Like an agitated monkey, I’m about to fling some poop at you.
But you should be used to it by now – I do it every few weeks! If you can navigate around the verbal shite, you’ll find some cool concerts to check out.
Shows on tap for tonight:
Henhouse Prowlers and Moonshine Drive at the Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg
William Elliott Whitmore and Dave Hause at the Woodward, with Micah Schnabel opening
The Screaming Orphans at Ludlow Garage
Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco is at the Coliseum
Saturday shows:
Sylmar does two sets at MOTR
Buffalo Nichols plays the Liberty Theater
Southgate hosts the Newport Music Roots Festival (doors 3 p.m.) – details below
Woodward Theater has “Play for L.A.” – a benefit for fire-impacted musicians. The lineup includes Rae Fisher, The Montvales, Jess Lamb, Siri Imani and more.
Mike Detmer and Adam Gilliam play the Lost Bridge Beverage Co. in North Bend
Christine Harvilla Duo with Colleen Clark plus Sami Riggs at the Boone County Courthouse
Annie’s hosts Grateful River III (a benefit for Down Syndrome) – details below
On Sunday, Ben Levin Blues Band is doing the Rabbit Hash Music Behind the Stove Series at 2 p.m., and the band Lawrence plays Bogart’s in the evening.
Woodward has An Evening with Yo La Tengo on Tuesday. I’ll be at that gig, along with several other list members. Because Georgia, James and Ira are badasses!
Shannon McNally plays Southgate on Wednesday.
Thursday gigs:
Shadowgrass in Southgate’s main room, and Jake Blocker in the Revival Room
“Sons of Cream” (Kofi Baker, Malcolm Bruce and Rob Johnson) play Ludlow Garage. (Maybe they should call themselves “Half & Half”?)
Liberty Theater has a Comedy Night featuring Adam Minnick
Concerts next Friday, March 28:
The Blind Boys of Alabama with Shemekia Copeland at Taft Theatre
Chicago Farmer & the Fieldnotes at Southgate
The Outlaws at Ludlow Garage
Cody Ikerd & the Sidewinders Album release show w/Joe Clark at Liberty Theater
Little Miami Brewing’s event center has “Night Moves: The Ultimate Bob Seger Experience”
Blue Note in Harrison hosts The Prince Experience (pancakes not included)
The slate on Saturday, March 29:
Liberty Theater has a Rebel Whiskey tasting (4 FREE tasting!) from 5-7, followed by the Lowdown Brass Band
Blackhawk at Ludlow Garage
Lily Rose at Bogart’s
Bumpin’ Uglies at Madison Theater
Willi Carlisle at Southgate in the Revival Room
Annie’s has the all-female Led Zeppelin tribute band Zepparella
Blue Note features “Midnight Blue” (Foreigner Tribute) with One Way to Rock (Sammy Hagar tribute)
Shows on Sunday, March 30:
The Star Devils play Rabbit Hash in the afternoon
Sarah Shook & the Disarmers are at Liberty Theater (I plan to go to that show)
JD Simo and Luther Dickinson (of North Mississippi Allstars) at Southgate
Ricky Nye will be tickling the ivories as only Ricky can on Monday, March 31 at Memorial Hall, and Taft has The Faint with Plack Blague.
Shows on April Fools’ Day:
The Surfrajettes with Black Widow at Madison Theater
Al Stewart & Livingston Taylor at Memorial Hall
The Righteous Brothers “Loving Feeling Farewell Tour” makes a stop at Taft. (If you’ve lost that loving feeling, see your urologist!)
Wednesday, April 2 is another WEENsday at The Columbia in the East End (4311 Eastern Ave.) and this month’s featured WEEN album is Chocolate and Cheese… so they’ll have some chocolate-covered cheese to share.
I plan to attend that event. You should too – The Columbia is a very cool space (with a vintage jukebox in the basement), and WEENsdays are free and you can BYOB!
Tunes & Blooms kicks off at the Cincinnati Zoo on Thursday, April 3. Moonshine Drive and Pickin’ Pear will be on the T&B stages. The full April lineup is here. That same evening, right down the street, you can catch The Seven Wonders (yes, yet another Fleetwood Mac tribute band) at Ludlow Garage.
The Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg has a Record Fair April 4-5.
Shows on Friday 4/4 include Judah & the Lion* at Bogart’s and Eaglemania “The World’s Greatest Eagles Tribute”** at Ludlow Garage.
* If Bogart’s says their bathrooms are clean, they’re lion… er, lyin’.
**Pretty sure the world’s greatest Eagles Tribute is playing the Sphere in Las Vegas.
On Saturday, April 5:
The Young Dubliners play Ludlow Garage
John Waite is at the Taft
Queensrÿche plays Belterra Casino in Florence, Indiana
Patterson Hood is at the Whirling Tiger in Louisville, with Lydia Loveless as the opener
Sunday, April 6, Ludlow Garage has The Phil Collins Experience (warning: contains no Phil Collins).
We love it live!
MJ Lenderman and Wild Pink at the Green Lantern Bar in Lexington KY was off-the-charts amazing (set list is here). A Top 5 all-time show for me, thanks to list member Frank B.
“Once music and work and money all become the same thing, it gets hard to do it casually. But that was the reason I was able to do anything meaningful in the first place,” he admits. “You can see that through my whole life, just being able to go to a friend’s house and make something and not worry about what it is.”
Now hear this!
The new album from The Tubs is top-notch. Richard Thompson meets Hüsker Dü.
Speaking of Richard Thompson, Bandcamp has a great feature about his influence on younger artists. Sayeth Mary Timony:
“His tone is always amazing, but here’s the thing—most importantly—his songwriting is great. He’s kind of the total package, in that he does both songwriting and playing guitar very well.”
We’re approaching the dreaded holiday lull, where live shows of the non-Rockettes/Trans-Siberian variety are few and far between. (Actually for me, we’re approaching the dreaded holidays: I hate cold weather in general, snow in particular, shopping, hearing the same 13 crappy holiday songs for days on end, fruitcake… and I don’t know what figgy pudding is, but you can shove it right up yer chimney!)
There are a few shows that haven’t been crowded out by the fat old man with a giant sack… er, Satan… I mean, Santa. Let’s take a gander:
Tonight:
Erika Wennerstrom (Heartless Bastards) plays a sold-out solo show at The Loon Wine Bar in Northside (I’ll be there, along with list member Tom Woeber)
J. Roddy Walston & The Business headline an Xmas show at Northside Tavern just up the street from The Loon. And thanks to the cajoling (but not caroling) of aforementioned list member Tom Woeber, I’ll be at that show too*.
John Waters Christmas at Ludlow Garage
A Very Motherfolk Christmas at Bogart’s
A Traumatic Christmas Show at Madison Live: Trauma Illinois, Millie Oliver, Cut to the Chase, and Wendigo
*if you’re keeping score at home the Erika Wennerstrom/J. Roddy Walston doubleheader will be shows #42 and #43 for me in 2024.
Sunday:
Erika Wennerstrom wraps up her three-night stand of sold-out shows at The Loon with a 6 p.m. gig
Ben Sollee plays MOTR, with Eva Rose King as the opener of the 7:30 show
[INSERT CONCERT LULL #1 HERE]
If you’re into Irish folk from Irish folks, Ludlow Garage has “Irish Christmas in America” on Thursday, 12/19.
Friday, December 20th:
Over the Rhine kicks off their three-night “Acoustic Christmas” stand at Memorial Hall
Tony Holt & The Wildwood Valley Boys play the Liberty Theater in historic downtown Lawrenceburg
The Wonderfool and Carriers are in the Revival Room at Southgate
Dallas Moore Band plays a “Honky Tonk Holidaze” show in Southgate’s Sanctuary
Bogart’s hosts The Prince Experience… pancakes sold separately.
Shows on Saturday, Dec. 21:
The Newbees play a 20th anniversary celebration show at Southgate , with Bad Ass Brass and Kevin Ashba.
Moonshine Drive plays Arnold’s
Harbour, Sylmar, Mosant, and Fat Sal are at the Madison Theater
Over the Rhine does Night #2 of Acoustic Christmas at Memorial Hall
Ludlow Garage has two shows (3:30 and 8:30) of “An Olde English Christmas with Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone.” Olde English 800 malt liquor sold separately.
Over the Rhine wraps up their Memorial Hall Xmas X-travaganza on Sunday, Dec. 22.
[INSERT CONCERT LULL #2 HERE]
Oh, and insert inclusive holiday greeting here:
Jess Lamb and Siri Imani play MOTR on Friday, Dec. 27th, and Ludlow Garage has E5C4P3 (it’s listed a Journey tribute, but it could also be a droid from Star Wars). Oh, that reminds me: Happy Life Day!
You really must watch the entire ’78 TV Christmas special… Bea Arthur + Harvey Korman = pure gold!
Shows on Saturday, December 28th:
Marcus King plays the Hard Rock Casino
Halfway Hammered plays the Liberty Theater, with Wes Shipp opening
The Wonderlands and Coastal Club have a holiday show within the decidedly un-festive confines of Bogart’s
Abiyah plays Southgate with Radar (we’re assuming it’s not the guy from M*A*S*H)
Tinfoil Hat Cowboys play two sets at MOTR on Sunday, December 29th.
The dreaded new release lull… with one notable exception
New albums of the non-“Holiday favorites” variety are few and far between this month too, but yesterday marked the release of The National’s new live album Rome, which was designed by list member Dale Doyle (the original D2!)
Enough already with the crappy holiday tunes
Put Mariah and Brenda and Burl and Bing out to pasture, and put these on the playlist instead:
Who’s on your 2024 favorites list?
I totally agree with Steven Hyden:
His list is here. Drop your faves in the comments. This guy had better be on your list, though:
I’ve long said that I could go the rest of my life without hearing another Beatles song. Because they’ve been played ad infinitum for 60 friggin’ years. Basta!
Not even the dulcet tones of Lucinda Williams, whom I adore, could overcome the I’m-so-tired-of-hearing-Beatles-songs weariness on Lu’s new release Lucinda Williams Sings the Beatles from Abbey Road.
If that makes you feel like Paul right now, so be it.
Ken Jennings rocks!
And not just because he’s a much better host than Blossom. His music senses are always working overtime. Check out this clip from a recent episode of “Jeopardy”:
Album Covers of the Weeks
When did Jon Bon Jovi take up ice hockey?
And for the love of Yahweh, who signed off on the cover art that makes these kids look like blow-up dolls?
Welp, list member Dale Doyle didn’t win a Grammy today. Then again, I’m pretty sure he was the only list member who was nominated. And you know what they say:
Congrats, D2 on your stunning work.
And if you’re wondering who did get the Grammy for best package design, it was:
Other Grammy winners include… I have no idea. You think I’m going to watch an awards show? Well, other than this one:
But unless it’s the Bono Awards, I’d much rather see a live concert!
Body parts — and the lack thereof — will be on display Tuesday. The Flaming Lips play the Bobby Brady Icon Music Center, with Heartless Bastards as the opener.
Bobby needed ice cream to cool his flaming lipsHeart surgically removed. Bastard intact.
Wednesday, The Minks plays Southgate House. This show is highly recommended by list member Jim Siegert, who has attended a gazillion concerts (conservative estimate), so he really knows shows like no one else. Here’s what he said about The Minks:
I saw them twice at AmericanaFest last September, and they’re awesome. Check out their YT channel when you have a chance. https://youtube.com/c/TheMinksss
Tommy Castro & the Painkillers play the Taft on Thursday. [These are over-the-counter Painkillers (active ingredient: killer chops) so no prescription is required. Side effects may include head-bobbing, toe-tapping, rockin’ pneumonia and boogie-woogie flu.]
The weekend will bring a deluge of shows.
Friday:
alt-J and Portugal. The Man and Cherry Glazerr play Ovation (I think it’s called “The weird punctuation and spelling tour.”)
The Louisiana Swamp Stomp, featuring The Iguanas and Kevin Gordon, rolls into Southgate’s main room (Sanctuary).
Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience deals the tunes at the Hard Rock Casino.
Mike Farris and the Fortunate Few play Ludlow Garage.
Christian Nicholas Gough has a show in Southgate’s upstairs Revival Room, with Miranova and Closest Relative also on the bill. True story: my friend Art’s son Sam (who also is a member of the Cleveland Guardians roller derby team and a world-ranked pinball player) is playing bass with Miranova.
Saturday shows:
Jess Lamb headlines the Fountain Square Spring Music Series free show at… you guessed it… Fountain Square.
Baroness plays Southgate’s Revival Room.
Suzanne Santo plays the Taft Ballroom.
John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band plays Ludlow Garage (the Esquire Theater should do a matinee showing of Eddie and the Cruisers that day).
Next Sunday (April 10), Rise Against plays Ovation, and Ludlow Garage hosts Progject: The Ultimate Prog Rock Musical Experience. From the press bio:
ProgJect Features:
Michael Sadler (Saga) – Lead Vocals, Keys, Bass & Percussion Ryo Okumoto (Spock’s Beard, Asia, Phil Collins, Chris Squire) – Keys & Vocals Mike Keneally (Frank Zappa, Dweezil Zappa, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, The Zappa Band) – Guitar Matt Dorsey (Sound of Contact, In Continuum) – Bass, Pedals, Guitar, Keys & Vocals Jonathan Mover (GTR, Marillion, Satriani, The Tubes) – Drums, Percussion & Vocals
With a two-plus hour set that includes “Squonk”, “Firth Of Fifth”, “Cinema Show”, “Siberian Khatru”, “Roundabout”, “Heart Of The Sunrise”, “From The Beginning”, “Karn Evil 9 – 1st Impression”, “21st Century Schizoid Man”, “Lark’s Tongues In Aspic”, “Xanadu”, “Solsbury Hill”, “Money”, “Living In The Past”, “Rendezvous 6:02” and more… ProgJect is going to drop your jaw and blow your mind.
Hmm, didn’t know the guy from Saga had it in him.
But Series-ously, Folks
We mentioned a Fountain Square Spring Music Series gig – the full series lineup is here on CincyMusic.com.
And speaking of music series, Parlor & Patio is back! List members Jacqui and Dave Killen will once again be hosting shows in their Ft. Thomas home. Huzzah!
Their first two announced shows:
Friday, May 13: Ritt & Wilder Deitz (tickets on sale here)
The album overall has the feel of a late-period U2 album. Which doesn’t sound like a compliment, though I am genuinely impressed that they could make a record this unhorny. In that respect, The Getaway is genuinely subversive, a Chili Peppers record without a cucumber in its trousers.
Speaking of trouser cucumbers, Jason Isbell cracked me up with his comment on a poorly worded Stereogum headline:
Shameless self-promotion
List member Dave Tellmann and I continue to crank out top-quality slapdash episodes of the “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast, garnering worldwide acclaim comments of “oh, that’s nice” from our spouses. (We’re currently #27 on the list of “Top Podcasts to Fold Laundry to.”) The most recent episodes are a two-parter (like a “very special episode” of Punky Brewster, only with less pigtails) with former station manager Jay Batista, who, along with Steve Stenken, helped flip the format of WOXY to modern rock. Part 1 of our chat with Jay is here, and Part Deux is here.
Album Cover of the Week
The unpicturesque field… the uncomfortable pose… the lack of a tight focus on the subject… but all is forgiven because the Cousin Eddie shoes match the fence.
