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.
Happy New Year, my friend! May your 2025 be rockin’!
I hope your resolutions are holding up well, too.
It’s not exactly a monster lineup of concerts, but let’s check the ol’ calendar to see what’s brewing the the live lab.
Tomorrow night, Memorial Hall has Queen Of The Queen City, The Musical Times of Mamie Smith. The band will be Ben Levin, Candice Ivory, Noah Wotherspoon, and Brandon Pettiford. And the Woodward Theater screens Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story.
On Wednesday, Hillary Hahn (the NKY singer-songwriter, not Hilary Hahn, the violinist) plays Arnold’s, and The Gilmour Project: Wish You Were Here is at Memorial Hall. The Gilmour Project is:
Pete Lavezzoli (drums with Black JGB, Oteil & Friends), and Hilary Hahn plays Arnold’s
Jeff Pevar (lead guitar with CSN, David Crosby/CPR, Joe Cocker, Ray Charles, Bette Midler, Phil Lesh & Friends, Ricki Lee Jones, Marc Cohn)
Berry Oakley (bass & vocals with Allman Betts Band, North Mississippi All-Stars, Blue Floyd & The Doors)
Mark Karan (guitar & vocals with Bob Weir, RatDog, The Other Ones, Dave Mason)
Scott Guberman (keyboard & vocals with Phil Lesh & Friends, Keystone Revisited)
The Gilmour Project isn’t: David Gilmour.
Thursday, The Daniel Wayne Band (more on them later) plays MOTR. And if you’re into pro wrasslin’, Lori’s Roadhouse in West Chester has something big… er, little, in store.
Shows this Friday:
Peter Mulvey plays Southgate
Ernie Johnson from Detroit is at the Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg, IN
Ludlow Garage has The Ultimate Doors
Ludlow Theater rolls out the red(s) carpet for the Bronson Arroyo Band
On Saturday:
Pelican and Knife the Symphony play the Woodward
Southgate House hosts Blind Mouse (a Radiohead tribute band)
Annie’s has the KISS tribute band Strutter
I wonder if, when Strutter hits the stage, they say “you wanted a reasonable facsimile of the best, you got a reasonable facsimile of the best”…
A week from tomorrow — on MLK Jr. Day, no less — it’s inauguration day for, as Jeff Tiedrich calls him:
Next Tuesday (1/21), local singer/songwriter/all-around-great-guy Todd Lipscomb plays Arnold’s.
Liberty Theater has a free Songwriters in the Round show next Thursday (1/23) featuring Harley Day and James Reed.
Shows on Friday, Jan. 24:
Webb Wilder and Bucket play Southgate
Mosant is at MOTR
Papadosio kicks off a two-night stand at the Madison Theater
Meshell Ndegeocello plays Ludlow Garage
Little Miami Brewing Co. hosts The Eagles Project
The Blue Note in Harrison has Captain Fantastic (Elton John tribute) with 52nd Street (yes, a Billy Joel tribute band)
On Saturday, Jan. 25:
Memorial Hall has “On a Winter’s Night” with singer/songwriters Cliff Eberhardt, John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky, and Patty Larkin
Magnolia Boulevard plays the Liberty Theater, with Pure Grain also on the bill
The Montvales play the Woodward, with The Harmed Brothers and Rae Fisher
Papadosio is papa-doing it again at Madison Theater
Adeem the Artist plays Southgate
JD Legends in Franklin, OH has Thunderstruck (America’s AC/DC)
The Aronoff hosts The Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular
Noah Wotherspoon plays the Rabbit Hash “Music Behind the Stove” series on Sunday, Jan. 26 (2 p.m. show start) and Tinfoil Hat Cowboys play two sets that evening at MOTR.
The Faux Frenchmen play Memorial Hall on Monday, Jan. 27. Here’s my favorite faux Frenchman:
Memorial Hall has “All You Need is Love: An All-Star Tribute to the Beatles” on Tuesday, Jan. 28.
Kasim Sulton – Vocals, Bass, Guitar (Meatloaf, Todd Rundgren’s Utopia, Blue Oyster Cult, Hall & Oates, Cheap Trick, Cyndi Lauper, Patty Smyth, Joan Jett)
Steve Kimock – Guitar, Bass (Zero, Oteil & Friends, Jazz Is Dead, The Other Ones, RatDog, Rhythm Devils, Phil Lesh & Friends, Kingfish, Heart of Gold Band)
Prairie Prince – Drums (The Tubes, Journey, Todd Rundgren, Blue Floyd, Jefferson Starship, Phil Lesh & Friends, XTC, George Harrison, Chris Isaak)
Bobby Lee Rodgers – Vocals, Guitar, Banjo, Sitar Simulation (Jazz is Dead, The Codetalkers with Col. Bruce Hampton, Vassar Clements, Warren Haynes, Widespread Panic, George Porter Jr.)
Mark Rashotte – Guitar (Jake Clemons, Creed, Photograph)
Andy Forgie – Vocals, Theatrics (Creed, Photograph)
Narrated by Michael Des Barres (The Mistakes, Power Station, Detective, Silverhead)
Not part of the band: Pete Best.
Go to church on WEENsdays
Here’s a pretty cool monthly event going on down on Eastern Avenue (where it’s still called “Eastern Avenue” not the hoity toity “Riverside Drive” section). My friend Eric’s wife Laura runs The Columbia, an old church that’s been converted into a performance space.
I’ve visited the venue, it has great acoustics, a cool vibe, and a vintage jukebox in the basement.
And it’s available for audio and video recording (Ruby Vileos, The Hiders, and Daniel Wayne Band all have test driven it), rehearsal space, private shows, social gatherings, and more.
I’m not the biggest Hozier fan in the world, but he and his band and backup singers did justice to one of the best Xmas songs ever.
Wurster has Slim musical knowledge
Jon Wurster (drummer for Mountain Goats and Bob Mould, formerly with Superchunk) is a great follow on Instagram. His #mynewworstfriend posts are consistently hilarious (see below for a prime example). But he also is a student of the the scene, and his tribute to the late great replacement Replacement Slim Dunlap was fantastic:
List member Joe Sampson and I will always fondly remember talking to Slim at the old Southgate House. The liquor store named Cabooze figured prominently in the conversation.
Jon Wurster also played on this tune (as did Wilco’s John Stirratt):
Winter weather is the Wurst
From the aforementioned Jon Wurster Instagram, where folks can submit weird and wacky photos/images to claim the daily title of his new worst friend.
Gee Willikers, it’s not officially Summer yet, and we’re already melting. Just as the great Rod Serling predicted.
We’ve got more sizzling shows than Rozzi Famous Fireworks, so let’s plunge right in.
On Thursday, you have your pick of freebie shows:
The Tillers play at Washington Park
The Menus serve up a freebie at Ault Park
Noah Wotherspoon will be (blues) Rockin’ the Roebling (Smale Park)
Fairfield Village Green hosts the Fooz Fighters
Proxima Parada and Happy Landing are doing the free show at RiversEDGE in Hamilton
Wildermiss and The Smug Brothers play Levitt Pavilion in Downtown Dayton (BYOB!)
Lawrenceburg Civic Park has an Elton John tribute
If you insist on spending your hard-earned cash, you can check out Al Di Meola at Memorial Hall or Robert Glasper at Ludlow Garage.
Friday night:
Reverend Horton Heat and Supersuckers (Eddie Spaghetti! Metal Marty! Chango!) play the old Annie’s
TyeDye Band (feat. list member John Sandman) plays Plain Folk Café in Pleasant Plain, OH
The Used are at Bogart’s (seems fitting – that venue is quite used)
Mike Wade and the Nasty NATI Brass Band play a freebie at Levitt in Dayton
Last and certainly least, New Kids on the Block, Paul Abdul and DJ Jazzy Jeff will be at Riverbend.
Or a colonoscopy.
Friday (June 21st) also marks the 27th wedding anniversary of your humble scribe and his long-suffering wife. She will be celebrating by going to West Virginia for a “trail run.” Which basically means that instead of spending time with me, she’d rather hang with this guy:
And no one in their right mind could possibly blame her for that choice.
The Right Reverend Horton Heat is back in action on Saturday, this time playing a free show at Levitt Pavilion in scenic downtown Dayton. (Or maybe it just seems scenic after you’ve had a few free beers.) I’ll be at that show, stocked cooler and lawn chair in hand, along with list member Dave “the Father Murphy of Modern Rock” Tellmann and our friend “El Blanco.” Earlier that day, Tracy Walker plays for free at the Smale Esplanade (5-7 p.m.)
Non-free shows that evening include Charlie Musselwhite and Elvin Bishop at Ludlow Garage, Matt St. George at MOTR, Mr. Speed (a KISS tribute band) at Fraze, and Janet Jackson at Riverbend. I’m sure the Janet Jackson show will be Dyn-O-Mite!
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday:
Kurt Vile and the Violators play the Taft
Moonbeau is at Madison Live
Will Kimbrough is at Southgate
Krystal Peterson plays Carriage House Farm in North Bend (1 p.m. show)
The Robert Randolph Band plays a freebie at Fountain Square, with Lauren Eylise and The Perfect Children (that’s a band, not to be confused with my kids)
Blues rocker Carolyn Wonderland plays Southgate on Tuesday, June 25th, with Shelley King opening the show.
Next Wednesday (6/26), Noah Wotherspoon plays a free show at Fountain Square, and Donny Osmond plays the Carol Brady.
Next Thursday (6/27) is plenty busy too:
Eric Johanson (blues) plays Ludlow Garage
Chris Knight plays a full-band show at Southgate
Ben Levin performs at HighGrain Brewing’s new Brentwood location
Dreamboat Annie (a Heart tribute band) will play Lawrenceburg’s Civic Park
Camp Spring Tavern has their bi-weekly Bluegrass Jam
Next Friday (6/28):
Dada does a “Return to Dizzkneeland” show at Southgate
Santana and Counting Crows at Riverbend
Ghostface Killah at Madison Theater
Hollywood Nights (a Bob Seger tribute band) at Ludlow Garage
The Vindys with The Hathaways at Levitt in Dayton. Who’s your favorite Hathaway? Here’s mine – she’s smokin’:
Buddy Guy plays the Taft on Saturday, June 29th, with Christone “Kingfish” Ingram as the opener. Did I ever tell you about when I was working at B-105/WDJO (“all oldies all the time!”) back in the late 80s and somehow finagled a photographer’s pass for that year’s Chicago Blues Fest, and was front row for Buddy Guy and Junior Wells playing an acoustic set? Lying pays off, kids!
[The photo above wasn’t taken by me (Paul Natkin took it), but it could’ve been if I knew how to operate the prop camera I brought along.]
Other 6/29 shows include The Arcadian Wild at the Woodward, Mad Anthony at Southgate, Yonder Mountain String Band at the old Annie’s, and Nashville singer/songwriters Sarah Peacock & Dannie Nicholls playing a Downtowne Listening Room show at the Hellmann Creative Center in Covington.
The Beach Boys, having tired of Aruba, Bahama and even Kokomo (Indiana), are taking their surfboards to Kettering, Ohio on Monday, July 1st. Because it’s the Fraze that pays.
On Tuesday, July 2nd, Riverbend will have a show by Third Eye Blind… as predicted by the great Rod Serling:
We can’t tout two Reverend Horton Heat shows without also mentioning a rockin’ Sister.
Er, actually it’s Sister Hazel. And the only people who could make you believe that they are as good as Sister Bertrille would be the best spin doctors. Well, it’s your lucky day, because Spin Doctors are on the bill with Sister Hazel at Mason’s “Red, Rhythm & Boom” show on July 3rd! SH and SD both will be opening up for Rozzi Famous Fireworks.
[Sidebar: I get the “rhythm” and the “boom” part of the Mason show, but what’s up with the “Red”?… Is it because it’ll be “red hot”? Or because it’s MAGA country? If they’re trying to play off “Red, White & Blue” then “Rhythm” is… out of rhythm… OK, I realize I’m giving this waaay too much thought. Better to be like the WVa banjo player.]
That same evening, Tinfoil Hat Cowboys will play the free “Wildcard Wednesdays” show at Factory 52.
Ernie Johnson from Detroit will bring a different kind of fireworks to Smale Park on the 4th of July and Hamilton’s RiversEDGE has That Arena Rock Show, just as our Founding Fathers intended.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers will sock it to you at Riverbend on Friday, July 5th.
Domecrusher (a band featuring list member Todd Quincy on keyboards) plays 513 Hamilton on Saturday, July 6th.
The holiday weekend wraps up with The Amish Outlaws at the old Annie’s on Sunday, 7/7.
We love it live
Pixies/Modest Mouse/Cat Power at the Brady was a great triple bill.
I met up with a college buddy in D.C. for GBV at a tiny club (The Atlantis, modeled after the famous original 9:30 Club) – killer show!
On Father’s Day, I got to see my son’s band play a brief opener set at Madison Live.
(He’s on drums… drummers never get much photo love.)
And last night, Dave Tellmann, Todd Quincy, Todd’s wife Christy (or Christi, or Kristy, or Kristie, or Kristi…) and I were treated to Los Lobos and Little Feat. Los Lobos are an American treasure – always stellar. And Little Feat “knew the assignment” – they were “Willin'” to play the hits.
Have van, won’t travel
I also was supposed to see S.G. Goodman at Southgate this past Friday, along with list members Matt and Pam Fellerhoff, and “Rico”… but S.G.’s van had other ideas:
Thankfully Rico and I, along with another co-worker and their friends, made lemons out of lemonade by having dinner at Tuba Baking Co. in Dayton, KY (great German food, including veggie options) and then playing semi-inebriated pickleball in Ft. Thomas. Because I am humble, I can neither confirmnor deny that I crushed Rico and our colleague Cathy in a 2 vs. 1 match, then proceeded to beat Rico in a head-to-head matchup (because he thought Cathy was “holding him back.”) *Ron Howard “Arrested Development” voiceover: “Cathy was NOT holding him back.”*
A gentleman never reveals the score of his pickleball matches. But suffice it to say that the next point Rico scores against me will be his first.
Album Covers of the Weeks: Whipping out the organ
Exactly what type of “organ” are we talking about here?
Oh, I see, the woman on the first album cover is staring at Eddie Layton’s organ. We’ve gotta admit, it’s quite impressive! And apparently he’s into bondage.
OK, enough of these organ double single entendres. Let’s switch to something wholesome, like piano.
There, that’s much better. No one could possibly find something puerile and vulgar about a Dick Hyman album, right?
Last things first if you’re into Devo (and if you’re not, why read this blog?): there’s a free The Beginning Was The End book event tonight at the OTR Stillhouse, courtesy of our friends at the Mercantile Library.
Details and the free registration link are here. I’ll see you there – I’ll be the guy wearing the Energy Dome.
Let’s take a gander at the music shows coming our way.
Tomorrow night, catch Mom Jeans at Bogart’s
Thursday:
Colin Hay is coming all the way from the Land Down Under to the Taft Theatre
Brandy Clark and Hayes Carll play the Ludlow Garage
Less Than Jake (no relation to Better than Ezra) plays Bogart’s
Too Many Zooz (more like too many z’s) plays Madison Theater
Bumpin’ Uglies and Bikini Trill play Madison Live
Friday it’s time for a Come to Jesus session. Jesus Jones, that is, at Ludlow Garage.
On Saturday, Alex Salcido of The Harmed Brothers plays Camp Springs Tavern, and the Madison Theater hosts the jam band Spafford. (No relation to Susan Stafford, the original letter-turner on “Wheel of Fortune.”)
Blues dude Noah Wotherspoon plays the Rabbit Hash General Store’s “Sunday Music Behind the Stove” series on 3/21 – music starts at 2:30.
Breaking news: this coming Monday, we’re shutting down our music blog.
Beach Fossils are at Bogart’s next Tuesday, 4/2 with Nation of Language.
TC Superstar plays a free show at MOTR next Wednesday, 4/3.
I really hope their band name is a tribute to T.C. the true superstar of “Magnum, P.I.” (apologies to Larry Manetti).
Shows next Thursday, April 4th:
Raul Malo of The Mavericks brings his amazing voice to Ludlow Garage
Chicago Farmer & the Fieldnotes play Southgate with Joe’s Truck Stop
Camp Springs Tavern hosts their bi-weekly Bluegrass Jam
On Friday, April 5th:
William Fitzsimmons plays Southgate
The Rabbit Hash String Band will be at Plain Folk Café in Pleasant Plain, OH
Badfish (a tribute to Sublime… or to gas station sushi) plays the Madison Theater
Ludlow Garage hosts Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam on Saturday, 4/6.
The Tillers play the Rabbit Hash Music Behind the Stove series on Sunday, 4/7.
Supremely talented singer/songwriter John Moreland plays Ludlow Garage on Thursday, April 11th.
That same evening, Brothers Osborne play the Mike Brady.
Hot Ticket Alert!
The Violent Femmes are playing the old Annie’s on Friday, May 17th. Not only that, but they’re playing their first two albums cover to cover!
And come November 3rd, Drive-by Truckers will be bring their Southern Rock Opera Revisited Tour to Bogart’s. Let there be rock!
Tickets for that gig go on sale to the general public on this Friday.
Podcast Promo/Hot FREE Ticket Alert!
If you’re old enough to remember the 1990s, and if you’re even slightly into music, and you appreciate great writing, you really owe it to yourself to check out the 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s podcast.
Rob Harvilla, a senior staff writer for The Ringer, spends each episode breaking down a single song from the ’90s. Actually, he spends about half of each episode on a series of digressions, often about his time growing up in northern Ohio in the 90s, before finally getting to the featured song. And the digressions are great – brilliantly written, completely engaging, and typically hilarious… and the humor is usually self-deprecating.
Rob’s written a book to accompany the podcast, and he’ll be talking about both at the OTR Stillhouse on Friday, April 26th. Better yet, list member Jay Stowe will be conducting the interview!
It’s yet another freebie from our friends at the Mercantile Library. Sign up here. (Unfortunately that event is the same night as the Guided by Voices/Wussy show at Madison Theater, so I’ll have to cut out early to get across the river in time for Wussy’s set.)
Speaking of Wussy…
They’ll be playing a trio house concert (Chuck, Lisa, Mark) at Casa de Dubbatrubba on Friday, May 10th. If you’re keeping score at home, this’ll be their third home show at my home. Much to my utter delight… and my wife’s ever-increasing odds for sainthood.
Cleveland’s own Dave Hill is right up there with Rob Harvilla on the writers-who-are-hilarious-and-musically-inclined scale. (Check out his books Parking the Moose, Tasteful Nudes and Dave Hill Doesn’t Live Here Anymore for proof.) Dave’s also a musician, and his band Valley Heat has a rockin’ new single out.
Here’s to Music Moms
I’m not a fan of The Facebooks, but I loved this post from Buffalo Tom bassist Chris Colbourn (and the comment from his bandmate Bill Janovitz):
(Hat tip to list member Lisa Collins for bringing it to my attention.)
Here’s to the faithful departed
R.I.P. Karl Wallinger (The Waterboys, World Party) and Eric Carmen (The Raspberries, cheesy movie soundtracks).
Video above courtesy of list member Todd Butler.
Album Cover of the Week(s)
Nothing says “raising hell” like a crewcut, a sports coat, and a piano singalong.
“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
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.
It’s a rare Thursday night edition of This Week in Live Music, because I want to give you extra time to gear up for the big CK show on Friday night.
That’s right, Cereal Killers are playing a FREE show at Big Ash Brewing — on the site of the old El Rancho Rankin Motel — on Friday night!
Not Howard Cohen
You know the drill: Cereal Killers play stellar covers of great songs from the 97X era — Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, X, The Clash, INXS, Guided by Voices, et al. — with some Stones and Tom Petty in the mix for good measure.
Not only is the show free, but your first beer is free.
Courtesy of your favorite author of a little known, infrequently-read weekly roundup of live music in the Tri-State area. (C’est moi!)
It’s really true!
Free Killer tunes and a free beer… a great way to kick off your All-American holiday weekend.
Other free shows tomorrow night include Lilly Hiatt and Heavy Hinges doing the Fountain Square gig, Ben Levin at Wiedemann’s, and the Sunburners at Stanbery Park.
The Northside Rock & Roll Carnival takes place at Hoffner Park the rest of the holiday weekend:
Wild Carrot plays Harmony Hill Vineyards in Bethel on Saturday, and Ben Levin plays at Schwartz’s Point on Sunday.
Monday is Independence Day – here’s your Public Service Announcement:
Monday also marks the official starts of “was that fireworks or gunshots?” season on the NextDoor app.
On Wednesday:
The Psychedelic Furs and X play at Rose Music Center near Dayton
Third Eye Blind, Taking Back Sunday and Hockey Dad play an outdoor show at the Ovation.
Death Cab for Cutie rolls into the Ovation on Thursday, with Illuminati Hotties as the opener. That’s an outdoor gig as well.
That same evening:
Noah Wotherspoon plays the Rocking the Roebling free show on the lawn by the Moerlein Lager House (6-8 pm), and the Doobie Brothers play their 50th anniversary tour (a year or so late) at Riverbend.
We are contractually obligated to mention the best 70s sitcom two-part episode ever whenever we mention the Doobie Brothers.
The part where Rerun gets busted is pure gold:
The entire episode is here. Don’t act like you don’t want to watch it.
Next Friday, July 8th:
Wilderado plays Madison Live. List member Jeff Franco and I saw them the last time they were in town, and it was a great show. I’ll probably go to that gig.
Sheryl Crow and Keb’ Mo’ are at Rose Music Center
China Crisis plays Ludlow Garage
The Brook & the Bluff play a free gig at Fountain Square, with Abby Holiday and Knotts also on the bill
Perpetual Groove is at the old Annie’s
Oops, I did it again
I forgot to mention the Ann Wilson show at the Hard Rock last week. List member Michael “Rico” Carrico, whose musical tastes are firmly in the “Sad Dad” music camp, wasn’t even upset with me. And the show wound up getting cancelled, so perhaps I’m not forgetful, just prescient.
Cancer sucks. Scholarships rock!
Speaking o’ Rico, some of you may recall that he lost his brother to cancer three years ago. His brother Kevin passed away while he was in med school working to become a pediatric oncologist… after he had beaten Hodgkin’s Lymphoma as a teenager… a cruel twist of fate which is heartbreakingly tragic on so many levels.
Rico and his family are honoring Kevin’s memory by raising funds for the National Collegiate Cancer Foundation to provide scholarships to young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer. They’re hosting the Kevin Carrico Memorial Golf Tournament at California Golf Course on October 1st. Any and all support is welcome, whether that is getting a team together to play in the scramble, helping sponsor the event, donating items for auction or simply donating money.
Through the blog of a comic strip artist (yes, I’m that guy), I read about the passing of a woman who was part of a husband-wife team that hosted house concerts in Pittsburgh and supported local music. The woman’s published obit included this request:
In lieu of flowers, donations, food, whatever, please honor Deb by gathering some friends to go out for a beverage or meal, and leave your servers a huge tip in her memory. While you are at it, go see some local music, fill up the tip bucket and buy a CD and some merch.
Amen!
Remain in Light Kentucky?
List member Lisa Collins has deep roots in the Maysville, KY area. Recently she went to a book signing by Chris Frantz (Talking Heads/Tom Tom Club) in Old Washington, KY. From Lisa:
His grandparents restored the Harriet Beecher Stowe house in Old Washington in the 1960’s and he spent his teen years summers in Washington and Maysville. He and Tina Weymouth got married there – his talk was on their 45th wedding anniversary.
Former Screed ‘zine creator Terrence Burke also was there with his son and got pix with Chris and Tina:
Chris’ book is called Remain in Love. It’s a decent read.
Album Cover of the Week
Yanking those suspenders qualifies as elder abuse. OTOH, playing old timey banjo tunes to a little kid qualifies as child abuse. Let’s call it a draw instead of calling 241-KIDS.
