Gee, Wally, is it nearly June already?

My how time flies! (Or, as Townes Van Zandt liked to say, “Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana.”)

June is super-cool though.

Although this is my favorite June:

June Foray. From her Wikipedia entry: “best known as the voice of such animated characters as Rocky the Flying Squirrel, Natasha Fatale, Nell Fenwick, Lucifer from Disney’s Cinderella, Cindy Lou Who, Jokey Smurf, Granny from the Warner Bros. cartoons directed by Friz Freleng.”

June Foray also was the voice of Chatty Cathy.

And in a fun case of art imitating life, being “Chatty Cathy” got June cast as “Talky Tina” in a classic Twilight Zone episode:

Oh snap, Kojak! Let’s put a tarp over this interwebs rabbit hole before my brain gets completely lost in space.

Where was I? Oh yes, June. There are plenty of good gigs coming our way in June. No jive!

This Wednesday, Robin Hitchcock plays a full band show at the Southgate House with the lovely Emma Swift (also Robyn’s ladyfriend) opening the show. I’ll be there.

It’s also WEEN Wednesday at The Columbia in the East End. And Organized Gentlemen (featuring my co-worker George on guitar) play a free “Jazz Alive” show the American Sign Museum. You can even bring your own snacks from home! Full list of Jazz Alive shows is here.

Shows on Thursday:

• Nashville-based soul artist Jed Harrelson plays the Woodward, with Samuel James as the opener
• RiversEDGE in Hamil-tucky has a free(will) show: The Rush Experience
• Not to be outdone, the Levitt pavilion in Dayton also has a free show. It’s the Pride Month celebration featuring the best stage name in this month’s missive: Flamy Grant

On Friday:

• Stacy Mitchhart plays the Ludlow Garage
• Greensky Bluegrass plays the Ovation
• TopHouse plays Whiskey City’s Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, with Good Morning Bedlam
• The Woodward has a dose of Dylan & the Dead featuring the bands Shelter from the Storm and The Dead Revival Band.
• The Redmoor in Mt. Lookout has Chest Fever (The Band tribute) and Saturday’s Children (Dylan tribute).

Not a music show, but the Taft has Comedy Bang Bang Live. CBB is one of my favorite podcasts, and I’m bummed to miss this show. (Don’t feel too bad for me, the missus and I are visiting Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone NP.)

I’m even more bummed to still be out of town this Saturday when Cereal Killers play The Belle & The Bear in Montgomery. I guess you’ll have to buy your own first drink. (If you go, please yell out a request for “Convoy” since it’ll be “the dark of the moon on the 6th of June…”)

That same evening, the Ween tribute band Fluffy will be playing Stanley’s Pub.

And Mic Harrison & the High Score play Southgate’s Lounge. (Mic was in the V-Roys and later Superdrag.)

Next Sunday, June 7, Ludlow Garage has Jackrabbit (a band featuring actor Dermot Mulroney and his brother Kieran – watch your back, Bacon Brothers!)

Sharp Pins are back at the Woodward on Monday, June 8, with Winston Hightower and Eatt.

On Tuesday, June 9:

• The Black Crowes and Whiskey Myers play Riverbend
• The Rose Music Center in Dayton has “A Night with David Lee Roth”

If you can’t make it to the latter gig, this DLR soundboard will provide a reasonable facsimile:

List member John Sandman’s band TyeDye plays Arnold’s on Wednesday June 10 (6-8 p.m.)

Shows on Thursday June 11:

• Devon Allman’s Blues Summit at Ludlow Garage
• Mountain Grass Unit with Steph Strings at RiversEDGE (free show!)
• Hippies and Cowboys with Velvet Daydream at the Woodward Theater
• Jake Speed & the Freddies play a freebie at the Behringer-Crawford Museum in Covington

There are a whole slew of shows on Friday June 12:

• The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band plays a free show at the Levitt Pavilion in Dayton
• The Local Honeys are at Woodward with Casey Campbell
• Multimagic with DYAN and PBAJ play a free “513 Airwaves” show on Fountain Square sponsored by Inhailer Radio (full summer lineup is here — it includes national artists J. Roddy Walston & the Business and The Jayhawks!)
• Last but certainly not least, the Fraze Pavilion in Dayton has Warrant. (Please tell me the concession stands will be selling cherry pie!)

Shows on Saturday June 13:

• Journey brings their “Final Frontier” tour to the Coliseum
• Augustana and Phantom Planet play Bogart’s
• Ludlow Garage has The Dark Side of the Moon
• The Funky Ducks play Stanley’s Pub with Colour Phase
• If you’re into road trips Tyler Childers headlines the “Buckeye Country Superfest” at the Horseshoe in C-bus.

If you’d rather stay closer to home, you can hit up the Sayler Park Sustains Festival. Here’s the music lineup:

Sunday, June 14 shows:

• Deer Tick plays Ludlow Garage with Jobi Riccio as the opener
• The Wailin’ Jennies at Memorial Hall
• The Taft features Edwin McCain and Five for Fighting

On Monday June 15 you can catch Horse The Band (NOT Band Of Horses) at Bogart’s.

Tuesday June 16:  

• Ben Folds and a Piano at the Taft Theatre
• Tommy Stinson (of The Replacements) & Friends play the Woodward with Tim Schweiger & the Middle Men and featuring Karla Rose
• The Animeros play Southgate’s Revival Room

On Wednesday June 17:

• James McMurtry is at the Woodward with Betty Soo as the opener
• Brandy Clark plays Ludlow Garage
• Santana and The Doobie Brothers play Riverbend for the 900th consecutive year

The Nelsonville Music Festival kicks off on Thursday, June 18 (it runs Th-Sat this year), with Wednesday and Geese topping the bill on Thursday (yes, Wednesday on a Thursday…). Friday’s lineup includes Ryan Davis, Mavis Staples, S.G. Goodman, and Gillian Welch & David Rawlings. On Saturday, Fruit Bats and the Marcus King Band will be the evening acts on the big stage. See the full daily lineups here.

Other shows closer to home on Thursday June 18:

• Paul Simon plays PNC Pavilion
• The Record Company plays a free show at RiversEDGE with Kyndle Wylde as the opener
• Liberty Theater has a free Songwriters in the Round show with Fred Steffen, David Lacey, and Austin Tyler Lee
• Acoustic Alchemy at Ludlow Garage
• My son’s band The Collies will play the “June in Olde Williamsburg” Festival from 7-10 p.m.

(“Come for the music, stay for the corn dogs!”)

Friday June 19 gigs:

• The North Mississippi Allstars are at Ludlow Garage
• Fruit Bats play an outdoor show at The Burl in Lexington
• Sonny Moorman Band at Liberty Theater
• Mike Holmes (Spookfloaters) plays the Anderson Tap House
• The Woodward Theater has Nearly Nicks (yes, it’s a Stevie Nicks tribute band)

On Saturday June 20, Cereal Killers play Big Ash Brewing (OK, fine the LaRosa’s Taphouse). I WILL be there for that show, which means you can cash in your free beer coupon.

Other shows that evening include:

• Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country with Marty Stuart & his Fabulous Superlatives at the Rose Music Center
• The Pharcyde at Ludlow Garage

Sunday June 21 is the first official day of summer. This year, it will also mark 29 years of wedded bliss agony for my long-suffering bride. That evening, I won’t be taking her to see Silverada (nee Mike & the Moonpies) and Kelsey Waldon at Southgate, or Hot Mulligan with Joyce Manor at the Mike & Carol Brady. But maybe we’ll go shopping.

 On Monday June 22, Jessica Simpson (yes that Jessica Simpson) plays the Fraze Pavilion in Dayton.

