We were sweatin’ to the oldies (and the new songs) for most of July.

But August has been refreshingly mild so far. (“Refreshingly mild” also is a great description for Chuck Mangione’s catalog. RIP, Chuck!)

Summer sounds are sweet. But they may not be Sweet. Newly minted list member Scott R. pointed out that the “Sweet” listed on the bill with Molly Hatchet and April Wine at the Rose this past weekend is not the real Sweet.

I spent the next several hours tumbling down the Sweet rabbit hole. It was totally worth it, if for no other reason than seeing Andy Scott’s… wait for it… sweet hairstyle:

Read more here.

Currently, there are two versions of Sweet that are active, this one we wrote about, which features the original member Andy Scott and another one which was formed by Steve Priest. But Priest passed away in 2020 and the band continues actively using the name and touring with no original members, especially in United States and Canada. While Scott’s version usually tours across Europe. Source: https://rockandrollgarage.com/sweet-announces-their-final-studio-album-full-circle/

We pride ourselves on our journalistic integrity (currently we’re 0-2 on both journalism and integrity) so we apologize for directing you to the not-so-Sweet imposters.

While we’re on the topic of switcheroos, I also need to note a Minnesota mix-up from my last post. Semisonic had to bail on their tour with Toad the Wet Sprocket and Sixpence None the Richer (Semisonic bassist John Munson had a stroke in February and is still recovering). But their Twin Cities* counterparts The Jayhawks are taking their slot on the bill tonight at the Rose Music Center.

*Jayhawks leader Gary Louris is from Toledo, the Glass City!

Another concert of note this evening is Emma Swift, playing a show at The Columbia in the East End.

Emma in an old church will be heavenly! There are still a few (pew) seats left. Get your tickets via Undertow (same company that books the house concerts I’ve hosted). I’ll see you there!

The Black Crowes, will be roosting at the Rose on Wednesday. And Ralph Stanley II and the Clinch Mountain Boys play Southgate, with the Whiskey Bent Valley Boys opening. That’s a lot of Boys.

It’s also another Ween Wednesday at The Columbia (4311 Eastern Avenue). Stop by anytime between 6-10 p.m., listen to a Ween album (this month’s is Live at Stubbs 7/2000) and meet some really cool people. Oh, and I might be there too – but I will leave if I’m messing up the vibes.

Tons o’ gigs on Thursday:

• Men I Trust are at the Mike Brady. (The show was originally supposed to be Men I Don’t Trust but they bailed out at the last minute.)
• Maria Carrelli and Buffalo Wabs and the Price Hill Hustle play the freebie at Washington Park
• RiversEDGE has a freebie too: The Eagles Project. (Maybe halfway through their set, substitute Don Henley will kick substitute Don Felder out of the band.)
• More free tunes: Rubén Albarrán (frontman of Café Tacvba) plays the Levitt in Dayton*
• The Temptations and the Four Tops play the Rose
• The Aronoff has Piano Men: Generations (a tribute to Elton John and Billy Joel)
• the Voices of America country festival kicks off at Voice of America Park in West Chester – Darius Rucker and Carly Pearce are on the bill.
• Annie’s hosts Spafford… not to be confused with OG Wheel of Fortune co-host Susan Stafford.

*that’s a new music list record for most diacritical marks in one bullet point! We are well on our way to journalistic integrity!

On Friday evening, The Funky Ducks play Stanley’s. Two of the Ducks played an acoustic set at the home of list members Chuck and Christine Ackerman this past Friday, and they sounded great!

(I know what you’re thinking right now: “How did that moron get invited to Chuck and Christine’s house?” The short answer is: “They needed someone to clean the pool.”)

The Arcade Music Festival also kicks off a two-day stand in Covington on Friday, with strong “old school MPMF” vibes:

The festival transforms the underutilized, historic Arcade Tunnel on Pike Street into a main stage with immersive light activations by BLINK artist Dan Shields. Featuring 50+ bands, 40 vendors, and performances across 8 venues, it turns downtown into a walkable celebration of sound, art, and community.  (Source: CityBeat) Get tickets here.

Other Friday gigs:

• America plays the Rose
• Ashes & Arrows are at the Levitt, with M. Ross Perkins
• Andrew Dice Clay… yes, he’s still around… plays the Ovation in Newport
• Carrying Underwear headlines the VOA Country Festival. (Wait, make that Carrie Underwood. Carrying Underwear is at another festival.)
• Speaking of carrying underwear, Ludlow Garage hosts Hollywood Nights (please note the spelling of “nights,” this is a Bob Seger tribute, not a tribute to The Hollywood Knights, that classic 1980 movie starring master thespian Tony Danza)

Oh, and my neighbor Jim Tucker has an art exhibition opening on Friday at Redtree Coffee & Art in OTR. More here. The exhibit runs through 10/10.

On Saturday, Arcade Fest continues in Covington, Indigenous plays a free show at the Levitt, and Ludlow Garage has Lovesong: The Cure tribute.

Oh, and this guy is headlining the VOA festival:

He’s billed as “Hardy” but I’m 95% sure it’s David Arquette doing some sort of Joaquin Phoenix performance art thing.

According to chief meteorologist Nelly, it will be getting hot in heerre at Riverbend on Sunday.

Ja Rule, Eve, and “special guests” are also on the bill. There’s no Guest more special than this one:

According to Far Out Magazine, the Prince of Darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne, watched “This is Spinal Tap” at a movie theatre in 1984 and didn’t find it funny. But it wasn’t because he was offended by the satirization of rock ‘n’ roll debauchery as Steven Tyler was; as the outlet explains, Osbourne thought he was watching an actual documentary about a real-life band. Source: https://www.grunge.com/1184003/why-steven-tyler-and-ozzy-osbourne-didnt-like-this-is-spinal-tap/

R.I.P. Ozzy. And please note that the “Nelly” headlining the Riverbend show is American rapper Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. and not Half-Pint’s nemesis from Little House on the Prairie.

Also on Sunday, “Bailey Zimmerman” is the headliner for the VOA festival. Please note this is not the former Arkansas Razorbacks women’s b-ball guard whose father went to high school with your humble scribe.

The Flaming Lips and Modest Mouse are at the Marcia Brady next Tuesday (8/12). Davy Jones said Marcia had some flaming lips.

Train plays a post-game concert at Great American Ball Park (former home of legendary salesperson Dan “Reds in 2025!” Lewis) on Wednesday, August 13. Danielle Nicole is at Ludlow. Flamy Grant (great name) is in Southgate’s Revival Room. And Chuck Brisbin & the Tuna Project play the free “Fountain Blues” series on Fountain Square. (Please note it’s Chuck and Tuna, not Charlie Tuna.)

Next Thursday, August 14:

• Brit Floyd plays the PNC Pavilion
• Hippies & Cowboys are at the Woodward
• Darrin Hacquard and Williams Matheny play the Washington Park Roots series
• MojoFlo (a neo-funk band, not the Progressive spokesperson) is at the Levitt

Shows on Friday August 15:

• Smithereens play the Ludlow Garage, with John Cowsill (of the Cowsills) handling lead vocals
• Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Bobby Rush play the Lawrenceburg Event Center
• The Woods play the Liberty Theater
• The old Annie’s has Powerslave: The Iron Maiden Experience… but wait, there’s more, the opener is Whitesnake’d: a Tribute to Whitesnake!

Plenty o’ shows on Saturday, August 16:

• RiversEDGE in Hamilton has Jared’s Jam, featuring Neal Francis and Crowe Boy
• Eilen Jewell plays a freebie at the Levitt in Dayton, with Basura Basura as the opener (it means “trash trash”… thanks Duolingo!)
• The Garcia Project (tribute to the Jerry Garcia Band) is at the Woodward Theater
• Lil Wayne is at Riverbend
• Screeching Weasel plays the old Annie’s (please note that “Screeching Weasel” is the Chicago punk band, and not the punk who closes Taft Road when he’s in town)

On Sunday, August 17:

• The Sadies play Southgate
• Brit Floyd makes their 2nd appearance of the summer at the Rose
• Skillet plays the Fraze

Please note that Skillet is a Christian rock band, and not what mamaw uses to make her famous cornbread.

On Tuesday, August 19, Styx, Kevin Cronin (of REO Speedwagon) and Don Felder (the real one, not the one who got kicked out of The Eagles Project) play Riverbend, and Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox is at Ludlow Garage.

The SNL nepo-baby video crew Please Don’t Destroy does a live show at Bogart’s on Wednesday, August 20. And Frontier Folk Nebraska and the Williamson Brothers are at Southgate.

On Thursday, August 21:

• Noah Smith’s Crooner Circus (a recurring songwriter showcase) rolls into the Southgate House Revival Room (lineup is here)
• Rachel Mousie and the Casey Campbell band play Washington Park
• Ludlow has Black Circle, a Brazilian band doing 90s grunge songs.

We love it live!

Dinosaur Jr. and Snail Mail both rocked the Bobby Brady. List members Ken “Lobby Boy” Laube (Fridays, 11a-3p on Inhailer Radio), Jarrod M., Craig D., and Mighty Joe Sampson also were in the house.

My son’s band, The Collies, played a fun patio show at Anderson Township Pub. (Dumbass Dad forgot to take any photos…) Great to hang out with list members Whit, Barb, Dan, Anne, Phil, and a bunch of other folks.

Nothing’s more psycho than this

Hundreds of ukuleles doing the Talking Heads in Dublin. Why not? (Hat tip to list member Chuck W. for the link.)

Fashion Alert!

The Jeff Tweedy decree makes sense. (Hat tip… mine doesn’t have a fake flower clipped to it… to list member Michael O. for the link.)

News alert!

In a related story, the animatronic Make Believe Band is now seeking a new lead singer.

Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)

Carl’s right, we need to live a little. Put on a fringed shirt, sit on a fence, and sing a love song to a horse…

Carl Smith’s horseplay is no match for Xavier Cugat mounting a big baguette. Better wrap it in plastic, X, or you’ll get Celiac Disease!