Congrats, you’ve nearly made it through “Dryuary!” Now it’s time for a portmanteau that’s even more cumbersome (but not in the Seven Mary Three way), and not really a portmanteau TBH. But when Febrockuary rolls around, you can put on your concert-going shoes (Doc Martens?) and get out to a gig or three.
On Thursday, the Woodward Theater has Donny Benet with Yusef Quotah. Check out Donny’s promo photo:
It’s giving off some serious “love child of Dom DeLuise and ‘Meathead’ from All in the Family” vibes.
Ludlow Garage hosts “Family Tradition: A Hank Williams Jr. Tribute” on Friday. (I hope they play the Monday Night Football Theme that Junior sang… complete with the Jazzercise background dancers.)
That same evening, CG5 plays the Woodward, and MOTR kicks off the preliminary rounds of the Bockfest Sausage Queen competition. (Eat your heart out, Abe Froman.)
The full Sausage Queen schedule, rules, and judging criteria are here.
Febrockuary kicks off Saturday with a full slate o’shows – although most of them are of the tribute band variety:
JD Shelburne plays the Liberty Theater, with Jordan Dermody as the opener
Madison Theater hosts “Tell Me Lies – The Fleetwood Mac Experience” while next door at Madison Live it’s Riddim Fest
The old Annie’s has “Grunge: The Sounds of Seattle”
Bogart’s hosts “Cash Unchained: The Ultimate Johnny Cash Experience”
At Memorial Hall, it’s “Genesis ReTouched” (a tribute to late 80’s to late 2000’s Genesis concerts… quite specific!)
On Sunday, check out the Positively Mainstrasse event at the Village Theater in Covington. It’s a Cincinnati Children’s “Giving Hope to Kids” fundraiser and features dozens of local artists doing Dylan covers. Who knows, maybe Timothée Chalamet will show up…
[Artwork for the poster above by list member Keith Neltner.]
Sunday is Groundhog Day too!
The Chris Comer Trio plays the “Jazz at the Memo” series on Monday, Feb. 3rd, and they’re doing something interesting:
Following last year’s debut at Memorial Hall, The CC3’s (Chris Comer Trio) return engagement will feature a unique inspired arrangement of the landmark ambient piece MUSIC FOR AIRPORTS by Brian Eno. The evening will conclude with an original collaboration by all three CC3 members called MUSIC FOR SPACESHIPS, juxtaposing the styles of the meditative Eno composition and the jazzy groovy “outer space music” of the Comer trio. This concert is in-part a tribute to Cincinnati musician and radio legend Ron Esposito, who has performed MUSIC FOR AIRPORTS and collaborated with The CC3 many times.
“Music for Spaceships”… far out, man! Almost as far out as this version:
Shows on Wednesday, Feb. 5:
Cheryl Renee plays the blues at Arnold’s
The Blue Wisp Big Band is at Caffe Vivace
The Columbia (see our previous post for more on this event space) has WEEN Wednesday, and the album will be The Pod
Highly Suspect plays the Mike Brady on Thursday, Feb. 6th.
IMHO, Mike Brady IS highly suspect. We never found out how his first wife died… mysterious circumstances, no doubt. And somehow we’re supposed to believe that a guy who mixes up architectural plans with a Yogi Bear poster can afford a luxury home and a live-in housekeeper? Is “Cousin Oliver” really Mike’s love child from an affair that his first wife found out about? And what’s the deal with the AstroTurf yard? Is Mike covering up (literally) a backyard grave? Tune in to my new true crime podcast “Here’s the Untold Story of a Man named Brady…” as we do a deep dive into the clues hidden in plain sight. (Tiger knows a lot more than he’s letting on.)
Plenty o’ shows on Saturday, Feb. 8th:
Hot Tuna plays the Ludlow Garage
H.R. (of Bad Brains) plays Southgate, with Knife the Symphony
Vanessa Collier headlines the Cincinnati Winter Blues Experience* at Manor House (*not to be confused with the Cincinnati Winter blues experience of having snow and ice on sidewalks for weeks on end…)
Electric Indigo, Eastwood, and Funky Ducks play a free show at MOTR
The Woodward Theater hosts “Dark Wave” (a covers show benefitting the Freestore Foodbank). Lots of local bands on the bill, including Wussy, Fairmount Girls, Tweens, Leggy, and Static Falls. The full lineup is here.
Last but certainly not least, when you think of “Hard Rock” your mind no doubt goes right to the titans of that genre: Black Sabbath, Metallica, and Air Supply.
One of those three bands will be at the Hard Rock Casino on 2/8.
On Wednesday, Feb. 12th, the Redmoor in Mt. Lookout hosts “Forever Simon & Garfunkel.” Have you ever seen the Photoshop version of S&G’s Bridge Over Troubled Water album cover with Paul Simon removed?
