Congrats, you’ve nearly made it through “Dryuary!” Now it’s time for a portmanteau that’s even more cumbersome (but not in the Seven Mary Three way), and not really a portmanteau TBH. But when Febrockuary rolls around, you can put on your concert-going shoes (Doc Martens?) and get out to a gig or three.
On Thursday, the Woodward Theater has Donny Benet with Yusef Quotah. Check out Donny’s promo photo:
It’s giving off some serious “love child of Dom DeLuise and ‘Meathead’ from All in the Family” vibes.
Ludlow Garage hosts “Family Tradition: A Hank Williams Jr. Tribute” on Friday. (I hope they play the Monday Night Football Theme that Junior sang… complete with the Jazzercise background dancers.)
That same evening, CG5 plays the Woodward, and MOTR kicks off the preliminary rounds of the Bockfest Sausage Queen competition. (Eat your heart out, Abe Froman.)
The full Sausage Queen schedule, rules, and judging criteria are here.
Febrockuary kicks off Saturday with a full slate o’shows – although most of them are of the tribute band variety:
JD Shelburne plays the Liberty Theater, with Jordan Dermody as the opener
Madison Theater hosts “Tell Me Lies – The Fleetwood Mac Experience” while next door at Madison Live it’s Riddim Fest
The old Annie’s has “Grunge: The Sounds of Seattle”
Bogart’s hosts “Cash Unchained: The Ultimate Johnny Cash Experience”
At Memorial Hall, it’s “Genesis ReTouched” (a tribute to late 80’s to late 2000’s Genesis concerts… quite specific!)
On Sunday, check out the Positively Mainstrasse event at the Village Theater in Covington. It’s a Cincinnati Children’s “Giving Hope to Kids” fundraiser and features dozens of local artists doing Dylan covers. Who knows, maybe Timothée Chalamet will show up…
[Artwork for the poster above by list member Keith Neltner.]
Sunday is Groundhog Day too!
The Chris Comer Trio plays the “Jazz at the Memo” series on Monday, Feb. 3rd, and they’re doing something interesting:
Following last year’s debut at Memorial Hall, The CC3’s (Chris Comer Trio) return engagement will feature a unique inspired arrangement of the landmark ambient piece MUSIC FOR AIRPORTS by Brian Eno. The evening will conclude with an original collaboration by all three CC3 members called MUSIC FOR SPACESHIPS, juxtaposing the styles of the meditative Eno composition and the jazzy groovy “outer space music” of the Comer trio. This concert is in-part a tribute to Cincinnati musician and radio legend Ron Esposito, who has performed MUSIC FOR AIRPORTS and collaborated with The CC3 many times.
“Music for Spaceships”… far out, man! Almost as far out as this version:
Shows on Wednesday, Feb. 5:
Cheryl Renee plays the blues at Arnold’s
The Blue Wisp Big Band is at Caffe Vivace
The Columbia (see our previous post for more on this event space) has WEEN Wednesday, and the album will be The Pod
Highly Suspect plays the Mike Brady on Thursday, Feb. 6th.
IMHO, Mike Brady IS highly suspect. We never found out how his first wife died… mysterious circumstances, no doubt. And somehow we’re supposed to believe that a guy who mixes up architectural plans with a Yogi Bear poster can afford a luxury home and a live-in housekeeper? Is “Cousin Oliver” really Mike’s love child from an affair that his first wife found out about? And what’s the deal with the AstroTurf yard? Is Mike covering up (literally) a backyard grave? Tune in to my new true crime podcast “Here’s the Untold Story of a Man named Brady…” as we do a deep dive into the clues hidden in plain sight. (Tiger knows a lot more than he’s letting on.)
Plenty o’ shows on Saturday, Feb. 8th:
Hot Tuna plays the Ludlow Garage
H.R. (of Bad Brains) plays Southgate, with Knife the Symphony
Vanessa Collier headlines the Cincinnati Winter Blues Experience* at Manor House (*not to be confused with the Cincinnati Winter blues experience of having snow and ice on sidewalks for weeks on end…)
Electric Indigo, Eastwood, and Funky Ducks play a free show at MOTR
The Woodward Theater hosts “Dark Wave” (a covers show benefitting the Freestore Foodbank). Lots of local bands on the bill, including Wussy, Fairmount Girls, Tweens, Leggy, and Static Falls. The full lineup is here.
Last but certainly not least, when you think of “Hard Rock” your mind no doubt goes right to the titans of that genre: Black Sabbath, Metallica, and Air Supply.
One of those three bands will be at the Hard Rock Casino on 2/8.
On Wednesday, Feb. 12th, the Redmoor in Mt. Lookout hosts “Forever Simon & Garfunkel.” Have you ever seen the Photoshop version of S&G’s Bridge Over Troubled Water album cover with Paul Simon removed?
It makes Artie look like Donny Benet:
Mdou Moctar plays a special acoustic performance at the Woodward on Thursday, Feb. 13th.
Friday, February 14th is Valentine’s Day. I choo-choo-choose you to be my favorite blog post reader.
When love is in the air, our minds naturally turn to thoughts of noted romantic balladeer George Thorogood, with his equally lovestruck band the Delaware Destroyers. They’ll be at the Hard Rock Casino. (When typing this, I nearly transposed the “C” from Casino with the “R” in Rock, by accident. But it made me realize I could do that on purpose and score some promotional ad dollars from Enzyte.)
Where was I before I nearly got in trouble with Citizens for Community Values? Oh, yes, concerts… Other shows of note on Saint Valentine’s Day (I threw in the “Saint” to get ‘em off my case):
Josh Morningstar & his band play Southgate’s Revival Room
Liberty Theater has CFG & the Family with Heather Redman & the Reputation
Unlike the Hard Rock, Ludlow Garage knew the V.D. assignment – they have “Lovesongs: a tribute to The Cure”
Little Miami Brewing Co. hosts “Captured: The Ultimate Journey Tribute”
On Saturday, Feb. 15th, the Liberty Theater features the Mama Said String Band with Andrew Hibbard. The Downtowne Listening Room has EG Knight and Maria Carrelli. Also, Valentine’s Day is over.
Joe’s Truck Stop hits Rabbit Hash’s “Music Behind the Stove” series on Sunday, Feb. 16, and Todd Lipscomb plays Arnold’s on Tuesday, 2/18.
R.I.P. Garth Hudson, the mad professor
Now there’s no one left in The Band. Garth was the oldest member, and it seems fitting that he was the last to go, as he was the rock of that group in so many ways.
Amanda Petrusich also paid tribute in The New Yorker.
And now, my favorite Band song… with Garth just coolly crushing it on sax:
Sidebar: Now is probably not the time to get into the petty squabbles and financial dealings of The Band, but reading this in the AP obit made me super-sad, and even more of a Team Levon guy:
In recent years, Hudson struggled financially. He had sold his interest in the Band to Robertson and went bankrupt several times. He lost one home to foreclosure and saw many of his belongings put up for auction in 2013 when he fell behind on payments for storage. Hudson’s wife, the singer “Sister” Maud Hudson, died in 2022.
Joan soldiers on
I’ve always liked Joan Armatrading’s music, and think she deserves a bit more recognition.
I agree! Blurb above is from this interview in The Independent. Her most recent album is How Did This Happen and What Does It Now Mean.
Well, the title of my new album is How Did This Happen and What Does It Now Mean. I have no answers and I haven’t met anybody who has, but I hope we get rebooted to something a bit more balanced. I think we’ve become polarised because when you’re face to face with somebody, things such as body language and eye contact stop us doing certain things. That doesn’t happen on social media, then it spills into the real world. We’re not going to get rid of all wars and disagreements, but the album title is asking how on earth do we get out of this situation that we’re in and get back to a nicer place.
Hot Ticket Alert
More info and a ticket link on the Woodward website.
And this event — a lecture from author Michelle Zauner, who also fronts longtime 97Xbam faves Japanese Breakfast — sold out before I could tout it:
But I can at least mention that the newly refurbished/remodeled Mercantile Library is even more amazing than it was before, and the annual membership is totally worth it to get dibs on great literary events. (Poet Laureate Ada Limón will be there on 8/27.)
That’s Sooo Cincinnati ticket alert
Billy Joel and Rod Stewart are playing the Bengals stadium on Saturday, September 20th. I don’t know when tickets go on sale, but I DO know it’ll cost a gazillion dollars to see two dinosaurs.
Railbird lineup
It skews fairly “mainstream country”:
I’d rather spend $2.49 for this Jelly Roll action:
Music is Medicine
Singer-songwriter Laura Burhenn, who records as The Mynabirds (and does house tours via Undertow!), asked Janine Awan to design two complementary poster for her Bandcamp merch site.
A portion of the proceeds from both posters will go to support the World Central Kitchen’s important work in the US and abroad in areas torn by war and climate disaster.
Meet new singles in your area!
The winter new music freeze is finally thawing out. Check out new singles from The Tubs (loved their last album, they remind me so much of Richard Thompson), Lucy Dacus, Sharon Van Etten, and a posthumous release from The Chills/Martin Phillipps.
Album Covers of the Week(s)
Decca certainly didn’t “sell the sizzle” with the adjective they used to describe Earl. Was “versatile” the best that they could come up with? It feels like the album cover equivalent of a “he’s got a great personality” blind date.
There’s a LOT going on with this cover. Good luck coming up with a coherent narrative based on this imagery. The girls is writing in an album (who writes in an album?) while dreaming of a fur trader who doubles as a malt shoppe owner, and he in turn is dreaming of a photographer from 1872. Also a chef is going overboard with the pepper – so much so that the liquid splashing out of his saucepan is black. And there are two anthropomorphic ink blots who get feature credit…
Happy New Year, my friend! May your 2025 be rockin’!
I hope your resolutions are holding up well, too.
It’s not exactly a monster lineup of concerts, but let’s check the ol’ calendar to see what’s brewing the the live lab.
Tomorrow night, Memorial Hall has Queen Of The Queen City, The Musical Times of Mamie Smith. The band will be Ben Levin, Candice Ivory, Noah Wotherspoon, and Brandon Pettiford. And the Woodward Theater screens Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story.
On Wednesday, Hillary Hahn (the NKY singer-songwriter, not Hilary Hahn, the violinist) plays Arnold’s, and The Gilmour Project: Wish You Were Here is at Memorial Hall. The Gilmour Project is:
Pete Lavezzoli (drums with Black JGB, Oteil & Friends), and Hilary Hahn plays Arnold’s
Jeff Pevar (lead guitar with CSN, David Crosby/CPR, Joe Cocker, Ray Charles, Bette Midler, Phil Lesh & Friends, Ricki Lee Jones, Marc Cohn)
Berry Oakley (bass & vocals with Allman Betts Band, North Mississippi All-Stars, Blue Floyd & The Doors)
Mark Karan (guitar & vocals with Bob Weir, RatDog, The Other Ones, Dave Mason)
Scott Guberman (keyboard & vocals with Phil Lesh & Friends, Keystone Revisited)
The Gilmour Project isn’t: David Gilmour.
Thursday, The Daniel Wayne Band (more on them later) plays MOTR. And if you’re into pro wrasslin’, Lori’s Roadhouse in West Chester has something big… er, little, in store.
Shows this Friday:
Peter Mulvey plays Southgate
Ernie Johnson from Detroit is at the Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg, IN
Ludlow Garage has The Ultimate Doors
Ludlow Theater rolls out the red(s) carpet for the Bronson Arroyo Band
On Saturday:
Pelican and Knife the Symphony play the Woodward
Southgate House hosts Blind Mouse (a Radiohead tribute band)
Annie’s has the KISS tribute band Strutter
I wonder if, when Strutter hits the stage, they say “you wanted a reasonable facsimile of the best, you got a reasonable facsimile of the best”…
A week from tomorrow — on MLK Jr. Day, no less — it’s inauguration day for, as Jeff Tiedrich calls him:
Next Tuesday (1/21), local singer/songwriter/all-around-great-guy Todd Lipscomb plays Arnold’s.
Liberty Theater has a free Songwriters in the Round show next Thursday (1/23) featuring Harley Day and James Reed.
Shows on Friday, Jan. 24:
Webb Wilder and Bucket play Southgate
Mosant is at MOTR
Papadosio kicks off a two-night stand at the Madison Theater
Meshell Ndegeocello plays Ludlow Garage
Little Miami Brewing Co. hosts The Eagles Project
The Blue Note in Harrison has Captain Fantastic (Elton John tribute) with 52nd Street (yes, a Billy Joel tribute band)
On Saturday, Jan. 25:
Memorial Hall has “On a Winter’s Night” with singer/songwriters Cliff Eberhardt, John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky, and Patty Larkin
Magnolia Boulevard plays the Liberty Theater, with Pure Grain also on the bill
The Montvales play the Woodward, with The Harmed Brothers and Rae Fisher
Papadosio is papa-doing it again at Madison Theater
Adeem the Artist plays Southgate
JD Legends in Franklin, OH has Thunderstruck (America’s AC/DC)
The Aronoff hosts The Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular
Noah Wotherspoon plays the Rabbit Hash “Music Behind the Stove” series on Sunday, Jan. 26 (2 p.m. show start) and Tinfoil Hat Cowboys play two sets that evening at MOTR.
The Faux Frenchmen play Memorial Hall on Monday, Jan. 27. Here’s my favorite faux Frenchman:
Memorial Hall has “All You Need is Love: An All-Star Tribute to the Beatles” on Tuesday, Jan. 28.
Kasim Sulton – Vocals, Bass, Guitar (Meatloaf, Todd Rundgren’s Utopia, Blue Oyster Cult, Hall & Oates, Cheap Trick, Cyndi Lauper, Patty Smyth, Joan Jett)
Steve Kimock – Guitar, Bass (Zero, Oteil & Friends, Jazz Is Dead, The Other Ones, RatDog, Rhythm Devils, Phil Lesh & Friends, Kingfish, Heart of Gold Band)
Prairie Prince – Drums (The Tubes, Journey, Todd Rundgren, Blue Floyd, Jefferson Starship, Phil Lesh & Friends, XTC, George Harrison, Chris Isaak)
Bobby Lee Rodgers – Vocals, Guitar, Banjo, Sitar Simulation (Jazz is Dead, The Codetalkers with Col. Bruce Hampton, Vassar Clements, Warren Haynes, Widespread Panic, George Porter Jr.)
Mark Rashotte – Guitar (Jake Clemons, Creed, Photograph)
Andy Forgie – Vocals, Theatrics (Creed, Photograph)
Narrated by Michael Des Barres (The Mistakes, Power Station, Detective, Silverhead)
Not part of the band: Pete Best.
Go to church on WEENsdays
Here’s a pretty cool monthly event going on down on Eastern Avenue (where it’s still called “Eastern Avenue” not the hoity toity “Riverside Drive” section). My friend Eric’s wife Laura runs The Columbia, an old church that’s been converted into a performance space.
I’ve visited the venue, it has great acoustics, a cool vibe, and a vintage jukebox in the basement.
And it’s available for audio and video recording (Ruby Vileos, The Hiders, and Daniel Wayne Band all have test driven it), rehearsal space, private shows, social gatherings, and more.
I’m not the biggest Hozier fan in the world, but he and his band and backup singers did justice to one of the best Xmas songs ever.
Wurster has Slim musical knowledge
Jon Wurster (drummer for Mountain Goats and Bob Mould, formerly with Superchunk) is a great follow on Instagram. His #mynewworstfriend posts are consistently hilarious (see below for a prime example). But he also is a student of the the scene, and his tribute to the late great replacement Replacement Slim Dunlap was fantastic:
List member Joe Sampson and I will always fondly remember talking to Slim at the old Southgate House. The liquor store named Cabooze figured prominently in the conversation.
Jon Wurster also played on this tune (as did Wilco’s John Stirratt):
Winter weather is the Wurst
From the aforementioned Jon Wurster Instagram, where folks can submit weird and wacky photos/images to claim the daily title of his new worst friend.
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.
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!
Ya got concerts, folks! Right here in the River(front) City. Concerts with a capital “C” and that rhyme with “G” and that stands for “Gee, I should probably go to a show or three.”
Speaking of Shirley Partridge Marian the Librarian, The Mercantile Library hosts Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler of Over the Rhine on Tuesday as part of their “Words and Music” series. The event is sold out – good thing I got my tickets long ago.
Meanwhile at Ludlow Garage, Patty Griffin, Hayes Carll, and Lori McKenna are doing a sold-out “sharing the stage” gig. And Amythyst Kiah plays Southgate.
Here’s an interesting show on Wednesday:
That same evening, the Hackensaw Boys play Southgate (with Mike Oberst & Justine Cefalu opening). And Dawes plays the Taft. Remember when Dawes was called Simon Dawes and they played a gig at the old Alchemize bar in Northside back in 2006 with Chad VanGaalen and Band of Horses? I do, because I was there!
Speaking of cookies with jam, Camp Springs Tavern hosts their bi-weekly Bluegrass Jam on Thursday.
Johnny Delaware goes to Indiana on Friday, to play the Liberty Theater, with The Hiders also on the bill.
Saturday is a big day for shows:
Flatland Cavalry plays the Bobby Brady
The Paul Thorn Band is at Memorial Hall
Jess Williamson (who recently collaborated with Waxahatchee) plays Southgate
Madison Theater has Start Making Sense: A Tribute to Talking Heads
Everclear and Buckcherry are at the Lawrenceburg Event Center… we’re assuming it’s called “The Compound Words Tour”
Warrant and Lita Ford play the Hard Rock Casino (Aqua Net hairspray sold separately)
Last, but certainly not least on the Saturday roster, Ludlow Garage has the tribute show you never knew you needed… “Toast: The Ultimate Bread Experience.”
There must be a lot of folks in the Tristate who said “Baby, I’m-a Want You” to this, as there are not one but two shows (3pm and 8pm).
Personally, I’d rather go for Toast on a Stick.
Low Cut Connie plays the Liberty Theater next Sunday (11/17), with the band Sweat (good luck Googling “Sweat Band”) as the opener. List member Dave Tellmann and I will be at that show. That same evening, Will Hoge plays the Southgate.
Next Monday, 11/18, Woodward Theater screens the Ani DiFranco doc 1-800-On-Her-Own.
Wishbone Ash plays Ludlow Garage on Tuesday, Nov. 19th.
Wishbone Ash: pairs well with Toast!
Craig Finn of The Hold Steady plays the Woodward on Wednesday, November 20th, with Katy Kirby as the opener. List member “Rico” and I will be there. Remember when Craig Finn played that house concert in Cincinnati back in 2017? I do, because it was my house!
That same evening, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder play Memorial Hall.
Americana power couple Gillian Welch and David Rawlings play the Taft on Thursday, 11/21 and Wayne “The Train” Hancock plays Southgate.
Shows on Friday, 11/22:
The Wood Brothers at Taft
The Tubes at Ludlow Garage
Tiny Moving Parts at Southgate
TyeDye Band (featuring list member John Sandman) at Plain Folk Cafe in Pleasant Plain, OH.
Liberty Theater hosts a free Singer/Songwriter Night
On Saturday, 11/23:
The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band and Joe’s Truck Stop play Southgate
Ric Hordinski and Kim Taylor play the Woodward
Hyryder (Grateful Dead tribute) at Madison Theater
Mark Gibson and Danni Nicholls play a “Downtowne Listening Room” show at the Hellmann Creative Center in Covington, KY
Ludlow has Strangelove: The Depeche Mode Experience… with special guest Electric Duke (tribute to David Bowie)
On Sunday, 11/24, Ballyhoo! and Keep Flying are at the Liberty Theater, Ace Monroe is at Southgate, and Hard Rock Casino has Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening.
“I believe in the power of the individual — don’t get me wrong — but I’ve always just found that it distracts from the point. Why do we like a song? Is it because of who’s singing it to us? Or is it the song? And I just think it’s the song. For me, it is. For me, it’s about the song and what the music does. It can be very distracting when it becomes, ‘Oh, I love Bon Iver so much. I want more Bon Iver. I want to see Bon Iver. I want to get his autograph.’ I’m sensitive to it, and the attention can be overwhelming. I’m also uncomfortable with it because it distracts from the point that music delivered me to myself.”
We need some “Divine Intervention”
Matthew Sweet recently suffered a debilitating stroke in Canada. There’s a GoFundMe to help pay for his medical bills and ongoing therapy and care.
I couldn’t make the Cereal Killers show at Big Ash the weekend before Halloween, but I love their Ramones vibe:
No, I didn’t get tickets for the Jack White show at Bogart’s. But list members Dave Tellmann and Rico did.
I DID, however, catch all three Buffalo Tom shows during their “Please Come to Boston” festival, along with comedy from Eugene Mirman and Dave Hill, book readings from Tom Perrotta, Bill Janovitz, and Dave Hill, and a band Q&A hosted by comedian/actor Mike O’Malley.
Dave Hill is hilarious, btw.
And last night Wussy and the Chris Brokaw Band (feat. Chris Brokaw from Codeine and Come, and Clint Conley from Mission of Burma) were fantastic at the Woodward.
(That’s Brenda Sauter of The Feelies sitting in on bass.)
Todd, Regi, Tom, Jamie, Matt, Pam, Jay, Alyssa, Dave, Ken, Michelle, Dave, Kevin, Dr. David… it’d be easier to cite the list members who weren’t there – great to see such a strong turnout for our friends in Wussy.
Their new album was on sale at the show – the official release date is this Friday.
Album Covers of the Week(s)
These guys can’t count, but they look really slick.
They’ve gotten worse at counting. And/or they found out about their dad’s clandestine second family.
The 1/4 un-lonely is because his belt is off.
If my math is correct, this guy isn’t wearing pants. And/or T.G. Sheppard just walked in on him.
Do the Right Thing and support live music. Here are your options over the next couple of weeks:
This Wednesday, Richard Lloyd (of Television* fame) plays the Woodward Theater with a full band. Static Falls also is on the bill.
*Television the band, not the medium. But here’s Television on (Spanish) Television:
Also on Wednesday, Judy Collins plays Memorial Hall. Speaking o’ Spooky Season, ol’ “Sweet Judy Blue Eyes” is looking more like a Hocus Pocus witch these days:
Alice Peacock plays the Southgate House on Thursday. She’ll be in the Revival Room, with a lead pipe.
Wait, wrong Peacock!
Friday shows:
The Steep Canyon Rangers play Memorial Hall
Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle are at Southgate (maybe the ghost of Pete Rose will show up)
America plays the Taft (they won’t have a headless horseman, but they will have a horse with no name)
Ludlow Garage has Dead Letter Office, a tribute to R.E.M.
This Saturday, Cereal Killers play Big Ash Brewing!
(Continuing my string of ill-timed trips, and jeopardizing my status as a Cereal Killers superfan, I once again will be out of town for their gig. Our whole fam-damily is going to Bloomington, Indiana to see the perennial football powerhouse Hoosiers take on their longstanding Big 10 27 rival, the Washington Huskies.)
Other Saturday shows include the sold-out “BEAT” show at Taft
Former King Crimson members ADRIAN BELEW and TONY LEVIN band together with guitar virtuoso STEVE VAI and explosive Tool drummer DANNY CAREY for the first time to create BEAT, a creative reinterpretation of the three iconic 80s KING CRIMSON albums – Discipline, Beat, and Three Of A Perfect Pair.
ekoostic hookah plays the Liberty Theater
Blues Traveler brings their “30 years of Four” tour to… Turfway Park
Pappy’s Jam Band plays Neltner’s Farm Fall Fest (1:30-4:30)
Lotus Land (a tribute to Rush) plays Ludlow Garage
On Sunday, the Casey Campbell Project plays Neltner’s Farm, Pink Martini plays Memorial Hall, and Taft has Mania, the ABBA tribute.
Next Tuesday (10/29), the Buena Vista Social Orchestra is at Bogart’s.
Next Wednesday:
KMFDM and the Morlocks play the Ovation
The Woodward hosts two showings (7:30 and 10:30) of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with a shadow cast
Daphne Eckman plays Southgate’s Revival Room
Disco Biscuits (hold the Yung Gravy) play the Madison Theater
Next Thursday is Halloween.
That’s “hallow”-een not “hollow”-een… Hollow is for Easter.
“Rollvember” kicks off a week from Friday. There are several shows slated for Friday, 11/1:
Los Honchos play Southgate
Anthony Ray Wright and Andrew Hibbard are at Liberty Theater
Stacy Mitchhart plays an album release gig at Ludlow Garage
The Jacksons (R.I.P. Tito) play the Hard Rock Casino
I’ll be up in Boston that weekend for the Please Come to Boston festival. My favoritest band Buffalo Tom will be doing three concerts in three days (including an old-person-friendly “matinee” show on Sunday). They’re playing a different album from their 90s oeuvre each show, and the festival also features comedy sets from Eugene Mirman and Dave Hill, and something called “Punk Rock Aerobics”… I’m sure it’s quite the workout!
On Saturday, Nov. 2nd,
Gipsy Kings play the Hard Rock
The Peter Brady hosts “Life is a Carnival – The Last Waltz Tour ’24” with Ryan Bingham, Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, Jamey Johnson and more.
Trippin’ Billies (Dave Matthews Band tribute) are at Ludlow Garage.
Here’s some Trippin’ Beverly Hillbillies:
The Drive-by Truckers play a Southern Rock Opera Revisited show at Bogart’s on Sunday, 11/3. Shut your mouth and get your ass on that plane into that show!
On Thursday, Nov. 7th, “Turn to Stone: A Tribute to ELO” will be at Memorial Hall, and Yngwie Malmsteen plays the Madison Theater.
On Friday, 11/8:
Goose opens up a three-night stand at the Carol Brady
Billie Eilish plays the Coliseum
Noah Wotherspoon plays the Liberty Theater with Noah Pavey
Saturday, 11/9 gigs:
Wussy plays a full-band show at the Woodward, with the Chris Brokaw Band as the opener.
Jimmy Webb (“America’s Songwriter”) is at Memorial Hall
Samantha Fish plays Ludlow Garage, with Mitch Ryder performing as part of Samantha’s band, and Canned Heat as the opener
Moonshine Drive plays Arnold’s
City & Colour are at Bogart’s with Pedro the Lion on Monday, 11/11.
We live for live
It’s been quite a fortnight for your music-addicted editor. Charly Bliss at the Exit/In in Nashville was great…
The opener, Pronoun, was cool too. And Marc from the one-hit-wonder band Len came up on stage for the encore to do “Steal My Sunshine” with Charly Bliss.
A week ago, list member Ken “Lobby Boy” Laube (check out his show on Inhailer Radio, Fridays 11a-3p) and I went to Columbus to see Superchunk. They rocked!
(Bassist Jason Narducy’s set list – he gave it to a kid in the front row… classy!)
For the final song of the encore, noted Breeder Kelley Deal and Mike Montgomery of R. Ring came on stage to do their song “Cartoon Heart/Build Me a Question.” (R. Ring drummer Laura King is touring with Superchunk right now.)
The opening band, Quivers, was stellar too.
While Ken was waiting in line to get Mac from Superchunk to sign his poster (yes, Mac was at the merch booth – dude’s top-notch in my book), I chatted with the members of Quivers – Mike, Holly, Bella and Sam. They were super-nice to this old man, and funny as heck. Check out their recent live in-studio set at KEXP and you’ll be hooked by their hooks:
List members Dave Tellmann, Todd Butler, Carl “The Truth” Williams and I caught the Eddie 9V/Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears double bill at the Woodward on Wednesday.
And those shows were just the warm-up for another Chuck Cleaver/Lisa Walker Wussy Duo house show at my place this past weekend.
List members Todd, Regi, Tom, and Jamie were in the house, and they can attest that it was amazing.
I didn’t make the Mountain Goats show at Taft, but their stage setup was interesting:
Malin on the mend
Here’s a nice CBS Saturday Morning sessions interview with Jesse Malin.
Shameless Self-promotion
Dave Tellmann and I got the “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast out of mothballs to chat with Randy Malloy, who went from unpaid college intern to owner of WWCD-FM in Columbus (nee “CD101″… and later “CD102.5″… and finally “CD92.9” before signing off under duress earlier this year).
Here on earth, I’m a bit disappointed that a band named “Rebels” chose conformity in their outfits.
On the other hand (the one with five fingers), at least Rebels don’t struggle with basic math. Or perhaps the dudes are the Gospel Four and the woman is there because her hair is heavenly.
Howdy, we’re short on time and long on concerts, so let’s get into it!
Tonight, Woodward Theater’s Cinema Series will be screening a movie about Brian Eno. It’s called… wait for it… Eno.
Meanwhile, I’ll be in Nashville for the Charly Bliss show at Exit/In. CB is about the poppiest my musical tastes get, but boy oh boy do they put on a great show! (Hence the long car ride.)
Tomorrow evening, Martin Sexton does an Abbey Road show at Memorial Hall.
Thursday:
Chromeo & the Midnight will be at the Ovation in Newport
Michigander plays Top Cats
Tinfoil Hat Cowboys play the Southgate Lounge (free!)
This Friday and Saturday, Bellevue Park Pavilion in Clifton Heights is hosting Rocktoberfest with several local bands playing three stages.
Other Freaky Fun Friday shows:
John Hiatt plays Memorial Hall
Keller Williams (yes, sounds like a real estate company) and the Motet are at the old Annie’s
Parker Millsap and Nat Myers play Southgate’s Sanctuary
Mike Viola will be upstairs in the Southgate Revival Room
The Yugos headline the Indie Friday free show at Fountain Square
Yung Gravy is at Bogart’s
We kinda wish Yung Gravy would tour with Disco Biscuits and play Cracker Barrels from coast to coast.
On Saturday
Tropicoso plays the Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg, Indiana
Madison Theater has Pink Talking Fish (a fusion of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish).
On Sunday, The Mountain Goats Trio (John Darnielle, Matt Douglas and Jon Wurster) plays the Taft, with Tift Merritt as the opener. And Justine Cefalu & Mike Oberst play Neltner’s Farm.
Monday, ISWHAT?! plays the Woodward, while list member Ken “Lobby Boy” Laube and I will be road trippin’ to Columbus to see Superchunk at Scully’s. (Catch Ken Fridays 11a-3p on Inhailer radio.) Merge labelmates Quivers open the ‘chunk show. Great double bill!
Next Wednesday, 10/16:
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes play Bogart’s
Tommy Castro & the Painkillers plays Southgate
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears play the Woodward, with Eddie 9V as the opener. List member Dave Tellmann and I will be at that gig. (Dave and I have a bonus edition of the old “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast — the one three people listened to — coming soon!)
Shows next Thursday (10/17):
Bluegrass Jam at Camp Springs Tavern
Mickey Dolenz, the last Monkee, does a “songs and stories” gig at Ludlow Garage
Two indie bands from Chicago, Finom and Moontype, play the Woodward. Jeff Tweedy produced Finom’s latest album at the Wilco Loft.
Madison Theater hosts Puddles Pity Party on Friday, 10/18.
Wussy is playing at my house, again!
On Saturday, October 19th, Chuck Cleaver and Lisa Walker of Wussy will be playing their favorite east side venue, Casa de Damian (my house). The show is sold out, but I DO have my full allotment of five freebies – HMU if you’d like to attend.
Earlier that day, Chelsea Ford & the Trouble play Neltner’s Farm, and that same evening, just down the hill from my house, the California Honeydrops play the old Annie’s. I heard a good report about their live show in Lexington recently.
Wussy has a new album coming out!
We are excited to finally announce our first new record in six years! It’s called Cincinnati Ohio, and features ten tracks that we hope you’ll enjoy. (We were gonna call it The Great Divide, but in the end couldn’t bear to alter this amazing Langford / Calderas cover art).
It features all the regular Wussy folks – me (Lisa), Chuck, Mark, Joe – plus John E. on two songs, and newest member Travis on four songs. Producer and honorary member John Hoffman helmed and steadied the ship (and added some extra flourishes, too). Speaking of honorary members, John Curley recorded some of the basic tracks, and it was nice to have him back on board for those early days, as it was kind of an emotional rollercoaster to start recording again. He helped us navigate those first difficult sessions with a lot of grace and patience. There were many moments where we were all thinking – “is this even gonna work without John E”? We hope this album honors his legacy, as we move forward the best way we know how.
Album artwork is a painting by Jon Langford, based on photo by Jon Calderas. First track:
Gonna keep this post short and sweet… or at least shorter on the jazz hands and snark. While it’s a labor of love, there’s still labor involved, and I’m heading to Denver later today to see Alvvays and The Beths. Let’s get to it!
Cereal Killers play Big Ash Brewing tonight!
I’m bummed I can’t make it – but you should go (7:30-11pm) to catch all those 97X and 97X-adjacent favorites, performed by a stellar group of upstanding individuals. Oh, and Howard Cohen is in the band too!
Other shows this evening:
Pat Travers plays the Ludlow Garage
Speaking of “out go the lights” the Cincinnati Nature Center hosts Music Under the Moon with the bluegrass band Moonshine Drive playing
Saving Escape has an album release party at MOTR, with Sylmar
Gable Price & Friends and Coastal Club play the Woodward Theater
Foreigner (basically Mick Jones and some hired hands), Styx (sans Dennis DeYoung), and John Waite play Riverbend
“Forever Diamond” (a Neil Diamond tribute) plays a freebie at Blue Ash Towne Square – that seems fitting for a not-so-hot August night.
Saturday shows:
The Avett Brothers play Ovation, with Sammy Rae & Friends opening
Marc Cohn will be walking playing six feet off of Beale under Ludlow at the Garage
Ray’s Music Exchange is back for a reunion show at the Woodward
The War & Treaty play a free show at the Levitt Pavilion in Dayton
FireHouse and Nelson (yes, that Nelson) play the “Big F’N Tour” at the old Annie’s
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard play the Ovation in Newport
Blackberry Smoke and 49 Winchester play the old Annie’s
Glass Animals* are at Riverbend (*not to be confused with Glasses Animals)
(Hed) P.E. is at Madison Live
Mac Sabbath (yes, folks dressed like McDonald’s mascots playing Sabbath tunes… nothing weird about that) is at the Woodward Theater
On Tuesday, Built to Spill plays Bogart’s, celebrating the 30th anniversary of There’s Nothing Wrong with Love. I’ll be at that gig with list members Deuce and Matt (no relation to Gunnar and Matthew of Nelson fame).
Also on Tuesday:
The Gaslight Anthem, Joyce Manor, and Pinkshift play the Carol Brady
Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony, and Jason Bonham rock Riverbend with Van Hagar tunes. Loverboy is the opener. Mike Reno is still sporting the bandana, but he’s also sporting some extra heft.
The Lauryn Hill & The Fugees show slated for Wednesday at Riverbend has been cancelled.
Thursday features a lot of free (or free-adjacent) shows:
Bedel & Hibbard play the Roots Revival free show at Washington Park
Texas Flood (a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan) and Bedford play the RiversEDGE freebie
You can see The Eagles Project at Lawrenceburg Civic Park
Thomas Rhett plays a concert after the Reds game at GABP
GBV’s Heedfest 12 also kicks off on 8/29 in Dayton, Ohio. Love the promo:
Shows next Friday (8/30):
Cage the Elephant plays Riverbend, with Young the Giant and Bakar
O.A.R. is at Ovation, with Ripe, and DJ Logic
King Buffalo headlines the Fountain Square free show
On Saturday, August 31st, Domecrusher, a band featuring list member Todd Quincy, plays 513 Hamilton. Here’s Todd’s description of the band:
Other 8/31 shows:
Southgate House hosts MidWest Friends Fest (“21 awesome local, regional, and touring indie, punk, emo, rock, alternative, and power pop bands. 3 super rad stages. 1 awesome venue”)
Wailing Souls play for free at Levitt Pavilion on Dayton
Catalina Wine Mixer and The Eagles Project play Ovation
The Prince Project is at the old Annie’s
Sungaze has an album release party at the Woodward, with Fern Murphy and Ascension Day also on the bill
Aja (Steely Dan tribute) plays the Fountain Square freebie
JBO and Mark Messerly play The Overlook Lodge in P-Ridge
Tesla is at the Greg Brady
Simple twist of fate fun fact: Greg Brady drove the original Tesla:
On Sunday, September 1st, the corporate-sponsored fireworks display from the corporate radio station will probably feature some Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin on the soundtrack. Just like every other year. That damn frog is soooo tired.
After that, it’s all quite on the concert front until after Labor Day. I’ll holler at you before then.
Speaking of evil corporate radio overlords though:
I just threw up a bit in my mouth. How about a palate cleaner?
Wussy house concert tickets on sale Wednesday at 11 am
Show is Saturday 10/19. If you don’t know the venue, you haven’t been paying attention. (And house concerts are sooo hot right now, per the WaPo.)
I talked to Chuck and Lisa yesterday – such sweet human beings who also happen to be amazing songwriters/musicians. They should have some new tunes to sell at the show.
A heartfelt message from list member “Rico”
I lost my brother to cancer five years ago, and before he passed, I promised him that I would do anything that I could to help fight the terrible disease that took him from us too early. One of the initiatives that our family has taken up is to help fundraise for the National Collegiate Cancer Foundation, which provides scholarships to young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer.
Our primary fundraiser is a memorial golf outing, which will be held this year at California Golf Course on October 5, 2024. In the first three years of our outing, we have raised funds to award 60 of these scholarships, and we hope to add on a bunch more this year with the help of friends like you. Whether that is getting a team together to play in the scramble, providing sponsorship, or donating items for auction, any and all support is welcome and appreciated.
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:
First and foremost, Happy Wet Day to all who celebrate!
(If you know, you know. And if you don’t, you need to listen to Comedy Bang Bang.)
April is spraying us with a steady stream of solid gold shows. But not these kind:
Let’s get to the calendar!
Tomorrow night, it’s our pick for the best under-the-radar show of the month: John Moreland at Ludlow Garage. His new album Visitor is great… dude’s an amazing songwriter.
I’d attend but I’ll be busy losing money at Keeneland while getting soaked to the bone by thunderstorms. (Not exactly an idyllic vacation day, but it still beats working.)
Also tomorrow night, Brothers Osborne play the Mike Brady.
On Friday:
Owl City plays Bogart’s
Todd Lipscomb does the MOTR happy hour (5-7 p.m.)
Ludlow Garage hosts “Jump: America’s Van Halen Experience”
Aronoff has “Piano Men: The Music of Billy Joel & Elton John”
Speaking of Van Halen, if you’ve never played with this handy toy, you need to right now. (“I’ll wait…”)
And speaking of Piano Men, this performance is brilliant on so many levels:
Saturday evening is “Pick Your Time Machine” night:
Ovation has “Wish You Were Here – The Sights and Sounds of Pink Floyd”
Ludlow Garage hosts “Strangelove: The Depeche Mode Experience.”
Sunday? More time machine action… this time it’s “The Kings of Queen” at Memorial Hall.
Is it just me, or do the non-lead-singer members of the “Kings of Queen” band need to put a bit more effort into their promo photo attire?
It’s like Freddie Mercury stopped by a pawn shop and took a quick photo with the staff.
Things pick up a bit on Monday, when Suzanne Vega plays “Old Songs, New Songs and Other Songs” at Memorial Hall. I have a single ticket to that show, in the very last row of the balcony… I call it my Solitude Standing tribute.
Tuesday gigs:
Scott H. Biram plays Southgate with Dead Man String Band opening
Todd Lipscomb is at Arnold’s
Queensryche rocks Bogart’s
The Bygones play the Woodward Theater next Wednesday, April 17th.
Next Thursday (4/18):
Southgate has Wonder Women of Country featuring Kelly Willis, Melissa Caper and Brennen Leight
Memorial Hall hosts Live Dead & Brothers, a tribute to Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers (show description: Les Dudek from The Allman Brothers, original Grateful Dead pianist Tom Constanten, Berry Duane Oakley from The Allman Betts Band, Mark Karan from Bob Weir & Rat Dog, Scott Guberman from Phil Lesh & Friends, and Pete Lavezzoli from Oteil & Friends… skillfully recreate the magic of the Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers Band’s co-billed concerts during the period of 1969 to1973. Their performances capture the raw energy, improvisational prowess, and soul-stirring melodies that defined an era of musical innovation.)
Busta Rhymes hits the Jan Brady
“Bust a banjo” might happen at the bi-weekly Bluegrass Jam at Camp Springs Tavern
Next Friday (4/19), it’s the show I always dreamed of — the band Alvvays — at the less-than-dreamy venue of Bogart’s. I love the former so much that I’m willing to put up with the latter.
Other shows on Friday 4/19:
Carbon Leaf at Ludlow Garage
Ricky Nye Inc. plays the Southgate Lounge
Joe Satriani and Steve Vai shred at the Greg Brady
The old Annie’s hosts An Evening with the Sam Grisman Project
Big Something plays Madison Theater
Next Saturday is 4/20, dude.
Shows that evening include:
Los Honchos in the Southgate Lounge
Todd Lipscomb at Camp Springs Tavern
Spyro Gyra at Ludlow Garage
Christine Havrilla & Mama’s Black Sheep play the Downtowne Listening Room
Aronoff hosts Rain: a Tribute to the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour
The Skatalites play Ludlow Garage on Sunday, April 21st and The Ruen Brothers are at Southgate House.
On Monday, April 22nd, The Toasters celebrate 43 Years of Ska at Southgate. Speaking of toasters, it’s also Earth Day, and our planet might be toast unless we switch to clean energy.
Matthew Sweet plays Ludlow Garage on Tuesday, April 23rd.
Wednesday, April 24th is a busy concert evening:
Todd Rundgren is at the Carol Brady
The Robert Cray Band plays Memorial Hall
The Young Dubliners roll into Ludlow Garage
Friday, April 26th is a big day for all things Ohio:
Rob Harvilla, music writer for The Ringer (as well as Medina native, proud Ohio U. grad, and Columbus resident) comes to Knox Joseph Distilling in OTR (courtesy of the Mercantile Library) to discuss his book 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s with list member Jay Stowe. The book is a companion piece to Rob’s hilarious podcast of the same name. (Listen to the first 10 minutes of this episode for proof.) I’ll be there (starts at 6 p.m.), but I have to cut out early to make it to:
Dayton’s own Guided By Voices and Cincinnati’s own Wussy (full band) at the Madison Theater
Other shows that evening include Flock of Seagulls at Ludlow, and Todd Lipscomb with Michael Moeller at Wunderbar in Covington.
Ludlow Garage has Catalina Wine Mixer on Saturday, 4/27. And Howie Day plays there on Sunday, 4/28.
Damning with faint (yet accurate) praise
List member Michael “Rico” Carrico and his lovely bride Ashley recently attended the Josh Ritter show at Memorial Hall, and he said it was “thanks to being alerted by a reputable newsletter published by a questionable character.” Hey, I resemble that remark!
Making Hay while the sun shines
On Opening Day, I loaded up on free food and beer at my company’s lunch celebration during the parade, went to the Reds game courtesy of list member Dave “Deuce” Richmond, and then my lovely bride and I saw Colin Hay at Taft thanks to free tickets from list members Dave and Jacqui Killen. It was, as Jacqui called it, my own Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Someone who obviously didn’t scheme as well as Ferris was this person:
If it was a bro-country show, they definitely should’ve been fired.
Math is funky
Here’s your annual reminder to stay on the one, courtesy of Bootsy and list member Todd Butler:
Last things first if you’re into Devo (and if you’re not, why read this blog?): there’s a free The Beginning Was The End book event tonight at the OTR Stillhouse, courtesy of our friends at the Mercantile Library.
Details and the free registration link are here. I’ll see you there – I’ll be the guy wearing the Energy Dome.
Let’s take a gander at the music shows coming our way.
Tomorrow night, catch Mom Jeans at Bogart’s
Thursday:
Colin Hay is coming all the way from the Land Down Under to the Taft Theatre
Brandy Clark and Hayes Carll play the Ludlow Garage
Less Than Jake (no relation to Better than Ezra) plays Bogart’s
Too Many Zooz (more like too many z’s) plays Madison Theater
Bumpin’ Uglies and Bikini Trill play Madison Live
Friday it’s time for a Come to Jesus session. Jesus Jones, that is, at Ludlow Garage.
On Saturday, Alex Salcido of The Harmed Brothers plays Camp Springs Tavern, and the Madison Theater hosts the jam band Spafford. (No relation to Susan Stafford, the original letter-turner on “Wheel of Fortune.”)
Blues dude Noah Wotherspoon plays the Rabbit Hash General Store’s “Sunday Music Behind the Stove” series on 3/21 – music starts at 2:30.
Breaking news: this coming Monday, we’re shutting down our music blog.
Beach Fossils are at Bogart’s next Tuesday, 4/2 with Nation of Language.
TC Superstar plays a free show at MOTR next Wednesday, 4/3.
I really hope their band name is a tribute to T.C. the true superstar of “Magnum, P.I.” (apologies to Larry Manetti).
Shows next Thursday, April 4th:
Raul Malo of The Mavericks brings his amazing voice to Ludlow Garage
Chicago Farmer & the Fieldnotes play Southgate with Joe’s Truck Stop
Camp Springs Tavern hosts their bi-weekly Bluegrass Jam
On Friday, April 5th:
William Fitzsimmons plays Southgate
The Rabbit Hash String Band will be at Plain Folk Café in Pleasant Plain, OH
Badfish (a tribute to Sublime… or to gas station sushi) plays the Madison Theater
Ludlow Garage hosts Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam on Saturday, 4/6.
The Tillers play the Rabbit Hash Music Behind the Stove series on Sunday, 4/7.
Supremely talented singer/songwriter John Moreland plays Ludlow Garage on Thursday, April 11th.
That same evening, Brothers Osborne play the Mike Brady.
Hot Ticket Alert!
The Violent Femmes are playing the old Annie’s on Friday, May 17th. Not only that, but they’re playing their first two albums cover to cover!
And come November 3rd, Drive-by Truckers will be bring their Southern Rock Opera Revisited Tour to Bogart’s. Let there be rock!
Tickets for that gig go on sale to the general public on this Friday.
Podcast Promo/Hot FREE Ticket Alert!
If you’re old enough to remember the 1990s, and if you’re even slightly into music, and you appreciate great writing, you really owe it to yourself to check out the 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s podcast.
Rob Harvilla, a senior staff writer for The Ringer, spends each episode breaking down a single song from the ’90s. Actually, he spends about half of each episode on a series of digressions, often about his time growing up in northern Ohio in the 90s, before finally getting to the featured song. And the digressions are great – brilliantly written, completely engaging, and typically hilarious… and the humor is usually self-deprecating.
Rob’s written a book to accompany the podcast, and he’ll be talking about both at the OTR Stillhouse on Friday, April 26th. Better yet, list member Jay Stowe will be conducting the interview!
It’s yet another freebie from our friends at the Mercantile Library. Sign up here. (Unfortunately that event is the same night as the Guided by Voices/Wussy show at Madison Theater, so I’ll have to cut out early to get across the river in time for Wussy’s set.)
Speaking of Wussy…
They’ll be playing a trio house concert (Chuck, Lisa, Mark) at Casa de Dubbatrubba on Friday, May 10th. If you’re keeping score at home, this’ll be their third home show at my home. Much to my utter delight… and my wife’s ever-increasing odds for sainthood.
Cleveland’s own Dave Hill is right up there with Rob Harvilla on the writers-who-are-hilarious-and-musically-inclined scale. (Check out his books Parking the Moose, Tasteful Nudes and Dave Hill Doesn’t Live Here Anymore for proof.) Dave’s also a musician, and his band Valley Heat has a rockin’ new single out.
Here’s to Music Moms
I’m not a fan of The Facebooks, but I loved this post from Buffalo Tom bassist Chris Colbourn (and the comment from his bandmate Bill Janovitz):
(Hat tip to list member Lisa Collins for bringing it to my attention.)
Here’s to the faithful departed
R.I.P. Karl Wallinger (The Waterboys, World Party) and Eric Carmen (The Raspberries, cheesy movie soundtracks).
Video above courtesy of list member Todd Butler.
Album Cover of the Week(s)
Nothing says “raising hell” like a crewcut, a sports coat, and a piano singalong.
