Legendary musician Freekbass got his start in Cincinnati bands like Sleep Theater and Shag. Both got airplay on 97X, and Sleep Theater played the 97X 10th Year concert at Bogart’s with Barenaked Ladies, Too Much Joy and the Royal Crescent Mob. We talked to Chris about his roots (and The Roots), his friendship with Bootsy Collins, his Times Square billboard, the freek-y way that Jimmy Fallon wound up impersonating him on The Tonight Show, his sense of style, and his current gigs on TikTok and YouTube.
Freekbass will be playing his annual Funksgiving hometown show on Friday, November 28th at Radio Artifact (the inner sanctum of the Urban Artifact taproom in Northside). He’ll be joined by Rico Lewis (Parliament Funkadelic) on drums, and Cincinnati singer-songwriter Matt Waters opens the show. You can get tickets here.
You can find Freekbass doing his thang (“The Freekquency”) for his legion of fans (a.k.a. the FreekSquad) six nights a week on TikTok. And he’s now doing a couple of weekly shows on YouTube. (You can also keep up with his latest escapades on Instagram.)
As discussed during the podcast interview, Damian wrote a profile of Freekbass for the July issue of Cincinnati Magazine. That article featured some really cool photography from Devyn Glista, and a Cincinnati Magazine reader sent the main photo spread to The Tonight Show for Jimmy Fallon’s recurring “Lookalikes” segment. Here’s what happened next:
Freekbass was featured on a Times Square billboard last December.
Freekbass’ wife Angie Wilson is a DAAP grad and helps create and source his amazing wardrobe. She even made this panda bear suit that he wore to the TikTok Global Creators awards show.
[Photo by Devyn Glista for Cincinnati Magazine]
Freekbass is a protégé of the #1 Funkateer, Bootsy Collins, who gave the erstwhile Chris Sherman his nickname/stage name.
The “Others” listed on the 97X 10th Year Concert ticket shown above wound up being Sleep Theater.
Here’s footage of a Sleep Theater show from back in 1987, with Rob Hamrick on guitar and vocals, Johnny Miracle on drums, and Itaal Shur on keyboards.
Howard Cohen, lead singer of the “Rumblings from the Big Bush” house band Cereal Killers, joins the “Rumblings” dynamic duo to talk about a fun gig the night before Thanksgiving, when he and his bandmates will be covering Elvis Costello & the Attractions songs as “The Distractions.” And they’ll be joined on the bill by the band Dot.Dot.Dot. covering R.E.M. tunes, and Chalk Eye. Howard also talks about 97Xposure and why he and his bandmates keep on keepin’ on.
Dot.Dot.Dot. – the band on the bill covering R.E.M. — includes Wes Pence of Middlemarch and The Ready Stance, as well as Justin Lynch (Filthy McNasty, Poke, and Wojo) and Aaron Zlatkin (Wojo) with Kyle Knapp (The Turkeys) handling the Michael Stipe vocal duties. You can read Brian Baker’s profile of the band in CityBeatfor more info.
Here’s a shot of Cereal Killers as The Ramones from Halloween last year.
And here’s Howard with his cherished 97X box cutter.
I’m back from my all-too-brief sojourn to sunnier climes. But I feel better than Tricky Dicky back in the day!
Let’s TCB and dive into the upcoming gigs.
Tuesday’s shows run the gamut from throwback to… older throwback:
Everclear plays Bogart’s
The Music Box performs Genesis Live (a 1973 release) at Memorial Hall
Yes plays “The Fragile 2025 Tour” at the Taft. The Fragile came out in 1972. Which was a big year for audiophiles.
Joshua Radin plays Ludlow on Wednesday, and Otis Gibbs is there on Thursday.
Otis Gibbs is a songwriter, storyteller, painter, photographer, and planter of 7,176 trees. He once wrestled a bear and lost. He’s been called “the best unknown songwriter in music today,” but if you ask him, he’ll just say he’s a folksinger.
Friday is Halloween!
That evening, White Reaper plays Southgate, with Worlds Worst as the opener. When I think of orange, scary, and “World’s Worst” I think of this:
You can smash that pumpkin in Mt. Washington on Saturday.
Or you can just sit around feeling guilty.
Saturday is also the start of Now-vember!
That evening:
Jeremy Pinnell plays an album release show in the Southgate Sanctuary, with Kristina Murray and Cristina Vane
Tooth Lures a Fang also has an album release show at Southgate, this one will be in the Revival Room with Bear the Moon, and Boy Bandicoot
Steve Hackett plays a “Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlights, and Solo Tour” show at the Taft.
Meanwhile, I’ll be down in the Music City to see The Beths at Brooklyn Bowl, Nashville. Check out this KEXP live session and you’ll see why I’m willing to make the road trip.
Aging rockabilly fans should note that Sunday’s Lee Rocker show at the Ludlow Garage has been cancelled, and a young popster named Knox will be there instead. Meanwhile, I’ll be making my way back from Nash-vegas by way of Lexington, to catch Kathleen Edwards at The Burl. Dave Purcell sent me.
Next Monday (11/3), there’s a hobo in your garage! Hobo Johnson & the Lovemakers play the Ludlow Garage.
Next Tuesday, November 4, is Election Day. Rock the vote!
Josh Ritter is at the Taft that evening, and Memorial Hall has “Both Sides Now: The Music & Lives of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen.”
Wednesday, November 5 is another Ween Wednesday at The Columbia in the East End. They’ll be spinning The Friends EP and La Cucaracha from 6-10 p.m. Stop in, hang out. BYOB!
Judy Collins plays Ludlow Garage on Thursday, 11/6. Meanwhile, I’ll be up in Boston for Buffalo Tom’s three-night “Please Come to Boston” festival.
Shows on Friday, November 7:
ekoostik hookah plays the Liberty Theater
Southgate House has An Evening with Cory Branan in the Revival Room, and Clownvis Presley in the Sanctuary
Tito Puente Jr. plays Ludlow Garage (I listened to his dad for years and thought he was fabulous)
Shows on Saturday, November 8:
Memorial Hall hosts the return of the Blues & Boogie Piano Summit featuring Ben Levin, Carl Sonny Leyland, Ethan Leinwand & Valerie Kirchhoff (St. Louis Steady Grinders) and Ricky Nye
All Time Low with Mayday Parade, Four Year Strong and The Paradox at the Cindy Brady
Jon McLaughlin & Eric Hutchison at the Ludlow Garage
Wishy plays Madison Live on Tuesday, November 11. Their debut full-length Triple Seven was one of my 2024 faves – please join me for that gig!
That same evening, The Stray Cats will be at the Taft. (We see what you did there, Lee Rocker!)
On Wednesday, NOW-vember 12, Thomas Dolby plays Bogart’s (“She blinded me with Lysol”), and The Mars Volta plays Ovation.
On Thursday, 11/13:
10,000 Maniacs (the non-Natalie version) play Ludlow Garage
MOTR features Clay Cole (Pavement and Wild Flag) solo with Bridget Battle (Tweens) and Lisa Walker (Wussy)
Feast on these big shows Thanksgiving Week!
Check out that promising band of youngsters The Collies at Valley View Lounge in scenic Williamsburg on Saturday, November 22. Then, because Thanksgiving Week is about overindulgence, catch The Collies again at The Comet in Northside on Monday, November 24. Also on the bill that evening is yet ANOTHER band for which my son Gabriel is the drummer. Double-double your fun!
Another super-cool gig, on 11/26 (Thanksgiving Eve), features “This Week in Live Music” faves Cereal Killers masquerading as “The Distractions” and doing a full set of Elvis Costello tunes, along with Dot. Dot. Dot. (featuring more local luminaries) doing R.E.M. covers.
[Fantastic gig poster is the handiwork of Justin Lynch, who will be playing with Dot. Dot. Dot.)
I don’t even know if The Village Theater serves beer, but if so, the usual Cereal Killers offer of “first beer’s on me” holds, just use the secret phrase “Less than Zero.”
Then, on Black Friday, you can dance away that third helping of Aunt Edna’s stuffing with Freekbass during his “Funksgiving” show at Urban Artifact. Get tickets here.
On Small Business Saturday (November 29), The Mynabirds will be playing an Undertow Show at… an undisclosed location. But it’s in the East End. And it hosts “Ween Wednesdays”… and the name of the venue rhymes with “The Dolumbia.” Get yer tix here.
Singer-songwriter Laura Burhenn has made music as The Mynabirds since 2010, releasing four critically acclaimed and stylistically different albums on Saddle Creek: What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood (2010) & GENERALS (2012), both produced by Richard Swift, Lovers Know (2015), and Be Here Now (2017). Her 5th album, It’s Okay To Go Back If You Keep Moving Forward, will be out 11/7/25.
Pour some (more) Sugar on me
Bob Mould’s post-Hüsker Dü trio (with David Barbe and Malcolm Travis) released a new tune (below) and announced two shows each in NYC and London next May. More here from Stereogum.
Oh, Neko…
I’ve previously chronicled the Neko Case hissy fit at the Taft from many moons ago. She’s still at it. Look, I totally understand her discomfort with an armed guard. But making an 11th hour request and then still refusing to play? Uncool!
What’s the Rush?
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are hitting the road next year with drummer Anika Nilles for a Rush “Fifty Something” tour. As a longtime Rush fan (first concert was Rush at Barton Coliseum in Little Rock, Arkansas back in ’81), I’m happy that Ged and Alex will be performing the songs that they wrote the music for, after a decade away. Sure, it won’t be the same without The Professor, but that’s not the point. Neil’s not coming back, and Geddy and Alex deserve to do what they love.
In case you missed list member Jay Stowe’s comment on last week’s post, here it is:
“A Quick One (While He’s Away)” cannot be beat. I may be going out on a limb here, but I’m willing to defend this statement: The Who at their motherloving best.
Amen, Brother Jay! The video is worth a second spin.
And not that you asked, but if you did give me the old “Beatles or Stones” question, my answer would be:
The Who
The Kinks
The Rolling Stones
Herman’s Hermits
The Beatles
(Don’t @ me, Lisa Collins!)
Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)
Oh, yeah, baby, back that Jass up!
It IS a bit of a head-scratcher, as you don’t appear to have any redeeming qualities other than excellent taste in hairstyles and attire.
4 responses to “Boo! And Now-vember!”
Lisa+Collins
Oh, I am @ing you, Damian! Blasphemy!! And after I sent you that Replacements video this week – hahaha!
Tim Quirk and Jay Blumenfield of Too Much Joy also perform as Wonderlick, and Wonderlick’s songs as just as catchy, witty, and entertaining as TMJ songs are. Tim and Jay clearly still enjoy engaging with fans too. In fact, they see many advantages to the house concert shows they’ve done of late.
We were thrilled to have Tim and Jay joined us to share road stories. talk about Wonderlick’s new release Wonderlick Goes to War, and reminisce about 97X and their appearance at the station’s 10th anniversary show.
Dave and Damian caught Wonderlick’s recent house concert in Hamilton.
The show was hosted by an English teacher – given Wonderlick’s literate lyrics, that totally tracks. Their band name is based on a character from a Don DeLillo novel, and their song “Rhinoceros” from the new album is based on Eugène Ionesco’s play of the same name.
Here’s a quick clip of that song from the Hamilton house show:
Tim Quick chronicled their house tour adventures with a daily tour diary. You can read all the entries here.
Wonderlick’s latest release is Wonderlick Goes to War.
The cover art for the album was done by Ian Drescher.
Longtime 97X fans will remember that Too Much Joy was part of the 97X “10th Anniversary” sold-out show at Bogart’s back in 1992.
Both Tim and Jay have interesting careers off stage too. Tim was a key figure in the development of the Rhapsody music player, serving as music editor and VP of music programming, and then helped with content programming for Google Play, and still works in the digital content realm.
During the Hamilton house show, Tim mentioned how a beer jingle helped pay for his family’s health care. You can read more about that here.
Fall (season, not band) means it’s time to sip on your Pumpkin Spice latte. Or dip your Pumpkin Spice Oreos into Pumpkin Spice Almond Milk. Or have a bowl of Pumpkin Spice Frosted Flakes. Or spread some Pumpkin Spice cream cheese on your Pumpkin Spice bagel. Or snack on some Pumpkin Spice pretzel crisps, or Pumpkin Spice graham cracker Goldfish, or a Pumpkin Pie Pop-Tart.
Or better yet, just put on some Pumpkin Old Spice deodorant, and get thee to a Fall gig or three.
You’ll be falling for Fall shows so much that your friends will start calling you Mrs. Fletcher.
Tonight, the Front Bottoms “10 Years of Back on Top” tour is at the Ovation in Newport. And Peach Pit plays Bogart’s* the Madison Theater… although it’d be more on-brand if they played the Peach Pit After Dark in Beverly Hills.
It’s worth noting that Steve was ahead of the curve on non-alcoholic “functional” beverages. They later helped him fight flying sharks.
*Note: several recent and upcoming shows have been moved from Bogart’s to the Madison Theater. Apparently, Bogart’s had some “unforeseen venue maintenance” – which probably means all those years of having hideous restrooms are coming back to haunt them.
On Thursday:
The Avett Brothers play Ovation, with Heartless Bastards – great double bill!
Leo Kottke is at Ludlow Garage
Southgate hosts the monthly “Crooner Circus” songwriter showcase
Friday shows:
Melissa Etheridge and the Indigo Girls play PNC Pavilion
John PayCheck (son of Johnny) and Wes Shipp are in the Southgate Sanctuary
Eric McM and Sharp Toys play “a doom-folk nightmare carnival” free show in the Southgate Lounge
Mosant, Harlow, and Happy Tuesday are at MOTR
GWAR is at the Madison Theater… bumping TUSK: the classic Fleetwood Mac Tribute… and breaking the Cincinnati area’s streak of having a Fleetwood Mac tribute band every month.
We’re at that age where rock stars are at that age
Billy Joel cancelled his Paul Brown Stadium gig with Rod Stewart that was originally slated for Saturday. And the X & Los Lobos “99 Years of Rock ‘N Roll” show at the Rose in Dayton on Sunday has been cancelled. In fact, that entire tour has been scrapped. Major bummer, as I was really looking forward to that gig.
But there still are a few shows on tap for the weekend.
Saturday:
Inhaler (a.k.a. the band that Bono’s son is in, not Inhailer Radio) plays Bogart’s The Madison Theater (you definitely didn’t want to inhale when you were in Bogart’s bathrooms)
Sungaze, Leggy, and Laveda are at MOTR
Sunday:
Mat Kearney is at the Taft
Walter Trout plays Ludlow Garage
Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds play MOTR with Motorbike
On Monday, The Damned plays Bogart’s Madison Theater (Bogart’s bathrooms were damned… and the toilets and urinals were dammed).
Papa Roach and Rise Against are at PNC on Tuesday.
Next Wednesday, 9/24, Kaleo plays the Taft with Stephen Day and Júníus Meyvant. Meanwhile, your humble scribe will be in Detroit, to see The Tubs at Third Man Records.
The Whispering Beard Festival kicks off on Thursday, September 25. Tickets.
Also on Thursday, the always-entertaining Low Cut Connie plays the Woodward, and Liberty Theater has a Songwriters in the Round free show with G.W. Garner and Ben Turner.
Shows on Friday, 9/26:
Dwight Yoakam and The Mavericks (great double bill!) play PNC
The Gibson Brothers play the Liberty Theater
Whispering Beard keeps on beardin’ with beardos
The AmpFibians (surf rock) play Southgate’s Lounge (tickets are $2 – a low-dough show!)
Ludlow Garage has “Live from Laurel Canyon” – billed as “an evening of live music and narrated stories of some of the most influential songwriters who lived in Laurel Canyon in the mid 1960’s and 70’s.” (not scheduled to appear: some of the most influential songwriters who lived in Laurel Canyon in the mid 1960’s and 70’s)
The Talk low festival (similar to the old MusicNow festival) kicks off and runs through Monday, 9/29. Full lineup is here.
On Saturday, 9/27, the Filthy Heathens play the Liberty Theater. “Filthy heathen” was what Aunt Esther loved to call Fred G. Sanford.
Other 9/27 shows are of the tribute variety:
Signs of Life: The American Pink Floyd at RiversEDGE (free!)
The Redmoor double dips their Macca with The Ultimate Beatles & Wings Experience (unless it’s just a Beatles tribute band and a sale on Buffalo wings).
On Sunday, 9/28, Matt Hecker and Joe’s Truck Stop play the Southgate, and Lene Lovich is at Ludlow Garage.
Monday, 9/29 features the show you’ve been waiting for all month – if you’ve been waiting for the legendary double bill of BabyTron and ShittyBoyz. They are playing Bogart’s The Madison Theater. (When you think of ShittyBoyz restrooms, you naturally think of Bogart’s.)
Septuneber (yes, it’s still a thing!) wraps up on Tuesday, 9/30 with:
Garbage and Starcrawler at the Ovation (indoor show)
Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Nicholas Kristof will discuss his new book Chasing Hope: A Reporter’s Life at the Aronoff. Tickets. (BTW, balcony seats are $5, Loge is $10, and Orchestra level is $15.)
We love it live!
James McMurtry and his band were superb, as always, at the Woodward. List members Geoff S. and Kevin S. (no relation) were in the house.
The next night I was back at the Woodward for Momma and Villagerrr. Taylor from Inhailer was there, of course. He goes to more shows than I do!
Noted local photographer Jon Calderas was there too, and offered me tickets to the Weird Al/Puddles Pity Party show last night…
… where I ran into list members David and Amy G. Weird Al put on a great show, too!
My house concert worlds are colliding
Craig Finn (who played my house in 2018) interviewed Chuck and Lisa of Wussy (who have played my house several times) for his That’s How I Remember It podcast. The episode is great, and it’s here. It also features Lisa’s shout-out for 97X:
You can never step into the same River Roots Festival twice
Because you’ve changed. And the River Roots Festival organizers have cancelled the headliners.
My guess is that “a changing entertainment landscape” = “we’d have a mountain o’ debt because tickets aren’t selling.” Speaking of “a changing entertainment landscape” I hope the Bogart’s bathrooms are OK.
Maybe Big in Iowa will finally live up to their name
Dave Tellmann shared this AmericanaUK (not an oxymoron, I suppose) article about Big in Iowa in their “More People Should Really Know About” series.
“So why are a band defunct for over 25 years worth seeking out? Because they were good. They released four albums that should be in any self-respecting collection of Americana…”
Shameless self-promotion
Speaking o’ Dave Tellmann (“the Gene Rayburn of modern rock” – shown below), he and I chatted with longtime 97X listener and “Rumblings from the Big Bush” superfan Jayson (not Jason) Alexander on our latest episode. Check it out and get some bonus content here.
Kids these days…
They have talent! List member Anne Robinson shared this clip of a local 16-year-old guitar virtuoso, playing live in the new Cincinnati Public Radio studio recording space.
Town Hall invaded by robot!
I hope he comes to a Cincinnati City Council meeting next. See the amazing footage here!
Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)
In honor of Roktoberfest…
Oh Käpt’n, my Käpt’n!
The Vokal Produktion on this album is wunderbar! And the cover model is the Teutonic Olivia Newton Johann.
Wow, the 97X “Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast has really come a long way. Now we’re interviewing A-list celebrities like Jason Alexander, who played George Costanza on Seinfeld!
Wait just a minute, I’m getting breaking news from the Aye Team News Bubble. It’s not Jason Alexander, it’s Jayson Alexander. Which is even better! Let’s check the stats:
Jason Alexander has never listened to a single second of 97X
Jason Alexander has never heard of — much less heard — the Rumblings podcast.
Jayson Alexander listened to 97X for years.
Jayson Alexander has listened to every one of our “Rumblings” podcasts… and yet somehow is still considered to be of sound mind.
Jason Alexander won an Emmy, a Tony, and a SAG Award for “Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series.” But Jayson Alexander’s accomplishments are even more impressive:
He won a 97X frisbee
He knows two guys named Tony
He won a saggy pants award for “Outstanding Performance in an Old-Timey Base Ball Game”
Jayson, who first started listening to 97X in the 90s, shared tales of Ben Harper close encounters, being the lead singer of Ozomatli, leading the old-time baseball league in putouts, and absolutely crushing pins in several Rock & Bowls.
Jayson also got to sit in with Rictile on the Breakfast Club one day when co-host Kevin Couche was out. He was “Couche for a Day”… and Rictile did him dirty with the alleged “news” he gave him to read cold after Shiv…
Jayson had more luck answering Trivia Ahoy questions as a listener.
We don’t have a photo of Jayson from the old time “base ball” game they played against the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings vintage team. So these 97X softball team shots will have to suffice.
Below is a bit more info about the old timey game and its rules – as Jayson mentioned, their code of conduct was quite strict.
This isn’t Jayson’s car, but it should be:
Thanks for listening, Jayson! You have inspired Dave to put more effort into his podcast prep work:
Hey, if “classic rock” radio stations can use the terms “Rocktober” and “Rollvember” then the staff at 97Xbam (all one of us) can coin our own phrase for the 9th month of the year.
We hope your Labor Day weekend was gloriously labor-free. Now let’s get back to work on the gigs:
Tonight:
Ani DiFranco plays the Taft with Hurray for the Riff Raff opening
Woodward Theater has The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis with Touchdown Jesus
It’s another Ween Wednesday at The Columbia. Tonight they’ll be spinning the Ween album Quebec
Thursday:
Ludlow Garage has the Texas Headhunters feat. Ian Moore, Jesse Dayton, and Johnny Moeller
Burning Witches play Madison Live
(Remember that before you burn a witch, you have to make sure she weighs the same as a duck.)
The Whimmydiddle Festival kicks off a two-day stand at RiversEDGE in Hamilton on Friday, with The Devil Makes Three and Town Mountain on the bill. Saturday, Grace Potter headlines with Taylor Hunnicutt and Clay Street Unit.
Other Friday shows:
Red Wanting Blue and Justin Wells plays Southgate’s main room
Colby T. Helms & the Virginia Creepers play the Southgate Revival Room
Electric Cars and Tragic Blonde Weekend are at the Woodward
CFG & the Family play the Liberty Theater
Miller & Other Sinners do the free gig at the Levitt in Dayton
The Redmoor in Mt. Lookout hosts Fleetwood Gold, which is either a Fleetwood Mac tribute band or a classic Cadillac
Ludlow Garage has Toast: the Ultimate Bread Tribute
Note: Toast is the Ultimate Tribute to the band Bread, and this is the ultimate tribute to toast:
It should be noted that Ludlow’s Toast is NOT on a stick.
Saturday is jam-packed with gigs:
Whimmydiddle Night 2 (Grace Potter, Taylor Hunnicutt and Clay Street Unit in case you’ve already forgotten the info from a couple paragraphs ago… and I get it!)
Carriers play a free show at MadTree Oakley, with the Wussy Duo and Lylak also on the bill, starting at 6 p.m.
Bonnie Raitt plays the Rose in Dayton, with Jimmie Vaughan & the Tilt-a-Whirl Band opening
The War and Treaty play Music Hall
The Brooks Werner Band will be at the Liberty Theater
Barrington Levy plays Ludlow Garage
The Red Clay Strays and The Dip are at the Carol Brady
The Redmoor has the Dead Revival Band
Dead Centric is at Stanley’s, with I Dig Pig as the opener
Back in high school, I dug the Pig too. My afterschool job was at the Piggly Wiggly in Morrilton, Arkansas.
Morrilton is also home to Petit Jean Meats, makers of a Mock Chicken Loaf.
Was there really a need in the lunch meat category for “mock chicken loaf”…???
Speaking of mockery, The Beach Boys play the Fraze on Sunday.
That same evening, Jerry Cantrell and Filter play Bogart’s, and Southgate House features Renegade: The Songs of Warren Zevon.
Shows this coming Tuesday:
Bob Mould does his solo electric thing at Memorial Hall, with J. Robbins
Bogart’s has the Yacht Rock Revue
Katie Pruitt and Jess Nolan play Southgate’s Sanctuary
Upstairs in the Southgate Revival Room, it’s Thelma and the Sleaze with Leggy
Shows next Wednesday, the 10th of Septuneber (yes, I’m sticking with it until it sticks):
Leon Bridges and Charley Crockett (“The Crooner and the Cowboy”) play the outdoor stage at the Marsha Brady*
Soccer Mommy is at Bogart’s
Chevelle plays the PNC Pavilion
AJ Lee & Blue Summit (California bluegrass) at Southgate in the Revival Room
Skerryvore (Scottish music) plays Ludlow Garage
*we chose Marsha for the outdoor stage because it always reminds us of this classic outdoor clip:
Shows on Thursday, Septuneber 11:
Gangstagrass plays Ludlow Garage
Scotty Bratcher and Johnny Mullenax play a free show at RiversEDGE
Liberty Theater has a free Songwriters in the Round show with Ryan Moore, Dave Lacey, and TC Eckstein
Erin Viancourt (country music… from Cleveland!) and Andrew Hibbard are at Southgate
Little Big Town plays Riverbend with Wynonna Judd and Shelby Lynne
(Morrilton, Arkansas is a Little Big Town, because it has a population of 6,992 yet it still has the temerity to mock chicken.)
Friday, Sept.(up to you whether it’s an abbreviation for September or Septuneber) 12:
James McMurtry and his band play the Woodward, with Betty Soo opening (I’ll be at that gig)
Bonnie Raitt and Jimmie Vaughan circle back to the area to play the Greg Brady
The Doobie Brothers and the Coral Reefer Band play Riverbend
Carson Lowe & Kayla Rose with Harley Day at the Liberty Theater
Poppy plays Bogart’s with MSPaint
Southgate House has Back to Mac, which is either a tribute to Fleetwood Mac or Mac Davis (Mac D. had the better perm back in the day)
Shows on Saturday, September (I give up) 13:
Momma plays the Woodward, with Villagerrr (not a typo) – I’ll be there!
Conan Gray is at Riverbend
The Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg, Indiana has an improv comedy show (featuring one of my co-workers in the troupe called Crash Course)
Tuesday, September 16:
“Weird Al” Yankovic and Puddles Pity Party are at the Ovation in Newport
blink-182 is at Riverbend – this was their finest hour:
We love it live!
I think we had a record number of folks cash in their “free beer” coupon at the last Cereal Killers show at Big Ash. Which was great. But the tunes from Cereal Killers were even greater.
Dave T. and I also attended a joyful house show featuring Jay and Tim from Too Much Joy — now in the band Wonderlick — in Hamilton.
(Tim and Jay might be coming soon to a podcast near you… )
Speaking o’ podcasts
The Kelce Bros and T-Swift…
… are no match for the “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” Bros and Julie Maxwell.
Saw this posted on a shop window in Portland and fell even more in love with Maine:
It’s a New Tunes Bonanza!
Uh, that’s not what I had in mind. (But I still love you, Hoss!) I was referring to the new releases from Superchunk (below), Kathleen Edwards, and The Beths. Put yer ears on ’em!
Reason #2,327,097 why I love Chuck Cleaver
This exchange between Dave Tellmann and Chuck on FB was pure gold!
Akron rules!
Album (and 45 rpm) Covers of the Week(s)
The Bonanza cover above was a bonus. But here’s the back cover, so you can see an action photo of Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, and Pernell Roberts contributing those sweet vocal harmonies to mix:
Spoiler alert: It involves booze. Thomas returned to the Hotel Chelsea, declaring, “I’ve had eighteen straight whiskeys. I think that’s the record!” Which means the record above is a record of the record.
Two dudes from Ohio had a pop princess on their podcast and damn near broke the internet.
Not to be outdone, two other dudes in Ohio (Dave, the Boobie Clark of Modern Rock, and Damian, the Coy Bacon of modern rock) are rebooting the “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast… and we’ve got the greatest promotions princess of all time: Julie Maxwell!
Most 97X listeners know Julie from her time on-air at the station, starting when she was a Miami student in 1988. She served as a co-host of the Breakfast Club for many years, first with Steve Baker and later with Rictile. But when she (mostly) stepped away from the mic, she took over as the station’s promotions manager and took our giveaways, contests, and charitable involvement to… wait for it… new heights!
Below are some photos from Julie’s treasure trove of 97X promotions materials.
Matchbooks were quite popular back in the day…
… as were condoms.
Julie’s our hero for scoring this David Bowie “Heroes” limited edition print.
And the Kristin Hersh self-portrait doodle not only is amazing, but also started a trend of 97X asking artists to donate drawings and doodles to the annual Modern Rock Auction.
[Pro tip: click on any image in the galleries below to see it full size, and use the arrows to scroll through the entire gallery.]
Julie also was responsible for making sure 97X had a presence at modern rock concerts around town… seems like one or more superfans really took a shine to the 97X promotional banner:
Julie used her creativity to dream up great promotions like the Ever-Expanding Prize Package and the 97X Gift Grab, and used her powers of persuasion to get record labels and local businesses to help underwrite them.
She also had a hand in the great 97X ads from that era.
Yes, it’s time for the obligatory annual Neil Diamond album cover:
We certainly hope he’s playing air guitar and not miming… er… playing the upright organ.
Then again, our current president’s signature “dance move” makes him look like he’s… pulling a Rick Wakeman and playing with two organs at once.
But enough about that wankfest.
Speaking of hot August nights, it’s also time for the semi-annual promotion of a Cereal Killers live gig. Their shows are more precious than a diamond (Neil or otherwise), and they’re back at Big Ash Brewing this Saturday, August 23.
My usual Cereal Killers offer will be in effect: show up, rock out to their vintage punk, modern rock, and new wave tunes (it’s 97.7% straight from 97X playlists – Elvis Costello, The Clash, X, REM, Guided by Voices, The Jam, Billy Bragg, The Smiths, Squeeze, The Cramps, Southern Culture on the Skids… ), and get a free beverage from me! Worth it just to watch the moths fly out of my wallet!
But before you get thee to Big Ash on Saturday, here are a few other gigs to consider.
On Thursday:
Noah Smith’s Crooner Circus (a recurring songwriter showcase) rolls into the Southgate House Revival Room (lineup is here)
Rachel Mousie and the Casey Campbell band play Washington Park
Ludlow has Black Circle, a Brazilian band doing 90s grunge songs.
On Friday, Dave Tellmann (co-host of the 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast*) and I are seeing a free house concert in Hamilton by Wonderlick (band featuring Tim Quirk and Jay Blumenfield of Too Much Joy). Well, I think we’ll be seeing two former members of Too Much Joy play an acoustic house show… it’s quite possible that some rando from Hamilton mentioned “two dudes” and “too much joy” to Dave and offered him a free “Wonderlick.”
*If you were one of the 13 regular listeners of the 97X podcast and wish Dave and I would do some new episodes, you wish just might be granted. Soon.
Other Friday gigs:
Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band is doing a free show at the Levitt in Dayton
Lou Barlow (Sebadoh) and Bobby Bare Jr. (GBV) are doing an acoustic song swap at Southgate
Stacy Mitchhart plays Ludlow Garage
The Outlaws play the Fraze in Dayton
The Collies (a.k.a. the band my son Gabriel plays drums in) will be at Big Ash Brewing
Saturday shows:
Cereal Killers at Big Ash Brewing (great tunes, free beer)
Southgate hosts the world film premiere of Honky Tonkin’ and the Honky Tonk Hoedown with Jason Ringenberg, The Royal Hounds, and Jerry King & the Rivertown Ramblers.
The Del McCoury Band plays the old Annie’s – this gig has been cancelled
The Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg has Briscoe with Miles Miller
311, Badflower, and Sitting on Saturn are at the Ovation
Rob Thomas is at the PNC Pavilion
Mama’s Black Sheep and Courtney Wilder play a Downtowne Listening Room show at the historic Boone County Courthouse
On Sunday, Pat Sajak’s favorite band, Caamp, plays an outdoor gig at the Jan Brady, and Ozomatli plays Ludlow Garage.
Gary Clark Jr. plays the Peter Brady on Monday, and Creed (not the good ones) plays the Mausoleum.
Tuesday:
The Tedeschi Trucks Band and Whiskey Myers play Riverbend
Robert Randolph plays Ludlow Garage
Ruthie Foster plays Ludlow Garage on Wednesday, August 27.
Shows on Thursday, August 28:
UB40 at Bogart’s
Rebirth Brass Band plays Ludlow Garage
Deke Dickerson & the Whippersnappers play Southgate with Kyle Eldridge opening
Liberty Theater has a free Songwriters in the Round show with Keagan Hatton and Dave Hudson
Improvement Movement and Magoo play a freebie at RiversEDGE in Hamilton (“Home of the Wonderlick!”)
Ben Knight and Willy Tea Taylor do the free Washington Park roots show
Fraze hosts the Happy Together Tour featuring The Turtles, Jay & The Americans, Little Anthony, Gary Puckett, The Vogues, and The Cowsills – sponsored by a reverse mortgage company and/or a lift chair brand, perhaps?
On Friday, August 29:
JP Harris and Anthony Ray Wright are at the Liberty Theater
You wanted the best, you got the best… Völkerball is Germany’s Best Rammstein tribute band! They’re playing the Ovation.
You wanted the ultimate, you got the ultimate… Rumours: the Ultimate Fleetwood Mac tribute – at Ludlow Garage
You wanted the weirdest double bill tribute, you got the weirdest double bill tribute: Sabbath (“the complete Black Sabbath experience”) with Night Moves (“the ultimate tribute to Bob Seger”) at the old Annie’s. NOTE: this gig has been cancelled.
Shows on Saturday, August 30:
Jim Trace & the Makers play Rabbit Hash General Store at 5 p.m.
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe at the old Annie’s
Emi Sunshine and Wonky Tonk are at Southgate
The Levitt Pavilion in Dayton hosts Reggae Fest
And list member Mark Griffin has a reco for all of us (via FB):
Past episodes of Mark’s most excellent streaming music show Gray Days and Gold can be found here.
We love it live!
Emma Swift put on a great show at The Columbia. New tunes (her new album drops 9/12) plus some amazing Bob Dylan covers (her album Blonde on the Tracks is top notch!) in an old church (The Columbia at 4311 Eastern Avenue – home of Ween Wednesdays!) with stellar acoustics.
We love it live… but we love our spouse too!
I showed amazing restraint by NOT dragging my wife to the Mountain Goats/Craig Finn show that just so happened to be in Bar Harbor, Maine while we were vacationing in Vacationland.
Besides, we were getting up before the crack of dawn the next day to see the sunrise at Acadia and then hike the Beehive Trail. We were the Mountain Goats!
Of course, when we got back to the ‘nati, my wife sent me this Instagram clip:
She knows me too well.
Real country
I think the “S.G.” in S.G. Goodman stands for “so good.”
Real Horny
No, this is not about a “Wonderlick.”
I’m digging what Jim’s digging
Jim Wilbur of Superchunk is exactly as down-to-earth and no-frills as I thought he’d be in this clip where he shares some fave albums:
Everything’s fair game for the Gamecocks
True story: when I went to see Ozzy at the Pine Bluff (Arkansas) Convention Center back in early 1982, it was shortly after Ozzy’s bat biting incident (and two weeks before Randy Rhoads passed away) and venue security was patting down pretty much everyone. My long-haired friends gave me the pint of whiskey they hoped to sneak into the show, telling me “you’re clean-cut, they won’t frisk you.” Sure enough, they all got stopped and I waltzed right through with the Jack Daniels jammed into my jeans. Security probably thought I had the wrong date for Baptist Youth Night. Ah, memories…
Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)
They might be the opener for Wonderlick.
I just feel like we needed a palate cleanser after my most ribald post ever.
Speaking of douches, how about that taxpayer-funded $45 million BD party for the Mango Mussolini?
OK, political rant over (maybe).
Just remember, the best way to combat that “not-so-fresh feeling” is to see some live music.
Tonight:
The Allman-Betts Band plays the old Annie’s
the Marsha Brady hosts Dispatch with John Butler and G. Love & Special Sauce + Donavon Frankenreiter
Emily Nenni and William Matheny will be at Southgate House
Queens of the Stone Age play a sold-out show at the Jan Brady on Wednesday.
Speaking of Queens of the Stone Age:
Gigs on Thursday:
The String Cheese Incident at the Cindy Brady
North Mississippi Allstars at Ludlow Garage
Sean Geil of the Tillers hosts the Farm Jam at Lost Bridge Beverage Co.
Murder by Death: The Farewell Tour 2025 with Laura Jane Grace at Southgate
Genesis Retouched: The Essence of the Phil Collins Era of Genesis at RiversEDGE
Megan Bee and Ma Crow & Company at Washington Park (free)
The Red NOT Chili Peppers play the Madison Theater
Shows on Friday:
James Arthur plays the Greg Brady
Robbie Fulks headlines the FREE show at the Levitt Pavilion in Dayton
Sungaze and Horsehell are at the Liberty Theater
Garrett T. Capps and Nasa Country, Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band, and Styrofoam Winos play the Southgate (in advance of their Nelsonville sets)
Ally Venable plays Ludlow Garage
Dexter & the Moonrocks play the Ovation
MadTree Oakley has a summer solstice party with Jess Lamb, Siri Imani, Abby Vice, Aunty JoJo and KY Honey
Also, on Friday, the Nelsonville Music Festival kicks off with MJ Lenderman, Waxahatchee, Dehd and The Bug Club topping that day’s lineup. I’ll be there, as will list members Matt & Pam (not to be confused with Matt & Kim).
Oh, and the kids TV show stars The Wiggles have a show at the Rose Music Center in Dayton, but they really should be ashamed of and/or arrested for the show’s title:
Does Chris Hanson know about this?
Saturday is the first day of summer!
It’s also the longest day of the year. Perhaps not coincidentally, it’s my wedding anniversary! My lovely bride of (nearly) 28 years plans to join me at the Nelsonville Music Festival to:
a. see a bunch of bands she’s never heard of (Styrofoam Winos, Low Cut Connie, Esther Rose, Watchhouse, Being Dead, Bonnie Prince Billy, Charley Crockett and Black Lips) and
b. celebrate setting a new Guinness record for “most years married to a ne’er-do-well who spends most of his free time going to concerts and writing a really weird music blog.” (The Guinness folks are getting reeeeeally specific these days, and it’s a bit hurtful, tbh. They should stick to categories like “World’s Heaviest Twins”)
Also on Saturday, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit kick off a two-night “Evening with” stand at the Peter Brady. (It should be noted that the McCreary brothers never called what they were wearing an “outfit.”)
Other Saturday shows:
The Gaslight Anthem at Bogart’s
Say She She plays a show that’s free-free at Levitt Pavilion in Dayton
Taj Mahal is at the Ludlow Garage as a tune-up for his Nelsonville gig the next day
The Little River Band plays the Lawrenceburg Event Center
the Daniel Wayne Band headlines a show in Southgate’s Lounge
Tracy Walker plays a 5pm freebie at Smale’s Castellini Esplanade
Covington Metal Fest at Madison Live (bring 2 sets of earplugs)
On Sunday, the Outlaw Music Festival rolls into Riverbend, with Willie Nelson, Timothée Chalamet Bob Dylan, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Trampled by Turtles, and Myron Elkins.
That same evening, Jason Isbell plays Night #2 at the Bobby Brady. Southgate House has the California Guitar Trio and Kaki King, Nelsonville has The War & Treaty and Taj Mahal on tap, and Band of Horses plays an outdoor show at The Burl in Lexington.
Sweet Baby James Taylor plays Riverbend on Monday, 6/23, and the Rose in Dayton hosts “I want my 80s” tour featuring Rick Springfield, John Waite, Wang Chung, and Paul Young.
Get yer energy domes out on Tuesday, June 24 for Devo at the Carol Brady. (I’ll be there!)
Come to think of it, Carol Brady did have a bit of a Devo “hair helmet” vibe going on back in the day:
Other shows that evening:
Less than Jake at Bogart’s
The Mission UK with Poppy Jean Crawford at Ludlow Garage
The “I want my 80s” tour plays Riverbend. Which means if you are really ambitious, you can Wang Chung tonight for two nights in a row!
Double the Wang, Double the Chung, Double the Fun! (Er, let me modify the start of that last sentence… lest Chris Hanson pay me a visit.)
Did you know the 20th Century Theater in Oakley still has the occasional show? Neither did I, which is why we both missed out on getting tickets to see Fred Armisen’s sold-out “Comedy is for Musicians but Everyone is Welcome” show there on Wednesday, June 25.
Gigs on Thursday, June 26:
Billy Corgan and the Machines of God play Bogart’s
Sam Hibbard and the Whiskey Bent Valley Boys play the free Washington Park Roots Revival show
Across the street at Memorial Hall, it’s The Rush Tribute Project (I think it should be called “Out of the Rutsey” or “Closer to the Peart” or “Xana-don’t” of “La Villa Doppelgänger”…)
Way up yonder in Dayton, the Jayne Sachs Band (winner of 97Xposure 1995) plays a reunion show at Brightside (Dave and I talked to Jayne for an episode of the 97X “Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast back in 2021.)
Mr. Nicole Kidman plays Riverbend
Friday, June 27 is bursting at the seams with live music:
Young the Giant and Joywave play the Hard Rock lawn
Mannequin Pussy is at Bogart’s (they might’ve gotten their name from the infamous “Wheel o’ Sex” in Bogart’s backstage office)
Paleface plays a free show in the Southgate Lounge
Bear Hands and OK Cowgirl play Madison Live
Tyler the Creator is at the Coliseum, with Lil Yachty and Paris Texas
The old Annie’s has the AC/DC tribute band Back in Black
The Rose Music Center hosts The Fab Four: USA Meets the Beatles
Saturday, June 28 isn’t too shabby in the concert department either:
Patty Griffin plays Over the Rhine’s Nowhere Else Farm, with OTR doing the opening set (I’ll be at that gig!)
Sinkane and Moonbeau play the Liberty Theater
The Avett Brothers are at the Fraze
Dayton’s Levitt Pavilion hosts the Dayton Blues Fest
The Sun Ra Arkestra plays Memorial Hall on Tuesday, July 1.
Shows on Wednesday, July 2:
Manchester Orchestra at the Burl in Lexington
Greensky Bluegrass at the Rose
Ween Wednesday at the Columbia in the East End 6-10pm). They’ll be spinning White Pepper. BYOB. I was there last month, as was the legendary Billy Alletzhauser (Ass Ponys, Ruby Vileos, The Hiders) and the equally legendary Taylor Fox of Inhailer Radio. It’s a cool hang – stop by!
Ass Ponys sighting… OK, hearing
A recent episode of the Sound Opinions podcast (hosted by longtime Chicago music writers Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis) is about “Regrettable Band Names.” Jim talks quite a bit about the Ass Ponys (any publicity is good publicity, right?), and Greg calls Wussy a great band. (The segment starts around the 34:50 mark.)
Bootsy!
Tune in here. Or see Bootsy’s outfit when you watch it here. Bootsy always stays on the one.
We love it live!
Well, I missed the American Aquarium show (it was a lazy Sunday…) but I hear it was great. I did, however, catch Blonde Redhead and Squirrel Flower at the Woodward with list member Ken “Lobby Boy” Laube (also of Inhailer Radio fame – Fridays 11a-3p).
We mourn the dead
R.I.P. to Brian Wilson and Sly Stone.
“Sly was a monumental figure, a groundbreaking innovator, and a true pioneer who redefined the landscape of pop, funk, and rock music. His iconic songs have left an indelible mark on the world, and his influence remains undeniable.” (from his family’s statement)
We’re not getting any younger either!
Shirley’s had BOTH hips replaced. She’s still hip, though. Check out her interview on the Broken Record podcast here.
My angel former co-worker is a centerfold
List member Dale Doyle (the OG D2) was on The Tonight Show – Jimmy Fallon shows off the artwork Dale created for Matt Berninger’s new album, including a quick peek at the centerfold at the end of this clip:
The Reading Room
The Oxford American has a lovely “on the road with…” profile of Katie Crutchfield of Waxahatchee. Katie’s twin sister Allison (Swearin’) is also part of the story as Katie’s A&R rep for Anti- Records, and in an interesting bit of sibling symmetry, the feature was written by Jenn Pelly, whose twin sister Liz wrote the book Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist. (Highly recommended.)
The “We can’t read” Room
That’s the album title, not a song title. Nice try, AI! Article is here.
What a lineup!
There’s only one possible reaction to that bill…
Details are here. Wish me luck convincing my wife that I need to go. Or better yet, buy my ticket.
Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)
E, L, and P are clearly trying to steal Jay Ferguson’s Thunder, but they don’t have the proper footwear:
Remember, when you have a hankering for falling down laughing in the wet grass, or nights in the cool sand, accept no substitute… ask for Jay Ferguson by name!
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