Elvis Presley truly is everywhere… ever since he went undercover in 1977, as part of the secret agent program he joined in 1970.

But thank goodness the best Elvis (Elvis Costello) usually comes to Cincinnati on his tours. Mr. Costello (a.k.a. Declan Patrick Aloysius McManus) and his fantastic band The Imposters will be playing the Icon this Saturday. I really like Elvis…

But Elvis isn’t everywhere on Saturday… Cowboy Junkies will be at Ludlow Garage (list member Tom Woeber will be at that gig), local Tom Petty tribute band Tom the Torpedoes play Fretboard, and Pat Metheny is Memorial Hall. Check out Pat’s sweet hairdo in the promo photo:

He looks like he could be a member of Fraggle Rock:

Speaking of family-friendly fun, load the kiddies in the family truckster and head to Neltner’s Farm in Camp Springs, KY for their Fall Fest, going on now through October 31st. List member Keith Neltner’s family has operated a farm on that patch of land since 1892, so it’s legit, not like those “throw some pumpkins and hay bales in a parking lot” joints. Neltner’s Farm Fest activities including horse-drawn wagon rides, a model train display, a corn maze, pick-your-own pumpkin patch, petting zoo, pony rides, homemade food and ice cream, farm shop, seasonal apples, barrel train and so much more… including live music 1:30-4:30 p.m. on the weekends (weather permitting). The Kentucky Struts play this Saturday and Randy Steffen plays on Sunday. The full slate is here.

The fabulous Jimmy Vaughan plays Ludlow Garage on Sunday. That same evening, David Ramirez and Matt Costa are at Southgate.

Church Girls (the band, not the personality type) will be at Northside Tavern on Tuesday. I really like this band’s sound and am very tempted to go… then again I’m an old man – I’m not even sure I’m allowed in Northside. Besides, it’s a school night. But you can talk me into going.

Also on Tuesday, Bad Bad Hats (Pat Metheny sure could use one) are at Southgate.

You have several options for live tunes on Thursday:

• Chris Stapleton plays Riverbend on a very nice triple bill with The Marcus King Band and Yola.
• Lucero and Morgan Wade play Taft’s basement Ballroom (a show that was moved from the Icon… which is like being banished to the kids table at Thanksgiving Dinner).
• Mannequin Pu$$y (that’s the official Cincinnati Enquirer spelling) is at the Woodward Theater.
• Suzzy Roche and her daughter Lucy Wainwright Roche play Southgate’s main room…
• … while Stephen Babcock and Brad Goodall of the fine band Ona play a free gig in Southgate’s Lounge.
• Camp Springs Tavern hosts an Open Bluegrass Jam. It’s BYOB. (Bring Your Own Banjo.) I hear these open jams are almost as good as when Jed Clampett danced while Flatt & Scruggs played:

Next Friday (October 22nd) is a big night for gigs too:

Bob Mould plays Memorial Hall. List member Dan Bockrath and I will be at that one. It’s a solo electric gig, but his touring band buddy Jason Narducy will open the show.

If you thought Pat Metheny’s hair was impressive, it’s nothing compared to the dudes in A Flock of Seagulls.

They’re playing the Ludlow Garage next Friday.

That same evening, Ben Levin has an album release party at BrewRiver, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness is at Icon, and The Bronson Arroyo Band plays Bircus in Ludlow, KY. (List member Dan “I Heart Former Reds” Lewis will probably be at that gig.)

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that my mother-in-law’s favorite artist, Michael Bublé, is at the Coliseum. Although frankly, I’d rather see this guy in concert:

“You are looking live…”

Here’s a very cool set from Waxahatchee, live at KEXP studios in Seattle (hat tip to list member Bruce Frasure for the link):

But you’re not hearing it live…

There was a snafu at the Austin City Limits Festival and they pulled the plug on Phoebe Bridgers’ set during “I Know the End”… and Phoebe was not amused. (Rightfully so, that song was the killer set closer when list members Mighty Joe Sampson, Michael Carrico and I saw her in Columbus a few weeks ago.)

