Concert Listings

Summertime blues (and other music genres)

Concert Listings, Music

The official start of summer is just around the corner. So are some decent shows. But first, a P.S.A.:

All day today (until midnight PDT), Bandcamp is holding their third annual Juneteenth fundraiser, where they donate 100% of their share of sales to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, a racial justice organization with a long history of effectively enacting change through litigation, advocacy, and public education. Read their statement here.

Tonight:

  • Steve Rosen discusses his book Lost Cincinnati Concert Venues of the 50s and 60s at MOTR at 6 p.m.
  • The two-day Hell is Ohio festival kicks off at Swine City Brewing in Fairfield, with 500 Miles to Memphis as the headliner.
  • Ben Levin plays Front Street Cafe in New Richmond
  • The Wood Brothers, Guster and David Wax Museum play the Marsha Brady
  • Fitz & the Tantrums and St. Paul & the Broken Bones double-ampersand the Fraze.
  • Matchbox Twenty and the Wallflowers are at Riverbend
  • Hiroshima is at the Ludlow Garage
  • Carriage House Farm in North Bend is hosting Songwriter Sweep: An Evening of Short Sets with The Hiders, Night Owl, Zapruder Point and Peace Police.

Saturday:

Free admission
  • Indigo De Souza plays Madison Live
  • Jackie Venson (blues) and New Breed Brass Band are at RiversEDGE in Hamilton
  • Neal Francis headlines the Fountain Square free show
  • This Pine Box plays a free show at MOTR with Boa and Fat Sal. Showtime is 10 p.m.
  • Ben Levin’s at BrewRiver
  • Jesse Terry will be at Parlor & Patio (a.k.a. the home of list members Dave & Jacqui Killen) in Ft. Thomas. A few tickets might still be available here – and check out the Jesse video below.

On Sunday, Train makes a stop (ba-dump-bump) at Riverbend, with Jewel, Blues Traveler and Will Anderson in tow. (List member Lisa Collins saw Blues Traveler play at Top Cats back in the day. Perhaps the hook will bring her back.)

But most of the smelly hippies will be at the Greg Brady on Sunday night for An Acoustic Evening with Trey Anastasio.

Greg ordering takeout – he got the Phish.

Sunday is Father’s Day too – This Week in Live Music would like to wish a very Happy Father’s Day to all the dads on this list. May your day be peaceful and relaxing.

But Tuesday, is a day for The Chicks (nee Dixie Chicks)… they play Riverbend, with Patty Griffin as the opener.

Or if you prefer Bon-Bons, you can savor Bon Iver and Bonnie Light Horseman at the Ovation. (Sorry, no Bon Jovi.)

https://youtu.be/paOGLFDADgY

Tuesday also is the official start of summer.

The smelly hippies will be back in full force on Wednesday, when Dead & Company come truckin’ into Riverbend. Yours truly will be there, as Mrs. TWILM is quite the deadhead.

Samuel Hibbard plays a free gig at Washington Park on Thursday as part of their Roots Revival series.

Next Friday, June 24th:

  • The Jan Brady hosts An Evening with Jackson Browne
  • Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers play the Taft
  • Phil Vassar plays the old Annie’s

Letters to the Editor

List member/Cereal Killer Howard Cohen riffed on last week’s SMÖRGÅSBORD theme by sending us this gem of a 70s TV commercial:

That commercial sent me down a Mason Reese rabbit hole… I’m still there.

Nimoy’s suit is highly illogical

Speaking of rabbit holes, list member Gil Kaufman and I were at the same grad party last weekend and he was telling me about his detective work trying to track down the kid from the Pearl Jam “Jeremy” video. The piece Gil wrote for Billboard back in 2017 is here – as Spock would say “fascinating!”

Silliness for a serious cause

Also from Gil comes news that you can pre-order a seven-inch vinyl edition of this Who medley from Tenacious D, with proceeds benefitting Everytown for Gun Safety:

Silliness for the sake of being silly

If you’re not familiar with James Fridman, a Photoshop whiz who accepts requests from anyone… but often turns them into something a bit too literal… you really need to check out his website. Here’s an example of his work:

Album Cover of the Week

Happy Father’s Day! Happy Summer!

Summer Smörgåsbord o’ tunes

97X, Concert Listings, Music
Meatballs again?

The concert chef has whipped up a big batch of gigs this week. Let’s dig in!

Saturday night:

  • Rose Music Center in Dayton has An Evening with Jackson Browne (Daryl Hannah would not recommend)
  • Wallows plays the Ovation
  • Styx, REO Speedwagon and Loverboy play the time machine that is Riverbend Music Center
  • The Pat Travers Band and Cactus are at Ludlow Garage
  • Here’s one for the Swedish chef: the Aronoff presents ABBAfab: the premier Abba experience (note, this is not to be confused with ABBA, The Concert, yet another Abba tribute, which is playing Rose Music Center later this month)
“It was the 70s” is an acceptable explanation

On Sunday, Fraze Pavilion in Kettering hosts the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band Birthday Party featuring Samantha Fish, the Ally Venable Band and Shemekia Copeland. And maybe the members of ABBA will jump out of the birthday cake!

Björn, Agnetha and Benny with the mad hops. Anni-Frid, not so much.

On Tuesday, The Wood Brothers and Guster play Rose Music Center, with special guest David Wax Museum. (Note: David Wax Museum is not to be confused with the wax figures at the ABBA Museum in Stockholm, Sweden, where adult admission is 250 kronor, and kids 6 and under are free!)

L to R: BAAB.

On Wednesday, Billy Strings plays a sold-out gig at Rose, and Whiskey Myers is at the Greg Brady.

Thursday:

  • Steely Dan is at Riverbend – Steve Winwood was originally going to open the show, but since it was covid-poned, the new opener is Snarky Puppy.
  • Air Supply plays Rose
  • Willy Tea Taylor performs at the Washington Park Roots Revival free show

On Friday, June 17th:

  • The Wood Brothers, Guster and David Wax Museum play the Marsha Brady
  • Fitz & the Tantrums and St. Paul & the Broken Bones double-ampersand the Fraze.
  • Matchbox Twenty and the Wallflowers are at Riverbend
  • Hiroshima is at the Ludlow Garage
  • Carriage House Farm in North Bend is hosting Songwriter Sweep: An Evening of Short Sets with The Hiders, Night Owl, Zapruder Point and Peace Police.

Re-running up that hill

Kate Bush is having a moment, courtesy of her 1985 song “Running up that Hill” which features prominently in the new season of Stranger Things. You can read more on Paste and in Vogue. Hat tip to list member Cullen Lewis for the Vogue article… it’s great. Here’s an excerpt:

Cullen does a great Substack newsletter every Friday, covering music, arts and fashion. (Soooo much better than this rag.) Check it out here.

More recommended reading

The New Yorker has a nice feature on Angel Olsen, whose new album is delightful.

New tunes for your earballs

Last week’s releases featured a bumper crop of tasty tunes – in addition to the aforementioned Angel Olsen, you should check out the new releases from Horsegirl, Drive-By Truckers, S.G. Goodman, Andrew Bird, and Supercrush.

Shameless self-promotion

The most recent episode of the non-award-winning “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast features our interview with Taylor Fox of Inhailer Radio. Check it out here or wherever you get your pods.

More like Podcast Servant…

Song of the Year (IMHO)

Really diggin’ this new song by The Dream Syndicate… not sure why:

Album Cover of the Week

Backwards it’s Odi Odi Odi Odi Odi… odious.

June. Moon. (Spoon isn’t until September.)

Concert Listings, Music

Greetings and sun salutations!

I pulled a muscle just looking at this series.

Let’s get down to the gigs, Dawg!

Tonight, Inhailer Radio celebrates their 5th anniversary at Madison Live:

Other gigs:

  • Mad Anthony returns to the Southgate House stage, in the Lounge
  • Clownvis Presley and Jimmy Psycho play Southgate’s main room
  • Lagniappe plays a free show at scenic Stanbery Park in even more scenic Mt. Washington
  • Ben Levin plays Wiedemann’s Brewing
  • The Hard Rock Casino has “Big Hair Friday” with Skid Row, Warrant and Winger

Saturday features the Sawyer Point Summer Concert Series kickoff concert:

Free admission

The Southgate House has a quadruple bill of local/regional bands: Bohemian Funk, Trippin’ Roots, The Electric Indigo, and Dead Humor.

Pup and Oceanator play Bogart’s on Sunday.

Pup in the Bogart’s men’s room…

And Ben Levin plays Schwartz’s Point.

On Tuesday, Kate Bollinger is at MOTR Pub, and the Lumineers play Riverbend…

Uh, that’s Lumineers, not Lumiere… but R.I.P. Jerry Orbach! The Lumineers latest album is quite good, and the opener is Caamp – that’s a strong double bill. Speaking of Camp, this one is sold out:

Wednesday is chock full o’ tunes:

  • Nick Lowe’s Quality Rock & Roll Revue starring Los Straitjackets, with Tommy McLain + CC Adcock is at Memorial Hall
  • Flogging Molly and The Interrupters play an outdoor gig at the Bobby Brady
  • The Band Camino rolls into Ovation
  • Jill Andrews plays Southgate’s main room
  • Bob Log III is in the Southgate Revival Room – his stage getup (and setup) are interesting:
  • Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters play Ludlow Garage. Remember when Billy Bob teamed up with Dwight Yoakam, Vic Chestnutt, Col. Bruch Hampton, Ian Moore, and Mickey Jones? That was fun!

On Thursday:

  • Kristin Hersh and Fred Abong (miss you, Throwing Muses!) play MOTR. Show’s at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20.
  • Flying Buffaloes and Red Clay Strays play RiversEDGE in Hamilton
  • Whiskey Bent Valley Boys do the Roots Revival Series at Washington Park
  • Ben Levin plays the rooftop bar at The Phelps
  • Chris Rock opens up a two-night stand at the Taft. They added a second show after “the slap heard ’round the world” — now Chris can afford a nicer meal:

Next Friday, June 10th, the Ben Levin 3 plays the Southgate Lounge, Motion City Soundtrack is at Bogart’s, and We Are Scientists headline the Fountain Square freebie.

Festivals galore!

Video of the Week

Buzz band Wet Leg gets the parody treatment with this send-up of “Chaise Longue”:

Album Cover of the Week

Vic Damone never could find a steady girlfriend… probably because he often wore a monogrammed shirt.

Long weekend, short list

Concert Listings, Concert review, Music

This week’s list of gigs is “more rock, less talk goofy memes”… Sorry, but the latest round of news makes it harder to be all fun and games.

Tonight:

  • Kitchen Dwellers and Neighbor play RiversEDGE in Hamilton
  • Smashing Pumpkins do an outdoor gig at the Ovation in Newport
  • Comedian Tom Segura kicks off a two-night stand at the Aronoff
  • Ben Levin plays Big Ash Brewing
  • Local bluesperson Erin Coburn plays a free gig on Fountain Square
  • Last but certainly not least, America’s AC/DC tribute, Thunderstruck, plays the Event Center at Little Miami Brewing in Milford

I’m thinking of starting a band that plays country versions of New York Dolls and Heartbreakers songs and calling it “Thunder’s Truck”…

UNITED KINGDOM – JANUARY 01: MUSIC MACHINE, CAMDEN PALACE Photo of Johnny THUNDERS, & The Heartbreakers L-R Walter Lure, Billy Rath, Jerry Nolan, Johnny Thunders (Photo by Erica Echenberg/Redferns)

Saturday:

  • Ray Lamontagne and Sierra Ferrell at the Brady
  • Ben Levin plays at an outdoor gig at Miami Whitewater Park from 7-9 p.m.
  • Kentucky Struts at Southgate
  • Veronica Grim, Alex Salcido (of The Harmed Brothers) and Hayden Kaye play Fountain Square

The rescheduled Haim show happens at the Marsha, Jan, and Cindy Brady on Sunday.

That same evening, Jeremy Pinnell, Wonky Tonk and Dead Man String Band are doing a free show on Fountain Square.

On Tuesday, New Found Glory plays Bogart’s, and the Woodward Theater will be screening Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr.

Bright Eyes and Alex G play the Greg Brady on Wednesday, June 1st, and Ben Levin plays Ghost Baby.

On Thursday:

  • Darrell Scott plays Memorial Hall with Ben Sollee as the opener
  • Joslyn & the Sweet Compression play Washington Park as part of their freebie Roots Revival Series (full list of shows is here)
  • Erin Coburn is “Rocking the Roebling” on the Schmidlapp Event Lawn by the Christian Moerlein Lager House in Smale Park
  • Marcy Playground swings (get it?) into Ludlow Garage

Next Friday, June 3rd, Inhailer Radio celebrates their 5th anniversary with a big gig at Madison Live:

Other gigs that same evening:

  • Mad Anthony returns to the Southgate House stage, in the Lounge
  • Clownvis Presley and Jimmy Psycho play Southgate’s main room
  • Lagniappe plays a free show at scenic Stanbery Park in even more scenic Mt. Washington
  • Ben Levin plays Wiedemann’s Brewing
  • The Hard Rock Casino becomes the Hair Rock Casino with Skid Row, Warrant and Winger upping the Aqua Net ante. (No ripped acid-washed jeans, no entry….)

Next Saturday, June 4th, the Sawyer Point Summer Concert Series kicks off with a real hootenanny:

Free admission

The Southgate House has a quadruple bill of local/regional bands: Bohemian Funk, Trippin’ Roots, The Electric Indigo, and Dead Humor.

Oh, and Mother Nature will revoke my tree-hugger card if I don’t mention Cincy VegFest at Burnet Woods (11 am-6pm)… yoga, plant-based food demos, and live music with headliner Wonky Tonk.

Concert reviews

List member/Cereal Killers guitarist/This Week in Live Music neighbor Matt weighs in on The Who’s gig:

List member/neighbor Barb loved Tears for Fears at Riverbend:

And my co-worker Bob, a.k.a. DJ Bob, who worked at Cooter’s decades ago, had this to say:

Freebie Outdoor Shows this summer

I’ll try to mention some notable gigs in my weekly list, but Cincinnati.com has a comprehensive list here.

And now, the sad stuff…

When satire becomes sad reality:

Making music memories

Concert Listings, Music, podcast

Everybody wants to rule the world. Except me. I’d settle for the dogs staying off my side of the bed.

But Tears for Fears said everybody wants to rule the world. And they’ll be at Riverbend tonight, along with Garbage… dogs like garbage too!

Other gigs tonight include Will Kimbrough at Southgate and Al Stewart at Ludlow Garage. Al’s more of a cat person.

The two-day Big River Get Down kicks off at RiversEDGE in Hamilton tonight as well. Here’s the full schedule:

On Saturday:

  • Martin Sexton plays Ludlow Garage
  • The Heavy Hours play Southgate
  • It’s Night #2 of the Big River Get Down
  • SNL funnyman David Spade plays the Taft. Let’s hope he makes his audience crack up half as much as Chris Farley made him crack up in this sketch:

Miranda Lambert plays Riverbend on Sunday, with Little Big Town. Country shows always seem to draw a crowd there. I’m really hoping Memphis-Kansas Breeze comes to town this year.

On Tuesday, John R. Miller and Vincent Neil Emerson play Southgate, and Tabitha Johansen Tori Amos is at the Taft Theatre.

on Wednesday, Elephant Stone plays MOTR and Valerie June plays Memorial Hall.

Southgate has a couple of options on Thursday:

  • Charlie Hunter & Scott Amendola Duo play the Southgate Sanctuary
  • Joe Buck Yourself plays the Revival Room

Speaking of Joe Buck, here’s a fun game to play this fall – it’s a variation on the old “Hi Bob” game. Watch a football game where Joe Buck is the announcer and take a drink every time he says “pass is caught”… you’ll be hammered before the 1st quarter is over.

Next Friday is a busy night for gigs:

  • Kitchen Dwellers and Neighbor play RiversEDGE in Hamilton
  • Smashing Pumpkins do an outdoor gig at the Ovation in Newport
  • Comedian Tom Segura kicks off a two-night stand at the Aronoff
  • Local bluesperson Erin Coburn plays a free gig on Fountain Square
  • Last but certainly not least, America’s AC/DC tribute, Thunderstruck, plays the Event Center at Little Miami Brewing in Milford.
The Angus and Malcolm of the late 1800s.. or more like the Liam and Noel Gallagher.

Next Saturday (5/28), Ray Lamontagne plays the Carol Brady, with Sierra Ferrell as the opener. Also, local band Kentucky Struts plays Southgate.

Due to a recent COVID outbreak within the touring group, the Haim show originally slated for 5/19 has been rescheduled for Sunday, May 29th. That same evening, Fountain Square has a nice freebie show featuring Jeremy Pinnell, Wonky Tonk and the Dead Man String Bang.

Cool cover of an amazing original

Jenn Wasner has a new album out under the Flock of Dimes moniker (she also is in Wye Oak) and she does a great cover of a gorgeous tune from the woefully underappreciated Joan Armatrading. Here’s a live version from her appearance on KEXP:

The original always gives me goose bumps too. Here’s Joan doing it live:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjQG8zYCQFw

This Teacher is a Wussy

Congrats to Mark Messerly, bassist for Wussy, on being a finalist for Educator of the Year.

Why I love Jon Wurster’s social media posts

Jon is the drummer for Superchunk… and Bob Mould… and the Mountain Goats… and he’s part of The Best Show… and he’s well worth a follow on the socials – you know, your Facegrams and Instatweets and such.

Shameless Self-promotion… and local music promotion

The latest episode of the 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast (available wherever you get your pods… but not your Tide Pods) features our interview with Brian Niesz, who engineered 400+ live performances on woxy.com. If you go to our post on 97XBam.com, you’ll find a few of Brian’s favorites – including one from Magnolia Electric Co. Brian is keeping the old woxy.com “Lounge Acts” name alive with live performances from bands on WCPO.com. Check ’em out here.

Album Cover of the Week

Let the double entendres commence. (The album is actually pretty good… in other words, I think you might really enjoy some new Peaness.)

Who’s on first?

Concert Listings

Happy Friday the 13th!

Tonight:

  • Ritt & Wilder Dietz play a sold-out gig at Parlor & Patio
  • Marc Cohn plays Ludlow Garage
  • The Ghost of Paul Revere is at Taft
  • Bitch, Katie Cash and Kristen Ford are in Southgate’s Revival Room
  • Night Owl and The Hiders (duo) play a free gig in the Southgate Lounge.
  • Chris Gaines Garth Brooks opens a two-night stand at Paul Brown Stadium.

On Saturday:

The Cereal Killers, fresh off their fantastic gig at Fries Cafe, have a matinee slot (3-5 p.m.) at MadTree Brewing’s “One Good Party”:

First beer’s still on me!

Look for me at the CK gig, I’ll be the guy up front in the open front shirt:

Made you look… twice… and again!

On Saturday evening:

  • Ben Levin’s Blues Revue is at 20th Century Theater
  • Houndmouth plays the Madison Theater
  • Oliver Wood (of the Wood Brothers) will be in the Taft Ballroom
  • Willy Tea Taylor and Jeffery Martin play Southgate
  • Garth Brooks plays another evening at PBS
  • After your kids ride the carousel at Smale, take them over to the Mike Brady center for a family-friendly lineup of Danzig, Cradle of Filth, Crobot and Necrofier

On Sunday, The Who returns to Cincinnati for the first time since their ill-fated 1979 concert at the Coliseum. Pete Townshend talks about that heart-crushing tragedy in this clip from his Audible “Words + Music” release. (Read more here.)

It was a very sad situation – sending good vibes to anyone adversely affected by that event.

Shifting gears: of course any mention of The Who brings to mind the famous comedy bit from Harry “Derek Smalls” Shearer and David “Squiggy” Landers.

Also on Sunday, the Rumjacks (kinda like an Aussie version of The Pogues) play Southgate.

Foy Vance plays Memorial Hall on Tuesday. Hearing the name “Foy” brings to mind the old Foy-Johnson Paint Co. in Cincinnati, and their “It’s a joy to paint with Foy” tagline. (I can’t remember my wife’s birthday but I remember taglines from defunct paint companies. Welcome to my twisted brain!)

It’s a joy to paint with Bob too!

Something old, something new…

Thursday has a primo gig for the kiddos, and a sop for the silver-haired set: Haim plays the Jan Brady, with Faye Webster as the opener… and Janis Ian plays Memorial Hall with Tom Rush opening the show. (Janis Ian is no longer “At Seventeen” and Tom Rush is no relation to Rush or Big Time Rush.)

Welcome to the (time) machine

To paraphrase Mark Twain, “When the end of the world comes I want to be at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, because their lineup is always 30 years behind the times.”

Mark Twain… he licked his fingers a lot.

Want proof? Tears for Fears and Garbage are playing there next Friday. But at least both of those bands are still making new music, which is more than you can say for 85% of the Riverbend lineup every year.

2022 may be the Year of the Tiger (Who Dey!) but next Friday is the Year of the Cat as Al Stewart plays Ludlow Garage.

Thoroughly modern artist Will Kimbrough plays Southgate that evening too. And the two-day Big River Get Down kicks off at RiversEDGE in Hamilton, featuring hometown hero David Shaw.

Tickets on sale

Wilco plays the Ovation on August 16th. Tickets are on sale today. Wilco’s new album is a country music set… call me old-fashioned but I liked Wilco’s country music better when it was called “Uncle Tupelo.”

Other upcoming shows with tix on sale today:

Letters to the Editor

List member Rob Ervin sent along this note about a month ago when we referenced the Uproxx article ranking all the Red Hot Chili Peppers albums.

More deserved RHCP snark. Kinda long, but this guy is funny and makes a lot of good points. For a band as boring and blah as the Peppers are, I’ve spent way too much time considering their mediocrity lately.

And Lisa Collins had this to say about last week’s Album Cover of the Week:

the Leif album cover was terrifying – please don’t find Shaun Cassidy – hahaha!

Album Cover of the Week

Sorry Lisa, but I’m a sucker for personalized white bell-bottom overalls…

The infinite sadness

Concert Listings, Music

Sorry to start off on a sad note… notes, actually… but ye olde music list is a man down. He was a good man too. Mark Celsor – longtime Cincinnati Recreation Commission staffer, Mt. Washington neighbor, active in the community, musician, music lover… just an all-around great dude. Heart attack. 65. I just spoke with Mark at the Waxahatchee show… of course he was there – Mark attended tons of concerts over the past 50 years. A week later, he was gone. R.I.P. M.C. You’ll be sorely missed by friends and family.

While we’re still in sadness mode, I want to remind you that May is Mental Health Awareness Month… and it’s also the month that we lost John Erhardt (Ass Ponys, Wussy) and Scott Hutchison (Frightened Rabbit). Those factoids are related.

It’s not just about musicians, though. It’s about family, friends and neighbors. The link above has some good resources and suggestions for ways to reach out and help out.

May is also the month we lost my friend Kim Collins (sister to three folks on this list, friend to countless others) to a heart attack, at age 52. Kim was an avid music fan, and her way-too-soon passing was both the inspiration and the impetus for this list of live gigs. Go to a show… and savor it!

Friday night Cereal Killers play Fries Cafe in Clifton, from 7-11 p.m. First beer is on me, as we drink a toast to Mark, Kim, John, Scott… and to the music that touches our hearts. (Watch out for Cereal Killers lead singer Howard Cohen though… he might touch lower.)

Other notable gigs on Friday:

  • Leon Bridges plays the Jan Brady.
  • Heywood Banks is at Ludlow Garage.
  • Run to the (Western) Hills to catch Iron Maidens (female Iron Maiden tribute band) at the Blue Note in Harrison. The lead singer’s stage name is Bruce Chickinson. Not sure if they have an monster mascot named Edwina… but they probably use the same hair care products.

Speaking of great hair, there’s one more show on Friday – it’s a supermarket matinee. Local musician Chris Cusentino plays the Hyde Park Kroger (great tunes, good prices!) from 4-8 p.m.

Tune up on Aisle 7!

I’m not sure what section Chris will be in (Produce? Not Dairy because he isn’t cheesy…), but his gig will be more melodic — and just as entertaining — as the “show” at another retail location:

Chris Cusentino is playing the Hyde Park Kroger again on Saturday… from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. (Is he sleeping in the stockroom?) Chris’ brother-in-law is a big Deadhead, and he always asks Chris to play “China Cat Sunflower”… which Chris refuses to play. So if you’re picking up some delicious Kroger® Sea Salt Dry Roasted Sunflower Kernels (just $1.99!) and roll past CC, ask him to play “CCS”… it’ll be a hoot!

Saturday (and some Sunday) evening shows:

  • Camp Springs Tavern hosts Jam on the Creek, with great local music (Randy Steffen, Michael Moeller, The Pour Hours), food (Little Rock Farm) and beer (Fifty West).
  • Joe’s Truck Stop has an album release party in the Southgate Lounge, while upstairs in the Revival Room it’s The Mango Furs.
  • Coney Island hosts Appalachian Festival (Sunday too!).
  • Yonder Mountain String Band headlines both evenings (Sat-Sun) of the Rivergrass music festival at the old Annie’s.
  • Testament, Exodus and Death Angel play a sold-out (and likely quite loud) show at Madison Theater.
Must be a UK fan…

On Sunday, in addition to the aforementioned festivals above, Mudhoney plays the Southgate House, and Deftones play the Cindy Brady.

Mud. Cindy Brady. They go together. But they’re separate shows.

On Tuesday:

  • AJR kicks off the Riverbend season (Good lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise…).
  • Band of Heathens and Chicago Farmer are at the Woodward.
  • Last — and least — the Mixtape Tour (i.e. New Kids on the Block, Salt ‘n Pepa, Rick Astley and En Vogue) hits the Coliseum (speaking of ancient artifacts).

Wednesday:

  • Guitar wizard Eric Johnson plays Ludlow Garage.
  • Victor Wooten/The Wooten Brothers play Memorial Hall.
  • Lung is at MOTR.

Next Friday marks the return of the Parlor & Patio house concert series, with Ritt & Wilder Dietz playing at the home of list members Dave and Jacqui Killen, in scenic Ft. Thomas, Kentucky. Ft. Thomas is known for its “cake eaters” but at P&P, they serve pie!

The P&P show is sold out (live music + pie = high demand), but they have Jesse Terry booked for 6/16. Get yer tix now!

Other shows on Friday, May 13th:

  • Marc Cohn plays Ludlow Garage (he’ll be walkin’ in Clifton….)
  • The Ghost of Paul Revere gallops into Taft
  • Bitch, Katie Cash and Kristen Ford are in Southgate’s Revival Room
  • Night Owl and The Hiders (duo) play a free gig in the Southgate Lounge.
  • Garth Brooks opens a two-night stand at Paul Brown Stadium.

Gig radar

King Cobra is gone for good, but Timberwolf is back, baby!

Standing ovation, every ride!

And for this year’s Timberwolf Amphitheatre shows, you don’t have to purchase a ticket to the amusement park. The Avett Brothers kick off the series on Tuesday, June 28th. Full summer lineup and ticket links are here.

The Afghan Whigs just announced a hometown show at Bogart’s on Sept. 11. And Built to Spill is playing the Woodward on Monday, August 22nd.

Jesse is a friend… of democracy

Jesse Malin and Eugene Hütz (Gogol Bordello) teamed up to cover the Pogues to drum up donations for the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation.

Love your mom… KISS your dad

Happy Mother’s Day to all the real mothers. And Paul Stanley had some sage advice for all of us

as he paid tribute to his dad, who passed away last April at the age of 101.

Pearls of wisdom from the guy who wrote “Love Gun”… who’d a thunk it?

Album Cover of the Week

We’re turning over an old Leif. Because the back cover can’t be any worse.

May the Sixth be with you

Concert Listings, Music

Hello friend! It’s purt near May (that’s how we say it in Arkansas) which means it’s purt near time for another Cereal Killers gig… or two! But I reckon we have a few shows before then too. Let’s take a look-see.

Friday, Khruangbin and Toro y Moi are at the Sam the Butcher Music Center. You remember Sam the Butcher, don’t you? He was the one who always delivered meat to Alice the cook at the Brady Bunch house.

Nice package!

Other gigs on Friday evening:

  • Gavin DeGraw plays the Horseshoe Jack Hard Rock Casino
  • Brit Floyd is at the Taft
  • Ben Levin rocks BrewRiver
  • Sierra Ferrell plays Southgate. According to list member Dave Green (who also plays bagpipes in the 35th Indiana Pipes & Drums), Sierra likes to make her own stage costumes by modifying thrift store clothes. I think she should call this outfit “Partridge Family Bus”:
C’mon get happy…

On Saturday evening, you can get some clean laughs with Brian Regan at the Mike Brady Music Center.

Or you can head to Camp Springs Tavern to enjoy a cold beverage, served up by guest bartenders (and brothers) Chris and Nathan Dye, founders of the local brand design agency Dye Brothers (fitting name, ain’t it?).

All tips earned that night will be donated to the Karen Wellington Foundation for Women LIVING with breast cancer, so it’s a good time for a great cause. The missus and I will be there for a spell. Hope you can join us!

NRBQ plays Southgate on Sunday.

On Wednesday, The Happy Fits are at Top Cats.

Thursday, the Walter Trout Band plays Ludlow Garage.

Next Friday (5/6), the Cereal Killers play at Fries Cafe in Clifton!

Remember, the first beer is my treat.

That same evening, Leon Bridges plays the Carol Brady. Which was your favorite Carol Brady hairdo?

The only correct answer is #3.

Ben Levin plays Wiedemann’s Brewing.

Comedian/guy who sings “Toast” Heywood Banks is at the Ludlow Garage.

And Engelbert Humperdinck plays the Taft. I hear he does a cover of “The Humpty Dance,” while wearing the glasses…

Next weekend features a flurry of festivals

Here are the gig posters:

Support local artists

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Please consider volunteering your time and/or making a donation.

A Public Service Announcement to the people who go to shows to talk

I’d like you to STFU. Andrianne Lenker of Big Thief put it a bit more politely:

“When music is happening in a room, there’s a performer onstage playing and doing their craft, when you enter into that space, try to be mindful of what’s happening and pay attention and don’t talk,” Lenker said. Later in the message, she rephrased the same thought: “When you come into this space where music is happening, even if you’re coming just to see a specific act play, be mindful if there is somebody performing and playing, to either listen or at least be quiet so that other people can listen. Or go and put yourself elsewhere.”

Her full message can be found in this Stereogum article

I couldn’t agree more. Wanna chat? Go to the lobby… or just go home!

Gig pix

James McMurtry put on a stellar solo show at Memorial Hall. I knew he had a way with words but was impressed by his gee-tar pickin’ too!

Valley Heat is spreading…

Remember the podcast I touted last week, called Valley Heat? We have another convert – Cereal Killers frontman/Great Lakes Brewing rep Howard Cohen:

The show is so damn funny, including the music. Check it out posthaste.

Album Cover of the Week

List member Ted Gardner wants to know if this is the worst or best album ever made? What say ye? You can put your ears on it below… enter at your own risk!

Have a great week!

Down to Earth

Concert Listings, Concert review, Music

I come to you with cap in hand, asking your forgiveness for my disparaging comments about the local nine (technically 10 now that there’s a DH) last week. As a wise man once said:

“How about everybody just settle down and celebrate and cheer for the team.”

The guy whose dad bought the team

I was so very wrong last week when I said that this year’s Cincinnati Reds roster consists mostly of players from the Reds’ minor league affiliate Chattanooga Lookouts, only now they’re wearing uniforms with less of a “Mr. Potato Head eyes” vibe.

In reality, the team is more like players from the Reds’ low-A minor league affiliate Daytona Tortugas, only with a logo that has less of a juice pouch vibe:

But, as a wise man once said, “be careful what you ask for.”

OK, enough yapping about baseball. Let’s get to the gigs.

Moon Tooth is at Top Cats on Monday. List member Ken Laube once lost a tooth at Top Cats, in a fight with Chris Knight. (I’m kidding… although singer Chris Knight did get into a fight there…) Wait, breaking news: the Moon Tooth show has been cancelled. But Chris Knight is OK. So’s Ken.

On Tuesday, Justin Bieber is at the Coliseum. I’ve already incurred the wrath of Phil Castellini, so I don’t dare risk pissing off the Beliebers. But I will say I liked his music better when he was in NSYNC.

Wednesday night, Dylan is at Southgate House! (That’s Dylan LeBlanc.) And Candlebox plays an unplugged show at Memorial Hall.

Thursday, James McMurtry plays a solo show at Memorial Hall. List members John Sandman, Michael Orzali and I will be there. You should be too – Mr. McMurtry’s last album was one of the best of 2021.

Or you can check out local reggae band The Cliftones at the Cincinnati Zoo’s Tunes & Blooms. Admission is free after 5 p.m., music starts at 6, and you just might run into list member/Cereal Killers frontman Howard Cohen at the Great Lakes Brewing table. (More on the Cereal Killers later.)

Other Thursday shows:

  • Stick Men (featuring Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto from King Crimson plus eight-string touch guitarist Markus Reuter) is at Ludlow Garage.
  • Ashley Cooke plays Top Cats (list member Ken Laube used to cook at Zino’s, just down the street…) Breaking news: the Ashley Cooke show has been cancelled… but Ken can still make you a Zinover.
  • Ben Levin plays Shire’s Garden.
  • Comedian Lewis Black will be ranting at the Taft.

Friday is Earth Day. Hug a tree…

… or better yet, plant one.

On Friday evening, Olivia Rodrigo plays a sold-out show at the Alice the Cook Brady Music Center.

Olivia is so hot right now… but so was Alice back in the day!

A whole slew of shows is slated for Saturday:

  • Jimmy Webb plays “The Glen Campbell Years” at Memorial Hall.
  • The Quebe Sisters play Southgate House’s main room, and Addison Johnson teams up with Mic Harrison (of the late great V-Roys) for an acoustic duo set in the upstairs Revival Room.
  • Aly & AJ are at Bogart’s
  • Kenny Loggins plays the Hard Rock Casino
  • Ludlow Garage hosts Lotus Land – A Tribute to Rush.

You’ve gotta have a monster pair of brass balls to try to fill Neil Peart’s drum stool. (Oh, you’ll also need a metric ton of drums and cymbals, some wind chimes, maybe a gong…)

On Sunday, the always-entertaining Robyn Hitchcock plays the Southgate House… and Journey plays the Coliseum.

Looks like the “new” Journey has removed the Steve Perry Journey literal video of “Separate Ways” from YouTube… (ironic when you think about how they discovered their current lead singer) so you’ll have to go here to enjoy it.

The following week is rather light on gigs, so let’s cover those here:

Suzanne Vega plays Tom’s Diner Ludlow Garage on Wednesday, April 27th.

On Thursday, April 28th:

  • Leo Kottke plays Ludlow Garage
  • Chuck Mead (of BR-549) is at Southgate
  • Restless Leg String Band plays the Zoo’s Tunes & Blooms
  • Steve Hackett is at the Taft

On Friday, April 29th:

  • Sierra Ferrell plays Southgate (list members Dave Green and Michael Orzali are big fans)
  • Khruangbin and Toro y Moi are at the Brady
  • Gavin DeGraw plays the Hard Rock Casino
  • Brit Floyd is at Taft
  • Ben Levin plays BrewRiver

Comedian Brian Regan plays the Brady on Saturday, April 30th, and NRBQ will be at Southgate on Sunday, May 1st.

Must-see May gigs

The Cereal Killers are back with their inimitable combination of songs from late ’70’s British & American punk, with a dash of the New Wave, a dollop of garage rock, a heaping helping of hijinks, and a side of shenanigans. It’s like 97X is still on the air, but better because it’s live! If you’re on this list and you’re in the house for this gig, the first beer’s on me!

Actually Damian says “Hell Yes!”

And if you can’t make that raucous evening gig due to your advancing years, fear not, Cereal Killers have a matinee show (3-5 p.m.) at MadTree on Saturday, May 14th!

Then you can take a quick nap — or enjoy the early bird special at Bob Evans — before catching a fantastic blues lineup at 20th Century Theatre:

Mark the calendar in your Day Runner now, and put it in your PalmPilot too!

Concert reviews

The Waxahatchee show at Woodward was stellar – and it was great to see list members Bruce Frasure (and his lovely bride), Taylor Fox (of Inhailer Radio), Kevin Sullivan, Dave Roberto and Joe Sampson in 3-D. (Mark Messerly of Wussy also was there and said a new album from Wussy is forthcoming!)

Katie Crutchfield’s beau Kevin Morby joined her on stage (in a stunning jacket from the Fess Parker collection, no less!) for a few songs, including covers of Magnolia Electric Co. and Dylan (Bob, not LeBlanc).

Meanwhile, list member David Reid thoroughly enjoyed the Jack White gig at the Carol Brady Music Center that same evening:

Just got home from the Jack White show. So good! Dude is the complete package: Nasty-great guitar, empassioned, from-the-gut vocals, good songs and dynamic stage presence. Left knowing I’d seen something pretty special.

My new favorite podcast

OMG, Valley Heat is hilarious! It’s like A Confederacy of Dunces meets Arrested Development meets Fernwood 2 Night. Doug’s deadpan delivery, a wacky cast of characters, fun music references, the bogus promo spots, and great theater-of-the-mind audio all combine to create a perfect storm of humor. I binged every episode this weekend and was laughing the entire time.

It’s a Small (Woody) World…

Last week’s wacky album cover:

Prompted this comment from list member Lisa Collins, whose mom (Carol Jean) lives in Florida:

Just an FYI, Woody Woodbury is an acquaintance/friend of Carol Jean. He is 98 years old and lives in Fort Lauderdale. He goes every Sunday to breakfast at the same place Mom goes. They’ve become breakfast buddies – haha.

And list member/Cereal Killers frontman/online detective Howard Cohen tracked down a lovely archival photo of the spot where the album was “taped, unexpurgated and unrehearsed from the night club floor of the Bahama Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale”:

Album Cover of the Week

Remember Dionne Warwick? Remember Pricing Charts? Remember K-Mart? (This album is in pretty good shape for being 50 years old.)

Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and… live music

Concert Listings, Music

Now that 30 billionaires have settled their differences with 700+ millionaires on how to divvy up the incoming millions, Major League Baseball is underway across America. Except in Cincinnati, where the roster consists mostly of players from the Reds’ minor league affiliate Chattanooga Lookouts, only now they’re wearing uniforms with less of a “Mr. Potato Head eyes” vibe.

That’s because the Reds, in the words of GM Nick Krall “must align our payroll with our resources.”

Don’t worry, though, this payroll reduction doesn’t affect list member Dan “The Reds – learn their names along with us!” Lewis, who is still being compensated quite handsomely for “HELPING PARTNERS ENGAGE/ACTIVATE WITH OUR FANS IN THE BALL PARK, ONLINE AT REDS.COM AND ON REDS ON RADIO.”

(We rarely use “quite handsomely” in the same sentence with “Dan Lewis” but in this case we mean Dan gets his pick of bobbleheads, and any leftover popcorn from concession stands. Score!)

Speaking of Herb Score, the Reds take the field Tuesday afternoon for their home opener against the Cleveland Indi…er, Guardians.

And after the game you can stick around downtown to see a live performance from a real rock star:

No, that’s not Queen’s Brian May, or REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin, or the ghost of Ronnie James Dio… it’s noted curmudgeon Fran Lebowitz. She’ll be at the Aronoff on Tuesday evening.

I don’t often engage in hyperbole (except when talking about Dan “Moneyball” Lewis’ salary) so believe me when I say that this Wednesday is the Humping-est Hump Day ever!

It’s an embarrassment of musical riches:

  • Waxahatchee will be at the Woodward Theater with opener Madi Diaz – list member Joe Sampson and I will be there, with bells on.
  • Jack White plays the Jan Brady Music Center.
  • Jim Lauderdale is doing a solo gig at the Southgate.
  • Country Westerns will be at MOTR.
  • Penny & Sparrow are at Ludlow Garage.
  • Last, but certainly not least, the Taft hosts Baby Shark Live.

Speaking of Jack White and baseball, check out his version of the Star-Spangled Banner at the Detroit Tigers home opener:

We’re really digging Jack’s Papa Smurf-meets-Devo-plastic hairdo

On Thursday, Loudon Wainwright III plays Memoria Hall, much liked he played the M*A*S*H 4077 back in the day:

That same evening, Celtic Women play the Aronoff, and the Cincinnati Zoo’s “Tunes and Blooms” series features the Whiskey Bent Valley Boys.

On Friday:

  • Bill and the Belles play Southgate.
  • Hyryder (Grateful Dead tribute) plays Annie’s.
  • Keiko Matsui is at Ludlow Garage.
  • Local band Gentle Leader XIV opens for System Exclusive at a free show at MOTR. A member of Gentle Leader XIV works with list member Anne Robinson, and Anne encourages all of us to attend. And another “Gentle Leader 14” is willing to bet it’ll be a great show.

Rainbow Kitten Surprise plays the Ovation on Saturday, with The Brook & The Bluff as the opening band. Aronoff hosts Rain: a tribute to the Beatles. And Ludlow Garage has “Live at the Fillmore: the definitive original Allman Brothers Band tribute.”

Baseball season is also Festival season

Strong lineup for this year’s Bourbon & Beyond:

But it’s no match for the original Borbón:

New Tunes

This week, new albums came out from Lucius, Calexico, Wet Leg, Father John Misty, Jack White, Orville Peck, and Pillow Queens. And check out this delightful song from The Loyal Seas, which is Tanya Donelly (Throwing Muses, Breeders and Belly – try to top that trifecta!) and Brian Sullivan:

Happy Trees Tripping

From this article on Dangerous Minds: A man named Alexander Reben has created the ultimate psychedelic Bob Ross artifact. It’s called Deeply Artificial Trees. According to Reben, “This artwork represents what it would be like for an AI to watch Bob Ross on LSD.”

Album Cover of the Week

Woody is also looking at two to four years in prison for invasion of privacy…

And finally, the song that’s been in your head since you read the headline of this post, if you’re an old-timer like me: