Nearly five years ago, Dave and Damian started a podcast about 97X. They had no idea what they were doing.
They still don’t know what they’re doing, but they DO know that as they stumbled through nearly a hundred episodes, they had a blast reconnecting with station staffers, listeners, advertisers, record reps, and even some bands that made the station so special.
But now they’ve caught up with nearly everyone affiliated with the station (in both the 97X and woxy.com era).
They had the distinct privilege of co-hosting the Mercantile Library’s event with 97X book author Robin James.
They helped usher the 2023 97X Modern Rock 500 from crazy idea to amazing reality, thanks to more than 30 former DJs, Dave’s son Jack (producer extraordinaire) and our friends at Inhailer Radio.
Dave and Damian sucked at promoting the podcast, but somehow, some way, through the magic that was and IS 97X, listeners found it:
“I am not sure you guys realize just what impact having this modern rock format has had on my life… your podcast has brought about all of these thoughts, feelings, and memories of the soundtrack of 21 years on my life. I thank you for playing your part in it back then and I thank you for creating this podcast to help me process just what those 21 years have meant to me.”
“Anyway, I know you’ve heard it before, but you did a hell of a job preserving the mental health of lots of weird sullen people in our corner of the Rust Belt. I cried real drunken tears from Baltimore when the terrestrial signal died and I’ll never be able to tell you how important you all were in helping me get to adulthood.”
“Thanks for the pod. It is like finally being able to talk with someone about the treasure that was WOXY.”
“There are so many bands and songs that make me think so fondly of 97X. 97X will forever have a place in my heart.”
“That was about the only good thing about where I lived: 97X came in crystal clear and was like an oasis among the fields of corn. The music you played opened my mind and heart to soundscapes so different than anything I’d ever known. You took me to places I was sure I’d never get to go. How lucky was I!… Really I just wanted to let you know how much 97X meant to me in my teen years. You truly saved me. I can’t fully express how much you did. But I am Here in large part because of this station. You gave me hope and an outlet. I heard you, and my spirit felt heard in return.
Thank you, friend, for listening. So long for now…
Wow, is it June already? June: our favorite month AND our favorite Johnny duet partner.
I know I’ve been slacking on keeping you abreast of the live local gigs. May was a bit busy. Really!
We had one kid graduate from O.U. (“Oh yeah!”):
[Peter was a triple major (Data Analytics, Finance, and Business Information Systems) and graduated summa cum laude. If you help him find a job, I will pay a finder’s fee (out of the savings on my healthcare plan and grocery bill).]
Lest I forget, our youngest, Andrew, also put on an overpriced robe, as he graduated from Walnut Hills High School:
This fall, he’ll be wearing ugly candy cane/barber pole overalls at Indiana U.
Since we last chatted, there was a fabulous 97X book event at the Mercantile Library.
Chuck Cleaver and Lisa Walker from Wussy played my house yet again!
My podcast pal Dave Tellmann and I even made it onto Channel 12, where we were interviewed by former 97X Breakfast Club intern Jen Dalton… and I wore a headset that made me look like the spitting image of noted Hollywood heartthrob Clint Howard:
But the really rewarding part of the whole Modern Rock 500 was stuff like this:
OK, the May madness is over. Let’s turn to June’s tunes. (BTW, I’ll be covering a full month’s worth of concerts, as our whole fam-damily will soon be off to Alaska to see the glaciers before they all melt.)
The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band plays a free gig at Levitt Pavilion in Dayton tonight.
On Friday:
Damien Jurado plays the Woodward Theater (good dude, just bad spelling of his first name)
Caitlin Rose and Andrew Combs are at Southgate
The Harmed Brothers play as part of the free Fountain Square “Indie Fridays” concert series (full summer lineup is here)
Zac Brown will perform after the Reds-Brewers game at GABP. (Look for list member and Reds sales all-star Dan Lewis in the front row – he’ll be the shirtless guy with “I ❤ Zac” painted on his chest.)
Saturday has a whole slew of gigs:
Wussy plays a house concert in Dayton, KY (of course I’ll be there, I’m a stalker)
Barenaked Ladies (not to be confused with Shirtless Dan Lewis) play PNC, with Semisonic and Del Amitri also on the bill (Del Amitri – that’s the band that was on Late Night with David Letterman when I was in the studio audience!)
Adrian Belew and Jerry Harrison are doing a “Remain in Light” concert at Newport Music Hall in Columbus
Sawyer Point has a free concert featuring Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, Jake Speed, and Henhouse Prowlers
.38 Special and Loverboy play the Fraze in Dayton. If you enjoy cheesy 80s videos, this one is tough to top:
Dallas Moore has an album release show at Southgate on Sunday, with Ricky Nye also on the bill.
On Tuesday, June 6th, All Time Low plays the Newport venue that has reached an all-time low with its god-awful corporate name… which is why we still call it the Ovation.
On Wednesday, June 7th, Rose Music Center has the Kenny Wayne Shepherd “Backroads Blues Festival” with Eric Gales and King Solomon Hicks. That same evening, The Minks play Southgate.
Next Thursday, 6/8, Sylmar and Electric Indigo play the free “Rockin’ the Roebling” show at the Moerlein Lager House in Smale Park. (Full summer schedule is here.)
Hank Williams Jr. and Old Crow Medicine Show are at Riverbend on Friday, June 9th.
On Saturday, June 10th, Cereal Killers play Big Ash Brewing. Tell a buddy, bring a friend, but don’t you dare miss this big show! First beer’s on me.
Recent text reply from a friend/list member when I mentioned the Cereal Killers yet again:
Maybe, but I don’t know if I can amply express how damn good they are. If you enjoyed the 97X Modern Rock 500, you’ll love this gig.
I feel duty-bound to mention the other shows that evening, albeit whilst holding my nose:
Fraze has the “I Love the 90s Tour” featuring Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath, Treach of Naughty by Nature, Kid N Play, All-4-One, 2 Live Crew, DJ Kool, and Color Me Badd. And Ludlow Garage hosts Bronson Arroyo’s tribute to Pearl Jam. It’s kinda like “pick your poison”… only without any members of Poison.
Sunday, 6/11 Jim Lauderdale plays the Southgate, with Lillie Mae.
Dead & Company make their final tour stop in Cincinnati on Tuesday, June 13th.
That same evening, Pat Metheny is at Memorial Hall.
The Pixies play the Mike Brady on Wednesday, June 14th with Franz Ferdinand and Bully – great triple bill!
On Thursday, 6/15, Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers and Dex Romweber (Flat Duo Jets for the win!) play Southgate. Love the gig poster:
That same evening, The John Doe Folk Trio plays a free gig at the Levitt Pavilion in Dayton — and they play a ticketed show on Friday, 6/16 at the Woodward, with Chuck & Lisa (Wussy Duo…. tired of playing my house) as the opener.
Other 6/16 shows:
Lyle Lovett & his Large Band play Ovation
Bruce Cockburn (“it’s pronounced ‘COE-burn’!”) and Dar Williams are at Ludlow Garage
The Rebirth Brass Band plays Memorial Hall
Matchbox 20 is at Riverbend
On Saturday, June 17th:
Jimmie Vaughan plays Ludlow Garage
Ben Folds is at the Rose
500 Miles to Memphis plays a 20th anniversary show at Southgate
Counting Crows and Dashboard Confessional are at PNC on Sunday, June 18th.
W.I.T.C.H. and Death Valley Girls are at the Woodward on Tuesday, June 20th. Also that night, Mike Gordon is at Madison Theater and Young The Giant and Milky Chance play the Jan Brady.
Gigs on Wednesday, June 21st:
James Taylor & band are at Riverbend
Peter Frampton plays the Rose
Ludlow Garage has a 70s Rock Revival Troubadour Project
Tracy Walker plays a free concert in Burnet Woods (7pm start)
On Thursday, June 22nd:
The Chris Knight Duo and Mic Harrison (V-Roys, Superdrag) play Southgate (American Aquarium has a Southgate date listed on their website, but it’s not on Southgate’s site… guess you’ll have to go and see who shows up)
Peter Frampton comes alive at the PNC Pavilion
Ally Venable plays Ludlow Garage
Stripmall Ballads and Ray Vietti play the Washington Park “Roots Revival” freebie (full summer schedule is here).
On Friday, 6/23:
AJR is at Ovation
Melvin Seals and the Jerry Garcia Band play Ludlow
Sloan plays a freebie at Fountain Square (at least according to the Fountain Square website… it’s not listed on Sloan’s website). Don’t sleep on Sloan, they are great. I’d definitely be at that gig if I weren’t watching glaciers melt.
Saturday, June 24th:
My Morning Jacket plays the Ovation
The SteelDrivers are at the old Annie’s with Stringus Khan and the Restless Leg String Band
Woodward Theater has Victoria Victoria featuring Charlie Hunter
The Surfrajettes and The Nailers play Southgate
Richard Marx plays the Fraze
Debbie Gibson is at the Taft. I wonder how her kid is now…
Legendary bluesman Buddy Guy plays the Rose on Sunday, June 25th, with next gen blues legend Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Ally Venable on the bill as well. Also, Jesus Jones will be “Right here, right now” if the “here” is Ludlow and the “now” is 6/25.
Toad the Wet Sprocket plays Taft on Monday, 6/26, with Marcy Playground as the opener. That show is “bring your own sex and candy.” That same evening, the Doobie Brothers play the Rose.
Best What’s Happening!! episode ever!
What’s that you say? You’d love to see some bonus What’s Happening!! music content? Your wish is my command:
Santana plays the Rose on Tuesday, June 27th. Or maybe it’s Cheech Marin from Cheech & Chong… I always get those two mixed up.
On Wednesday, June 28th, The Deslondes play Southgate with Esther Rose as the opener (strong double bill!) and Earth, Wind & Fire (strong triple elements!) are at the PNC.
And June goes out with a bang on Friday the 30th:
Dave Alvin & the Guilty Ones play a free show at Levitt Pavilion in Dayton (I’ll be at that gig)
Greensky Bluegrass plays the Rose
The Steel Wheels are in Southgate’s main room
Maurice Mattei & the Tempers play a free show in Southgate’s Lounge (10pm)
Ambrosia is at Ludlow Garage
Homecoming when I’m not home
The National announced their lineup for this year’s Homecoming Festival.
I’ll be out of town when it’s going on, and to be honest, I’m not overly distraught that I’ll miss it.
“20th Century” is right… and I’m alright with that
JBM is booking shows at the 20th Century Theater in Oakley once again. The acts tend to skew toward an older demographic, but this old man is cool with that. I saw two great shows from septuagenarians in May – Richard Thompson and Junior Brown.
Up next, the young whippersnapper Bob Mould (a mere 62!) on October 22nd.
Oh! You Pretty Things
Book publishing guru Jane Friedman tipped me off (in her free Electric Speed newsletter) to this cool site called Album Whale where you can create visually appealing lists of albums to share with friends.
Album Covers of the Month
Listen your way to that beach body you’ve always wanted.
On May 11th, author Robin James discussed her new book The Future of Rock & Roll: 97X and the Fight for True Independence at The Mercantile Library, with your friendly neighborhood podcast hosts Dave and Damian. The event was streamed via Crowdcast, but due to the dreaded technical difficulties, the first 10 minutes of the discussion have been lost to the ether. However, we reconnected with Amy Hunter from the Mercantile Library staff so she could reprise her intro and then this episode picks up the discussion when the audio came onto the Crowdcast feed.
The event was co-sponsored by Downbound Books and Shake It Records. Approximately 200 folks were in attendance, many sporting their vintage 97X and band t-shirts:
Amy B. Hunter gave the intro. Learn more about The Mercantile Library here.
Dave – the James Lipton of modern rock.
Many 97X staffers and loyal listeners were in attendance. L to R above: Gentleman Jim Mercer, Dave, Robin James, Damian, Matt Harris.
Bill “Billy D” Douglas and his lovely bride serve as book models. (If you’d like to order a copy or three of Robin’s book, you can do so here through Downbound Books.)
Howard Cohen from Great Lakes Brewing supplied the adult beverages. (Howard also is lead singer of the local band Cereal Killers.)
I let you down yet again (you should be used to it by now). I’m tardy with my list of gigs so I didn’t get to tell you about the New Pornographers show at Memorial Hall last night. That said, the show was sold out. Besides, I don’t know why people need New Pornographers, the old ones still work just fine.
Tonight, Southgate House is hosting The Nude Party. (It’s a band, get your mind out of the old pornographers gutter.)
OK, let’s focus on the future. The Future of Rock and Roll, that is. Robin James wrote the book about 97X, and thanks to Northside’s Downbound Books and Shake It Records, she’ll be talking about it with a couple of knuckleheads at the Mercantile Library this Thursday. If you’re one of the faithful 200 who registered for this event, you can hear from Robin, get a book signed and enjoy some tasty Great Lakes Brewing Co. beverages courtesy of our ol’ pal Howard Cohen (Cereal Killers… more on them later).
If you can’t attend in person, you can stream the event on Crowdcast here. (Great Lakes Beer not included.)
Tomorrow night, Richard Thompson plays a solo acoustic show at the 20th Century Theater. I’ll be there, of course. Forget about King Charles III, to me, King Richard is the Brit who rules.
KT Tunstall and Martin Sexton are also playing a double bill tomorrow, at Memorial Hall.
On Thursday, if you can’t make the Merc, Memorial Hall is hosting An Evening with the Cowboy Junkies.
Wait, wrong sort of Cowboy Junkie…
Friday night, Chuck Cleaver and Lisa Walker from the band Wussy are playing at my house. (Apparently they didn’t learn their lesson from the first time I hosted them back in October of 2022 and totally fanboyed out.)
John “Don’t call me Cougar” Mellencamp also kicks off a two-night stand at the Aronoff on Friday. And The Comet hosts BurritoFest 2023 on Friday and Saturday.
The Taft Theatre has some interesting shows lined up:
An Evening with Natalie Merchant on Sunday
The Wood Brothers with Shovels & Rope on Tuesday, May 16th
David Cross on Thursday, May 18th
Roger McGuinn does a “Songs & Stories” gig at Memorial Hall on 5/18.
On Friday, May 19th, Cereal Killers play at MadTree Brewing in Oakley. 7-11 p.m. First beer’s on me.
I won’t be dressed like that… unless you ask nicely.
That same evening, Frank Turner plays Bogart’s and Leo Kottke is at Ludlow Garage.
On Saturday, 5/20, Dopapod is at the Madison Theater, Steve Goodie and Eric Gnezda play a comedy music show in Florence, KY, and Fountain Square hosts the KISS tribute band Strutter.
The Gem City shines
Dayton, Ohio (birthplace of flight… and the Deal sisters) has some really nice freebie shows coming up this summer at the Levitt Pavilion downtown, including Dave Alvin, John Doe, Tab Benoit, Ernie Johnson from Detroit, and Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys. The first gig is The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band on Thursday, June 1st. Check out the full lineup here.
Mailbag
List member Mighty Joe Sampson, a resident of a posh Cincy suburb, wrote:
This longtime subscriber is formally objecting to your slanderous comment about Madeira aka “the friendly town.”
You’re right, Joe. Madeira is very accepting of strangers… as long as they follow the instructions to leave the DoorDash food delivery on the front porch.
Those wacky Brits… I don’t know how in the heck you can guard a horse when your helmet obstructs 70% of your field of vision and your “chin” strap is well above your chin. But… “tradition!”
After 97X signed off in 2004, “the future of rock and roll” stayed alive as woxy.com – with many fits and starts (and stops) along the way. “Angel investors”… LaLa.com… Future Sounds… Oxford… Longworth Hall in Cincinnati… Austin, Texas. The dot-com version had several homes, and more lives than a cat, before finally ending quite abruptly on March 23, 2010.
We talk to the folks who experienced all those ups and downs, and lived to tell the tale: Shiv, Mike Taylor, Joe Long, Brian Niesz, and Bryan J. Miller share their stories of the woxy.com era.
Matt Shiv (l) (music director) and Mike Taylor (program director) from WOXY.com
One of the highlights of the move to woxy.com (and the move to a former recording studio in Cincinnati) was the expansion of live, in-studio performances – the fabled “Lounge Acts” engineered by Brian Niesz.
And Brian Niesz, who moved back to Cincinnati after the Austin demise of woxy.com, now works at WCPO-TV (Channel 9) and revived the Lounge Acts format.
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.
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.
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
If I told you that I’ll be co-hosting a book discussion at The Mercantile Library, you’d think it was some sort of early April Fools’ Day joke, right?
Can’t blame you for that. But it’s legit:
You can register here and pre-order the book here.
Speaking of books, let’s see who has booked a gig in this area over the next fortnight.
On Wednesday, The Queers play Madison Live, with Suzi Moon and The Raging Nathans also on the bill. And a Frank Zappa tribute band called The Furious Bongos will be playing Joe’s Ludlow Garage.
Thursday, Sonny Landreth and Cindy Cashdollar play Southgate, and Beth Harris wraps up her March residency at The Loon, with Abiyah and Heather Redman.
Thursday also is Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds. List member Dan “Laying the groundwork for 2024” Lewis will be throwing out the first pitch… to companies who haven’t purchased any Reds advertising yet!
Friday evening, Steve Forbert plays Southgate, Leggy has a free album release show at MOTR (10 p.m. start), Emmaline is at Ludlow Garage, and Orleans is doing a 50th anniversary acoustic show at Memorial Hall.
Guess what happens on Saturday?
Oh, and an Irish band called Seafoam Green is playing Camp Springs Tavern that evening.
The band is highly recommended by the tavern’s proprietor, Keith “Smoovie” Neltner. Irish folks in a tavern… what could possibly go wrong? (Don’t tell Liam Neeson I said that.)
Also on Saturday, Jim Messina will be at Ludlow Garage.
Next Monday, April 3rd, Combo Chimbita plays the Woodward Theater.
On Wednesday, April 5th, Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers hit Southgate.
Great news for my inner teenager: Rush is playing Memorial Hall on Thursday, April 6th!
Wait, upon further review, that’s TOM Rush. The good news is he’s not a fly-by-night artist. The bad news for teenage me is he’s also not a “Fly By Night” artist.
Another 4/6 gig of note is Fantastic Negrito at Ludlow Garage.
Friday, 4/7, Ellis Paul plays a 30th Anniversary Tour show at the Redmoor in Mt. Lookout, and Molly Hatchet tears up Ludlow Garage.
A different Ludlow takes the spotlight on Saturday, April 8th. Bircus Brewing in Ludlow, KY has music from the Tom Petty cover band Tom the Torpedoes.
On Sunday, April 9th, after you find all the Easter eggs, Ben Levin plays Schwartz’s Point.
Ahead of her time
Given what we know now about clergy abuse scandals, isn’t it time to reexam Sinead O’Connor’s Saturday Night Live appearance back in 1992? This episode of the Sound Opinions podcast weighs in, and cohosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot (two longtime Chicago music writers/critics) interview Kathryn Ferguson, the co-writer/director of a documentary about Sinead.
https://youtu.be/-VLy1A4En4U
An artist’s job is sometimes to create the difficult conversations that need to be had.
Sinead O’Connor
Alright, sorry to get so serious on you. Let’s lighten the mood with two of the absolute best SNL character actors, Jan Hooks and Phil Hartman, playing Sinead and Sinatra.
Mark your calendar… better yet, Howard your calendar!
List member Howard Cohen and his fellow band members in the Cereal Killers have three – count ’em – three gigs coming up over the next three months:
It’s pretty exciting stuff if I do say so myself… granted, I’m not exactly an impartial observer.
Let’s observe the bands who are coming to town over the next couple of weeks, shall we?
Tonight, Southgate has Rock’n Revival for the Cure, with a slew of local bands:
And Ark Band plays Ludlow Garage.
On Sunday, Ben Levin plays Schwartz’s Point, and Ludlow hosts Nektar… no relation to keytar.
On Wednesday, The Dollyrots play Southgate, with The Von Tramps at the opener, and Altan fiddles around at Ludlow Garage.
Thursday evening, Billy Strings kicks off a sold-out three-night run at the Greg Brady.
Greg Brady loved Strings!
That same evening, Kenny Wayne Shepherd will at the Taft, doing a 25th anniversary tour of his Trouble Is… album.
Friday, Billy Strings has a second helping of the Peter Brady.
Don’t Bogart your Billy Strings tickets.
That same day, Ben Levin plays happy hour at Element Eatery, The Huntertones and Doc Robinson play Woodward, and Vanessa Carlton is at Ludlow. Oh, and ’tis St. Paddy’s Day, too.
Next Saturday, Bogart’s hosts Rumours: A Fleetwood Mac tribute. And Billy Strings plays Night 3 at the Marsha Marsha Marsha Brady.
Marsha Brady thinks Billy Strings is hotter than Alice’s pot roast
And NRBQ rocks the Ludlow Garage.
Southgate House has an embarrassment of riches on Tuesday, March 21st:
The Casey Campbell Band and El Dorado play the main room
Adam Weiner (of Low Cut Connie) plays the Revival Room upstairs
On Wednesday, March 22nd, The Quebe Sisters are at Southgate, and Dead Letter Office (yes, an R.E.M. tribute band), plays Ludlow Garage.
On Thursday, 3/23:
Beth Harris and Freedom Nicole Moore play a freebie at the Listing Loon in Northside
Leo Sayer plays Ludlow Garage
Blake Shelton plays the Coliseum
On Friday, 3/24:
Whiskey Bent Valley Boys, Slippery Creek and Mike Oberst are at Southgate
Them Dirty Roses and The Josephines play the old Annie’s
Aronoff Center has The Blues is Alright tour:
Pokey Bear, second cousin of streetwise informant Huggy Bear on Starsky & Hutch
On Saturday, March 25th:
They Might Be Giants play a sold-out gig at Madison Theater.
Florence Dore plays Southgate (her backing band includes Will Rigby and Gene Holder of the dBs, and Son Volt’s Mark Spencer)
Aronoff has The Simon & Garfunkel Story (per the press release: “The show features huge projection photos, original film footage, and a full live band performing all of Simon & Garfunkels’s hits, including “Mrs. Robinson,” “Cecilia,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Homeward Bound,” and many more.” In other words, since Paul and Artie will never share a stage again, holograms will have to suffice.)
And if the fates cooperate and the stars align, your humble scribe will be in NYC that evening for this show:
On Sunday, 3/26, New Edition (which really should be called Old Edition at this point) will be at the Coliseum, with Keith Sweat, Guy and Tank. Note: “Guy” is a band and “Tank” is another band… in case you were expecting this:
Instant Karma
In our last missive, we mentioned that Dan “Reds: 2027 World Series Champs” Lewis loves Debbie Gibson… right after we listed some incorrect tickets-on-sale info. So who do you think pointed out our error almost immediately?
I’ll refrain from pointing out that we listed TTB, not DTB…
Dan is a superfan of both Dwight and The Mavericks, so the PNC gig is a dream date for him. (So is Debbie Gibson, btw.)
Like father, like son
Dan’s son Cullen also is a music superfan, and in a recent edition of his Substack newsletter he linked to this really cool “Music Map” site where you can type in the name of a band you like and it’ll suggest other bands you may enjoy.
Your own personal hit factory
HT to list member Todd Butler for the link.
Album Cover of the Week
This album came out yesterday. If your band’s name is “The Atomic Bitchwax” you are contractually obligated to play the Freak Valley Fest. It’s a combination as classic as peanut butter and jelly…. or Dan Lewis and Debbie Gibson.
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly two decades since that fateful evening when Steve Baker said “goodbye to the future of rock and roll.” For current and former staffers and loyal listeners, it was like the death of a loved one. We reunited an all-star cast of folks who were at the station at the bittersweet end (Bakerman, Shiv, Barb, Mike Taylor, Sledge, Bryan J., Gentleman Jim Mercer) to share their memories of that time.
But we’re not just here to rue the day and mourn once again. There’s actually a future for “the future of rock and roll.” We’re getting the gang back together for one last heist Modern Rock 500 this May.
It’ll be just like old times. Maybe even better. It’s like getting a present from your old friends, in the present day. We can’t wait to share the music and the love with you!
Speaking of love, you gotta love the Bakerman’s “now and then” coda for the episode:
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