Taft Theatre has a supa-funky twin bill on Tuesday June 23: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave. with Dumpstafunk

On Wednesday June 24:

• TyeDye plays Wunderbar in Covington (“Come for the music, stay for the sausage!”)
• Ludlow Garage has Mason’s Children (a tribute to the Grateful Dead). Here’s the press release: Mason’s Children brings the raw, psychedelic energy of the Grateful Dead’s early years to life. Formed by musicians who met while following Dead & Company and Bob Weir & Wolf Bros, the band built their following by playing Shakedown lots and surprise sets on the corner of Haight & Ashbury. Their shows are a full-on revival of the 1960s spirit—authentic, electric, and deeply rooted in the music. Expect deep jams, vintage tones, and that unmistakable Dead magic from the ’60s and ’70s.

That show is BYOLSD.

The Great American State Fair kicks off on Thursday, June 25 in D.C. It’s a two-week celebration of America’s 250th egofest with musical acts like Morris Day & the Time, Young MC, Milli Vanilli, The Commodores, Bret Michaels, and Martina McBride. Wait, this just in: all of those artists have pulled out of the sh*tshow. Damn, I was really looking forward to seeing Young MC “Bust a Move” – although these days it might be more like “Bust a seam.”

Wait, this just in, Vanilla Ice may not make it, but vanilla ice cream will be available for purchase ($50 per scoop* – order ahead with your proudly-American** Trump Gold*** Phone****), and it’ll be the best ice cream ever, like nobody’s ever seen before. Big strong men, with tears in their eyes, will be saying “Sir, this is the best vanilla ice cream.”

• *some melting may occur during transit from the Epstein Ballroom construction site
• **not made in America
• ***not gold
• ****the same one you can get for $500 less elsewhere

Shows on Friday June 26:

• Punch Brothers at the Taft
• Wayne “The Train” Hancock at Liberty Theater, with Andrew Hibbard
• Ernie Johnson from Detroit has an album release party at the Woodward
• Izzy Escobar and Illiterate Light play a free show at Fountain Square
• Kathy Mattea is at Memorial Hall
• Darius Rucker plays Riverbend
• Amy Grant (not Flamy Grant) plays Ludlow Garage

Saturday June 27 is a super-busy day for shows:

• My son’s band The Collies play Anderson Township Pub (7-10p)
• Levitt Pavilion in Dayton has a free Blues Fest with Shemekia Copeland headlining.
• The Guess Who and Don Felder play Riverbend. (In a related story, every time Don Henley’s lawyer calls Don Felder, he says “Guess who?!” even though Felder has heard his voice a gazillion times.)
• Spyro Gyra plays the Ludlow Garage
• Last and certainly least, several former 97X staffers, including Steve “Bakerman” Baker, Jen Dalton from Channel 12, Matt Sledge, Dave Tellmann, and yours truly will be at a 97X “Back to the Future” event that’s a fundraiser for the Butler County Historical Society. Yes, we’re now old enough to be considered “historical.”

(Remember, it’s a fundraiser. And Dave will sign body parts.)

Dave and I talked to Bake, Jen Dalton and Sledge about the event in our most recent episode of the 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast.

(It seems quite fitting that the event is being held in the Fairfield Freshman Building given that Dave, Sledge and I act like 14 year olds.)

Speaking of 97X, R.I.P. to the WOXY call letters. 97.7 FM on your radio dial is now known as WKRP.

OK, back to the shows. On Sunday June 28:

• Chris Knight plays Southgate’s big room
• Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE play Bogart’s
• Insane Clown Posse plays the Ovation in Newport.

Which means I’ll probably get two-day-old Faygo stuck to the bottom of my sneakers when I’m at Ovation on Tuesday June 30 for the fantastic triple bill of Spoon, The Beths, and Squirrel Flower.

Also on 6/30, Wynonna Judd and Melissa Etheridge play the Rose Music Center with special guest Maggie Rose. Speaking o’ Maggie Rose…

We love it live!

My son Gabriel (he’s the drummer in The Collies) and I went to The Burl in Lexington on May 15 to see a co-headlining show featuring Maggie Rose and Molly Tuttle. My first cousin once removed (a.k.a. my cousin’s son) MP Gannon is the lead guitarist for Maggie Rose.

Two nights before that gig, Jason Narducy played a house concert at our place. Great songs, hilarious stories, and Jason’s a very nice dude.

And we capped off a big weekend with Built to Spill and a “Chuck-less” Wussy at the Ludlow Garage.

Lest I forget (I can’t – it was an amazing experience), waaay back on May 1, I joined list members Matt and Deuce at the David Byrne show in Indy. May we all be so creative and so energetic at 73 (he’s 74 now, BD was 5/14).

Oh, and then there was the Afghan Whigs hometown show at Bogart’s on May 6.

[Afghan Whigs photo is from Ben Gastright’s gallery on CincyMusic.com… my phone’s camera isn’t so great.]

S.G. stands for “So Good!”

While we’re on the live music tip, definitely check out the full taping of S.G. Goodman’s set for an Austin City Limits episode.

Under the Radar Album(s) of the Month(s)

Thomas Dollbaum’s new release Birds of Paradise is really scratching that Jason Molina itch:

And the new album from The Blue Herons is some of the dreamiest dreampop that I’ve laid my ears on in a while. Clearly the Spotify algorithm is broken (or more likely rigged) if they only have 413 listeners. Make it 414 and thank me next month!

TicketBastard still sucks, but we’re gonna Hold Steady

Franz Nicolai of The Hold Steady testified before Congress about how much LiveNation/Ticketmaster blows. Read more from former 97X Rumblings podcast guest Chris DeVille on Stereogum, and you can watch Franz’s testimony at the 55-minute mark of the C-SPAN recording of the session, or read his transcript and some other thoughts on his Substack post.

I’m not a huge Jack Antonoff fan but this quote about playing to small crowds from an NPR interview is rock solid:

It’s not just fun, it’s Funbury!

Bill Donabedian is back at it, trying to organize multi-day music festival at Clear Creek Park in Anderson Township near Newtown. Part of me hopes it happens, but the part of me that likes playing pickleball down at Clear Creek agrees that traffic and parking would be an absolute cluster.

Photo Phun

Here’s a phun photo courtesy of list member Rico:

Sayeth Rico: Never considered Pixies to be a sing-in-the-shower band but alas here we are.

Respondeth d2: It’s good stuff, but these days you can never get a Deal on it.

Album Cover(s) of the Month

Really bad as an album cover, probably a lot worse as an adult film. (Although I’d love to hear more about the decision to include a butterfly net in the shot.)

.More like permanent press on.

I picked the wrong business to be in. Teams calls are not nearly as fun as this.

Mayday, mayday… May Day is on the way!

See you at the big parade! Don’t forget to bring the hot hors d’oeuvres… and a blanket!

The Merry Month of May is kicking off with a bang tomorrow night: The Collies (a.k.a. the band my son plays drums for) will be at Big Ash Brewery… er, the LaRosa’s Taproom (same location, different name).

(Normally my “first beer’s on me” offer would be in effect, but I’ll be in Indy for the David Byrne show.)

Also tomorrow evening, The Outlaws play Ludlow Garage.

Saturday is Derby Day!

Saturday shows:

• Tommy Castro & the Painkillers at Southgate
• Dravin & the Ravens at MOTR
• Blackhawk at Ludlow Garage
• Buckethead at Bogart’s

Nice getup, Mr. Buckethead, but Dumb Donald still has you beat:

Liz Cooper plays the Southgate on Sunday. I loved her on 30 Rock. Wait, that was Liz Lemon.

The Lemon Twigs play Southgate on Monday, with Josephine Network.

Tuesday is Cinco de Mayo.

Shows that evening:

• Wolf Eyes at the Woodward
• St. Paul and the Broken Bones* play the Taft, with Brother Wallace.

*We cannot confirm that you can use your Health Savings Account funds to buy tickets to this show, but it DOES count toward your annual concert deductible.

Wednesday is a big night for gigs:

• The Afghan Whigs (more on them later) play their old stomping grounds of Bogart’s (of course I’ll be there!)
• Yungblud plays a sold-out show at the Cindy Brady (you know you’re getting old when you’ve never heard of the acts who are selling out theaters)
• Ludlow Garage has An Evening with Shawn Mullins
• It’s WEEN Wednesday at The Columbia – free, BYOB
• Memorial Hall hosts Live Dead & Brothers – here’s the PR blurb:

The line-up is pedigree and generational featuring Berry Duane Oakley from The Allman Betts Band, Les Dudek from the Allman Brother family, Mark Karan from Bob Weir/ Rat Dog & The Other Ones, Scott Guberman from Phil Lesh & Friends, and Pete Lavezzoli from JGB, Jazz Is Dead and Oteil & Friends. Together, these accomplished musicians skillfully recreate the magic of the Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers Band’s co-billed concerts during the period of 1969 to1973.

Shows next Thursday, May 7:

• J. Roddy Walston and The Magicals are at Northside Tavern
• UB40 “featuring Ali Campbell, Junior Marvin & The Legendary Wailers” plays the old Annie’s
• Ludlow Garage has Magical Mystery Doors – the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Doors mashup* that America’s been longing for… or not!

*I feel like Zep got cheated out of having a reference in the band name… then again “Magical Mystery In Through the Out Doors” wouldn’t fit on the marquee.

On Friday, May 8, the Satchvai Band, featuring Louis Armstrong Joe Satriani & Steve Vai (and Kenny Aronoff on drums!), plays the PNC Pavilion. And The Funky Ducks play Stanley’s Pub.

Saturday, May 9 is an album release double-shot at Southgate – Ben Walz has an EP release show in the big room with Sami Riggs, and Nick Dittmeier & the Sawdusters have an album release show upstairs in the Revival Room with Joe’s Truck Stop opening. And Maurice Mattei & the Tempers play a freebie in the Lounge.

May 10th is Mother’s Day.

Take a page from Mr. T’s book:

(You also can take a necklace from Mr. T’s jewelry box… he won’t even miss it!)

The Woodward Theater has two nights of The Garcia Project on May 11-12.

The Garcia Project performs full, unaltered classic Jerry Garcia Band setlists from 1976–1995 — song for song, set for set — using era-correct arrangements, tempos, instrumentation, and gear to recreate the authentic sound that defined those legendary shows.

Speaking of tie-dye, the TyeDye Band (feat. list member John Sandman) plays Arnold’s on Wednesday, May 13 (6-8 p.m.)

Jason Narducy plays a house concert at… *checks notes*… my house on Thursday, May 14!

Tickets are available here.

That same evening, Ludlow Garage has Guitar Women: An Evening with Sue Foley, Rory Block & Cindy Cashdollar. Organized Gentlemen play Caffe Vivace. And Southgate has a Country Jamboree with Kyle Eldridge and Chris “Sugarballs” Sprague. I have no idea how Mr. Sprague got his nickname, and I have no desire to find out.

Shows on Friday, May 15:

• Brit Floyd at the Rose in scenic Huber Heights, Ohio (“the worlds largest community of brick homes”… oh, and home of The Deal sisters too.)
• S.G. Goodman plays an outdoor show at The Burl in Lexington, with Abby Hamilton and Andi Marie Tillman also on the bill.
• Southgate has XSIV: a tribute to INXS (ah, so it’s pronounced “excessive”… got it! For a second I was trying to figure out what Roman numeral “S” was…)
• Ludlow Garage features Hell’s Belles (all-female AC/DC tribute)
• Downtowne Listening Room has a “Listening Factory” series at Factory 52, and this month A Tale of Two and Honey & Blue are on the bill, along with “musical forewoman” Sami Riggs

On Saturday, May 16, I’ll be down at The Burl in Lexington for an outdoor show featuring Molly Tuttle and Maggie Rose. (My first cousin once removed Michael Patrick Gannon is the guitarist for Maggie Rose!)

Closer to home, Ludlow Garage has Live at the Fillmore (“#1 tribute to the Allman Bros. Band”)

Sunday, May 17, Built to Spill plays Ludlow Garage, with Wussy. (Need you even ask if I’ll be there?)

John Wesley Harding (a.k.a. Wesley Stace) plays Ludlow Garage on Wednesday, May 20. (Wes opened for Buffalo Tom in Boston last November and he sounded great.) And Highly Suspect is at Bogart’s.

Michael Martin Murphey is at Ludlow Garage on Thursday, May 21. (But Wildfire is nowhere to be found.)

On Friday, May 22:

• Beloved Youth and The Spectacular Fantastic play the Liberty Theater
• Foghat and Nazareth bring 1975 (the year, not the band) to the Hard Rock Casino on Friday, May 22. Let’s hope they get the names right on the marquee.

On Saturday, May 23:

• Parker Barrow plays the Liberty Theater, with CFG & The Family
• The old Annie’s has Zepparella, which, as the name suggests, is a tribute to former Channel 5 sports anchor Zip Rzeppa.

Wait, check that, it’s an all-female tribute to Led Zeppelin. Sorry to disappoint you.

Monday, May 24 is Memorial Day. Formerly known as Decoration Day.

Also known as the unofficial start to summer grilling season.

Ryan Bingham & The Texas Gentlemen play the Taft on Tuesday, May 26 and Liquid Mike is at Southgate.

TyeDye plays Wunderbar in Covington on Wednesday, May 27.

Southgate House hosts the Midwest Friends Fest May 28-30. Daily lineups and ticket info here.

On Friday, May 29, Mac McAnally* plays a sold-out show at Ludlow Garage, and The Toadies play Bogart’s.

*his last name is pronounced like “Mac-in-alley” not like how Hamburglar gets his prison sausage delivered.

And the Merry Month of gigs culminates with Into the Blue (ELO tribute) at Ludlow Garage on Saturday, May 30.

We love it live!

April was action-packed. Jim Lauderdale at Southgate.

Brett Newski at Southgate one night later.

Gladie crushed it at Northside Tavern, along with local bands EATT and Maura Weaver.

The Silos have still got it, and my 97X homie Dave and I saw it in Southgate’s Revival Room, with Ric Hordinski as the opener.

Sun, Sand & Soul at Miramar Beach was five days of great weather on the beach, and three nights of great music (Tedeschi-Trucks Band, Jason Isbell, Drive-by Truckers, Molly Tuttle, Taj Mahal…)

And I loved the Gladie show at Northside Tavern so much that I drove to Bloomington, IN on Tuesday to see them again!

We love it live on bootleg tape too!

Waxahatchee and MJ Lenderman together in a mostly acoustic setting? Yes please!

(And how about the artists they covered in the encore? Iris DeMent, Lucinda Williams, The Jayhawks, and Kathleen Edwards… “game recognizes game.”)

Flip Your Afghan Whigs

Jason Gargano has a nice profile of the local boys in CityBeat. Killer quotes from Mr. Dulli:

Take that, TicketBastard!

“For far too long, Live Nation and Ticketmaster have taken advantage of fans and artists by raising prices for tickets and stifling any competition that threatened their power,” the statement reads. “A jury found what we have long known to be true: Live Nation and Ticketmaster are breaking the law and costing consumers millions of dollars in the process.”

(quote above from this NPR article)

Speaking o’ tickets, Ludlow Garage has reduced their box office hours:

Shameless self-promotion… and another thing

The latest episode of the 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast features Jae Forman talking about her 97X days and her current “Planet of Sound” gig at Inhailer Radio on Tuesday afternoons (3-7 p.m.).

