May the Concert Force be with you

97X, Concert Listings, Music

I still owe you a beer, because Cereal Killers had to cancel their Earth Day gig:

I blame global climate change. But I’ll try to stay positive, like CK and The Hold Steady advise.

Rather than lament what could have been, let’s take a look at the future.

Tonight, Ben Folds plays Music Hall with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, and Shakey Graves is at Bogart’s. Music Hall has an orchestra pit, and Bogart’s is a pit… same difference.

Tomorrow night, Tesla plays the Greg Brady. Greg used to drive a Tesla.

Too soon?

On Friday night, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit kick off a two-night stand at the Cindy Brady. My lovely bride and I will be at that show courtesy of list members Whit and Barb Gardner.

Also on Friday, Will Kimbrough plays Southgate, and “Tusk” (either a Fleetwood Mac tribute or a tribute to Smedley the original mascot for Cap’n Crunch Peanut Butter) plays Ludlow Garage.

Jason Isbell will be whipping out his 400 Unit again on Saturday at the Peter Brady. (That’s not as dirty as it sounds.)

Speaking of not dirty, you can’t get more squeaky clean (and let’s be honest, lily white) than the Madeira-Silverwood Presbyterian Church. And that’s the venue for a Downtowne Listening Room show featuring 3 Nashville singer-songwriters: Rob Harris, Marcia Ramirez and Mike Waldron.

Another Saturday night gig is “An evening on the farm with The Tillers” at Lost Bridge Beverage Co. in North Bend. (Weather permitting.)

August Burns Red plays Bogart’s on Sunday, and the “Terrible, Thanks for Asking” tour comes to Woodward Theater.

On Monday, May 1st, Memorial Hall hosts Majesty – A Tribute to Queen. Rumor has it Harry and Megan are miffed that they aren’t on the guest list.

On Tuesday, May 2nd, Snail Mail plays the Woodward. List member Mighty Joe Sampson and I will be there, bringing the average age up by 15 years.

Father John Misty plays Bogart’s on Wednesday, May 3rd. Speaking of misty, Bogart’s now has a misting tent… wait, my bad, that’s actually just spray from a broken toilet.

Other 5/3 gigs:

  • Robert Plant and Alison Krauss play the Rose Music Center in scenic Huber Heights
  • Gary Clark Jr. is at the Cindy Brady

Kamasi Washington is at Ludlow Garage on Thursday, 5/4 and Memorial Hall is really living up to the “memorial” in their name, with yet another tribute: The Electric Light Orchestra Experience… “the American ELO!”

Next Friday is Cinco de Mayo… a day when many Americans like to pay tribute to a historic victory by the Mexican Army by… getting hammered on Corona and margaritas?

That’s kinda f*cked up… speaking of which, F*cked Up is playing the Woodward that night. Jess Lamb & the Factory are at City Nights (like a local version of Austin City Limits). And Ludlow Garage hosts Live at the Filmore (Allman Bros. tribute).

Next Saturday, May 6th:

  • Houndmouth plays the Ovation (yes, the Ovation, not using that ridiculous corporate name)
  • Billy Idol sneers his way through a show at PNC Pavilion
  • The Amy Ray Band (she of Indigo Girls fame) plays Ludlow Garage with Kevn Kinney as the opener – that’s a heapin’ helpin’ of ATL goodness!
  • Sylmar, Massing and Moonbeau (that’s 3 local bands, not a law firm) are at Southgate.
  • Some horses run around a track in Louisville.

On Sunday, May 7th, Australian songwriter John Butler plays Memorial Hall.

Distant Early Warning

The Beths are playing the Woodward on August 21st… if you don’t go to that show, we can no longer be friends.

“Future” Reminder

Dave Tellmann and I will be co-hosting a 97X book event at the Mercantile Library on Thursday, May 11th. Here’s how Dave sold the Merc on us:

Album Cover of the Fortnight

Wow, I’m shocked that this album has a Parental Advisory!

Episode 94: A tribute to Kerry Gray

97X, podcast

Kerry Gray was the program director at 97X in the late 80s/early 90s, and a radio “lifer.” He was a real live wire – super-energetic, enthusiastic, funny as heck… and also completely into the music. In fact, Kerry and Phil Manning teamed up to expand the back catalogue of the station, and they also launched the first ever “Modern Rock 500” in 1989.

In this episode, Julie Maxwell, Julie Maxwell, Jeff Rohrs, Mike Taylor and Steve Baker join Dave and Damian to share their remembrances, and the episode wraps up with some archival audio of Kerry and Brett Heartz on-air at 97X back in October of 1989.

Kerry also launched the radio career of “Bubba the Love Sponge” – whom Kerry met at a nightclub in Terre Haute, Indiana, then brought onto his show as an intern. In 2016, Kerry was on his way a new job as co-host of a syndicated morning show with Bubba in Florida when he was in a car accident. At the hospital, testing revealed multiple tumors on his brain… and Kerry battled brain cancer for a year before passing away in March of 2017 at the age of 50.

Very fitting that Kerry’s celebration of life was a dance party.

KERRY began his radio career at 15 and spent 30+ years in radio, which included WEQX/MANCHESTER, VT-ALBANY, NY, KBCO/DENVER, WEDG (103.3 THE EDGE)/BUFFALO, and CJXY (Y108)/HAMILTON, ON.  

KERRY had a larger-than-life personality and a really great heart. His presence made people around him want to be better. He was one of the sweetest and weirdest guys I ever knew.” — former WEDG Program Director James Kurdziel

Source

Kerry Gray, far left, tailgating for the Indy 500.

Dave Tellmann at left, with Kerry Gray and Bubba the Love Sponge (both leaning on car – Bubba in red jacket).

In the episode, we talk about Kerry’s car catching fire in the Oxford parking lot of 97X. Here’s the aftermath:

Brett Heartz and Kerry do their car show model impersonation.

Spring has sprung… and sung

Concert Listings, Music

How-dee!

Let’s take a gander at that there Koncert Keeper, shall we?

Jukebox the Ghost plays the Woodward on Wednesday. Jukebox the Ghost: not as cool as Casper, but way cooler than Casper’s cousin Spooky.

On Thursday, Keily Connell plays the Cincinnati Zoo’s “Tunes & Blooms.” Admission is free after 5 p.m. and the music starts at 6.

Also on Thursday, The Blue Wisp Big Band plays Bircus Brewing in Ludlow, KY, and Lucy Wainwright Roche plays Southgate’s Revival Room. Lucy is the daughter of Loudon Wainwright III and Suzzy Roche of The Roches, so she’s like the folkie version of Prince Harry, only with talent.

Hyryder plays the old Annie’s this Friday.

Saturday night live:

  • Nickel Creek at the Cindy Brady
  • Rob Fetters plays another livestream from his website
  • The Menus play Bircus
  • GZA of Wu-Tang Clan plays Ludlow Garage

When I was growing up in rural Arkansas (explains a lot, doesn’t it?), our shotgun shack had well water with a nasty aftertaste, so the only way I could stomach it was to mix it with Tang. Basically, I was a founding member of the “Woo, Tang!” clan.

This Sunday, Memorial Hall has An Evening with The Petersens. I think George Petersen is part of that group.

That same evening, The Weight (featuring members of late-era The Band and the Levon Helm Band) plays Ludlow Garage.

Lewis Capaldi plays the Bobby Brady next Monday (4/17).

The Tony-winning musical Hadestown, written by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell, is at the Aronoff April 18-30th. I hate to brag, but I’ve picked up several Tonys myself.

Tuesday, April 18th is Tax Day.

On Wednesday, April 19, Sunny Day Real Estate is at Bogart’s, and Marc Broussard plays Memorial Hall.

You’ll find some Hot Tuna at the old Annie’s on Thursday, April 20th. And by “Hot Tuna” we mean the band fronted by Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady from Jefferson Airplane, not some stolen cans of Star-Kist… although you could probably find that at the flea market in the parking lot.

Other 4/20 shows:

  • Scott Miller (nee V-Roys) plays Southgate’s main room and Rachel Baiman is in the Revival Room
  • Carriers at the Cincinnati Zoo for Tunes & Blooms

On Friday, April 21st, The Robert Cray Band plays Memorial Hall, The Band of Heathens is at Southgate, and Clutch is at the Carol Brady.

Carol wins the car accident court case vs. Uncle Fester. Now that’s clutch!

On Saturday, April 22nd, Cereal Killers play an outdoor Earth Day gig at Fries Cafe.

By now, you should know the drill for a CK gig: show up and drink up – first beer’s on me.

Other shows on 4/22:

  • Snarky Puppy at the Tiger Brady
  • Strangelove (Depeche Mode tribute) at Ludlow Garage.

On Sunday, 4/23, Steve Poltz plays the Woodward Theater

See you later, Seymour

Lest we forget, legendary A&R man and record label owner Seymour Stein — who died on 4/2 — got his start at King Records in Cincinnati. He talks about it in this Fresh Air interview:

Album Cover of the Week – for real!

Not doing a goofy album cover this time around – it’s the new album from Gladie called Don’t Know What You’re In Until You’re Out. My daughter ordered it for me (#proudDadMoment) and there was a delay in delivery due to vinyl pressing challenges. This handwritten note warmed my heart: