This Week in Live Music: November 25-December 1

It’s Turkey Week! (Or in my case, Tofurkey Week.)

I’m thankful for tasty tunes and good friends like you! Before we get to this week’s gigs, I must say Elvis Costello & The Imposters were stellar at the Taft last week. Lots of TWILM list members in attendance too…. on a school night! (7:30 show time, no opener… it’s a dream come true for folks of my vintage.)

OK, here’s the Turkey Week lineup:

On Tuesday, Cloud Nothings are at Woodward, with Leggy as the opener. That’s a nice double bill. Jackyl is at Bogart’s, in what feels like a standing monthly gig since 1991.

Wednesday, Dawg Yawp is at Woodward, with Ruby Vileos and Bendigo Fletcher. (Nice to see back-to-back concerts at Woodward… must be a slow week for wedding receptions.) Memorial Hall hosts “Abbey Road: a 50th Anniversary Beatles Celebration.” The complete Abbey Road album will be performed live by The Newbees with the Bee Strings and the Horn-Its.

The Tillers have a cool gig at Arnold’s on hump day too. Here’s the blurb from Arnold’s Facebook page:

We partnered up with Neltner Small Batch, Otto Printing and Mus-i-col Records to give offer a handmade, one-off, limited edition 7” vinyl record. The album is two live versions of the Tiller’s songs The Boatman’s Dance, Hickory Jack and Down at the Bottom. The records will also be pressed on transparent green vinyl to look just like a Jameson bottle. The awesome part? It’s free! That’s right, we are giving them all away. We have 250 total pressed on transparent hunter green vinyl to hand out and they will be first come first serve.
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Drink and Menu Specials run all day, The Tillers take the stage at 9. The Records will be available at 8pm.

Also on Wednesday, Ben Levin plays the lobby bar at the Phelps/downtown Marriott from 5:30-8:30.

Thursday is a day to take a break from the live music and spend time with family… even if they drive you nuts.

On Friday, Pomegranates play… holy crap, the Woodward. Three shows in one week! Sylmar and Grand Ace are also on the bill.

That same evening:

Frontier Folk Nebraska have a record release party in Southgate’s Revival Room
Joslyn & The Sweet Compression play Ludlow Garage
Jordan Smart plays Camp Springs Tavern
Static-X is at Riverfront Live (formerly Annie’s)
the Trans-Siberian Orchestra has two shows at the Coliseum (presently Some-Bank Arena)
Ben Levin performs at BrewRiver
Freekbass plays FUNKsgiving in Southgate’s Sanctuary. That’ll shake you out of your tryptophan coma.

Saturday:

The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band plays Southgate’s Sanctuary. Amen to that! Col. JD Wilkes (of Legendary Shack Shakers fame) opens up.
Sierra Hull is at Memorial Hall
Anna Stine plays Ludlow Garage
Stolen Faces noodle a Grateful Dead tribute at Stanley’s
Fretboard Brewing hosts an “Americana Gives Back” show starting at 5, with RootCellarXtract, Hickory Robot, Jeremy Francis and John Ford. Please bring a gift to donate to Toys for Tots.

Also on Saturday, Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant are at the Coliseum, which I mention merely because it gives me a convenient excuse to play this fantastic tune by the Young Fresh Fellows:

I saw the Young Fresh Fellows opening up for the Red Hot Chili Peppers at Bogart’s eons ago. Which gives me a handy excuse to do a callback to the Abbey Road mention earlier in this post:

Where was I? Oh, live gigs, right…

Sunday, the Ludlow Garage features Poco. The current lineup is sans Richie Furay, Jim Messina, Timothy B. Schmidt and Randy Meisner… but Rusty Young is playing.

The Aronoff Center features “It Was 50 Years Ago Today”… which is billed as “an All Star Tribute to the Beatles White Album – featuring Christopher Cross, Todd Rundgren, Micky Dolenz, Jason Scheff (Chicago) Joey Molland (Badfinger) – performing their greatest hits along with songs from the White Album.” Wow, Christopher Cross, Todd Rundgren and a Monkee together, whodathunkit? Of course, mentioning the White Album merits a shout-out to this:

And now you know how my brain works (or rather, doesn’t work).

Hot Ticket Alert

The lineup has been announced for The National’s Homecoming festival at Smale Park on May 8-9, 2020 and it’s very strong. I got tix for both days.

Video of the Week

The Drive-by Truckers’ new song mentions Cincinnati.

Kids these days (Part II)…

List member Lisa Collins, who works at Great American Insurance, mentioned to her 20-something niece Morgan that Jon Bon Jovi was playing Great American’s annual holiday party, and Morgan asked “What’s the difference between Bon Jovi and Jon Bon Jovi?”

(The one and only time I attended a Great American holiday party was eons ago when Carl Lindner Jr. was still around and apparently picking the entertainment, because the musical guest was… drumroll please… Wayne Newton!)

Shameless self-promotion

The most recent episode of the 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast features an interview with Mark Griffin, a listener who so loved the station that he created 14 hours worth of playlists featuring songs that got airplay on 97X back in the mid-80s.

Have a happy week!

this Week in Live Music: November 18-24

Concert Listings, Music

Hey kids, welcome to TWILM Version 2.0. Henceforth, in an effort to streamline this weekly hot mess, I’ll only tout shows where I’ve heard (or at least heard of) the band/artist. So instead of trying to cram 10 pounds into a five-pound bag, it’ll be more like eight pounds, six ounces.

Okey dokey, let’s get to the gigs. Frontier Folk Nebraska plays a free show in Southgate’s Lounge on Monday.

On Tuesday, Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus, OBE, is coming to the Taft. You may know him better as Elvis Costello, and he’ll be playing with his stellar band The Imposters. I’ll be in the nosebleeds with list member Barb Gardner, and the Cereal Killers will be in the audience as well.

That same evening, The Kyle Gass Company (yes, that’s KG from Tenacious D) will be at Top Cats.

Thursday, Dustbowl Revival is at Memorial Hall, Birds of Chicago are playing Ludlow Garage, Greyson Chance is at Top Cats, William Elliott Whitmore is at Southgate with Samantha Crain as the opener, and The Hu has a sold-out gig in the Taft Ballroom.

Friday is a busy evening:

Houndmouth kicks off a two-night stand at Southgate House.
Wussy plays a sold-out house show.
Spyro Gyra is at Ludlow.
Ben Levin plays the Symphony Hotel (near Music Hall).
Beasts of Joy are at Bircus, along with something called Radiohead circus.
Adam Lee will be at Camp Springs Tavern. List member Keith Neltner, the proprietor of aforementioned Tavern, is really big on Mr. Lee, who has performed there before. Based on Keith’s reco, I plan to go to that show.

On Saturday, Billy Strings has a sold-out show at Madison Theater. Houndmouth is back for more at Southgate, and the Ben Levin Trio plays the Wiedemann Taproom.

Sunday, Ricky Nye has a solo gig at Wiedemann at 5:30, and Bill Kirchen’s Honky Tonk Holiday will be tearing up Southgate later that evening.

Hot Ticket Alert

The National is doing another “Homecoming” festival in Smale Park in 2020! The lineup in 2018 was fantastic, and I’m looking forward to more stellar selections this time around. Presale starts Monday. “Layaway options available.”

Video of the Week

Nick Cave is brilliant… and an absolute badass. Here’s proof:

Tunes I’ve been digging lately

The new Vetiver album Up on High.

Kids these days…

My goddaughter Libby is a Junior at SLU, and her sorority had a “rock and roll” party. She wore a Van Halen t-shirt, even though she admitted that she doesn’t know a single Van Halen (or Van Hagar) song. (Nobody knows any Van Cherone songs. Facts.)

As if that weren’t bad enough, here’s more proof that kids just don’t have any appreciation for the previous generation of rockers:

“Tool” is so apt. Sad!

Have a great week!

This Week in Live Music: November 11-17

97X, Concert Listings, Music, podcast

Oh hello!

Let’s get to the gigs.

Monday, Incubus plays Taft with Le Butcherettes as the opening act. Jay Madera is at MOTR with Kaitlyn Peace & the Electric Generals.

On Tuesday, Ludlow Garage hosts Rising Appalachia, The Neighbourhood plays the Short Vine neighborhood at Bogart’s, and Ben Levin tickles the ivories at Arnold’s.

Wednesday marks the return of the band whose name sounds like an dark web site that sells cut-rate ED remedies: Bonerama!

They’re playing Riverfront Live, which used to be Annie’s. (If you’re keeping score at home, yes, that means Bonerama will be performing on Hump Day.)

That same evening, Chris Thile plays Memorial Hall, Marcia Griffiths plays Ludlow Garage, the Dallas Moore Band plays Southgate’s main room and Michael Nau is upstairs in the Revival Room.

On Thursday, The Marcus King Band is at Bogart’s, and Dylan LeBlanc and Night Moves play Southgate.

Friday, the Commonheart plays Taft’s Ballroom, The Rippingtons play Ludlow Garage, and Ambrosia is at Memorial Hall. Jesse Malin will NOT be playing Southgate, much to my dismay.

Saturday is quite busy:

Daniel Martin Moore plays the final Parlor & Patio house concert of 2019 at the home of list members Dave and Jacqui.
Gregory Alan Isakov is at Madison Theater
Jake Book plays Camp Springs Tavern
The David Bromberg Quintet is at Miami U-Hamilton
Melody Guy and Steff Mahan play the Downtowne Listening Room
Last but not least, the old Annie’s will still have a Bone… Thugs-N-Harmony

On Sunday, you can catch Hobo Johnson & the Lovemakers at Bogart’s, or see some NWF Wrestling at Bircus Brewing in Ludlow, KY.

Hot ticket alert

Shovels & Rope is playing Ludlow Garage on 4/8/20. Get tickets here.

Clarification Department

List member Rob Ervin, formerly of the Chris & Rob Late Night Talk Show on WAIF-FM, let us know that when Ben Folds stopped by their show lo those many years ago, he was playing a melodica (not a recorder as originally reported here), and it was Ben’s first interview west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Lipstick on a Pig Department

The Riverfront Coliseum has yet another corporate name. Doesn’t matter, it’s still a dump.

Heritage Bank better order 20 cases of this:

Video of the week

This clip was brought to my attention by list member Dave Tellmann… it’s smokin’ hot.

Shameless self-promotion

Speaking of Dave Tellmann, the latest episode of the 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast that I co-host with Dave is live now, right here. It’s a two-parter with Kevin “Couche” Couch, who worked at 97X in the mid-90s and went on to host the National Lampoon Comedy Radio show on Sirius XM and produce the top rated morning radio show in L.A. He also had a neighbor in the apartment upstairs from his who was dead for two months before being discovered, but that’s a story for another day.

Live shot

I snagged the extra Wilco ticket from Dan “Reds above .500 in 2020!” Lewis. Birthday Boy Danny (his wife calls him a sexagenarian now… and he’s never been to see Bonerama!) had great seats about 8 rows from the stage, and it was an excellent show.

This Week in Live Music: November 4-10

Concert Listings, Music

Welp, our Ragnar Relay from San Francisco to Napa was a bust; it was cancelled due to wildfires. Some may blame global climate change, but I know the real culprit is Michael Martin Murphey.

The cancellation actually worked out pretty well for our 12-person team. We got to skip the tired, sweaty, smelly, trying-to-sleep-in-a-van parts, and just did the fun tourist parts. On Friday, we did a 6-mile run from the beach at Golden Gate Park, along waterfront cliffs and across the Golden Gate Bridge. That was pretty cool.

You know what else is cool? Live music! Let’s get to the gigs.

Sunday, November 3rd, John Cusack will be at Taft for a screening of the movie Say Anything, followed by a live conversation. Not bad if you enjoy paying a minimum of $52.75 (plus fees) to watch a 30-year-old movie.

On Monday, 11/4, The Japanese House plays the Taft Ballroom, and list member John Sandman’s Tye Dye Band appears at The Lounge in Anderson. (If you’ve never been to The Lounge, it’s the Anderson Township equivalent of the cantina in the original Star Wars.) John was the captain of our Napa relay team and did a great job making lemonade out of the lemons we were handed.

John’s in the center of the photo above, in the tie-dye shirt and the unicorn headgear. If he wears that ensemble tomorrow at The Lounge, he’ll fit right in.

Tuesday, 11/5 is election day, so you need to rock the vote.

After the polls close, you can enjoy any of these gigs:

Lucy Dacus plays Woodward, with Liza Anne as the opener (check out her fun cover song at the end of this post)
Tool is at Riverfront Coliseum, with opener Killing Joke
Icon for Hire plays Top Cats
Madison Theater hosts An Evening with Billy Corgan

Wednesday, 11/6 has a crowded concert menu too:

Joan Shelley plays Southgate
Dream Theater is at Taft
The California Honeydrops play Riverfront Live
The Kingston Trio plays Memorial Hall. Perhaps the opening acts will be Mitch & Mickey, The Folksmen and The New Main Street Singers.

And last but not least, list member Mark Celsor’s new band Left of Center is at Urban Artifact on Wednesday. Here’s a blurb from Facebook event page:

Join us for the sweet taste of victory, or the haunting solemness of defeat, the day after this year’s election with the modern folk, labor and protest music stylings of Left of Center as they perform new and classic American folk songs.

On Thursday, November 7th, you can see Kung Fu at Ludlow Garage. [NOTE: This does not mean you’ll watch the movie Kung Fu Panda with an actual panda… although I’d pay $52.75 for that!) Ben Levin plays BrewRiver that evening, too.

Friday (11/8), Ricky Nye and Paul Ellis play Wiedemann’s taproom, Marcus Miller is at Ludlow Garage and Bogart’s hosts Yacht Rock Revue, which is absolutely nothing like this:

Saturday, 11/9 is a musical buffet of the non-Jimmy Buffett variety:

Wilco will be at Taft. List member Joe Sampson and I saw Jay Bennett-era Wilco at Ripley’s in Clifton back in February of 1997. Killer show, complete with Cheap Trick and Replacements cover songs and a few Uncle Tupelo tunes (setlist is here). Hard to top that one.
The Amy Helm Band plays Miami U-Middletown
Katie Toupin (formerly of Houndmouth) is at MOTR
Shemekia Copeland plays Memorial Hall
Mayday! is at Top Cats
Randy Steffen plays Camp Springs Tavern
Ben Levin plays Overlook Kitchen & Bar at the Summit Hotel in Madisonville.

On Sunday, November 10th, the Outlaws will be at Ludlow Garage. List members Whit Gardner and Professor David Reid will be in attendance, and I may join them. Also, The Wood Brothers play Taft with Nicole Atkins, and Bogart’s has a quadruple bill of Newfound Glory, Hawthorne Heights, Free Throw and Jetty Bones, and King Buffalo will be at MOTR.

Hot ticket alert

Primo songwriter Jimmy Webb is playing a cool gig at Memorial Hall on Saturday, March 21st, 2020:

JIMMY WEBB: THE GLEN CAMPBELL YEARS highlights some of the 100+ recordings from the Webb/Campbell songbook, pulling the audience in with various accounts each night of the personal side of generational touchstones like “Honey Come Back,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Wichita Lineman,” “Galveston” and more from decades of shared musical memories.

Hot ticket turned cold ticket alert

The Jesse Malin show at Southgate on 11/15 is no longer listed on Jesse’s website or the Southgate website. I was really, really, really looking forward to that gig because Jesse’s a fantastic performer and his new album Sunset Kids (produced by Lucinda Williams) is a gem. However, this is not the first time that a Jesse Malin show was scheduled at Southgate and then vanished. #FML

Shameless self-promotion

Check out the newest episode of the “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast, where Dave Tellmann and I chat with intern-turned-record label exec Aaron Borns. Episodes are on this website, and also available on Podbean, Spotify and iTunes.

I also try to update the song and video on the top of the 97Xbam.com home page every couple of weeks, and you’ll always find fresh news from the website Under The Radar in our RSS feed, including a “best songs of the week.”

Tip o’ the cap

Thanks to my cousin-in-law Mike Holmes for putting us on the guest list for the Spookfloaters sold-out show at Dead Low Brewing (near Riverbend) on 11/1. Their acoustic set was outstanding, and Dead Low has a nice layout which includes a big patio and an indoor stage. I’m looking forward to hearing more live music from local bands there.

Answers to our poll question: what’s your favorite hidden gem cover tune?

Dan “2020 Reds season ticket packages are on sale now” Lewis picked Dwight Yoakam covering the Rolling Stones:

Marc Allen got very specific, selecting Jason Isbell joining Widespread Panic for an incendiary live version of J.J. Cale’s “Ride Me High” back in 2016:

Bruce Frasure didn’t pick a cover, he was just glad to find a fellow Syd Straw fan, and mentioned this fantastic tune from her and some dude named Michael (who has been in the news of late).

Speaking of covers, here’s Lucy Dacus (at Woodward Theater this Tuesday) doing a rockin’ version of an Xmas evergreen:

Have a great week!

This Fortnight in Live Music: October 21-November 2

Concert Listings, Music

Yes, it’s another double shot of TWILM… a Two-fer Tuesday on a Sunday! I’ll be out on the Left Coast next weekend for a Ragnar Relay (similar to a Bourbon Chase race). Our 12-person team will do a 200-mile relay run from San Francisco to Napa from Friday morning until Saturday evening. Most members of our team are hardcore runners… I’m the “anchor” who will bring down our time. To make up for that, I’ll be DD the DD for our Wine Country tour on Sunday.

Okey-dokey, let’s get to the double dose o’ live tuneage:

Monday evening, there aren’t any music shows of note, but David Sedaris will be at the Aronoff. I’ll be at that show.

Tuesday, Southern Culture on the Skids plays Southgate. The SCOTS are always a fun time. Bring your 8 Piece Box! That same evening, the kids will be at Riverfront Coliseum for the sold-out Twenty One Pilots show. Actually, looks like some of the kids might be camping out Monday night, according to the Coliseum website:

Also on Tuesday, at Bogart’s, UFO will be playing their “50th Anniversary and Final Tour” show. I saw UFO open for Ozzy Osbourne back in 1982 at the Pine Bluff (Arkansas) Convention Center. This was at the height of “Ozzy is a devil worshipper” paranoia, shortly after ol’ Ozzy bit the head off of a live bat. So security was heightened at the venue, and my high school buddies made me sneak in the whiskey bottle. “You’re clean cut, they won’t ever suspect you.” Sure enough, I waltzed right in with contraband hooch crammed into my Levis, while my long-haired friends were patted down. Saints be praised!

Why yes, that is a 375 ml bottle of Jack Daniels in my pants. But I’m happy to see you too!

(Perhaps a more notable historical tidbit is that Ozzy’s guitarist Randy Rhoads died in a plane crash two weeks later.)

On Wednesday, Bumpin Uglies (“East Coast Ska/Punk/Reggae”) will be at Madison Live, and Marc Roberge of O.A.R. does a solo show at Ludlow Garage.

Thursday, Ben Folds plays Taft Theater. Many moons ago, the Ben Folds Five played the bar that’s now Below Zero in OTR, and after the show my friend Chris Comer asked the band to stop by his Chris & Rob Late Night Talk Show on WAIF-FM… and they did show up, and played a game of “Stump the Band” where listeners could call in and request a cover tune… I think Ben played a recorder.

[Sorry this post has turned into “Area man tries to remember stuff from decades ago.”]

That same evening, Kelsey Waldron plays Southgate’s Revival Room, Sawyer Fredericks is in the Southgate Sanctuary… and the bombastic Celine Dion will play the Coliseum. I don’t think anyone will be camping out for that show.

Rhett Miller of the Old 97’s plays a solo gig in the Taft Theatre Ballroom on Friday. In Real Life plays Top Cats, Ben Levin is at BrewRiver, the Mt. Pleasant String Band plays Camp Springs Tavern, and Inhailer Radio takes over all three of the Southgate House stages for INspired, a fundraiser for the station featuring local bands doing original music and cover songs of bands who inspired them.

If you’ve been jonesing for a Lachey Bros fix since their OTR bar went out of business, please note that 98 Degrees is at the Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg. Also, please consider getting a life.

Saturday, Mat Kearney has a sold out acoustic show at Memorial Hall, Dudley Taft has a CD release show at Madison Live, and Root Cellar Xtract is the featured band at Neltner’s Farm Fall Fest.

On Sunday, October 27th, Chelsea Ford & The Trouble are at Neltner’s Farm, Joshua Radin and The Weepies play Memorial Hall, Mystery Skulls is at Top Cats, and Ricky Nye and Paul Ellis play Wiedemann’s taproom (5pm show).

Boz Skaggs shuffles into the Taft on Wednesday, October 30th, and Michael Franti & Spearhead will be at Riverfront Live.

On Halloween, Elizabeth Cook and Will Hoge are playing Southgate.

Friday, November 1st is a big day for live music:

Talented singer/songwriter Ian Noe, who reminds me a lot of John Prine, plays Southgate (I’ll be at that gig – check out the video of Ian below. Tickets are a mere $10 in advance.)
Asleep at the Wheel will be at Memorial Hall, with the Quebe Sisters
William Duvall (of Alice in Chains) plays Top Cats
999 and The Clap will be at Ludlow Garage
Blue October plays Bogart’s
Root Cellar Xtract is at Fretboard Brewing in Blue Ash
Ohio Valley Salvage plays Camp Springs Tavern
Local jam band Spookfloaters have a sold-out “For the Faithful” gig celebrating all things Grateful Dead, at the recently-opened Dead Low Brewing (near Riverbend)
Speaking of Dead-related bands, Terrapin Moon plays Stanley’s

On Saturday, 11/2, Bircus Brewing in Ludlow, KY (the Northside of NKY) is screening the film When It Breaks at noon. List member Keith Neltner highly recommends it. Here’s the synopsis from imdb.com:

When It Breaks is the inspiring story of Special Education teacher Konrad Wert and his personal journey to avoid becoming another victim of teacher burnout. Stepping away from the classroom, Wert turns to his musical side career as a means to tour the country with his family and engage teachers, parents, and audiences in a conversation about the current state of Special Education. As opportunities arise, Konrad must decide how his service is most effective- as an advocating artist or as a teacher in the classroom.

That evening, Jonathan Edwards and Jon Pousette-Dart are at Memorial Hall and Hiroshima plays Ludlow Garage.

Hot ticket turned cold ticket alert

Wussy is playing a living room show on 11/22, but tickets sold out in a few hours.

Poll question: what’s your favorite hidden gem cover tune?

Here’s mine: Little Feat’s “I’ve Been The One” as done by Golden Palominos, with the inimitable Syd Straw on lead vocals. The original tune is very nice, but I absolutely adore this version. “And I’ve tried everything that whiskey cures, but the pain endures.”

Have a great couple of weeks!

This week in Live Music: October 15-20

97X, Concert Listings, Music, podcast

Howdy kids, I’m back from the City of the Big Shoulders, the Windy City. I’d like to propose a toast to my wife, who ran the Chicago Marathon yesterday.

And I’d also like to propose a toast to my Chicago-dwelling friend Jessica, who hooked me up with an extra ticket to the Luna concert at Lincoln Hall last night, where they played their album Penthouse in its entirety.

OK, short week, short post.

Tuesday, Macy Gray plays Ludlow Garage. All That Remains and Lacuna Coil are at Riverfront Live. Capstan plays Top Cats and local musician Zapruder Point is at the Brew House.

On Wednesday, Just Friends, Save Face, the Sonder Bombs and Pool Kids play the Southgate House; Andy Frasco and the UN are at Madison Live; The New Mastersounds are at Ludlow; Sarah Asher plays MOTR with Mavis Guitar, Billy Alletzhauser and Beth Harris; and list member John Sandman’s Tye Dye Band plays Tina’s downtown from 4:30-8 p.m.

Della Mae is at Memorial Hall on Thursday, Charlie Parr has a CD release show in Southgate’s Revival Room, and Brit blues artist Joanne Shaw Taylor is in Southgate’s main room. Brand X is at Ludlow Garage that evening… not to be confused with Kroger’s old generic brand.

Friday, you can enjoy Cigarettes After Sex… at the Madison Theater. Or you can go to the zombie party hosted by 500 Miles to Memphis at Southgate, in the Sanctuary. The Minks and the Nailers are in Southgate’s Sanctuary, and Arlo McKinley & the Lonesome Sound play Madison Live.

Murphy’s Pub is celebrating 30th years with Dirty Thirty gigs on Friday and Saturday. You can read more in CityBeat.

Taking Back Sunday kicks off a two-night stand at Bogart’s on Friday. Apparently they are trying to corner the market on weekends.

On Saturday:

Warrick & Lowell play Neltner’s Farm Fall Fest
Rickie Lee Jones is at Ludlow Garage
the father-son duo of Ritt & Wilder Dietz plays the Parlor & Patio house concert in Ft. Thomas
Maurice Mattei is in Southgate’s Lounge
Rob Harris & Marcia Ramirez play a special Downtowne Listening Room show at Covenant First Presbyterian Church
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage are at Miami U – Hamilton
The Cliftones play MOTR
Comedian John Mulaney is at Miami’s main campus

Sunday, John Morgen plays Neltner’s Farm, the Aquadolls are at Top Cats, and the Q102 Bosom Ball is at Madison Theater, with Ingrid Michaelson as the headliner and Maddie Poppe, the Season 16 winner of American ~~karaoke~~ Idol, also on the bill.

My Favorite Record Label

Merge Records was founded by Mac & Laura from Superchunk, so naturally I’m biased, but they have a stellar stable of artists. This year, they were celebrating their 30th anniversary and I subscribed to their “Born Under A Good Sign” promo, which got me a quarterly shipment of surprise/limited edition tunes and some other swag. This quarter, it was a Polvo reissue on green vinyl and a Holiday Sampler on peppermint vinyl.

Dude to follow on the socials

Speaking of Superchunk, if you’re not following Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster (also drummer for Bob Mould and The Mountain Goats and co-star of The Best Show), you’re missing out. On Insta, he does a “new worst friend” thing when someone sends him a weird photo:

And his tweets are great too:

Shameless self-promotion

The latest episode of the 97X “Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast features our chat with Rik Helton, the former owner of CD World, who used to promote his record store by attending indie rock concerts dressed in superhero tights. We also play some other throwback commercials from the 97X airwaves.

This Week in Live Music: September 30-October 6

books, Concert Listings, Music

Wow, it’s nearly October. Or should I say Rocktober? You know the month will rock you like a climate-change-induced hurricane.

Let’s get right to the rock. And the tober.

Monday, Nashville band The Medium is at MOTR, with Nave Netoow opening. Here’s the promo photo of Nave:

Note to self: if Nave offers a carrot/orange smoothie, politely decline.

On Tuesday, Yung Gravy is playing Bogart’s. He’s a rapper from the hip-hop hotbed of Rochester, Minnesota. After watching one of his videos, I can’t figure out if he’s serious or if it’s an Andy Samberg short from SNL.

You can chase that Gravy with some Catfish, as Catfish & the Bottlemen are at Bogart’s on Wednesday. That same evening, Church Girls are playing Urban Artifact, with Soften and Fycus, and Lee Ann Womack is at Memorial Hall with Sarah Siskind.

Thursday, Mt. Pleasant String Band plays the Southgate Lounge, Blackfoot Gypsies hit Madison Live, Bam Powell performs solo at Latitudes, Cody Johnson is at Bogart’s, Mynah Tones play MOTR, an Eagles tribute band (The Eagles Project) is at Memorial Hall, and Ben Levin will be playing the “Top of the Park” rooftop at the Phelps Hotel.

Plenty o’ music from which to choose on Friday:

the Adrian Belew Power Trio plays Ludlow Garage with Saul Zonana
Sublime with Rome is at Riverfront Live
Com Truse plays Madison Theater
Dead Centric is at Urban Artifact
Chris Comer plays The View at Shires Garden
Riverfront Coliseum hosts the Legends of Hip Hop featuring E-40, Mystikal, Scarface, 8 Ball & MJG, Too Short, Bun B and Pastor Troy.

Saturday has a full slate o’ tunes too, including the Cripple Creek Music Festival in Fort Mitchell:

The Harmed Brothers play Neltner’s Farm Fall Fest starting at 1:30
Jukebox The Ghost is at Madison Theater
Plastic Ants, This Pine Box and the Amprays play MOTR
ghost man on second is at Lucius Q
Ludlow Garage has the tribute band The Dirty Doors
If you’re into clean comedy instead of Dirty Doors, Nate Bargatze is at Taft.

Last but not least, there’s a free show in Eden park:

The event is a fundraiser for the Community Program for Recovery, a non-profit that helps recovering alcoholics and addicts living in transitional recovery housing.

On Sunday, Neltner’s Farm has a Kentucky Showcase: The Poor Hours, T. Lipscomp, Chris Lloyd, Randy Steffen and Sami Riggs. Luckman Coffee in Mt. Washington is hosting a #LocalFoodRocks event from 4-6 p.m., featuring local food and local bands BackBeat and Prestige Grease. That evening, Man Man plays Top Cats… with GRLwood also on the bill (let’s hear it for Title IX!) and Go Go Buffalo.

Good Reading

Actor Griffin Dunne has a funny story about his former neighbor Ric Ocasek. And there’s a great interview with Tommy Stinson of the Replacements in Rolling Stone. Money quote:

Obviously, we wanted to be successful with everything we did. But we also were the first ones to fuck it up half the time. … Most of the time in fact. … OK, all the time!
Tommy Stinson of The Replacements

Speaking of the ‘Mats and f-ing up, list member Mighty Joe Sampson ordered the new Replacements deluxe set called Dead Man’s Pop, which contains the original Matt Wallace mixes of Don’t Tell A Soul (on LP and CD), plus a 29-song live concert recording from 1989, and a disc of outtakes, including some tunes with Tom Waits. Perhaps because Joe is 10 times the Replacements fan as anyone else I know, Amazon sent him 11 copies, not 1.

Joe even contacted Amazon to alert them of their $600 error, but they told him to keep his bounty.

It’s not like Jeff Bezos needs the money for alimony payments or anything. Joe was kind enough to gift me with one of the sets. Much obliged!

Hot Ticket Alert

Debbie Harry and Chris Stein from Blondie will be at Walnut Hills High School on Monday, October 7th, with artist/director Rob Roth, for a Joseph-Beth sponsored book event for Debbie Harry’s new memoir Face It, along with a “visual presentation.”

Ticket price includes a pre-signed copy of the book.

Grace Potter plays Taft on January 22. Tickets are on sale now.

Concert review

Brett Newski rocked the house at the Parlor & Patio show on Friday. He’s a very entertaining dude, and a nice guy to boot. Parlor & Patio has two more shows on tap for 2019, you really should get to one… or both!

Shameless Self-promotion

You’ll find a new episode of the 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast on this website, as well as on Spotify, iTunes and Podbean. Dave Tellmann and I chat with “Gentleman Jim” Mercer, the dean of all part-time DJs at 97X.

Have a rockin’ month!

This Fortnight in Live Music: September 9-22

Concert Listings, Music

Yes, this time aroundwe’re covering a two week stretch, a.k.a a fortnight. But not Fortnite. Apologies to all our tween subscribers.

WORST BURP EVER! - Fortnite Funny Moments with the Crew ...

I’ll be out of town most of next week, inspecting Hurricane Dorian damage in the Outer Banks of North Cackalacky (from the comfort of a hot tub). So let’s get to it… and two it!

Glen Hansard was scheduled to play the Taft on Monday. But it got cancelled:

We are sorry to announce that have to cancel tomorrow night’s show in Cincinnati due to illness. This is something we hoped to avoid as we know how much time and energy goes into making a show happen. We would like to thank all of folks who planned on coming for their understanding. Again we apologize for this inconvenience and look forward to returning to The Taft soon. Refunds are available at point of purchase.
https://tafttheatre.org/events/2019/09/glen-hansard

On Tuesday, ZZ Top and Cheap Trick play Rose Music Center. If you’re keeping score at home, that’s spinning guitars and five neck guitars, respectively.

That same evening, Elizabeth Moen is at Southgate, and Ben Levin plays at Arnold’s.

Wednesday, Adam Ant brings his Friend or Foe tour to Taft, and Morrissey is scheduled to play Fraze Pavilion, with Interpol as the opener. (We say “scheduled to play” because Moz has been known to flake out on shows before. He’s like the bastard son of George Jones and Axl Rose.)

Shonen Knife is at Southgate, with Me Like Bees opening. Them Coulee Boys are also at Southgate, in the Revival Room, with the Restless Leg String Band. “Thrash crossover legends” (just reading the press release) DRI play Northside Yacht Club, with Deathwish, Uncle Sammy & the Warlords and (earmuff it, tweens) Fuckin Basterd. Meanwhile, the resurgent Jonas Brothers play the Riverfront Mausoleum.

Thursday night, Lord Huron will be holding court at Taft. Lord Licorice will still be playing Candyland.

On Friday, Chuck Cleaver plays the early show (7 pm) at Urban Artifact, with William Matheny, then Nappy Roots plays the late show (9 pm) with Triiibe and In2itv3. Chely Wright plays Southgate’s main room, and Honeysuckle is in the Revival Room. Bad Suns are at 20th Century, Starset plays Bogart’s, and Gladys Knight is at Taft.

Meanwhile, in the Land that Time Forgot (West Siiiiiidddee!) Sebastian Bach plays the Skid Row album at the Blue Note in Harrison.

The Raconteurs come to the Taft on Saturday, with opener Olivia Jean. CityBeat has a nice profile of the Raconteurs Cincinnati rhythm section (Jack “Little Jack” Lawrence and Patrick Keeler). Will Johnson plays a living room show in the Lebanon area, and Andrew Salgado and Jonathan Cody White play the Downtowne Listening Room.

Keb’ Mo’ has a sold out solo show at Memorial Hall on Sunday, and the Denim Wedding Tour with Blake Berglund and Belle Plaine is at Southgate in the Lounge.

Monday, Sept. 16 — Sunday, Sept. 22

Monday, Sept. 16, Sun Kil Moon plays Woodward, continuing the Woodward’s tradition of scheduling shows that I’d really like to see for dates that I’m out of town (see also Built to Spill). And in a “you got chocolate in my peanut butter” show, Blink 182 and Lil’ Wayne play Riverbend. It’s the greatest pairing since Robby Benson and Donny “Ralph Malph” Most in a Reese’s commercial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwGQ_w9lgHw

In the 70s, lots of people walked down the street with an open jar of peanut butter.

Kacy & Clayton play Southgate on Tuesday (9/17), and Marianas Trench is at Madison Theater.

Ludlow Garage has been rescheduling a lot of the shows that were supposed to happen over the past few weeks, but as of this writing, it appears that the Tyler Hilton show on Wednesday 9/18 is a go.

The much-anticipated Ludlow Garage 50th Anniversary show is Thursday (9/19), with Dweezil Zappa playing his dad’s Hot Rats album. That same evening, Indigo Girls are at Taft, and MeatWound, Thunderclap and Ball of Light play Northside Yacht Club.

The Bourbon & Beyond Festival kicks off Friday in Louisville at the KY Expo Center.

And the Overcast Hip Hop Festival starts its two night stand on Friday. It was originally slated for Top Cats but has been moved the Thompson House (old Southgate).

Also on Friday, 9/20:

The Mavericks play Taft
The Breeders play a free show at Dayton’s Levitt Pavilion
The Ghost Wolves visit MOTR
Steel Pulse plays Ludlow Garage
Murder by Death is at Woodward
Jason Eady is playing Southgate
Erica Blinn plays Camp Springs Tavern.

If you like to gamble on whether or not marginal bands from the 90s will still be any good in 2019, Eve 6, Fastball and Vertical Horizon are playing the Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, Indiana.

Saturday 9/21:

Dan Bern is at York Street Cafe
Unknown Hinson and Vincent Neal Emerson play Southgate
Crash Test Dummies play the 25th anniversary of God Shuffled His Feet at Memorial Hall
Agnostic Front ups the anniversary ante by playing a 35th anniversary show at Northside Yacht Club with Prong and Spear
Horace Greene, Life Brother and Mom & Dad are at Urban Artifact
Frank Gambale is at Ludlow, with Dennis Chambers, Sean Wayland and Mike Pope.

On Sunday, the Outlaw Music Festival comes to Riverbend, with Willie Nelson & Family, Bonnie Raitt, Luke Combs, Brothers Osborne and more.

That same evening, Ludlow hosts Jimmy Herring and the 5 of 7.

Notes from last week

The Avett Brothers show after the Reds game was a lot of fun. I took my 16-year-old daughter Leah – so glad that she’s finally acquiring her old man’s stellar taste in music. 🙂 Leah and I also saw Jake Speed & The Freddies at Stanbury Park in scenic Mt. Washington (a.k.a. “Anderson Heights”) on Friday night. Well, I call him Jake Speed, but Leah calls him “Mr. Riordon, my 7th grade English teacher at Walnut Hills.”

Album of the Week

One of my all-time favorite under-the-radar artists, Jesse Malin, has a new album out called Sunset Kids, produced by Lucinda Williams. Please put your ears on it now and thank me later.

Album of the other week

Since this is a fortnight post, let’s double down on the tunes. Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires, Natalie Hemby and Maren Morris have teamed up to become The Highwomen (a distaff version of the Willie/Waylon/Johnny/Kris Highwaymen). Their self-titled debut is out now.

This cover isn’t on the album, but it’s on a movie soundtrack:

Shameless plea for Cystic Fibrosis donations

As noted in a previous post, I’m riding 32 miles in the Cystic Fibrosis Cycle for Life event in Cincinnati this Saturday. Thanks much to those who have already donated. If you haven’t, there’s still time… and I’m only $25 away from hitting the $1,000 mark in donations, which would be pretty friggin’ cool. Don’t feel obligated, but if you are so inclined, you can do so here: http://fightcf.cff.org/site/TR/Cycle/42_Greater_Cincinnati_Cincinnati?team_id=82559&pg=team&fr_id=7574#teamRoster

Album cover of the week

Have a great week! And have a great next week!

This Week in Live Music: September 3-8

Concert Listings, Music

Hello, Cincinnatti (sic)… are you ready to rock?

Yes, KISS had a typo on their commemorative t-shirts (Only $50! Such a deal!). But it’s doubtful that many of the faithful in attendance even noticed. The KISS Army just wants to rock and roll all night, they don’t want to have a spelling bee.

Lett’s gett intto tthis week’s shows, shall we?

Meek Mill is free! But his concert at Riverbend on Tuesday night isn’t free. Future also will be present, as will YG and Megan Thee Stallion. At Stanley’s, it’s RumpRyder the portmanteau band featuring members of the Rumpke Mountain Boys and Hyryder.

Wednesday, Orchestral Manoeuvres (not a typo, I’m not British but they are) in the Dark (a.k.a. OMD) is playing Bogart’s, Rachel Baiman and Mike Oberst are at Southgate, and Live, Bush (that last comma was much-needed) and Our Lady Peace are appearing at the Rose Music Center.

On Thursday, local bands Moonbeau and This Pine Box are playing the free show at Newport on the Levee, 7-10 p.m. Flying Lotus is at Madison Theater, Adam Lee, Dylan Walshe and Brooke Blanche triple-headline the Southgate House Revival Room, and the Ben Levin Duo double-headlines BrewRiver.

Friday night, the pace picks up:

Amos Lee plays Taft with Madison Cunningham as the opener
Stabbing Westward is at Riverfront Live (formerly Annie’s, and host to many stabbings over the years)
Harbour (again, not a typo, and I’m still not British) has an album release show at Woodward, with Sylmar, Spirit of the Bear and Coastal Club
Walk Off The Earth plays Bogart’s
Southgate House has all three rooms going – Hank von Hell haunts the Sanctuary, Patrick Sweany is in the Revival Room and New Moons, Tigerlilies and Oso Bear are in the Lounge
The Almond Butter Band (a tribute to the Allman Brothers Band) plays Fretboard
Last but certainly not least, Dr. Noah Drake (Rick Springfield) is playing PNC Pavilion, with Patty Smyth and Scandal and Greg Kihn also on the bill. Remember when Patty Smyth and Scandal played a free show at the Serpentine Wall in the mid 80s? I do. My friend Tom was going to the show, and I could have joined him, but he was meeting up with his high school buddy “Skid” and in the interest of avoiding jail time, I make it a rule to never hang out with someone named Skid… unless his last name is Roper.

On Saturday, you can finally see a winner at Great American Ball Park: the Avett Brothers are playing an on-field concert after the 4:10 p.m. Reds-Diamondbacks (not a typo… D-backs is stupid) game. Your ticket to the game is also your ticket to the concert, per Dan “Trevor Bauer just needs to tweak his mechanics” Lewis. I’ll be in Section Nosebleed, Row O.

That same day, David Shaw’s Big River Getdown is getting down at Rivers Edge in Hamilton!, with The Revivalists, The War and Treaty, Brent Cobb, Southern Avenue, Neil Francis and Chris Gelbuda. Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band is playing a free show at Levitt Pavilion in Dayton. Rick Springfield, Patty Smyth & Scandal and Greg Kihn roll up to Huber Heights to play the Rose Music Center. Leon Bridges is playing a Cincinnati (not Cincinnatti) Children’s Hospital fundraiser at the Aronoff, Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters) is at Top Cats, Wonky Tonk plays Camp Springs Tavern, and the Jay Jesse Johnson Band and Sonny Moorman (acoustic) share a bill at Fretboard Brewing. Jay Jesse Johnson is no relation to Raymond J. Johnson Jr… or maybe he is.

Sunday, The Head and the Heart plays PNC Pavilion, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue are at Riverfront Live, the B-52s play Rose Music Center with Berlin and those hard working folks in OMD. And Pat Metheny is playing Memorial Hall… I hope he packs a blow dryer on his tour bus:

Pat Metheny… or Dennis Quaid after sticking his finger in a light socket… or a Fraggle Rock cast member

Also on Sunday, comedian Brian Regan will be at Taft Theatre. He’s a funny dude.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5W6JyF7br8

Notes from last week

That house concert in Mt. Adams on Sunday was great. Noah Wotherspoon was killer. The Almond Butter Band (Allman Brothers tribute band – playing Fretboard this Friday) was great, Just Strange Brothers did a fantastic set of Talking Heads tunes, and the kids in Jukebox (including Joe Tellmann and Jacob Strom) were outstanding. Mark your calendar for next year.

Hot ticket alert

Devotchka and The Joy Formidable form a nice double bill for the Woodward on Friday, Sept. 27th, and Michael Franti & Spearhead are playing Riverfront Live on Wednesday, Oct. 30th.

Good reading

The Washington Post has an interesting article about The Hold Steady and how they are ditching some conventions with their music releases and touring plans, and there’s a nice feature about the first solo release from Ass Pony/Wussy member Chuck Cleaver in Cincinnati Magazine.

But I’m more interested in newer stuff, and for lack of another word, indie stuff. Home projects. There’s a certain type of creativity that I enjoy.
CHUCK cLEAVER

Album cover of the week (please avert your eyes)

Summer’s gone, but the music is still going strong.

This Week (and a Day) in Live Music: August 26-September 2

Concert Listings, Concert review

Yes, that’s right, for this edition of TWILM we’re throwing in a bonus day absolutely free. That’s nearly 15% more than our regular TWILM at no cost! How do we do it? We buy in volume and pass the savings on to you!

Before we get into this week’s gigs, I need to apologize for not letting you know that Stevie Wonder and Chance the Rapper were playing in Dayton yesterday. My bad.

I was so close to Stevie wonder 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/i62vPBTRnx
— queef master flex (@chloembucher) August 26, 2019

OK, moving on to this week. Wow, can you believe it’s almost Labor Day? Thanks to WEBN, the station that plays four AC/DC songs every hour, summer in Cincinnati always ends with a bang. Also thanks to WEBN, summer ends with the country’s largest outdoor display of mullets, jorts and prison ink.

Kentucky side or Ohio side? Yes, that’s correct.

It’s a relatively quiet week for live music, and a few of the gigs have a novelty flair to them. Knotts plays MOTR on Monday, with Circadian Clocks also on the bill. Tuesday, Roots of Creation plays Top Cats. Their website bills them as “electronic dance music, jam, reggae, rock, ska, world group from New Hampshire.” Their new album is Grateful Dub: A Reggae-Infused Tribute to the Grateful Dead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2W33u-2J1c

Columbus reggae band Quasi Kings opens. Your dreadlocks must be at least one foot long to enter the show.

Zapruder Point plays The Listing Loon on Wednesday.

On Thursday…

Yes, KISS will be playing Riverbend, as part of an alleged farewell tour. Gene Simmons turned 70 yesterday, so perhaps instead of spitting blood he’ll be spitting Geritol.

In a KISS-related story, Ace Frehley will be playing a Dodge dealership in East Hanover, NJ next month.

On Friday, Macy Gray was supposed to play Ludlow Garage, but that gig has been rescheduled to October 15th. But here are the gigs that are on: Dailey & Vincent play Memorial Hall; Will Payne Harrison, Chelsea Ford & The Trouble and My Brother’s Keeper are in Southgate’s Revival Room; Lagniappe is playing Bircus Brewing in Ludlow, Kentucky, with circus acrobats also working the room (really!); the Nick Netherton Band and Noah Smith play the free show at Sawyer Point; Ben Levin and Noah Wotherspoon play Mansion Hill Tavern; The Doors of Chicago are at Bogart’s; and This Pine Box plays Blind Bob’s in Dayton’s Oregon District, a venue and district that both could use some positive vibes.

Saturday, Steve ‘n’ Seagulls, a Finnish band that plays bluegrass versions of metal songs (seriously, I couldn’t even make that up), is on Southgate’s main stage, with ClusterPluck as the opener.

Meanwhile, the Steepwater Band plays Southgate’s Revival Room, Lagniappe (and tightrope walkers) are back at Bircus, and Pearl Crush is at Northside Tavern along with Britt and Brooklynn Rae.

Sunday, Judah & The Lion, Steven Puth and Public play Sawyer Point as part of the fireworks festivities, starting at 5 p.m. Mike & The Moonpies are at Southgate, and rockabilly band Lara Hope & The Ark-Tones are at MOTR.

List member Dave Tellmann, the Detective Phil Fish of Modern Rock, has caught wind of a block party in Mt. Adams called The Annual, featuring tunes from 3 p.m. until midnight, including an Allman Bros. tribute band at 7:30 and the Just Strange Brothers (CCM folks) doing a tribute to Talking Heads at 10 p.m. I’m intrigued. I’m hoping to go, even though I’ll probably have to walk a bit due to the fireworks cluster/closed streets. Who’s with me?

Next Monday is Labor Day. This song is required listening:

Notes from last week

List member Todd Butler and I caught Todd Lipscomb (and friends Brandon and Adam) at Camp Springs Tavern on Saturday night. Camp Springs Tavern is a neat little bar owned by list member Keith Neltner, whose multi-generation family farm is just across the street. If you haven’t been to CST, you really need to check it out, it’s got a great vibe, a nice little outdoor patio, and live “down-home” music most weekends.

Blatant self-promotion

Another episode of the 97X “Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast, co-hosted by super sleuth Dave Tellmann and yours truly, was recently posted on this website, as well as in iTunes, Spotify and Podbean. In this edition, we chat with John “JJ” Jesser, the original Breakfast Club co-host.

Hot ticket alert

There are only a handful of tickets left for the Brett Newski house concert at Parlor & Patio (the home of list members Jacqui and Dave Killen) in Ft. Thomas on Friday, Sept. 27th. Get yours here with the password Parlor

Mini movie worth watching

Hat tip to list member Joe Sampson for the link to a mini-movie about the making of the Tiny Changes album, an all-star tribute to Frightened Rabbit’s brilliant 2008 release The Midnight Organ Fight.

Band name of the week (NSFW variety)

Album cover of the week

If only they still taught kids in grades K-6 how to do “The Monkey” and “Funky Broadway”… the world would be a better place.

Have a wonderful week and a day!