It makes Artie look like Donny Benet:
Mdou Moctar plays a special acoustic performance at the Woodward on Thursday, Feb. 13th.
Friday, February 14th is Valentine’s Day. I choo-choo-choose you to be my favorite blog post reader.
When love is in the air, our minds naturally turn to thoughts of noted romantic balladeer George Thorogood, with his equally lovestruck band the Delaware Destroyers. They’ll be at the Hard Rock Casino. (When typing this, I nearly transposed the “C” from Casino with the “R” in Rock, by accident. But it made me realize I could do that on purpose and score some promotional ad dollars from Enzyte.)
Where was I before I nearly got in trouble with Citizens for Community Values? Oh, yes, concerts… Other shows of note on Saint Valentine’s Day (I threw in the “Saint” to get ‘em off my case):
Josh Morningstar & his band play Southgate’s Revival Room
Liberty Theater has CFG & the Family with Heather Redman & the Reputation
Unlike the Hard Rock, Ludlow Garage knew the V.D. assignment – they have “Lovesongs: a tribute to The Cure”
Little Miami Brewing Co. hosts “Captured: The Ultimate Journey Tribute”
On Saturday, Feb. 15th, the Liberty Theater features the Mama Said String Band with Andrew Hibbard. The Downtowne Listening Room has EG Knight and Maria Carrelli. Also, Valentine’s Day is over.
Joe’s Truck Stop hits Rabbit Hash’s “Music Behind the Stove” series on Sunday, Feb. 16, and Todd Lipscomb plays Arnold’s on Tuesday, 2/18.
R.I.P. Garth Hudson, the mad professor
Now there’s no one left in The Band. Garth was the oldest member, and it seems fitting that he was the last to go, as he was the rock of that group in so many ways.
Amanda Petrusich also paid tribute in The New Yorker.
And now, my favorite Band song… with Garth just coolly crushing it on sax:
Sidebar: Now is probably not the time to get into the petty squabbles and financial dealings of The Band, but reading this in the AP obit made me super-sad, and even more of a Team Levon guy:
In recent years, Hudson struggled financially. He had sold his interest in the Band to Robertson and went bankrupt several times. He lost one home to foreclosure and saw many of his belongings put up for auction in 2013 when he fell behind on payments for storage. Hudson’s wife, the singer “Sister” Maud Hudson, died in 2022.
Joan soldiers on
I’ve always liked Joan Armatrading’s music, and think she deserves a bit more recognition.
I agree! Blurb above is from this interview in The Independent. Her most recent album is How Did This Happen and What Does It Now Mean.
Well, the title of my new album is How Did This Happen and What Does It Now Mean. I have no answers and I haven’t met anybody who has, but I hope we get rebooted to something a bit more balanced. I think we’ve become polarised because when you’re face to face with somebody, things such as body language and eye contact stop us doing certain things. That doesn’t happen on social media, then it spills into the real world. We’re not going to get rid of all wars and disagreements, but the album title is asking how on earth do we get out of this situation that we’re in and get back to a nicer place.
Hot Ticket Alert
More info and a ticket link on the Woodward website.
And this event — a lecture from author Michelle Zauner, who also fronts longtime 97Xbam faves Japanese Breakfast — sold out before I could tout it:
But I can at least mention that the newly refurbished/remodeled Mercantile Library is even more amazing than it was before, and the annual membership is totally worth it to get dibs on great literary events. (Poet Laureate Ada Limón will be there on 8/27.)
That’s Sooo Cincinnati ticket alert
Billy Joel and Rod Stewart are playing the Bengals stadium on Saturday, September 20th. I don’t know when tickets go on sale, but I DO know it’ll cost a gazillion dollars to see two dinosaurs.
Railbird lineup
It skews fairly “mainstream country”:
I’d rather spend $2.49 for this Jelly Roll action:
Music is Medicine
Singer-songwriter Laura Burhenn, who records as The Mynabirds (and does house tours via Undertow!), asked Janine Awan to design two complementary poster for her Bandcamp merch site.
A portion of the proceeds from both posters will go to support the World Central Kitchen’s important work in the US and abroad in areas torn by war and climate disaster.
Meet new singles in your area!
The winter new music freeze is finally thawing out. Check out new singles from The Tubs (loved their last album, they remind me so much of Richard Thompson), Lucy Dacus, Sharon Van Etten, and a posthumous release from The Chills/Martin Phillipps.
Album Covers of the Week(s)
Decca certainly didn’t “sell the sizzle” with the adjective they used to describe Earl. Was “versatile” the best that they could come up with? It feels like the album cover equivalent of a “he’s got a great personality” blind date.
There’s a LOT going on with this cover. Good luck coming up with a coherent narrative based on this imagery. The girls is writing in an album (who writes in an album?) while dreaming of a fur trader who doubles as a malt shoppe owner, and he in turn is dreaming of a photographer from 1872. Also a chef is going overboard with the pepper – so much so that the liquid splashing out of his saucepan is black. And there are two anthropomorphic ink blots who get feature credit…
Well hello there, Stranger! How have you been? Vacay was great, thanks for asking. I know you didn’t miss me – even I didn’t miss me. But it’s not about missing me, it’s about not missing live gigs in the Cincinnati area. Let’s get at ‘er!
Tonight:
Ben Levin and Joe Tellmann will join other Pinetop Perkins Foundation Masterclass participants in backing Bob Margolin at the Lebanon Blues Festival. (Ben and Joe will also play with Bob on Saturday. The entire schedule is here.)
The Fabulous Thunderbirds roll into Ludlow Garage
Tab Benoit plays the Taft Theatre
Holy F*ck will be at Madison Live. I think they’re a gospel band.
The Actual F*ck plays Northside Tavern. I think they’re a hardcore band.
Ray Vietti & The Family Stoned will play a free gig at Carriage House Farm.
On Saturday you can see an Elvis Impersonator.
Wait, check that, I still have vacation brain… actually it’s Elvis Costello & the Imposters at Rose Music Center. Not to be outdone, Fraze Pavilion, the other Dayton area venue, has… Vanilla Ice.
Mr. Van Winkle, the erstwhile Ice, Vanilla, will be joined by a veritable Who’s Who of “Who’s That?” – All 4 One, Rob Base, Coolio, Tone Loc and Young MC. (Name two songs by any/all of those artist and win valuable prizes.)
Also on Saturday evening:
Ekoostik Hookah plays the old Annie’s
Ludlow Garage has Strangelove, the Depeche Mode Experience
Local artists Flying Underground (Brian Lovely) and Nick Kizirnis play MOTR
The Greg Brady hosts Dashboard Confessional and Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness.
Greg Brady dashboard confessionalEd McMahon in the wilderness
Daryl Hall and the Daryl’s House Band plays Timberwolf on Sunday, with special guest Todd Rundgren.
On Wednesday, RuPaul’s Drag Race is at the Mike Brady Center, and the Happy Together Tour comes to Fraze – The Turtles, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, The Association, The Buckinghams, The Vogues, and The Cowsills. Every orthopedic surgeon in the Dayton area should be handing out business cards at that show.
Thursday shows:
The Dead South and Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band play Annie’s.
Tower of Power and Lettuce (that’s two bands, it’s not the Smoothie/Salad combo at Jamba Juice) are at the Taft.
Whitehall plays Southgate
Mike Zito is at Ludlow Garage
The Casey Campbell Band does the free show at Washington Park from 7-9 p.m.
Last, and least, the Motor City Madman Ted Nugent plays the Rose Music Center.
Next Friday:
Steep Canyon Rangers are at Annie’s
Soul Pocket headlines the free show on Fountain Square
The Rose Music Center serves up the Smoothie/Salad combo twin bill of Tower of Power and Lettuce.
Add a shot of wheatgrass for just 50 cents.
Concert Shots
Lucy Dacus and Camp Cope put on a stellar outdoor show at the Burl in Lexington. List member Joe Sampson and I helped bring up the average age.
List members Dan Bockrath, Dave Tellmann and I thoroughly enjoyed the Adrian Belew gig at Ludlow Garage. We also had fun counting the # of old men wearing ponytails.
Classy Ken, your Clifton Concert Concierge
Speaking of the Ludlow Garage, if you purchase your tickets at their box office (open Wed-Sat 4-10 p.m.), you can avoid most of the dreaded TicketBastard fees. List member Ken Laube lives in Clifton, and I’m sure he’d be happy to walk up to Ludlow (quite frankly, he could use the exercise) and purchase the ducats for you.
… my wife and I were on the college radio station when she went to UVA. You’re surrounded by so much creativity—the other DJs are creative, but also the tens of thousands of albums from the past 40 years, all their funky, weird artwork, all their liner notes. It’s just so jam-packed, and 99 percent of them are forgotten. It was sort of this different idea about how, gosh, I’m gonna be forgotten too. So why don’t I have fun with this? And why don’t I make art feel like you’re going to a show, buying a T-shirt or a CD?
Steve Keene in the interview linked above
Album Cover of the Week
This week’s album cover is courtesy of list member Dave Green:
Sayeth Dave: You’d think this would’ve been a “blues” album, but that would be too cliché. My son picked this up for me for $6 since I am a casual jazz fan and previously 80’s Smurf collector (little known fact).
