Elvis is Everywhere

Elvis Presley truly is everywhere… ever since he went undercover in 1977, as part of the secret agent program he joined in 1970.

The Crook and The King

But thank goodness the best Elvis (Elvis Costello) usually comes to Cincinnati on his tours. Mr. Costello (a.k.a. Declan Patrick Aloysius McManus) and his fantastic band The Imposters will be playing the Icon this Saturday. I really like Elvis…

But Elvis isn’t everywhere on Saturday… Cowboy Junkies will be at Ludlow Garage (list member Tom Woeber will be at that gig), local Tom Petty tribute band Tom the Torpedoes play Fretboard, and Pat Metheny is Memorial Hall. Check out Pat’s sweet hairdo in the promo photo:

He looks like he could be a member of Fraggle Rock:

Speaking of family-friendly fun, load the kiddies in the family truckster and head to Neltner’s Farm in Camp Springs, KY for their Fall Fest, going on now through October 31st. List member Keith Neltner’s family has operated a farm on that patch of land since 1892, so it’s legit, not like those “throw some pumpkins and hay bales in a parking lot” joints. Neltner’s Farm Fest activities including horse-drawn wagon rides, a model train display, a corn maze, pick-your-own pumpkin patch, petting zoo, pony rides, homemade food and ice cream, farm shop, seasonal apples, barrel train and so much more… including live music 1:30-4:30 p.m. on the weekends (weather permitting). The Kentucky Struts play this Saturday and Randy Steffen plays on Sunday. The full slate is here.

The fabulous Jimmy Vaughan plays Ludlow Garage on Sunday. That same evening, David Ramirez and Matt Costa are at Southgate.

Church Girls (the band, not the personality type) will be at Northside Tavern on Tuesday. I really like this band’s sound and am very tempted to go… then again I’m an old man – I’m not even sure I’m allowed in Northside. Besides, it’s a school night. But you can talk me into going.

Also on Tuesday, Bad Bad Hats (Pat Metheny sure could use one) are at Southgate.

You have several options for live tunes on Thursday:

  • Chris Stapleton plays Riverbend on a very nice triple bill with The Marcus King Band and Yola.
  • Lucero and Morgan Wade play Taft’s basement Ballroom (a show that was moved from the Icon… which is like being banished to the kids table at Thanksgiving Dinner).
  • Mannequin Pu$$y (that’s the official Cincinnati Enquirer spelling) is at the Woodward Theater.
  • Suzzy Roche and her daughter Lucy Wainwright Roche play Southgate’s main room…
  • … while Stephen Babcock and Brad Goodall of the fine band Ona play a free gig in Southgate’s Lounge.
  • Camp Springs Tavern hosts an Open Bluegrass Jam. It’s BYOB. (Bring Your Own Banjo.) I hear these open jams are almost as good as when Jed Clampett danced while Flatt & Scruggs played:

Next Friday (October 22nd) is a big night for gigs too:

Bob Mould plays Memorial Hall. List member Dan Bockrath and I will be at that one. It’s a solo electric gig, but his touring band buddy Jason Narducy will open the show.

If you thought Pat Metheny’s hair was impressive, it’s nothing compared to the dudes in A Flock of Seagulls.

Photo taken after they ran…

They’re playing the Ludlow Garage next Friday.

That same evening, Ben Levin has an album release party at BrewRiver, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness is at Icon, and The Bronson Arroyo Band plays Bircus in Ludlow, KY. (List member Dan “I Heart Former Reds” Lewis will probably be at that gig.)

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that my mother-in-law’s favorite artist, Michael Bublé, is at the Coliseum. Although frankly, I’d rather see this guy in concert:

His hit single is amazing!

“You are looking live…”

Here’s a very cool set from Waxahatchee, live at KEXP studios in Seattle (hat tip to list member Bruce Frasure for the link):

But you’re not hearing it live…

There was a snafu at the Austin City Limits Festival and they pulled the plug on Phoebe Bridgers’ set during “I Know the End”… and Phoebe was not amused. (Rightfully so, that song was the killer set closer when list members Mighty Joe Sampson, Michael Carrico and I saw her in Columbus a few weeks ago.)

Speaking of Mighty Joe, Phoebe’s sound snafu was almost as bad as when the Cincinnati Parks hired-gun audio dude cut the sound on the Goo Goo Dolls when their set went over its allotted time during their Day in Eden performance at Eden Park back in 1993. Mighty Joe (who weighed about a buck-twenty) had to put Robbie from the Goos in a headlock to keep him from attacking the sound guy.

Gig pics

List member Dan Bockrath and I were treated (thanks for the freebies, list member Geoff Curless!) to a great double bill at PNC this past Tuesday: Margo Price and her band opened up for Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats. Both artists crushed it!

List members Jeff and Jill Franco also were in attendance. Jill has been a teacher at Sands Montessori for years – she taught Dan’s daughter and all four of my kids. So of course we had to get a pic with “Miss Jill” to send to our now-grown kids, just to prove that their grade school teacher still rocks!

Photo credit: Jeff Franco… taken while balancing a beer can and a pizza box

Well, that should do it for this week’s edition… STOP!

Oh, thanks for helping promote the 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast, Elvis. The newest episode features our interview with Dayton-based singer/songwriter Jayne Sachs.

OK, we’ll finish right where we started, with a bit of “Elvis is Everywhere.”

Fun fact:  Mojo Nixon has a degree in political science and history from Miami University in Ohio.

Have a great week!

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