The Raisins

Turkey with Jam

Concert Listings, Concert review, Music

Wow, it’s nearly Thanksgiving Day!

The concert slate could use a bit more stuffing. That’s fine, it leaves room for family gatherings… or for watching a WKRP in Cincinnati rerun.

But there are a few shows, which is a reason to be thankful.

Skip the can-shaped cranberry sauce, and feast on The Raisins instead.

Bob, Rob, Bam and Ricky have shows on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at the Woodward Theater. (They also have a documentary movie out that features performances from their March shows – check out the interview on WVXU Cincinnati Edition.) The Saturday gig is sold-out, but tickets remain for the other two shows.

Other Wednesday shows include Northern Kentucky Derby at Southgate House, and State Champs at Bogart’s.

Thursday is Turkey Day! (Or in my house, Tofurkey Day!)

Speaking of expanding waistlines, Bret Michaels is at the Hard Rock Casino on Friday.

Also on Friday:

  • Jeremy Pinnell kicks off a two-night stand at Southgate House with a solo set, along with Justin Wells.
  • Freekbass hosts “Funksgiving” at Radio Artifact, with Tracy Silverman Project.
  • The Raisins are at Woodward

Saturday gigs:

  • Jeremy Pinnell plays a full-band show in Southgate’s main room, with G.W. Garner and The Montvales also on the bill.
  • The Ark Band plays Ludlow Garage on Saturday
  • Memorial Hall hosts Christmas with the Celts
  • The Whiskey Shambles, Veronica Grim, and The Shivers in Southgate’s Revival Room
  • The Raisins at Woodward (sold-out)

Unless you’re going to NYC for the Jesse Malin benefit shows on 12/1 and 12/2 (more on that below), there’s a bit of a lull in the ol’ Koncert Keeper. Maybe you can do some holiday shopping.

Or go see your friend’s band:

On Friday, 12/6, the animals (but not The Animals) are out in full force:

  • Benjamin Tod & Lost Dog Street Band at Bogart’s
  • Spirit of the Bear and Bear the Moon in Southgate’s Revival Room
  • The Surfrajettes and Kyle Eldridge play Southgate’s main Sanctuary – that should be a rollicking good time!
  • Ludlow Garage crams three tributes into one band, when Magical Mystery Doors plays tunes by the Beatles, Led Zep, and The Doors

On Saturday, 12/7, Noah Smith’s Crooner Circus takes over all three Southgate House stages:

Other 12/7 shows include:

  • Tropidelic at Bogart’s
  • Mosant and Ascension Day at the Liberty Theater
  • Siren Suit with Girl Gordon and Marsha at Urban Artifact
  • Ludlow Garage has Aja: A Tribute to the Music of Steely Dan, with shows at 3:30 (when they play The Royal Scam in its entirety) and 7:30 p.m.

Then there’s another lull in the schedule. Maybe you can make sure the Christmas lights are hung.

The English Beat plays Ludlow Garage on Thursday, 12/12.

On Friday the 13th:

  • Erika Wennerstrom (Heartless Bastards) kicks off three nights of solo shows at The Loon Wine Bar in Northside. (Friday and Saturday shows are sold-out, but they added a 6 p.m. Sunday show. Tickets on sale here.)
  • Ludlow Garage has A John Waters Christmas on Friday and Saturday
  • The Tillers have a 10th anniversary vinyl release of Hand on the Plow (with cover artwork by list member Keith Neltner)

Motherfolk has “A Very Motherfolks Christmas” at Bogart’s on Satuday, 12/14.

Tears on our Cheek

R.I.P. Randy Cheek (Libertines, Ass Ponys, The Ready Stance, et al.) Here’s a loving tribute from Chuck Cleaver:

Here’s to you, Randy!

Joy to the Wussy World

Now more than ever, we need the healing words and music of our friends in Wussy, on their new release Cincinnati Ohio.

Check out Jason Cohen’s profile of Wussy in Stereogum. And put your ears on this segment about their new album from NPR’s All Songs Considered:

We live for live

It’s hard to believe that Eric Bachmann’s recent Undertow show was off my radar. Heck, he’s played an Undertow show at my house before (2019):

And I applied to host his show this time around. But somehow I missed the listing – thank goodness an alert list member tipped me off that morning, and I DID catch the show thanks to list member Jeff B.

Eric played a cool venue in South Fairmount called the Lunken Lounge. Hopefully there will be more shows there in the future.

Craig Finn also ditched my living room for the Woodward Theater this go-round on his solo tour. (Can’t blame him.) What a great storyteller!

List member Dave Tellmann and I finally made it over to Dan McCabe’s new venue, Whiskey City’s Liberty Theater, in Lawrenceburg, IN. What an amazing place to see a show! And we saw a fantastic high energy performance from Low Cut Connie.

The opening band, Sweat, from Pittsburgh, was great too!

Dan McCabe has some great shows lined up over the next couple of months… check ’em out here and support a great dude who has spent decades bringing great music to our area.

List members Joyce, Matt, Pam, and I also enjoyed the “Words and Music” event featuring Karin and Linford of Over the Rhine (photo above)… especially because we got a sneak preview of updated/upgraded/expanded Mercantile Library. It officially reopens on 12/2.

We now occupy both the 11th & 12th floors of 414 Walnut Street and have more seating areas, more workspaces, more light, more bathrooms, more bookshelves, and, most importantly, more books.

The Reading Room

Tip o’ the tam to Kevin Sullivan for the link to a Jesse Malin feature in the NYT in advance of Jesse’s return to the stage on Dec. 1 and 2, with dozens of high profile friends.

They’re just trying to return the kindness Jesse has always shown to them:

Jesse still has his PMA – positive mental attitude:

Live Performance Video of the Week Year

Waxahatchee and M.J. Lenderman at the Americana Music Awards, with an all-star backing band that includes Buddy Miller, Don Was, Larry Campbell, and Jen Gunderman. Top notch!

Album Covers of the Weeks

Cornucopia… accent on the corn.

This “little singing band” used the Thanksgiving tablecloth to make skirts and ties (or are those dickies?).

You can throw the albums shown below onto the turntable after Turkey Day to make those pounds melt away – it’s a miracle!

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!

Got My Mojo Workin’

Concert Listings, Music

R.I.P. Neill Kirby McMillan Jr. — better known as Mojo Nixon.

He really liked that red shirt… he was even wearing it when list member Dave Tellmann caught up with him a while back.

And list member Dave Lenehan shared a couple of Mojo stories on Facebook:

Someone dug up this audio of Mojo (a Miami U. alum!) and Skid Roper on 97X with Mr. K:

And Ken Katkin paid tribute to Mojo on his Trash Flow Radio show. Listen here.

Outlaw to the very end. Amen.

OK, let’s talk live music.

Friday night shows:

  • Joe Pug and Hello Darling play the Southgate House
  • War Hippies and Blake Tyler are at the old Annie’s
  • Neck Deep plays the Ovation

On Saturday, your faithful scribe will be in Ludlow, Kentucky for their Cabin Fever extravaganza. The lineup of local artists is outstanding:

And proceeds benefit Music Fund Cincinnati, a non-profit started by list member John Sandman and his wife.

Other Saturday shows:

  • Saving Escape, Sunmates, and Knotts play MOTR
  • The Aronoff hosts Blackout featuring Siri Imani
  • Songwriter and longtime Jimmy Buffett Coral Reefer band member Mac McAnally kicks off a three-night stand (Sat/Sun/Tues) at Ludlow Garage.
  • Bogart’s has Gimme Gimme Disco: A Dance Party Inspired by ABBA. If you go to that gig, be sure to break out your best ABBA threads.

(Not sure if that’s ABBA or stunt doubles from “Logan’s Run.”)

Joe’s Truck Stop plays the Rabbit Hash “Music Behind the Stove” series Sunday at 2:30 p.m. If you go to that show, be sure to wear your best “BJ & the Bear” outfit.

(Greg Evigan hair by Vidal Sassoon. Shirt from Botany 500. Buttons sold separately.)

Mac McAnally wraps up his Ludlow series on Tuesday.

Speaking of (‘Til) Tuesday, Aimee Mann plays a sold-out show at Memorial Hall on Wednesday, with Jonathan Coulton as the opener. And Gaelic Storm storms the Taft.

Next Thursday (2/29) is Leap Day

A.k.a. the 17th birthday of list member Ted Gardner. Teddy Boy can celebrate with Eric Gales at Ludlow, or Bryan Adams at Truist Arena. The opener for the latter gig is “Eurythmics Songbook featuring Dave Stewart”… which is a better name than “the guy without Annie Lennox.”

Next Friday, March 1st, The Raisins reunite for the first of three consecutive sold-out shows at the Woodward Theater. I’ll be in the house for that one.

Other 3/1 shows are Steel Wheels at Ludlow Garage, Moonbeau and Sappha at MOTR, and Mammoth WVH at Bogart’s.

Saturday, March 2nd is action-packed:

  • The Raisins are back on the Woodward stage
  • The Tillers kick off a two-night stand at Southgate – both shows will be recorded for an upcoming live album
  • Joe Bonamassa plays the Taft (giving blues-rock guitar freaks a massa-ive bona)
  • Madison Live hosts “An Evening with Sofaburn” – acts include Mike Montgomery, Lung, Super City, Shadwick, Wilde with Quiet Hollers, and Mosant
  • Plain Folk Café in Pleasant Plain, OH has An Evening with Dead Centric (that should be pleasant)
  • Molly Hatchet plays the Madison Theater
  • Annie’s hosts Aces High: The Music of Iron Maiden

On Sunday, March 3rd, The Tillers are back at Southgate and rolling tape for the live album.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo plays Memorial Hall on Tuesday, March 5th. And Socks in the Frying Pan and Enter the Haggis play that same venue the following evening (3/6). (“Socks in the Frying Pan and Enter the Haggis – part of this complete Celtic breakfast!”)

Local Lixx

Hat tip to list member Reid McCreary for recommending Mol Sullivan’s new album Goose. Definitely worth a spin or three:

Future Shows of Note

  • Guided By Voices and Wussy (full band!) play Madison Theater on 4/26.
  • They Might Be Giants play Madison Theater on May 14 and May 15
  • Pixies, Modest Mouse, and Cat Power at the Carol Brady on 6/5
  • Railbird (June 1-2 in Lexington) and Bourbon & Beyond (Sept 19-22 in L-ville) lineups below

Fast Car goes Back to the Future

I’m no fan of the Grammys, but it sure was nice to see Tracy Chapman back on a stage… and back on the charts.

Possibly Bogus Album Cover of the Week

List member Howard Cohen shared this one, but he warned me it could be fake news:

After a bit of internet sleuthing, I think it’s the handiwork of graphic designer Cris Shapan, who does a lot of retro fakery that’s friggin’ hilarious. Check out his work on Facebook but be prepared to laugh your buttocks off. Here’s a fake TV Guide listing:

And here’s a fake ad:

Real Album Cover of the Week

This is actually more disconcerting than the fake album cover, TBH.

November Reign

Concert Listings, Concert review, Music

Rocktober, we hardly knew ye…

(Jesus gives out full-size candy bars!)

But now it’s Rollvember! Let’s take a gander at who’s rollin’ into town.

But first, this is a Public Service Announcement… with guitar.

You’ve been warned.

OK, on with the shows… on Thursday evening:

  • Jaguar Sun and Television Blonde play MOTR (9 p.m., tix are $15 day of show)
  • Loreena McKennitt is at the Taft
  • The Mat Kearney Acoustic Trio plays Memorial Hall
  • The Cadillac Three are at Bogart’s
  • Rainbow Full of Sound (yes, that’s a Grateful Dead tribute band… how’d you guess?) will be at the old Annie’s, recreating the GDs legendary 1972 tour of Europe.

Rubblebucket plays Bogart’s on Friday.

Here’s your Saturday slate o’ shows:

  • Blues guitarist Walter Trout is at Ludlow Garage
  • Willy & the Cigs play MOTR
  • Southgate House hosts the Queen City Blues Fest (lineup is here)
  • Ovation has Wish You Were Here – The Sight & Sound of Pink Floyd presents “The Dark Side of The Moon 50th and Beyond Tour” (“North America’s biggest, most authentic Pink Floyd stage production in a spectacular tribute of music, performers, lighting, lasers, videos and inflatables.”)
  • Travis Tritt plays the Hard Rock (although he doesn’t play hard rock)

Speaking of casinos, Tuesday is 11/7 (or 7/11 if you’re a Eurotrash Girl or Guy)… and if you’re a fan of Victor Wooten and the Wooten Brothers, it’s your lucky day. They play Memorial Hall.

On Wednesday, 11/8, Popa Chubby (yes, that’s his real name*) plays Southgate, with Luther Ray and the Flood.

*No, it isn’t. But here’s a true story: when I worked on the Gary Burbank Show at WLW, cast member Dukie Sinatra and I would sometimes fill in for Gary on holidays. We had a Popa Chubby tune as one of our “bumper” instrumental beds. As we were coming back from a commercial break. I made the mistake of saying the artist’s name… Duke never let me live it down.

Next Thursday, November 9th, is jam-packed with jams (but not jam bands… sorry Tommy Chong!)

  • The Head & The Heart play the Mike & Carol Brady (see what we did there?)
  • Memorial Hall hosts a musical conversation with Valerie June, Rachael Davis, Thao (of Thao and the Get Down Stay Down fame) and Yasmin Williams
  • Tommy Prine plays Southgate with Jordan Smart
  • Eric Hutchinson is at Ludlow Garage (which isn’t in Ludlow, KY)
  • The Blue Wisp Big Band plays Bircus Brewing (which IS in Ludlow, KY)
  • AJ Croce will be at the Taft
  • Jeff Tweedy’s Fall Book Tour makes a stop at Walnut Hills High School’s auditorium, with Nathan Salsburg as the moderator
  • Last, but certainly not least, you can enjoy some Post Sex Nachos (that’s a band… good thing they didn’t have any instrumental tracks when I worked on Gary Burbank’s show) and Divine Sweater at Madison Live.

(The original Lovin’ Spoonful)

Concerts on Friday, November 10th:

  • Grace Potter plays the Jan Brady
  • GZA and Fishbone are at Bogart’s
  • Freddie Gibbs plays the Madison Theater
  • The Ladybug Transistor plays an early show at MOTR, with Northern Kentucky Derby handling the late shift
  • Memorial Hall hosts The Eagles Project (acoustic) – we hope they play the Eagles new hit “Tush Push”

Eric Roberson plays Ludlow Garage on Saturday, 11/11.

On Monday, Nov. 13th, the Woodward Theater will be screening the fantastic Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense.

Nellie McKay plays Southgate’s Revival Room on Tuesday, 11/14, and Amy LaVere and Will Sexton will be in that same spot on Wednesday, 11/15.

On Thursday, November 16th, password presale tickets for The Raisins reunion shows (Mar. 1 and 2 of 2024 at the Woodward) will go on sale.

Not-so-hot Ticket

As list member Michael “Rico” Carrico said, “these top two musical headlines tell you pretty much all you need to know about Cincinnati live music scene.”

And as list member Ken Laube said “‘Nickleback but better’ is a pretty low bar.” (BTW, Ken’s weekly show on Inhailer Radio is moving to Fridays 11a-3p.)

Funny Business

This McSweeney’s piece called “So, You’ve Decided to Start Listening to Radiohead in Your Mid-Thirties” is a knee-slapper. Favorite line:

The true Radiohead experience is 80 percent confusion, 20 percent feigned understanding. That’s the sweet spot. That’s the center of a Yorke peppermint patty.

I Love It Loud (and Live)

List member Mighty Joe Sampson and I saw two relics at once a couple of weeks ago: KISS at the Riverfront Coliseum.

It was as over-the-top as you’d expect, and cheesier than Post Sex Nachos (the food, not the band). Which is exactly what we were hoping for!

The God of Thunder in a cherry-picker? Yes please!

We tried to steal the giant inflatables for our Halloween displays…

Just your average 71-year-old and 74-year-old, wearing sensible shoes.

Flash forward a week and list member Ken Laube and I were at the polar opposite show: Chuck & Lisa from Wussy playing a garage in the back of a gallery in Northside.

No pyro, no confetti cannons, just stellar singing and songwriting. The headliner was a band called Dusk from Appleton, WI. Not too shabby:

Album Cover of the Fortnight

Good ol’ Doug is up for whatever. A great Rollvember roll dawg.

Rob Fetters is Cheap. Free even.

97X, Music, podcast

In this coronavirus “Local Lockdown Lixx” bonus episode of the 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast, singer/songwriter/guitarist Rob Fetters (The Raisins, The Bears, psychodots and solo releases) talks about the free house concert live streams he’s been doing every weekend, provides some Zen guidance on how to cope during COVID craziness… and tells the tale of a time long ago when Ted Nugent brought him from darkness to light. [Back then Ted called himself “The Motor City Madman” but was semi-sane. Now he’s a batsh*t crazy, gun-totin’, Trump-votin’ nutjob. – Ed.]

You’ll find links to Rob’s upcoming house concerts via his website, RobFetters.net. (His next show is Saturday, May 2 at 9 p.m. EDT.) You’ll also find links to the YouTube recordings of previous shows, and a great video for his song “Not the End” — also posted below.

(Due to scheduling conflicts, Dave couldn’t participate in this interview. You’re stuck with the schmuck, Damian.)

Bonus content for the bonus episode: Here’s Rob talking about how the “Not the End” video came together rather quickly a few weeks ago.

Rob’s been writing songs, playing guitar and singing for a looooong time. Adrian Belew produced The Raisins self-titled debut back in 1983. That platter featured the song “Fear is Never Boring” – a perennial 97X favorite. Here’s the original video:

Here’s the same tune, performed at the psychodots farewell show (with Bam Powell sitting in) back in November of 2018. (Shot/edited by Robert Mills, the same guy who did the “Not the End” video.)

2018 Psychodots- Fear is Never Boring from millsfilms on Vimeo.

But Rob was even in bands before the Raisins. In his teens, he was in a band called the Red Hot Tots… which would also be a great name for a side dish at Applebee’s.

Legendary Mad magazine illustrator Mort Drucker, who died on April 9th, did the album cover art for The Bears self-titled debut album. Here’s a CityBeat article about how that happened.

Rob’s house concerts are most assuredly NOT hippie-strumming-acoustic-guitar affairs…

Rob is plugged in and amped up (in more ways than one… the energy of that guy!) and can add backing tracks via his studio-like wizardry. Check out his most recent show below and you’ll see what we mean.