Eric Bachmann

Turkey with Jam

Concert Listings, Concert review, Music

Wow, it’s nearly Thanksgiving Day!

The concert slate could use a bit more stuffing. That’s fine, it leaves room for family gatherings… or for watching a WKRP in Cincinnati rerun.

But there are a few shows, which is a reason to be thankful.

Skip the can-shaped cranberry sauce, and feast on The Raisins instead.

Bob, Rob, Bam and Ricky have shows on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at the Woodward Theater. (They also have a documentary movie out that features performances from their March shows – check out the interview on WVXU Cincinnati Edition.) The Saturday gig is sold-out, but tickets remain for the other two shows.

Other Wednesday shows include Northern Kentucky Derby at Southgate House, and State Champs at Bogart’s.

Thursday is Turkey Day! (Or in my house, Tofurkey Day!)

Speaking of expanding waistlines, Bret Michaels is at the Hard Rock Casino on Friday.

Also on Friday:

  • Jeremy Pinnell kicks off a two-night stand at Southgate House with a solo set, along with Justin Wells.
  • Freekbass hosts “Funksgiving” at Radio Artifact, with Tracy Silverman Project.
  • The Raisins are at Woodward

Saturday gigs:

  • Jeremy Pinnell plays a full-band show in Southgate’s main room, with G.W. Garner and The Montvales also on the bill.
  • The Ark Band plays Ludlow Garage on Saturday
  • Memorial Hall hosts Christmas with the Celts
  • The Whiskey Shambles, Veronica Grim, and The Shivers in Southgate’s Revival Room
  • The Raisins at Woodward (sold-out)

Unless you’re going to NYC for the Jesse Malin benefit shows on 12/1 and 12/2 (more on that below), there’s a bit of a lull in the ol’ Koncert Keeper. Maybe you can do some holiday shopping.

Or go see your friend’s band:

On Friday, 12/6, the animals (but not The Animals) are out in full force:

  • Benjamin Tod & Lost Dog Street Band at Bogart’s
  • Spirit of the Bear and Bear the Moon in Southgate’s Revival Room
  • The Surfrajettes and Kyle Eldridge play Southgate’s main Sanctuary – that should be a rollicking good time!
  • Ludlow Garage crams three tributes into one band, when Magical Mystery Doors plays tunes by the Beatles, Led Zep, and The Doors

On Saturday, 12/7, Noah Smith’s Crooner Circus takes over all three Southgate House stages:

Other 12/7 shows include:

  • Tropidelic at Bogart’s
  • Mosant and Ascension Day at the Liberty Theater
  • Siren Suit with Girl Gordon and Marsha at Urban Artifact
  • Ludlow Garage has Aja: A Tribute to the Music of Steely Dan, with shows at 3:30 (when they play The Royal Scam in its entirety) and 7:30 p.m.

Then there’s another lull in the schedule. Maybe you can make sure the Christmas lights are hung.

The English Beat plays Ludlow Garage on Thursday, 12/12.

On Friday the 13th:

  • Erika Wennerstrom (Heartless Bastards) kicks off three nights of solo shows at The Loon Wine Bar in Northside. (Friday and Saturday shows are sold-out, but they added a 6 p.m. Sunday show. Tickets on sale here.)
  • Ludlow Garage has A John Waters Christmas on Friday and Saturday
  • The Tillers have a 10th anniversary vinyl release of Hand on the Plow (with cover artwork by list member Keith Neltner)

Motherfolk has “A Very Motherfolks Christmas” at Bogart’s on Satuday, 12/14.

Tears on our Cheek

R.I.P. Randy Cheek (Libertines, Ass Ponys, The Ready Stance, et al.) Here’s a loving tribute from Chuck Cleaver:

Here’s to you, Randy!

Joy to the Wussy World

Now more than ever, we need the healing words and music of our friends in Wussy, on their new release Cincinnati Ohio.