Oh, and because Dave and I are perma-teenagers and do what the Bakerman asks of us, we’ll be in a high school building for a throwback event Steve Baker has had a hand in organizing:

If you ask me, $30 is too much to pay… by about $30. But Dave and I will sign body parts. Unless you’ve visited Hamburglar in prison lately.

I do wish I could go “back to the future” and get back my beloved Conway Twitty t-shirt that I was wearing at 97X long ago:

Words of wisdom

Amen, Brother John, amen!

Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)

Subtitle: The Ticketmaster Song.

Also, those fingernails are almost as stylish as Jay Ferguson’s macramé shoes:

Jay invented the “Blue Steel” look.

Keep it in your Sansabelts, Woody… at your age, it’s more like “Songs for Hip Replacements.”

It’s almost time for a March! Take it away (literally), Stork!

March 28 is No Kings Day, but we DO still have one king this month:

Fun fact: J.P Sousa and his pal J.W. Pepper* invented the sousaphone to be:

1. easier to play while standing or marching than its bigger counterpart, the tuba but
2. still just as much of a chick magnet.

*J.W. Pepper would be a great name for a brand of salsa. Or maybe even a salsa band.

Note: the sousaphone is not to be confused with the Geckophone.

Before March… um… marches in… let’s sneak in a few gig reminders for February, because it’s the shortest month. (BTW, happy non-Leap-Year non-birthday to list member Ted G!)

Friday:

• Wussy (full band) at the Woodward with Advance Base and Moontype. I’ll be there to get another punch on my Wussy Superfan Fan Club card.

• Nat Myers plays Southgate, with Jay Skaggs

[Late breaking news: list member (and podcast co-host) Dave T. can’t make the Wussy show – text me if you want his ticket.]

Saturday:

• An evening with Joe Bonamassa at the Taft. (Please contact your doctor if your Bonamassa lasts longer than an evening)
• The Columbia (4311 Eastern Ave) hosts a Downtowne Listening Room singer/songwriter showcase with Sami Riggs, Lydia Shae and Ash Taylor. All proceeds go to the performers. Request an invite here.
• Sylmar has a record release party at the Woodward
• The Roger Klug Power Trio and Frontier Folk Nebraska will be playing a free show across the street at MOTR starting at 9 p.m.
• Nicholas Jamerson plays Southgate
• Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty is at the Hard Rock Casino
• Tasting Color (a jam band from Dayton) plays Stanley’s
• Noah Wotherspoon is at the Mansion Hill Tavern
• Laid Back Country Picker with Adam Wade Gilliam at Liberty Theater

On Sunday, Sunday, Sunday we March, March, March:

• Snõõper plays the Woodward with Shrudd and Pal
• The Wood Brothers play the Taft
• The Turkeys do two sets at MOTR, starting at 7:30 p.m.
• Memorial Hall has All You Need is George – an All-Star tribute to George Harrison (Jam-band legends Jackie Greene, Steve Kimock, Pete Lavezzoli, Reed Mathis, Berry Duane Oakley, and Gil Assayas unite for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of George Harrison’s timeless legacy)

[Late breaking news: list member (and podcast co-host) Dave T. can’t make the Snõõper show either – text me if you want his ticket.]

The Record Company plays Bogart’s on Tuesday, March 3. (When I hear “Record Company” and “Bogart’s” in the same sentence, I think of Mole’s.)

Shows on Wednesday, March 4:

• Shawn Colvin at Memorial Hall
• Screaming Orphans at Ludlow Garage

3/4 also marks the first WEENsday of 2026 at The Columbia. They’ll be spinning The Pod from 7-9 p.m. 4311 Eastern Avenue. Really cool old church. BYOB.

Next Thursday 3/5:

• Adam Wade Gilliam Band with T. Lipscomb and Mike Detmer at MOTR
• The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys at Southgate (they must not be too po’ – they could afford two apostrophes, and have you see the price of those lately?)
• Barry Manilow plays “the last concert” (we’ve heard that from KISS and The Who) at the Mausoleum

Friday, March 6 features the G.O.A.T of all marches: The Bockfest Parade. It starts at 6 p.m. at Arnold’s.

Shows on 3/6:

• Ludlow Garage has Sons of Cream. (If this well-respected publication were instead a tawdry rag, we might be prone to point out that all male offspring are, in fact, “sons of cream.”) This band features two members of the Lucky Sperm Club*: Kofi Baker (son of Ginger) and Malcolm Bruce (son of Jack)
• The Stolen Faces play the Woodward
• The New Royals plays two sets at MOTR
• The Bonded Spirit Bluegrass Festival features four bands for free at the Rickhaus (302 Court St. in Covington)

*University of Cincinnati basketball player Jizzle James also is a member of the Lucky Sperm Club, but we think his father, former NFL running back Edgerrin James, took that a little too literally when choosing a name for his son.

Saturday, March 7:

• Los Straitjackets & Deke Dickerson Rockin’ Dance Party at the Woodward
• The Bonded Spirit main event features The SteelDrivers, the Dan Tyminski Band, and Bourbon Revival. Tickets.
• Hot Magnolias at Arnold’s
• The Ark Band plays their annual Bob Marley Tribute at Ludlow Garage
• The old Annie’s features Crush: The Bon Jovi Experience
• Liberty Theater has the Homegrown Music Festival

And Southgate House hosts the 10th annual Rock’n’Revival for the Cure.

On Sunday, March 8, MOTR hosts The Sanguinaria Trio featuring Brad Myers, Michael Sharfe, and Jeff Mellott, and the Comet Bluegrass All-Stars play The Comet.

Calling all Teenage Dirtbags: please report to the Southgate House on Tuesday, March 10 for Wheatus with Keep Flying and Matt Waters.

On Wednesday, March 11:

• TyeDye (featuring list member John Sandman) plays Arnold’s from 6-8 p.m.
• Harpist Mary Lattimore plays the Woodward, with Planchette opening

Shows on Thursday, March 12:

• Dar Williams at Ludlow Garage
• Buffalo Rose plays a free show at the Liberty Theater
• Joe Jordan (an Americana artist, not 2/5ths of New Kids on the Block) is at the Woodward
• AM Nice plays MOTR with Sensor Ghost and Perfect Stranglers
• Great American Novel (band featuring a former co-worker of mine) and Liv Louis play a freebie in Southgate’s Lounge (10 p.m. show)

OMG, it’s another Friday the 13th!

Shows on that super(stitious) evening:

• Keller Williams at the old Annie’s
• Lily Seabird with Villagerrr at MOTR
• Pink Talking Fish (a fusion of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, and Phish) at Ludlow Garage
• John Paycheck (son of Johnny – he’s in the Unlucky Sperm Club) and Wes Shipp at Southgate
• The Drowsy Lads (Irish music) at Memorial Hall

Saturday, March 14 is Pi Day!

• My Brother’s Keeper plays the Liberty Theater
• Jason Eady and Abe Partridge in Southgate’s Revival Room
• Ma Crow and Porch Goose in the Southgate Lounge
• KISS Off! (a KISS tribute band) in the main Sanctuary at Southgate

Sunday, March 15 is the Ides of March

• Beausoleil with (or avec if you insist) Michael Doucet at Memorial Hall
• Dark Star Orchestra at the Ovation in Newport
• Annie D and Billy Prine at MOTR
• The Phil Collins Experience at Ludlow Garage – since Ludlow has those airline seats, maybe “The Phil Collins Experience” will be riding the Concorde to Philly to ruin Led Zeppelin’s Live Aid set?

On Monday, March 16, I’ll be in Bloomington, Indiana for the final(and sold-out) show of the Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy & Friends tour of R.E.M.’s Lifes Rich Pageant. (No apostrophe in Lifes – R.E.M. must’ve donated it to the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys.) My youngest son, who goes to IU (home of the national champion Hoosiers football team!), will be on Spring Break, as will all his roomies, so I’ll be crashing at their college apartment – classy! But totally worth the drive to see Michael, Jason, Jon Wurster (Mountain Goats, Bob Mould, former Superchunk drummer), John Stirratt (bassist for Wilco) Dag Juhlin (The Slugs, Poi Dog Pondering) and producer/keyboardist Vijay Tellis-Nayak.

BTW, only Jason Narducy is playing my living room on May 14. Not the R.E.M. band. Sorry if I confused you with my last post. I don’t think I could fit that full band into my living room. Jason solo will be awesome, too!

Tuesday, March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day!

That evening, The Happy Fits play Bogart’s.

Blues guitarist Albert Castiglia is at Southgate on Wednesday, March 18.

Shows on Thursday, March 19:

• Lucero plays the Madison Theater
• Chicago Farmer & the Fieldnotes at Southgate
• Jess Lamb & Friends Jam Session at MOTR
• Liberty Theater hosts “Bleed the Freak” (Alice in Chains tribute)
• VanWinkle (one of the bands my son is in) plays Madison Live
• Cardi B is at the Coliseum

Gigs on Friday, March 20:

• The Robert Cray Band at Memorial Hall
• The Harlequins with Stephie James and Borgemenkes Band at MOTR
• Jim Messina (of “Loggins &..” fame) at Ludlow Garage

The Messina gig reminds me of one of my favorite parts of the Yacht Rock spoof series:

Saturday, March 21:

• The Montvales have an album release show at the Woodward, with Emma Vulnerability and Dean Freeman & Sean Geil
• Our Lady Peace and The Verve Pipe play Bogart’s
• Moonchild is at Ludlow Garage, with Brittney Carter

Sunday, March 22 is a busy day for concerts:

• The Dollyrots play Southgate’s main room with Veronica Grim opening
• Frank Viele is in the Southgate Revival Room, with Nicholas Johnson
• Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Memorial Hall
• Hillary Hahn at MOTR
• Rick Wakeman & Son (like Sanford & Son, but with fewer heart attacks and more capes) at Ludlow Garage

Ricky Nye plays “the two sides of King Records” (R&B and country) at Memorial Hall on Monday, March 23, while Filter, Finger 11, and Local H play Bogart’s.

Albert Lee & his Electric Band play Ludlow Garage on Wednesday, March 25, and TyeDye plays Wunderbar in Covington.

The Coliseum hosts New Edition, Boys II Men, and Toni Braxton on Thursday, March 26.

On Friday, March 27:

• The Collies (yes, my son’s other band) are back at The Vault in Mt. Lookout – be there!
• The Funky Ducks, Eastwood, and Dilly & the Doves play MOTR

March 28 is a Saturday, but also Wednesday… I’ll be in Indy to see the band Wednesday play The Vogue. Shows closer to home:

• Circle Jerks and Gorilla Biscuits play Bogart’s
• Ludlow Garage has Sabbath: Long Live Ozzy

Ludlow has a great double bill on Sunday, March 29: Patterson Hood (of Drive-by Truckers) and John Moreland. That same evening, Southgate hosts Handsome Dick Manitoba (of The Dictators), The Strains, and Rat Trap.

And the March ends on Tuesday, 3/31 with Mirah at the Woodward. Spoils opens that show. At ease!

Turn your home into a Honky Tonk!

List member Eric Weltner’s latest labor of love is the Honky Talkin’ documentary film. It features local bands (Jerry King & the Rivertown Ramblers and Bobby Mackey) as well as Jason Ringenberg from Jason & the Scorchers, and highlights the Southgate House (Morella Raleigh makes an appearance) and Bobby Mackey’s (home of the mechanical bull and several ghosts!). Now, you can watch Honky Talkin’ on demand on Vimeo.

Rock stars, they’re just like us!

Wisconsin indie rocker Brett Newski misspells my name just like everyone else does:

Consider yourself “my people”… and consider yourself “on blast.” Brett Newski always puts on a great show. The one on 4/10 at Southgate is a freebie in the Lounge — and I’ll buy your first beer! Be there!

Wisconsin indie rock mainstay BRETT NEWSKI & the Bad Inventions bring a collision of alt-country, Tom Petty, & 90’s alternative rock on their latest LP, ameriCONa (not on streaming). Newski is back with satirical humor, contrarian ethos, & the knack for creating anthems for outliers. The ep shows flourishes of Bob Dylan & Jonathan Richman, with production in the vein of Velvet Underground.

Left of the Dial

R.I.P. to Lynn Blakey of Let’s Active, Oh-OK, and Tres Chicas. She was the inspiration behind The Replacements “Left of the Dial.”

#33 on the charts, #1 in your hearts

The 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast (co-hosted by Dave Tellmann and yours truly) made FeedSpot’s list of 100 Best Indie Music Podcasts.

And that was BEFORE our latest episode, a very freewheeling conversation with Chuck & Lisa from Wussy.

Better watch your backs, Conan O’Brien and the Smartless boys!

Mailbag

List member Chuck Ackerman loooved my high school photo and my Rush “first concert” remembrances:

D2 – Epic photo of you – when you went to the barber, did you say “give me the Robby Benson”? I wanna see that Rush show – love “Vital Signs”! My first show was in ’81 as well: J. Geils Band with warm-up band The Motels.

Great first show, Chuck! And you’re spot-on with the Robby Benson reference:

Teen Beat really missed the boat by not including me!

Chuck’s wife Christine also shared her first concert: First show was a band called The Tubes, probably 1984 or 1985. Show was at the university in my home town: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. 

Christine hanging out with Fee Waybill and Prairie Prince on the frozen tundra – rock on!

Feel free to share your first concert memories in the comments section below.

Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)

We ALL know that our old friends from the Blue Ridge “Quartet” still can’t count.

Dony : Donny Osmond :: Damian : Robby Benson

They really spared no expense in shooting this cover photo. Meaning they spent zero dollars on it. Art director: “I’m thinking a stream, but one that looks more like a sewer ditch. With a cow. But shot from the rear…”

You haven’t returned your book to the library, Kenneth. Your fine is five dollars, also known as a “quartet” of dollars.

The Undertow Collective helps people make music and tour in a very indie way. They manage artists like David Bazan (Pedro the Lion), Will Johnson (Centro-matic), and Bad Bad Hats, and they promote house concert tours for folks like Wussy, The Mynabirds, and Kevin Devine. Undertow’s Bob Andrews and Jayne Ballentyne join us to talk about how Undertow got started (Uncle Tupelo is involved), how house shows happen, and why their model feels like “the future of rock and roll.” 

The Undertow website sums up their ethos:

Undertow shows are hosted by fans in houses and other private spaces (art galleries, bike shops, recording studios…). If you’ve ever been to one, you know how amazing it is to be up close and personal with such talented artists. You can check out their current tour shows here. And here’s the full list of artists they’ve helped tour.

Scroll to the bottom of the Undertow Music home page to sign up for their email list so you can be the first to know about new shows and tours.

I’ve been thrilled to host several Undertow shows at my house. Craig Finn was the first one, back in 2017.

Next up was Eric Bachmann (Archers of Loaf, Crooked Fingers) in 2018.

It’s pretty friggin’ cool to hear an acoustic version of Archers of Loaf’s “Web in Front” in your living room!

And the Wussy Duo (Chuck Cleaver and Lisa Walker) has graced us with their presence several times (once as a trio with Mark Messerly). Every show is pure magic!

If you’d like to host a show, you can check here for a list of tours and cities where hosts are needed. Undertow takes care of ticket sales, so all you have to do is provide the venue. Here’s more info about the process.

