Royal Crescent Mob

Double Drummer Bummer

Concert Listings, Music

I’ve been slacking on my Koncert Keeper duties. (Sorry, life got in the way.) But now I’m back, baby… just in time to be the bearer of some really sad news:

These back-to-back gut punches have music fans reeling.

Carlton and Chris brought joy to so many folks all over the world – not just through their music but also through their spirit. May both live on.

(And ICYMI, check out the 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast episode where Dave Tellmann and I talked to Carlton and Happy from the RC Mob prior to their reunion shows late last year.

Tomorrow, the Newbees headline the free show at Fountain Square, and list member Keith Neltner has a opening for his art show at MOTR Pub. The show is called “Blood & Ink Rising Up from Underneath” and it’ll be at MOTR through Oct. 24. Here are details about the opening celebration:

Speaking o’ Farmer Keith, they’re kicking off the Neltner’s Farm Fall Festival music lineup on Saturday in Camp Springs, KY, with TLipscomb and Chaya J. The full music list is below, and details about the Fall Festival can be found here.

Other Saturday shows include:

  • Blackberry Smoke at the old Annie’s
  • The Mars Volta at the Mike Brady
  • Braxton Brewing in Covington will celebrate the release of their BonBonerie Opera Cream Stout with live music from StringSource and opera singer Grace Graham.
  • The Witches of Rifle Range play Neltner’s Tavern (yes, it’s a Neltner lovefest.. no, he’s not paying me)
  • Lotus Land (the American Rush Tribute) plays Ludlow Garage
  • Last, and certainly least, Nickelback is at Riverbend

GA-20 plays the Woodward Theater on Sunday, and Brian Setzer brings his “Rockabilly Riot” to the Taft Theatre on Tuesday.

Wednesday is an action-packed night for live music:

  • Speedy Ortiz is at MOTR (8 p.m. ticketed show)
  • Mt. Joy plays the Carol Brady
  • Great Lake Swimmers are at Southgate
  • Eric Johnson plays Ludlow Garage

Neal Francis plays the Woodward on Thursday, while Christopher Cross goes sailing into the Ludlow Garage.

From “Sailing” we shift to swimming: Johnnyswim plays Bogart’s on Friday 10/6.

Synchronized Swimming from Claude Kerven on Vimeo.

That same evening (10/6), Briscoe plays a free show at MOTR.

Dave Webster plays Neltner’s Tavern on Saturday, 10/7.

On Sunday, 10/8, The Brook & The Bluff are at Memorial Hall, and Valley plays the Woodward Theater.

Helmet plays Bogart’s on Tuesday, Rocktober 10th, and that same evening Phish kicks off a two-night stand at the Nut House, a.k.a. The Nutter Center.

On Wednesday, October 11th:

  • Juliana Hatfield plays a solo show at the Woodward
  • Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals play the Greg Brady

Ekoostik Hookah is at the old Annie’s on Thursday, 10/12, and Tim Reynolds and TR3 play Ludlow Garage.

Shows on Friday, October 13th:

  • The Church plays Madison Theater
  • Songwriter extraordinaire Jimmy Webb is at Memorial Hall
  • Moon Taxi and The Stews play the old Annie’s

On Saturday, 10/14, the Madison Theater has a double bill of bands with fun names: Moon Hooch & Doom Flamingo. That same evening, Ax & The Hatchetmen are at Madison Live and Foreigner* plays the Hard Rock Casino.

*Featuring one original member – but at least it’s Mick Jones

Blues artist Joanne Shaw Taylor plays Memorial Hall on Sunday, October 15th.

Guess who’s coming to the Marsha Brady on Monday, October 16th? No, not the Guess Who. It’s Yes.

(I never tire of seeing Derek Smalls and Squiggy together…)

Love it live

Since our last post, your humble scribe has thoroughly enjoyed killer shows from Cereal Killers, Drive-by Truckers with American Aquarium, James McMurtry, and both nights of the Guided by Voices 40th anniversary shows in Dayton. Oh, and a Barenaked Ladies free show downtown.

Cancer sucks.

List member Michael “Rico” Carrico lost his brother Kevin to cancer four years ago. It not only sucked because Kevin was so young (25), but also because Kevin had survived a bout with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma a few years earlier and was studying to be a pediatric oncologist when he succumbed to Ewing’s Sarcoma.

In Kevin’s honor, Rico and his family and friends have raised funds for the National Collegiate Cancer Foundation, which provides scholarships to young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer. Their biggest annual fundraiser is a golf scramble – this year’s event is next Saturday, October 7th, at California Golf Course. If you’d like to register or just make a donation, you can do so here.

Album Cover of the Fortnight

And in your next life, may your garments look less like couch coverings.

Episode 91: Colin Miller, super-duper fan

97X, Music, podcast

Colin Miller listened to 97X obsessively. As in “boxes of cassette tape recordings of 97X on-air” obsessive. He might’ve been a 97Xtreme listener, but that same passion for the music and the station is something most listeners can relate to. We talk to Colin about what made the station so special, some of the shows he remembers, and the 97X events like Rock & Bowl and 97Xtrabeats on the Riverboat.

L to R: Damian, Dave, Colin Miller, Gentleman Jim Mercer, Matt Harris (in hat), Bill Douglas, Phil Manning and Phil’s wife Barb at the Royal Crescent Mob show at the Madison Theater in Covington, KY, Dec. 17, 2022

Here’s the program schedule for 97X back in the mid-90s.

Colin correctly named the opening band at the 97X 10th Year celebration… Sleep Theater. He has yet to claim his prize, a woxy.com t-shirt from John Curley of Afghan Whigs. (To be clear, Colin has yet to claim the prize because Dave has yet to mail it to Colin.)

Colin’s out there somewhere…

Fun fact: Sleep Theater members included Rob Hamrick, Chris Sherman (now better known as Freekbass), and Itaal Shur, who later co-wrote the Grammy-winning song “Smooth” for Santana/Rob Thomas.

New Year’s Rockin’ Eve

Concert Listings, Concert review, Music

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.

from Dan’s obit

Royal Crescent Mob rules once again!

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.”

Album Cover of the Week

Perfect for your New Year’s resolution!

I hope 2023 is really rockin’!

Mob Rules!

97X, Concert review, Music

If I had to pick one word to sum up this past Saturday’s Royal Crescent Mob concert, that word would be “joyous.”

Carlton’s smile can light up an entire venue. (Photo credit: Jon Calderas. Full gallery here.)

If I got to use two word to describe it, I’d pick “joyous” and “sweaty.”

Joyous and sweaty were the hallmarks of any Royal Crescent Mob live show, back when they were a touring band, in the late 80s through the mid-90s. One of the best live bands in the entire world. Yes, a club band, with a mostly Midwestern fan base. But ask anyone who ever attended one of the RCMob shows and they will easily attest to the Mob’s punk ethos, their funk bona fides and their stellar showmanship. You had a 100% chance of leaving their shows feeling joyous and sweaty.

But it had been 28 years since the Royal Crescent Mob played together live. A lifetime ago. And now “lifetime” has a brand new meaning for the audience members, and especially the band members.

Time takes its toll on all of us. If we’re lucky, we manage to avoid cancer. In that department, the RC Mob has been decidedly unlucky. Lead singer David Ellison is being treated for prostate cancer. Lead guitarist Brian “B” Emch lost his wife to pancreatic cancer earlier this year. Drummer Carlton Smith has a rare form of brain cancer.

Rather than wallow in pity, the band decided to take their heaping helping of lemons and make lemonade… and sell it to raise funds for cancer research.

They played a fundraiser show in Columbus (their home base back in the day) on Friday, and Cincinnati (their second home, and strongest market, thanks in no small part to 97X radio station) on Saturday. Two shows in two nights. A limited engagement. Then again, life is a limited engagement.

It was a different kind of joyous this time around. For a couple of nights, for a couple of hours, they could focus on the music instead of mortality. So could their fans.

we’re four guys up there…and, you know, our audiences, our fan base is our age probably now. And it’s important for them to know there’s like, there’s this shitty thing about getting older, it’s like, things pop up. And, you know, I mean, hopefully we can raise some awareness about that as well. That’d be just extra special to be able to do that and it’s going to mean a lot for everybody to up on stage just to be playing together, that whole camaraderie.

Lead singer David Ellison in this CincyMusic interview with Jon Calderas

The Royal Crescent Mob brought a ton of joy to thousands of people 30 years ago. It was so good to experience that joy once again. It makes life worth living.

So if I had to use three words to describe their show, those words would be: Joyous. Sweaty. Grateful.

Thank you B, David, Carlton and Happy. Take a bow. Because we’re all happy now.

Bah! Humbug!

Concert Listings, Music

December strikes another devastating blow to the hearts of Cincinnati music lovers, stealing Dan Hamilton of the Spookfloaters:

Kinda hard to go on with this silly little post now. But Dan loved music, and lived music. Next gig you go to, send some positive vibes to his family.

This Friday:

  • Ian Noe plays Southgate
  • Over The Rhine kicks off a three-day run at Memorial Hall (Sunday’s gig is a 4 p.m. matinee)
  • Ricky Nye plays a free gig at The Orbit Room near Findlay Market
  • Plush Machine and Fairmount Girls rock Northside Tavern
  • Herman’s Hermits/Peter Noone have an Xmas show at Ludlow Garage
  • The 1975 has a sold-out gig at the Marsha Brady
The 1971… “how about the flip side?”

Saturday night, it’s the Big Show… the Royal Crescent Mob reunion show at Madison Theater. It’s a fundraiser for the Tri-State Cancer Research Fund. Dan “Danny Crash” Reed (97X, WVXU Nightwaves, WNKU, WXPN) will be spinning some old school funk to open up the gig. Hat tip to Jon Calderas for a great interview with David Ellison on CincyMusic.com. Nice to see some coverage in CityBeat and Cincinnati.com as well. Hope to see you there!

Less hair now, but still just as cool.

Other Saturday shows:

  • Motherfolk plays “A very Motherfolk Christmas” at Bogart’s
  • Afro-Man’s “Merry Spliff-mas” is at the old Annie’s
  • Pam Tillis plays a holiday gig at Ludlow Garage
  • Hard Rock Casino hosts “A Boy Band Christmas” with members of 98 Degrees (but not Nick Lachey… weird), O-Town and All-4-One, plus Ryan Cabrera.

I will Alvvays love you…

After Saturday’s shows, we hit the Xmas lull… not much on the ol’ Koncert Keeper until late in the month. You’ll have to tide yourself over with this great live in-studio set from Alvvays:

Speaking o’ live, Ryan Adams brought his A-game for his 35-song set at the Jan Brady.

We can still have fun on Twitter

Ranking albums is dumb

Steven Hyden has it right in his Favorite Albums of 2022 piece:

If you care to share your faves of the year, you can do so here.

He “Ken” rock you!

List member Ken “Music is my hobby” Laube now has an air shift at Inhailer Radio. Tune in (online, on the app or WGUC HD-3) to his “Welcome to the Weekend” show Fridays from 3-7 p.m.

Album Cover of the Week

He can’t rock you:

I’m pretty sure rock hung up on him.

A December to remember

97X, Concert Listings, Music, podcast

This holiday season, instead of buying matching his and hers GMC gas-guzzlers (totally believable…), why not buy tickets to some shows around town?

Their 1st show in nearly 30 years (12/17 at Madison Theater) is a fundraiser for cancer research – what’s not to love?

And while you’re at the gigs, maybe buy some merch to support the artists. Speaking of which, December 2nd is Bandcamp Friday:

On the first Friday of the month since March of 2020, we’ve waived our revenue share to help support the many artists who have seen their livelihoods disrupted by the pandemic. Over the course of 23 days, fans have paid artists and labels more than $84 million dollars, helping cover rents, mortgages, groceries, medications, and much more. If you’re among the nearly 800,000 fans who have participated, thank you.

If you’ve started to feel guilty about buying music on any other day of the month, here’s something to keep in mind: on Bandcamp Fridays, an average of 93% of your money reaches the artist/label (after payment processor fees). When you make a purchase on any other day (as millions of you have, with close to $1 billion now paid directly to artists), an average of 82% reaches the artist/label. Every day is a good day to support artists on Bandcamp!

Your This Week in Live Music editor suggests you check out the new album from Gladie on Bandcamp. It slaps, as the kids say. Or used to say last week… they’ve probably moved on to a new slang term by now.

Okey-dokey, let’s get to the gigs:

On Thursday, December 1st, the Redmoor in Mt. Lookout hosts an Island Christmas Holiday (“White Christmas meets Bob Marley”) with The SunBurners, Queen City Silver Stars and The Merry Gentlemen. Ben Levin plays Dee Felice, and Thelma and the Sleaze (great band name!) play Southgate, with Wonky Tonk opening the show.

Friday, Ryan Adams brings his brilliant songs and his hefty baggage to the Jan Brady. In “love the sinner, hate the sin” fashion, I’ll be at that gig.

We’re all conflicted about Ryan.

That same evening, The Steel Woods will be tearing up the tiny Madison Live room, and Ben Levin plays Ghost Baby.

And Friday & Saturday, The Comet in Northside hosts a benefit for the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, with several local bands on the bill, including Quotah, New Moons, Toon Town, The Bellowing Pines, National Barks (Friday night) and The Harlequins, Heist, The Tangees, The You Suck Flying Circus (Saturday). (BTW, “The You Suck Flying Circus” is a strong candidate for Band Name of the Year.)

On Saturday, Trampled by Turtles play the Peter Brady. “Trampled by Turtles” always calls to mind this:

If Turtles aren’t your speed…

… Hyryder (Grateful Dead tribute band from Indy) will be at the old Annie’s, Maurice Mattei & the Tempers play a free Christmas show in the Southgate House Lounge, Styx will be rockin’ the Paradise Hard Rock Casino. And Ludlow Garage has Lotus Land, a Rush tribute band.

We only air-drum to the best…

On Sunday, 12/4, Foxing is at Madison Live, and Ben Levin plays Schwartz’s Point.

Next Thursday, December 8th, The Struts play Bogart’s… and Ludlow Garage keeps the tribute band vibe going with Tusk – The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute.

On Friday, 12/9:

  • Whiskey Bent Valley Boys play Southgate’s Revival Room
  • Al Jardine of the Beach Boys plays Ludlow
  • Ben Levin will be playing with legendary bluesman Lil’ Jimmy Reed at Dead Low Brewing.

On Saturday, December 10th, Christmas and Hanukkah come early, as Cereal Killers will be playing a killer gig at Big Ash Brewing!

You’ve heard me extol the many virtues of the Cereal Killers before. Their playlist is like a trip back to the 97X days – Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, INXS, Southern Culture on the Skids, The Jam, The Clash, Guided by Voices, X, The Plimsouls, Warren Zevon… with some Tom Petty and Cars thrown in for good measure. Just so freakin’ good. (And their drummer is a real heartthrob.) It’s killing me that I can’t make that show… I’ll be in D.C. for the weekend, watching my wife’s niece play b-ball for the McDaniel Green Terror as they take on the Goucher Gophers. (Yes, “Green Terror Gophers” sounds like a Roger Corman horror flick… or bonus Caddyshack footage.)

Please go to the Cereal Killers show in my stead. You won’t regret it. (Pro tip: Big Ash Brewing is offering bonus bucks if you purchase a $50 or $100 gift card… it’s practically the same as getting free beer from your ol’ pal d2.)

Nikki Lane plays Southgate on Sunday, December 12th. That should be a stellar show too.

The Mob Rules!

Speaking of big shows, don’t forget the Royal Crescent Mob concert at the Madison Theater on Saturday, December 17th. Former 97X and WVXU Nightwaves legend Dan Reed (now a host at WXPN in Philly) will be spinning some funky tunes before the RC Mob hits the stage for the first time since… oh… 1994! The show is a benefit for the Tri-State Cancer Research Fund, because cancer has been extremely cruel to the band:

With drummer Carlton Smith recently diagnosed with brain cancer (Glioblastoma), singer David Ellison, recently treated for Prostate Cancer and the loss of guitarist B’s wife, Cincinnati Attorney, Sallee Fry in May, 2022, to Pancreatic Cancer, the four band members, decided there is no time like the present to celebrate life and revel in the joy of playing music together and the healing spirit music embodies in the human soul.

Dave Tellmann and I interviewed David Ellison and Carlton and bassist Happy Chichester on the two most recent episodes of our “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast. Such great guys – and if you were around in the late 80s/early 90s, you know that the RC Mob shows were legendary. Ira Robbins in his Trouser Press band profile says it best:

Pressing “pause”

Not that they asked me, but if Forecastle wants to “strategize” they should get back to the Americana/indie-heavy lineups that they used to book.

Pressing “rewind” on “When I see you smile”

List member Elizabeth Cannon (at left below) got a photo with John Waite when she was in high school…

And Elizabeth shared that same photo with that same John Waite at his show at Memorial Hall recently:

The end (of the year) is near!

Time for your “favorite albums of 2022” list. Last week’s releases from Gladie and Caitlin Rose are making a late push to be included on mine. If you care to share, you can drop your list here.

Album Cover of the Week

Yep, just Bob & Karen… kinda like that one couple at Thanksgiving dinner, where you’re not quite sure how they’re related to you.

Episode 90: Carlton and Happy from the RCMob make us happy

97X, Concert Listings, Music, podcast

Carlton Smith and Happy Chichester formed the super-cool, super-tight rhythm section of the Royal Crescent Mob. They — along with lead singer David Ellison and guitarist “B” — are getting the band back together to play two fundraiser shows to benefit cancer research. They’ll be rocking the house at the Athenaeum Theatre in Columbus on Friday, December 16th and the Madison Theater in Covington, KY on Saturday, December 17th.

We talked to Carlton and Happy about how they got together way back in the mid-80s, their legendary live shows at Bogart’s, what 97X meant to their band, and why they’re looking forward to performing as a group once again.

Flyer for a Royal Crescent Mob gig back in the day, featuring a great Carlton caricature.

Tickets for both shows are on sale now at the links above. Pro tip: avoid the Ticketmaster fees on the Madison Theater show by purchasing your tickets at the Heritage Bank Center (a.k.a. Riverfront Coliseum) box office (M-F, 11a-3p).

97X Year 10 poster signed by B and Carlton

Former 97X and WVXU Nightwaves DJ Dan Reed, now at WXPN in Philly, will play a DJ set to open up both shows. Here’s more from the press release promoting the Madison Theater show:

The 1980’s-90’s Indie faves, The Royal Crescent Mob (RC Mob) have announced they are Getting Back On the Bus for a Really Big Show, a special 2 night reunion, Dec 16 in Columbus OH and Dec 17th in Covington KY./Cincinnati to benefit the Tri-State Area Cancer Research Fund.

The band last performed together almost 30 years ago, disbanding in 1994.

All four original band members, David Ellison, Harold “Happy” Chichester, Carlton Smith and Mr. B (Brian Emch). will be performing.

With drummer Carlton Smith recently diagnosed with brain cancer (Glioblastoma), singer David Ellison, recently treated for Prostate Cancer and the loss of guitarist B’s wife, Cincinnati Attorney, Sallee Fry in May, 2022, to Pancreatic Cancer, the four band members, decided there is no time like the present to celebrate life and revel in the joy of playing music together and the healing spirit music embodies in the human soul.

After vaulting up to the top 20 in college radio airplay, the band signed to the Sire / Warner Brothers label. The Mob gained national exposure touring with acts like The Replacements, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Living Colour, and the B-52s. Their legendary live shows developed quite a following of their own including Dave Grohl, who mentions the Royal Crescent Mob, as his favorite band back in his teenage days when he worked at Tower Records in DC.

The full Dave Grohl note and article about Happy are here.

“We have this really rich music scene here in Ohio. Y’know, I have friends who played with Miles Davis and Bootsy Collins, or toured the world with Dr. John. Here in Columbus, you’ll find yourself sitting next to the guy who spent ten years playing bass with Ray Charles. It all gets blended together. I sometimes feel like Ohio is the only place where my music makes sense. It’s too eclectic and far-flung for the rest of the world. James Brown, Led Zeppelin and The Meters are all equally important in the way I hear music.” 

Happy ChiCHESTER IN THE ARTICLE ABOVE

Columbus blogger Drew Layman has a great post about the RC Mob and their first release, Omerta, on his The Quiet One blog. He also has a cool post about their major-label debut, Spin the World.

RC Mob’s major label debut hit the charts in 1989.
Westerberg, actually… RC Mob opened for the ‘mats back in the late 80s.

Post-RC Mob, Carlton Smith and Happy reunited in Howlin’ Maggie, the band fronted by Happy. (Here’s a link to a live recording of a 1996 show from that band.)

Hap has also released music under his own name.

https://happychichester.bandcamp.com/
https://e.issuu.com/issuu-reader3-embed-files/latest/twittercard.html?u=futurepublishing&d=roc284.issuu&p=1

“To be honest with you, yeah, I’m a very happy person,” he smiles. “And I don’t know if that’s because it’s my name, or because I’ve had the incredible good fortune of being able to record and write my music. But being happy, yeah, it’s my natural state. And as long as I get to hit my drums and play music for few hours every day, it’s pretty easy to stay happy.”

See you all at the Big Show!

Episode 89: Get (back) on the bus with David Ellison of the Royal Crescent Mob.

97X, Music, podcast

The Royal Crescent Mob was a longtime 97X favorite. Now the band is getting back together for the first time in nearly 30 years, for two fundraiser shows – Dec. 16th in Columbus and Dec. 17th at the Madison Theater in Covington, KY. Proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society and the Tri-State Cancer Research Fund. We talk to RC Mob lead singer David Ellison about the reunion shows, the early RC Mob days, the impact cancer is having on the band, and his longtime career as a tour manager for several bands, as well as pop stars like Miley Cyrus. 

Hap, David, Mr. B and Carlton

Tickets for both shows are on sale now at the links above. Pro tip: avoid the Ticketmaster fees on the Madison Theater show by purchasing your tickets at the Heritage Bank Center (a.k.a. Riverfront Coliseum) box office (M-F, 11a-3p).

Former 97X and WVXU Nightwaves DJ Dan Reed, now at WXPN in Philly, will play a DJ set to open up both shows. Here’s more from the press release promoting the Madison Theater show:

The 1980’s-90’s Indie faves, The Royal Crescent Mob (RC Mob) have announced they are Getting Back On the Bus for a Really Big Show, a special 2 night reunion, Dec 16 in Columbus OH and Dec 17th in Covington KY./Cincinnati to benefit the Tri-State Area Cancer Research Fund.

The band last performed together almost 30 years ago, disbanding in 1994.

All four original band members, David Ellison, Harold “Happy” Chichester, Carlton Smith and Mr. B (Brian Emch). will be performing.

With drummer Carlton Smith recently diagnosed with brain cancer (Glioblastoma), singer David Ellison, recently treated for Prostate Cancer and the loss of guitarist B’s wife, Cincinnati Attorney, Sallee Fry in May, 2022, to Pancreatic Cancer, the four band members, decided there is no time like the present to celebrate life and revel in the joy of playing music together and the healing spirit music embodies in the human soul.

After vaulting up to the top 20 in college radio airplay, the band signed to the Sire / Warner Brothers label. The Mob gained national exposure touring with acts like The Replacements, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Living Colour, and the B-52s. Their legendary live shows developed quite a following of their own including Dave Grohl, who mentions the Royal Crescent Mob, as his favorite band back in his teenage days when he worked at Tower Records in DC.

About the members of the The Royal Crescent Mob

David Ellison is currently tour manager for Miley Cyrus, Camila Cabello, and Kesha, and formerly was the tour manager for Jay-Z, Demi Lovato, Avril Lavigne, Alanis Morissette, Adam Lambert, Goo Goo Dolls, and Panic at the Disco.

Happy Chichester, formerly was in Howlin’ Maggie and toured with The Twilight Singers,  before embarking on his solo career  releasing several albums and singles.

Carlton Smith also played with Howlin’ Maggie, and currently plays with Columbus Soul and Salvage and also working as a TSA Agent.

Mr. B has played guitar at the Florence Christian Church in Florence, KY and volunteered at Melodic Connections, a music therapy program based in Cincinnati.

The Royal Crescent Mob headlined the 97X 10th Anniversary Concert at Bogart’s back in 1992.

set list from an RC Mob show
From a Bogart’s show in 1992, possibly the 97X 10th anniversary show…
RC Mob doing “Fire” at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. in 1987
“Get on the Bus” from the same D.C. show as above
Live in Columbus in 1991
Some great footage of the RC Mob in the studio with Ohio Players legend Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner in March of 1991.