We’re about to drop not one week o’ live gigs on you… not two weeks… but three whopping weeks of concerts. Because I’m heading out of town next Friday for a week of fun in the sun. And I don’t want the This Week in Live Music deadline looming over me like the sword of Damocles. Or the sword of the Black Knight.
Let’s get to the bumper crop of gigs, shall we?
Tonight, The Cult, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Zola Jesus play the Rose Music Center, and Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, Poison and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts are at the Reds stadium. (In deference to my good friend Dan Lewis, I shall resist the temptation to make any sort of Rick Allen/Reds pitching staff comparison…)
Saturday, Kississippi headlines the Fountain Square free show… and Air Supply is at the Rose Music Center.
You got that right, Spanky!
On Sunday, list member Mighty Joe Sampson and I will be visiting the Burl.
Sorry, wrong Burl. We’re going to the live music venue in Lexington to see Lucy Dacus and Camp Cope – a great double bill that’s totally worth the trip.
Meanwhile, back in the ‘nati, Elf Power is at MOTR (7:30 show – $10… new album is good) and Frankie & the Witch Fingers play the Woodward.
Pictured: Witch Fingers and Center Square. Not pictured: Frankie.
On Monday, 5 Seconds of Summer, a band that I’ve not even given a single second of my lifetime, plays a sold out show at the Brady.
But the Brady redeems itself the very next night, as Bonnie Raitt and Mavis Staples take the stage on Tuesday. (The New Yorker just ran a great profile of Mavis… she’s the real deal!)
That same evening, Mary Chapin Carpenter plays Memorial Hall, and The Barenaked Ladies, Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket play Rose… I think that tour is called “97X Throwback Bands.”
The Barenaked-Gin-Sprocket show comes to PNC on Wednesday – it’s sold out.
Wednesday features another 97X Throwback Show: The Psychedelic Furs and X play the Peter Brady. Meanwhile, Bonnie Raitt and Mavis Staples will be up the road a piece at the Rose.
Plenty of gigs on Thursday:
Adrian Belew is at Ludlow Garage – list member Dave Tellmann and I will be there
Little Feat plays the Taft, with opener Ida Mae
Ricky Nye plays an outdoor gig at the Behringer-Crawford Museum’s amphitheater
The World is a Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid to Die (yes, that’s a band name) is at Southgate
RiversEDGE in Hamilton hosts Completely Unchained: Van Halen Tribute show (this show could set a new world record for jorts… and in Hamiltucky, that’s sayin’ something)
Last and least, Jimmy Buffett plays Riverbend, or as I like to call it, Rumspringa for repressed middle-aged Cincinnatians
Next Friday (7/22), Three Doors Down and Candlebox play Timberwolf.
Saturday 7/23, The Drive-by Truckers and Lydia Loveless are at the Dayton Masonic Center… looks like I picked the wrong week to go on vacation…
… and Chicago plays Riverbend for the umpteenth time, this time with Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin in tow.
The Tedeschi Trucks Band, Los Lobos and Gabe Dixon will be at Rose next Sunday (7/24) and Trouble No More (Allman Bros. tribute band) plays the “Eat a Peach” album in its entirety, with openers Rebirth Brass Band and TWILM favorite Aaron Lee Tasjan.
Tuesday July 26th:
Southgate’s Revival Room hosts An Evening with Slaid Cleves
Collective Soul and Switchfoot play the Ovation
On Thursday, July 27th, Earth, Wind & Fire play the Rose, and The Outlaws are at Ludlow Garage.
John Moreland is the headliner for the Fountain Square freebie on Friday, July 29th. If I weren’t out of town, I’d definitely be there. Here’s a track from his new album, Birds in the Ceiling:
That same evening, bluesman Tinsley Ellis plays Ludlow Garage.
Saturday, July 30th is jam-packed with live shows:
Willie Nelson brings the Outlaw Music Festival to Riverbend – Gov’t Mule, ZZ Top and Larkin Poe will join Willie & Family on the bill
Greta Van Zeppelin Fleet are at the Coliseum, this is the rescheduled date from their March postponement
Sarah Shook and the Disarmers play Southgate
White Denim headlines the Fountain Square freebie
Railroad Earth chugs into the old Annie’s, with Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle as the opener
Melissa Etheridge plays the Fraze
Kansas carries on at the Hard Rock Casino
Kool Moe Dee is at Ludlow Garage
On Sunday, July 31st, Rose Music Center has a great twin bill of Buddy Guy and John Hiatt & the Goners (featuring Sonny Landreth)
Roger Waters will finally play his originally-scheduled-for-2020 gig at the Coliseum on Tuesday, August 2nd. The show is called “This is Not a Drill”:
“This Is Not A Drill is a ground breaking new rock and roll/cinematic extravaganza, performed in the round, it is a stunning indictment of the corporate dystopia in which we all struggle to survive, and a call to action to LOVE, PROTECT and SHARE our precious and precarious planet home. The show includes a dozen great songs from PINK FLOYD’S GOLDEN ERA along side several new ones, words and music, same writer, same heart, same soul, same man. Could be his last hurrah. Wow! My first farewell tour! Don’t miss it. Love R.”
