Month: July 2019

This week in live Music: July 29-August 4

Concert Listings, Music

I’m listing the concerts out of order this week.

Al Pacino, in a restrained performance.

Because the most important gig is on Thursday: Eric Bachmann is playing a house concert at my home.

26 tickets left? Geez, that’s sad. Clearly, I’ve done a piss-poor job of marketing this gig. Did I mention I saw Eric at a house concert in Northside a few years back and it was amazing? It doesn’t really matter if you’re that familiar with his work, you’ll still enjoy the heck out of it… and it’s an early show too, he’ll be on at 8 and done by 9:30. But wait, there’s more… I’m offering my Double D Guarantee: if you aren’t completely satisfied with the show, I’ll refund your $ out of my own pocket. (I make $0 off this show, it’s booked by Undertow and they manage the cash.) Here’s a Spotify playlist of EB tunes, from Archers of Loaf to Crooked Fingers to his solo work. Tell your friends, Romans and countrymen about this show. Because right now, I’m the new Artie Fufkin.

OK, enough pitiful pimpin’. Back to the other shows this week. On Tuesday, Sarah McLachlan will be at Rose Music Center with a full orchestra.

Wednesday, Hibou is at MOTR with Dark Colour and Culture Queer, Jon Bellion is at PNC Pavilion and The Mowgli’s are playing Taft Ballroom. (Don’t ask me why they have an apostrophe in their name… maybe it’s a tribute to Frank Zappa.)

Thursday, you really, really, really should be at my shack for the Eric Bachmann house concert. But I’m contractually obligated to mention that the Legendary Shack Shakers are at Southgate, with JD Pinkus (Butthole Surfers).

Friday is a big evening for live music. Many list members will be at the Beck/Cage the Elephant/Spoon/Wild Belle show at Riverbend. And for good reason – that’s a killer lineup. (Of course, with Riverbend’s ironclad 11 p.m. curfew, you’ll get short sets… even though the show starts at 6.) However, there are several other gigs that evening:

  • Cloud Nothings are headlining the free show at Fountain Square
  • Steel Drivers and the Steep Canyon Rangers are playing Riverfront Live (old Annie’s)
  • Joan Osborne is singing the songs of Bob Dylan (Perhaps you’ve heard of him? Some folks call him the poor man’s Eric Bachmann) at Memorial Hall
  • The Sunburners and the Cliftones are playing a free gig at Sawyer Point (6-10 pm)
  • John Cusack was supposed to be at Taft for a screening of Say Anything and a Q&A… but it’s not listed on the Taft Theatre site anymore. Maybe his boombox batteries died.
  • The Harlequins are playing MOTR
  • Last but certainly not least, legendary local band Cereal Killers will be playing the Holy Cross/Immaculata church festival in Mt. Adams starting at 7 p.m. I’ll be at that gig. Admission is free, but you know you won’t be able to resist playing some Bars & Bells, so pack your wallet accordingly.

On Saturday, UB40 is at Riverfront Live and the Ben Levin Trio is at the Overlook Kitchen + Bar at the Summit Hotel. You also have your choice of two spoofy names, but just one spoof band: Mac Sabbath is playing Woodward Theater and Def Leggend (‘the world’s greatest tribute to Def Leppard’) is at Bogart’s. The Cincy Summer Beerfest at Smale Park will feature some live tunes, too.

Sunday, the Camp Springs Tavern hosts an open bluegrass jam (as they do every first Sunday of the month) at 3:30. Blacktop Mojo is at Madison Live, and Kool Keith is rockin’ the Northside Tavern.

That’ll do it for gigs this week. Hope to see you Thursday. And Friday.

Hot Ticket Alert:

Patty Griffin and Scott Miller at 20th Century Theater on Sept. 25.

Episode 17: Dan reed tells more tales

97X, podcast

In the second part of our chat with Dan Reed (a.k.a. “Danny Crash”), he tells more hilarious stories from the early 97X years, including tales about his band Chem-Dyne, his friends Mr. K and Greg Dulli, working at Bogart’s, and learning life lessons (sometimes the hard way) from 97X owners Doug and Linda.

Dan talks about his Hamilton friend/fellow bandmate/fellow DJ Ken “Mr K” Glidewell, who died in 2008 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. Dave and I both got to know Mr. K from working with him, and he truly was one of a kind.

Here’s a video of Big In Iowa, a local band featuring Mr. K and Bob Burns, who later gained fame via his always-entertaining “Blogger Bog” Instagram account for the TSA. Sadly, Bob also passed away suddenly last October.

Dan Reed also co-hosted a podcast called the Dan & Dan Music Podcast, you can check out the episodes here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dan-and-dan-music-podcast/id976960749

That Dan, he’s a nutty, kooky kinda cat, and we love him.

Hamilton meets Akron
“Call me” – with Blondie’s Chris Stein

This week in live music: July 22-28

97X, Concert Listings, Music, podcast

Howdee!

Before MP3s, there was the original MP

Let’s get right to the tunes, because we also have a lot of non-concert ground to cover.

Monday, Amigo the Devil is at Southgate, with Cory Branan. And for all the phloppy Phish dancers, the Trey Anastasio movie Between Me and My Mind is showing at Bogart’s, and there’s a two-for-one deal on tickets. Please note that the showing is BYOFDGCSPFASHITPL… bring your own five-dollar grilled cheese sandwich purchased from a smelly hippy in the parking lot.

Tuesday, Los Lobos and The Mavericks are playing Rose Music Center. (Oh sure, Rose and PNC’s lineups are 99% identical but this is the one of the few shows that isn’t playing both venues… so unfair!) Emily Wolfe is playing Southgate, Matisyahu and Tribal Seeds are at Bogart’s, and Stanley’s hosts an all-star tribute to Dylan & the Dead (more grilled cheese for my tie-dyed friends!). Speaking of the dead, the man who has looked like a corpse since the 70s (and is now IN his 70s) will be playing Riverbend:

No more Mr. Vincent Furnier.

Halestorm is the opener.

Train rolls into Riverbend on Wednesday (see what we did there), with the Goo Goo Dolls and Allen Stone also on the bill. True story: Goo Goo Dolls nearly came to blows with the sound man at 97X’s “Day in Eden” concert in Eden Park back in 1993 (Superstar Car Wash era), but list member Mighty Joe Sampson intervened (all 140 pounds of him) and cooler heads prevailed. So basically, if not for Joe, Goo Goo Dolls would have wound up behind Si Leis’ iron bars instead of enjoying multi-platinum success. Also on Hump Day, Drivin N Cryin is at Southgate.

On the day of Thor, Conor Oberst is at Taft, Ben Levin Trio is playing The Phelps rooftop (close to where those stately trees used to be in Lytle Park), and the Cincinnati Music Fest (nee Kool Jazz Fest and Macy’s Fest) kicks off at Paul Brown Stadium with hip-hop night, featuring Slick Rick.

Friday is a feast for your ears:

  • Holly Spears plays Camp Springs Tavern (more on this venue later)
  • Angela Perley plays a freebie at Levitt Pavilion in Dayton
  • IDKHow is in Taft’s Ballroom (here’s a fun video from them)
  • Aztec Sun and Krystal Peterson & the Queen City Band are at MOTR
  • Fretboard Brewing hosts a Whispering Beard Preview with Chelsea Nolan (8 pm), Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle (9:10 pm) and The Winetree (10:20 pm).
  • Urban Artifact hosts an NPR Tiny Desk Concert preview night
  • The Cincinnati Music Fest continues at PBS with Maxwell and Earth, Wind and Fire
  • Terrapin Moon plays Stanley’s
  • The Sonny Moorman Group and Chuck Brisbin & the Tuna Project play a free show at Sawyer Point (6-10 pm)
  • Uncle Kracker is at the old Annie’s
  • Lizzo plays the Coliseum
  • Zedd plays a post-game concert at GABP
  • The Righteous Brothers & the Temptations are at PNC
  • Last, but certainly not least, Air Supply will be playing Rose Music Center

On Saturday, Heart plays Riverbend with Elle King, Sylmar has their EP release show at Woodward Theater, with This Pine Box also on the bill (with an asterisk), and Pop Empire has an album release show at Northside Tavern. At PBS, Ohio Players are on the bill.

You’ve gotta see the poppin’ and lockin’… it’s killer!

If you’re hankering for some fun instead of funk, Stanley’s hosts a standup comedy showcase from 6-8.

Sunday, Southgate is hosting the Cosmic Honky Tonk Review featuring Jim Lauderdale, Jason Ringenberg (from Jason & The Scorchers) and Chuck Mead (BR549). And the week winds down the same way it started, with a jam band: moe. is playing PNC Pavilion, with Blues Traveler and G. Love.

OK, now let’s move on to the TWILM mailbag. Dan “The Reds are wild card contenders!” Lewis would like everyone to know that the Avett Brothers are playing after the Reds afternoon game on Saturday, September 7th. List member Andy Block surely will be in attendance, as he is an Avett groupie and saw all three nights of their recent stand in Red Rocks.

Jeff Franco sent a link to a new song from Wilderado (Jeff and I saw Wilderado and Sure Sure at Madison Live several months ago – great show!): https://open.spotify.com/album/1I2hGwPg0UwRN8pxBHJQLZ?si=se4-6ohrRDC3PumIQ5kGww

Todd Butler sent in this rave review about the Camp Springs Tavern:

List members Ben Brawley and Joe Sampson are the new Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, they have been looking for clues to the whereabouts of the band Sons of Bill after we put out an APB in a recent post on 97Xbam.com. Joe says lead singer James Wilson has been focusing on his Faulkner studies, but Ben reports that James is playing a solo show in Charlottesville on August 7th, so there is hope of more tunes in the future.

So bad it’s good….

List member/proud papa Dave Tellmann informed us that his son Joe won’t be playing with This Pine Box at Woodward on Saturday… because he’ll be in Europe playing two shows at the Notodden Blues Festival in Norway, and attending a music class led by Little Steven. Not bad for a college sophomore.

Meanwhile, proud son Joe Tellmann would like everyone to know that his dad Dave co-hosts a podcast about the old days at 97X called “Rumblings from the Big Bush,” and in the latest episode the guest is Dan “Danny Crash” Reed, former 97X and WNKU DJ, and former Bogart’s manager, and former local band member (Chem Dyne, Dock Ellis) who is now the afternoon host and music director for WXPN in Philly, and the talent booker for World Cafe. Joe says it’s a very entertaining show, despite the fact that Dave’s co-host is an asshat (Joe’s words, not mine.)

Shout-out to list member Dave Roberto for hooking me up with a Hootie & The Blowfish/Barenaked Ladies ticket (and get-well-soon wishes to list member Kevin Sullivan, who was originally supposed to attend). It was like 1992 all over again:

Have a wonderful week!

Episode 16: Danny Crash crashes the Party Patio

97X, podcast

Dan “Danny Crash” Reed is the self-described “Forrest Gump” of the music business. A proud native of Hamilton, Ohio and eventual grad of Ohio University, he was a young DJ at 97X when it changed formats in 1983, and later became program director (while also playing in local bands). After leaving 97X, Dan worked at Bogart’s, WNKU, WFPK (Louisville) and is now the afternoon host/music director at WXPN in Philadelphia and talent manager for the syndicated World Cafe program. He has 101 stories about the old days – which is why we had to make his interview a two-parter. You can follow Dan on Twitter and Instagram.

As a special bonus, here’s the world famous “Black Concert T-shirt” track from Dan’s band Chem Dyne, courtesy of 97X superfan Mark Griffin.

R.I.P. Johnny Clegg

Music

Below is a blog post from another blog of mine (nobody reads that one either) that originally appeared in November of 2017. I’m posting after hearing the news that Johnny Clegg passed away.

Johnny B. Good. Very good.

“Hello, I’m Johnny Cash.”

“Hello, I’m Johnny Clegg.”

No doubt you’ve heard of (and heard the music of) the former. Chances are, you’re not familiar with the latter. But Johnny Cash is to country music as Johnny Clegg is to South African music. A pioneer, a trailblazer, a true icon. I don’t think it’s hyperbole to call him the Nelson Mandela of music. Back in the Apartheid era, teenage Johnny crossed color lines to learn music and dancing from Zulu men in Johannesburg, and eventually brought it to the world.

“They knew something about being a man, which they could communicate physically in the way that they danced and carried themselves. And I wanted to be able to do the same thing. Basically, I wanted to become a Zulu warrior. And in a very deep sense, it offered me an African identity. It was like a homecoming for me; I don’t know why, but I felt that.”

When he formed an integrated band – Juluka – with Sipho Mchunu, they couldn’t even play in public at first.  Eventually they landed a record deal and toured the world.

When Sipho got homesick and left for his Zululand home, Johnny formed a new band called Savuka, which means “We Have Risen” in Zulu. His songs were at the forefront of the fight for equality in South Africa.

“You could not ignore what was going on. The entire Savuka project was based in the South African experience and the fight for a better quality of life and freedom for all.”

One of the best concerts I’ve ever seen was Johnny Clegg & Savuka at a club in Cincinnati, circa 1993. For some strange, mystical reason, I too wanted to become a Zulu warrior that night. And I can’t dance worth a damn. The passion, the energy, the “goodness” emanating from Johnny and his band was palpable, and the tsunami of positive vibes swept up the whole crowd. “I don’t know why, but I felt that.”

Johnny Cash is gone. Johnny Clegg will be gone soon – he’s battling pancreatic cancer. He just wrapped up a brief U.S. tour and has headed home to South Africa, with one more gig in Cape Town lined up for this year.

NPR has a nice profile of Johnny’s career. (The quotes in this post are from that piece.) Please check it out.

Thank you Johnny, for sharing your music and your love with the world. Don’t stop dancing.

100% pure Chuck

Music

The 7/10 edition of CityBeat features a great cover story by Brian Baker about Chuck Cleaver, of Wussy and Ass Ponys fame.

Photo is by Anna Stockton, Chuck’s daughter

Chuck’s a brilliant songwriter, and a heck of a singer. (As he says in the interview, his voice is an “acquired taste” but it fits his songs so well.)

As fate would have it, I had listened to the Ass Ponys album Some Stupid with a Flare Gun the day before the interview came out. Man, what a great album! Just like all the other Ass Ponys albums. And all the Wussy albums. And I’m sure his new solo effort is fantastic as well.

The CityBeat piece is a lengthy profile that runs the gamut of Chuck’s career and captures his self-deprecating attitude so well.

“I don’t consider what I have as a career,” he says without a trace of irony. “I think it’s a passion that sort of went haywire.”

Chuck Cleaver in the CityBeat profile: https://www.citybeat.com/music/music-feature/article/21077295/widelyacclaimed-cincinnati-musician-chuck-cleaver-preps-first-solo-album-of-what-he-doesnt-believe-is-a-storied-career

The article is well-worth a read, and Ass Ponys, Wussy and now solo Chuck Cleaver are always worth a listen or three.

This week in live music: July 15-21

Concert Listings

Hot enough for ya?

Speaking of hot, let’s get to the hot, hot, live music action.

Ain’t nothin’ going on Monday… but Tuesday more than makes up for that. Sebadoh is playing Woodward Theater, with Eleanor Friedberger opening up the show. That’s a great double bill, and I just may rally my old man bones enough to make that show on a weekday. Father Time will tell.

That same evening, Combo Chimbita is playing Northside Tavern. This band comes highly recommended by TWILM member Michelle Boyles.

There are two other bands on the bill with Combo Chimbita, so if you’re an old fogey like me, the start time might be past your bedtime.

John Paul White (formerly of the Civil Wars… that name turned out to be prophetic) is playing Southgate, with Caleb Elliott.

What about Dayton, you ask? Any live tunes in “The Gem City” on Tuesday? Maybe at a gas station?

So glad you asked! The Steve Miller Band is playing Kettering’s Fraze Pavilion, with Marty Stuart as the opener. Meanwhile, in another Dayton suburb (Huber Heights, “America’s largest community of brick homes”), Amos Lee is playing Rose Music Center, with Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers opening up the gig. Remember when Bruce Hornsby’s backing band was called “The Range”? Or was it the Amana Radarange?

On Wednesday, PNC Pavilion has a triple bill: Third Eye Blind, Jimmy Eat World and Ra Ra Riot. I’m not much of a Third Eye Blind fan, but I do like Jimmy Eat World and Ra Ra Riot. Speaking of three i’s, Triiibe is the local band playing the free “Wednesdays in the Woods” gig at the Burnet Woods Bandstand. And in a cruel twist of fate The Commodores are playing Fraze, NOT the Rose Music Center… I have a feeling “Brick House” would go over better in Huber Heights.

Thursday, some old guy in a Hawaiian shirt is playing Riverbend. I’m not going to Buffett-bash… I just wish all the folks who go cuckoo over his concerts would get out of their suburban enclaves more than once a year, and actually support other bands as well. Bring that crazy energy… but leave the plastic flamingos in the garage next to the Lawn-Boy.

It was right next to the broken flip-flop.

Ben Levin & the Heaters are playing the Behringer Crawford Museum in Devou Park. Meanwhile, in the Gem City, Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle are playing a free show at Levitt Pavilion. That’s the Levitt Pavilion in Dayton, not to be confused with Levitt Pavilion in Westport, Connecticut, or the one in Denver, or the one in Arlington, TX.

On Friday evening, the Wheels of Soul tour rolls into PNC Pavilion, with Shovels & Rope, Blackberry Smoke and Tedeschi-Trucks Band. My wife is a close personal friend with Blackberry Smoke.

We flew to Germany on the same plane last year, so we’re practically touring members of the band!

Just to clarify, my wife is a close friend, but she’s not a “special new friend.”

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/c36119b3-71e5-40e1-a820-f09bd9300be6
Artie Fufkin, Polymer Records…

Soul Pocket is playing the free show on Fountain Square, Jeremy Pinnell is playing Folk School Coffee Parlor in Ludlow, KY, Krystal Peterson is at Fretboard Brewing in Blue Ash, and Wreking Crue, the Motley Crue Experience, is at Bogart’s (tribute bands can’t afford the umlauts).

Saturday, it’s 1995 all over again: Hootie & The Blowfish are playing a sold-out show at Riverbend, with Barenaked Ladies as the opening act.

Just wait until he finds out about Barenaked Ladies…

Stanley’s is hosting the Ladyfolk Festival (Honey & Houston, Maria Carelli Band, Chelsea Ford & The Trouble, twig&leaf), the Downtowne Listening Room has Dierdre Flint with Eric Gnezda, The Redemptioners are playing Camp Springs Tavern, Ben Levin’s at Streetside…. and the Wheels of Soul tour (TTB, Blackberry Smoke and Shovels & Rope) rolls up to The Gem City (Rose Music Center).

On Sunday, Nicholas Johnson & The Same Old Strangers are at MOTR, Comet Bluegrass All-Stars are at the Comet (duh!) and Stanley’s hosts an open jam. Bring your tambourine.

In other news, Houndmouth is playing a two-night stand at Southgate Nov. 22 and 23. Get yer tix now. And Tiny Changes – A Celebration of The Midnight Organ Fight is out. Various artists (Ben Gibbard, Julien Baker, Craig Finn, Manchester Orchestra, Josh Ritter, Lauren Mayberry from Chvrches, Aaron Dessner from The National, The Twilight Sad) cover songs from Frightened Rabbit’s brilliant sophomore album, which came out a decade ago. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Tiny Changes, the children’s mental health charity founded in honor of Frightened Rabbit lead singer Scott Hutchison. Here’s my close personal friend Craig Finn doing Head Rolls Off:

Craig played an Undertow house concert at my place back in 2017. Now it’s Eric Bachmann’s turn. He’ll be here on Thursday, August 1st. Get tickets here before they vanish.

In other house concert news, my friends Jacqui and Dave have lined up another show: Brett Newski will be playing their lovely home (a.k.a. Parlor & Patio) in Ft. Thomas on Friday, September 27th. That should be a real dandy. Get your tickets for that gig here with the password parlor.

“Newski’s live shows are part rock n’ roll, part stand up, and part therapy. In the end, the room is won over.”

–Jim McGuinn, The Current, Minneapolis

Have a rockin’ week!

P.S. As a writer and a former advertising guy, I hope whoever came up with this slogan was fired:

This week in live music: July 15-21

Concert Listings

Hot enough for ya?

Speaking of hot, let’s get to the hot, hot, live music action.

Ain’t nothin’ going on Monday… but Tuesday more than makes up for that. Sebadoh is playing Woodward Theater, with Eleanor Friedberger opening up the show. That’s a great double bill, and I just may rally my old man bones enough to make that show on a weekday. Father Time will tell.

That same evening, Combo Chimbita is playing Northside Tavern. This band comes highly recommended by TWILM member Michelle Boyles.

There are two other bands on the bill with Combo Chimbita, so if you’re an old fogey like me, the start time might be past your bedtime.

John Paul White (formerly of the Civil Wars… that name turned out to be prophetic) is playing Southgate, with Caleb Elliott.

What about Dayton, you ask? Any live tunes in “The Gem City” on Tuesday? Maybe at a gas station?

So glad you asked! The Steve Miller Band is playing Kettering’s Fraze Pavilion, with Marty Stuart as the opener. Meanwhile, in another Dayton suburb (Huber Heights, “America’s largest community of brick homes”), Amos Lee is playing Rose Music Center, with Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers opening up the gig. Remember when Bruce Hornsby’s backing band was called “The Range”? Or was it the Amana Radarange?

On Wednesday, PNC Pavilion has a triple bill: Third Eye Blind, Jimmy Eat World and Ra Ra Riot. I’m not much of a Third Eye Blind fan, but I do like Jimmy Eat World and Ra Ra Riot. Speaking of three i’s, Triiibe is the local band playing the free “Wednesdays in the Woods” gig at the Burnet Woods Bandstand. And in a cruel twist of fate The Commodores are playing Fraze, NOT the Rose Music Center… I have a feeling “Brick House” would go over better in Huber Heights.

Thursday, some old guy in a Hawaiian shirt is playing Riverbend. I’m not going to Buffett-bash… I just wish all the folks who go cuckoo over his concerts would get out of their suburban enclaves more than once a year, and actually support other bands as well. Bring that crazy energy… but leave the plastic flamingos in the garage next to the Lawn-Boy.

It was right next to the broken flip-flop.

Ben Levin & the Heaters are playing the Behringer Crawford Museum in Devou Park. Meanwhile, in the Gem City, Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle are playing a free show at Levitt Pavilion. That’s the Levitt Pavilion in Dayton, not to be confused with Levitt Pavilion in Westport, Connecticut, or the one in Denver, or the one in Arlington, TX.

On Friday evening, the Wheels of Soul tour rolls into PNC Pavilion, with Shovels & Rope, Blackberry Smoke and Tedeschi-Trucks Band. My wife is a close personal friend with Blackberry Smoke.

We flew to Germany on the same plane last year, so we’re practically touring members of the band!

Just to clarify, my wife is a close friend, but she’s not a “special new friend.”

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/c36119b3-71e5-40e1-a820-f09bd9300be6
Artie Fufkin, Polymer Records…

Soul Pocket is playing the free show on Fountain Square, Jeremy Pinnell is playing Folk School Coffee Parlor in Ludlow, KY, the Kingston Trio is playing Memorial Hall, and Wreking Crue, the Motley Crue Experience, is at Bogart’s (tribute bands can’t afford the umlauts).

Saturday, it’s 1995 all over again: Hootie & The Blowfish are playing a sold-out show at Riverbend, with Barenaked Ladies as the opening act.

Just wait until he finds out about Barenaked Ladies…

Stanley’s is hosting the Ladyfolk Festival (Honey & Houston, Maria Carelli Band, Chelsea Ford & The Trouble, twig&leaf), the Downtowne Listening Room has Dierdre Flint with Eric Gnezda, The Redemptioners are playing Camp Springs Tavern, Ben Levin’s at Streetside…. and the Wheels of Soul tour (TTB, Blackberry Smoke and Shovels & Rope) rolls up to The Gem City (Rose Music Center).

On Sunday, Nicholas Johnson & The Same Old Strangers are at MOTR, Comet Bluegrass All-Stars are at the Comet (duh!) and Stanley’s hosts an open jam. Bring your tambourine.

In other news, Houndmouth is playing a two-night stand at Southgate Nov. 22 and 23. Get yer tix now. And Tiny Changes – A Celebration of The Midnight Organ Fight is out. Various artists (Ben Gibbard, Julien Baker, Craig Finn, Manchester Orchestra, Josh Ritter, Lauren Mayberry from Chvrches, Aaron Dessner from The National, The Twilight Sad) cover songs from Frightened Rabbit’s brilliant sophomore album, which came out a decade ago. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Tiny Changes, the children’s mental health charity founded in honor of Frightened Rabbit lead singer Scott Hutchison. Here’s my close personal friend Craig Finn doing Head Rolls Off:

Craig played an Undertow house concert at my place back in 2017. Now it’s Eric Bachmann’s turn. He’ll be here on Thursday, August 1st. Get tickets here before they vanish.

In other house concert news, my friends Jacqui and Dave have lined up another show: Brett Newski will be playing their lovely home (a.k.a. Parlor & Patio) in Ft. Thomas on Friday, September 27th. That should be a real dandy. Get your tickets for that gig here with the password parlor.

“Newski’s live shows are part rock n’ roll, part stand up, and part therapy. In the end, the room is won over.”

–Jim McGuinn, The Current, Minneapolis

Have a rockin’ week!

P.S. As a writer and a former advertising guy, I hope whoever came up with this slogan was fired:

Putting out an A.P.B. on those S.O.B.s

Music

It’s a musical mystery that cannot be solved. No, I’m not talking about “Why is Panic at the Disco! suddenly popular again?” or “Why does Cardi B yell at us in every song?” or even “What kind of shoes is Jay Ferguson wearing on the cover of the Thunder Island album? Are those macramé crocs?”

No, this mystery is even more puzzling. If it were a Quinn Martin Production or an Encyclopedia Brown story, it would be “The Sudden Disappearance of Sons of Bill.”

Sons of Bill are (or were… still trying to figure that out) a band out of Charlottesville, Virginia, featuring three brothers, all sons of a UVA professor named Bill Wilson. (So it’s no mystery how they came up with their band name.)

My buddy Joe put them on my radar several years ago, and I really liked their sound. We even saw them in concert at the Southgate House in 2012, and ran into the lead singer James Wilson prior to the show – nice guy. We spoke with the other two brothers, Sam and Abe, after the show. They’re super-friendly too. And I really liked their 2012 release Sirens, and their 2013 album Love & Logic.

They were never even close to the big time, but it seems like they had a decent following. Last summer, they released a new album called Oh God Ma’am, put out a promo video… and then promptly vanished from the face of the earth.

Seriously, they just ghosted on us. Even in the age of the Interwebs, where you can find out anything and everything about anyone with just a few clicks, Sons of Bill have pulled a disappearing act that would make Houdini proud. Their website touts the album from last summer. Their last Facebook post is from July 10th of 2018. Their pinned tweet is from April of last year. After a relative flurry of press for the album release last spring, it’s been radio silence.

I’m sounding the clarion call… detectives, assemble! Let’s get the entire NBC Sunday Mystery Movie lineup on the case too.

Find Sons of Bill! ASAP!!!

This Week in Live Music: July 8-14

Concert Listings

Howdy folks, I’m back from vacation – tan, rested, and ready to rock.

While I was on vacation, I saw a great show every evening:

Rockin’!

But let’s focus on the Tri-State Area.

More specifically, let’s focus on live music in the Tri-State Area.

On Tuesday, “Hell is for Children“… and the Fraze Pavilion is for the Pat Benatar/Neil Giraldo show. I said Neil Giraldo, not Gerardo.

Fun fact: The Fraze Pavilion is named after Ermal Fraze, late resident of Kettering, Ohio, and inventor of the pop-top beverage can.

That same night, the underage Ben Levin is at Arnold’s.

Wednesday, Sheryl Crow is playing Fraze, which is named after… someone whose first name is an anagram for Lamer.

On Thursday, Leggy is playing Urban Artifact, along with And The Kids, Strobobean and The Harmaleighs.

Friday, the legendary local band Cereal Killers are playing MadTree Brewing in Oakley. Tell a buddy, bring a friend, but don’t you dare miss this big show!

That same evening, there are several other gigs on tap:

  • Junior Brown is playing Southgate
  • Michigan Rattlers and Oliver Hazard are playing the free gig at Fountain Square
  • Peter “I used to live in Cincinnati” Frampton makes a stop at Riverbend on his farewell tour, with Jason Bonham’s “Led Zeppelin Evening” as the opener. Lawn 4-packs for that show are $90.
  • Carly Rae Jepsen is at Bogart’s. If you have an extra ticket, maybe you should go up to someone you just met and give them your phone number. It’s crazy, I know, but it just might work.

Forecastle Festival also kicks off in Louisville on Friday, and runs through Sunday evening.

Saturday is quite the musical grab bag:

  • Like indie rock? Check out Gringo Star at Northside Tavern.
  • For metal/slasher movie fans, Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson are playing Riverbend.
  • Disco till you die? Shake (shake shake) your booty at the KC & the Sunshine Band show at Riverfront Live.
  • Hair band/glam enthusiasts can check out Faster Pussycat and Bang Tango at MVP Bar & Grille in Silverton (this is a sign that Faster Pussycat and Bang Tango need to hang it up).
  • Grunge-ish rockers can hit Bogart’s for the Candlebox show.
  • For Americana/acoustic/local music fans, Highly Likely is playing Camp Springs Tavern and The Harmed Brothers/Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle/The Old Souls String Band are at Southgate.

Sunday, the Comet Bluegrass All-Stars will play their usual gig at the bar that gave them their name, and Ricky Nye & Chris Douglas are at MOTR.

In case you missed it, Taft Theater recently announced dates for Wilco and Elvis Costello & The Imposters… Wilco plays 11/9 and Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus (a.k.a. Elvis Costello… wonder why he changed his stage name) is on 11/19. Tickets are on sale now… go to the Taft box office to save the TicketBastard charges. (If you don’t work downtown, I’ll be your ticket gitter.)

That’ll do it for this week. The latest live show photo comes courtesy of Todd Butler, who thoroughly enjoyed the Courtney Barnett gig at Madison Theater last week.

Playing it lefty… but it’s right-handed in Australia.

This just in from the Shameless Self-Promotion Department: a new episode of the 97X podcast featuring an interview with longtime 97X air personality Shiv can be found here: https://www.97xbam.com/2019/07/07/episode-15-a-shiv-for-all-seasons/