Check out Jason Cohen’s profile of Wussy in Stereogum. And put your ears on this segment about their new album from NPR’s All Songs Considered:

We live for live

It’s hard to believe that Eric Bachmann’s recent Undertow show was off my radar. Heck, he’s played an Undertow show at my house before (2019):

And I applied to host his show this time around. But somehow I missed the listing – thank goodness an alert list member tipped me off that morning, and I DID catch the show thanks to list member Jeff B.

Eric played a cool venue in South Fairmount called the Lunken Lounge. Hopefully there will be more shows there in the future.

List member Dave Tellmann and I finally made it over to Dan McCabe’s new venue, Whiskey City’s Liberty Theater, in Lawrenceburg, IN. What an amazing place to see a show! And we saw a fantastic high energy performance from Low Cut Connie.

The opening band, Sweat, from Pittsburgh, was great too!

Dan McCabe has some great shows lined up over the next couple of months… check ’em out here and support a great dude who has spent decades bringing great music to our area.

The Reading Room

Tip o’ the tam to Kevin Sullivan for the link to a Jesse Malin feature in the NYT in advance of Jesse’s return to the stage on Dec. 1 and 2, with dozens of high profile friends.

They’re just trying to return the kindness Jesse has always shown to them:

Jesse still has his PMA – positive mental attitude:

Live Performance Video of the Week Year

Waxahatchee and M.J. Lenderman at the Americana Music Awards, with an all-star backing band that includes Buddy Miller, Don Was, Larry Campbell, and Jen Gunderman. Top notch!

Album Covers of the Weeks

Cornucopia… accent on the corn.

This “little singing band” used the Thanksgiving tablecloth to make skirts and ties (or are those dickies?).

You can throw the albums shown below onto the turntable after Turkey Day to make those pounds melt away – it’s a miracle!

This week in Live Music: August 5-11

Concert Listings, Music

Before we get into this week’s live tuneage, let’s dwell for a moment on last week’s live shows. Big shout out to the list members (and friends of list members) who came to the Eric Bachmann house show at my place: Jacqui, Ken, Jeff, Bob, Dan and Martha, Rico, and Rico’s buddies Cody and Louie. What a great gig! And getting a chance to chat with Eric afterward was just as cool… I’m going to begrudgingly forgive Neko Case for her antics last time she played Taft, as Eric (who was in her touring band) gave us the backstory.

Eric Bachmann at Damian’s house

The Cereal Killers performed a stellar (albeit too brief) set in Mt. Adams on Friday. We need to get them a recurring gig – any suggestions for a venue that might be amenable to hosting a killer band that plays great tunes from the late 70s/early 80s indie/college rock pantheon?

Cereal Killers in Mt. Adams… that’s not Eric Bachmann on guitar, it’s his doppelganger Matt Hueneman.

And finally, a shout out to list member Dan “Come to the Trevor Bauer Power Hour” Lewis for checking out the Ben Levin Trio at the Overlook Kitchen + Bar at the Summit Hotel in Madisonville. That hotel feels out of place next to a UDF, but their restaurant/bar patio is a very cool spot to hang out… especially when Ben Levin is playing.

OK, on with the show(s)… Tonight, Max Frost is playing the 20th Century Theater, with Swells as the opener.

On Tuesday, The Regrettes are at Madison Live, Joe Bonamassa is playing Fraze, Knotty G’s are at Stanley’s, the Local Music Showcase at Sawyer Point features Jordan Wilson Coalition and Brother Smith (6:30-10 p.m.) and Tesla (the band, not the car… actually maybe both) is at Rose Music Center.

Jake Speed & the Freddies are this week’s featured band in the Wednesdays in the Woods series at Burnet Woods. The Royal Hounds are playing Southgate’s Revival Room with NP Presley and The Ghost of Jesse Garon.

On Thursday, JJ Grey & Mofro are playing PNC Pavilion with Jonny Lang and Marc Brussard. List members Whit and Barb Gardner will be at that show. Joyce Manor is playing Woodward that evening, with Saves the Day and awakebutstillinbed, the band named after my teenage kids. Jamestown Revival plays Top Cats, and Madison Theater will host the Squirrel Nut Zippers.

