Beth Harris

New Year, New Tunes

Concert Listings, Music

Happy 2024! May your year be filled with peace, prosperity… and some live music!

Breaking news!

Sorry to interrupt our usual programming, but we had to inform you that sales legend (and longtime This Week/Fortnight/Month in Live Music whipping boy) Dan Lewis has hung up his Cincinnati Reds spikes sport coat.

Dan spent 17 years in sales for WLW, and another 17 in sales for the Redlegs. He’s certainly earned his retirement.

And we promise to stop poking fun at Dan “Reds in 2024, but not me” Lewis now that he’s a man of leisure.

Speaking of leisure time, your favorite Koncert Keeper blogger will be out of town for a couple of weeks. I’ll be hangin’ with Donny & Marie… and Punchy.

So let’s take a look at the entire January roster o’ shows.

Monday night, Memorial Hall has “Cincinnati’s King Records: A Musical History – featuring Ben Levin.”

On Wednesday, Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke kicks off a two-night stand at Ludlow Garage. Benji Shanks (not the prison weapon) is also on the bill. Also, ska band Mustard Plug plays Southgate.

Charlie and Benji (not the adorable dog from the 1974 movie or the 2018 reboot) will be back in the Garage on Thursday. That same evening, Jason Carter of the Del McCoury Band will play the Woodward Theater.

Friday shows:

  • Beth Harris plays an unplugged (no relation to Mustard Plug) happy hour freebie show at MOTR. Two sets starting at 5 p.m. Highly recommended!
  • The Godz (legendary hard rock band from Columbus) play the Blue Note in Harrison
  • Ludlow Garage has the Ultimate Doors (no relation to AE Garage Doors)

Next Saturday, Jan. 13th:

  • Musical comedian Heywood Banks plays the Sorg Opera House in Middletown
  • Non-musical comedian Nate Bargatze is at the Coliseum
  • Musician-who-was-in-a-comedy-show Noah Reid (David’s boyfriend in “Schitt’s Creek”) plays Bogart’s
  • Najee plays the Ludlow Garage

Friday, Jan. 19th:

  • Memorial Hall has four great singer/songwriters – it’s the “On a Winter’s Night” tour featuring Lucy Kaplansky, Patty Larkin, John Gorka, and Cliff Eberhardt.
  • King Buffalo plays the Woodward, with Rezn and The Harlequins
  • Dead Letter Office: A Tribute to R.E.M. will be at Ludlow Garage
  • The old Annie’s hosts Grunge: The Sounds of Seattle. (flannel shirts and leggings under cargo shorts sold separately)

The tribute band conga line (Gloria Estefan sold separately) continues on Saturday, Jan. 20th, as Ludlow Garage hosts Kashmir – Classic Led Zeppelin Live and Madison Theater has Signs of Life: The American Pink Floyd. (“Oh, by the way, which one’s fake Pink?”)

That same evening, The Electric Indigo, Junior Citizens, and Nick Fed Trio play MOTR.

On Sunday, Jan. 21st, there’s… wait for it… another tribute show! Memorial Hall hosts All You Need is Love (“a celebration of the 60th anniversary of The Beatles’ arrival in America”).

On Tuesday, Jan. 23rd, Digable Planets will do a 30th anniversary show for their debut album Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space) at Bogart’s.

Michael Oliva of The Harlequins plays an Artist in Residence show at MOTR on Wednesday, 1/24, with Pretty Mean and The Dolly Daredevils. (Michael is playing MOTR every Wednesday in January.)

Story of the Year will be at Bogart’s on Thursday, 1/25.

Shows on Friday, Jan. 26th:

  • Sugadaisy,This Pine Box, and DJ Freakboys play MOTR
  • Mol Sullivan has a record release show at Woodward Theater
  • Mr. Big (no relation to the “Sex in the City” character) plays Ludlow Garage.

The Commodores play the Hard Rock Casino on Saturday, Jan. 27th (not to be confused with “Easy Like Sunday Morning”… wait, yes, it IS!). Meanwhile, over at Tribute Band Central (a.k.a. Ludlow Garage), it’s the Hot Red Chili Peppers.

No, the Hot – Red – Chili – Peppers. See what they did there? (Tube socks sold separately.)

On Sunday, Jan. 28th:

  • Steve Poltz plays the Woodward Theater
  • Branford Marsalis (not to be confused with Wynton Marsalis… but that’s tough to do) plays Memorial Hall.

Long Live Rabbit Hash!

The Rabbit Hash General Store has a “Sunday Music Behind the Stove” Series with artists performing at 2:30 p.m. Here’s the lineup for the next few months:

Long live people who are still alive!

Reader Kevin Sullivan flagged this story from The Atlantic:

It’s a good read for folks of a certain vintage… (looking at you, Dan “I’m Retired” Lewis) and not just because it has “Fee Waybill” in it. (Also, it sounds like the Greenwich Odeum is the Ludlow Garage of Rhode Island.)

Speaking of Geriatric Rock, check out Dan Lewis rocking what he likes to call “The Banana Hammock” (because it’s so comfy):

Concerts in Space!

The Washington Post has an article where the author speculates about playing music in space (not the Grateful Dead kind… or maybe so!). Hard pass for me. I’ll stick with this:

Jim James Jams!

Here’s part of a pre-New Year’s note to the My Morning Jacket email list from lead singer Jim James:

Here are some things I tell myself to try and remember, perhaps some of them may resonate with you:

Take time to tell the people close to you that you love them and are grateful for them. Take time to sit quietly and do the same for yourself – give yourself some extra love and self-care. Look in the mirror every morning and say “I LOVE YOU (insert your name here)” even if you are sad. Go to therapy. Get out in nature and close to the source. Find God in your own way. Hug a friend. If you can’t hug a person, hug a tree or a sweet animal friend, and try to give as many hugs as you can. Don’t be afraid to ask for love if you need it, most folks aren’t mind readers and are usually happy to help if only we ask. Go to an art show, see some live music or sports or performance of any kind, and connect with folks in the real world. [emphasis mine]

Frank & Dave’s faves

List member Frank B. shared his favorite albums of 2023:

  • Wednesday – Rat Saw God
  • Superviolet – Infinite Spring
  • Geese – 3D Country
  • MJ Lenderman – Live and Loose
  • Sparklehorse – Bird Machine
  • Yo La Tengo – This Stupid World

And list member Dave Purcell (now based in Albuquerque) shared his top picks for last year, along with his wife Amy’s favorite books. Those lists are linked below. (+1 on his pick of The Tubs Dead Meat – love that album!)

Album Covers of the Month

No pigs were harmed in the making of this album.

Brother Bill really knows how to pay a compliment! (I think I saw his mother at The Tubes concert.)

Not sure if this is the cover of an album or the cover of a Hardy Boys mystery.

Not sure if this is “Clare Fischer” or Charles Nelson Reilly on “Match Game ’74.”

A fool’s errand

97X, books, Concert Listings, Music

If I told you that I’ll be co-hosting a book discussion at The Mercantile Library, you’d think it was some sort of early April Fools’ Day joke, right?

Can’t blame you for that. But it’s legit:

You can register here and pre-order the book here.

Speaking of books, let’s see who has booked a gig in this area over the next fortnight.

On Wednesday, The Queers play Madison Live, with Suzi Moon and The Raging Nathans also on the bill. And a Frank Zappa tribute band called The Furious Bongos will be playing Joe’s Ludlow Garage.

Thursday, Sonny Landreth and Cindy Cashdollar play Southgate, and Beth Harris wraps up her March residency at The Loon, with Abiyah and Heather Redman.

Thursday also is Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds. List member Dan “Laying the groundwork for 2024” Lewis will be throwing out the first pitch… to companies who haven’t purchased any Reds advertising yet!

Friday evening, Steve Forbert plays Southgate, Leggy has a free album release show at MOTR (10 p.m. start), Emmaline is at Ludlow Garage, and Orleans is doing a 50th anniversary acoustic show at Memorial Hall.

Guess what happens on Saturday?

Oh, and an Irish band called Seafoam Green is playing Camp Springs Tavern that evening.

The band is highly recommended by the tavern’s proprietor, Keith “Smoovie” Neltner. Irish folks in a tavern… what could possibly go wrong? (Don’t tell Liam Neeson I said that.)

Also on Saturday, Jim Messina will be at Ludlow Garage.

Next Monday, April 3rd, Combo Chimbita plays the Woodward Theater.

On Wednesday, April 5th, Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers hit Southgate.

Great news for my inner teenager: Rush is playing Memorial Hall on Thursday, April 6th!

Wait, upon further review, that’s TOM Rush. The good news is he’s not a fly-by-night artist. The bad news for teenage me is he’s also not a “Fly By Night” artist.

Another 4/6 gig of note is Fantastic Negrito at Ludlow Garage.

Friday, 4/7, Ellis Paul plays a 30th Anniversary Tour show at the Redmoor in Mt. Lookout, and Molly Hatchet tears up Ludlow Garage.

A different Ludlow takes the spotlight on Saturday, April 8th. Bircus Brewing in Ludlow, KY has music from the Tom Petty cover band Tom the Torpedoes.

On Sunday, April 9th, after you find all the Easter eggs, Ben Levin plays Schwartz’s Point.

Ahead of her time

Given what we know now about clergy abuse scandals, isn’t it time to reexam Sinead O’Connor’s Saturday Night Live appearance back in 1992? This episode of the Sound Opinions podcast weighs in, and cohosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot (two longtime Chicago music writers/critics) interview Kathryn Ferguson, the co-writer/director of a documentary about Sinead.

https://youtu.be/-VLy1A4En4U

An artist’s job is sometimes to create the difficult conversations that need to be had.

Sinead O’Connor

Alright, sorry to get so serious on you. Let’s lighten the mood with two of the absolute best SNL character actors, Jan Hooks and Phil Hartman, playing Sinead and Sinatra.

Mark your calendar… better yet, Howard your calendar!

List member Howard Cohen and his fellow band members in the Cereal Killers have three – count ’em – three gigs coming up over the next three months:

  • April 22nd (Earth Day!) at Fries Cafe
  • May 19th at MadTree Brewing
  • June 10th at Big Ash Brewing

Album Cover of the Week

Baby bunnies and bouffant hairdos for the win!

Time marches on. So do tunes.

Concert Listings, Music

Great news: our Presidents’ Day sale on subscriptions has been extended to the end of the month! It’s sorta like a BOGO (buy one, get one) sale. In the case of This Week in Live Music (an ill-fitting name due to my laziness), we’re having a GOGO sale – get one email and get obnoxiousness free!

Let’s get to the gigs while the getting is good…

Tonight, Silversun Pickups play Bogart’s, Faux Frenchmen play the Mansion Hill Sanctuary, and Rob Fetters teams up with his ol’ pal “Bad Bob” Nyswonger for a live stream available here.

Let’s talk Mohawks!

Uh, actually, it’s the old Cincinnati hockey team. List member and hockey-head Eric Weltner has created a movie about how the Cincinnati Mohawks dominated the IHL in the 1950s.

You can catch a screening of The Mohawk Monopoly tomorrow and Sunday at the Woodward Theater. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. and the movie starts at 1:30 p.m. both days. On Saturday, DJ Mr Keith McLenon from Detroit will be spinning tunes before and after the screening, and former players will in attendance.

Let’s talk Ludlow

Y’all need to check out the cool “Cabin Fever” music and arts festival going on in scenic Ludlow, KY tomorrow. Proceeds benefit Music Fund Cincinnati, which was started by list member and porch picker John Sandman – get tickets at the Music Fund website and learn more about what they do.

Tomorrow night:

  • Brainiac is at the Woodward
  • 500 Miles to Memphis, Kentucky Struts, The Nightbeast and Backalley Brujas play Southgate
  • a Black Sabbath tribute band plays Ludlow Garage and Bogart’s hosts an ABBA-inspired disco dance party. I hope the Sabbath fans and the ABBA fans show up at the Clifton Skyline after the gigs. It could go down like this:

Elle King plays the Marsha Brady on Tuesday. [Fun fact: Elle King is the daughter of former Saturday Night Live cast member Rob Schneider, who was barely funny when he was on the show (basically the male Victoria Jackson) and is almost totally humorless now.]

On Wednesday, Wishbone Ash plays Ludlow Garage. (Fun fact: Wishbone Ash is also the least popular salad dressing ever.)

Thursday gigs:

  • Beth Harris (of Hiders/Heartless Bastards) kicks off her March residency (every Thursday 8-11 p.m. – free!) at the Listing Loon in Northside, with special guest Ali Edwards (Ruby Vileos). The full list of March events at the Loon is here.
  • Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country sets up camp at Ludlow Garage
  • Country superstar Carrie Underwood plays the Coliseum

Next Friday (3/3) :

  • Red Wanting Blue plays Southgate, with Angela Perley as the opener
  • Crash Test Dummies are at Ludlow Garage
  • Colony House plays Bogart’s
  • Taft Theatre hosts “The Fab Four – the Ultimate Beatles tribute”… don’t settle for “The So-So Four: the Mediocre Beatles tribute”… or these guys:

Gigs next Saturday (3/4):

  • Matt Nathanson and Stephen Kellogg play Memorial Hall
  • Ernie Johnson from Detroit plays Woodward, with Electric Citizen and the Harlequins
  • Katie Toupin (formerly of Houndmouth) plays Southgate
  • Highly Suspect headlines the 96Rock anniversary show at Ovation (anyone remember Bender & Fingers in the morning on 96Rock?)
  • Speaking of radio stations, The Sklar Brothers bring their comedy to the Lawrenceburg Event Center. Check out this bit about a rock station in St. Louis:

On Sunday, March 5th, Skillet and Theory of a Deadman play the Alice Brady.

That’s not a skillet!

On Wednesday, March 8th:

  • Taft has “An Evening with Dawes”
  • Dylan LeBlanc and David Ramirez are at Southgate

Friday, March 10th shows:

  • Bonnie “Prince” Billy is at the Woodward, with Planchette
  • The Lemon Twigs play Southgate
  • Michael Martin Murphey is at Ludlow Garage

On Saturday, 3/11, Southgate has a local band benefit show:

That same evening, the Ark Band (reggae) plays a Bob Marley tribute at Ludlow . That event is BYOS – bring your own spliff.

After the smoke clears from the Ark Band show, Nektar will play Ludlow on Sunday, 3/12. It’s a 50th anniversary show of their album Remember the Future… the title seems more fitting now.

Hot Tickets Alert!

Tickets on sale today for:

  • Richard Thompson plays a solo acoustic show at the 20th Century Theater on Wednesday, May 10th. I already got my tix!
  • Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit play a two-night stand at the Bobby Brady on April 28-29. Pro tip: buy at the Brady box office to save a boatload on fees – it’s open 11a-3p today.
  • Tedeschi Trucks Band with Ziggy Marley at PNC on July 18
  • Dwight Yoakam with the Mavericks at PNC on Aug. 4
  • And for list member Dan “Reds single game tickets on sale now!” Lewis, who is a huge Debbie Gibson fan: she’s playing the Taft on 6/24.
Dan Lewis has this magazine cover framed

New Order Order

The National’s new tune “New Order T-shirt” is strong:

And you can place a new order for a New Order t-shirt from The National:

Old (but good) News

At long last, John Fogerty got back the rights to his CCR songs. Here’s the article in Billboard from back in January.

“I’m the dad [of these songs]. I created them. They never should have been taken away in the first place. And that hijacking left such a massive hole in me.”

John Fogerty

Oh Canada

Alan Thicke writing and performing the theme song to Alex Trebek’s first American TV game show… a Canadian tag team nearly as good as Geddy Lee joining forces with Bob & Doug McKenzie.

Album Cover of the Week

Your humble scribe is often mistaken for this artist. List member Dan Lewis’ wife is always asking him “What’s the website that has the live music posts that Dick Feller wrote?”