It’s a December to remember. Especially with 0% aper.

Unfortunately for music lovers like you (and me!), the ol’ Koncert Keeper tends to be mostly holiday shows. But there are a few nuggets worth digging for in the music mix. Let’s peek at our presents:

This Wednesday is Ween Wednesday at The Columbia in the East End. They’ll be spinning the live At The Cat’s Cradle album from 6-10 p.m. BYOB.

On Thursday, the Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg, Indiana hosts a free Songwriters in the Round show featuring Anne Bangert, Steve Covington, and Charlie Overman.

Friday shows:

• The Raisins (the Cincinnati ones, not the California ones) kick off a two-night stand at the Woodward
• MOTR hosts a free Indie Rock Extravagant-za with Girl Gordon, Kind Skies (Lexington), and Pout
• Moviola, the Wussy Duo, and Nervous Verbs play The Comet
• Damien Escobar is at Ludlow Garage. (If you go, tell him he spells his first name incorrectly.)
• Old Crow Medicine Show has a “Holiday Hootenanny” at the Taft Theatre
• Monday Night Big Band Holiday Show at the Redmoor
• Yung Gravy (not a Thanksgiving leftover) is at Ovation

Saturday:

• The Raisins are back at the Woodward. I have a ticket for this show but can no longer use it – if you want it (free!), hit me up via text, or the comments, or passenger pigeon.
• Dead Centric plays Stanley’s
• Noah Smith’s Crooner Circus (songwriter showcase) at Southgate
• Ludlow Garage has Aja, a tribute to Steely Dan

On Sunday, December 7:

• Soul Coughing plays the Madison Theater
• Steel Panther plays Bogart’s

Heart plays the Carol Brady on Monday, December 8.

(Carol had too much of Alice’s favorite dish: “Sam The Butcher’s Sausage Stuffing.”)

Thievery Corporation plays Bogart’s on Tuesday, December 9. (Fun fact: “Thievery Corporation” is the official LLC name for Ticketmaster.)

Oh, and the Phil DeGreg Trio plays “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at Memorial Hall on 12/8 and 12/9.

The Taft Theatre hosts back-to-back holiday shows:

• Straight No Chaser “Holiday Road” on Wednesday, 12/10
• Preservation Hall Jazz Band “Creole Christmas” on Thursday, 12/11

Gigs on Friday, 12/12:

• Eric Gales at Ludlow Garage
• Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder do a Christmas show at Memorial Hall
• The New Royals (funk revival) play two sets at MOTR

Saturday, 12/13:

• Samantha Fish, Cedric Burnside and Jon Spencer at the Ludlow Garage
• A Very Motherfolk Christmas at Bogart’s
• Cinci Folk Festival (Maria Carrelli, The Montvales, Jolly Old Hawk, et al.) at Southgate
• Crown Watts performs the music of Rush at the Madison Theater

Ludlow has Irish Christmas in America on Wednesday, 12/17.

Shows on Thursday, 12/18:

• Liberty Theater has another free Songwriters in the Round show with Rachel Holt and Naomi Carman
• Jess Lamb & Friends do a jam session at MOTR
• The SunBurners and Queen City Silver Stars play an Island Christmas show at The Redmoor (they do the same show on Friday 12/19 also)

Friday, 12/19:

• Erika Wennerstrom plays a sold-out solo show at The Columbia on Eastern Avenue. Didn’t get tickets? You can’t say I didn’t warn you:

That same evening, Over the Rhine kicks off their three-night “Acoustic Christmas” stand at Memorial Hall, and Chris Isaak plays the Hard Rock Casino

Saturday, 12/20:

• The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band at Southgate
• Over the Rhine at Memorial Hall
• “An Olde English Christmas” with Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits at Ludlow – there’s a matinee show and an evening gig. BYOB.

Then, the Xmas lull kicks in. But there’s still time to get the perfect gift for someone special.

On Boxing Day (Friday, 12/26), Ludlow has ESC4P3 (a Journey tribute band).

On Saturday, 12/27:

• Bershy plays Madison Live, with Multimagic and Phanta
• The Woodward Theater hosts a “Holiday Hangover” show with Sylmar and Mosant

And finally, the year will wrap up with a bait-and-switch bang as the Hot Red Chili Peppers host a Red Hot countdown to 2026 at the Ludlow Garage on New Year’s Eve.

That same day (Lord willin’), your humble scribe will be celebrating yet another birthday.

We love it live!

The Mynabirds (a.k.a. Laura Burhenn) put on a great show at The Columbia last night. Laura is super-nice, she had high praise for woxy.com, and she brought her dog along on tour.

The Cereal Killers masquerading as The Distractions were note-perfect on their Elvis Costello set, and Dot.Dot.Dot. did justice to their R.E.M. covers at The Village Theater in Covington.

Foxy John loves it live too!

Speaking o’ R.E.M., here’s a shot of list member John Fox (2nd from right) hanging out with Mike Mills and Steve Gorman (Black Crowes) after the Howl Owl Howl show in Indy. Steve and his brother (at right) went to WKU with John’s brother and sister.

Live on tape is pretty cool as well!

MJ Lenderman & The Wind on Austin City Limits is well worth the watch – go to the 26:37 mark for the start of their set.

Two thumbs up for new Crooked Fingers

Eric Bachmann and friends with a new tune called “Cold Waves” – so hot right now!

The “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast gets Freek-y

Dave and I chatted with Freekbass. Check it out here or wherever you get your podcasts, and check out the post on the 97Xbam website for some bonus content, including a throwback Sleep Theater show on video.

Letters to the editor

List member Bruce Frasure shared this bit of musical lore via Jason Narducy’s Instagram:

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Nearly seven years ago, I did a blog post about the sudden disappearance of the band Sons of Bill featuring brothers James, Sam, and Abe Wilson. Just this week, 1/3 of the mystery was solved via this comment:

And list member and official Old People Fall Headguard Hat Spokesmodel Dan Lewis aired yet another grievance after we published this photo in our last post:

You’re right, Dan, I am the worst. Speaking of Python, you might want to spend some of your retirement time tutoring the youth of America.

Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)

Yes, needlepoint rocks!

Uh, the photo perspective really highlights Steve’s pants, which are so tight we can tell what religion he is. Somebody please cover that with a Dawn throw pillow!

Ah, yes, a balm for sore eyes. But wait, is that Steve Gibbons in the back? Is he wearing pants?