On Wednesday, August 3rd, Glass Animals (no relation to George Glass… or are they?) play an outdoor gig at the Jan Brady…
… and Joe Bonamassa is at the Fraze (sorry, couldn’t bring myself to use “plays the Fraze” twice in one post).
Andrew Bird, Iron & Wine and Meshell Ndegeocello are at PNC on Thursday, August 4th.
Friday, August 5th;
Ben Levin and Joe Tellmann will join other Pinetop Perkins Foundation Masterclass participants in backing Bob Margolin at the Lebanon Blues Festival. (The Festival continues on Saturday – schedule is here.)
The Fabulous Thunderbirds roll into Ludlow Garage
Tab Benoit plays the Taft Theatre
Holy F*ck will be at Madison Live. Yes, that’s what I said.
This was not a drill…
Letters to the Editor
You are correct, Dan! It’s really no way to treat someone who has been nothing but kind to me. But it’s still fun.
When music is so abundant and our attention is scarce, there’s power in adding more intention to your listening diet, more chaos, more risk. The thrill in finding music that is wired to your singular life is not that thousands of other people have found the same thing. It’s that the music becomes something confounding and unique, a true reflection of where you are and where you’ve been. The beauty of the algorithm of your mind is that it makes perfect sense to no one but yourself.
Cullen is currently looking for a gig in NYC, having recently been laid off by Landor/Fitch in their latest round of cuts. He’s good people – if you know of any agencies looking for someone with his profile, please let him know. And speaking of a Landor layoff leading to better things…
List member Dale Doyle (the original d2) is now a Grammy voter. Which means we can blame him if our favorite bands don’t win. Or maybe we can just call Dale and pressure him to “find” 10,000 votes for Japanese Breakfast.
Album Cover of the (Three) Week(s)
It wasn’t “free indeed” it was 37 cents at St. Vincent de Paul, but I still passed on it.
Well, the Orange & Black made a valiant effort, but in the end they were edged out by the Blue & Yellow.
Wait, I’m talking about leftover Halloween candy. What did you think I meant?
Oh yeah, the Bengals lost too. But as the people on this boat said upon further reflection* “that sure was a heck of a ride!”
*i.e. after they recovered from their concussions
OK, let’s move on to the tunes. Great news: as part of the This Week in Live Music President’s Day Weekend Sale, you can buy one week of concert listings and get one week free!
Speaking of furniture, let’s give it up for Lucy Dacus, who played a great show at the Ovation while lying on a couch for most of the gig due to two herniated discs in her back. What a trooper.
Looking heavenward with the voice of an angel
New release Friday
Today, Jacob Strom (son of list members Jen and Tim Strom) has a new track called “Charger” dropping on all the major streaming sites. It’s a song he co-wrote for an artist named JVKE, who apparently is quite the TikTok-er. Check it out. And by “it” I mean the song, not TikTok. OK, go ahead and do both, you impetuous youth!
Tickets on sale today
Bonnie Raitt and Mavis Staples at the Greg “Johnny Bravo” Brady Center on July 19th.
Gig time
Tonight, John Scofield plays Ludlow Garage.
Saturday, Beth Hart is at the Taft, Madison Live hosts a Weezer and Smashing Pumpkins tribute, and the Icon has a sold-out show: Louis Tomlinson. (Never heard of him? Same here, my friend with discriminate taste in musical artists… apparently he was a member of One Direction.)
On Monday, Superwolves (a band featuring Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy*) plays Southgate.
*no relation to Prince
Tuesday, Drew & Ellie Holcomb play Memorial Hall, and The Thing with Feathers lands in Southgate’s Revival Room.
On Thursday:
Allison Russell plays Memorial Hall. (Allison is from Birds of Chicago, and her solo album from 2021 got rave reviews.)
Zachary Williams (of The Lone Bellow) will be at Ludlow Garage, with local band The Hiders opening the show.
Ovation has Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience. That show is BYOG (Bring Your Own Groupies)
Next Friday evening, Lily Hiatt plays Southgate, with the Harmaleighs opening, and Jack Russell’s Great White (essentially Jack Russell minus all the other members of Great White… it’s complicated when that much hair is involved) plays the Blue Note in Harrison.
“What can I say? I threw a band together because I needed the money.”
On Saturday, Feb. 26th:
Anderson East plays Bogart’s
Local artists Physco and Christian Nicholas Gough play the Woodward
Alex Williams is in Southgate’s Sanctuary
Letterkenny Live is at the Taft.
Sunday, 2/27, British blues-rocker Joanne Shaw Taylor is at Southgate and Gaelic Storm hits the Taft.
The four members of the band called We Banjo Three have two shows at Memorial Hall, on Tuesday, March 1st and Wednesday, March 2nd.
Also on Wednesday (3/2), Beach House will be on the river… at the Ovation in Newport. And Wishbone Ash plays Ludlow Garage.
Goats will march forth when Bockfest kicks off on Friday, March 4th. That same evening the Devon Allman Project (featuring Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars) plays Annie’s with the Samantha Fish Band, and The Well and Howling Giant play Northside Yacht Club. If you’re into tributes, Bogart’s has The Prince Experience (no relation to Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy) and Taft hosts The Fab Four Ultimate Tribute. (I’m assuming it’s a tribute to the Rutles.)
Shows on Saturday, March 5th:
Ministry, the Melvins and Corrosion of Conformity are at the Madison Theater
Mat Kearney plays the Taft
Local artist David McGlynn has an album release show at the Woodward, with Ric Hordinski and Moonshine
Aja – A tribute to Steely Dan is at Ludlow Garage (I’m assuming it’s a tribute to the BAND Steely Dan, not the… um… toy.)
Coheed & Cambria plays Ovation on Sunday, March 6th, and the husband and wife duo called Ordinary Elephant plays Southgate, with Rachael Kilgour as the opener.
Vote early, vote often
I’m with AC Newman…
Album Covers of the Week
I spend a lot of time crate-digging at the local thrift stores, trying to add to my vinyl collection on the cheap. Usually it’s a colossal waste of time, as the bins are filled with nothing but albums from Andy Williams, Engelbert Hump-or-death Humperdinck and the Ray Conniff Singers. But this past Sunday, I scored big:
What a great time to be in the Cincinnati area. This Sunday, the local NFL team, owned by the Browns (in more ways than one), has a chance to take home the ultimate prize: a trip to Disney World!
(Oh, and a shiny trophy too.) This town is going bonkers for their Bengals!
Then on Monday, it’s VD for everyone! Let me wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day!
Always remember that I love you, even if I forgot to get you something… wait, sorry, that’s the note for my wife. Although sometimes I DO get her a gift and she’s still upset.
I have no idea why…
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Before we get to the Super Bowl and the Super Love, we have an action-packed weekend of hard-hitting rock and/or roll.
Tonight, Lucy Dacus plays the Ovation, with Indigo De Souza as the opener. Should be a stellar show – hope to see you there.
I love Lucy!
This just in… if Lucy has back-to-back back pain, she might be crooning from a couch, like she did last night in the Motor City:
Just don’t make it a hide-a-bed
Saturday, Foxy Shazam plays the Peter Brady Icon Music Center.
Iconic ‘stache!
That same evening, Manor House in Mason hosts The Cincy Winter Blues Experience, Rob Fetters kicks off Season #6 of his “Fetters is Cheap” live streams, and the Tri-State’s smelly hippies find themselves with a tough choice:
Local jam band Spookfloaters (feat. my wife’s cousin Mike on guitar and vocals) plays the event center at Little Miami Brewing Co. AND
Runaway Gin (a tribute to Phish) is at Annie’s.
I guess they’ll have to take two trips that night.
The Peter Brady mustache really makes the outfit.
On Super Sunday, Stay Outside and Leland Blue play Southgate.
Monday, in addition to the aforementioned hug fest that is Valentine’s Day, Langhorne Slim plays Southgate.
I love Langhorne!
Southgate House has two shows on Tuesday:
The Pine Hill Haints play the main room (Sanctuary)
In the upstairs Revival Room, you can enjoy An Evening with Clem Snide – I may hit this show, could be really cool.
Wednesday, Dream Theater plays the Marsha Brady Icon Music Center.
Iconic football scene.
On Thursday, Cary Morin plays Southgate’s Revival Room.
Next Friday, John Scofield will be at Ludlow Garage.
Tickets on sale today
The Who at TQL Stadium on May 15th… yes, Quadrophenia fans, that’s 5:15…
Idles at Ovation on September 12th
“Mickey Dolenz celebrates the Monkees” at Icon on April 9th
Engelbert Humperdinck at Taft on May 6th.
Trick question
Live shot
The War on Drugs put on a stellar show at Ovation this past Sunday. The venue is similar to the Mike Brady Icon Music Center, although it only has a single wraparound balcony instead of two. The sound was very good, sightlines were decent, I just wish they had more exits for post-show egress.
Album Cover of the Week
Your collection of the best Soul music isn’t complete unless you have Hutch in your hutch.
I promised you Superlove music, so here it is:
Ass Ponys covering the Afghan Whigs… it doesn’t get any better than this.
Last night’s Country Westerns gig at MOTR was scuttled by the freezing rain, sleet, and snow. Mmm, wintry mix! (Special message to all those “if it’s going to be cold, I wish it would snow” types: bite me!)
But you can love The Ultimate Doors tribute two times, babe…
OK, technically one time. And probably tonight, because they are riders on the storm.
At press time, Brother Moses and Tom the Torpedoes are still on for Saturday (Southgate and Redmoor, respectively).
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday… it’s The War on Drugs at Ovation in Newport. List member Mighty Joe Sampson and I will be there with bells on (but we will only shake them between songs).
Are you less of a Drugs person and more of a jazzer-person?
Admit it, you can’t look away…
Then you can catch the Blue Wisp Big Band’s 40th Anniversary CD Release party at The Redmoor on Sunday starting at 6 p.m.
On Tuesday, Anaïs Mitchell and Bonny Light Horseman trot into Memorial Hall. Bonny Light Horseman is Anaïs Mitchell with Eric D. Johnson (of Fruit Bats fame) and Josh Kaufman (a multi-instrumentalist and producer known for his work with Craig Finn, Hiss Golden Messenger, Josh Ritter, The National and Bob Weir). Should be a really cool show.
Washout Wednesday
Sleigh Bells were supposed to play Taft on Wednesday… but they moved their entire tour back several months.
And the Wailing Jennys were supposed to play Memorial Hall on Hump Day, but they moved that show back an entire year!
Oh, and I hate to pile on, but here’s more breaking news:
Speaking of non-music, The Moth Mainstage will be at Memorial Hall on Thursday, and comedian Whitney Cummings is appearing at the Taft.
But there IS music on Thursday: you can catch list member John Sandman’s Tye Dye Band at Eli’s BBQ in the East End. They’ll be playing (inside the heated/tented barn-like structure) from 6-8 p.m.
Next Friday, Lucy Dacus plays Ovation, with Indigo De Souza as the opener. Once again, list member Mighty Joe Sampson and I will be there. I’m assuming our bells will have been confiscated by Ovation staff earlier in the week, but we’re really pumped up for this show.
Lucy’s most recent album, Home Video, was one of our faves from 2021, and she has a new one-off single out that’s pretty tasty too.
Also next Friday, Ben Levin plays Wiedemann Brewing.
Tickets on sale today…
Manchester Orchestra is playing Ovation on Wednesday, March 16th, and Tori Amos will be at the Taft Theatre on Tuesday, May 24th. Tickets for both shows go on sale this morning. I wonder if Tori will play “Oil Spill”…
If you love me, you’ll buy this for me
Just a gentle reminder that VD is right around the corner. That’s Valentine’s Day – get your mind out of the gutter! And if you’re looking for the perfect gift for your favorite This Week in Live Music correspondent, you can get me this:
The pro model will suffice, no need to splurge on the premium or limited edition… it’s a mere $7K – you probably have that in your couch cushions. Better “rush” out and buy it soon though!
Magazine Cover of the Week
Now that’s an unfortunate sticker placement. Or not, depending on how phreaky Mike Gordon is.
Album Cover of the Week
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. And the Pathway to Heaven is peppered with polyester.
Welp, our Ragnar Relay from San Francisco to Napa was a bust; it was cancelled due to wildfires. Some may blame global climate change, but I know the real culprit is Michael Martin Murphey.
The cancellation actually worked out pretty well for our 12-person team. We got to skip the tired, sweaty, smelly, trying-to-sleep-in-a-van parts, and just did the fun tourist parts. On Friday, we did a 6-mile run from the beach at Golden Gate Park, along waterfront cliffs and across the Golden Gate Bridge. That was pretty cool.
You know what else is cool? Live music! Let’s get to the gigs.
Sunday, November 3rd, John Cusack will be at Taft for a screening of the movie Say Anything, followed by a live conversation. Not bad if you enjoy paying a minimum of $52.75 (plus fees) to watch a 30-year-old movie.
On Monday, 11/4, The Japanese House plays the Taft Ballroom, and list member John Sandman’s Tye Dye Band appears at The Lounge in Anderson. (If you’ve never been to The Lounge, it’s the Anderson Township equivalent of the cantina in the original Star Wars.) John was the captain of our Napa relay team and did a great job making lemonade out of the lemons we were handed.
John’s in the center of the photo above, in the tie-dye shirt and the unicorn headgear. If he wears that ensemble tomorrow at The Lounge, he’ll fit right in.
Tuesday, 11/5 is election day, so you need to rock the vote.
After the polls close, you can enjoy any of these gigs:
Lucy Dacus plays Woodward, with Liza Anne as the opener (check out her fun cover song at the end of this post)
Tool is at Riverfront Coliseum, with opener Killing Joke
Icon for Hire plays Top Cats
Madison Theater hosts An Evening with Billy Corgan
Wednesday, 11/6 has a crowded concert menu too:
Joan Shelley plays Southgate
Dream Theater is at Taft
The California Honeydrops play Riverfront Live
The Kingston Trio plays Memorial Hall. Perhaps the opening acts will be Mitch & Mickey, The Folksmen and The New Main Street Singers.
And last but not least, list member Mark Celsor’s new band Left of Center is at Urban Artifact on Wednesday. Here’s a blurb from Facebook event page:
Join us for the sweet taste of victory, or the haunting solemness of defeat, the day after this year’s election with the modern folk, labor and protest music stylings of Left of Center as they perform new and classic American folk songs.
On Thursday, November 7th, you can see Kung Fu at Ludlow Garage. [NOTE: This does not mean you’ll watch the movie Kung Fu Panda with an actual panda… although I’d pay $52.75 for that!) Ben Levin plays BrewRiver that evening, too.
Friday (11/8), Ricky Nye and Paul Ellis play Wiedemann’s taproom, Marcus Miller is at Ludlow Garage and Bogart’s hosts Yacht Rock Revue, which is absolutely nothing like this:
Saturday, 11/9 is a musical buffet of the non-Jimmy Buffett variety:
Wilco will be at Taft. List member Joe Sampson and I saw Jay Bennett-era Wilco at Ripley’s in Clifton back in February of 1997. Killer show, complete with Cheap Trick and Replacements cover songs and a few Uncle Tupelo tunes (setlist is here). Hard to top that one.
The Amy Helm Band plays Miami U-Middletown
Katie Toupin (formerly of Houndmouth) is at MOTR
Shemekia Copeland plays Memorial Hall
Mayday! is at Top Cats
Randy Steffen plays Camp Springs Tavern
Ben Levin plays Overlook Kitchen & Bar at the Summit Hotel in Madisonville.
On Sunday, November 10th, the Outlaws will be at Ludlow Garage. List members Whit Gardner and Professor David Reid will be in attendance, and I may join them. Also, The Wood Brothers play Taft with Nicole Atkins, and Bogart’s has a quadruple bill of Newfound Glory, Hawthorne Heights, Free Throw and Jetty Bones, and King Buffalo will be at MOTR.
Hot ticket alert
Primo songwriter Jimmy Webb is playing a cool gig at Memorial Hall on Saturday, March 21st, 2020:
JIMMY WEBB: THE GLEN CAMPBELL YEARS highlights some of the 100+ recordings from the Webb/Campbell songbook, pulling the audience in with various accounts each night of the personal side of generational touchstones like “Honey Come Back,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Wichita Lineman,” “Galveston” and more from decades of shared musical memories.
Hot ticket turned cold ticket alert
The Jesse Malin show at Southgate on 11/15 is no longer listed on Jesse’s website or the Southgate website. I was really, really, really looking forward to that gig because Jesse’s a fantastic performer and his new album Sunset Kids (produced by Lucinda Williams) is a gem. However, this is not the first time that a Jesse Malin show was scheduled at Southgate and then vanished. #FML
I also try to update the song and video on the top of the 97Xbam.com home page every couple of weeks, and you’ll always find fresh news from the website Under The Radar in our RSS feed, including a “best songs of the week.”
Tip o’ the cap
Thanks to my cousin-in-law Mike Holmes for putting us on the guest list for the Spookfloaters sold-out show at Dead Low Brewing (near Riverbend) on 11/1. Their acoustic set was outstanding, and Dead Low has a nice layout which includes a big patio and an indoor stage. I’m looking forward to hearing more live music from local bands there.
Answers to our poll question: what’s your favorite hidden gem cover tune?
Dan “2020 Reds season ticket packages are on sale now” Lewis picked Dwight Yoakam covering the Rolling Stones:
Marc Allen got very specific, selecting Jason Isbell joining Widespread Panic for an incendiary live version of J.J. Cale’s “Ride Me High” back in 2016:
Bruce Frasure didn’t pick a cover, he was just glad to find a fellow Syd Straw fan, and mentioned this fantastic tune from her and some dude named Michael (who has been in the news of late).
Speaking of covers, here’s Lucy Dacus (at Woodward Theater this Tuesday) doing a rockin’ version of an Xmas evergreen:
