podcast

Jam-uary rocks!

97X, Concert Listings, Concert review, Music, podcast

Let me be the 427th person to wish you a Happy New Year!

But also let me be the first person to wish you a Slappy New Year!

My resolution is to let you know about the cool musical artists coming to our area as we celebrate “Jam-uary” – which is a rockin’ portmanteau that I totally stole from Camp Springs Tavern in scenic Camp Springs, Kentucky. CST is putting the “jam” into January by hosting live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday all month long:

  • Bluegrass Jam on Thursdays – Jan. 8, 15, 22, and 29 – starting at 6pm (shows below start at 7pm)
  • Slim Pickin’s on Friday the 9th
  • Stick & Bindle on Saturday the 10th
  • Betsy Smith on Friday the 16th
  • Witches of the Rifle Range and Kait & the California Kings on Saturday the 17th
  • Dave Webster on Friday the 23rd
  • Kurt Adams on Saturday the 24th
  • T. Lipscomb on Friday the 30th
  • South of Sin on Saturday the 31st

Whereas I will be jamming more Fig Newtons into my piehole all month long.

OK, let’s take a gander at the other gigs:

Tonight, The Comet Bluegrass All-Stars play… you guessed it… the Comet. Note: The Comet bar is not to be confused with the cleaner that young Robby Benson used to hawk.

On Thursday:

  • Maggie Antone plays Southgate’s Sanctuary, with Ava Hall opening
  • A1A (the official and original Jimmy Buffett tribute show) will be at the Ludlow Garage

Hmm, that “A1A” name sounds familiar. Where have I heard it before?

On Friday:

  • Joe’s Truck Stop plays Northside Tavern
  • Bogart’s has Ten, A Tribute to Pearl Jam
  • The Funky Ducks play MOTR with the Brian Bacon Band and SUN.DYLE
  • Laid Back Country Picker and 9 LB Hammer play Southgate.

Hmm, “Hammer” sounds familiar. Where have I heard that before?

Catch Richard Lloyd Group with The Dummy Ups at MOTR on Saturday. (Richard Lloyd was in Television. Word on the street is that he’s a decent guitarist…)

That same evening, the Liberty Theater has bluesman Mike Milligan & Steam Shovel, and Bogart’s hosts The Four Horsemen. They are billed as “the only album-quality Metallica tribute” but this one works too:

Real Estate plays the Woodward on Tuesday, January 13. I’ll be there, and you should be too! Note: purchasing a ticket to Real Estate does not require a regular mortgage or a reverse mortgage.

G. Love & Special Sauce will be at the Ludlow Garage on Wednesday, January 14. (G. Love & Special Sauce is not to be confused with “Glove and no special sauce” which was a scene from Animal House.)

Jess Lamb & Friends play MOTR on Thursday, January 15, and Southgate has Noah Smith’s Crooner Circus songwriter showcase.

On Friday, January 16, Amythyst Kiah plays Southgate, and Ludlow Garage has The Ultimate Doors. (“Ultimate Doors” in a Garage are not to be confused with the garage door company named after Amy and Erin.)

On Saturday, January 17:

  • Trampled by Turtles plays the Taft
  • Denitia (an NPR “artist to watch”) plays the Liberty Theater, with Maria Carrelli opening.

Eaglemania hits Ludlow Garage on Sunday the 18th. Note: Eaglemania may result in excessive hotel charges.

Liberty Theater has Back2Mac (Fleetwood Mac tribute) on Thursday, January 22.

On Friday, January 23:

  • Charlie Starr (of Blackberry Smoke) plays Ludlow Garage
  • Bogart’s gets in on the tribute band action with Thunderstruck (“America’s AC/DC tribute band.”)

Low Gap plays Southgate on Saturday, January 24, with Julia DiGrazia as the opener, and Richie Furay (Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Souther-Hillman-Furay Band) is at Ludlow Garage.

Hey look, it’s another tribute band: Pet Sounds plays Ludlow Garage on Sunday, January 25. Note: “Pet Sounds” (the Beach Boys tribute band) is not to be confused with a See ‘n Say:

On Monday, January 26, The Faux Frenchmen play Memorial Hall.

