Late last month, we lost Sinéad O’Connor.
“She was vilified, humiliated at times, metaphorically crucified when alone and in her twenties. Everything she stood up for and against then, including racism in the music industry, has been proven to have been needed and right. She wasn’t just trying to look out for herself. She was the original truth sayer who wouldn’t go easy into the night. The original “difficult” woman who didn’t make it easy. Because easy wasn’t the right thing to do and it wasn’t the truth. Gone too soon. Nothing compares to you.
Irish comedian and actress Aisling Bea on Instagram
Kudos to Pink and Brandi Carlile for paying tribute to Sinéad that evening at their concert in Cincinnati. Without a doubt they each owe her a debt of gratitude for blazing the trail.
Today we lost Robbie Robertson, the bandleader of The Band, one of the all-time great groups.
Sorry to bring you down. Let’s try to brighten the mood by looking to the future…
Oops, that’s not gonna help. The first gig on Ye Olde Koncert Keeper is Ted Nugent. He’s playing the Rose Music Center tomorrow night.
Fear not, though, as there are several decent gigs tomorrow:
- Ruby Vileos plays a free gig at Washington Park
- Erin Coburn does the freebie at Smale
- Yonder Mountain String Band, Railroad Earth, and Leftover Salmon play the Taft Theatre
- Drivin’ n Cryin’ plays Ludlow
- Fraze has a “Happy Together” gig (that’s more like it!) featuring The Turtles, Little Anthony, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, The Vogues, The Classics IV and The Cowsills.
On Friday:
- Yonder Mountain String Band, Railroad Earth, and Leftover Salmon try to fumigate the Rose.
- The Samples play Ludlow Garage
- Here Come the Mummies are coming to the old Annie’s
- The Beach Boys play the Hard Rock Casino
- Kenny Roby (of 6 String Drag) plays the Southgate Lounge
Saturday, JD McPherson plays Southgate and Brett Dennan is at Ludlow Garage.
On Sunday, the ageless Willie Nelson headlines the Outlaw Music Festival at Riverbend, with John Fogerty, Gov’t Mule, Kathleen Edwards, Particle Kid, and Myron Elkins also on the bill.
Tuesday, Disturbed, Breaking Benjamin and Jinjer play Riverbend.
When I hear the name “Ghost” my mind immediately goes here:
But the band Ghost (a “GRAMMY-winning Swedish theatrical rock band” per the bio… I thought that was ABBA) has a sold-out show at Riverbend on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Rose hosts a tribute to Ghost ABBA, and Al Stewart plays Memorial Hall.
Next Thursday (8/17):
- Asleep at the Wheel plays Memorial Hall
- RiversEDGE in Hamiltucky has the Cordovas, Scotty Bratcher, Duane Betts and Palmetto Hotel
- Edwin McCain is at Ludlow Garage
- Steven Page (formerly of Barenaked Ladies) plays a freebie at Village Green Park in Fairfield
The Goo Goo Dolls play Riverbend next Friday (8/18)… will they try to strangle the sound man like they did at the 97X-sponsored “Day in Eden” back in ’93? O.A.R. opens for the Goos.
Other 8/18 gigs include:
- In the Pines at Fountain Square
- Dead Centric (yes, a GD cover band) for free at Evendale Pavilion
- Jump: America’s Van Halen Experience at Ludlow Garage (free chaps to the first 50 attendees)
Next Saturday, 8/19:
- Noah Wotherspoon and Eric Jerardi play a free gig at the Levitt Pavilion in downtown Dayton
- Black Owls, Heavy Hinges, and The Tigerlilies play Southgate
Next Sunday, the Old 97s play Southgate, and the even older Jethro Tull wheezes into Rose.
The show of the summer is on Monday, August 21st: The Beths play the Woodward Theater.
They aren’t just New Zealand’s finest, they are one of the finest bands going. So you’d best be going to this show. Opening act is DISQ, so it’s a great twin bill.
On Tuesday, 8/22, Marcus King, Charley Crockett, and Molly Tuttle play the Mike Brady, and Jethro Tull fiddles flutes around at PNC.
(Our favorite Jethro… yet not in Jethro Tull or The BoDeans.)
Crackerjack Cracker
The Cracker gig at the old Annie’s a couple of weeks ago was really enjoyable. A very strong set list of Cracker, Camper and more. David Lowery + Johnny Hickman = music magic. List members Howard Cohen (Cereal Killers at Big Ash on 8/26!) and Todd Butler were in the house too, which added to the festive atmosphere.
Album Cover of the Week(s)
It’s PERM-anently summer for Mac.