V’s Northside gallery this spring to learn why Michael is known widely as a master storyteller. The exhibit runs through the end of April at the Visionaries + Voices Northside Gallery, M-F, 10a-4p.
Album Cover of the Week
We’re really diggin’ the main font… and Bob’s disco shirt, of course… but the secondary font is nearly illegible.
So this week’s rundown of gigs ’round town will be short and sweet. Like a ketchup packet.
But without the high fructose corn syrup.
Tomorrow night, Ladysmith Black Mambazo plays Memorial Hall.
Sam Weber is at Southgate on Wednesday.
Thursday, Gangstagrass will be wafting into the Ludlow Garage.
Flying Underground and Paige Beller play a free show at MOTR, and The Way Down Wanderers are at Southgate.
On Friday, Billy Strings kicks off two nights of shows at the Cindy Brady Icon Music Center. List member Michael Orzali will be there both nights. That sort of devotion explains why both gigs are sold out.
Also on Friday:
Kasim Sultan’s Utopia plays Ludlow Garage.
Angela Perley and Megan Wren are at Southgate
Shiner plays the Woodward Theater
Mol Sullivan and Carriers are at MOTR
Ben Levin plays Dead Low Brewing with special guest Lil’ Jimmy Reed
Saturday is Yolo time… wait, check that, it’s Yola.
She’s at the Taft.
Also on Saturday:
All Them Witches play the Woodward.
You know Gladys Kravitz will be at that gig.
Billy Strings is back at the Jan Brady Icon Music Center
Ace Frehley of KISS plays the Lawrenceburg Event Center
This Pine Box headlines a three-band bill (Thomas & the Work-men, Street Limes) at MOTR
Ben Levin and Lil’ Jimmy Reed shift to Lucius Q
McGuffey Lane is at the Ovation
New Edition is at the Coliseum… I think the last time they were actually a NEW edition was when these guys were around:
On Sunday, The Regrettes play the Taft Ballroom, with Kississippi as the opener… that’s a nice double bill. That same evening, Henry Rollins is at Bogart’s (it’s a spoken word tour) and comedian John Mulaney does his thing at the Coliseum.
And if you’re an early riser, you can catch Ben Levin & Lil’ Jimmy Reed at the Hard Rock Casino at 10:30 a.m. That’s Eastern Daylight Time… ‘cuz we spring forward in the wee small hours of the morning.
The forecast calls for more shows
The summer scene is heating up. Recently announced shows include Death Cab for Cutie, Bright Eyes, Blondie (with The Damned!), Lumineers, The Chicks (with Patty Griffin!) and Idles. Also, RiversEDGE in scenic Hamilton will be hosting David Shaw’s two-day Big River Get Down:
Shameless Self-Promotion
We mentioned Lucius Q earlier in this post. Aaron Sharpe, that dining establishment’s co-owner, was a longtime staffer at WNKU-FM… and he’s the latest interview victim subject in the 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast. Check it out here.
Dueling Album Covers of the Week
We’re diggin’ the 50s TV show vibe of Teresa, but Vivienne!! has a great 70s TV commercial style. I bet she soaked her nails in Palmolive.
Aaron Sharpe never listened to 97X… but he wore many hats at WNKU-FM, a station that picked up the mantle from 97X/woxy.com in being a free-spirited, adventurous, community-oriented radio station that introduced many to music they couldn’t hear elsewhere — including plenty of local artists. Unfortunately, WNKU suffered a similar fate to 97X, signing off for good in September of 2017 after the station was sold.
In this episode, Aaron talks about how he got involved at WNKU-FM, the bittersweet ending, and what he’s up to now.
Many saw WNKU carrying the torch for Oxford’s much-beloved WOXY, which transitioned from the radio to the internet in 2004 and ceased altogether in 2010.
“Today is a moment of deja vu and reliving the same end that came to WOXY many years before this day,” wrote listener Michelle Voss on WNKU’s Facebook page Thursday. “It’s such a shame that all WNKU has stood for and stood with, is to be removed from existence.”
Well, the Orange & Black made a valiant effort, but in the end they were edged out by the Blue & Yellow.
Wait, I’m talking about leftover Halloween candy. What did you think I meant?
Oh yeah, the Bengals lost too. But as the people on this boat said upon further reflection* “that sure was a heck of a ride!”
*i.e. after they recovered from their concussions
OK, let’s move on to the tunes. Great news: as part of the This Week in Live Music President’s Day Weekend Sale, you can buy one week of concert listings and get one week free!
Speaking of furniture, let’s give it up for Lucy Dacus, who played a great show at the Ovation while lying on a couch for most of the gig due to two herniated discs in her back. What a trooper.
Looking heavenward with the voice of an angel
New release Friday
Today, Jacob Strom (son of list members Jen and Tim Strom) has a new track called “Charger” dropping on all the major streaming sites. It’s a song he co-wrote for an artist named JVKE, who apparently is quite the TikTok-er. Check it out. And by “it” I mean the song, not TikTok. OK, go ahead and do both, you impetuous youth!
Tickets on sale today
Bonnie Raitt and Mavis Staples at the Greg “Johnny Bravo” Brady Center on July 19th.
Gig time
Tonight, John Scofield plays Ludlow Garage.
Saturday, Beth Hart is at the Taft, Madison Live hosts a Weezer and Smashing Pumpkins tribute, and the Icon has a sold-out show: Louis Tomlinson. (Never heard of him? Same here, my friend with discriminate taste in musical artists… apparently he was a member of One Direction.)
On Monday, Superwolves (a band featuring Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy*) plays Southgate.
*no relation to Prince
Tuesday, Drew & Ellie Holcomb play Memorial Hall, and The Thing with Feathers lands in Southgate’s Revival Room.
On Thursday:
Allison Russell plays Memorial Hall. (Allison is from Birds of Chicago, and her solo album from 2021 got rave reviews.)
Zachary Williams (of The Lone Bellow) will be at Ludlow Garage, with local band The Hiders opening the show.
Ovation has Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience. That show is BYOG (Bring Your Own Groupies)
Next Friday evening, Lily Hiatt plays Southgate, with the Harmaleighs opening, and Jack Russell’s Great White (essentially Jack Russell minus all the other members of Great White… it’s complicated when that much hair is involved) plays the Blue Note in Harrison.
“What can I say? I threw a band together because I needed the money.”
On Saturday, Feb. 26th:
Anderson East plays Bogart’s
Local artists Physco and Christian Nicholas Gough play the Woodward
Alex Williams is in Southgate’s Sanctuary
Letterkenny Live is at the Taft.
Sunday, 2/27, British blues-rocker Joanne Shaw Taylor is at Southgate and Gaelic Storm hits the Taft.
The four members of the band called We Banjo Three have two shows at Memorial Hall, on Tuesday, March 1st and Wednesday, March 2nd.
Also on Wednesday (3/2), Beach House will be on the river… at the Ovation in Newport. And Wishbone Ash plays Ludlow Garage.
Goats will march forth when Bockfest kicks off on Friday, March 4th. That same evening the Devon Allman Project (featuring Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars) plays Annie’s with the Samantha Fish Band, and The Well and Howling Giant play Northside Yacht Club. If you’re into tributes, Bogart’s has The Prince Experience (no relation to Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy) and Taft hosts The Fab Four Ultimate Tribute. (I’m assuming it’s a tribute to the Rutles.)
Shows on Saturday, March 5th:
Ministry, the Melvins and Corrosion of Conformity are at the Madison Theater
Mat Kearney plays the Taft
Local artist David McGlynn has an album release show at the Woodward, with Ric Hordinski and Moonshine
Aja – A tribute to Steely Dan is at Ludlow Garage (I’m assuming it’s a tribute to the BAND Steely Dan, not the… um… toy.)
Coheed & Cambria plays Ovation on Sunday, March 6th, and the husband and wife duo called Ordinary Elephant plays Southgate, with Rachael Kilgour as the opener.
Vote early, vote often
I’m with AC Newman…
Album Covers of the Week
I spend a lot of time crate-digging at the local thrift stores, trying to add to my vinyl collection on the cheap. Usually it’s a colossal waste of time, as the bins are filled with nothing but albums from Andy Williams, Engelbert Hump-or-death Humperdinck and the Ray Conniff Singers. But this past Sunday, I scored big:
What a great time to be in the Cincinnati area. This Sunday, the local NFL team, owned by the Browns (in more ways than one), has a chance to take home the ultimate prize: a trip to Disney World!
(Oh, and a shiny trophy too.) This town is going bonkers for their Bengals!
Then on Monday, it’s VD for everyone! Let me wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day!
Always remember that I love you, even if I forgot to get you something… wait, sorry, that’s the note for my wife. Although sometimes I DO get her a gift and she’s still upset.
I have no idea why…
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Before we get to the Super Bowl and the Super Love, we have an action-packed weekend of hard-hitting rock and/or roll.
Tonight, Lucy Dacus plays the Ovation, with Indigo De Souza as the opener. Should be a stellar show – hope to see you there.
I love Lucy!
This just in… if Lucy has back-to-back back pain, she might be crooning from a couch, like she did last night in the Motor City:
Just don’t make it a hide-a-bed
Saturday, Foxy Shazam plays the Peter Brady Icon Music Center.
Iconic ‘stache!
That same evening, Manor House in Mason hosts The Cincy Winter Blues Experience, Rob Fetters kicks off Season #6 of his “Fetters is Cheap” live streams, and the Tri-State’s smelly hippies find themselves with a tough choice:
Local jam band Spookfloaters (feat. my wife’s cousin Mike on guitar and vocals) plays the event center at Little Miami Brewing Co. AND
Runaway Gin (a tribute to Phish) is at Annie’s.
I guess they’ll have to take two trips that night.
The Peter Brady mustache really makes the outfit.
On Super Sunday, Stay Outside and Leland Blue play Southgate.
Monday, in addition to the aforementioned hug fest that is Valentine’s Day, Langhorne Slim plays Southgate.
I love Langhorne!
Southgate House has two shows on Tuesday:
The Pine Hill Haints play the main room (Sanctuary)
In the upstairs Revival Room, you can enjoy An Evening with Clem Snide – I may hit this show, could be really cool.
Wednesday, Dream Theater plays the Marsha Brady Icon Music Center.
Iconic football scene.
On Thursday, Cary Morin plays Southgate’s Revival Room.
Next Friday, John Scofield will be at Ludlow Garage.
Tickets on sale today
The Who at TQL Stadium on May 15th… yes, Quadrophenia fans, that’s 5:15…
Idles at Ovation on September 12th
“Mickey Dolenz celebrates the Monkees” at Icon on April 9th
Engelbert Humperdinck at Taft on May 6th.
Trick question
Live shot
The War on Drugs put on a stellar show at Ovation this past Sunday. The venue is similar to the Mike Brady Icon Music Center, although it only has a single wraparound balcony instead of two. The sound was very good, sightlines were decent, I just wish they had more exits for post-show egress.
Album Cover of the Week
Your collection of the best Soul music isn’t complete unless you have Hutch in your hutch.
I promised you Superlove music, so here it is:
Ass Ponys covering the Afghan Whigs… it doesn’t get any better than this.
Here’s Part 2 of our interview with Jeff Rohrs, who worked weekends and vacation fill-in shifts at 97X from 1987-1991. In this part of our chat, he talks about the community of music lovers at 97X, the great program directors during his tenure, his scary sighting on the Party Patio, his side hustles (DJ… and grocery bagger), and “Balogh University.”
Jeff mentions former 97X program director Kerry Gray, and former DJ Ken “Mr. K” Glidewell.
Kerry Gray on the right, with Brett Heartz, by Kerry’s burnt car. Mr. K on the right, with former morning show co-host and PD J.J. (John Jesser) on the left