Speaking of Mighty Joe, Phoebe’s sound snafu was almost as bad as when the Cincinnati Parks hired-gun audio dude cut the sound on the Goo Goo Dolls when their set went over its allotted time during their Day in Eden performance at Eden Park back in 1993. Mighty Joe (who weighed about a buck-twenty) had to put Robbie from the Goos in a headlock to keep him from attacking the sound guy.

Gig pics

List member Dan Bockrath and I were treated (thanks for the freebies, list member Geoff Curless!) to a great double bill at PNC this past Tuesday: Margo Price and her band opened up for Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats. Both artists crushed it!

List members Jeff and Jill Franco also were in attendance. Jill has been a teacher at Sands Montessori for years – she taught Dan’s daughter and all four of my kids. So of course we had to get a pic with “Miss Jill” to send to our now-grown kids, just to prove that their grade school teacher still rocks!

Well, that should do it for this week’s edition… STOP!

Oh, thanks for helping promote the 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast, Elvis. The newest episode features our interview with Dayton-based singer/songwriter Jayne Sachs.

OK, we’ll finish right where we started, with a bit of “Elvis is Everywhere.”

https://youtu.be/mpb4ZAAP6Z4

Have a great week!

True story: When list member Howard Cohen joined us on a Zoom meeting for a live version of the 97X podcast, he had been painting a room in his house, and was wearing a bandanna that made him look like a dead ringer for the lead singer of Loverboy.

Uh, to be clear, we’re talking the 1982 version, not the 2014 look.

That led to a few jokes about Howard fronting a fictitious Loverboy cover band named “Coverboy.” (We trademarked it, so don’t try to steal it.)

Second true story: Howard actually fronts a real band, Cereal Killers, and they do a ton of great covers. (Sorry Mike Reno, no Loverboy… yet!) And Cereal Killers will be playing MadTree on Friday, October 29th, starting at 7 p.m. What a Halloween weekend treat!

Speaking of treats, if you show up and say “boo” to me (I’m no John Hiatt), I’ll buy you a beer. Tell a buddy, bring a friend, but don’t you dare miss this big show.

Speaking of big shows, let’s quickly run down this week’s gigs (all subject to covid-related cancellation, so check the venue website first):

Jeremy Pinnell has an album release show tonight at Southgate House.

Jon Spencer & the Hitmakers (guess his former backing band imploded…thanks, I’ll be here all week) play Southgate on Monday.

On Tuesday, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats will be at the Icon, with Margo Price as the opener. List member Geoff C. hooked me up with two tickets – caller #7 right now gets to be my “plus one” (wait, is that supposed to be a prize?).

Victor Wooten featuring the Wooten Brothers (sounds like Victor’s doing double duty) will be at Memorial Hall on Tuesday as well.

Dispatch will be at 20th Century in Oakley on Wednesday. If they don’t sell dispatchouli™ at the merch table, they are really missing a great revenue opportunity. (I’ve already trademarked it…). That same evening, the Lydia Lunch Retrovirus plays Southgate, and The Toadies play Madison Theater in Covington, with the Reverend Horton Heat as the opener.

Thursday you can pick up what Brand X is selling at Ludlow Garage.

Nothin’ doing next Friday. Would be a great night for the debut of Coverboy™. Just sayin’.

New Tunes

A new song from The War on Drugs? Yes, please! A new song from The War on Drugs with Lucius doing background vocals? Even better!

The new album from Strand of Oaks is quite tasty:

This song is a real earworm – love the lyrics too:

ICYMI

Most local venues are requiring proof of vax (or, in some cases, a recent negative test). HT to list member Lisa Collins for the article here. Got a problem with that? The singer from Trampled by Turtles has something just for you:

Gentle Reminder

If you’ve yet to contribute to the Kevin Carrico Scholarship fund, which will provide need-based financial support to young adult cancer survivors between the ages of 18 and 35 who are pursuing higher education throughout their treatment and beyond via the National Collegiate Cancer Foundation, you can donate here. Thanks on behalf of list member Michael Carrico (Kevin’s brother) and myself.

Quote of the Week

“Music is magic and I feel like the luckiest person in the world that I’m allowed to share it.”

Tim Showalter of Strand of Oaks

Where does the time go? Seems like only yesterday it was September. Oh wait, it was. But the time for Earth, Wind & Fire is over. (And Green Day‘s mom just woke them up.) Now it’s Rocktober, which is way cooler than the Catalina Wine Mixer.

And Rocktober is starting strong with…. (wait, are you sure… can you re-check the date… really?)… Earth, Wind & Fire. Wow, sorry that I prematurely put you out to pasture, EWF. I guess Mark Twain was right when he said “When Rocktober starts, I want to be in Cincinnati, because they always get concerts one month later.” Or maybe it was Hal Holbrook who said that… same difference.

Twain also said, “Earth, Wind & Fire is my jam!” They’re playing the Icon downtown tonight – the show is sold out. But fear not, you can catch Pure Prairie League at the Ludlow Garage. Wait, that show is sold out too. Welp, maybe you can just stay home and watch the documentary about Superchunk’s 2001 tour of Japan.

Or check out the new album from Jesse Malin. It’s a bop, as the kids say.

Tomorrow Walk the Moon is playing Bogart’s… they originally booked shows for both Saturday and Sunday, but the Sunday gig is cancelled. It’s like Twain said, “when you are a one-hit wonder, there are no second acts.” Wait, maybe that was Hal Linden.

Also tomorrow, local Tom Petty tribute band Tom the Torpedoes will be playing Big Ash Brewing. My friend Chris Comer is in that band, playing keyboards. Benmont Tench’s shoes are mighty big ones to fill, but Chris is up to the task. I’d be there for sure if I weren’t out of town.

Btw, if you’ve yet to listen to the Broken Record podcast episode with Benmont Tench, please do so post-haste.

Local fave Ben Levin will be tickling the ivories at Wiedemann’s tomorrow night as well, with another blues wunderkind, Noah Wotherspoon, also on the bill. (You can see the full list of Ben’s gigs on his website.)

Tuesday, Roctober 5th: Modest Mouse plays the Icon with Future Islands also on the bill, and Chris Thile is at Memorial Hall.

Wednesday, Roctober 6th: The Struts amble into the PromoWest Pavilion in Newport. List member Gil Kaufman, who has seen a gazillion shows (all for free… the perks of being a big-time writer) is a big fan and says they put on a fun show.

Larkin Poe plays Bogart’s on Thursday (I’m sure you’re as tired of the Rocktober shtick as I am). Local fave Jeremy Pinnell has an album release show at Southgate next Friday.

Don Felder (a.k.a. the guy whom Glenn Frey and Don Henley railroaded… hot take) is playing the Lawrenceburg Event Center on Saturday, 10/9, and “Lynyrd Skynyrd” is playing Riverbend. I put quotes around “Lynyrd Skynyrd” because IMHO, that band came to an untimely end on October 20th, 1977.

I know I’ve been slacking on these updates. I’ll do better in the future, I promise.

Speaking of promises, I have a favor to ask of you. My friend and co-worker Michael “Rico” Carrico lost his brother to cancer a couple of years ago. His brother Kevin passed away while he was in med school working to become a pediatric oncologist… after he had beaten Hodgkin’s Lymphoma as a teenager… a cruel twist of fate which is heartbreakingly tragic on so many levels.

Before he passed, I promised him that I would do anything that I could to help fight the terrible disease that took him from us too early.  One of the initiatives that our family has taken up is to help fundraise for the National Collegiate Cancer Foundation to provide services and support to young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer.

