Concert Listings

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.

Live Bush

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!

“It’s one louder”

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.

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.

Todd Lipscomb at Camp Springs Tavern

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!

This week in Live Music: August 19-25

Concert Listings, Music

Hey kids, ready for a hot August night of music?

  • Looks like Jimmy Page…
  • …Wayne Newton…
  • …Ed Helms’ dad

Sorry, Neil Diamond won’t be in town this week. Neither will any Neil Diamond tribute bands. But every time you yell out “So good! So good! So good!” when they play “Sweet Caroline” at a sporting event, YOU are part of a Neil Diamond tribute band. Never forget that!

Monday, Melissa Etheridge will be at the Taft Theatre. Tuesday, it’s crickets (and not the Buddy Holly kind). On Wednesday, the only music on my radar isn’t a live gig, it’s a movie called Cinema Strangiato, featuring “the Holy Trinity of Rock”: Geddy, Alex and Neil.

https://youtu.be/Jow3-DVntj8

I love Canada’s premier power rock trio (sorry Triumph, thanks for playing, here’s a year’s supply of Rice-a-Roni and a copy of our home game) but I don’t know if I’ll make it to a “theater near you” for live highlights from the R40 tour and some interviews.

Tuesday Memes – Rush – 2loud2oldmusic
Neil Peart (center) with Nancy and Ann Wilson of Heart

On Thursday, the pace finally picks up. The Whispering Beard Folk Festival kicks off in its new location: Smale Park in downtown Cincy. Here’s the lineup for that evening:

Reverend on a Thursday – that’s hot!

Also playing Thursday: Vincent at Top Cats, Habibi with Fruit & Flowers in Southgate’s Revival Room, and the artist with the fantastic stage name of Popa Chubby will be playing Southgate’s main stage (a.k.a. Sanctuary).

Popa Button is more like it

Friday is a very busy night for live music. The Whispering Beard Festival continues with Peter Rowan, M. Ward and the Felice Brothers on the main stage, and you can also buy tickets for exclusive riverboat shows.

Urban Artifact also kicks off their BeWILDERfest, with three stages (including a tented courtyard stage) over two evenings. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is the Friday headliner. Here’s that night’s schedule:

Two festivals in one weekend, wow, that’s almost “two” much to handle…

Better make that a try-fecta, because if you’re really ambitious, you can also try to attend Farmula Fest this Friday and Saturday, at A.J. Jolly Park in Alexandria, KY.

It’s the only festival to feature kayaking… so that’s a plus. It’s also the only festival to feature Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad as a headliner. They are no relation to Urban Dance Squad. Or the Mod Squad.

Weirdest show intro ever! Thanks Aaron Spelling.

Other Friday gigs: Carriers have a vinyl release show at the Woodward, with Turtledoves, Joesph and Molly Parden. Big Freedia is bouncing into Bogart’s. Knotts are playing Northside Tavern with Superlow and Freedom Nicole Moore. Lauren Eylise & The Part Time Lovers are at MOTR, and The Brummies and Coastal Club play the free Fountain Square gig. At Southgate, Kellie Loder plays the Revival room and the Lounge hosts The Cousin Kissers, a Country/Americana supergroup of local luminaries Jeff Leist, Jimmy Davidson, Neil Sharrow and Bill Craig.

Last and certainly least, the Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent, will be at Riverfront Live.

70s rocker, now off his rocker.

On Saturday, T. Lipscomb is live at the Camp Springs Tavern. I hope to make that gig. Ben Levin & The Heaters play a free show at Keener Park in West Chester, and the Beard and BeWILDERfest both wrap up – lineups below.

Whispering Beard
BeWILDERfest

On Sunday, Umphrey’s McGee plays Fraze Pavilion, Stanley’s hosts their weekly open jam, and the Ben Levin Trio will make some noise in the Campbell County Library from 6-7 p.m.

Photos from last week

Rob Fetters at the Ludlow Garage 50th anniversary at Eden Park
Spookfloaters sounded fantastic at Fretboard’s outdoor stage

Hot ticket alert

The Raconteurs are playing Taft on Saturday, September 14th, and Ben Folds (and a piano) are at Taft on Thursday, October 24th. Also, the Wilco show on Saturday, November 9th is nearly sold out. Remember, go to the Taft box office to purchase Taft, Riverbend and PNC Pavilion tickets and avoid the ridiculous TicketBastard fees.

Album of the Week

The new Hold Steady album Thrashing Thru The Passion sounds great (nice to have Franz Nicolay back in the fold). But I’ll have to give the nod to this classic LP:

Blatant plea for Cystic Fibrosis donations

I’m biking 30+ miles in the Cincinnati Cystic Fibrosis Cycle for Life event on September 14th and would love it if you could make a donation to support me and help fund research to find a cure for this insidious disease. Here’s the link to my fundraising page: http://fightcf.cff.org/site/TR/Cycle/42_Greater_Cincinnati_Cincinnati?px=2458867&pg=personal&fr_id=7574

Thank you, and have a great week!

This week in live Music: August 12-18

Concert Listings, Music

Hello, Children of the Sun,

I hope the dog days of summer are treating you well. I’m experiencing a bit of festival fatigue after a couple days at Bellwether, but it was totally worth it. I really enjoyed Cake, Guided by Voices, Real Estate, Pinback Sego, STRFKR and Cold War Kids. Beach House sounded great, but they had the stage lit (or rather, unlit) so that you couldn’t really see them… I’m not into shadow puppets. A few list members attended the Railbird Festival in Lexington, and that had a killer lineup. And list member Dave Tellmann was down in Nashville checking out Violent Femmes and Ben Folds.

