But I do love pie. Except for the Shepherd’s kind.
You can’t spell February without “F-U.”
Let’s warm up our weary bones with some hot live tunes.
Tomorrow night (2/20):
Robert Ellis plays Southgate
Young Heirlooms, Mol Sullivan, and Annie D are at the Northside Tavern
Liberty Theater has a Songwriters in the Round free show with Anthony Ray Wright and Andrew Hibbard
Kim Deal (Pixies, Breeders, Huber Heights, OH) plays a sold-out show at the Woodward Theater on Friday night. I’ll be there, along with list members Mighty Joe, Deuce, Lobby Boy, Matty V, Jarrod, Shay-Shay, and a cavalcade of stars. It’ll be like the greatest episode ever of The Love Boat
Other Friday shows:
Justin Wells has an album release show at Southgate, with Casey Campbell and Adam Lee also on the bill
Susto and Rose Hotel are at Ludlow Garage
Cincy Brass plays a free show at MOTR (9:30)
Jim Trace & the Makers (featuring two of my co-workers) play an album release show at Northside Tavern, with The Electric Indigo and The Laurelys
On Saturday, the Cabin Fever Festival takes over historic Ludlow, KY. I went last year and loved it – it’s a great showcase for the amazing roots/Americana/bluegrass talent in this area, in some really cool venues (including a Funeral Parlor!).
Needless to say, I’m going again this year. (I just hope the funeral home folks don’t try to stick me in a coffin.)
Join me, won’t you? (At the festival, not in the coffin.) Tickets are dirt cheap too – get ’em here.
Other Saturday shows:
Nicholas Jamerson plays Southgate, with Jonathan Peyton as the opener (I really like Jonathan’s latest release)
Mike Detmer has an album release show at Liberty Theater, with Rob L. Ford, and Adam Gilliam
Annie’s hosts Fillmore on the River 2 with the Almond Butter Band and Scarlet Fire
The HercuLeons (feat. Bluegrass Hall of Famer John Cowan and fiddler/vocalist Andrea Zonn) play Ludlow Garage
Memorial Hall has The Drowsy Lads
On Sunday, Mike Oberst and Justine Cefalu play the Rabbit Hash “Music Behind the Stove” series and Tinfoil Hat Cowboys play MOTR.
The Nasty Nati Brass Band is at Memorial Hall on Monday.
On Tuesday, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes (fiddler from Molly Tuttle’s band) is at Southgate, and the Mercantile Library’s Memoir Lecture is from Michelle Zauner, author of Crying in H Mart and also lead singer of Japanese Breakfast. (That appearance is sold-out.)
Taft Theatre has An Evening with Drew and Ellie Holcomb next Wednesday (2/26).
The Joe Stamm Band plays Whiskey City’s Liberty Theater on Thursday, Feb. 27th, with Clint Park as the opener.
The Noah Smith Band is at Liberty Theater on Friday, 2/28, and Southgate has a couple of shows going on that evening:
Eddie Spaghetti and “Metal” Marty Chandler from Supersuckers play the main room (Skunkdog opens)
Logan Ledger plays the Revival Room, with Mason Via.
Lydia Shae, Amy Jo, and Stone & Snow play Southgate’s Revival Room
Helles Belles (all-female AC/DC cover band) play Ludlow
The Blue Note in Harrison hosts Crown Watts: An Evening of Rush
Shows on Sunday, March 2nd:
Burning Caravan plays Rabbit Hash (2pm)
Tommy Castro & the Painkillers are in Southgate’s main Sanctuary
Flamy Grant and Heather Mae play the Southgate Revival Room
Dropkick Murphys are at the Bobby Brady
Comedian John Caparulo plays a 6:30 show at the Woodward
Gigs on Wednesday, March 5th:
Jordan Tice plays the Liberty Theater
Crumbsnatchers play Southgate (bio description: “Hailing from Nashville, Crumbsnatchers’ catchy songs echo the wit of Pixies and Talking Heads, backed by the fervent force of Beastie Boys.”)
It’s WEEN Wednesday at the Columbia – the album featured will be Pure Guava
Life is a carnival. Summer is a festival (or seven).
Bourbon & Beyond has crammed about five festival’s worth of artists into their lineup:
Nelsonville hasn’t announced their full lineup yet, but they had me at Waxahatchee, MJ Lenderman, Dehd, and Low Cut Connie.
Hear, here!
The new album from Ex-Vöid is great!
One of the principals in Ex-Vöid is Owen Williams from The Tubs. I’m obsessed.
Waxahatchee has a new non-album track out (with M.J. Lenderman on guitar and backing vocals). It’s delightful.
And Katie Crutchfield harmonizes with Patterson Hood (Drive-by Truckers) on a track from his upcoming solo release. As list member Mighty Joe Sampson says, “This is the good stuff. Harmonies to melt your ears on a cold winter day.”
“There were a lot of radio stations that had been around. College stations, and then stations like WLIR in New York. So, that was all part of building the firmament, as well. It was a long process. It didn’t just happen out of thin air. And WBCN, and Matt was DJing down in South Jersey. So, that late ’80s through ’91/’92, all of that was critical infrastructure, as well. It’s just funny – you know this and I know this – but there’s sort of a ‘mainstream history,’ like, ‘There was all this hair metal, and then Nevermind came, and it changed.’ There was a lot of people who did a lot of work to get to that point.”
Amen, Brother Bob! Here’s the title track from his upcoming album:
Album Cover of the Week
I picked up this gem of an album, in this condition, note and all, at the Mt. Washington St. Vincent de Paul store. (On “Senior Sunday” when I get a 25% discount!) My best guess is that the two-time owner of the album found someone who DIDN’T like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain.
He really liked that red shirt… he was even wearing it when list member Dave Tellmann caught up with him a while back.
And list member Dave Lenehan shared a couple of Mojo stories on Facebook:
Someone dug up this audio of Mojo (a Miami U. alum!) and Skid Roper on 97X with Mr. K:
And Ken Katkin paid tribute to Mojo on his Trash Flow Radio show. Listen here.
Outlaw to the very end. Amen.
OK, let’s talk live music.
Friday night shows:
Joe Pug and Hello Darling play the Southgate House
War Hippies and Blake Tyler are at the old Annie’s
Neck Deep plays the Ovation
On Saturday, your faithful scribe will be in Ludlow, Kentucky for their Cabin Fever extravaganza. The lineup of local artists is outstanding:
And proceeds benefit Music Fund Cincinnati, a non-profit started by list member John Sandman and his wife.
Other Saturday shows:
Saving Escape, Sunmates, and Knotts play MOTR
The Aronoff hosts Blackout featuring Siri Imani
Songwriter and longtime Jimmy Buffett Coral Reefer band member Mac McAnally kicks off a three-night stand (Sat/Sun/Tues) at Ludlow Garage.
Bogart’s has Gimme Gimme Disco: A Dance Party Inspired by ABBA. If you go to that gig, be sure to break out your best ABBA threads.
(Not sure if that’s ABBA or stunt doubles from “Logan’s Run.”)
Joe’s Truck Stop plays the Rabbit Hash “Music Behind the Stove” series Sunday at 2:30 p.m. If you go to that show, be sure to wear your best “BJ & the Bear” outfit.
(Greg Evigan hair by Vidal Sassoon. Shirt from Botany 500. Buttons sold separately.)
Mac McAnally wraps up his Ludlow series on Tuesday.
Speaking of (‘Til) Tuesday, Aimee Mann plays a sold-out show at Memorial Hall on Wednesday, with Jonathan Coulton as the opener. And Gaelic Storm storms the Taft.
Next Thursday (2/29) is Leap Day
A.k.a. the 17th birthday of list member Ted Gardner. Teddy Boy can celebrate with Eric Gales at Ludlow, or Bryan Adams at Truist Arena. The opener for the latter gig is “Eurythmics Songbook featuring Dave Stewart”… which is a better name than “the guy without Annie Lennox.”
Next Friday, March 1st, The Raisins reunite for the first of three consecutive sold-out shows at the Woodward Theater. I’ll be in the house for that one.
Other 3/1 shows are Steel Wheels at Ludlow Garage, Moonbeau and Sappha at MOTR, and Mammoth WVH at Bogart’s.
Saturday, March 2nd is action-packed:
The Raisins are back on the Woodward stage
The Tillers kick off a two-night stand at Southgate – both shows will be recorded for an upcoming live album
Joe Bonamassa plays the Taft (giving blues-rock guitar freaks a massa-ive bona)
Madison Live hosts “An Evening with Sofaburn” – acts include Mike Montgomery, Lung, Super City, Shadwick, Wilde with Quiet Hollers, and Mosant
Plain Folk Café in Pleasant Plain, OH has An Evening with Dead Centric (that should be pleasant)
Molly Hatchet plays the Madison Theater
Annie’s hosts Aces High: The Music of Iron Maiden
On Sunday, March 3rd, The Tillers are back at Southgate and rolling tape for the live album.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo plays Memorial Hall on Tuesday, March 5th. And Socks in the Frying Pan and Enter the Haggis play that same venue the following evening (3/6). (“Socks in the Frying Pan and Enter the Haggis – part of this complete Celtic breakfast!”)
Local Lixx
Hat tip to list member Reid McCreary for recommending Mol Sullivan’s new album Goose. Definitely worth a spin or three:
Future Shows of Note
Guided By Voices and Wussy (full band!) play Madison Theater on 4/26.
They Might Be Giants play Madison Theater on May 14 and May 15
Pixies, Modest Mouse, and Cat Power at the Carol Brady on 6/5
Railbird (June 1-2 in Lexington) and Bourbon & Beyond (Sept 19-22 in L-ville) lineups below
List member Howard Cohen shared this one, but he warned me it could be fake news:
After a bit of internet sleuthing, I think it’s the handiwork of graphic designer Cris Shapan, who does a lot of retro fakery that’s friggin’ hilarious. Check out his work on Facebook but be prepared to laugh your buttocks off. Here’s a fake TV Guide listing:
And here’s a fake ad:
Real Album Cover of the Week
This is actually more disconcerting than the fake album cover, TBH.
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!)
