Rhett Leibecke (a.k.a. “Reed LeBeak”) spent a single semester as a student co-op for Rictile and Dave on the Breakfast Club… and it’s clear that he’s been scarred for life (and not just from the lawn jarts). He got the gig based on his shady past doing a “SoundScam”… and it was all downhill from there. Rhett and special guest Rictile join up to talk about Rhett’s stellar work cleaning a “sound room,” the Aye Team, BatBoy, 97X bitcoin, Barenaked Ladies and Northern Exposure.
In a rare moment of seriousness, we also talk about Rhett’s courageous battle against a rare form of cancer, and how his positive attitude has helped lift the spirits of others in their cancer battles.
97X was really the premium outlet for a kid in the Midwest to tune in and catch fantastic new tunes… when I got to Miami and that opportunity presented itself, I was there. I was like a kid who was in Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, that’s how magical and special it was.
Rhett “Reed LeBeak” Leibecke, former Breakfast Club co-producer
We’re about to drop not one week o’ live gigs on you… not two weeks… but three whopping weeks of concerts. Because I’m heading out of town next Friday for a week of fun in the sun. And I don’t want the This Week in Live Music deadline looming over me like the sword of Damocles. Or the sword of the Black Knight.
Let’s get to the bumper crop of gigs, shall we?
Tonight, The Cult, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Zola Jesus play the Rose Music Center, and Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, Poison and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts are at the Reds stadium. (In deference to my good friend Dan Lewis, I shall resist the temptation to make any sort of Rick Allen/Reds pitching staff comparison…)
Saturday, Kississippi headlines the Fountain Square free show… and Air Supply is at the Rose Music Center.
You got that right, Spanky!
On Sunday, list member Mighty Joe Sampson and I will be visiting the Burl.
Sorry, wrong Burl. We’re going to the live music venue in Lexington to see Lucy Dacus and Camp Cope – a great double bill that’s totally worth the trip.
Meanwhile, back in the ‘nati, Elf Power is at MOTR (7:30 show – $10… new album is good) and Frankie & the Witch Fingers play the Woodward.
Pictured: Witch Fingers and Center Square. Not pictured: Frankie.
On Monday, 5 Seconds of Summer, a band that I’ve not even given a single second of my lifetime, plays a sold out show at the Brady.
But the Brady redeems itself the very next night, as Bonnie Raitt and Mavis Staples take the stage on Tuesday. (The New Yorker just ran a great profile of Mavis… she’s the real deal!)
That same evening, Mary Chapin Carpenter plays Memorial Hall, and The Barenaked Ladies, Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket play Rose… I think that tour is called “97X Throwback Bands.”
The Barenaked-Gin-Sprocket show comes to PNC on Wednesday – it’s sold out.
Wednesday features another 97X Throwback Show: The Psychedelic Furs and X play the Peter Brady. Meanwhile, Bonnie Raitt and Mavis Staples will be up the road a piece at the Rose.
Plenty of gigs on Thursday:
Adrian Belew is at Ludlow Garage – list member Dave Tellmann and I will be there
Little Feat plays the Taft, with opener Ida Mae
Ricky Nye plays an outdoor gig at the Behringer-Crawford Museum’s amphitheater
The World is a Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid to Die (yes, that’s a band name) is at Southgate
RiversEDGE in Hamilton hosts Completely Unchained: Van Halen Tribute show (this show could set a new world record for jorts… and in Hamiltucky, that’s sayin’ something)
Last and least, Jimmy Buffett plays Riverbend, or as I like to call it, Rumspringa for repressed middle-aged Cincinnatians
Next Friday (7/22), Three Doors Down and Candlebox play Timberwolf.
Saturday 7/23, The Drive-by Truckers and Lydia Loveless are at the Dayton Masonic Center… looks like I picked the wrong week to go on vacation…
… and Chicago plays Riverbend for the umpteenth time, this time with Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin in tow.
The Tedeschi Trucks Band, Los Lobos and Gabe Dixon will be at Rose next Sunday (7/24) and Trouble No More (Allman Bros. tribute band) plays the “Eat a Peach” album in its entirety, with openers Rebirth Brass Band and TWILM favorite Aaron Lee Tasjan.
Tuesday July 26th:
Southgate’s Revival Room hosts An Evening with Slaid Cleves
Collective Soul and Switchfoot play the Ovation
On Thursday, July 27th, Earth, Wind & Fire play the Rose, and The Outlaws are at Ludlow Garage.
John Moreland is the headliner for the Fountain Square freebie on Friday, July 29th. If I weren’t out of town, I’d definitely be there. Here’s a track from his new album, Birds in the Ceiling:
That same evening, bluesman Tinsley Ellis plays Ludlow Garage.
Saturday, July 30th is jam-packed with live shows:
Willie Nelson brings the Outlaw Music Festival to Riverbend – Gov’t Mule, ZZ Top and Larkin Poe will join Willie & Family on the bill
Greta Van Zeppelin Fleet are at the Coliseum, this is the rescheduled date from their March postponement
Sarah Shook and the Disarmers play Southgate
White Denim headlines the Fountain Square freebie
Railroad Earth chugs into the old Annie’s, with Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle as the opener
Melissa Etheridge plays the Fraze
Kansas carries on at the Hard Rock Casino
Kool Moe Dee is at Ludlow Garage
On Sunday, July 31st, Rose Music Center has a great twin bill of Buddy Guy and John Hiatt & the Goners (featuring Sonny Landreth)
Roger Waters will finally play his originally-scheduled-for-2020 gig at the Coliseum on Tuesday, August 2nd. The show is called “This is Not a Drill”:
“This Is Not A Drill is a ground breaking new rock and roll/cinematic extravaganza, performed in the round, it is a stunning indictment of the corporate dystopia in which we all struggle to survive, and a call to action to LOVE, PROTECT and SHARE our precious and precarious planet home. The show includes a dozen great songs from PINK FLOYD’S GOLDEN ERA along side several new ones, words and music, same writer, same heart, same soul, same man. Could be his last hurrah. Wow! My first farewell tour! Don’t miss it. Love R.”
On Wednesday, August 3rd, Glass Animals (no relation to George Glass… or are they?) play an outdoor gig at the Jan Brady…
… and Joe Bonamassa is at the Fraze (sorry, couldn’t bring myself to use “plays the Fraze” twice in one post).
Andrew Bird, Iron & Wine and Meshell Ndegeocello are at PNC on Thursday, August 4th.
Friday, August 5th;
Ben Levin and Joe Tellmann will join other Pinetop Perkins Foundation Masterclass participants in backing Bob Margolin at the Lebanon Blues Festival. (The Festival continues on Saturday – schedule is here.)
The Fabulous Thunderbirds roll into Ludlow Garage
Tab Benoit plays the Taft Theatre
Holy F*ck will be at Madison Live. Yes, that’s what I said.
This was not a drill…
Letters to the Editor
You are correct, Dan! It’s really no way to treat someone who has been nothing but kind to me. But it’s still fun.
When music is so abundant and our attention is scarce, there’s power in adding more intention to your listening diet, more chaos, more risk. The thrill in finding music that is wired to your singular life is not that thousands of other people have found the same thing. It’s that the music becomes something confounding and unique, a true reflection of where you are and where you’ve been. The beauty of the algorithm of your mind is that it makes perfect sense to no one but yourself.
Cullen is currently looking for a gig in NYC, having recently been laid off by Landor/Fitch in their latest round of cuts. He’s good people – if you know of any agencies looking for someone with his profile, please let him know. And speaking of a Landor layoff leading to better things…
List member Dale Doyle (the original d2) is now a Grammy voter. Which means we can blame him if our favorite bands don’t win. Or maybe we can just call Dale and pressure him to “find” 10,000 votes for Japanese Breakfast.
Album Cover of the (Three) Week(s)
It wasn’t “free indeed” it was 37 cents at St. Vincent de Paul, but I still passed on it.
And three of them are scheduled to appear at Riverbend tomorrow night.
I say “scheduled to appear” because they’re opening for Santana, and he collapsed on stage during a show at Pine Knob in Michigan a couple of days ago. Apparently he was “overtaken by heat exhaustion and dehydration.” I can relate – the power was out at our house Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning. No A/C? In this heat?
I’ll bet the weather is better in Berlin. Oh, speaking of Berlin, they’re playing Timberwolf on Saturday, with A Flock of Seagulls (the band… the avian version can only be found at the original Coney Island in Brooklyn – they’re eating leftover hot dogs).
Other Saturday shows:
Less than Jake, Bowling for Soup and Aquabats play the Ovation
O.A.R. plays a concert at Great American Ball Park after the Reds 4:10 tilt vs. the Tampa Bay Rays. That show is sponsored by the Ohio Lottery, which seems fitting, as the Reds have as much chance of winning the game as you do of winning the lottery.
Joshua Ray Walker and Joslyn & the Sweet Compression play RiversEDGE in Hamilton
The Paradise Music Festival continues at Braxton Brewing in Covington
Last but not least (at least in the “noises he can make” category) Michael Winslow brings his wacky sound effects comedy to Ludlow Garage. Steve Guttenberg sold separately.
On Tuesday, Riverbend will engage in an annual tradition that they cherish so much: whipping out the Rod.
Uh, Rod Stewart is playing at RB… with Cheap Trick as the opener.
Wednesday, mere inches away from the previous night’s Rod show, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Los Lobos and Gabe Dixon play PNC.
The Cult plays PNC on Thursday, with special guests Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Zola Jesus… or Jesus Motorcycle Cult for short.
Other Thursday shows:
Scott Miller (of the late great V-Roys) plays a solo gig at Southgate
Ruby Vileos will be doing the Roots Revival Series at Washington Park
Ben Levin plays Shires’ Garden
the Red NOT Chili Peppers and BLINK180True are at RiversEDGE
Please note the NOT… I do NOT want you to wind up like this dude:
Next Friday, the Reds are out of town, but Great American Ball Park is hosting Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, Poison and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts… so #1 Mötley Crüe fan Dän “Reds in 2023” Lëwis surely will be front and center.
Dan has been working out.
Also next Friday, The Cult/Black Rebel Motorcycle Club/Zola Jesus show will be at Rose Music Center in scenic Huber Heights, OH.
Cereal Killers killed it at Big Ash Brewing
Great sets, awesome crowd – including several list members who cashed in their “first beer on d2” online offer. Next CK gig at Big Ash is on Sept. 10th. I’ll be out of town, so your first beer is on you… but don’t you dare miss this big show!
Mea Culpa
Your esteemed This Week in Live Music editor does exhaustive research* to compile this (nearly) weekly post. But occasionally he does miss a show or three, sometimes incurring the scorn and ridicule of list member “Rico” (he’s not in the mob, I hope) in the process. And let’s just say that Lee Greenwood is crying tears like the “Native American” in that “don’t litter” commercial from the 70s because I forgot to mention the b-list bands cashing fat checks for civic/corporate-underwritten gigs patriotic events that happened last weekend, including Gavin DeGraw at Red, White & Blue Ash; Spin Doctors at Taps, Tastes and Tunes in West Chester; and Smashmouth at Red, Rhythm & Boom. Mea maxima culpa to Smashmouth Superfan Dan “All Star” Lewis.
He was walking on the sun, but he used SPF 5000.
*lazily checking a couple of websites every few weeks
Garin Pirnia grew up in Centerville, Ohio and discovered 97X when she returned to the area after stints in L.A. and Chicago. She’s written about music (as well as film, food, and travel) for dozens of publications including Rolling Stone, Esquire, Vanity Fair and The Atlantic. Her book about bands from the state of Ohio, Rebels and Underdogs, came out a few years ago. We chat with Garin about the many bands who hail from the Buckeye State and explore why Ohio is such a fertile ground for musicians.
You can find out more about Garin’s writing on her website.
It’s a rare Thursday night edition of This Week in Live Music, because I want to give you extra time to gear up for the big CK show on Friday night.
That’s right, Cereal Killers are playing a FREE show at Big Ash Brewing — on the site of the old El Rancho Rankin Motel — on Friday night!
Not Howard Cohen
You know the drill: Cereal Killers play stellar covers of great songs from the 97X era — Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, X, The Clash, INXS, Guided by Voices, et al. — with some Stones and Tom Petty in the mix for good measure.
Not only is the show free, but your first beer is free.
Courtesy of your favorite author of a little known, infrequently-read weekly roundup of live music in the Tri-State area. (C’est moi!)
It’s really true!
Free Killer tunes and a free beer… a great way to kick off your All-American holiday weekend.
Other free shows tomorrow night include Lilly Hiatt and Heavy Hinges doing the Fountain Square gig, Ben Levin at Wiedemann’s, and the Sunburners at Stanbery Park.
The Northside Rock & Roll Carnival takes place at Hoffner Park the rest of the holiday weekend:
Wild Carrot plays Harmony Hill Vineyards in Bethel on Saturday, and Ben Levin plays at Schwartz’s Point on Sunday.
Monday is Independence Day – here’s your Public Service Announcement:
Monday also marks the official starts of “was that fireworks or gunshots?” season on the NextDoor app.
On Wednesday:
The Psychedelic Furs and X play at Rose Music Center near Dayton
Third Eye Blind, Taking Back Sunday and Hockey Dad play an outdoor show at the Ovation.
Death Cab for Cutie rolls into the Ovation on Thursday, with Illuminati Hotties as the opener. That’s an outdoor gig as well.
That same evening:
Noah Wotherspoon plays the Rocking the Roebling free show on the lawn by the Moerlein Lager House (6-8 pm), and the Doobie Brothers play their 50th anniversary tour (a year or so late) at Riverbend.
We are contractually obligated to mention the best 70s sitcom two-part episode ever whenever we mention the Doobie Brothers.
The part where Rerun gets busted is pure gold:
The entire episode is here. Don’t act like you don’t want to watch it.
Next Friday, July 8th:
Wilderado plays Madison Live. List member Jeff Franco and I saw them the last time they were in town, and it was a great show. I’ll probably go to that gig.
Sheryl Crow and Keb’ Mo’ are at Rose Music Center
China Crisis plays Ludlow Garage
The Brook & the Bluff play a free gig at Fountain Square, with Abby Holiday and Knotts also on the bill
Perpetual Groove is at the old Annie’s
Oops, I did it again
I forgot to mention the Ann Wilson show at the Hard Rock last week. List member Michael “Rico” Carrico, whose musical tastes are firmly in the “Sad Dad” music camp, wasn’t even upset with me. And the show wound up getting cancelled, so perhaps I’m not forgetful, just prescient.
Cancer sucks. Scholarships rock!
Speaking o’ Rico, some of you may recall that he lost his brother to cancer three years ago. His brother Kevin passed away while he was in med school working to become a pediatric oncologist… after he had beaten Hodgkin’s Lymphoma as a teenager… a cruel twist of fate which is heartbreakingly tragic on so many levels.
Rico and his family are honoring Kevin’s memory by raising funds for the National Collegiate Cancer Foundation to provide scholarships to young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer. They’re hosting the Kevin Carrico Memorial Golf Tournament at California Golf Course on October 1st. Any and all support is welcome, whether that is getting a team together to play in the scramble, helping sponsor the event, donating items for auction or simply donating money.
Through the blog of a comic strip artist (yes, I’m that guy), I read about the passing of a woman who was part of a husband-wife team that hosted house concerts in Pittsburgh and supported local music. The woman’s published obit included this request:
In lieu of flowers, donations, food, whatever, please honor Deb by gathering some friends to go out for a beverage or meal, and leave your servers a huge tip in her memory. While you are at it, go see some local music, fill up the tip bucket and buy a CD and some merch.
Amen!
Remain in Light Kentucky?
List member Lisa Collins has deep roots in the Maysville, KY area. Recently she went to a book signing by Chris Frantz (Talking Heads/Tom Tom Club) in Old Washington, KY. From Lisa:
His grandparents restored the Harriet Beecher Stowe house in Old Washington in the 1960’s and he spent his teen years summers in Washington and Maysville. He and Tina Weymouth got married there – his talk was on their 45th wedding anniversary.
Former Screed ‘zine creator Terrence Burke also was there with his son and got pix with Chris and Tina:
Chris’ book is called Remain in Love. It’s a decent read.
Album Cover of the Week
Yanking those suspenders qualifies as elder abuse. OTOH, playing old timey banjo tunes to a little kid qualifies as child abuse. Let’s call it a draw instead of calling 241-KIDS.
