Month: October 2022

Go-vember Music

97X, Concert Listings, Music, podcast

Happy All Hallow’s Eve, y’all. Quick question: can we dispense with the whole “trick/treat” thing (which, IMHO is a false dichotomy) and get right to the feet-smelling? Er, asking for a friend…

And now let’s get to the live shows in the Tri-state area over the next fortnight:

Scott H. Biram has a gig at Southgate on Wednesday.

On Thursday,

  • Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears and Cedric Burnside play Ludlow Garage
  • Chris Smither and Tim O’Brien with Jan Fabricius are at Memorial Hall
  • Wheatus plays Madison Live
  • Banditos play Southgate. Note, they are not related to the Frito Bandito.
https://youtu.be/5irr_2nbB_Y

Friday is a busy night for gigs:

  • The Smithereens play Ludlow, with Marshall Crenshaw as the guest vocalist
  • Taft has a “Celebrating David Bowie” show featuring Todd Rundgren, Adrian Belew, Royston Langdon, Jeffery Gaines… and someone called “Scrote” for reasons that we don’t care to investigate. More on the show here.
  • The Redmoor in Mt. Lookout hosts An Evening with Karla Bonoff
  • Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle are in Southgate’s main room
  • William Elliott Whitmore plays Southgate’s upstairs Revival Room
  • Northside Tavern has a show they’re billing as “Alternative Indie Psychedelic Shoegazey Garage Rocking show!” (They must be trying their hand at SEO…)

The Queen City Blues Fest rolls into Southgate on Saturday.

On Sunday, Christine Havrilla and Mama’s Black Sheep play a matinee show (4 p.m.) at the Cincinnati Fire Museum. And that evening, Yes plays a Close to the Edge 50th anniversary show at Taft.

Giving us yet another excuse to run this classic skit:

Looking ahead to next week…

Sun Room plays a sold-out show at Top Cats on Wednesday, Nov. 9th.

On Thursday, 11/10:

  • Puscifer (fronted by Maynard James Keenan of Tool) plays the Jan Brady
  • Fun Lovin’ Criminals are at Ludlow (“Scooby Snacks” sold separately)
  • My Brother, My Brother and Me are at the Taft. Note: My Brother, My Brother and Me are not related to another trio of brothers:

Also on 11/10, Memorial Hall hosts Majesty – a Tribute to Queen.

Next Friday, 11/11:

  • The Mavericks play Taft
  • Twiddle is at Madison Theater
  • Paramore plays the Marsha Brady
  • The Yellowjackets jazz up Ludlow Garage

Ludlow hosts John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band on Saturday, 11/12. (Note: the Beaver Brown Band is not related to Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver.) And Southgate has An Evening with Lucy Kaplansky on Sunday, 11/13.

Hot Ticket Alert: Get on the Bus!

97X favorites (and Ohio’s own) The Royal Crescent Mob have announced two reunion shows in December, to raise funds for cancer research. They’re playing Columbus on 12/16, and hitting the Madison Theater in Covington on Saturday, December 17th. More info and a ticket link here.

(Fun fact: RCMob lead singer David Ellison is currently tour manager for Miley Cyrus, Camila Cabello, and Ke$ha, and formerly was the tour manager for Jay-Z, Demi Lovato, Avril Lavigne, Alanis Morissette, Adam Lambert, Goo Goo Dolls, and Panic at the Disco.)

What Heaven is Like…

Heaven is Chuck Cleaver and Lisa Walker of Wussy playing in my living room. What a great night! New tunes from Wussy coming soon…

What Hell is like…

Two downer articles for live music fans:

“The Live-Music Industry is Broken” from Vulture and “How Ticketmaster gets away with it” from Popular Information.

We still miss Mr. K

The latest episode of the 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast features a tribute to Ken “Mr. K” Glidewell, who worked at the station and was in Chemdyne and later Big in Iowa, and also had a long radio career at WEBN and 92.9 The Fox.

On my holiday shopping list:

Album Cover of the Fortnight

Wendy likes Action Pants. And Children of the Corn.

Episode 88: Mr. K was A-OK

97X, Music, podcast

Ken “Mr. K” Glidewell put the personality into “radio personality.” He had the gift of gab, a wicked sense of humor and a way of making friends wherever he went. Ken worked at 97X during the station’s formative years while also playing with fellow 97Xer Dan “Danny Crash” Reed in Chemdyne. He later moved on to WEBN-FM and 92.9 The Fox in Cincinnati for his day job, and co-founded the Americana band Big in Iowa. 

Unfortunately, Mr. K passed away in May of 2008 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. In this episode of the podcast, we talk to a few 97X-ers who worked with Mr. K: Phil Manning, Julie “Jae” Forman and Steve Baker, as well as the founding members of the Mr. K Fan Club, Elizabeth Cannon and Wendy Dorn. 

Mr. K (2nd from left) mugging with Timothy Hiatt, Jetson and the BoDeans.
Mr. K and Jetson with Mike Peters from The Alarm.
A review of Big in Iowa’s 1999 release in No Depression magazine.
https://www.citybeat.com/music/farewell-mr-k-12171326
https://cincygroove.com/2008/05/27/musician-mr-k-dies-in-crash/

Here are a couple of videos of Mr. K playing with Big in Iowa.

You can find more Big in Iowa videos on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/BigInIowaBand

Big in Iowa was awarded their first Cammy (Cincinnati’s version of Grammy Awards) as Roots Rock Band of the Year in 1997, a trophy they would own over the next several years. By the beginning of 1998, Bryant had left the band and O’Keefe was replaced by Jeff Wilson, thereby formulating the core quartet, which proceeded to prepare its second album for release. Twisted was a substantial improvement on the preceding effort. In addition to standing as Big in Iowa’s first mature work, it also began its long-term association with Germany’s Blue Rose Records. In addition to its Group Cammy, Twisted also helped to earn individual honors for Burns (Best Vocalist) and House (Best Instrumentalist), as well as new fans such as Mojo Nixon and an appearance at the 1999 South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, TX. The band contributed a version of “Cinnamon Girl” to the Neil Young tribute album This Note’s for You, and then set about working on its third studio album, Bangin’ ‘n’ Knockin’, which appeared in Europe at the tail-end of 1999. As outstanding a progression from Twisted as that album was from Big in Iowa, Bangin’ provided the band with its most extensive praise yet, including notices in Bucket Full of Brains, No Depression, and Amplifier magazines; as well as its first opportunity to tour Europe (Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, United Kingdom, Switzerland) at the beginning of 2000, and jaunts through the Midwest and New England. Such was the band’s reputation that it also began landing opening slots for such lauded peers as Dave Alvin, Dan Baird, the BoDeans, the Bottle Rockets, Cheap Trick, Alejandro Escovedo, Bob Mould, Drivin’ N’ Cryin’, and Jerry Jeff Walker, among others.

After the limited appearance of the live 4 Guys in a Trabi — which delightfully documented a show from its first German tour — the quartet began making treks to Brooklyn to begin working on its fourth studio album with Eric “Roscoe” Ambel, one of the catalysts of the ’80s roots revival as leader of the fabled Del Lords, in the producer’s seat. Released in Europe in mid-2001, Green Pop was a quantum leap ahead of anything Big in Iowa had previously recorded, an artistic apex that single-handedly vaulted the band into the upper level of roots rock bands. In Europe, the CD’s first pressing sold out in just two weeks, and on a second tour of the continent, the band routinely played to capacity crowds, including a headlining performance before up to 5,000 people at the Wolfstock Festival. After returning to the United States, House decided to leave the band due to family obligations, and he was replaced in early 2002 by Jason Erickson. (Source: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/big-in-iowa-mn0000060379/biography)

Cheers to you, Ken!

Trick or Treat

Concert Listings, Music

Some folks like to trick you with nasty Halloween candy:

But I’m going to treat you to two weeks’ worth of concerts, which will take us right up to the eve of All Hallows Eve.

It’s OK, Charlie Brown, we all gotta rock.

On Monday, JD Pinkus (of Butthole Surfers and the Melvins) plays Southgate House.

Local H is at Top Cats on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Madeleine Peyroux and Paula Cole play Memorial Hall and Illuminati Hotties play Top Cats.

Thursday:

  • Freedy Johnston is at Southgate
  • Jeff Beck rocks the Greg Brady
  • The Cadillac Three play Bogart’s
  • Baby Jake is at Top Cats
  • Bumpin Uglies are at Madison Live

The shows this Friday really run the gig gamut:

  • Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives play Memorial Hall (I’ll be at that show)
  • Joslyn & the Sweet Compression are at Madison Live
  • John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band… also part of the backing band for Steve Martin’s “King Tut”) and the Circle Band play Ludlow Garage
  • GWAR (the band that thinks every day is Halloween) plays Bogart’s

Saturday’s a busy day for live music as well:

  • The Redemptioners will be at Neltner’s Farm Fall Fest in the afternoon
  • The Record Company is at Madison Theater
  • Gogol Bordello plays Bogart’s
  • Joe Satriani is at Taft
  • Acoustic Alchemy plays Ludlow Garage
  • Ramble On Bros (Grateful Dead tunes) play Carriage House Farm

Next Monday (10/24), Judas Priest and Queensryche play the Mike Brady.

American Authors play Madison Live on Tuesday, 10/25. Our favorite American author is Franklin W. Dixon.

A riveting tale of Joe Hardy’s heroin addiction. Or not.

On Wednesday, 10/26, Corb Lund is at Southgate, and Michael Martin Murphey is at Ludlow Garage. Ol’ 3M can no longer play the west coast because “Wildfire” is a dirty word out there. However, he did compose the state ballad of New Mexico, “Land of Enchantment.”

Next Thursday, 10/27, features some fun band names on the bill:

  • Puddles Pity Party and Piff the Magic Dragon play Taft
  • Squirrel Nut Zippers play Ludlow Garage

Next Friday, 10/28, I get a real treat: Chuck Cleaver and Lisa Walker of Wussy play my house!

List members Ken Laube, Dr. David Reid, Dave Roberto, Jay Stowe and Matt Fellerhoff will be in the house too.

Next Saturday, 10/29:

  • The Lone Bellow plays Memorial Hall
  • EXTC is at Ludlow Garage
  • Paul Anka plays the Hard Rock Casino… talk about an oxymoron!
  • Jordan Smart is at Neltner’s Farm
  • Michael Schenker plays Bogart’s
  • The Newbees and Bad Ass Brass host the Flower Power Ball, a benefit for Shriner’s Hospital.
  • Dropkick Murphys play the Cindy Brady

On Sunday, October 30, Randy Steffen and The Poor Hours wrap up the Neltner’s Farm Fall Fest.

Guided by non-sucky Voices

A fun interview with Robert Pollard is here in the Sydney Morning Herald. And I totally agree with him about Sting:

This is Us

Album Cover of the Week

Debbie Does… Aerobics!

Rockin’ the ‘tober

97X, Concert Listings, Music, podcast

Well, September certainly went out like a Scorpions song.

And now it’s Rocktober! Let’s celebrate in style, by busting out a Rocktober rock block with two weeks o’ live shows.

Tonight, The Chicks play Riverbend, with Patty Griffin as the opener, and Sales plays Southgate.

On Wednesday, Parker Millsap is at Southgate with Ray Vietti as the opener, and A.J. Croce plays the songs of Jim Croce at Memorial Hall. (Looks like he found the time in a bottle that his dad was looking for.)

Thursday is action-packed:

  • The Supersuckers and the Electric Six are at Southgate
  • Madison Theater features An Evening with Robert Fripp & David Singleton
  • Kitchen Dwellers and Daniel Donato play Ludlow Garage

Friday, Monophonics play the Madison Theater, and the Downtowne Listening Room features Steve Saunders and Olivia Frances.

On Saturday:

  • Blackberry Smoke plays Annie’s
  • Neltner’s Farm Fall Fest features Pappy’s Jam Band (1:30-4:30 pm)
  • Southgate hosts the Cincinnati Guitar Fest
  • Ludlow Garage has Broken Arrow: The Music of Neil Young (sans the actual Neil Young, of course)

Next Sunday (10/9), Heather Roush & the Heartstrings play Neltner’s Farm.

On Monday, Oct. 10, Jon Spencer & the Hitmakers are at Southgate.

Norman Westberg of Swans plays Southgate on Tuesday, 10/11.

Calexico plays Memorial Hall on Wednesday, 10/12, with Ada Lea and Wonky Tonk as the openers.

BLINK festival kicks off in Cincinnati (and NKY!) on Thursday, 10/13. Live bands will be playing… but I’ll be damned if I can find a schedule on the Blink website. I DO know that The Airborne Toxic Event plays Bogart’s, the Lost Dog Street Band will be in Southgate’s main room and Cory Branan will be upstairs in the Revival Room.

On Friday, 10/14:

  • Shame and Viagra Boys play a SOLD OUT show at the Woodward Theater
  • Town Mountain is at Southgate
  • The Toadies, Reverend Horton Heat and Nashville P*ssy are at Madison Theater.

Saturday, October 15th is a busy day for live gigs:

  • Southern Culture on the Skids plays Southgate
  • of Montreal plays the Woodward
  • Ani DiFranco is at the Madison Theater
  • Walk the Moon and Trombone Shorty play the Carol Brady
  • The 5th Dimension floats into the Ludlow Garage
  • The Licking Pike Ramblers are at Neltner’s Farm

Kurt Vile & the Violators are at the Jan Brady on Sunday, 10/16. That same day, Neltner’s Farm features Gabbard & Company, a bluegrass band fronted by my co-worker Chris Gabbard. And Ludlow Garage hosts The Ballroom Thieves… which also is a nickname for tight men’s underwear.

via GIPHY

October 7th is a Bandcamp Friday

From the Bandcamp website: On the first Friday of the month since March of 2020, we’ve waived our revenue share to help support the many artists who have seen their livelihoods disrupted by the pandemic. Over the course of 21 days, fans have paid artists and labels more than $78 million dollars, helping cover rents, mortgages, groceries, medications, and much more. If you’re among the nearly 800,000 fans who have participated, thank you.

Raise a toast to Saint Joe Strummer

The new box set, Joe Strummer 002: The Mescaleros Years, came out recently. Here’s a promo video of one of the songs:

Shameless self-promotion

On our 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast, Dave Tellmann and I talked to Chuck Cowdery, who worked at the 97X predecessor WOXR in the mid 70’s. Chuck is now “the dean of American whiskey journalism” which is proof (ha!) positive that working in radio will drive you to drink.

Live shots

Kentucky Struts rockin’ around the big ass tree at Neltner’s Farm
The Deslondes at Whispering Beard

Album Cover of the Week

Album Cover of Next Week

Have a great fortnight!

Episode 87: Chuck Cowdery, on the same frequency as 97X

97X, podcast

Back in the mid-70’s, long before 97X came along, there was a free-form station on 97.7 FM in Oxford called WOXR.

Chuck Cowdery was part of that merry gang playing progressive rock… and whatever else they wanted to. Chuck was on the air in the early afternoons, and also served as the station’s operations manager and sold ads too. It’s clear from talking to Chuck that WOXR was on the same frequency as 97X, both literally and figuratively – and that station influenced a generation who, if they stuck around the area, were much more receptive to a modern rock format.

You can read Chuck’s post about his WOXR radio days right here on his blog. He worked alongside such luminaries as Rick Ludwin, who went on a long and storied career as an NBC programming exec (he’s the guy who fought to keep Seinfeld and Late Night with Conan O’Brien on the air) and Bob Michelson, who managed syndication for the “National Lampoon Radio Hour,” a steppingstone for most of the original cast of Saturday Night Live. (And yes, WOXR was one of the first stations to air that syndicated program.)

Chuck went from the spirit of radio to spirits – he’s been writing about whiskey and bourbon for a few decades now.

Check out Chuck’s blog here.

And here’s Conan O’Brien’s tribute to Chuck’s Miami U. and WOXR friend Rick Ludwin: