March(ing) Bands

books, Concert Listings, Music

Happy John Philip Sousa Month!

Let’s see what’s on the ol’ Koncert Keeper, shall we?

Tomorrow night:

  • Mike Mains & the Branches play Madison Live
  • Alex Salcido (of The Harmed Brothers) plays the Southgate House lounge
  • Camp Springs Tavern hosts their bi-weekly Bluegrass Jam

On Friday:

  • Lydia Shae has an album release show at the Woodward Theater, with Daniel Noel and The Laurelys
  • Ron Pope plays Ludlow Garage
  • The old Annie’s has The Broken Hearts: Ultimate Tom Petty Tribute

Saturday, Southgate House hosts a benefit show that kicks off at 1:30 p.m.

Other Saturday shows:

  • Sammy Rae & Friends at Bogart’s
  • Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band at the Lawrenceburg Event Center in Hoosier country
  • Grateful River 2 – a benefit For Down Syndrome – is at the old Annie’s
  • The Ark Band: 7th annual Bob Marley & the Wailers tribute concert at Ludlow Garage
  • Flying Underground and String Theory play Taproom on Ludlow

Oh, and don’t forget to “Spring forward” on Saturday evening.

This Sunday, the Stardevils play Rabbit Hash General Store at 2:30 (which will feel like 1:30). In the evening (which will feel like the afternoon), Josh Ritter plays a solo show (“Works in Progress + Songs You Know”) at Memorial Hall and Hannah Wicklund plays Top Cats.

The California Guitar Trio plays Southgate on Monday, 3/11, and the Woodward Theater screens Ghosts of the Chelsea Hotel.

On Tuesday, 3/12, The Dollyrots are at Southgate.

Celtic band Screaming Orphans plays Ludlow Garage on Wednesday, 3/13. (‘Tis the season…)

On Thursday, 3/14, Marc Broussard is at the Taft Theatre and Leslie Mendelson plays Southgate’s Revival Room, with Ashley Peacock.

Friday, 3/15: Spokes (a band featuring Jeffrey Seeman and Mickey Foellger of the band Wheels… see what they did with the new band name?) plays Southgate.

Shows on Saturday, 3/16:

  • Camp Springs Tavern celebrates 8 years with music from Mike Oberst (Tillers), Justine Cefalu, Todd Lipscomb and The Northern Kentucky Derby – and food from Marty’s Waffles and wine from 4 Mile Wine Co.
  • Emmaline plays Ludlow Garage
  • The Downtowne Listening Room features Brittany Gillstrap, Taylor Henry, and Sami Riggs in the round at Memorie Makers Café in Florence, KY

Sunday, March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day. Don’t forget to Irish Spring forward.

On St. Paddy’s evening, Margo Cilker plays the Southgate House. I plan to attend that show – her new album Valley of Heart’s Delight is delightful.

Stop Making Sense will be on the big screen at Woodward Theater on Monday, 3/18.

Sierra Hull plays Memorial Hall on Tuesday, 3/19 with Gabe Lee as the opener.

On Wednesday, 3/20:

  • Rhiannon Giddens plays Memorial Hall
  • Grouplove (the band, not the orgy… also not the band Orgy) is at Bogart’s

Beth Bombara plays Southgate’s Revival Room on Thursday, 3/21, with The Montvales opening the show.

Gigs on Friday, 3/22:

  • Shovels and Rope play the Southgate House (I’ll be there)
  • Black Violin is at the Taft
  • Joshua Radin plays Ludlow Garage

Saturday, 3/23:

  • JJ Grey & Mofro at the Taft
  • Karla Bonoff and Livingston Taylor play Memorial Hall

Jill Sobule is at Southgate on Sunday, 3/24 and Ambrosia plays Memorial Hall.

Raisins rocked the house

Great reunion shows from Rob, Bob, Ricky and Bam at The Woodward Theater.

I’ve got a fever… for Cabin Fever

The Cabin Fever festival at several unique venues (including a funeral parlor!) in Ludlow, KY a couple of weeks ago was fan-freaking-tastic. Highly recommended next year for catching up on some stellar singer-songwriters and local bands. It’s a DORA district too, so you can drink as you bop down the street. Proceeds benefitted Music Fund Cincinnati, a non-profit started by list member John Sandman.

Byrne, baby, Byrne

From David Byrne’s How Music Works book. It’s powerful stuff too!

Buffalo. Boston.

New tunes from my favorite band, that talented trio from Beantown known as Buffalo Tom? Yes, please!

Album Cover of the Week(s)

We’re not sure if this counts as “dancin'” or old Mack had too much chili before his gig.

Album Liner Notes of the Week(s)

I signed up… and included the 25 cents for postage too!

New Year’s Revolution

Concert Listings, Music

In 2023, let’s resolve to support live music and the artists we love. Go to a gig – it’s heart-healthy, low-calorie* and great for your mental health.

*your results may vary, depending on how many alcoholic beverages you consume

Gigs are kid-tested and mother-approved*.

*your mother probably does not approve of concerts by the hair band Kix. She raised you better than that!

Warning: side effects of going to a gig may include euphoria, delirium and uncontrollable body twitches.

Ask your doctor if Gigrocka is right for you. Speaking of doctors…

Chris Barron (of Spin Doctors fame) spins into Ludlow Garage on Friday the 13th, while The Astronomers and Moonbeau play Southgate.

[If you happen to read this early enough on Thursday, Camp Springs Tavern hosts their bi-weekly Bluegrass Jam, Ben Levin plays Dee Felice, Parker Gispert of The Whigs (the non-Afghan variety) is at MOTR and the Blue Wisp Big Band plays Bircus Brewing in Ludlow.]

On Saturday:

  • The Kentucky Struts play Southgate’s big room, along with Witches of the Rifle Range, Luther Ray & the Flood, and Matt St. George.
  • The Brother Brothers and The American Buffalo play Southgate’s upstairs Revival Room
  • Hyryder is at the old Annie’s (this is a rescheduled show from the snowpocalypse)

The Read Southall Band is at Top Cats on Tuesday.

Wednesday, Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi play Memorial Hall, and Marielle Kraft is at Southgate.

Next Friday, January 20th, the words of the profits are written on the studio wall: Memorial Hall! It echoes with the sounds… of… a Rush tribute band.

Now, I’ve been a bona fide, certified Rush fan since junior high:

How did my neck not snap from the sheer weight of that hair helmet?

So part of me is tempted to go to that show… but I know no one else is fit to carry Neil’s drumsticks, Alex’s guitar picks or Geddy’s voice-constricting underpants. And I draw the line at “Fake Neil” wearing the signature Peart skull cap:

Guess I’ll just have to stay at home and crank up my Rush albums.

Or perhaps I’ll go to Bean & Barley in O’Bryonville that evening to catch Night Owl and Tim Reisert.

Next Saturday (1/21) is a busy evening for concerts:

  • George Clinton brings his funk to Lawrenceburg, Indiana, a town desperately in need of a good funking. He’s playing the Hollywood Casino, a venue desperately in need of a naming reality check.
  • John McEuen and the Circle Band play Ludlow Garage
  • Ben Levin is at BrewRiver
  • the Bronson Arroyo Band (yes, that’s a thing, apparently) is at Bircus Brewing in Ludlow, KY
  • Bogart’s has Cash Unchained: The Ultimate Johnny Cash Tribute
  • Aronoff Center hosts an Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular

Looking ahead to Tuesday, Jan. 24, The Arcadian Wild is at Southgate, with Sam Hibbard & Elijah Bedel opening the show.

And on Friday, Jan. 27:

  • Neko Case plays Memorial Hall (here’s hoping she doesn’t have a sh*t fit like she did several years ago at Taft)
  • Glen Phillips (of Toad the Wet Sprocket) is at Ludlow Garage
  • Bret Michaels (of Poison… or Ratt… or Kix) plays the Hard Rock Casino

Get ya tickets here!

Speaking of the aforementioned Neko Case, she’ll be back in town on Monday, May 8th, as part of The New Pornographers, who are playing Memorial Hall. Tickets go on sale tomorrow.

Bonnaroo tix are on sale now. Here’s the lineup:

Why major labels suck, Reason #398,275:

Why this Florida Man rocks

Yes, he looks like your typical “Florida Man”… your standard-issue Okeechobee gator ‘rassler or Daytona Beach self-employed roofer. But he rocked out on the National Anthem at a recent Jacksonville Jags home game AND he has a foundation that gives away guitars to kids.

Sunny thoughts from a normally gloomy guy

the everyday human gesture is always a heartbeat away from the miraculous – that ultimately we make things happen through our actions, way beyond our understanding or intention; that our seemingly small ordinary human acts have untold consequences; that what we do in this world means something; that we are not nothing; and that our most quotidian human actions by their nature burst the seams of our intent and spill meaningfully and radically through time and space, changing everything.

Nick Cave, on his always-entertaining Q&A website The Red Hand Files

Album Cover of the Week Month

Moe is not observing Dryuary.