Breaking news: we have our first concert review! List member Dan Bockrath breaks down the energetic set from Guided By Voices at Bellwether. Check it out here. The post also includes some stellar photography from Gene Dow (a friend of Dan’s from college, and, as Cincinnati fate would have it, an old co-worker of mine at an ad agency).

Bob’s yer hard-drinkin’ uncle! (photo courtesy of Gene Dow Photography)

OK, on to this week’s gigs. On Monday, it’s An Evening with Foreigner at Rose Music Center. These days, an evening with Foreigner means an evening with Mick Jones (not The Clash/Big Audio Dynamite guy, but the founding member/guitarist for Foreigner) and a bunch of folks he hired in 2003 to keep his income coming in. ( They are putting together a tour book and you can submit your memorabilia:

We’re gearing up to put together the first Foreigner tour book in many years and we’re asking you, our most loyal fans, for help. We’d like to feature an assortment of memorabilia spanning the band’s career in the tour book and are seeking high res scans of Foreigner memorabilia circa 1977 to the present–U.S and foreign magazine covers, covers of vintage tour books, foreign picture sleeves, record company promotional photos, backstage passes, personal photos you took of the band in concert that are high quality, etc.

(source: https://www.foreigneronline.com/news) 

I saw Foreigner and Billy Squier at Barton Coliseum in Little Rock, Arkansas back in June of 1981, but the only souvenir I got was a hangover from the Mickey’s Big Mouths that I drank in the parking lot before the show.

Ah, youth… so refreshing!

Tuesday, Cincinnati’s youngest piano maestro (Ben Levin) is doing a solo show at Cincinnati’s oldest bar (Arnold’s). I wonder if they serve Mickey’s Big Mouths…

On Wednesday, the Stray Cats 40th Anniversary tour struts into Rose Music Center (see what we did there?). Front Country and the Cave Twins are at Southgate, and Jeremy Clyde (of Chad & Jeremy fame) is at York Street. Where’s Chad, you ask? From what I understand, Chad has been hanging in Florida since 2000.

Thursday, Robbie Fulks plays Woodward Theater, with Maria Carelli as the opener. Canadian duo Madison Violet is at Southgate, the Chris Comer Trio entertains tennis fans at the W&S tourney in Mason, and Iron Maiden rocks Riverbend. Good old Eddie still shreds.

Not GWAR. But run to the hills.

Perhaps by Thursday you’ll be over your festival fatigue, because the Birds of a Feather Music & Arts Festival kicks off at “the beautiful Thornhill Dragstrip” (gotta love PR folks) in Morning View, KY . Rumpke Mountain Boys, Goose, Restless Leg String Band and several other bands are on the bill. And there’s morning yoga for all those campers who managed to set up their tent on a rock or tree root. In other words, it’s for all campers.

Friday, John Paul White is at Southgate… for real this time, it’s the rescheduled show from a month ago when JPW was illing. Caleb Elliott is the opener. Ben Levin brings his backing band the Heaters to Arnold’s (they don’t serve Mickey’s – I checked). The Chris Comer Trio plays the Findlay Market Biergarten at happy hour (5-7 p.m.). Wicked Peace — stars of a living room show at Parlor & Patio a few months back — are at Jerzee’s Pub & Grill in Newport. Meanwhile, Chris Staples is playing a living room show through Undertow (same company that booked Eric Bachmann at my house). I don’t know much about Mr. Staples (pretty sure he’s no relation to Pops or Mavis), but this KEXP session is pretty sweet. Looks like the show will be in the Northside area.

Friday is also Grateful Dead Night at the Reds game. Local jam band Spookfloaters (featuring my wife’s cousin Mike on guitar and vocals) are playing the pre-game concert, and they’ll be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Dead’s Woodstock performance by playing that entire set (and more!).

Turn on, tune in, drop out of the wild card race

List member Dan “Aristides 4-4 ever!” Lewis would like to remind you that if you cough up some extra cash for the Grateful Dead ticket package, you can get a Dancing Bear Bobblehead.

Wearing the throwback LSD trip uniform

Spookfloaters are back at it Saturday, playing Fretboard Brewing from 7-9 p.m. Chelsea Ford & The Trouble are at Camp Springs Tavern, Castlecomer is at Madison Live, Chris Comer Trio plays Padrino in Milford, Mike Zito and Johnny Fink play Southgate’s main room, and Ricky Nye Inc. featuring Blake Taylor is playing the Southgate Lounge.

Saturday is also the Ludlow Garage 50th Anniversary Reunion, a free show in Eden Park’s Seasongood Pavilion. That gig is organized by Jim Tarbell, who used to book the original Ludlow Garage back in the day [Kinks, Allman Brothers, Stooges, Dr. John, Staples Singers (no relation to Chris Staples), Santana, et al.]. He also booked the first Grateful Dead gig in Cincinnati, and later became a vice-mayor and mural model. Here’s the show lineup:

Jim Tarbell used to own Arnold’s. I bet he served Mickey’s Big Mouths!

Ricky Nye keeps the party going Sunday, playing Wiedemann Brewery & Taproom. He’ll be playing solo, but not so-low that you can’t hear him.

Sell!

That same evening, Korn and Alice in Chains are at Riverbend.

She learned it from her dad.

JD Simo plays Southgate, and the Downtowne Listening Room is hosting Icecreamapalooza with Matt Waters and Sami Riggs. That show is sold out… but you can attend the backup Icecreamapalooza next to my fridge. BYOB (bring your own butterscotch).

Hot ticket alert: Houndmouth is playing Southgate on Friday, November 22nd and Saturday, November 23rd.

From the TWILM mailbag, list member “Mighty Joe” Sampson commented on our mention of the time he prevented the Goo Goo Dolls from beating up the sound guy at Day in Eden back in 1993:

The far greater crime committed by the Goos has been on display for past 20 years: shift from great punk pop albums of late 80’s through early 90’s to present day adult contemporary elevator music. I still dig those early Goo records most notably Superstar Car Wash is killer.

That’s Joe in the red cap, third row right… before he strong-armed the Goos

And while I hate to end on a sad note, we do need to mention the passing of David Berman of Silver Jews (and the recent Purple Mountains album). Here’s my post about it, and you really should read the recent article from The Ringer about David. Big shout-out to list member Jay Stowe for this comment on the blog:

Thanks for this, Damian. I got to know David a bit in college and briefly afterwards in New York. The bond was basically music. He was an occasional deejay at WTJU in Charlottesville during school; I credit him (and Bob Nastanovich) with introducing me to a ton of great bands. He had a unique view of the world we live in, and despite his struggles, came at it with a dry wit from a refreshingly skewed angle. He also had a beautiful way with words. He told me one time about sitting across the table from Kim Gordon after a Sonic Youth show at Trax in C’ville; he said she had the look of a “sultry tigress.” I called him once when I was an editor at Outside and asked him if he’d write an “epic poem” about America for a travel package. It was a fairly dopey idea, but he indulged me kindly. He had a generous spirit, a wonderful sense of the absurd, and some darkness that followed him around. All of which made him, in my eyes, one of the most eloquent voices of my generation. It hurts to think he’s gone.

Hear, hear, Jay… R.I.P. David.

“Half hours on earth… what are they worth?”

This week in Live Music: August 5-11

Concert Listings, Music

Before we get into this week’s live tuneage, let’s dwell for a moment on last week’s live shows. Big shout out to the list members (and friends of list members) who came to the Eric Bachmann house show at my place: Jacqui, Ken, Jeff, Bob, Dan and Martha, Rico, and Rico’s buddies Cody and Louie. What a great gig! And getting a chance to chat with Eric afterward was just as cool… I’m going to begrudgingly forgive Neko Case for her antics last time she played Taft, as Eric (who was in her touring band) gave us the backstory.

Eric Bachmann at Damian’s house

The Cereal Killers performed a stellar (albeit too brief) set in Mt. Adams on Friday. We need to get them a recurring gig – any suggestions for a venue that might be amenable to hosting a killer band that plays great tunes from the late 70s/early 80s indie/college rock pantheon?

Cereal Killers in Mt. Adams… that’s not Eric Bachmann on guitar, it’s his doppelganger Matt Hueneman.

And finally, a shout out to list member Dan “Come to the Trevor Bauer Power Hour” Lewis for checking out the Ben Levin Trio at the Overlook Kitchen + Bar at the Summit Hotel in Madisonville. That hotel feels out of place next to a UDF, but their restaurant/bar patio is a very cool spot to hang out… especially when Ben Levin is playing.

OK, on with the show(s)… Tonight, Max Frost is playing the 20th Century Theater, with Swells as the opener.

On Tuesday, The Regrettes are at Madison Live, Joe Bonamassa is playing Fraze, Knotty G’s are at Stanley’s, the Local Music Showcase at Sawyer Point features Jordan Wilson Coalition and Brother Smith (6:30-10 p.m.) and Tesla (the band, not the car… actually maybe both) is at Rose Music Center.

Jake Speed & the Freddies are this week’s featured band in the Wednesdays in the Woods series at Burnet Woods. The Royal Hounds are playing Southgate’s Revival Room with NP Presley and The Ghost of Jesse Garon.

On Thursday, JJ Grey & Mofro are playing PNC Pavilion with Jonny Lang and Marc Brussard. List members Whit and Barb Gardner will be at that show. Joyce Manor is playing Woodward that evening, with Saves the Day and awakebutstillinbed, the band named after my teenage kids. Jamestown Revival plays Top Cats, and Madison Theater will host the Squirrel Nut Zippers.

This just in: list member/junior correspondent Madeleine Meeks informs our news desk that The Dip will be playing a free show at RiversEdge in Hamilton! Ohio on Thursday evening, and they’ll be playing an intimate gig at Plaid Room Records on Friday night. They are, per Madeleine, “seven young, gorgeous men from Seattle playing jazzy, old timey, classy, sexy tunes”… that blurb sounds a lot better coming from her than from me.

The summer is flying by, and it’s Bellwether Weekend… and Railbird weekend. Bellwether kicks off Friday in Waynesville at the Renaissance Festival grounds, home of giant turkey legs and jousting… and perhaps jousting with giant turkey legs.

The Bellwether schedule is below, headliners include Real Estate and Cake on Friday, and Guided By Voices, Pinback and Beach House on Saturday. I’ll be in attendance both days.

Railbird is Saturday and Sunday at Keeneland in Lexington, KY. Here’s the list of performers:

There are a slew of local shows on Friday as well:

  • JJ Grey/Jonny Lang/Marc Broussard play Rose Music Center
  • Willow Tree Carolers are at Camp Springs Tavern
  • Vesperteen headlines the free show at Fountain Square
  • ghost man on second is playing Lucius Q
  • Wyatt Edmondson is at Stanley’s with Electric Son
  • The Darling Suns, Heavy Hinges and Darity are playing Northside Tavern
  • Ben Levin Trio plays BrewRiver

And there are plenty of gigs on Saturday too:

  • Chuck Cleaver, Lisa Walker and Mark Messerly of Wussy are at MOTR, playing solo stuff as well as collaborating on some Wussy tunes.
  • Santana plays Riverbend with the Doobie Brothers. List members Whit and Barb will be at that gig too… they are cuckoo for concerts this week.
  • Black Flag is playing Riverfront Live. Speaking of Black Flag, this is a cool mini-doc about their artwork.
  • Common is at Madison Theater
  • The Newbees have a 15th anniversary show at Southgate
  • Megan Wren is at Southgate too, in the Revival Room
  • 500 Miles to Memphis headlines the Fountain Square freebie
  • John Butler Trio is at Rose Music Center
  • The Gotobeds (named after me talking to my teenage kids) are playing Northside Yacht Club, with Vacation and Cold Stereo
  • Flying Underground and Maurice Mattei & the Tempers are at Urban Artifact
  • The Generics will be at Fretboard Brewing in Blue Ash.
I’m just phoning it in now.

Sunday is a bit quieter, at least from a volume (of shows) standpoint. Death Valley Girls and Moonwalks are at MOTR, and JP Harris & the Tough Choices are playing Southgate, with Jeremy Pinnell opening the show.

A few other notes: Shake It Records is selling the first deck of Cincinnnati Music Legends trading cards, a very cool idea. Read more in CityBeat.

Wham!

I’m really digging the new album from Bleached called Don’t You Think You’ve Had Enough (which is what my kids say to me when I’m reaching for my third slice of cake).

And the latest episode of the 97X podcast features Barb Abney talking about her 25+ year career playing modern rock (97X, the woxy.com, then The Current in Minneapolis, and now KFAI.) All episodes of the “Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast are now available on Spotify, too.

Have a wonderful week!

This week in live Music: July 29-August 4

Concert Listings, Music

I’m listing the concerts out of order this week.

Al Pacino, in a restrained performance.

Because the most important gig is on Thursday: Eric Bachmann is playing a house concert at my home.

26 tickets left? Geez, that’s sad. Clearly, I’ve done a piss-poor job of marketing this gig. Did I mention I saw Eric at a house concert in Northside a few years back and it was amazing? It doesn’t really matter if you’re that familiar with his work, you’ll still enjoy the heck out of it… and it’s an early show too, he’ll be on at 8 and done by 9:30. But wait, there’s more… I’m offering my Double D Guarantee: if you aren’t completely satisfied with the show, I’ll refund your $ out of my own pocket. (I make $0 off this show, it’s booked by Undertow and they manage the cash.) Here’s a Spotify playlist of EB tunes, from Archers of Loaf to Crooked Fingers to his solo work. Tell your friends, Romans and countrymen about this show. Because right now, I’m the new Artie Fufkin.

OK, enough pitiful pimpin’. Back to the other shows this week. On Tuesday, Sarah McLachlan will be at Rose Music Center with a full orchestra.

Wednesday, Hibou is at MOTR with Dark Colour and Culture Queer, Jon Bellion is at PNC Pavilion and The Mowgli’s are playing Taft Ballroom. (Don’t ask me why they have an apostrophe in their name… maybe it’s a tribute to Frank Zappa.)

Thursday, you really, really, really should be at my shack for the Eric Bachmann house concert. But I’m contractually obligated to mention that the Legendary Shack Shakers are at Southgate, with JD Pinkus (Butthole Surfers).

Friday is a big evening for live music. Many list members will be at the Beck/Cage the Elephant/Spoon/Wild Belle show at Riverbend. And for good reason – that’s a killer lineup. (Of course, with Riverbend’s ironclad 11 p.m. curfew, you’ll get short sets… even though the show starts at 6.) However, there are several other gigs that evening:

  • Cloud Nothings are headlining the free show at Fountain Square
  • Steel Drivers and the Steep Canyon Rangers are playing Riverfront Live (old Annie’s)
  • Joan Osborne is singing the songs of Bob Dylan (Perhaps you’ve heard of him? Some folks call him the poor man’s Eric Bachmann) at Memorial Hall
  • The Sunburners and the Cliftones are playing a free gig at Sawyer Point (6-10 pm)
  • John Cusack was supposed to be at Taft for a screening of Say Anything and a Q&A… but it’s not listed on the Taft Theatre site anymore. Maybe his boombox batteries died.
  • The Harlequins are playing MOTR
  • Last but certainly not least, legendary local band Cereal Killers will be playing the Holy Cross/Immaculata church festival in Mt. Adams starting at 7 p.m. I’ll be at that gig. Admission is free, but you know you won’t be able to resist playing some Bars & Bells, so pack your wallet accordingly.

On Saturday, UB40 is at Riverfront Live and the Ben Levin Trio is at the Overlook Kitchen + Bar at the Summit Hotel. You also have your choice of two spoofy names, but just one spoof band: Mac Sabbath is playing Woodward Theater and Def Leggend (‘the world’s greatest tribute to Def Leppard’) is at Bogart’s. The Cincy Summer Beerfest at Smale Park will feature some live tunes, too.

Sunday, the Camp Springs Tavern hosts an open bluegrass jam (as they do every first Sunday of the month) at 3:30. Blacktop Mojo is at Madison Live, and Kool Keith is rockin’ the Northside Tavern.

That’ll do it for gigs this week. Hope to see you Thursday. And Friday.

Hot Ticket Alert:

Patty Griffin and Scott Miller at 20th Century Theater on Sept. 25.

This week in live music: July 22-28

97X, Concert Listings, Music, podcast

Howdee!

Before MP3s, there was the original MP

Let’s get right to the tunes, because we also have a lot of non-concert ground to cover.

Monday, Amigo the Devil is at Southgate, with Cory Branan. And for all the phloppy Phish dancers, the Trey Anastasio movie Between Me and My Mind is showing at Bogart’s, and there’s a two-for-one deal on tickets. Please note that the showing is BYOFDGCSPFASHITPL… bring your own five-dollar grilled cheese sandwich purchased from a smelly hippy in the parking lot.

Tuesday, Los Lobos and The Mavericks are playing Rose Music Center. (Oh sure, Rose and PNC’s lineups are 99% identical but this is the one of the few shows that isn’t playing both venues… so unfair!) Emily Wolfe is playing Southgate, Matisyahu and Tribal Seeds are at Bogart’s, and Stanley’s hosts an all-star tribute to Dylan & the Dead (more grilled cheese for my tie-dyed friends!). Speaking of the dead, the man who has looked like a corpse since the 70s (and is now IN his 70s) will be playing Riverbend:

No more Mr. Vincent Furnier.

Halestorm is the opener.

Train rolls into Riverbend on Wednesday (see what we did there), with the Goo Goo Dolls and Allen Stone also on the bill. True story: Goo Goo Dolls nearly came to blows with the sound man at 97X’s “Day in Eden” concert in Eden Park back in 1993 (Superstar Car Wash era), but list member Mighty Joe Sampson intervened (all 140 pounds of him) and cooler heads prevailed. So basically, if not for Joe, Goo Goo Dolls would have wound up behind Si Leis’ iron bars instead of enjoying multi-platinum success. Also on Hump Day, Drivin N Cryin is at Southgate.

On the day of Thor, Conor Oberst is at Taft, Ben Levin Trio is playing The Phelps rooftop (close to where those stately trees used to be in Lytle Park), and the Cincinnati Music Fest (nee Kool Jazz Fest and Macy’s Fest) kicks off at Paul Brown Stadium with hip-hop night, featuring Slick Rick.

Friday is a feast for your ears:

  • Holly Spears plays Camp Springs Tavern (more on this venue later)
  • Angela Perley plays a freebie at Levitt Pavilion in Dayton
  • IDKHow is in Taft’s Ballroom (here’s a fun video from them)
  • Aztec Sun and Krystal Peterson & the Queen City Band are at MOTR
  • Fretboard Brewing hosts a Whispering Beard Preview with Chelsea Nolan (8 pm), Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle (9:10 pm) and The Winetree (10:20 pm).
  • Urban Artifact hosts an NPR Tiny Desk Concert preview night
  • The Cincinnati Music Fest continues at PBS with Maxwell and Earth, Wind and Fire
  • Terrapin Moon plays Stanley’s
  • The Sonny Moorman Group and Chuck Brisbin & the Tuna Project play a free show at Sawyer Point (6-10 pm)
  • Uncle Kracker is at the old Annie’s
  • Lizzo plays the Coliseum
  • Zedd plays a post-game concert at GABP
  • The Righteous Brothers & the Temptations are at PNC
  • Last, but certainly not least, Air Supply will be playing Rose Music Center

On Saturday, Heart plays Riverbend with Elle King, Sylmar has their EP release show at Woodward Theater, with This Pine Box also on the bill (with an asterisk), and Pop Empire has an album release show at Northside Tavern. At PBS, Ohio Players are on the bill.

You’ve gotta see the poppin’ and lockin’… it’s killer!

If you’re hankering for some fun instead of funk, Stanley’s hosts a standup comedy showcase from 6-8.

Sunday, Southgate is hosting the Cosmic Honky Tonk Review featuring Jim Lauderdale, Jason Ringenberg (from Jason & The Scorchers) and Chuck Mead (BR549). And the week winds down the same way it started, with a jam band: moe. is playing PNC Pavilion, with Blues Traveler and G. Love.

OK, now let’s move on to the TWILM mailbag. Dan “The Reds are wild card contenders!” Lewis would like everyone to know that the Avett Brothers are playing after the Reds afternoon game on Saturday, September 7th. List member Andy Block surely will be in attendance, as he is an Avett groupie and saw all three nights of their recent stand in Red Rocks.

Jeff Franco sent a link to a new song from Wilderado (Jeff and I saw Wilderado and Sure Sure at Madison Live several months ago – great show!): https://open.spotify.com/album/1I2hGwPg0UwRN8pxBHJQLZ?si=se4-6ohrRDC3PumIQ5kGww

Todd Butler sent in this rave review about the Camp Springs Tavern:

List members Ben Brawley and Joe Sampson are the new Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, they have been looking for clues to the whereabouts of the band Sons of Bill after we put out an APB in a recent post on 97Xbam.com. Joe says lead singer James Wilson has been focusing on his Faulkner studies, but Ben reports that James is playing a solo show in Charlottesville on August 7th, so there is hope of more tunes in the future.

So bad it’s good….

List member/proud papa Dave Tellmann informed us that his son Joe won’t be playing with This Pine Box at Woodward on Saturday… because he’ll be in Europe playing two shows at the Notodden Blues Festival in Norway, and attending a music class led by Little Steven. Not bad for a college sophomore.

Meanwhile, proud son Joe Tellmann would like everyone to know that his dad Dave co-hosts a podcast about the old days at 97X called “Rumblings from the Big Bush,” and in the latest episode the guest is Dan “Danny Crash” Reed, former 97X and WNKU DJ, and former Bogart’s manager, and former local band member (Chem Dyne, Dock Ellis) who is now the afternoon host and music director for WXPN in Philly, and the talent booker for World Cafe. Joe says it’s a very entertaining show, despite the fact that Dave’s co-host is an asshat (Joe’s words, not mine.)

Shout-out to list member Dave Roberto for hooking me up with a Hootie & The Blowfish/Barenaked Ladies ticket (and get-well-soon wishes to list member Kevin Sullivan, who was originally supposed to attend). It was like 1992 all over again:

Have a wonderful week!

This week in live music: July 15-21

Concert Listings

Hot enough for ya?

Speaking of hot, let’s get to the hot, hot, live music action.

Ain’t nothin’ going on Monday… but Tuesday more than makes up for that. Sebadoh is playing Woodward Theater, with Eleanor Friedberger opening up the show. That’s a great double bill, and I just may rally my old man bones enough to make that show on a weekday. Father Time will tell.

That same evening, Combo Chimbita is playing Northside Tavern. This band comes highly recommended by TWILM member Michelle Boyles.

There are two other bands on the bill with Combo Chimbita, so if you’re an old fogey like me, the start time might be past your bedtime.

John Paul White (formerly of the Civil Wars… that name turned out to be prophetic) is playing Southgate, with Caleb Elliott.

What about Dayton, you ask? Any live tunes in “The Gem City” on Tuesday? Maybe at a gas station?

So glad you asked! The Steve Miller Band is playing Kettering’s Fraze Pavilion, with Marty Stuart as the opener. Meanwhile, in another Dayton suburb (Huber Heights, “America’s largest community of brick homes”), Amos Lee is playing Rose Music Center, with Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers opening up the gig. Remember when Bruce Hornsby’s backing band was called “The Range”? Or was it the Amana Radarange?

On Wednesday, PNC Pavilion has a triple bill: Third Eye Blind, Jimmy Eat World and Ra Ra Riot. I’m not much of a Third Eye Blind fan, but I do like Jimmy Eat World and Ra Ra Riot. Speaking of three i’s, Triiibe is the local band playing the free “Wednesdays in the Woods” gig at the Burnet Woods Bandstand. And in a cruel twist of fate The Commodores are playing Fraze, NOT the Rose Music Center… I have a feeling “Brick House” would go over better in Huber Heights.

Thursday, some old guy in a Hawaiian shirt is playing Riverbend. I’m not going to Buffett-bash… I just wish all the folks who go cuckoo over his concerts would get out of their suburban enclaves more than once a year, and actually support other bands as well. Bring that crazy energy… but leave the plastic flamingos in the garage next to the Lawn-Boy.

It was right next to the broken flip-flop.

Ben Levin & the Heaters are playing the Behringer Crawford Museum in Devou Park. Meanwhile, in the Gem City, Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle are playing a free show at Levitt Pavilion. That’s the Levitt Pavilion in Dayton, not to be confused with Levitt Pavilion in Westport, Connecticut, or the one in Denver, or the one in Arlington, TX.

On Friday evening, the Wheels of Soul tour rolls into PNC Pavilion, with Shovels & Rope, Blackberry Smoke and Tedeschi-Trucks Band. My wife is a close personal friend with Blackberry Smoke.

We flew to Germany on the same plane last year, so we’re practically touring members of the band!

Just to clarify, my wife is a close friend, but she’s not a “special new friend.”

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/c36119b3-71e5-40e1-a820-f09bd9300be6
Artie Fufkin, Polymer Records…

Soul Pocket is playing the free show on Fountain Square, Jeremy Pinnell is playing Folk School Coffee Parlor in Ludlow, KY, Krystal Peterson is at Fretboard Brewing in Blue Ash, and Wreking Crue, the Motley Crue Experience, is at Bogart’s (tribute bands can’t afford the umlauts).

Saturday, it’s 1995 all over again: Hootie & The Blowfish are playing a sold-out show at Riverbend, with Barenaked Ladies as the opening act.

Just wait until he finds out about Barenaked Ladies…

Stanley’s is hosting the Ladyfolk Festival (Honey & Houston, Maria Carelli Band, Chelsea Ford & The Trouble, twig&leaf), the Downtowne Listening Room has Dierdre Flint with Eric Gnezda, The Redemptioners are playing Camp Springs Tavern, Ben Levin’s at Streetside…. and the Wheels of Soul tour (TTB, Blackberry Smoke and Shovels & Rope) rolls up to The Gem City (Rose Music Center).

On Sunday, Nicholas Johnson & The Same Old Strangers are at MOTR, Comet Bluegrass All-Stars are at the Comet (duh!) and Stanley’s hosts an open jam. Bring your tambourine.

In other news, Houndmouth is playing a two-night stand at Southgate Nov. 22 and 23. Get yer tix now. And Tiny Changes – A Celebration of The Midnight Organ Fight is out. Various artists (Ben Gibbard, Julien Baker, Craig Finn, Manchester Orchestra, Josh Ritter, Lauren Mayberry from Chvrches, Aaron Dessner from The National, The Twilight Sad) cover songs from Frightened Rabbit’s brilliant sophomore album, which came out a decade ago. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Tiny Changes, the children’s mental health charity founded in honor of Frightened Rabbit lead singer Scott Hutchison. Here’s my close personal friend Craig Finn doing Head Rolls Off:

Craig played an Undertow house concert at my place back in 2017. Now it’s Eric Bachmann’s turn. He’ll be here on Thursday, August 1st. Get tickets here before they vanish.

In other house concert news, my friends Jacqui and Dave have lined up another show: Brett Newski will be playing their lovely home (a.k.a. Parlor & Patio) in Ft. Thomas on Friday, September 27th. That should be a real dandy. Get your tickets for that gig here with the password parlor.

“Newski’s live shows are part rock n’ roll, part stand up, and part therapy. In the end, the room is won over.”

–Jim McGuinn, The Current, Minneapolis

Have a rockin’ week!

P.S. As a writer and a former advertising guy, I hope whoever came up with this slogan was fired:

This week in live music: July 15-21

Concert Listings

Hot enough for ya?

Speaking of hot, let’s get to the hot, hot, live music action.

Ain’t nothin’ going on Monday… but Tuesday more than makes up for that. Sebadoh is playing Woodward Theater, with Eleanor Friedberger opening up the show. That’s a great double bill, and I just may rally my old man bones enough to make that show on a weekday. Father Time will tell.

That same evening, Combo Chimbita is playing Northside Tavern. This band comes highly recommended by TWILM member Michelle Boyles.

There are two other bands on the bill with Combo Chimbita, so if you’re an old fogey like me, the start time might be past your bedtime.

John Paul White (formerly of the Civil Wars… that name turned out to be prophetic) is playing Southgate, with Caleb Elliott.

What about Dayton, you ask? Any live tunes in “The Gem City” on Tuesday? Maybe at a gas station?

So glad you asked! The Steve Miller Band is playing Kettering’s Fraze Pavilion, with Marty Stuart as the opener. Meanwhile, in another Dayton suburb (Huber Heights, “America’s largest community of brick homes”), Amos Lee is playing Rose Music Center, with Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers opening up the gig. Remember when Bruce Hornsby’s backing band was called “The Range”? Or was it the Amana Radarange?

On Wednesday, PNC Pavilion has a triple bill: Third Eye Blind, Jimmy Eat World and Ra Ra Riot. I’m not much of a Third Eye Blind fan, but I do like Jimmy Eat World and Ra Ra Riot. Speaking of three i’s, Triiibe is the local band playing the free “Wednesdays in the Woods” gig at the Burnet Woods Bandstand. And in a cruel twist of fate The Commodores are playing Fraze, NOT the Rose Music Center… I have a feeling “Brick House” would go over better in Huber Heights.

Thursday, some old guy in a Hawaiian shirt is playing Riverbend. I’m not going to Buffett-bash… I just wish all the folks who go cuckoo over his concerts would get out of their suburban enclaves more than once a year, and actually support other bands as well. Bring that crazy energy… but leave the plastic flamingos in the garage next to the Lawn-Boy.

It was right next to the broken flip-flop.

Ben Levin & the Heaters are playing the Behringer Crawford Museum in Devou Park. Meanwhile, in the Gem City, Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle are playing a free show at Levitt Pavilion. That’s the Levitt Pavilion in Dayton, not to be confused with Levitt Pavilion in Westport, Connecticut, or the one in Denver, or the one in Arlington, TX.

On Friday evening, the Wheels of Soul tour rolls into PNC Pavilion, with Shovels & Rope, Blackberry Smoke and Tedeschi-Trucks Band. My wife is a close personal friend with Blackberry Smoke.

We flew to Germany on the same plane last year, so we’re practically touring members of the band!

Just to clarify, my wife is a close friend, but she’s not a “special new friend.”

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/c36119b3-71e5-40e1-a820-f09bd9300be6
Artie Fufkin, Polymer Records…

Soul Pocket is playing the free show on Fountain Square, Jeremy Pinnell is playing Folk School Coffee Parlor in Ludlow, KY, the Kingston Trio is playing Memorial Hall, and Wreking Crue, the Motley Crue Experience, is at Bogart’s (tribute bands can’t afford the umlauts).

Saturday, it’s 1995 all over again: Hootie & The Blowfish are playing a sold-out show at Riverbend, with Barenaked Ladies as the opening act.

Just wait until he finds out about Barenaked Ladies…

Stanley’s is hosting the Ladyfolk Festival (Honey & Houston, Maria Carelli Band, Chelsea Ford & The Trouble, twig&leaf), the Downtowne Listening Room has Dierdre Flint with Eric Gnezda, The Redemptioners are playing Camp Springs Tavern, Ben Levin’s at Streetside…. and the Wheels of Soul tour (TTB, Blackberry Smoke and Shovels & Rope) rolls up to The Gem City (Rose Music Center).

On Sunday, Nicholas Johnson & The Same Old Strangers are at MOTR, Comet Bluegrass All-Stars are at the Comet (duh!) and Stanley’s hosts an open jam. Bring your tambourine.

In other news, Houndmouth is playing a two-night stand at Southgate Nov. 22 and 23. Get yer tix now. And Tiny Changes – A Celebration of The Midnight Organ Fight is out. Various artists (Ben Gibbard, Julien Baker, Craig Finn, Manchester Orchestra, Josh Ritter, Lauren Mayberry from Chvrches, Aaron Dessner from The National, The Twilight Sad) cover songs from Frightened Rabbit’s brilliant sophomore album, which came out a decade ago. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Tiny Changes, the children’s mental health charity founded in honor of Frightened Rabbit lead singer Scott Hutchison. Here’s my close personal friend Craig Finn doing Head Rolls Off:

Craig played an Undertow house concert at my place back in 2017. Now it’s Eric Bachmann’s turn. He’ll be here on Thursday, August 1st. Get tickets here before they vanish.

In other house concert news, my friends Jacqui and Dave have lined up another show: Brett Newski will be playing their lovely home (a.k.a. Parlor & Patio) in Ft. Thomas on Friday, September 27th. That should be a real dandy. Get your tickets for that gig here with the password parlor.

“Newski’s live shows are part rock n’ roll, part stand up, and part therapy. In the end, the room is won over.”

–Jim McGuinn, The Current, Minneapolis

Have a rockin’ week!

P.S. As a writer and a former advertising guy, I hope whoever came up with this slogan was fired:

This Week in Live Music: July 8-14

Concert Listings

Howdy folks, I’m back from vacation – tan, rested, and ready to rock.

While I was on vacation, I saw a great show every evening:

Rockin’!

But let’s focus on the Tri-State Area.

More specifically, let’s focus on live music in the Tri-State Area.

On Tuesday, “Hell is for Children“… and the Fraze Pavilion is for the Pat Benatar/Neil Giraldo show. I said Neil Giraldo, not Gerardo.

Fun fact: The Fraze Pavilion is named after Ermal Fraze, late resident of Kettering, Ohio, and inventor of the pop-top beverage can.

That same night, the underage Ben Levin is at Arnold’s.

Wednesday, Sheryl Crow is playing Fraze, which is named after… someone whose first name is an anagram for Lamer.

On Thursday, Leggy is playing Urban Artifact, along with And The Kids, Strobobean and The Harmaleighs.

Friday, the legendary local band Cereal Killers are playing MadTree Brewing in Oakley. Tell a buddy, bring a friend, but don’t you dare miss this big show!

That same evening, there are several other gigs on tap:

  • Junior Brown is playing Southgate
  • Michigan Rattlers and Oliver Hazard are playing the free gig at Fountain Square
  • Peter “I used to live in Cincinnati” Frampton makes a stop at Riverbend on his farewell tour, with Jason Bonham’s “Led Zeppelin Evening” as the opener. Lawn 4-packs for that show are $90.
  • Carly Rae Jepsen is at Bogart’s. If you have an extra ticket, maybe you should go up to someone you just met and give them your phone number. It’s crazy, I know, but it just might work.

Forecastle Festival also kicks off in Louisville on Friday, and runs through Sunday evening.

Saturday is quite the musical grab bag:

  • Like indie rock? Check out Gringo Star at Northside Tavern.
  • For metal/slasher movie fans, Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson are playing Riverbend.
  • Disco till you die? Shake (shake shake) your booty at the KC & the Sunshine Band show at Riverfront Live.
  • Hair band/glam enthusiasts can check out Faster Pussycat and Bang Tango at MVP Bar & Grille in Silverton (this is a sign that Faster Pussycat and Bang Tango need to hang it up).
  • Grunge-ish rockers can hit Bogart’s for the Candlebox show.
  • For Americana/acoustic/local music fans, Highly Likely is playing Camp Springs Tavern and The Harmed Brothers/Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle/The Old Souls String Band are at Southgate.

Sunday, the Comet Bluegrass All-Stars will play their usual gig at the bar that gave them their name, and Ricky Nye & Chris Douglas are at MOTR.

In case you missed it, Taft Theater recently announced dates for Wilco and Elvis Costello & The Imposters… Wilco plays 11/9 and Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus (a.k.a. Elvis Costello… wonder why he changed his stage name) is on 11/19. Tickets are on sale now… go to the Taft box office to save the TicketBastard charges. (If you don’t work downtown, I’ll be your ticket gitter.)

That’ll do it for this week. The latest live show photo comes courtesy of Todd Butler, who thoroughly enjoyed the Courtney Barnett gig at Madison Theater last week.

Playing it lefty… but it’s right-handed in Australia.

This just in from the Shameless Self-Promotion Department: a new episode of the 97X podcast featuring an interview with longtime 97X air personality Shiv can be found here: https://www.97xbam.com/2019/07/07/episode-15-a-shiv-for-all-seasons/