If I had to pick one word to sum up this past Saturday’s Royal Crescent Mob concert, that word would be “joyous.”
Carlton’s smile can light up an entire venue. (Photo credit: Jon Calderas. Full gallery here.)
If I got to use two word to describe it, I’d pick “joyous” and “sweaty.”
Joyous and sweaty were the hallmarks of any Royal Crescent Mob live show, back when they were a touring band, in the late 80s through the mid-90s. One of the best live bands in the entire world. Yes, a club band, with a mostly Midwestern fan base. But ask anyone who ever attended one of the RCMob shows and they will easily attest to the Mob’s punk ethos, their funk bona fides and their stellar showmanship. You had a 100% chance of leaving their shows feeling joyous and sweaty.
But it had been 28 years since the Royal Crescent Mob played together live. A lifetime ago. And now “lifetime” has a brand new meaning for the audience members, and especially the band members.
Time takes its toll on all of us. If we’re lucky, we manage to avoid cancer. In that department, the RC Mob has been decidedly unlucky. Lead singer David Ellison is being treated for prostate cancer. Lead guitarist Brian “B” Emch lost his wife to pancreatic cancer earlier this year. Drummer Carlton Smith has a rare form of brain cancer.
Rather than wallow in pity, the band decided to take their heaping helping of lemons and make lemonade… and sell it to raise funds for cancer research.
They played a fundraiser show in Columbus (their home base back in the day) on Friday, and Cincinnati (their second home, and strongest market, thanks in no small part to 97X radio station) on Saturday. Two shows in two nights. A limited engagement. Then again, life is a limited engagement.
It was a different kind of joyous this time around. For a couple of nights, for a couple of hours, they could focus on the music instead of mortality. So could their fans.
we’re four guys up there…and, you know, our audiences, our fan base is our age probably now. And it’s important for them to know there’s like, there’s this shitty thing about getting older, it’s like, things pop up. And, you know, I mean, hopefully we can raise some awareness about that as well. That’d be just extra special to be able to do that and it’s going to mean a lot for everybody to up on stage just to be playing together, that whole camaraderie.
The Royal Crescent Mob brought a ton of joy to thousands of people 30 years ago. It was so good to experience that joy once again. It makes life worth living.
So if I had to use three words to describe their show, those words would be: Joyous. Sweaty. Grateful.
Thank you B, David, Carlton and Happy. Take a bow. Because we’re all happy now.
Their 1st show in nearly 30 years (12/17 at Madison Theater) is a fundraiser for cancer research – what’s not to love?
And while you’re at the gigs, maybe buy some merch to support the artists. Speaking of which, December 2nd is Bandcamp Friday:
On the first Friday of the month since March of 2020, we’ve waived our revenue share to help support the many artists who have seen their livelihoods disrupted by the pandemic. Over the course of 23 days, fans have paid artists and labels more than $84 million dollars, helping cover rents, mortgages, groceries, medications, and much more. If you’re among the nearly 800,000 fans who have participated, thank you.
If you’ve started to feel guilty about buying music on any other day of the month, here’s something to keep in mind: on Bandcamp Fridays, an average of 93% of your money reaches the artist/label (after payment processor fees). When you make a purchase on any other day (as millions of you have, with close to $1 billion now paid directly to artists), an average of 82% reaches the artist/label. Every day is a good day to support artists on Bandcamp!
Your This Week in Live Music editor suggests you check out the new album from Gladie on Bandcamp. It slaps, as the kids say. Or used to say last week… they’ve probably moved on to a new slang term by now.
Okey-dokey, let’s get to the gigs:
On Thursday, December 1st, the Redmoor in Mt. Lookout hosts an Island Christmas Holiday (“White Christmas meets Bob Marley”) with The SunBurners, Queen City Silver Stars and The Merry Gentlemen. Ben Levin plays Dee Felice, and Thelma and the Sleaze (great band name!) play Southgate, with Wonky Tonk opening the show.
Friday, Ryan Adams brings his brilliant songs and his hefty baggage to the Jan Brady. In “love the sinner, hate the sin” fashion, I’ll be at that gig.
We’re all conflicted about Ryan.
That same evening, The Steel Woods will be tearing up the tiny Madison Live room, and Ben Levin plays Ghost Baby.
And Friday & Saturday, The Comet in Northside hosts a benefit for the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, with several local bands on the bill, including Quotah, New Moons, Toon Town, The Bellowing Pines, National Barks (Friday night) and The Harlequins, Heist, The Tangees, The You Suck Flying Circus (Saturday). (BTW, “The You Suck Flying Circus” is a strong candidate for Band Name of the Year.)
On Saturday, Trampled by Turtles play the Peter Brady. “Trampled by Turtles” always calls to mind this:
If Turtles aren’t your speed…
… Hyryder (Grateful Dead tribute band from Indy) will be at the old Annie’s, Maurice Mattei & the Tempers play a free Christmas show in the Southgate House Lounge, Styx will be rockin’ the Paradise Hard Rock Casino. And Ludlow Garage has Lotus Land, a Rush tribute band.
We only air-drum to the best…
On Sunday, 12/4, Foxing is at Madison Live, and Ben Levin plays Schwartz’s Point.
Next Thursday, December 8th, The Struts play Bogart’s… and Ludlow Garage keeps the tribute band vibe going with Tusk – The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute.
On Friday, 12/9:
Whiskey Bent Valley Boys play Southgate’s Revival Room
Al Jardine of the Beach Boys plays Ludlow
Ben Levin will be playing with legendary bluesman Lil’ Jimmy Reed at Dead Low Brewing.
On Saturday, December 10th, Christmas and Hanukkah come early, as Cereal Killers will be playing a killer gig at Big Ash Brewing!
You’ve heard me extol the many virtues of the Cereal Killers before. Their playlist is like a trip back to the 97X days – Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, INXS, Southern Culture on the Skids, The Jam, The Clash, Guided by Voices, X, The Plimsouls, Warren Zevon… with some Tom Petty and Cars thrown in for good measure. Just so freakin’ good. (And their drummer is a real heartthrob.) It’s killing me that I can’t make that show… I’ll be in D.C. for the weekend, watching my wife’s niece play b-ball for the McDaniel Green Terror as they take on the Goucher Gophers. (Yes, “Green Terror Gophers” sounds like a Roger Corman horror flick… or bonus Caddyshack footage.)
Please go to the Cereal Killers show in my stead. You won’t regret it. (Pro tip: Big Ash Brewing is offering bonus bucks if you purchase a $50 or $100 gift card… it’s practically the same as getting free beer from your ol’ pal d2.)
Nikki Lane plays Southgate on Sunday, December 12th. That should be a stellar show too.
The Mob Rules!
Speaking of big shows, don’t forget the Royal Crescent Mob concert at the Madison Theater on Saturday, December 17th. Former 97X and WVXU Nightwaves legend Dan Reed (now a host at WXPN in Philly) will be spinning some funky tunes before the RC Mob hits the stage for the first time since… oh… 1994! The show is a benefit for the Tri-State Cancer Research Fund, because cancer has been extremely cruel to the band:
With drummer Carlton Smith recently diagnosed with brain cancer (Glioblastoma), singer David Ellison, recently treated for Prostate Cancer and the loss of guitarist B’s wife, Cincinnati Attorney, Sallee Fry in May, 2022, to Pancreatic Cancer, the four band members, decided there is no time like the present to celebrate life and revel in the joy of playing music together and the healing spirit music embodies in the human soul.
Dave Tellmann and I interviewed David Ellison and Carlton and bassist Happy Chichester on the two most recent episodes of our “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast. Such great guys – and if you were around in the late 80s/early 90s, you know that the RC Mob shows were legendary. Ira Robbins in his Trouser Press band profile says it best:
Pressing “pause”
Not that they asked me, but if Forecastle wants to “strategize” they should get back to the Americana/indie-heavy lineups that they used to book.
Pressing “rewind” on “When I see you smile”
List member Elizabeth Cannon (at left below) got a photo with John Waite when she was in high school…
And Elizabeth shared that same photo with that same John Waite at his show at Memorial Hall recently:
The end (of the year) is near!
Time for your “favorite albums of 2022” list. Last week’s releases from Gladie and Caitlin Rose are making a late push to be included on mine. If you care to share, you can drop your list here.
Album Cover of the Week
Yep, just Bob & Karen… kinda like that one couple at Thanksgiving dinner, where you’re not quite sure how they’re related to you.
Carlton Smith and Happy Chichester formed the super-cool, super-tight rhythm section of the Royal Crescent Mob. They — along with lead singer David Ellison and guitarist “B” — are getting the band back together to play two fundraiser shows to benefit cancer research. They’ll be rocking the house at the Athenaeum Theatre in Columbus on Friday, December 16th and the Madison Theater in Covington, KY on Saturday, December 17th.
We talked to Carlton and Happy about how they got together way back in the mid-80s, their legendary live shows at Bogart’s, what 97X meant to their band, and why they’re looking forward to performing as a group once again.
Flyer for a Royal Crescent Mob gig back in the day, featuring a great Carlton caricature.
Tickets for both shows are on sale now at the links above. Pro tip: avoid the Ticketmaster fees on the Madison Theater show by purchasing your tickets at the Heritage Bank Center (a.k.a. Riverfront Coliseum) box office (M-F, 11a-3p).
97X Year 10 poster signed by B and Carlton
Former 97X and WVXU Nightwaves DJ Dan Reed, now at WXPN in Philly, will play a DJ set to open up both shows. Here’s more from the press release promoting the Madison Theater show:
The 1980’s-90’s Indie faves, The Royal Crescent Mob (RC Mob) have announced they are Getting Back On the Bus for a Really Big Show, a special 2 night reunion, Dec 16 in Columbus OH and Dec 17th in Covington KY./Cincinnati to benefit the Tri-State Area Cancer Research Fund.
The band last performed together almost 30 years ago, disbanding in 1994.
All four original band members, David Ellison, Harold “Happy” Chichester, Carlton Smith and Mr. B (Brian Emch). will be performing.
With drummer Carlton Smith recently diagnosed with brain cancer (Glioblastoma), singer David Ellison, recently treated for Prostate Cancer and the loss of guitarist B’s wife, Cincinnati Attorney, Sallee Fry in May, 2022, to Pancreatic Cancer, the four band members, decided there is no time like the present to celebrate life and revel in the joy of playing music together and the healing spirit music embodies in the human soul.
After vaulting up to the top 20 in college radio airplay, the band signed to the Sire / Warner Brothers label. The Mob gained national exposure touring with acts like The Replacements, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Living Colour, and the B-52s. Their legendary live shows developed quite a following of their own including Dave Grohl, who mentions the Royal Crescent Mob, as his favorite band back in his teenage days when he worked at Tower Records in DC.
The full Dave Grohl note and article about Happy are here.
“We have this really rich music scene here in Ohio. Y’know, I have friends who played with Miles Davis and Bootsy Collins, or toured the world with Dr. John. Here in Columbus, you’ll find yourself sitting next to the guy who spent ten years playing bass with Ray Charles. It all gets blended together. I sometimes feel like Ohio is the only place where my music makes sense. It’s too eclectic and far-flung for the rest of the world. James Brown, Led Zeppelin and The Meters are all equally important in the way I hear music.”
RC Mob’s major label debut hit the charts in 1989.
Westerberg, actually… RC Mob opened for the ‘mats back in the late 80s.
Post-RC Mob, Carlton Smith and Happy reunited in Howlin’ Maggie, the band fronted by Happy. (Here’s a link to a live recording of a 1996 show from that band.)
“To be honest with you, yeah, I’m a very happy person,” he smiles. “And I don’t know if that’s because it’s my name, or because I’ve had the incredible good fortune of being able to record and write my music. But being happy, yeah, it’s my natural state. And as long as I get to hit my drums and play music for few hours every day, it’s pretty easy to stay happy.”
The Royal Crescent Mob was a longtime 97X favorite. Now the band is getting back together for the first time in nearly 30 years, for two fundraiser shows – Dec. 16th in Columbus and Dec. 17th at the Madison Theater in Covington, KY. Proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society and the Tri-State Cancer Research Fund. We talk to RC Mob lead singer David Ellison about the reunion shows, the early RC Mob days, the impact cancer is having on the band, and his longtime career as a tour manager for several bands, as well as pop stars like Miley Cyrus.
Hap, David, Mr. B and Carlton
Tickets for both shows are on sale now at the links above. Pro tip: avoid the Ticketmaster fees on the Madison Theater show by purchasing your tickets at the Heritage Bank Center (a.k.a. Riverfront Coliseum) box office (M-F, 11a-3p).
Former 97X and WVXU Nightwaves DJ Dan Reed, now at WXPN in Philly, will play a DJ set to open up both shows. Here’s more from the press release promoting the Madison Theater show:
The 1980’s-90’s Indie faves, The Royal Crescent Mob (RC Mob) have announced they are Getting Back On the Bus for a Really Big Show, a special 2 night reunion, Dec 16 in Columbus OH and Dec 17th in Covington KY./Cincinnati to benefit the Tri-State Area Cancer Research Fund.
The band last performed together almost 30 years ago, disbanding in 1994.
All four original band members, David Ellison, Harold “Happy” Chichester, Carlton Smith and Mr. B (Brian Emch). will be performing.
With drummer Carlton Smith recently diagnosed with brain cancer (Glioblastoma), singer David Ellison, recently treated for Prostate Cancer and the loss of guitarist B’s wife, Cincinnati Attorney, Sallee Fry in May, 2022, to Pancreatic Cancer, the four band members, decided there is no time like the present to celebrate life and revel in the joy of playing music together and the healing spirit music embodies in the human soul.
After vaulting up to the top 20 in college radio airplay, the band signed to the Sire / Warner Brothers label. The Mob gained national exposure touring with acts like The Replacements, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Living Colour, and the B-52s. Their legendary live shows developed quite a following of their own including Dave Grohl, who mentions the Royal Crescent Mob, as his favorite band back in his teenage days when he worked at Tower Records in DC.
About the members of the The Royal Crescent Mob
David Ellison is currently tour manager for Miley Cyrus, Camila Cabello, and Kesha, and formerly was the tour manager for Jay-Z, Demi Lovato, Avril Lavigne, Alanis Morissette, Adam Lambert, Goo Goo Dolls, and Panic at the Disco.
Happy Chichester, formerly was in Howlin’ Maggie and toured with The Twilight Singers, before embarking on his solo career releasing several albums and singles.
Carlton Smith also played with Howlin’ Maggie, and currently plays with Columbus Soul and Salvage and also working as a TSA Agent.
Mr. B has played guitar at the Florence Christian Church in Florence, KY and volunteered at Melodic Connections, a music therapy program based in Cincinnati.
The Royal Crescent Mob headlined the 97X 10th Anniversary Concert at Bogart’s back in 1992.
set list from an RC Mob show
From a Bogart’s show in 1992, possibly the 97X 10th anniversary show…
RC Mob doing “Fire” at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. in 1987
“Get on the Bus” from the same D.C. show as above
Live in Columbus in 1991
Some great footage of the RC Mob in the studio with Ohio Players legend Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner in March of 1991.
Happy All Hallow’s Eve, y’all. Quick question: can we dispense with the whole “trick/treat” thing (which, IMHO is a false dichotomy) and get right to the feet-smelling? Er, asking for a friend…
And now let’s get to the live shows in the Tri-state area over the next fortnight:
Scott H. Biram has a gig at Southgate on Wednesday.
On Thursday,
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears and Cedric Burnside play Ludlow Garage
Chris Smither and Tim O’Brien with Jan Fabricius are at Memorial Hall
Wheatus plays Madison Live
Banditos play Southgate. Note, they are notrelated to the Frito Bandito.
https://youtu.be/5irr_2nbB_Y
Friday is a busy night for gigs:
The Smithereens play Ludlow, with Marshall Crenshaw as the guest vocalist
Taft has a “Celebrating David Bowie” show featuring Todd Rundgren, Adrian Belew, Royston Langdon, Jeffery Gaines… and someone called “Scrote” for reasons that we don’t care to investigate. More on the show here.
The Redmoor in Mt. Lookout hosts An Evening with Karla Bonoff
Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle are in Southgate’s main room
William Elliott Whitmore plays Southgate’s upstairs Revival Room
Northside Tavern has a show they’re billing as “Alternative Indie Psychedelic Shoegazey Garage Rocking show!” (They must be trying their hand at SEO…)
The Queen City Blues Fest rolls into Southgate on Saturday.
On Sunday, Christine Havrilla and Mama’s Black Sheep play a matinee show (4 p.m.) at the Cincinnati Fire Museum. And that evening, Yes plays a Close to the Edge 50th anniversary show at Taft.
Giving us yet another excuse to run this classic skit:
Looking ahead to next week…
Sun Room plays a sold-out show at Top Cats on Wednesday, Nov. 9th.
On Thursday, 11/10:
Puscifer (fronted by Maynard James Keenan of Tool) plays the Jan Brady
Fun Lovin’ Criminals are at Ludlow (“Scooby Snacks” sold separately)
My Brother, My Brother and Me are at the Taft. Note: My Brother, My Brother and Me are not related to another trio of brothers:
Also on 11/10, Memorial Hall hosts Majesty – a Tribute to Queen.
Next Friday, 11/11:
The Mavericks play Taft
Twiddle is at Madison Theater
Paramore plays the Marsha Brady
The Yellowjackets jazz up Ludlow Garage
Ludlow hosts John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band on Saturday, 11/12. (Note: the Beaver Brown Band is not related to Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver.) And Southgate has An Evening with Lucy Kaplansky on Sunday, 11/13.
Hot Ticket Alert: Get on the Bus!
97X favorites (and Ohio’s own) The Royal Crescent Mob have announced two reunion shows in December, to raise funds for cancer research. They’re playing Columbus on 12/16, and hitting the Madison Theater in Covington on Saturday, December 17th. More info and a ticket link here.
(Fun fact: RCMob lead singer David Ellison is currently tour manager for Miley Cyrus, Camila Cabello, and Ke$ha, and formerly was the tour manager for Jay-Z, Demi Lovato, Avril Lavigne, Alanis Morissette, Adam Lambert, Goo Goo Dolls, and Panic at the Disco.)
What Heaven is Like…
Heaven is Chuck Cleaver and Lisa Walker of Wussy playing in my living room. What a great night! New tunes from Wussy coming soon…
Ken “Mr. K” Glidewell put the personality into “radio personality.” He had the gift of gab, a wicked sense of humor and a way of making friends wherever he went. Ken worked at 97X during the station’s formative years while also playing with fellow 97Xer Dan “Danny Crash” Reed in Chemdyne. He later moved on to WEBN-FM and 92.9 The Fox in Cincinnati for his day job, and co-founded the Americana band Big in Iowa.
Unfortunately, Mr. K passed away in May of 2008 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. In this episode of the podcast, we talk to a few 97X-ers who worked with Mr. K: Phil Manning, Julie “Jae” Forman and Steve Baker, as well as the founding members of the Mr. K Fan Club, Elizabeth Cannon and Wendy Dorn.
Big in Iowa was awarded their first Cammy (Cincinnati’s version of Grammy Awards) as Roots Rock Band of the Year in 1997, a trophy they would own over the next several years. By the beginning of 1998, Bryant had left the band and O’Keefe was replaced by Jeff Wilson, thereby formulating the core quartet, which proceeded to prepare its second album for release. Twisted was a substantial improvement on the preceding effort. In addition to standing as Big in Iowa’s first mature work, it also began its long-term association with Germany’s Blue Rose Records. In addition to its Group Cammy, Twisted also helped to earn individual honors for Burns (Best Vocalist) and House (Best Instrumentalist), as well as new fans such as Mojo Nixon and an appearance at the 1999 South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, TX. The band contributed a version of “Cinnamon Girl” to the Neil Young tribute album This Note’s for You, and then set about working on its third studio album, Bangin’ ‘n’ Knockin’, which appeared in Europe at the tail-end of 1999. As outstanding a progression from Twisted as that album was from Big in Iowa, Bangin’ provided the band with its most extensive praise yet, including notices in Bucket Full of Brains, No Depression, and Amplifier magazines; as well as its first opportunity to tour Europe (Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, United Kingdom, Switzerland) at the beginning of 2000, and jaunts through the Midwest and New England. Such was the band’s reputation that it also began landing opening slots for such lauded peers as Dave Alvin, Dan Baird, the BoDeans, the Bottle Rockets, Cheap Trick, Alejandro Escovedo, Bob Mould, Drivin’ N’ Cryin’, and Jerry Jeff Walker, among others.
After the limited appearance of the live 4 Guys in a Trabi — which delightfully documented a show from its first German tour — the quartet began making treks to Brooklyn to begin working on its fourth studio album with Eric “Roscoe” Ambel, one of the catalysts of the ’80s roots revival as leader of the fabled Del Lords, in the producer’s seat. Released in Europe in mid-2001, Green Pop was a quantum leap ahead of anything Big in Iowa had previously recorded, an artistic apex that single-handedly vaulted the band into the upper level of roots rock bands. In Europe, the CD’s first pressing sold out in just two weeks, and on a second tour of the continent, the band routinely played to capacity crowds, including a headlining performance before up to 5,000 people at the Wolfstock Festival. After returning to the United States, House decided to leave the band due to family obligations, and he was replaced in early 2002 by Jason Erickson. (Source: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/big-in-iowa-mn0000060379/biography)
Well, September certainly went out like a Scorpions song.
And now it’s Rocktober! Let’s celebrate in style, by busting out a Rocktober rock block with two weeks o’ live shows.
Tonight, The Chicks play Riverbend, with Patty Griffin as the opener, and Sales plays Southgate.
On Wednesday, Parker Millsap is at Southgate with Ray Vietti as the opener, and A.J. Croce plays the songs of Jim Croce at Memorial Hall. (Looks like he found the time in a bottle that his dad was looking for.)
Thursday is action-packed:
The Supersuckers and the Electric Six are at Southgate
Madison Theater features An Evening with Robert Fripp & David Singleton
Kitchen Dwellers and Daniel Donato play Ludlow Garage
Friday, Monophonics play the Madison Theater, and the Downtowne Listening Room features Steve Saunders and Olivia Frances.
On Saturday:
Blackberry Smoke plays Annie’s
Neltner’s Farm Fall Fest features Pappy’s Jam Band (1:30-4:30 pm)
Southgate hosts the Cincinnati Guitar Fest
Ludlow Garage has Broken Arrow: The Music of Neil Young (sans the actual Neil Young, of course)
Next Sunday (10/9), Heather Roush & the Heartstrings play Neltner’s Farm.
On Monday, Oct. 10, Jon Spencer & the Hitmakers are at Southgate.
Norman Westberg of Swans plays Southgate on Tuesday, 10/11.
Calexico plays Memorial Hall on Wednesday, 10/12, with Ada Lea and Wonky Tonk as the openers.
BLINK festival kicks off in Cincinnati (and NKY!) on Thursday, 10/13. Live bands will be playing… but I’ll be damned if I can find a schedule on the Blink website. I DO know that The Airborne Toxic Event plays Bogart’s, the Lost Dog Street Band will be in Southgate’s main room and Cory Branan will be upstairs in the Revival Room.
On Friday, 10/14:
Shame and Viagra Boys play a SOLD OUT show at the Woodward Theater
Town Mountain is at Southgate
The Toadies, Reverend Horton Heat and Nashville P*ssy are at Madison Theater.
Saturday, October 15th is a busy day for live gigs:
Southern Culture on the Skids plays Southgate
of Montreal plays the Woodward
Ani DiFranco is at the Madison Theater
Walk the Moon and Trombone Shorty play the Carol Brady
The 5th Dimension floats into the Ludlow Garage
The Licking Pike Ramblers are at Neltner’s Farm
Kurt Vile & the Violators are at the Jan Brady on Sunday, 10/16. That same day, Neltner’s Farm features Gabbard & Company, a bluegrass band fronted by my co-worker Chris Gabbard. And Ludlow Garage hosts The Ballroom Thieves… which also is a nickname for tight men’s underwear.
From the Bandcamp website: On the first Friday of the month since March of 2020, we’ve waived our revenue share to help support the many artists who have seen their livelihoods disrupted by the pandemic. Over the course of 21 days, fans have paid artists and labels more than $78 million dollars, helping cover rents, mortgages, groceries, medications, and much more. If you’re among the nearly 800,000 fans who have participated, thank you.
Raise a toast to Saint Joe Strummer
The new box set, Joe Strummer 002: The Mescaleros Years, came out recently. Here’s a promo video of one of the songs:
Shameless self-promotion
On our 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast, Dave Tellmann and I talked to Chuck Cowdery, who worked at the 97X predecessor WOXR in the mid 70’s. Chuck is now “the dean of American whiskey journalism” which is proof (ha!) positive that working in radio will drive you to drink.
Live shots
Kentucky Struts rockin’ around the big ass tree at Neltner’s FarmThe Deslondes at Whispering Beard
Back in the mid-70’s, long before 97X came along, there was a free-form station on 97.7 FM in Oxford called WOXR.
Chuck Cowdery was part of that merry gang playing progressive rock… and whatever else they wanted to. Chuck was on the air in the early afternoons, and also served as the station’s operations manager and sold ads too. It’s clear from talking to Chuck that WOXR was on the same frequency as 97X, both literally and figuratively – and that station influenced a generation who, if they stuck around the area, were much more receptive to a modern rock format.
You can read Chuck’s post about his WOXR radio days right here on his blog. He worked alongside such luminaries as Rick Ludwin, who went on a long and storied career as an NBC programming exec (he’s the guy who fought to keep Seinfeld and Late Night with Conan O’Brien on the air) and Bob Michelson, who managed syndication for the “National Lampoon Radio Hour,” a steppingstone for most of the original cast of Saturday Night Live. (And yes, WOXR was one of the first stations to air that syndicated program.)
Chuck went from the spirit of radio to spirits – he’s been writing about whiskey and bourbon for a few decades now.
Even though I’m referring to the season, not the verb, I can’t use that headline and not pay it off… so here you go:
Speaking o’ R.E.M., local legends and TWILM favorites Cereal Killers often do an R.E.M. song or three in their stellar sets. And Cereal Killers are playing tonight around 8:30 outside Crowley’sin Mt. Adams as part of that bar’s 85th anniversary celebration. (Here’s a news clip if you want to experience some awkward happy chat from Tricia “PermaTan” Macke. Is it just me or has she become Magda in There’s Something about Mary?)
Normally, list member Dave Tellmann and I would be all over the CK gig. (That might be the first time that Dave and I have appeared in the same sentence with a variation of the word “normal.”) But in typical feast-or-famine fashion, we’re already slated to attend the Whispering Beard Festival this afternoon and evening. (Dave’s son Jack engineered the new album from The Deslondes, who hit the Beard stage at 9 p.m. tonight.)
Other gigs today include Sweet William at Neltner’s Farm this afternoon, Hyryder at Annie’s, Joan Osborne at Ludlow Garage and the Corn Stand Jam free show at RiversEDGE with Rumpke Mountain Boys headlining.
Tomorrow, the Kentucky Struts are playing Neltner’s Farm from 1:30-4:30. I’ll be pulling up a hay bale for that gig. Lead singer Todd Lipscomb’s wife Angie just took our son Andrew’s senior photos and Angie’s so good that he looks like a GQ model, despite his hereditary handicap on the paternal side.
If you need some pro photos, check out Angie’s website. Highly recommended. (Even though I’m the world’s biggest cheapskate, this is in no way an attempt to get her to cut us a deal on wallet-size prints.)
Other Sunday shows include The Paper Kites at Top Cats, Flobots at Southgate, and Live Skull with Fairmount Girls at MOTR.
On Tuesday, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott rambles into Southgate, with Mike Oberst and Sean Geil of the Tillers as the opener.
(Speaking of Ramblers, one of the roughly 138 crappy $500 used cars that my dad bought* during our time in Arkansas was an AMC Rambler with push button automatic.)
*on the installment plan, of course… man, we were poor!
Sierra Hull plays Memorial Hall on Wednesday. Taylor Rae opens that show.
On Friday, Lucinda Williams plays Madison Theater. That’s a seated show… and Lu may be seated as well. She’s had some health issues, but she’s still one of America’s finest singer/songwriters.
Also on Friday, American Aquarium is at Southgate.
Next Saturday, there’s a free concert at Seasongood Pavilion as part of a celebration and fundraiser for The Community Program for Recovery.
And it wouldn’t be “Rocktober” without a battle of the tribute bands: Thunderstruck plays Annie’s, and The Ultimate Doors play Ludlow.
Fake Angus will whip out his Gibson SG, and Fake Jim will whip out his… uh, nevermind!
Other 10/1 shows include Deadmau5 at the Marsha Brady and Sam Hibbard & Elijah Bedel at Neltner’s Farm.
Hippie Bob is listening in heaven
I’ll readily admit that my musical tastes are outside the mainstream, which means most shows I go to have a smaller crowd. You start noticing the same faces. And for a long stretch in the late 90s and early 2000s, it seemed like every show I went to — especially the Magus shows– I’d see this older dude with a ponytail. The Venn diagram of our musical tastes overlapped significantly. So I finally introduced myself to him, and every show after that, we’d compare notes on new albums we liked and upcoming shows on our radar. His name was Bob Gregory (I called him “Hippie Bob”), and he taught photography at Sycamore High School for decades before retiring to a life of going to sparsely-attended shows and being bothered by some music nerd (c’est moi!). He was a sweet dude, soft-spoken, funny, and kind. I’m now at the age where I read the obits to make sure my name isn’t in it. This past Sunday I read that Hippie Bob had passed away earlier this month at the age of 82. R.I.P. my music friend.
WTF is on a roll
Marc Maron’s been on a music tear lately… recent episodes of his WTF podcast include interviews with Sharon Van Etten, S.G. Goodman and Covington’s own Adrian Belew. All are well worth a listen.
Coming next year to a bookstore near you
Album Cover of the Week
Any dude with an umlaut in his name knows how to rock! Party on, Günter!
One of my go-to podcasts is The Memory Palace – it’s audio storytelling at its finest. But somehow this episode from 2017 had slipped through the cracks until it was reposted recently.
Host Nate DiMeo pays tribute to WBRU-FM in Providence, Rhode Island. But if you’re a 97X fan, you’ll definitely relate to the subject matter. Here’s a great snippet from the culmination of the episode:
“The one (station) that in no small part made you who you were then… maybe still are. But this one station, now gone, was mine…”
Nate DiMeo on the episode linked above
Like WBRU, 97X lives on, in our own Memory Palace.
[I highly recommend all the episodes of The Memory Palace. Check ’em out here.]