List member Michael Carrico

My ask of you, faithful reader (even though I’ve been a less-than-faithful writer), is to contribute to the Kevin Carrico Scholarship fund, which will provide need-based financial support to young adult survivors between the ages of 18 and 35 who are pursuing higher education throughout their treatment and beyond. You can donate here. Think of all the concert tickets you didn’t purchase over the past 18 months (for example, I know for a fact that Dan “The Reds are the Walk the Moon of MLB” Lewis was planning to go to both shows at Bogart’s), and maybe divert some of that cash to an extremely worthwhile cause. Thanks so much. You rock harder than Rocktober!

Live music is a thing again! Last Friday, I saw a concert featuring national acts for the first time since… forever ago. And what a way to get back into the swing of things – the Aaron Lee Tasjan/S.G. Goodman gig in Hamilton was out-freakin-standing!

The concert organizers wisely decided to move the show under cover – it rained buckets a few times – but the precipitation didn’t dampen the spirits of the crowd or the performers. S.G. Goodman is the real deal. Her debut album is soooo good. But don’t take it from me, take it from list member Michael “Rico” Carrico:

And Aaron Lee Tasjan was a delight too… amazingly talented and an engaging performer.

Here’s a brief snippet of Aaron Lee playing keyboards:

Before the show, we had a pregame beverage (OK maybe two…) at Municipal Brew Works, where The Todds were able to join forces.

I know I made fun of Hamil-tucky last week, but I’ve done a 180… downtown Hamilton has got it going on (and by “it” I mean urban renewal).

In fact, I’ll be back in Hamilton again this Friday with list member John Sandman for the Arlo McKinley/Morgan Wade show… and the weather gods will allow this one to be at the RiversEdge outdoor amphitheater.

Check out more tunes from both artists here. General admission is free… and the first pre-show beer is on me at Municipal Brew Works. C’mon show Hamilton some love.

Other shows of note in the upcoming weeks:

• Ben Levin plays Wiedemann’s taproom this Saturday (plus a few other gigs – check his list here.)
• The Reverend Horton Heat & the Hackensaw Boys play Southgate this Sunday
• Foo Fighters open the new Icon venue in downtown Cincinnati. (Didn’t get tickets in the 12 minutes before the show sold out? Me too – let’s meet at Smale Park and listen for free.)
• Paul Thorn with opener Scott Miller at Memorial Hall on Thursday, July 29th… that same evening, Whiskey Myers & The Steel Woods have a sold-out show at Taft and Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle play a free show at Washington Park.
• The Smithereens play Ludlow Garage on Friday, July 30th, with special guest vocalist Marshall Crenshaw.
• Local faves This Pine Box play Big Ash Brewing, also on Friday 7/30.
• Steve Earle is at the old Annie’s on Saturday, July 31st.
• The Black Crowes play Riverbend on Tuesday, August 3rd, as part of the Make Your Money, Robinson Brothers Shake Your Moneymaker Tour
• On Wednesday, August 4th, Emmylou Harris and Los Lobos play a co-headlining date at PNC Pavilion. Talk about two American treasures — you’d be hard-pressed to find more talent on one stage than Emmylou and “just another band from East L.A.” And that show has some Arby’s “We have the Seats” cheap seats in the upper corners for a mere $24… As always, we remind you to purchase Riverbend, PNC and Taft show tickets at the Taft or Riverbend box office to save on the ridiculous TicketBastard fees.

I’m bummed that I’ll be out of town for a lot of the shows listed above – but don’t feel too bad for me, as I’ll be seeing Tedeschi-Trucks at Red Rocks on Friday, 7/30… AND Jason Isbell with Lucinda Williams at Red Rocks on Sunday, August 1st. I love Jason and Lu… and have always wanted to see a show at Red Rocks. Bucket list, checked!

Speaking of Mr. Isbell, this tweet about his wife mishearing Springsteen lyrics cracked me up:

So curb your Ted Lasso binge, get off the couch, brush off that Cheeto dust and go see some live music. Hurry, before the anti-vaxxers ruin it for all of us.

I hate to start out with bad news, but since you’re such a fan of great music, you should know:

That’s right, kids (I mean kidz), your favorite show of the summer is no more. Here’z hoping you get over it. I mean, you can still see Hoobastank.

