O.A.R.

Summer’s slipping away

97X, Concert Listings, Music

Wow, can you believe Summer’s nearly gone? It’s almost Earth, Wind & Fire month!

Gonna keep this post short and sweet… or at least shorter on the jazz hands and snark. While it’s a labor of love, there’s still labor involved, and I’m heading to Denver later today to see Alvvays and The Beths. Let’s get to it!

Cereal Killers play Big Ash Brewing tonight!

I’m bummed I can’t make it – but you should go (7:30-11pm) to catch all those 97X and 97X-adjacent favorites, performed by a stellar group of upstanding individuals. Oh, and Howard Cohen is in the band too!

Other shows this evening:

  • Pat Travers plays the Ludlow Garage
  • Speaking of “out go the lights” the Cincinnati Nature Center hosts Music Under the Moon with the bluegrass band Moonshine Drive playing
  • Saving Escape has an album release party at MOTR, with Sylmar
  • Gable Price & Friends and Coastal Club play the Woodward Theater
  • Foreigner (basically Mick Jones and some hired hands), Styx (sans Dennis DeYoung), and John Waite play Riverbend
  • “Forever Diamond” (a Neil Diamond tribute) plays a freebie at Blue Ash Towne Square – that seems fitting for a not-so-hot August night.

Saturday shows:

  • The Avett Brothers play Ovation, with Sammy Rae & Friends opening
  • Marc Cohn will be walking playing six feet off of Beale under Ludlow at the Garage
  • Ray’s Music Exchange is back for a reunion show at the Woodward
  • The War & Treaty play a free show at the Levitt Pavilion in Dayton
  • FireHouse and Nelson (yes, that Nelson) play the “Big F’N Tour” at the old Annie’s

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!

  • King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard play the Ovation in Newport
  • Blackberry Smoke and 49 Winchester play the old Annie’s
  • Glass Animals* are at Riverbend (*not to be confused with Glasses Animals)
  • (Hed) P.E. is at Madison Live
  • Mac Sabbath (yes, folks dressed like McDonald’s mascots playing Sabbath tunes… nothing weird about that) is at the Woodward Theater

On Tuesday, Built to Spill plays Bogart’s, celebrating the 30th anniversary of There’s Nothing Wrong with Love. I’ll be at that gig with list members Deuce and Matt (no relation to Gunnar and Matthew of Nelson fame).

Also on Tuesday:

  • The Gaslight Anthem, Joyce Manor, and Pinkshift play the Carol Brady
  • Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony, and Jason Bonham rock Riverbend with Van Hagar tunes. Loverboy is the opener. Mike Reno is still sporting the bandana, but he’s also sporting some extra heft.

The Lauryn Hill & The Fugees show slated for Wednesday at Riverbend has been cancelled.

Thursday features a lot of free (or free-adjacent) shows:

  • Bedel & Hibbard play the Roots Revival free show at Washington Park
  • Texas Flood (a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan) and Bedford play the RiversEDGE freebie
  • You can see The Eagles Project at Lawrenceburg Civic Park
  • Thomas Rhett plays a concert after the Reds game at GABP

GBV’s Heedfest 12 also kicks off on 8/29 in Dayton, Ohio. Love the promo:

Shows next Friday (8/30):

  • Cage the Elephant plays Riverbend, with Young the Giant and Bakar
  • O.A.R. is at Ovation, with Ripe, and DJ Logic
  • King Buffalo headlines the Fountain Square free show

On Saturday, August 31st, Domecrusher, a band featuring list member Todd Quincy, plays 513 Hamilton. Here’s Todd’s description of the band:

Other 8/31 shows:

  • Southgate House hosts MidWest Friends Fest (“21 awesome local, regional, and touring indie, punk, emo, rock, alternative, and power pop bands. 3 super rad stages. 1 awesome venue”)
  • Wailing Souls play for free at Levitt Pavilion on Dayton
  • Catalina Wine Mixer and The Eagles Project play Ovation
  • The Prince Project is at the old Annie’s
  • Sungaze has an album release party at the Woodward, with Fern Murphy and Ascension Day also on the bill
  • Aja (Steely Dan tribute) plays the Fountain Square freebie
  • JBO and Mark Messerly play The Overlook Lodge in P-Ridge
  • Tesla is at the Greg Brady

Simple twist of fate fun fact: Greg Brady drove the original Tesla:

On Sunday, September 1st, the corporate-sponsored fireworks display from the corporate radio station will probably feature some Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin on the soundtrack. Just like every other year. That damn frog is soooo tired.

After that, it’s all quite on the concert front until after Labor Day. I’ll holler at you before then.

Speaking of evil corporate radio overlords though:

I just threw up a bit in my mouth. How about a palate cleaner?

Wussy house concert tickets on sale Wednesday at 11 am

Show is Saturday 10/19. If you don’t know the venue, you haven’t been paying attention. (And house concerts are sooo hot right now, per the WaPo.)

Ticket link: https://undertowshows.com/products/cincinnati-oh-october-19

I talked to Chuck and Lisa yesterday – such sweet human beings who also happen to be amazing songwriters/musicians. They should have some new tunes to sell at the show.

A heartfelt message from list member “Rico”

I lost my brother to cancer five years ago, and before he passed, I promised him that I would do anything that I could to help fight the terrible disease that took him from us too early. One of the initiatives that our family has taken up is to help fundraise for the National Collegiate Cancer Foundation, which provides scholarships to young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Our primary fundraiser is a memorial golf outing, which will be held this year at California Golf Course on October 5, 2024. In the first three years of our outing, we have raised funds to award 60 of these scholarships, and we hope to add on a bunch more this year with the help of friends like you. Whether that is getting a team together to play in the scramble, providing sponsorship, or donating items for auction, any and all support is welcome and appreciated.

You can sign up to play or donate here.

The Bottle Rockets deserve a movie

And here it is:

Album Covers of the Week

Hat tip to list member Whit Gardner for these gems:

They’re good at identifying fountains, but not so good at counting.

Gary’s “little black book” appears to be brown. And he appears to be “getting down to business” with it. In a Flight of the Conchords sorta way.

Cruel, Cruel Summer

Concert Listings, Concert review, Music

Late last month, we lost Sinéad O’Connor.

“She was vilified, humiliated at times, metaphorically crucified when alone and in her twenties. Everything she stood up for and against then, including racism in the music industry, has been proven to have been needed and right. She wasn’t just trying to look out for herself. She was the original truth sayer who wouldn’t go easy into the night. The original “difficult” woman who didn’t make it easy. Because easy wasn’t the right thing to do and it wasn’t the truth. Gone too soon. Nothing compares to you.

Irish comedian and actress Aisling Bea on Instagram

Kudos to Pink and Brandi Carlile for paying tribute to Sinéad that evening at their concert in Cincinnati. Without a doubt they each owe her a debt of gratitude for blazing the trail.

Today we lost Robbie Robertson, the bandleader of The Band, one of the all-time great groups.

Sorry to bring you down. Let’s try to brighten the mood by looking to the future…

Oops, that’s not gonna help. The first gig on Ye Olde Koncert Keeper is Ted Nugent. He’s playing the Rose Music Center tomorrow night.

Fear not, though, as there are several decent gigs tomorrow:

  • Ruby Vileos plays a free gig at Washington Park
  • Erin Coburn does the freebie at Smale
  • Yonder Mountain String Band, Railroad Earth, and Leftover Salmon play the Taft Theatre
  • Drivin’ n Cryin’ plays Ludlow
  • Fraze has a “Happy Together” gig (that’s more like it!) featuring The Turtles, Little Anthony, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, The Vogues, The Classics IV and The Cowsills.

On Friday:

  • Yonder Mountain String Band, Railroad Earth, and Leftover Salmon try to fumigate the Rose.
  • The Samples play Ludlow Garage
  • Here Come the Mummies are coming to the old Annie’s
  • The Beach Boys play the Hard Rock Casino
  • Kenny Roby (of 6 String Drag) plays the Southgate Lounge

Saturday, JD McPherson plays Southgate and Brett Dennan is at Ludlow Garage.

On Sunday, the ageless Willie Nelson headlines the Outlaw Music Festival at Riverbend, with John Fogerty, Gov’t Mule, Kathleen Edwards, Particle Kid, and Myron Elkins also on the bill.

Tuesday, Disturbed, Breaking Benjamin and Jinjer play Riverbend.

When I hear the name “Ghost” my mind immediately goes here:

But the band Ghost (a “GRAMMY-winning Swedish theatrical rock band” per the bio… I thought that was ABBA) has a sold-out show at Riverbend on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Rose hosts a tribute to Ghost ABBA, and Al Stewart plays Memorial Hall.

Next Thursday (8/17):

  • Asleep at the Wheel plays Memorial Hall
  • RiversEDGE in Hamiltucky has the Cordovas, Scotty Bratcher, Duane Betts and Palmetto Hotel
  • Edwin McCain is at Ludlow Garage
  • Steven Page (formerly of Barenaked Ladies) plays a freebie at Village Green Park in Fairfield

The Goo Goo Dolls play Riverbend next Friday (8/18)… will they try to strangle the sound man like they did at the 97X-sponsored “Day in Eden” back in ’93? O.A.R. opens for the Goos.

Other 8/18 gigs include:

  • In the Pines at Fountain Square
  • Dead Centric (yes, a GD cover band) for free at Evendale Pavilion
  • Jump: America’s Van Halen Experience at Ludlow Garage (free chaps to the first 50 attendees)

Next Saturday, 8/19:

  • Noah Wotherspoon and Eric Jerardi play a free gig at the Levitt Pavilion in downtown Dayton
  • Black Owls, Heavy Hinges, and The Tigerlilies play Southgate

Next Sunday, the Old 97s play Southgate, and the even older Jethro Tull wheezes into Rose.

The show of the summer is on Monday, August 21st: The Beths play the Woodward Theater.

They aren’t just New Zealand’s finest, they are one of the finest bands going. So you’d best be going to this show. Opening act is DISQ, so it’s a great twin bill.

On Tuesday, 8/22, Marcus King, Charley Crockett, and Molly Tuttle play the Mike Brady, and Jethro Tull fiddles flutes around at PNC.

(Our favorite Jethro… yet not in Jethro Tull or The BoDeans.)

Crackerjack Cracker

The Cracker gig at the old Annie’s a couple of weeks ago was really enjoyable. A very strong set list of Cracker, Camper and more. David Lowery + Johnny Hickman = music magic. List members Howard Cohen (Cereal Killers at Big Ash on 8/26!) and Todd Butler were in the house too, which added to the festive atmosphere.

Album Cover of the Week(s)

It’s PERM-anently summer for Mac.

Song of the Season

Earth, Wind, Fire… and Music

Concert Listings, Music

Those are the 4 basic elements, right?

And three of them are scheduled to appear at Riverbend tomorrow night.

I say “scheduled to appear” because they’re opening for Santana, and he collapsed on stage during a show at Pine Knob in Michigan a couple of days ago. Apparently he was “overtaken by heat exhaustion and dehydration.” I can relate – the power was out at our house Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning. No A/C? In this heat?

I’ll bet the weather is better in Berlin. Oh, speaking of Berlin, they’re playing Timberwolf on Saturday, with A Flock of Seagulls (the band… the avian version can only be found at the original Coney Island in Brooklyn – they’re eating leftover hot dogs).

Other Saturday shows:

  • Less than Jake, Bowling for Soup and Aquabats play the Ovation
  • O.A.R. plays a concert at Great American Ball Park after the Reds 4:10 tilt vs. the Tampa Bay Rays. That show is sponsored by the Ohio Lottery, which seems fitting, as the Reds have as much chance of winning the game as you do of winning the lottery.
  • Joshua Ray Walker and Joslyn & the Sweet Compression play RiversEDGE in Hamilton
  • The Paradise Music Festival continues at Braxton Brewing in Covington
  • Last but not least (at least in the “noises he can make” category) Michael Winslow brings his wacky sound effects comedy to Ludlow Garage. Steve Guttenberg sold separately.

On Tuesday, Riverbend will engage in an annual tradition that they cherish so much: whipping out the Rod.

Uh, Rod Stewart is playing at RB… with Cheap Trick as the opener.

Wednesday, mere inches away from the previous night’s Rod show, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Los Lobos and Gabe Dixon play PNC.

The Cult plays PNC on Thursday, with special guests Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Zola Jesus… or Jesus Motorcycle Cult for short.

Other Thursday shows:

  • Scott Miller (of the late great V-Roys) plays a solo gig at Southgate
  • Ruby Vileos will be doing the Roots Revival Series at Washington Park
  • Ben Levin plays Shires’ Garden
  • the Red NOT Chili Peppers and BLINK180True are at RiversEDGE

Please note the NOT… I do NOT want you to wind up like this dude:

The full story is here.

Next Friday, the Reds are out of town, but Great American Ball Park is hosting Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, Poison and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts… so #1 Mötley Crüe fan Dän “Reds in 2023” Lëwis surely will be front and center.

Dan has been working out.

Also next Friday, The Cult/Black Rebel Motorcycle Club/Zola Jesus show will be at Rose Music Center in scenic Huber Heights, OH.

Cereal Killers killed it at Big Ash Brewing

Great sets, awesome crowd – including several list members who cashed in their “first beer on d2” online offer. Next CK gig at Big Ash is on Sept. 10th. I’ll be out of town, so your first beer is on you… but don’t you dare miss this big show!

Mea Culpa

Your esteemed This Week in Live Music editor does exhaustive research* to compile this (nearly) weekly post. But occasionally he does miss a show or three, sometimes incurring the scorn and ridicule of list member “Rico” (he’s not in the mob, I hope) in the process. And let’s just say that Lee Greenwood is crying tears like the “Native American” in that “don’t litter” commercial from the 70s because I forgot to mention the b-list bands cashing fat checks for civic/corporate-underwritten gigs patriotic events that happened last weekend, including Gavin DeGraw at Red, White & Blue Ash; Spin Doctors at Taps, Tastes and Tunes in West Chester; and Smashmouth at Red, Rhythm & Boom. Mea maxima culpa to Smashmouth Superfan Dan “All Star” Lewis.

He was walking on the sun, but he used SPF 5000.

*lazily checking a couple of websites every few weeks

Summer means popsicles… and listicles

Uproxx offered up a list of the best albums of 2022 thus far… and they rank their favorite Replacements songs.

Just plain creepy.

Shameless Self-promotion

In the latest episode of the “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast, Dave Tellmann and I talked to Garin Pirnia, author of this book:

Album Cover of the Week

Going with a brand new release:

On that cheery note… have a great week!