The Sadies and Krystal Peterson play Southgate on Wednesday, January 28.

On Thursday, January 29, it’s The Infamous Stringdusters with Mountain Grass Unit at the Taft.

Gigs on Friday, January 30:

  • Umphrey’s McGee plays the Peter Brady
  • Woodward Theater has a very nice triple bill with Sharp Pins (GBV-esque), Good Flying Birds, and Artificial Go. I’ll be at that gig with list member Ken “Lobby Boy” Laube (he’s on Inhailer Fridays 11a-3p)
  • Southgate has a Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds tribute band called Monkeys on a String.

Annnd the month wraps up on Saturday, January 31 with:

  • The Collies (my son’s in that band!) playing The Vault in Mt. Lookout from 8-11 p.m. First beer’s on me!
  • Jimmy Davis Blues at Liberty Theater
  • And yes, there are not one but two tribute band shows: Let’s Groove Tonight (Earth, Wind & Fire) plus a Kool & the Gang tribute band at Ludlow Garage, and Madison Theater has “Tell Me Lies: The Fleetwood Mac Experience.”

We love it live!

Erika Wennerstrom playing a sold-out show at The Columbia: spellbinding! (Great to see list members Kevin, Tom, Jamie, Rico, and Coffee Kyle in the house too!)

(If you’re keeping score at home, Erika’s show was Concert #40 for me in 2025.)

The dreaded “In Memoriam” section

Joe Ely was a rare gem.

Raul Malo had a voice from the heavens.

Steve Cropper was a soul man through and through.

Record exec Howie Klein was one of the few good “suits.”

Perry Bamonte played guitar with The Cure for 15 years and rejoined them for their recent tours.

My admiration for their admiration

I get positively giddy when artists I like show some love for other artists I like.

And Chuck and Lisa from Wussy gave a shout-out to Buffalo Tom on one of their recent “Forever Sounds Radio” shows on WAIF-FM:

Speaking of Buff Tom, lead singer Bill Janovitz speaks the truth:

A list of the lists

The website Album of the Year (one of my go-to sites for new releases) has links to dozens of year-end “best of” lists.

And shout-out to John Richards of KEXP for putting this 2025 release from the band Suzzallo on my radar – it’s a rocker:

Here’s Suzzallo’s live in-studio performance on KEXP:

Shameless self-promotion

The three most recent “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast episodes feature Dave Tellmann and I chatting with:

  1. the folks behind Undertow Music (they book the house shows that I’ve hosted).
  2. Chris DeVille, the managing editor of Stereogum and author of the new book Such Great Heights: The Complete Cultural History of the Indie Rock Explosion.
  3. former 97X DJ Rictile and list member Todd Butler about the old 97X Home Invasion live broadcasts (warning: post contains photos of scantily clad men).

Out, out, damned Spot(ify)!

Speaking of Stereogum’s Chris DeVille, he lists several bands who have pulled their music from Spotify.

Laura Burhenn (The Mynabirds) also makes a strong case for choosing an alternative on the Undertow site.

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has invested €600m Euros — nearly $700m USD — in Helsing, an AI military start-up of which he is now Chairman. Spotify is literally using money generated from artists’ work to create death and destruction in our world. And recently, Spotify has started taking money from their US subscribers to pay for ICE recruitment ads.

Hot ticket alert

Wussy is playing a full band show at The Woodward on Friday, February 27. Get tickets here.

Letters to the editor (and hope for the future)

From list member Lisa Collins:

Album Cover(s) of the Week(s): New Year, New You!

Leg warmers sold separately.

I’m all for figure control, but if I tried Fran’s cover pose, I’d fracture several vertebrae.

Yes, “Boogie” will be my morning exercise routine in 2026. Especially if I can scale walls and crash through windows like the S.W.A.T. team:

97X Rumblings from the Big Bush: Home Invasion memories with Rictile

97X, Music, podcast

DJs in PJs. Wiener dogs in chariots. Bowling in a pool. A surprise birthday party. Crab crawl contests. Jarts. A bogus wedding. And of course, Rictile in a Speedo. The 97X Breakfast Club “Home Invasion” live broadcasts were a way to take the insanity of the 97X DJs out of the studio and onto the road. Havoc and hilarity always ensued. We talk to former 97Xer Rictile — who originated the Home Invasion idea at the station — and longtime listener Todd Butler, who hosted one of the early home invasions. They share their memories from the live broadcasts – and once again, havoc and hilarity ensue.

Rictile does the nearly-nude news while Randy the Redneck makes sure he stays hydrated.

Below is a special t-shirt that was created for a Breakfast Club Reunion/Home Invasion in Lebanon, Ohio at the home of John and Pat George in August of 1998.

Is this Rictile at a home invasion? Maybe, maybe not. But he’s definitely in a home – that counts, right?

Screenshot from our chat with Rictile and Todd. Rictile is NOT shown below the waist. You’re welcome!

As you can see, Rictile has matured a lot over the past 30+ years. He no longer wears a Speedo in public (unless you ask). Nowadays, he makes appearances as the “Dirty Mayor” in a suit jacket and tie. Oh, and no pants, of course!

Todd, Rictile and Dave show off their 97X promo items.

97X Rumblings from the Big Bush: Chris Deville, author of Such Great Heights

97X, books, Music, podcast

Chris DeVille is the managing editor of Stereogum and the author of a new book called Such Great Heights: The Complete Cultural History of the Indie Rock Explosion. He joins us to talk about his book, aptly billed as “the definitive history of 21st century indie rock—from Iron & Wine and Death Cab for Cutie to Phoebe Bridgers and St. Vincent—and how the genre shifted the musical landscape and shaped a generation.”

We discuss what “indie” means, the effect of easier access to music via streaming, how Stereogum is a kindred spirit of 97X, why the book title works on multiple levels, and the ongoing need for music curation. 

Here’s Chris’ own description of the book from his article in Stereogum:

Photo credit: Tim Johnson/Columbus Monthly. Check out the Columbus Monthly interview with Chris here.

I read the book and thoroughly enjoyed it. Each chapter includes a recommended soundtrack of songs that are mentioned in that chapter. The Chapter 1 soundtrack will be quite recognizable to 97X listeners:

This book page has links to purchase the book at multiple retailers.

And of course our post wouldn’t be complete without The Postal Service:

‘Tis the season (for songs)

97X, Concert Listings, Concert review, Music, podcast, woxy.com

It’s a December to remember. Especially with 0% aper.

Unfortunately for music lovers like you (and me!), the ol’ Koncert Keeper tends to be mostly holiday shows. But there are a few nuggets worth digging for in the music mix. Let’s peek at our presents:

This Wednesday is Ween Wednesday at The Columbia in the East End. They’ll be spinning the live At The Cat’s Cradle album from 6-10 p.m. BYOB.

On Thursday, the Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg, Indiana hosts a free Songwriters in the Round show featuring Anne Bangert, Steve Covington, and Charlie Overman.

Friday shows:

  • The Raisins (the Cincinnati ones, not the California ones) kick off a two-night stand at the Woodward
  • MOTR hosts a free Indie Rock Extravagant-za with Girl Gordon, Kind Skies (Lexington), and Pout
  • Moviola, the Wussy Duo, and Nervous Verbs play The Comet
  • Damien Escobar is at Ludlow Garage. (If you go, tell him he spells his first name incorrectly.)
  • Old Crow Medicine Show has a “Holiday Hootenanny” at the Taft Theatre
  • Monday Night Big Band Holiday Show at the Redmoor
  • Yung Gravy (not a Thanksgiving leftover) is at Ovation

Saturday:

  • The Raisins are back at the Woodward. I have a ticket for this show but can no longer use it – if you want it (free!), hit me up via text, or the comments, or passenger pigeon.
  • Dead Centric plays Stanley’s
  • Noah Smith’s Crooner Circus (songwriter showcase) at Southgate
  • Ludlow Garage has Aja, a tribute to Steely Dan

On Sunday, December 7:

  • Soul Coughing plays the Madison Theater
  • Steel Panther plays Bogart’s

Heart plays the Carol Brady on Monday, December 8.

(Carol had too much of Alice’s favorite dish: “Sam The Butcher’s Sausage Stuffing.”)

Thievery Corporation plays Bogart’s on Tuesday, December 9. (Fun fact: “Thievery Corporation” is the official LLC name for Ticketmaster.)

Oh, and the Phil DeGreg Trio plays “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at Memorial Hall on 12/8 and 12/9.

The Taft Theatre hosts back-to-back holiday shows:

  • Straight No Chaser “Holiday Road” on Wednesday, 12/10
  • Preservation Hall Jazz Band “Creole Christmas” on Thursday, 12/11

Gigs on Friday, 12/12:

  • Eric Gales at Ludlow Garage
  • Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder do a Christmas show at Memorial Hall
  • The New Royals (funk revival) play two sets at MOTR

Saturday, 12/13:

  • Samantha Fish, Cedric Burnside and Jon Spencer at the Ludlow Garage
  • A Very Motherfolk Christmas at Bogart’s
  • Cinci Folk Festival (Maria Carrelli, The Montvales, Jolly Old Hawk, et al.) at Southgate
  • Crown Watts performs the music of Rush at the Madison Theater

Ludlow has Irish Christmas in America on Wednesday, 12/17.

Shows on Thursday, 12/18:

  • Liberty Theater has another free Songwriters in the Round show with Rachel Holt and Naomi Carman
  • Jess Lamb & Friends do a jam session at MOTR
  • The SunBurners and Queen City Silver Stars play an Island Christmas show at The Redmoor (they do the same show on Friday 12/19 also)

Friday, 12/19:

  • Erika Wennerstrom plays a sold-out solo show at The Columbia on Eastern Avenue. Didn’t get tickets? You can’t say I didn’t warn you:

That same evening, Over the Rhine kicks off their three-night “Acoustic Christmas” stand at Memorial Hall, and Chris Isaak plays the Hard Rock Casino

Saturday, 12/20:

  • The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band at Southgate
  • Over the Rhine at Memorial Hall
  • “An Olde English Christmas” with Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits at Ludlow – there’s a matinee show and an evening gig. BYOB.

Then, the Xmas lull kicks in. But there’s still time to get the perfect gift for someone special.

On Boxing Day (Friday, 12/26), Ludlow has ESC4P3 (a Journey tribute band).

On Saturday, 12/27:

  • Bershy plays Madison Live, with Multimagic and Phanta
  • The Woodward Theater hosts a “Holiday Hangover” show with Sylmar and Mosant

And finally, the year will wrap up with a bait-and-switch bang as the Hot Red Chili Peppers host a Red Hot countdown to 2026 at the Ludlow Garage on New Year’s Eve.

That same day (Lord willin’), your humble scribe will be celebrating yet another birthday.

We love it live!

The Mynabirds (a.k.a. Laura Burhenn) put on a great show at The Columbia last night. Laura is super-nice, she had high praise for woxy.com, and she brought her dog along on tour.

The Cereal Killers masquerading as The Distractions were note-perfect on their Elvis Costello set, and Dot.Dot.Dot. did justice to their R.E.M. covers at The Village Theater in Covington.

Foxy John loves it live too!

Speaking o’ R.E.M., here’s a shot of list member John Fox (2nd from right) hanging out with Mike Mills and Steve Gorman (Black Crowes) after the Howl Owl Howl show in Indy. Steve and his brother (at right) went to WKU with John’s brother and sister.

Live on tape is pretty cool as well!

MJ Lenderman & The Wind on Austin City Limits is well worth the watch – go to the 26:37 mark for the start of their set.

Two thumbs up for new Crooked Fingers

Eric Bachmann and friends with a new tune called “Cold Waves” – so hot right now!

The “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast gets Freek-y

Dave and I chatted with Freekbass. Check it out here or wherever you get your podcasts, and check out the post on the 97Xbam website for some bonus content, including a throwback Sleep Theater show on video.

Letters to the editor

List member Bruce Frasure shared this bit of musical lore via Jason Narducy’s Instagram:

Nearly seven years ago, I did a blog post about the sudden disappearance of the band Sons of Bill featuring brothers James, Sam, and Abe Wilson. Just this week, 1/3 of the mystery was solved via this comment:

And list member and official Old People Fall Headguard Hat Spokesmodel Dan Lewis aired yet another grievance after we published this photo in our last post:

You’re right, Dan, I am the worst. Speaking of Python, you might want to spend some of your retirement time tutoring the youth of America.

Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)

Yes, needlepoint rocks!

Uh, the photo perspective really highlights Steve’s pants, which are so tight we can tell what religion he is. Somebody please cover that with a Dawn throw pillow!

Ah, yes, a balm for sore eyes. But wait, is that Steve Gibbons in the back? Is he wearing pants?

2 responses to “‘Tis the season (for songs)”

  1. Lisa+Collins Avatar
    Lisa+Collins

    Hey Damian! Thought of you today when I was at Plaid Room Records getting nostalgic! I was perusing The Smiths section when a young man – couldn’t have been twenty yet – told me they have the really good albums “in the back”. He was looking for the same albums – my faith in the youth of America was restored!

    Reply
    1. Damian Avatar
      Damian

      That’s great, thanks for sharing, Lisa! (P.S. you told him Morrissey was a wanker now, right?)

      Reply

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97X Rumblings from the Big Bush: Getting funky with Freekbass

97X, Music, podcast

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.

Itaal – Chris’ boyhood buddy – would go on to become an in-demand songwriter and producer. He co-wrote the Santana/Rob Thomas smash “Smooth.” (You can read an oral history of that song in Rolling Stone.)

We went deep into the interwebs to find more Sleep Theater tunes. You’re welcome!

97X Rumblings from the Big Bush: Howard Cohen is the main Distraction

97X, Concert Listings, Music, podcast

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. 

You can find out more about the Cereal Killers on their Facebook page.

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 CityBeat for 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.

See you at the show on 11/26!

Boo! And Now-vember!

97X, Concert Listings, Music, podcast

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
  • There’s a Downtowne Listening Room show at the Mansion Hill Sanctuary featuring Karly Davidson with Charlie John

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.

Shameless self-promotion

ICYMI (and you’re not alone), the 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast is back. (Dave and I are trying to get our listener count above 13.) The most recent episode features our interview with Tim Quirk and Jay Blumenfield of Wonderlick (and formerly of Too Much Joy). They were a joy to chat with, their new album is a dandy, and they have interesting day jobs too.

Mailbag

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:

  1. The Who
  2. The Kinks
  3. The Rolling Stones
  4. Herman’s Hermits
  5. 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!”

  1. Lisa+Collins Avatar
    Lisa+Collins

    Oh, I am @ing you, Damian! Blasphemy!! And after I sent you that Replacements video this week – hahaha!

    Reply
    1. Damian Avatar
      Damian

      Sorry Lisa! That Westerberg/SNL clip was very cool. Speaking of very cool, I just updated my list and put Gerry & the Pacemakers above The Beatles.

      Reply
  2. Dan Lewis Avatar
    Dan Lewis

    You’ll Walk Alone…. After the Hermits and Pacemakers rankings. And you look like you’d fit right in with the Goad Family.

    Reply
    1. Damian Avatar
      Damian

      The Goad Family and I are taking a cruise next summer. It’s a Ferry Cross the Mersey.

      Reply

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97X Rumblings from the Big Bush: Wonderlick and the (Too Much) Joy of Playing Live

97X, Music, podcast

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.

Jay is an award-winning director and producer, director, and writer, specializing in unscripted/reality TV, including the Showtime reality series Gigilos.

Jay also co-hosted a podcast called The Jay & Tony Show Show. You can listen here.

Thanks for your time, Tim and Jay, and keep crushing it!

Falling for live music

97X, Concert Listings, Concert review, Music, podcast

Wow, it’s almost the Fall.

(Sorry, wrong The Fall.)

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.

Jayson Alexander, our #1 fan (out of 13)

97X, Music, podcast

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: