97X

Start spreadin’ the news – 97X is back (for a limited time)!

97X, Music, podcast, woxy.com

97X, BAM, THE FUTURE OF ROCK AND ROLL RETURNS WITH THE 2023 97X MODERN ROCK 500

(Oxford/Cincinnati, OH) – March 9, 2023 – It’s been 20 years since the legendary Oxford, OH-based alternative radio station WOXY FM, aka “97X, BAM! The Future of Rock and Roll” first left the airwaves. Celebrating what would have been its 40th anniversary, 97X makes its triumphant online return in May 2023 with the 2023 97X Modern Rock 500 countdown.

In partnership with Cincinnati-based streaming station Inhailer Radio, 97X and WOXY.com present the 2023 97X Modern Rock 500, airing May 22 – 29, 2023 on Inhailer Radio, also available on the Inhailer Radio app and WGUC 90.9- HD3 in Cincinnati.

The 2023 Modern Rock 500 will air on Inhailer Radio in five 100-lap segments from May 22-26, 2023, and repeat in the 500’s traditional Memorial Day weekend timeslot from May 27-29, 2023. Plans are in the works for an on-demand archive of the broadcast. 

As a special treat, the broadcast is hosted by over 30 station DJs sharing memories from WOXY’s 40-year run. From its fledgling 80s days to the explosion of the format in the 90s and its time as an online entity in the early 2000s, the 2023 Modern Rock 500 is represented by the people who were there making it happen.

If there was one signature program that became synonymous with 97X, it was the annual Modern Rock 500. Borrowing thematically from the nearby Indianapolis 500 and broadcast over Memorial Day Weekend, the 97X Modern Rock 500 counted down the best alternative songs as “laps”. The Modern Rock 500 aired on 97X from 1988-2003 and continued on WOXY.COM from 2005-2009. 

Now it returns for one final countdown.

The broadcast also serves as a wrap-up of the 97X-focused podcast Rumblings from the Big Bush (a reference to a distinctly large shrubbery located on the station’s Oxford, Ohio property), hosted by former DJs Dave Tellmann and Damian Dotterweich.

“Rumblings over the last few years has caught up with former air talent, station employees, fans of the station, and some of the artists that we played at 97X. It’s been a blast! The podcast has about run its course; but the idea of capping it with the Modern Rock 500 couldn’t be a better way to sign off,” said co-host Dave Tellmann.  Rumblings… episodes can be found on all major podcast player sites and on 97Xbam.  

“We here at Inhailer are honored to hand over the airwaves to the people of 97X who influenced our own musical journeys and the music we play here”, adds Taylor Fox, Founder and Program Director at Inhailer. “We’re downright giddy with excitement!”

“This new Modern Rock 500 will be limited to those songs that landed on the countdown in the past.  It’s taking a look back from a present-day point of view”, states Mike Taylor, 97X Program Director from 2001 to 2010.  “Any way you slice it, it’s gonna be 500 great tunes.”

The 2023 97X Modern Rock 500 is a love letter to its loyal legion of listeners and to station owners Doug and Linda Balogh, for giving the world something super special. We’ll see you at the starting line…

Full list of featured talent:

Aaron Borns

Ali Castellini

Barb Abney

Bill Douglas

Brian Ewing

Bryan Jay Miller

Damian Dotterweich

Dan “Danny Crash” Reed

Dave Tellmann

Dorsie Fyffe

Forrest Griffen

Julie “Jae Forman” Clay

Jeff Rohrs

Jim Mercer

Joe Long

John Jesser

Julie “Maxwell” Argonis

Keri Valmassei

Luann Gibbs

Matt Shiv

Matt “Sledge” Waller

Matthew Harris

Mike Taylor

Mike Winstead

Nick Pleimling

Phil Kollin

Ric “Tile” Cengeri

Rob Ervin

Robin Plan

Stase Wendland

Steve Baker

Tina Kristina Mueller

If all the old bands can reunite, so can we. Long Live 97X – The Future of Rock and Roll!

The Long Winter

97X, Concert Listings, Music, podcast

Whatever happened to The Long Winters? I loved that band.

Let’s talk live music during our long winter… which could get even longer if a rodent sees his shadow in the week ahead.

Tonight:

  • The not-always-cheerful Neko Case plays Memorial Hall
  • Glen Phillips (of Toad the Wet Sprocket) is at Ludlow Garage
  • The Mortals headline a MOTR show
  • Bret Michaels (of hairband and hair band fame) plays the Hard Rock Casino

Wait, I’ve just been informed that it might be Fergie who is playing the Hard Rock:

On Saturday, the Tillers play Southgate, the Harlequins play Northside Tavern, and The 5th Dimension (featuring one original member… no, not Marilyn McCoo… no, not Billy Davis Jr. either) brings their beautiful balloon all the way down to Ludlow Garage.

The Wailin’ Jennys are at Memorial Hall on Wednesday.

The Way Down Wanderers play Southgate on Thursday. It’s Groundhog Day, so if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, they will play there for six weeks.

Next Friday, there’s a tribute to local legend David Rhodes Brown at Southgate House, featuring members of the Warsaw Falcons, 500 Miles to Memphis, Chalkeye, The Star Devils, The Tammy Whynots, Maria Carrelli, Dead Man String Band, The Modified, Missy Fairmount, Paul and Sylvia Mitchell, KY Timbre and the Hillbilly Harem, Mister Moriah, Veronica Grim.

R.I.P. D.R.B.

That same evening, John Cowan plays Ludlow and .38 Special plays the Hard Rock Casino. They will be rockin’ into the night slot machines.

On Saturday, Feb. 4th:

  • Dan Bern plays Southgate, with Brandon Costello as the opener
  • Macy Gray plays Ludlow Garage
  • Ovation in Newport hosts An Evening with Lotus

On Sunday, 2/5, Bogart’s has Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime

Noted opera singer Adam Sandler plays the Coliseum on Monday, 2/6.

On Tuesday, 2/7, Supersuckers are at Southgate.

The Dirty Streets and Heavy Hinges play Southgate on Thursday, 2/9.

Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder are at Memorial Hall on Friday, Feb. 10th. Kentucky Thunder is usually a harbinger of Kentucky Rain… which has been known to create this:

There’s quite a grab bag of shows (and venues) on Saturday, Feb. 11th:

  • Blackberry Smoke plays the Lawrenceburg Event Center
  • Joe’s Truck Stop, Willy Tea Taylor and Jordan Smart play Southgate’s Revival Room
  • The Judds (featuring one original member!) are at the Nutter Center in Dayton
  • The Coliseum hosts the Legendz of the Streetz Tour (in case you hadn’t guessed from the use of the “z plurals” — there will be hippin’ and/or hoppin’ at that show. Per the show description, it will be “an interchanging ensemble of some of the most Iconic names in Hip-Hop including Rick Ross, Jeezy, Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz, Jadakiss, Cam’ron with Special Guest Jucee Froot”
  • Last, and most incongruously of all, Michael Bolton will be at the Hard Rock Casino. (Which might be the first time that “Michael Bolton” and “Hard Rock” have been used in the same sentence.)

The Dearly Departed

I’m afraid to check the news these days, as it seems like musicians young (Jeremiah Green of Modest Mouse), not-so-young (Terry Hall of The Specials) and old (Christine McVie, Jeff Beck, et al.) are shuffling off this mortal coil at an ever-increasing pace. I do want to note two folks who did a lot to champion indie music:

Gary Smith was the founder of Fort Apache Studios in Boston.

As a producer and manager, Gary shepherded the careers of some of the era’s most influential artists, among them Pixies, Throwing Muses, Tanya Donelly, Juliana Hatfield, and Natalie Merchant. But his impact transcended the realm of records and contracts. Gary brought people together, cultivating a sense of family that sustained him and the many outsiders, misfits, and dreamers fortunate enough to travel in his orbit.

Read Gary’s full obit here

Lin Brehmer was a host on WXRT in Chicago for 30 years.

Lin Brehmer often ended his radio essay segment “Lin’s Bin” by saying, “Take nothing for granted. It’s great to be alive.”

Read the entire tribute here.

Hot ticket alert

The Woodward Theater recently added three cool shows:

  • Snail Mail on Tuesday, May 2nd (list member Mighty Joe Sampson and I will be in the house for that one)
  • F*cked Up on Friday, May 5th (lead singer is Damian… cool name!)
  • Damien Jurado (great guy, despite misspelling his first name…) on Friday, June 2nd.

Hot tunes alert

boygenius (Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus and Phoebe Bridgers) announced a full-length album. Check out three choice tunes from it here on Stereogum or below.

Hot Pod Alert

Remember that time when a Goo Goo Doll tried to beat up a sound man? The staffers who were at 97X back in ’93 (Steve Baker, Phil Manning, Jae Forman, etc.) recall that ill-fated “Day in Eden” concert that turned into a day from hell, and they share their memories here.

Recommended Reading

The New Yorker has a nice (albeit short) feature on Wet Leg. Love this quote from Rhian Teasdale of that band:

Recommended shopping

Hat tip to list member Todd Butler for the video

Album Cover of the Week… or just February 2nd

Step aside, Punxsutawney Phil!

Episode 92: Day in Eden or Day from Hell?

97X, Music, podcast

“Day in Eden 1993” was the first concert that 97X produced. Things did not go as planned. Goo Goo Doll meltdowns, tainted food trays, wrestling moves, copious amounts of cheap beer and cheaper smokes, folk music slam-dancing…

Former staffers Steve Baker, Phil Manning, Jae Forman, Rob Ervin, Steve Roemer, Joe Sampson and Aaron Borns share their memories of that ill-fated afternoon – and reveal a couple of secrets along the way.

97X staffers and volunteers… in the calm before the storm

“Day in Eden” was an event created by the Cincinnati Park Board, and held in late-Spring/early-Summer at Eden Park in Cincinnati. In an effort to broaden the appeal of the event, they ask 97X to book bands for 1993. The lineup was:

  • Wailing Souls (a Grammy-nominated reggae band)
  • Goo Goo Dolls (pre-meteoric “adult alternative” fame)
  • The Judybats (folk-inflected alt rock band from Knoxville, TN)

The temporary stage for that year’s show was set up near Mirror Lake in Eden Park.

Note the bare feet on Johny and Robbie
A slam-dancing favorite
Sharks don’t care if the meat and cheese are touching.

Episode 91: Colin Miller, super-duper fan

97X, Music, podcast

Colin Miller listened to 97X obsessively. As in “boxes of cassette tape recordings of 97X on-air” obsessive. He might’ve been a 97Xtreme listener, but that same passion for the music and the station is something most listeners can relate to. We talk to Colin about what made the station so special, some of the shows he remembers, and the 97X events like Rock & Bowl and 97Xtrabeats on the Riverboat.

L to R: Damian, Dave, Colin Miller, Gentleman Jim Mercer, Matt Harris (in hat), Bill Douglas, Phil Manning and Phil’s wife Barb at the Royal Crescent Mob show at the Madison Theater in Covington, KY, Dec. 17, 2022

Here’s the program schedule for 97X back in the mid-90s.

Colin correctly named the opening band at the 97X 10th Year celebration… Sleep Theater. He has yet to claim his prize, a woxy.com t-shirt from John Curley of Afghan Whigs. (To be clear, Colin has yet to claim the prize because Dave has yet to mail it to Colin.)

Colin’s out there somewhere…

Fun fact: Sleep Theater members included Rob Hamrick, Chris Sherman (now better known as Freekbass), and Itaal Shur, who later co-wrote the Grammy-winning song “Smooth” for Santana/Rob Thomas.

Mob Rules!

97X, Concert review, Music

If I had to pick one word to sum up this past Saturday’s Royal Crescent Mob concert, that word would be “joyous.”

Carlton’s smile can light up an entire venue. (Photo credit: Jon Calderas. Full gallery here.)

If I got to use two word to describe it, I’d pick “joyous” and “sweaty.”

Joyous and sweaty were the hallmarks of any Royal Crescent Mob live show, back when they were a touring band, in the late 80s through the mid-90s. One of the best live bands in the entire world. Yes, a club band, with a mostly Midwestern fan base. But ask anyone who ever attended one of the RCMob shows and they will easily attest to the Mob’s punk ethos, their funk bona fides and their stellar showmanship. You had a 100% chance of leaving their shows feeling joyous and sweaty.

But it had been 28 years since the Royal Crescent Mob played together live. A lifetime ago. And now “lifetime” has a brand new meaning for the audience members, and especially the band members.

Time takes its toll on all of us. If we’re lucky, we manage to avoid cancer. In that department, the RC Mob has been decidedly unlucky. Lead singer David Ellison is being treated for prostate cancer. Lead guitarist Brian “B” Emch lost his wife to pancreatic cancer earlier this year. Drummer Carlton Smith has a rare form of brain cancer.

Rather than wallow in pity, the band decided to take their heaping helping of lemons and make lemonade… and sell it to raise funds for cancer research.

They played a fundraiser show in Columbus (their home base back in the day) on Friday, and Cincinnati (their second home, and strongest market, thanks in no small part to 97X radio station) on Saturday. Two shows in two nights. A limited engagement. Then again, life is a limited engagement.

It was a different kind of joyous this time around. For a couple of nights, for a couple of hours, they could focus on the music instead of mortality. So could their fans.

we’re four guys up there…and, you know, our audiences, our fan base is our age probably now. And it’s important for them to know there’s like, there’s this shitty thing about getting older, it’s like, things pop up. And, you know, I mean, hopefully we can raise some awareness about that as well. That’d be just extra special to be able to do that and it’s going to mean a lot for everybody to up on stage just to be playing together, that whole camaraderie.

Lead singer David Ellison in this CincyMusic interview with Jon Calderas

The Royal Crescent Mob brought a ton of joy to thousands of people 30 years ago. It was so good to experience that joy once again. It makes life worth living.

So if I had to use three words to describe their show, those words would be: Joyous. Sweaty. Grateful.

Thank you B, David, Carlton and Happy. Take a bow. Because we’re all happy now.

A December to remember

97X, Concert Listings, Music, podcast

This holiday season, instead of buying matching his and hers GMC gas-guzzlers (totally believable…), why not buy tickets to some shows around town?

Their 1st show in nearly 30 years (12/17 at Madison Theater) is a fundraiser for cancer research – what’s not to love?

And while you’re at the gigs, maybe buy some merch to support the artists. Speaking of which, December 2nd is Bandcamp Friday:

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 23 days, fans have paid artists and labels more than $84 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.

If you’ve started to feel guilty about buying music on any other day of the month, here’s something to keep in mind: on Bandcamp Fridays, an average of 93% of your money reaches the artist/label (after payment processor fees). When you make a purchase on any other day (as millions of you have, with close to $1 billion now paid directly to artists), an average of 82% reaches the artist/label. Every day is a good day to support artists on Bandcamp!

Your This Week in Live Music editor suggests you check out the new album from Gladie on Bandcamp. It slaps, as the kids say. Or used to say last week… they’ve probably moved on to a new slang term by now.

Okey-dokey, let’s get to the gigs:

On Thursday, December 1st, the Redmoor in Mt. Lookout hosts an Island Christmas Holiday (“White Christmas meets Bob Marley”) with The SunBurners, Queen City Silver Stars and The Merry Gentlemen. Ben Levin plays Dee Felice, and Thelma and the Sleaze (great band name!) play Southgate, with Wonky Tonk opening the show.

Friday, Ryan Adams brings his brilliant songs and his hefty baggage to the Jan Brady. In “love the sinner, hate the sin” fashion, I’ll be at that gig.

We’re all conflicted about Ryan.

That same evening, The Steel Woods will be tearing up the tiny Madison Live room, and Ben Levin plays Ghost Baby.

And Friday & Saturday, The Comet in Northside hosts a benefit for the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, with several local bands on the bill, including Quotah, New Moons, Toon Town, The Bellowing Pines, National Barks (Friday night) and The Harlequins, Heist, The Tangees, The You Suck Flying Circus (Saturday). (BTW, “The You Suck Flying Circus” is a strong candidate for Band Name of the Year.)

On Saturday, Trampled by Turtles play the Peter Brady. “Trampled by Turtles” always calls to mind this:

If Turtles aren’t your speed…

… Hyryder (Grateful Dead tribute band from Indy) will be at the old Annie’s, Maurice Mattei & the Tempers play a free Christmas show in the Southgate House Lounge, Styx will be rockin’ the Paradise Hard Rock Casino. And Ludlow Garage has Lotus Land, a Rush tribute band.

We only air-drum to the best…

On Sunday, 12/4, Foxing is at Madison Live, and Ben Levin plays Schwartz’s Point.

Next Thursday, December 8th, The Struts play Bogart’s… and Ludlow Garage keeps the tribute band vibe going with Tusk – The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute.

On Friday, 12/9:

  • Whiskey Bent Valley Boys play Southgate’s Revival Room
  • Al Jardine of the Beach Boys plays Ludlow
  • Ben Levin will be playing with legendary bluesman Lil’ Jimmy Reed at Dead Low Brewing.

On Saturday, December 10th, Christmas and Hanukkah come early, as Cereal Killers will be playing a killer gig at Big Ash Brewing!

You’ve heard me extol the many virtues of the Cereal Killers before. Their playlist is like a trip back to the 97X days – Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, INXS, Southern Culture on the Skids, The Jam, The Clash, Guided by Voices, X, The Plimsouls, Warren Zevon… with some Tom Petty and Cars thrown in for good measure. Just so freakin’ good. (And their drummer is a real heartthrob.) It’s killing me that I can’t make that show… I’ll be in D.C. for the weekend, watching my wife’s niece play b-ball for the McDaniel Green Terror as they take on the Goucher Gophers. (Yes, “Green Terror Gophers” sounds like a Roger Corman horror flick… or bonus Caddyshack footage.)

Please go to the Cereal Killers show in my stead. You won’t regret it. (Pro tip: Big Ash Brewing is offering bonus bucks if you purchase a $50 or $100 gift card… it’s practically the same as getting free beer from your ol’ pal d2.)

Nikki Lane plays Southgate on Sunday, December 12th. That should be a stellar show too.

The Mob Rules!

Speaking of big shows, don’t forget the Royal Crescent Mob concert at the Madison Theater on Saturday, December 17th. Former 97X and WVXU Nightwaves legend Dan Reed (now a host at WXPN in Philly) will be spinning some funky tunes before the RC Mob hits the stage for the first time since… oh… 1994! The show is a benefit for the Tri-State Cancer Research Fund, because cancer has been extremely cruel to the band:

With drummer Carlton Smith recently diagnosed with brain cancer (Glioblastoma), singer David Ellison, recently treated for Prostate Cancer and the loss of guitarist B’s wife, Cincinnati Attorney, Sallee Fry in May, 2022, to Pancreatic Cancer, the four band members, decided there is no time like the present to celebrate life and revel in the joy of playing music together and the healing spirit music embodies in the human soul.

Dave Tellmann and I interviewed David Ellison and Carlton and bassist Happy Chichester on the two most recent episodes of our “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast. Such great guys – and if you were around in the late 80s/early 90s, you know that the RC Mob shows were legendary. Ira Robbins in his Trouser Press band profile says it best:

Pressing “pause”

Not that they asked me, but if Forecastle wants to “strategize” they should get back to the Americana/indie-heavy lineups that they used to book.

Pressing “rewind” on “When I see you smile”

List member Elizabeth Cannon (at left below) got a photo with John Waite when she was in high school…

And Elizabeth shared that same photo with that same John Waite at his show at Memorial Hall recently:

The end (of the year) is near!

Time for your “favorite albums of 2022” list. Last week’s releases from Gladie and Caitlin Rose are making a late push to be included on mine. If you care to share, you can drop your list here.

Album Cover of the Week

Yep, just Bob & Karen… kinda like that one couple at Thanksgiving dinner, where you’re not quite sure how they’re related to you.

Episode 90: Carlton and Happy from the RCMob make us happy

97X, Concert Listings, Music, podcast

Carlton Smith and Happy Chichester formed the super-cool, super-tight rhythm section of the Royal Crescent Mob. They — along with lead singer David Ellison and guitarist “B” — are getting the band back together to play two fundraiser shows to benefit cancer research. They’ll be rocking the house at the Athenaeum Theatre in Columbus on Friday, December 16th and the Madison Theater in Covington, KY on Saturday, December 17th.

We talked to Carlton and Happy about how they got together way back in the mid-80s, their legendary live shows at Bogart’s, what 97X meant to their band, and why they’re looking forward to performing as a group once again.

Flyer for a Royal Crescent Mob gig back in the day, featuring a great Carlton caricature.

Tickets for both shows are on sale now at the links above. Pro tip: avoid the Ticketmaster fees on the Madison Theater show by purchasing your tickets at the Heritage Bank Center (a.k.a. Riverfront Coliseum) box office (M-F, 11a-3p).

97X Year 10 poster signed by B and Carlton

Former 97X and WVXU Nightwaves DJ Dan Reed, now at WXPN in Philly, will play a DJ set to open up both shows. Here’s more from the press release promoting the Madison Theater show:

The 1980’s-90’s Indie faves, The Royal Crescent Mob (RC Mob) have announced they are Getting Back On the Bus for a Really Big Show, a special 2 night reunion, Dec 16 in Columbus OH and Dec 17th in Covington KY./Cincinnati to benefit the Tri-State Area Cancer Research Fund.

The band last performed together almost 30 years ago, disbanding in 1994.

All four original band members, David Ellison, Harold “Happy” Chichester, Carlton Smith and Mr. B (Brian Emch). will be performing.

With drummer Carlton Smith recently diagnosed with brain cancer (Glioblastoma), singer David Ellison, recently treated for Prostate Cancer and the loss of guitarist B’s wife, Cincinnati Attorney, Sallee Fry in May, 2022, to Pancreatic Cancer, the four band members, decided there is no time like the present to celebrate life and revel in the joy of playing music together and the healing spirit music embodies in the human soul.

After vaulting up to the top 20 in college radio airplay, the band signed to the Sire / Warner Brothers label. The Mob gained national exposure touring with acts like The Replacements, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Living Colour, and the B-52s. Their legendary live shows developed quite a following of their own including Dave Grohl, who mentions the Royal Crescent Mob, as his favorite band back in his teenage days when he worked at Tower Records in DC.

The full Dave Grohl note and article about Happy are here.

“We have this really rich music scene here in Ohio. Y’know, I have friends who played with Miles Davis and Bootsy Collins, or toured the world with Dr. John. Here in Columbus, you’ll find yourself sitting next to the guy who spent ten years playing bass with Ray Charles. It all gets blended together. I sometimes feel like Ohio is the only place where my music makes sense. It’s too eclectic and far-flung for the rest of the world. James Brown, Led Zeppelin and The Meters are all equally important in the way I hear music.” 

Happy ChiCHESTER IN THE ARTICLE ABOVE

Columbus blogger Drew Layman has a great post about the RC Mob and their first release, Omerta, on his The Quiet One blog. He also has a cool post about their major-label debut, Spin the World.

RC Mob’s major label debut hit the charts in 1989.
Westerberg, actually… RC Mob opened for the ‘mats back in the late 80s.

Post-RC Mob, Carlton Smith and Happy reunited in Howlin’ Maggie, the band fronted by Happy. (Here’s a link to a live recording of a 1996 show from that band.)

Hap has also released music under his own name.

https://happychichester.bandcamp.com/
https://e.issuu.com/issuu-reader3-embed-files/latest/twittercard.html?u=futurepublishing&d=roc284.issuu&p=1

“To be honest with you, yeah, I’m a very happy person,” he smiles. “And I don’t know if that’s because it’s my name, or because I’ve had the incredible good fortune of being able to record and write my music. But being happy, yeah, it’s my natural state. And as long as I get to hit my drums and play music for few hours every day, it’s pretty easy to stay happy.”

See you all at the Big Show!

Episode 89: Get (back) on the bus with David Ellison of the Royal Crescent Mob.

97X, Music, podcast

The Royal Crescent Mob was a longtime 97X favorite. Now the band is getting back together for the first time in nearly 30 years, for two fundraiser shows – Dec. 16th in Columbus and Dec. 17th at the Madison Theater in Covington, KY. Proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society and the Tri-State Cancer Research Fund. We talk to RC Mob lead singer David Ellison about the reunion shows, the early RC Mob days, the impact cancer is having on the band, and his longtime career as a tour manager for several bands, as well as pop stars like Miley Cyrus. 

Hap, David, Mr. B and Carlton

Tickets for both shows are on sale now at the links above. Pro tip: avoid the Ticketmaster fees on the Madison Theater show by purchasing your tickets at the Heritage Bank Center (a.k.a. Riverfront Coliseum) box office (M-F, 11a-3p).

Former 97X and WVXU Nightwaves DJ Dan Reed, now at WXPN in Philly, will play a DJ set to open up both shows. Here’s more from the press release promoting the Madison Theater show:

The 1980’s-90’s Indie faves, The Royal Crescent Mob (RC Mob) have announced they are Getting Back On the Bus for a Really Big Show, a special 2 night reunion, Dec 16 in Columbus OH and Dec 17th in Covington KY./Cincinnati to benefit the Tri-State Area Cancer Research Fund.

The band last performed together almost 30 years ago, disbanding in 1994.

All four original band members, David Ellison, Harold “Happy” Chichester, Carlton Smith and Mr. B (Brian Emch). will be performing.

With drummer Carlton Smith recently diagnosed with brain cancer (Glioblastoma), singer David Ellison, recently treated for Prostate Cancer and the loss of guitarist B’s wife, Cincinnati Attorney, Sallee Fry in May, 2022, to Pancreatic Cancer, the four band members, decided there is no time like the present to celebrate life and revel in the joy of playing music together and the healing spirit music embodies in the human soul.

After vaulting up to the top 20 in college radio airplay, the band signed to the Sire / Warner Brothers label. The Mob gained national exposure touring with acts like The Replacements, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Living Colour, and the B-52s. Their legendary live shows developed quite a following of their own including Dave Grohl, who mentions the Royal Crescent Mob, as his favorite band back in his teenage days when he worked at Tower Records in DC.

About the members of the The Royal Crescent Mob

David Ellison is currently tour manager for Miley Cyrus, Camila Cabello, and Kesha, 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.

Happy Chichester, formerly was in Howlin’ Maggie and toured with The Twilight Singers,  before embarking on his solo career  releasing several albums and singles.

Carlton Smith also played with Howlin’ Maggie, and currently plays with Columbus Soul and Salvage and also working as a TSA Agent.

Mr. B has played guitar at the Florence Christian Church in Florence, KY and volunteered at Melodic Connections, a music therapy program based in Cincinnati.

The Royal Crescent Mob headlined the 97X 10th Anniversary Concert at Bogart’s back in 1992.

set list from an RC Mob show
From a Bogart’s show in 1992, possibly the 97X 10th anniversary show…
RC Mob doing “Fire” at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. in 1987
“Get on the Bus” from the same D.C. show as above
Live in Columbus in 1991
Some great footage of the RC Mob in the studio with Ohio Players legend Leroy “Sugarfoot” Bonner in March of 1991.

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!