This just in: list member/junior correspondent Madeleine Meeks informs our news desk that The Dip will be playing a free show at RiversEdge in Hamilton! Ohio on Thursday evening, and they’ll be playing an intimate gig at Plaid Room Records on Friday night. They are, per Madeleine, “seven young, gorgeous men from Seattle playing jazzy, old timey, classy, sexy tunes”… that blurb sounds a lot better coming from her than from me.

The summer is flying by, and it’s Bellwether Weekend… and Railbird weekend. Bellwether kicks off Friday in Waynesville at the Renaissance Festival grounds, home of giant turkey legs and jousting… and perhaps jousting with giant turkey legs.

The Bellwether schedule is below, headliners include Real Estate and Cake on Friday, and Guided By Voices, Pinback and Beach House on Saturday. I’ll be in attendance both days.

Railbird is Saturday and Sunday at Keeneland in Lexington, KY. Here’s the list of performers:

There are a slew of local shows on Friday as well:

  • JJ Grey/Jonny Lang/Marc Broussard play Rose Music Center
  • Willow Tree Carolers are at Camp Springs Tavern
  • Vesperteen headlines the free show at Fountain Square
  • ghost man on second is playing Lucius Q
  • Wyatt Edmondson is at Stanley’s with Electric Son
  • The Darling Suns, Heavy Hinges and Darity are playing Northside Tavern
  • Ben Levin Trio plays BrewRiver

And there are plenty of gigs on Saturday too:

  • Chuck Cleaver, Lisa Walker and Mark Messerly of Wussy are at MOTR, playing solo stuff as well as collaborating on some Wussy tunes.
  • Santana plays Riverbend with the Doobie Brothers. List members Whit and Barb will be at that gig too… they are cuckoo for concerts this week.
  • Black Flag is playing Riverfront Live. Speaking of Black Flag, this is a cool mini-doc about their artwork.
  • Common is at Madison Theater
  • The Newbees have a 15th anniversary show at Southgate
  • Megan Wren is at Southgate too, in the Revival Room
  • 500 Miles to Memphis headlines the Fountain Square freebie
  • John Butler Trio is at Rose Music Center
  • The Gotobeds (named after me talking to my teenage kids) are playing Northside Yacht Club, with Vacation and Cold Stereo
  • Flying Underground and Maurice Mattei & the Tempers are at Urban Artifact
  • The Generics will be at Fretboard Brewing in Blue Ash.
I’m just phoning it in now.

Sunday is a bit quieter, at least from a volume (of shows) standpoint. Death Valley Girls and Moonwalks are at MOTR, and JP Harris & the Tough Choices are playing Southgate, with Jeremy Pinnell opening the show.

A few other notes: Shake It Records is selling the first deck of Cincinnnati Music Legends trading cards, a very cool idea. Read more in CityBeat.

Wham!

I’m really digging the new album from Bleached called Don’t You Think You’ve Had Enough (which is what my kids say to me when I’m reaching for my third slice of cake).

And the latest episode of the 97X podcast features Barb Abney talking about her 25+ year career playing modern rock (97X, the woxy.com, then The Current in Minneapolis, and now KFAI.) All episodes of the “Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast are now available on Spotify, too.

Have a wonderful week!

Eric the Awesome

Music

Eric Bachmann played a house concert at my place last night. The crowd can best be described as “small but mighty”…. about 20 folks. But those few and proud folks were treated to a fantastic night of tunes… and some funny stories as well.

Because I enjoy Eric’s music so much, part of me wishes more folks showed up, so they could experience his brilliance firsthand. But I promoted it the best that I could (flyers at Shake It Records and Everybody’s Records, attempted giveaway on Inhailer Radio‘s social channels, my weekly email x 2) so I’m at peace. Realistically, Eric’s band Archers of Loaf wasn’t exactly a household name, and their heyday was 25 years ago. At the turn of the century (I feel old just typing that), he formed Crooked Fingers… again, not a band where most folks would recognize the name, let alone the music. And he’s been doing solo albums for several years (his newest is No Recover) but the potential audience is not exactly Taylor Swiftian. So, you get what you get and you don’t get upset. I knew a lot of the attendees, and they’re really cool folks. The strangers that I welcomed into our house turned out to be very nice people as well. They all experienced a very memorable, very enjoyable night of music.

The show was through Undertow music, which books house shows for fringe/niche/indie artists like Eric. They handle all the ticket sales, and keep a 15% fee while the other 85% goes to the performer. Surely a better deal for artists than most gigs. Eric sold some merch too, so he made a bit of coin for his efforts. Not many people buy records these days, and streaming is not lucrative at all for most artists. So gassing up the van and hitting the road, t-shirts and vinyl in tow, is the only way to make a buck. And house concerts offer a more intimate, relaxed setting, with less hassles (and an earlier set time) than a dingy club. It may not be the wave of the future, but it’s the wave of today for the unsung singers, and I’m happy to ride it.

He did several songs on piano, several on guitar, and a couple on banjo.

My friend Jacqui was in attendance. She and her husband Dave are my house concert heroes – they’re booking an entire series of house shows throughout the year (they call it Parlor and Patio). And they serve homemade pie at intermission! Hmm, maybe I’ll have to start baking…

Undertow books a lot of house shows, and they’re always looking for hosts. There’s also a company called HomeDitty where you can sign up to be a host for scrappy artists trying to make their way in the music world. If you can’t host, at least attend a few house shows. You won’t regret it. In fact, you’ll enjoy the heck out of it.

Eric Bachmann may not mean much to some of the world (yet!), but having him play at my house last night meant the world to me.

This week in live Music: July 29-August 4

Concert Listings, Music

I’m listing the concerts out of order this week.

Al Pacino, in a restrained performance.

Because the most important gig is on Thursday: Eric Bachmann is playing a house concert at my home.

26 tickets left? Geez, that’s sad. Clearly, I’ve done a piss-poor job of marketing this gig. Did I mention I saw Eric at a house concert in Northside a few years back and it was amazing? It doesn’t really matter if you’re that familiar with his work, you’ll still enjoy the heck out of it… and it’s an early show too, he’ll be on at 8 and done by 9:30. But wait, there’s more… I’m offering my Double D Guarantee: if you aren’t completely satisfied with the show, I’ll refund your $ out of my own pocket. (I make $0 off this show, it’s booked by Undertow and they manage the cash.) Here’s a Spotify playlist of EB tunes, from Archers of Loaf to Crooked Fingers to his solo work. Tell your friends, Romans and countrymen about this show. Because right now, I’m the new Artie Fufkin.

OK, enough pitiful pimpin’. Back to the other shows this week. On Tuesday, Sarah McLachlan will be at Rose Music Center with a full orchestra.

Wednesday, Hibou is at MOTR with Dark Colour and Culture Queer, Jon Bellion is at PNC Pavilion and The Mowgli’s are playing Taft Ballroom. (Don’t ask me why they have an apostrophe in their name… maybe it’s a tribute to Frank Zappa.)

Thursday, you really, really, really should be at my shack for the Eric Bachmann house concert. But I’m contractually obligated to mention that the Legendary Shack Shakers are at Southgate, with JD Pinkus (Butthole Surfers).

Friday is a big evening for live music. Many list members will be at the Beck/Cage the Elephant/Spoon/Wild Belle show at Riverbend. And for good reason – that’s a killer lineup. (Of course, with Riverbend’s ironclad 11 p.m. curfew, you’ll get short sets… even though the show starts at 6.) However, there are several other gigs that evening:

  • Cloud Nothings are headlining the free show at Fountain Square
  • Steel Drivers and the Steep Canyon Rangers are playing Riverfront Live (old Annie’s)
  • Joan Osborne is singing the songs of Bob Dylan (Perhaps you’ve heard of him? Some folks call him the poor man’s Eric Bachmann) at Memorial Hall
  • The Sunburners and the Cliftones are playing a free gig at Sawyer Point (6-10 pm)
  • John Cusack was supposed to be at Taft for a screening of Say Anything and a Q&A… but it’s not listed on the Taft Theatre site anymore. Maybe his boombox batteries died.
  • The Harlequins are playing MOTR
  • Last but certainly not least, legendary local band Cereal Killers will be playing the Holy Cross/Immaculata church festival in Mt. Adams starting at 7 p.m. I’ll be at that gig. Admission is free, but you know you won’t be able to resist playing some Bars & Bells, so pack your wallet accordingly.

On Saturday, UB40 is at Riverfront Live and the Ben Levin Trio is at the Overlook Kitchen + Bar at the Summit Hotel. You also have your choice of two spoofy names, but just one spoof band: Mac Sabbath is playing Woodward Theater and Def Leggend (‘the world’s greatest tribute to Def Leppard’) is at Bogart’s. The Cincy Summer Beerfest at Smale Park will feature some live tunes, too.

Sunday, the Camp Springs Tavern hosts an open bluegrass jam (as they do every first Sunday of the month) at 3:30. Blacktop Mojo is at Madison Live, and Kool Keith is rockin’ the Northside Tavern.

That’ll do it for gigs this week. Hope to see you Thursday. And Friday.

Hot Ticket Alert:

Patty Griffin and Scott Miller at 20th Century Theater on Sept. 25.

This week in live music: July 15-21

Concert Listings

Hot enough for ya?

Speaking of hot, let’s get to the hot, hot, live music action.

Ain’t nothin’ going on Monday… but Tuesday more than makes up for that. Sebadoh is playing Woodward Theater, with Eleanor Friedberger opening up the show. That’s a great double bill, and I just may rally my old man bones enough to make that show on a weekday. Father Time will tell.

That same evening, Combo Chimbita is playing Northside Tavern. This band comes highly recommended by TWILM member Michelle Boyles.

There are two other bands on the bill with Combo Chimbita, so if you’re an old fogey like me, the start time might be past your bedtime.

John Paul White (formerly of the Civil Wars… that name turned out to be prophetic) is playing Southgate, with Caleb Elliott.

What about Dayton, you ask? Any live tunes in “The Gem City” on Tuesday? Maybe at a gas station?

So glad you asked! The Steve Miller Band is playing Kettering’s Fraze Pavilion, with Marty Stuart as the opener. Meanwhile, in another Dayton suburb (Huber Heights, “America’s largest community of brick homes”), Amos Lee is playing Rose Music Center, with Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers opening up the gig. Remember when Bruce Hornsby’s backing band was called “The Range”? Or was it the Amana Radarange?

On Wednesday, PNC Pavilion has a triple bill: Third Eye Blind, Jimmy Eat World and Ra Ra Riot. I’m not much of a Third Eye Blind fan, but I do like Jimmy Eat World and Ra Ra Riot. Speaking of three i’s, Triiibe is the local band playing the free “Wednesdays in the Woods” gig at the Burnet Woods Bandstand. And in a cruel twist of fate The Commodores are playing Fraze, NOT the Rose Music Center… I have a feeling “Brick House” would go over better in Huber Heights.

Thursday, some old guy in a Hawaiian shirt is playing Riverbend. I’m not going to Buffett-bash… I just wish all the folks who go cuckoo over his concerts would get out of their suburban enclaves more than once a year, and actually support other bands as well. Bring that crazy energy… but leave the plastic flamingos in the garage next to the Lawn-Boy.

It was right next to the broken flip-flop.

Ben Levin & the Heaters are playing the Behringer Crawford Museum in Devou Park. Meanwhile, in the Gem City, Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle are playing a free show at Levitt Pavilion. That’s the Levitt Pavilion in Dayton, not to be confused with Levitt Pavilion in Westport, Connecticut, or the one in Denver, or the one in Arlington, TX.

On Friday evening, the Wheels of Soul tour rolls into PNC Pavilion, with Shovels & Rope, Blackberry Smoke and Tedeschi-Trucks Band. My wife is a close personal friend with Blackberry Smoke.

We flew to Germany on the same plane last year, so we’re practically touring members of the band!

Just to clarify, my wife is a close friend, but she’s not a “special new friend.”

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/c36119b3-71e5-40e1-a820-f09bd9300be6
Artie Fufkin, Polymer Records…

Soul Pocket is playing the free show on Fountain Square, Jeremy Pinnell is playing Folk School Coffee Parlor in Ludlow, KY, Krystal Peterson is at Fretboard Brewing in Blue Ash, and Wreking Crue, the Motley Crue Experience, is at Bogart’s (tribute bands can’t afford the umlauts).

Saturday, it’s 1995 all over again: Hootie & The Blowfish are playing a sold-out show at Riverbend, with Barenaked Ladies as the opening act.

Just wait until he finds out about Barenaked Ladies…

Stanley’s is hosting the Ladyfolk Festival (Honey & Houston, Maria Carelli Band, Chelsea Ford & The Trouble, twig&leaf), the Downtowne Listening Room has Dierdre Flint with Eric Gnezda, The Redemptioners are playing Camp Springs Tavern, Ben Levin’s at Streetside…. and the Wheels of Soul tour (TTB, Blackberry Smoke and Shovels & Rope) rolls up to The Gem City (Rose Music Center).

On Sunday, Nicholas Johnson & The Same Old Strangers are at MOTR, Comet Bluegrass All-Stars are at the Comet (duh!) and Stanley’s hosts an open jam. Bring your tambourine.

In other news, Houndmouth is playing a two-night stand at Southgate Nov. 22 and 23. Get yer tix now. And Tiny Changes – A Celebration of The Midnight Organ Fight is out. Various artists (Ben Gibbard, Julien Baker, Craig Finn, Manchester Orchestra, Josh Ritter, Lauren Mayberry from Chvrches, Aaron Dessner from The National, The Twilight Sad) cover songs from Frightened Rabbit’s brilliant sophomore album, which came out a decade ago. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Tiny Changes, the children’s mental health charity founded in honor of Frightened Rabbit lead singer Scott Hutchison. Here’s my close personal friend Craig Finn doing Head Rolls Off:

Craig played an Undertow house concert at my place back in 2017. Now it’s Eric Bachmann’s turn. He’ll be here on Thursday, August 1st. Get tickets here before they vanish.

In other house concert news, my friends Jacqui and Dave have lined up another show: Brett Newski will be playing their lovely home (a.k.a. Parlor & Patio) in Ft. Thomas on Friday, September 27th. That should be a real dandy. Get your tickets for that gig here with the password parlor.

“Newski’s live shows are part rock n’ roll, part stand up, and part therapy. In the end, the room is won over.”

–Jim McGuinn, The Current, Minneapolis

Have a rockin’ week!

P.S. As a writer and a former advertising guy, I hope whoever came up with this slogan was fired:

This week in live music: July 15-21

Concert Listings

Hot enough for ya?

Speaking of hot, let’s get to the hot, hot, live music action.

Ain’t nothin’ going on Monday… but Tuesday more than makes up for that. Sebadoh is playing Woodward Theater, with Eleanor Friedberger opening up the show. That’s a great double bill, and I just may rally my old man bones enough to make that show on a weekday. Father Time will tell.

That same evening, Combo Chimbita is playing Northside Tavern. This band comes highly recommended by TWILM member Michelle Boyles.

There are two other bands on the bill with Combo Chimbita, so if you’re an old fogey like me, the start time might be past your bedtime.

John Paul White (formerly of the Civil Wars… that name turned out to be prophetic) is playing Southgate, with Caleb Elliott.

What about Dayton, you ask? Any live tunes in “The Gem City” on Tuesday? Maybe at a gas station?

So glad you asked! The Steve Miller Band is playing Kettering’s Fraze Pavilion, with Marty Stuart as the opener. Meanwhile, in another Dayton suburb (Huber Heights, “America’s largest community of brick homes”), Amos Lee is playing Rose Music Center, with Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers opening up the gig. Remember when Bruce Hornsby’s backing band was called “The Range”? Or was it the Amana Radarange?

On Wednesday, PNC Pavilion has a triple bill: Third Eye Blind, Jimmy Eat World and Ra Ra Riot. I’m not much of a Third Eye Blind fan, but I do like Jimmy Eat World and Ra Ra Riot. Speaking of three i’s, Triiibe is the local band playing the free “Wednesdays in the Woods” gig at the Burnet Woods Bandstand. And in a cruel twist of fate The Commodores are playing Fraze, NOT the Rose Music Center… I have a feeling “Brick House” would go over better in Huber Heights.

Thursday, some old guy in a Hawaiian shirt is playing Riverbend. I’m not going to Buffett-bash… I just wish all the folks who go cuckoo over his concerts would get out of their suburban enclaves more than once a year, and actually support other bands as well. Bring that crazy energy… but leave the plastic flamingos in the garage next to the Lawn-Boy.

It was right next to the broken flip-flop.

Ben Levin & the Heaters are playing the Behringer Crawford Museum in Devou Park. Meanwhile, in the Gem City, Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle are playing a free show at Levitt Pavilion. That’s the Levitt Pavilion in Dayton, not to be confused with Levitt Pavilion in Westport, Connecticut, or the one in Denver, or the one in Arlington, TX.

On Friday evening, the Wheels of Soul tour rolls into PNC Pavilion, with Shovels & Rope, Blackberry Smoke and Tedeschi-Trucks Band. My wife is a close personal friend with Blackberry Smoke.

We flew to Germany on the same plane last year, so we’re practically touring members of the band!

Just to clarify, my wife is a close friend, but she’s not a “special new friend.”

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/c36119b3-71e5-40e1-a820-f09bd9300be6
Artie Fufkin, Polymer Records…

Soul Pocket is playing the free show on Fountain Square, Jeremy Pinnell is playing Folk School Coffee Parlor in Ludlow, KY, the Kingston Trio is playing Memorial Hall, and Wreking Crue, the Motley Crue Experience, is at Bogart’s (tribute bands can’t afford the umlauts).

Saturday, it’s 1995 all over again: Hootie & The Blowfish are playing a sold-out show at Riverbend, with Barenaked Ladies as the opening act.

Just wait until he finds out about Barenaked Ladies…

Stanley’s is hosting the Ladyfolk Festival (Honey & Houston, Maria Carelli Band, Chelsea Ford & The Trouble, twig&leaf), the Downtowne Listening Room has Dierdre Flint with Eric Gnezda, The Redemptioners are playing Camp Springs Tavern, Ben Levin’s at Streetside…. and the Wheels of Soul tour (TTB, Blackberry Smoke and Shovels & Rope) rolls up to The Gem City (Rose Music Center).

On Sunday, Nicholas Johnson & The Same Old Strangers are at MOTR, Comet Bluegrass All-Stars are at the Comet (duh!) and Stanley’s hosts an open jam. Bring your tambourine.

In other news, Houndmouth is playing a two-night stand at Southgate Nov. 22 and 23. Get yer tix now. And Tiny Changes – A Celebration of The Midnight Organ Fight is out. Various artists (Ben Gibbard, Julien Baker, Craig Finn, Manchester Orchestra, Josh Ritter, Lauren Mayberry from Chvrches, Aaron Dessner from The National, The Twilight Sad) cover songs from Frightened Rabbit’s brilliant sophomore album, which came out a decade ago. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Tiny Changes, the children’s mental health charity founded in honor of Frightened Rabbit lead singer Scott Hutchison. Here’s my close personal friend Craig Finn doing Head Rolls Off:

Craig played an Undertow house concert at my place back in 2017. Now it’s Eric Bachmann’s turn. He’ll be here on Thursday, August 1st. Get tickets here before they vanish.

In other house concert news, my friends Jacqui and Dave have lined up another show: Brett Newski will be playing their lovely home (a.k.a. Parlor & Patio) in Ft. Thomas on Friday, September 27th. That should be a real dandy. Get your tickets for that gig here with the password parlor.

“Newski’s live shows are part rock n’ roll, part stand up, and part therapy. In the end, the room is won over.”

–Jim McGuinn, The Current, Minneapolis

Have a rockin’ week!

P.S. As a writer and a former advertising guy, I hope whoever came up with this slogan was fired: