The Verve Pipe

Live Music: So Hot Right Now!

Concert Listings, Music

Live shows are hotter than Hansel right now.

And let’s not forget our old friend Ohio River Valley humidity.

But sweating is good for your health.

Uh, well, it was good for you. (R.I.P. Richard.) Let’s get to some gigs and feel the burn.

On Tuesday, Alice Cooper plays the Rose.

The Comet Bluegrass All-Stars play a free gig at Greenhills Commons on Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. Meanwhile, PNC Pavilion has “Rumours of Fleetwood Mac” and Yächtley Crëw drops anchor at Ludlow Garage.

On Thursday, list member Mighty Joe Sampson and I will be in the Windy City for the Buffalo Tom show at Metro Chicago. After all, I have to retain my status as BT’s #1 superfan.

Shows a bit closer to home that evening:

  • The Verve Pipe plays a freebie on the Fairfield Village Green (6-9 p.m.)
  • Mike Oberst and Justine Cefalu play Washington Park
  • The Menus will be “Rockin’ the Roebling” at Smale Park
  • Lawrenceburg Civic Park has Katmandu: Bob Seger Tribute
  • Ruthie Foster headlines the free show at Levitt Pavilion in Dayton
  • Five Finger Death Punch and Marilyn Manson play Riverbend
  • Camp Springs Tavern has their bi-weekly Bluegrass Jam

Two festivals kick off on Friday:

  • On Point Music Festival at Sawyer Point has a ton of great Cincinnati bands, and is FREE!
  • Voices of America Country Music Fest at VOA Metro Park in West Chester has a ton of bro country… and costs $$$.

R.I.P. Bob, one of the best.

Other Friday shows:

  • Soul Pocket plays a freebie at Blue Ash Towne Square
  • Blair Crimmins & The Hookers (Dixieland Jazz) playing for free at Levitt Pavilion (so yes, that means free Hookers in Dayton… probably not the first time)
  • Moonbeau and The Orphan The Poet are at Fountain Square
  • RiversEDGE has Rumours ATL (yet another Fleetwood Mac tribute band) and Angela Combs
  • Luther Ray & the Flood, Matt St. George, and B.C. Shinault play Southgate
  • Hard Rock Casino hosts the “I Love the 90s” concert with Vanilla Ice, Rob Base and Montell Jordan playing their greatest hit (singular).
  • Aronoff Center has Piano Men: Generations – the music of Billy Joel and Elton John

The On Point Festival continues on Saturday, Ludlow Garage has “Bruce in the U.S.A.” and comedian Brian Regan will be at Turfway Park.

https://youtu.be/ikT-WrG-aq8

Albert Lee and Jeremy Clyde (of Chad & Jeremy fame) play Ludlow Garage next Sunday, 8/11.

On Tuesday, August 13th:

  • Robert Earl Keen plays Ludlow Garage
  • Wheatus plays Southgate House

Speaking of Wheatus, this Rolling Stone article from April about their song “Teenage Dirtbag” was pretty interesting.

Gigs on Wednesday, 8/14:

  • Bush, Jerry Cantrell, and Candlebox play Riverbend
  • Switchfoot, Blue October, and Matt Nathanson play the Ovation in Newport
  • Taj Farrant plays Ludlow Garage
  • The Ben Levin Band plays a free show at Fountain Square (5-8 p.m.)

Shows on Thursday, 8/15:

  • Fraze has the Sweatin’ to the Oldies Happy Together Tour featuring The Turtles, Jay and The Americans, The Association, Badfinger, The Vogues, and The Cowsills… if you are a doctor specializing in joint replacements, you really should set up a booth at that show.
  • RiversEDGE has the Red NOT Chili Peppers and Emo Kids (that’s a band… Hamilton under-indexes on emo kids)
  • There’s a “New Wave Nation 80s Tribute” at Fairfield Village Green
  • Ault Park’s free show features Floyd & the Walkmen

Dweezil Zappa plays the Ovation on Friday, 8/16. Remember when Frank Zappa and his daughter Moon Unit were on Letterman talking about the unusual names Frank gave his kids? I sure do – it was classic!

That same evening, Taft Theatre has “One Night of Queen” and Blue Ash Towne Square has “Parrots of the Caribbean” – either a tribute to Jimmy Buffett or to Gilbert Gottfried’s character in Aladdin.

The Jayhawks play Memorial Hall on Saturday, August 17th. List members Whit and Barb will be there with yours truly and my lovely bride, who couldn’t name a Jayhawks song to save her life. (You’d think that being married to me for 27 years would have “Tailspin” in heavy rotation on her playlist.)

That same evening, Ana Popovic plays Ludlow Garage, and Callie McCullough and Maria Carrelli play a Downtowne Listening Room gig in Burlington, KY.

The Doobie Brothers and Steve Winwood play Riverband on Sunday, August 18th. I heard Rerun has a front row seat.

Joe Bonamassa plays the Fraze on Tuesday, August 20th.

And Deep Purple’s “One More Time” tour stops at Riverbend on Wednesday, 8/21. Is there an opener? Yes…

I’m renaming my living room “Wussy Arena”

Chuck and Lisa will be playing at my house yet again – on Saturday, October 19th. Tickets go on sale 8/12. Here’s their full Undertow fall tour:

A Triple Dip of Live Licks

My buddy Paul hooked me up with a free ticket to the Foo Fighters show. It had been a loooong time since I’d seen a stadium show (The Who, on their first of their gazillion “farewell” tours… back in ’86-ish at Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium). The Foos did what they do – rock! I have no idea where Dave Grohl gets his energy… and I have no idea how his vocal cords are intact with all that screaming. Pretenders sounded great too, and it was cool to see Wolfie Van Halen fronting his band Mammoth.

The next night was a bit more pastoral – Ben Levin Band at the Cincinnati Nature Center for their monthly “Music Under the Moon” series. (August is sold out, but tickets remain for the 9/13 gig with Jam Band Jovi… great name!)

And I wrapped up my trifecta last weekend with the Totally Tubular show at Riverbend on Saturday. I never thought I’d utter the phrase “Wang Chung rocked” but they did. Good times hanging with Taylor Fox from Inhailer Radio, too.

I took it easy this weekend – only one live show: S.G. Goodman at Southgate. The “S.G.” stands for “So Good” – fantastic show! List member John Sandman and his wife Julia were there.

Raise the Roof!

Speaking o’ John and Julia, they started a non-profit called Music Fund Cincinnati and they’re currently raising funds to build a stage at Carriage House Farm. You can donate to the cause here.

Ride that Bike!

Speaking o’ donating to good causes, your favorite live music/concert blogger/goofball will be participating in this year’s Ride Cincinnati event in September to raise funds for cancer research and care. My good friend LJ recently was diagnosed with brain cancer, and I’ll be riding to honor him and his brave battle. If you can find it in your heart/wallet to make a donation, I’d greatly appreciate it. And I’ll do my best to do you proud.

Mayall: all blues, all the time

This Vanity Fair piece about John Mayall, who recently died at age 90, highlights his devotion to the blues… and lists the many rock legends who got their start thanks to him.

Album Covers of the Week(s)

Jerry’s taking full advantage of his medical marijuana card. ‘Til Tuesday.

Looks like the dude up front might mime “shooting love”…

May the tunes be with you

Concert Listings, Concert review, Music

It’s almost time for that very special holiday:

Uh, not May the 4th… a.k.a. Spock’s birthday. Or maybe his “Life Day.”

The big day is May 10th – members of Wussy are playing a gig at my house. It’s the 3rd appearance for Chuck & Lisa, and to celebrate #3 they’re bringing a third member: Mark Messerly.

Mark and I are twin sons of different mothers – or we just have similar tastes in cool band t-shirts:

BTW, Mark’s solo project INERT has a new album out soon. Here’s the lead track:

But there are plenty of other cool (albeit less exclusive) gigs coming our way in the merry month of May. Let’s eyeball ’em.

Tonight (5/1):

  • The 502s and Daniel Nunnelee play Bogart’s
  • Kelsey Waldon is at Southgate
  • Todd Lipscomb and Easy Mark play MOTR

On Thursday:

  • The Tillers play the “Tunes & Blooms” gig at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Red Wanting Blue plays Southgate
  • Camp Springs Tavern hosts the bi-weekly Bluegrass Jam
  • The Breakers (a tribute to Tom Petty… or to ’91 Keanu and Swayze) play Ludlow Garage

Friday night, the Wussy Trio (Chuck, Lisa, Mark) plays The Lodge in Dayton, KY.

That same evening, local Mumford-adjacent band Jim Trace & The Makers plays Arnold’s. That group features two of my co-workers… and a name clearly dreamt up on the bourbon aisle of a liquor store. (Perhaps “Cabooze” – the train caboose retrofitted to be a liquor store that was a famous landmark in Newport, KY.)

Saturday, in the new-Newport, Ovation hosts The Ultimate Doors: a tribute to The Doors. (Now I really miss the old Sin City… and the doors of Cabooze.)

Shows on Tuesday, May 7th:

  • Rufus Wainwright plays Ludlow Garage
  • Stiff Little Fingers are at Bogart’s (and also on my pickleball paddle hand)
  • The Messthetics (drummer Brendan Canty and bassist Joe Lally from Fugazi) play the Woodward. Opener is James Brandon Lewis w/Siren Suit

Kamasi Washington plays Ludlow on Wednesday, 5/8, and EXTC (with XTC drummer Terry Chambers) plays Radio Artifact.

On Thursday, 5/9, it’s time to bust out the pipe.

The Verve Pipe plays the Woodward Theater. That same evening, Tenille Townes (no relation to “Captain &” or “Van Zandt”) plays Ludlow, and Thievery Corporation plays Bogart’s. Thievery Corporation has a pretty cool logo:

Hah, that’s just a little good-natured ribbing there, my IRS friends… no need to audit me for that jibe. My “Cabooze” deductions are research expenses, and therefore completely legit!

On Friday, May 10th, Chuck Cleaver, Lisa Walker, and Mark Messerly of Wussy will be playing in my living room! (A rare occasion when I’m not the only wussy in the house…)

That same evening, Stanley Clarke plays the first of two nights at Ludlow. And Southern Culture on the Skids plays Southgate. Their poster is pretty cool:

Stanley Clarke is back at it on Saturday, 5/11 at Ludlow Garage.

Other 5/11 shows:

  • Robbie Fulks and Scott Miller play Southgate’s Revival Room (I’ll be at that gig)
  • Snõõper. Fruit Loops and The Serfs play the Woodward (list member Dave Tellmann’s son Jack produced some Snõõper tracks and has an engineering credit on their new album)
  • Bendigo Fletcher is in Southgate’s main room

Social Distortion and Bad Religion play the Cindy Brady on Sunday, May 12th, and Tommy Prine plays Southgate.

(My neighbors occasionally listen to live Wussy too!)

They Might Be Giants play a two-night “An Evening with…” stand at the Madison Theater on 5/14 and 5/15. The bill promises “2 very different shows. 8 piece band. 3 horns. 2 sets. 0 openers. Starts early. Gets loud.”

Another cool gig on Wednesday, May 15th is Parker Millsap and Robert Ellis doing the solo acoustic thing at Southgate.

There’s another bluegrass hootenanny at Camp Springs Tavern on Thursday, 5/16. Bring your own instrument.

Also on 5/16, Kraftwerk is playing the Ovation in Newport.

Friday, May 17th is a big night for shows:

  • The Violent Femmes will play their first two albums in a row during a show at the old Annie’s (I’ll be there. I already bought tickets… I got “two, two, two for my family” but now my son can’t go, so LMK if you want my extra, free of charge.)
  • The Secret Sisters play Southgate, with special guest Tyler Ramsey, formerly of Band of Horses
  • The jam band Houseplant plays Madison Theater
  • Ludlow Garage hosts “Live at the Fillmore – the definitive Allman Brothers tribute”
  • Saxon and Uriah Heep will rock Bogart’s… well, it’s more like Sagsome and Heap of Urologists now, but still, more power to ’em.

On Saturday, May 18th, the PNC Pavilion opens the shed season with… Brit Floyd… celebrating the 30th anniversary of a post-Roger/”meh” PF album (The Division Bell). (Sigh.) But at least on your way in, you can check out the progress on the destruction of the beloved Coney Island Pool. Maybe this guy can save it:

Webb Wilder closes out the weekend with a 70th Birthday Bash at Southgate House on Sunday, May 19th.

Love it live

Suzanne Vega put on a great show at Memorial Hall, and it was great to see quite a few list members there, including Janet W., who hooked me up with the presale code for Jayhawks tickets. Score!

Alvvays played a great set at Bogart’s. I went with list members “Deuce” and Matt V. List member Mighty Joe Sampson also was there with his 21-year-old daughter Maggie.

The GBV/Wussy show at Madison Theater was top-notch. Great to hear the full Wussy band. List members David and Amy Groff were there, but their daughter Maggie wasn’t… she’d better up her concert game!

John P. Strohm (Blake Babies, Lemonheads, Antenna, Velo-Deluxe) wrote a really nice Substack post about Guided By Voices. Check it out here.

The Far Side said it best

Then again, it beats the alternative. But old age does create some challenges:

Visual/caption above from this New Yorker piece called “How to dress for a concert in your thirties.”

Fast forward a generation and this happens:

Album Cover of the Week(s)

Ever the gracious hosts/hostess. Hold the lobster. But bring your dentures!