They are playing “the old Annie’s” (a.k.a. Riverfront Live) tomorrow night, along with Everclear, Living Colour and Wheatus. The old Annie’s also has Phil Vassar on Friday and Hyryder on Saturday (all are indoor shows).

Take me to a different part of the river… and a different river

But enough about Riverfront Live, and there’s no need to even discuss Riverbend. Instead let’s focus on another river perspective: RiversEdge. It’s an outdoor amphitheater in Hamilton! Ohio. And this Friday, they have a great double bill of S.G. Goodman and Aaron Lee Tasjan. Not familiar with them? Check out their latest releases below.

Do not sleep on this show… because it starts at the old-person-friendly time of 7 p.m. And even better, general admission on the lawn is FREE!

Yours truly will be there (weather permitting – fingers crossed), along with list members Todd Butler and Todd Quincy (who is part of the RiversEdge committee). It’s always a good time with a Todd or two.

Come join us, won’t you? If you can’t make Friday’s show, RiversEdge has a few more ace shows up their sleeve. Wait, check that, it’s Hamilton, so they are probably in a sleeveless Harley shirt…

Anyhoo, Arlo McKinley plays RiversEdge next Friday, July 23rd, The North Mississippi Allstars are there on August 7th, The Infamous Stringdusters & Sierra Hull play on August 21st, and JJ Grey and Mofro are booked for September 3rd. (Other than the JJ Grey gig, lawn admission is free.)

Speaking of gratuitous shows (of the non-Hoobastank variety), I need to profusely apologize to you for not alerting you to the recent freebie shows at Fountain Square. Cracker was there on July 3rd (several list members were in attendance, including at least 50% of The Cereal Killers), and Red Wanting Blue played there on July 9th (list members Whit and Barb Gardner were there). Needless to say, list member Dan “The Reds are in in to win it” Lewis was not pleased with my recent lack of concert communication, as witnessed by his email to me on June 29th:

Sorry to let you down, Dan. The full list of Fountain Square Friday and Saturday gigs is here…. I highly recommend the Brett Dennan gig on August 6th. And I know you’re a big fan of The Mavericks (Taft on 9/24) and Todd Rundgren (Icon on 10/30), so please make a note of those dates. By the way, have you considered a corporate partnership with Warren Beatty?

Other gigs in the near future

The Casey Campbell Band plays a freebie at Washington Park this Thursday night, and the Reverend Horton Heat & Hackensaw Boys are at Southgate on Sunday, July 25th.

Venting my spleen

How is it that the Cincinnati area has two brand new indoor/outdoor venues opening when every friggin’ band in America is jonesing to tour, yet we still cannot manage to book more than a handful of decent shows? Case in point – Phoebe Bridgers is playing the PromoWest venues in Pittsburgh and Columbus on consecutive nights, yet is NOT playing the PromoWest venue in Newport… she’s also playing Indy and Louisville, so our Bermuda Triangle status remains in full effect.

Notable Names in the News

List member Gil Kaufman made the New York Post… but not Page Six. He’s quoted in this article about how MTV stopped playing music and jumped the shark.

 “I have two teenage kids, and they know that I worked for MTV, but they’ve never seen MTV,” said Kaufman, who, after working at the network for 15-plus years, is now a senior contributing writer at Billboard. “They wouldn’t even know where to look for it.”

And Dan McCabe (co-owner of MOTR Pub and The Woodward Theater) talks about the struggles of local music venues in this Cincinnati Business Courier article.

“Survival happened. We’re certainly not whole,” McCabe said.” But we owe people money. Survival costs a lot of money. Then there are repairs that need to happen. These are both old buildings. A year and a half without maintenance shows up.”

List member Dave Tellmann and I interviewed Dan about that same topic on our 97X “Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast several months ago. Speaking o’ the podcast, all 65 glorious episodes are available on Podbean, Spotify , Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn , iHeart Radio, Pandora and Apple podcasts. It’s never been easier to tune in… or to completely ignore us.