And I don’t speak jive. But I know Beaver Cleaver’s mom does.
Let’s speak a universal language: music! But before we get to the gigs in the near future, just a quick reminder that pre-sale tickets were made available today for The Raisins reunion shows next March 1st and 2nd at The Woodward Theater – the code is: porkopolis.
Tonight:
The Menzingers play Bogart’s
Tiny Moving Parts and World’s Greatest Dad (which could be a warning label on a Swiss watch and a coffee mug screen printing, respectively) are at Southgate in the Revival Room
John R. Miller plays Southgate’s main room (a.k.a. Sanctuary)
On Friday, Meshell Ndegeocello plays Ludlow Garage.
Saturday gigs:
In the Pines (new album is pretty good) plays the Woodward, with Lung and Mol Sullivan also on the bill
Memorial Hall has An Evening with Joan Osborne
Ludlow Garage features Bruce in the U.S.A. (“The world’s #1 tribute to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band”) – almost as good as this act:
Sunday is a busy day for shows:
Black Stone Cherry plays the old Annie’s
John Waite and his band are at Memorial Hall
The O’Jays make a “Last Stop on the Love Train” tour appearance at the Greg AND Peter Brady
The Whiskey Shambles play Northside Tavern on Tuesday, 11/21, with Achilles Tenderloin and Sarah Dactyl also on the bill.
Wednesday, November 22nd is Thanksgiving Eve… and you can feast on live music:
Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band plays Southgate
Ernie Johnson from Detroit is at MOTR
Maria Carrelli will be playing at Arnold’s in conjunction with the limited edition vinyl release of a live album she recorded at Arnold’s back in April. The album artwork is from list member Keith Neltner, in collaboration with Maker’s Mark. The first 150 people to show up will get the album for free!
These aren’t just regular albums. There is a ton of work that goes into them. Releasing these Thanksgiving Eve albums for free has been a passion project for Arnold’s owner Chris Breeden and celebrated graphic designer Keith Neltner for over 5 years now. They handle every aspect of this release from the vinyl pressing all the way to stuffing the records into the sleeves at the end.
Next Thursday, you’ll be too stuffed on stuffing to see a show.
But you can dance it off on Friday, 11/24 during the Funksgiving show hosted by Freekbass at Radio Artifact (in the Urban Artifact taproom). Or try this:
Other shows on Friday 11/24:
Trouble No More and Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country kickoff a two-night stand at the Madison Theater
Buffalo Wabs and the Price Hill Hustle are at Southgate
Tweens play MOTR
Night #1 of Inhailer Radio’s “Inspired” fundraiser concerts at The Woodward – full lineup:
Gigs on Saturday, 11/25:
Night #2 of the Inhailer fundraiser shows (Woodward) and the Trouble No More/Daniel Donato combo (Madison Theater)
Your favorite music list author will be slinging beers at the Mt. Washington Biergarten in the parking lot on Oxford Avenue. Stop by and say hi.
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram puts a bow on Rollvember with a show at Ludlow Garage on Thursday, 11/30.
I went to a rock concert and a ballgame broke out… or vice versa
Foo Fighters and Green Day are both playing Great American Ball Park this summer. Foos have Pretenders and Mammoth WVH opening. The Green Day lineup also includes Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid and The Linda Lindas. Look for list member Dan “Reds win it all in ’24” Lewis in the front row for both shows.
Have we learned nothing from “Disco Demolition Day”?
It turns out that Jeff Tweedy likes ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”… [story link courtesy of list member Michael “Rico” Carrico, who said “This seems like some well-timed wisdom from one of our favorites that maybe you should make note of there old (cranky, crotchety) friend…] Hmm, guess Rico wasn’t onboard with my Radiohead bashing. He’d better get off my lawn!
The 70s were the best!
I miss those halcyon days when you could you see the “I am Woman” woman and Fonzie singing along with Neil Diamond.
Wow, is it June already? June: our favorite month AND our favorite Johnny duet partner.
I know I’ve been slacking on keeping you abreast of the live local gigs. May was a bit busy. Really!
We had one kid graduate from O.U. (“Oh yeah!”):
[Peter was a triple major (Data Analytics, Finance, and Business Information Systems) and graduated summa cum laude. If you help him find a job, I will pay a finder’s fee (out of the savings on my healthcare plan and grocery bill).]
Lest I forget, our youngest, Andrew, also put on an overpriced robe, as he graduated from Walnut Hills High School:
This fall, he’ll be wearing ugly candy cane/barber pole overalls at Indiana U.
Since we last chatted, there was a fabulous 97X book event at the Mercantile Library.
Chuck Cleaver and Lisa Walker from Wussy played my house yet again!
My podcast pal Dave Tellmann and I even made it onto Channel 12, where we were interviewed by former 97X Breakfast Club intern Jen Dalton… and I wore a headset that made me look like the spitting image of noted Hollywood heartthrob Clint Howard:
But the really rewarding part of the whole Modern Rock 500 was stuff like this:
OK, the May madness is over. Let’s turn to June’s tunes. (BTW, I’ll be covering a full month’s worth of concerts, as our whole fam-damily will soon be off to Alaska to see the glaciers before they all melt.)
The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band plays a free gig at Levitt Pavilion in Dayton tonight.
On Friday:
Damien Jurado plays the Woodward Theater (good dude, just bad spelling of his first name)
Caitlin Rose and Andrew Combs are at Southgate
The Harmed Brothers play as part of the free Fountain Square “Indie Fridays” concert series (full summer lineup is here)
Zac Brown will perform after the Reds-Brewers game at GABP. (Look for list member and Reds sales all-star Dan Lewis in the front row – he’ll be the shirtless guy with “I ❤ Zac” painted on his chest.)
Saturday has a whole slew of gigs:
Wussy plays a house concert in Dayton, KY (of course I’ll be there, I’m a stalker)
Barenaked Ladies (not to be confused with Shirtless Dan Lewis) play PNC, with Semisonic and Del Amitri also on the bill (Del Amitri – that’s the band that was on Late Night with David Letterman when I was in the studio audience!)
Adrian Belew and Jerry Harrison are doing a “Remain in Light” concert at Newport Music Hall in Columbus
Sawyer Point has a free concert featuring Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, Jake Speed, and Henhouse Prowlers
.38 Special and Loverboy play the Fraze in Dayton. If you enjoy cheesy 80s videos, this one is tough to top:
Dallas Moore has an album release show at Southgate on Sunday, with Ricky Nye also on the bill.
On Tuesday, June 6th, All Time Low plays the Newport venue that has reached an all-time low with its god-awful corporate name… which is why we still call it the Ovation.
On Wednesday, June 7th, Rose Music Center has the Kenny Wayne Shepherd “Backroads Blues Festival” with Eric Gales and King Solomon Hicks. That same evening, The Minks play Southgate.
Next Thursday, 6/8, Sylmar and Electric Indigo play the free “Rockin’ the Roebling” show at the Moerlein Lager House in Smale Park. (Full summer schedule is here.)
Hank Williams Jr. and Old Crow Medicine Show are at Riverbend on Friday, June 9th.
On Saturday, June 10th, Cereal Killers play Big Ash Brewing. Tell a buddy, bring a friend, but don’t you dare miss this big show! First beer’s on me.
Recent text reply from a friend/list member when I mentioned the Cereal Killers yet again:
Maybe, but I don’t know if I can amply express how damn good they are. If you enjoyed the 97X Modern Rock 500, you’ll love this gig.
I feel duty-bound to mention the other shows that evening, albeit whilst holding my nose:
Fraze has the “I Love the 90s Tour” featuring Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath, Treach of Naughty by Nature, Kid N Play, All-4-One, 2 Live Crew, DJ Kool, and Color Me Badd. And Ludlow Garage hosts Bronson Arroyo’s tribute to Pearl Jam. It’s kinda like “pick your poison”… only without any members of Poison.
Sunday, 6/11 Jim Lauderdale plays the Southgate, with Lillie Mae.
Dead & Company make their final tour stop in Cincinnati on Tuesday, June 13th.
That same evening, Pat Metheny is at Memorial Hall.
The Pixies play the Mike Brady on Wednesday, June 14th with Franz Ferdinand and Bully – great triple bill!
On Thursday, 6/15, Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers and Dex Romweber (Flat Duo Jets for the win!) play Southgate. Love the gig poster:
That same evening, The John Doe Folk Trio plays a free gig at the Levitt Pavilion in Dayton — and they play a ticketed show on Friday, 6/16 at the Woodward, with Chuck & Lisa (Wussy Duo…. tired of playing my house) as the opener.
Other 6/16 shows:
Lyle Lovett & his Large Band play Ovation
Bruce Cockburn (“it’s pronounced ‘COE-burn’!”) and Dar Williams are at Ludlow Garage
The Rebirth Brass Band plays Memorial Hall
Matchbox 20 is at Riverbend
On Saturday, June 17th:
Jimmie Vaughan plays Ludlow Garage
Ben Folds is at the Rose
500 Miles to Memphis plays a 20th anniversary show at Southgate
Counting Crows and Dashboard Confessional are at PNC on Sunday, June 18th.
W.I.T.C.H. and Death Valley Girls are at the Woodward on Tuesday, June 20th. Also that night, Mike Gordon is at Madison Theater and Young The Giant and Milky Chance play the Jan Brady.
Gigs on Wednesday, June 21st:
James Taylor & band are at Riverbend
Peter Frampton plays the Rose
Ludlow Garage has a 70s Rock Revival Troubadour Project
Tracy Walker plays a free concert in Burnet Woods (7pm start)
On Thursday, June 22nd:
The Chris Knight Duo and Mic Harrison (V-Roys, Superdrag) play Southgate (American Aquarium has a Southgate date listed on their website, but it’s not on Southgate’s site… guess you’ll have to go and see who shows up)
Peter Frampton comes alive at the PNC Pavilion
Ally Venable plays Ludlow Garage
Stripmall Ballads and Ray Vietti play the Washington Park “Roots Revival” freebie (full summer schedule is here).
On Friday, 6/23:
AJR is at Ovation
Melvin Seals and the Jerry Garcia Band play Ludlow
Sloan plays a freebie at Fountain Square (at least according to the Fountain Square website… it’s not listed on Sloan’s website). Don’t sleep on Sloan, they are great. I’d definitely be at that gig if I weren’t watching glaciers melt.
Saturday, June 24th:
My Morning Jacket plays the Ovation
The SteelDrivers are at the old Annie’s with Stringus Khan and the Restless Leg String Band
Woodward Theater has Victoria Victoria featuring Charlie Hunter
The Surfrajettes and The Nailers play Southgate
Richard Marx plays the Fraze
Debbie Gibson is at the Taft. I wonder how her kid is now…
Legendary bluesman Buddy Guy plays the Rose on Sunday, June 25th, with next gen blues legend Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Ally Venable on the bill as well. Also, Jesus Jones will be “Right here, right now” if the “here” is Ludlow and the “now” is 6/25.
Toad the Wet Sprocket plays Taft on Monday, 6/26, with Marcy Playground as the opener. That show is “bring your own sex and candy.” That same evening, the Doobie Brothers play the Rose.
Best What’s Happening!! episode ever!
What’s that you say? You’d love to see some bonus What’s Happening!! music content? Your wish is my command:
Santana plays the Rose on Tuesday, June 27th. Or maybe it’s Cheech Marin from Cheech & Chong… I always get those two mixed up.
On Wednesday, June 28th, The Deslondes play Southgate with Esther Rose as the opener (strong double bill!) and Earth, Wind & Fire (strong triple elements!) are at the PNC.
And June goes out with a bang on Friday the 30th:
Dave Alvin & the Guilty Ones play a free show at Levitt Pavilion in Dayton (I’ll be at that gig)
Greensky Bluegrass plays the Rose
The Steel Wheels are in Southgate’s main room
Maurice Mattei & the Tempers play a free show in Southgate’s Lounge (10pm)
Ambrosia is at Ludlow Garage
Homecoming when I’m not home
The National announced their lineup for this year’s Homecoming Festival.
I’ll be out of town when it’s going on, and to be honest, I’m not overly distraught that I’ll miss it.
“20th Century” is right… and I’m alright with that
JBM is booking shows at the 20th Century Theater in Oakley once again. The acts tend to skew toward an older demographic, but this old man is cool with that. I saw two great shows from septuagenarians in May – Richard Thompson and Junior Brown.
Up next, the young whippersnapper Bob Mould (a mere 62!) on October 22nd.
Oh! You Pretty Things
Book publishing guru Jane Friedman tipped me off (in her free Electric Speed newsletter) to this cool site called Album Whale where you can create visually appealing lists of albums to share with friends.
Album Covers of the Month
Listen your way to that beach body you’ve always wanted.
Wow, can you believe it’s almost New Year’s Rockin’ Eve? Neither can I!
Dead & Company!
Now that Dick Clark has gone to that great big Bandstand in the sky, I can rightfully claim his former title of “World’s Oldest Teenager.” Just call me Lil’ Dick… wait, strike that.
UNITED STATES – SEPTEMBER 13: AMERICAN BANDSTAND – 2/26/1976, Host Dick Clark (left) chats with Cheech Marin (center) and Tommy Chong of “Cheech & Chong” during the “Rate-A-Record” segment of American Bandstand. , (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
Er, let’s just get to the gigs, shall we?
Tomorrow evening, Old Crow Medicine Show plays the Taft, with Molly Tuttle as the opener.
On Friday, Goose kicks off a two-night stand at the Alice the Housekeeper Brady Center.
The Goose is almost ready…
That same evening:
Jeremy Pinnell and Justin Wells play Southgate, with special guest Adam Lee
Afroman’s “Merry Spliffmas” is at the old Annie’s (this is a rescheduled date from the Snowpocalypse)
Saturday is New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. Or New Year’s Rocking Eve if you only have one apostrophe.
On the cusp of a new year:
Goose plays Night #2 at the Carol Brady
Arlo McKinley is at Bogart’s
Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band is at Southgate, with Joe’s Truck Stop and The Hammer & The Hatchet (not Molly Hatchet… that would be flirtin’ with disaster)
Mad Anthony and A.M. Nice play a free show in the Southgate Lounge
Rumpke Mountain Boys play the old Annie’s
Rob Fetters hosts another “Fetters is Cheap” online show starting at 9 p.m.
Noah Smith’s Big Ol’ Family New Year show is at Big Ash
The Almond Butter Band (local Allman Bros. tribute outfit) plays Fretboard
The Newbees and Chalk Eye play the Village Theater in Ft. Thomas
The Hard Rock Casino has a NYE party hosted by… Joe Mixon? Shouldn’t he be studying the Bills defense?
Your favorite publisher of sporadic concert updates turns… Joseph Ossai’s jersey #.
Then there’s a bit of a live music drought. (I blame climate change… and the ghost of Dick Clark.)
You’ll have to wait until Friday, January 6th before the shows crank up again:
Pure Prairie League (“featuring one original member!”) is at Ludlow Garage
The Menzingers play Bogart’s
Diamond Rio is at the Taft
Then there’s another mini-drought until Friday the 13th… but we’ll chat again before then.
R.I.P. D.R.B. Fare thee well, Dan.
Local music legend David Rhodes Brown (Warsaw Falcons, 500 Miles to Memphis) passed away in early December. Cincinnati.com story is here.
Dan Hamilton’s family hosted a celebration of life for Dan at Little Miami Brewing’s event center last night. It was a fine send-off for a great dude, capped off by Dan’s longtime Spookfloaters bandmate Mike Holmes playing the Grateful Dead’s “Eyes of the World” and Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic” for Dan.
Dan, a soulful and whole-hearted musician, was a beloved and dedicated father, life partner, son, brother and friend to many. He had a giant, magnificent heart as wide as the ocean. He was a kind soul to friends and strangers alike. Whether you were in the audience watching him play, working with him or were lucky enough to call him family or friend – Dan had a way of making you feel seen and heard. He was the personification of love, light, art, kindness and humor.
Fantastic show by the RC Mob at the Madison Theater on 12/17.
It was great to see them on stage again, and great to see so many familiar faces in the crowd. (CincyMusic photo gallery of shots from Jon Calderas is here.)
A special shout-out to 97X superfan David Groff (the one who looks like he’s a foot taller than I am in the photo above), who rented a party bus to take him and his Miami U. friends and their spouses to the show:
“Get on the bus…”
I’ve got a mailbag in my trousers… or a Trouser in my mailbag
The PR folks at Trouser Press must have a Google Alert set up… that’s the only possible explanation for how they came across the 97Xbam.com website post that mentioned them.
Why yes, I’d be happy to mention your books, available here.
The Ira A. Robbins Music in a Word three-volume set looks pretty cool, and you can get all three books for $48. Not too shabby!
Best of the Best of 2022
This website compiles a boatload of “best of” lists (Pitchfork, NPR, Stereogum, NYTimes, et al) in one handy-dandy location. It’s like American Bandstand‘s Rate-A-Record on steroids.
Hat tip to list member Cullen Lewis, of Bourn Yesterday fame, for the “best of” link. Cullen’s latest post is “22 Great Songs from ’22.”
Let’s get to this week’s listings on the old 97X Koncert Keeper.
Tonight Shovels & Rope at Ludlow Garage, Bendigo Fletcher plays the Woodward with Sylmar as the opener, and the local Allman Bros. tribute band The Almond Butter Band plays their “Butterball” at the Redmoor in Mt. Lookout.
(Sidebar: after the year we’ve had, I can understand if you want to take a time capsule back to 1982. If so, you’ll be glad to know that Journey and Toto will be playing the Coliseum next April 24th. Tickets go on sale today. Warning: “Steve Perry” might look a bit different, but he still sounds the same.)
Beach Bunny has a sold-out show at Southgate on Saturday night. Didn’t get a ticket? That’s OK, you can “shop local”: Jeremy Pinnell will play two free sets at MOTR to celebrate the release of his new album Goodbye L.A., from local label SofaBurn Records.
You can read list member Gil Kaufman’s interview with Jeremy for Cincinnati Magazineonline. (We love Gil’s “resting outlaw face” turn of phrase.) Jason Gargano’s profile in CityBeat is here. And here’s the video (shot in Cincy/NKY) for “Wanna Do Something” from the new album:
Also on Saturday, Ludlow Garage features “Broken Arrow: The Music of Neil Young.” And if you’d prefer to laugh it up that evening, you have two fine choices:
Jim Gaffigan is at the Coliseum
Iliza Shlesinger is at the Taft (check out her Netflix specials, pretty damn funny)
On Sunday you can take a load off with The Weight Band, featuring members of The Band (revamped edition… no Robbie or Garth) and the Levon Helm Band (we still miss you, Levon). They’re playing Ludlow Garage. Wait! Looks like The Weight was too much to bear, and that show has been postponed.
Taft Theatre has a Scribble Showdown on Monday. But it’s an improv animation game, not a throwback to the old hip-hop Scribble Jam.
On Thanksgiving eve (Wednesday, 11/24), you can catch “All Together Now – A Beatles Thanksgiving Celebration” featuring the Newbees – it’s at Memorial Hall. Or you can head to Annie’s to enjoy the song stylings of the band that many* have called “The new Beatles”: Jackyl.
*these people are stoned out of their gourds
Ernie Johnson from Detroit will be at MOTR on Wednesday too.
On Thursday, Bird is the word.
Ted Cruz’s dream…
Or in my case, Tofurkey.
Wanna dance off your turkey/tofurkey coma next Friday? Get your booty down to Ludlow Garage for Freekbass and his “Funksgiving 2021” celebration.
Next Saturday, 11/27, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band plays Southgate, and Tom the Torpedoes will be at the Redmoor.
Watch this
Johnny Rotten on The Masked Singer is so 2021.
Speaking o’ punk, Devo is a band that doesn’t get nearly the credit they deserve. Check ’em out live in 1977 in NYC:
Whereas this pairing — Psychedelic Porn Crumpets with Acid Dad as the opener — is an early contender for twin billing of the year.
2021 favorites – care to share yours?
We’re heading down the homestretch of this year (2020 Part Deux: More Dumpster, Slightly Less Fire). If you care to share your list of favorite albums, EPs, songs, TikTok clips, whatever, you can add them here.
Album cover of the week
When you go over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house for Turkey Day, don’t forget to bring along some Sloppy fifths. Rated “Code E” for everyone.