Guess what month it is?

And guess what day it is?

Yep, it’s Ween Wednesday at The Columbia (4311 Eastern Ave.) and they’ll be Rocktobering the Vote!

Also playing this evening: Franz Ferdinand at Bogart’s The Madison Theater. (The bathroom struggle is real at Bogart’s.)

Thursday shows:

• Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel at Ludlow Garage (list member Dave Green will be there)
• Hayes Carll & his band at Southgate

On Friday:

• Tyler Childers and Hayes Carll (hmm, didn’t he just play?) at Riverbend (list member Dave “Double Dip” Green will be there)
• Scotty Bratcher Band featuring Noah Wotherspoon at the Liberty Theater in L-burg, IN
• Madison Theater has “Women in Blues from Beale Street”
• The Orchestra (starring ELO and ELO Part II members) plays the Taft
• Beth Stelling does a comedy set at the Woodward

Saturday gigs:

• Sungaze plays the Liberty Theater
• WAIF radio celebrates 50 years at Five Points Alley in Walnut Hills (6-10 p.m.), with free music from WAIF DJs including the Wussy Duo, Nick Maurer, and more.
• Judas Priest and Alice Cooper play Riverbend

On Sunday:

• Here Come The Mummies come to Bogart’s The Madison Theater (they used all the Bogart’s toilet paper for their stage outfits)
• Ludlow Garage features “the Music of ABBA” (not scheduled to appear – not even in hologram form: Agnetha, Benny, Bjorn, and Anni-Frid)
• Newport (the NKY city, not the cig brand) features Mammoth Music & Arts Festival, with headliners Fishbone and Cowboy Mouth.

The Psychedelic Furs play Ovation on Tuesday, with Gary Numan as the opener.

Next Wednesday, Rocktober 8th, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram plays the blues at Taft, and the headliner-less River Roots Festival kicks off and runs through Rocktober 12. Full music lineup is here.

On Friday, Rocktober 10th:

• Johnnyswim is at Bogart’s The Madison Theater (If Johnnyswim at Bogart’s, Johnnygetdysentery)
• Maria etc. plays the Liberty Theater, with Evan McMillian

Shows on Saturday, Rocktober 11th:

• Southern Culture on the Skids at Southgate
• Noah Smith does a live recording of his Crooner Circus at the Liberty Theater
• Papadosio plays the old Annie’s
• T-Pain is at Ovation
• Madison Live has Walk on Homeboys (a Pantera tribute)

On Sunday, Rocktober 12, Hiss Golden Messenger does a solo show at Southgate, with Rett Madison. That same evening, Foghat plays the Ludlow Garage. I hope they get the name right on the marquee:

A.J. Croce is at the Taft on Monday, 10/13.

Neko Case plays the Taft on Tuesday, 10/14. I still haven’t forgiven her for her Taft meltdown several years ago.

Nellie McKay is in Southgate’s Revival Room on Wednesday, 10/15 and Sungaze, Glimmer, and Dravin & the Ravens are at Northside Tavern.

Shows on Thursday, 10/16:

• Donna the Buffalo (also the nickname of my prom date) plays Memorial Hall
• Rock this Town Orchestra with Sweet Megg in Southgate’s main room
• Noah Smith’s Crooner Circus plays Southgate’s Revival Room

We love it live!

It was well worth the trip to Detroit to see The Tubs at Third Man Records. They are so good – and nice dudes too!

I wore my Merge Records shirt… and The Tubs drummer informed me that they had just signed with Merge!

Opener Ryan Allen was cool too.

I also saw All-American Rejects at the Kroger Wellness Festival last week. (That’s a sentence I never imagined typing.) I’m not very familiar with their catalog, but my son wanted to go and I have to pretend to be a good dad every once in a while.

And now, the sad part (Parts I and II)

We recently lost two great dudes who contributed a ton to the Cincy music scene for decades: Jimmy D and Dave Cunningham.

It’s hard to believe Randy Cheek, Jimmy D, and John Erhardt (above, L to R) are no longer here.

The full Enquirer article is here.

Turning sadness into a lasting legacy

A heartfelt note from list member Michael “Rico” Carrico:

I lost my brother to cancer six years ago, and before he passed, I promised him that I would do anything that I could to help fight the terrible disease that took him from us too early.  One of the initiatives that our family has taken up is to help fundraise for the National Collegiate Cancer Foundation, which provides scholarships to young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer.  

Our primary fundraiser is a memorial golf outing, which will be held this year at California Golf Course on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at noon. In the first four years of our outing, we have raised funds to award 95 of these scholarships, and we hope to add on a bunch more this year with the help of friends like you.  Whether that is getting a team together to play in the scramble, providing sponsorship, or donating items for auction, any and all support is welcome and appreciated.

You can donate here. Thanks!

Fallon loves Freekbass

File this one in the “Things I never thought would happen” folder. A woman in West Chester read my Freekbass profile in the July issue of Cincinnati Magazine (I hope you did too!) and sent in the main photo to The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon for his “Lookalikes” segment. Hijinks ensued.

(Irate) letters to the editor

List member Dan “Hey, at least the Reds made the playoffs” Lewis has a bone to pick with my pathetic prose… and my paltry props for his prowess in identifying talent:

I think Dan “Get off my lawn” Lewis has been doing too much day-drinking since he hung up his sales outfit.

But it’s true, Dan was waaay ahead of the curve on Dwight and The Mavericks. However, his track record isn’t exactly unblemished:

It’s also true that I could have pushed that Dwight show harder. Mea culpa X dos. BTW, Los Lobos wound up opening the show. The Mavericks had to cancel due to Raul Malo’s cancer battle.

We’d like to dedicate this next number to cancer:

Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)

He’ll probably get a restraining order instead.

Whoever named this band and album needs some remedial math and English classes.

Well my friend, I let you down. (Welcome to my wife’s daily world.) I didn’t publish a post in time to let you know about a few fabulous shows that were in our area over the last week or so, including the big VW show. Here’s a photo from that:

Whoops, wrong VW… I meant Vampire Weekend at the Peter Brady. Here’s a photo:

Dammit, that’s Peter Brady as Frankenstein, not as a Vampire… Anyhoo, I hear the actual VW show was great. I missed it, but I am firmly in Vampire Weekend’s camp when it comes to the Oxford Comma, and will gladly tell any Tom, Dick or Harry.

I also missed out on letting you know about Pitbull with T-Pain at Riverbend… you’re welcome?

Oh and I missed touting the Nelly show after the Reds game this past weekend. One thing’s for sure: Nelly couldn’t sing “Hot in Herre” at GABP until after the Reds game. (Exit stage left, David Bell…).

(Maybe next year… )

And Neko Case played Memorial Hall last night. But longtime readers of this whatchamacalit will note that we haven’t been big on seeing Neko live since she had an on-stage hissy fit at the Taft several years ago. Here’s some footage from the guy she got mad at for shooting video:

Rather than dwell on the past let’s look to the future!

Tomorrow night’s show at the Taft might feature the strangest pairing of bands I’ve ever seen. Hair band Extreme (yes, with Gary Cherone, who was in Van Halen for a hot minute) is headlining, and the opener is Living Colour. Weird combo, dude!

Burton Cummings of The Guess Who has back-to-back shows this week. He’s at the Taft on Wednesday and then at the Rose in Dayton on Thursday.

Speaking of Burton Cummings, guess who is America’s #1 Fleetwood Mac experience? Why it has to be Fleetwood Gold, and they’re playing Memorial Hall on Wednesday.

Other Thursday gigs include:

• The Jesus Lizard at Bogart’s
• Chatham County and Mt. Pleasant String Band at Southgate
• Colin James at Ludlow Garage.

This Friday is chock full o’ gigs:

• The Psychedelic Furs play the old Annie’s with Frankie Rose as the opener
• TyeDye (local band featuring list member John Sandman) plays Carriage House Farm in North Bend, OH
• Moonbeau plays The Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg
• The Front Bottoms are at Bogart’s
• Why? and NNamdi play the Woodward
• Siri Imani and Knotts play the Indie Friday show at Fountain Square
• Third Eye Blind plays… the lawn in front of P&G… at 5:30… as part of the Kroger Wellness Festival.

Reviews aren’t in for the Third Eye Blind show yet, but the reviews for 3EB frontman Stephan Jenkins are unanimous:

Quote above from the “60 Songs that Explain the 90s” episode on “Semi-Charmed Life.”

On Saturday:

• The Black Crowes play outdoors at the Hard Rock Casino.
• Maria Carrelli is at Liberty Theater
• Arkansauce plays Southgate’s Revival Room
• Local Americana band Jim Trace & the Makers play Streetside Brewery’s 8th birthday party (3-6 p.m.)
• Moonshine Drive plays Arnold’s

On Sunday, Alkaline Trio plays Ovation, and the free Mammoth Fest has a ton of great local bands on four stages in Newport near (or inside) the Southgate House:

Next Tuesday kicks off Roctober… get your fingers poised and ready to crank it up and rip the knob off for your favorite classic rock station.

Rocktober kicks off in Cincinnati with…

On Wednesday, October 2nd, Roger McGuinn of The Byrds does a “songs and stories” show at Memorial Hall.

Jonathan Richman and Tommy Larkins play the Woodward on Thursday October 3rd.

Also that evening: Shawn Mullins plays Ludlow, and Camp Springs Tavern holds its bi-weekly Bluegrass Jam.

Next Friday is October 4th — also known as C.W. McCall Tribute Day:

That evening, Cabover Pete and Pigpen Ray LaMontagne and Gregory Alan Isakov play the Bobby Brady, and Saving Escape headlines the Fountain Square freebie.

On Saturday October 5th Melvin Seals and the Jerry Garcia Band play Ludlow Garage and the Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg hosts Ernie Johnson from Detroit.

10/5 also is the date of the Kevin Carrico Memorial Golf Outing at California Golf Course to raise funds for scholarships for young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer, in memory of list member Michael “Rico” Carrico’s brother. Sign up to play (or just donate) here.

Here Come The Mummies play the Ovation on Sunday October 6^th.

And just in case I’m tardy with my next post, here are a few other upcoming shows:

• 10/9: Martin Sexton does an Abbey Road show at Memorial Hall
• 10/10 Chromeo and the Midnight at the Ovation
• 10/11 John Hiatt at Memorial Hall, Keller Williams and the Motet at Annie’s, Parker Millsap and Nat Meyers at Southgate House, The Yugos headline the free show at Fountain Square and Yung Gravy plays Bogart’s.

Kim Deal: American Treasure

Kim finally has a solo album coming out. Here’s a great interview with The Guardian. Money quote:

and another:

Her parents were incredibly supportive of their daughters’ careers: Ann would often capture their vocals on a reel-to-reel tape recorder. Their father, Ed, meanwhile, once drove the Breeders around on tour with Nirvana (and listened to Ray Charles on headphones the whole way). Deal would later return the favour, ferrying her elderly parents down to the Florida Keys for holidays.

I went to a fight the other night and a Jane’s Addiction concert broke out

Oh Perry Farrell… so sad. But this is funny:

(Someone’s been huffing too much hairspray!)

Jesse rocks – and so do his pals

Order the vinyl here.

Album Covers of the Weeks

Did you find the 27 things wrong with this album cover? Let’s cleanse our palate with something much more pure:

I’m pretty sure this is just a still photo from a Monty Python skit. (L to R: Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, John Cleese, Michael Palin and Eric Idle)

Holy schnikes, it’s June already? This month, we celebrate grads.

We also celebrate Dads.

But mostly we celebrate rad dads… and moms… and anybody who still goes to concerts. Let’s get to those June gigs!

On Wednesday, the Pixies, Modest Mouse, and Cat Power play the Peter Brady. (Yes, a Cat and a Mouse, together… chaos surely will ensue).

This not-so-rad dad will be at that gig, with my oldest son Gabriel, a.k.a. Chris Cornell Junior.

That same evening, there are a couple of freebie shows of note:

• Leroy Ellington plays Fountain Square from 5-8
• The Comet Bluegrass All-Stars are at Burnet Woods from 7-9

On Thursday:

• Ludlow Garage hosts An Evening with Noah Gunderson
• Buffalo Wabs and the Price Hill Hustle play a free gig at Washington Park
• Blessid Union of Souls does a freebie at Fairfield Village Green
• Motherfolk plays a free show at the Levitt Pavilion in downtown Dayton, with Matt Rouch & The Noise Upstairs as the opener.

[Keen readers — all three of you — will no doubt note the abundance of free shows in this post. That’s thanks to the hard work of Luann Gibbs (a.k.a. “Miss Kitty” from 97X/woxy.com). She compiled this exhaustive list of free summer shows for Cincinnati.com/The Cincinnati Enquirer and your humble scribe combed through it to find the gems. You’re welcome! – Ed.]

Hootie and the Blowfish play Riverbend on Friday, with Collective Soul and Edwin McCain.

That same evening, we have dueling Maggies:

• Maggie Rogers plays the Marsha Brady’s outdoor stage, with The Japanese House (not Japanese Breakfast) as the opener.
• Maggie Rose plays a free show at RiversEDGE in Hamilton, with Crowe Boys also on the bill.

And the Cincinnati Nature Center kicks off their “Music Under the Moon” concert series with the Gina and Johnny Band.

Set against the idyllic backdrop of Krippendorf Lodge, this summer concert series will feature a different local band each month. Each date will feature a different local food truck with food for purchase. Wine, beer, and a signature foraged cocktail will be available for purchase as well. Event time is 7-10pm, with music from 7:30-9:30pm.

I’m duty-bound to mention the CNC’s summer concert series because list member Anne Robinson works there and apparently forwards this silly little whozeewhatzit to several co-workers, thus doubling my readership from three people to a whopping six people! Watch your back, The Skimm!

On Saturday:

• Haley Reinhart is at Memorial Hall
• Electric Citizen and Moonbow (apparently different than Moonbeau) play Northside Tavern
• Orville Peck plays the Mike Brady, with Durand Jones and Debbii Dawson also on the bill. Fun fact: if you attend four Orville Peck concerts, you will have seen a bushel of shows.

Faye Webster plays the Ovation next Tuesday (6/11), with Benet.

Next Wednesday (6/12):

• The Ark Band plays Reggae Wednesdays at Washington Park
• Just Strange Brothers will be at Factory 52’s “Wild Card Wednesdays”
• Leggy and The Harlequins play Northside Tavern

A whole bushel (four pecks!) of shows are on the docket next Thursday (6/13):

• Michael Franti & Spearhead team up with Stephen Marley for the Togetherness Tour at the old Annie’s.
• Whiskey Bent Valley Boys play the Washington Park “Roots Revival” freebie
• Eddie 9V and CFG & the Family play a freebie at RiversEDGE
• The Huntertones play a free gig at Levitt Pavilion in Dayton
• Camp Springs Tavern hosts their bi-weekly bluegrass jam
• Tower Park in Ft. Thomas will host the induction ceremony (and free concert) for the Northern Kentucky Music Legends… one of the legends is list member Daniele Cusentino’s hubby Chris. (Another is Doug Hils, brother of my former co-worker Mark. Per the Kevin Bacon “Bacon number” rules, I’m practically NKY music royalty!)

On Friday, June 14th, S.G. Goodman plays Southgate. I’ll be at that gig, along with list members Matt and Pam F., and “Rico” (trust me, he needs an alias).

That same evening, Sarah McLachlan and Feist have a sold-out show at PNC Pavilion. And, in a clever bit of counter-programming, Warrant, FireHouse and Bullet Boys play the Rose in Dayton.

Camp Springs Tavern hosts a wine release party from 4 Mile Wine Co. on Saturday, June 15th. Music by Evan McMillan. And Carriage House Farm has Zapruder Point, Sarah Asher and Tim Reisert as part of their Summer Music Series (shows every Fri/Sat/Sun in June – full list is here.)

Two big shows on Tuesday, June 18th:

• Little Feat and Los Lobos play PNC.
• Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue at the Rose in Dayton.

New tunes from old friends

Buffalo Tom and Richard Thompson both released new albums this past Friday.

I’m very happy about that.

New tunes from newer friends

Charly Bliss has a new album coming out soon. Here’s one of the advance tracks.

I’m your StubHub… or your SeatGeek… or just a geek.

Got this note from list member Jason Hipskind:

I think the real mistake is going on a golf trip with list member Chris “Jonesy” Jones. That’ll wind up costing Jason more than the four Franklins he dropped on Green Day tix. (BTW, Green Day has come a long way from their $5 shows at Gilman in Berkeley…) If you’re interested in the tickets, text Jason at the # above and tell him a geek sent you. Show details are below.

Take that, Fetchin Bones!

Remember the band Fetchin Bones? Remember their killer 1986 tune “Greensburg” that starts with the line “Stuck in Greensburg, Indiana…”?

Wellsir, Greensburg (“Tree City” and the home of William Cumback, Civil War Army paymaster and 16th lieutenant governor of Indiana!) wasn’t going to take that abuse lying down. Nearly 40 years later, they’re rockin’ out with a summer concert series featuring Pearl Jam (OK, a Pearl Jam tribute band, but potato/po-tah-toe) and Yacht Rock!

Surely the ghost of William Cumback would approve.

William Cumback also probably would approve of the…

Album Cover of the Week(s)

This eponymous album came out on 5/24. Much to the delight of music writers everywhere, and much to the dismay of their editors.

I’m shivering with anticipation…

I’m anticipating some Heinz ketchup.

Why yes, that is a young Corey Feldman at his impish best. (And Casey Kasem with the voiceover at the end.)

Actually, my real anticipation is for new albums, including releases from Buffalo Tom and Waxahatchee. First singles are out already, and they’re delicious:

Superchunk has a tasty new tune out as well… with the less-than-uplifting title of “Everybody Dies.”

Now let’s take a look at the concerts coming our way in the not-so-merry month of February.

Shows on Friday, February 2nd:

• The Montvales have an album release party at the Woodward Theater, with Jordan Smart and Maria Carrelli also on the bill.
• Lung, Touchdown Jesus, The Metric Ton, and Bug Juice play Northside Tavern
• The Outlaws play Ludlow Garage.
• A rodent will predict the weather about as well as the Super Doppler-brandishing TV meteorologists usually do.

Yours truly will be volunteering at Winter Beerfest on Saturday, Feb. 3rd. I’ll mostly be volunteering to drink some beer.

Perhaps I’ll get so hammered that Disco Night at Annie’s will be appealing to me.

Or the L.A. Guns show at the Blue Note in Harrison.

Pure Grain plays the Rabbit Hash General Store at 2:30 on Sunday, Feb. 4th.

On Thursday, Feb. 8th, Ellis Paul plays Southgate.

On Friday, Feb. 9th, Umphrey’s McGee plays the Ovation, and The Hiders and Royal Holland are at MOTR.

Shows on Saturday, Feb. 10th:

• Dan Bern is at Southgate
• Manor House in Mason hosts the Cincinnati Winter Blues Experience V – band lineup is here
• Billy Alley & the Pollies play a free show at MOTR
• The Downtowne Listening Room is hosting a bluegrass show with My Brother’s Keeper at the Madeira Silverwood Church
• Trippin’ Billies (Dave Matthews Band tribute) plays Ludlow Garage

On Sunday, 2/11, The Laurelys play a free show at MOTR.

Jeffrey Martin plays Southgate on Thursday, 2/15.

Friday (2/16):

• William Elliott Whitmore will be at Southgate (his new album came out this week -it’s quite good)
• Iswhat?! plays MOTR
• Bone Thugs-N-Harmony plays the Ovation
• The Loon in Northside hosts “The Love Hangover: an evening of lovely and lovelorn duets” – tickets here

Saturday, February 17th is a busy evening for gigs:

• Fairmount Girls have a vinyl release show at MOTR, with Scrawl (yes, Scrawl!) opening the show
• The Kills play Bogart’s
• Domecrusher (featuring list member Todd Quincy on keyboards) is at the North 2nd Street Tap & Bottle in Hamilton – late-breaking news: The North 2nd Street Tap & Bottle (a.k.a. N2) is shutting down:

Seems like a cool place that supported live local music. Shame it’s closing. If you know of a backup venue for Domecrusher to play, let me know.

• Get the led out (or in) with ZOSO: Ultimate Led Zeppelin Tribute at Ovation

Adrian Vanderberg plays Ludlow on Sunday, 2/18.

I have no Soul

Note from list member Lisa Collins about the January edition:

I thought you might have included an RIP for David Soul with this edition. “Don’t Give Up On Us Baby” was a hit for Hutch in the mid- late ‘70’s – maybe he can be one of your album covers next month!

I actually remember the song better than I remember Starsky & Hutch because that fantastic show was on ABC and we couldn’t pick up the signal from the Little Rock ABC affiliate at my childhood shack in Hagarville*, Arkansas.

*Not named after Sammy… or the comic strip Viking.

However, I did feature this David Soul album cover in a “This Week in Live Music” edition from long ago:

R.I.P. Hutch… here’s a posthumous hug from Huggy Bear.

Columbus loses its cool

Columbus radio station WWCD 92.9 (formerly CD101, and later CD102.5 — “Central Ohio’s Alternative”) is signing off tonight after 33 years on the air. It is (soon to be was) an independently-owned station, with live DJs, playing music (including songs from local artists) that you couldn’t hear anywhere else on the dial. Surely that sounds familiar to those who loved 97X.

“Radio done right is about more than charts and ratings – it’s about community, and it’s about people. I was always brought up on the belief that with music and radio stations, even if you own the license, you are beholden to the community that you’re in. A strong music scene is part of the ecosystem of a city that makes it vibrant.”

Randy Malloy, owner and president of WWCD 92.9, in the article linked above

Sticking a fork in Pitchfork

Noted music aficionado Anna Wintour recently gutted Pitchfork, laying off a bunch of staffers and announcing that the remaining skeleton crew will be absorbed into GQ.

Pictured above, Anna Wintour, in her Halloween costume as a member of Lucius. Pictured below: Lucius.

Read the Pitchfork eulogies/lamentations from Consequence of Sound, Deflector, and NPR’s Ann Powers.

This “small-batch music blog” doesn’t want to let you down, so lemme tout a new album I’ve really been digging. It’s the debut release from an alt-country band from Norwich, England, of all places. The band is called Brown Horse, and the album is “Reservoir.”

Album Covers of the Fortnight

It’s a happy day for Ronnie and Sandy because the record label promised them a year’s supply of hairspray.

Wait a minute, this isn’t an album… it’s a cookbook!

It sounds like the setup to a joke: “A punk rock guitarist and a preacher’s daughter walk into a theater…” But when Billy Alletzhauser and Beth Harris starting singing songs together in 2004, the result was pure magic. Their band, The Hiders, is the Kevin Bacon of music, with connections to Ass Ponys, The Afghan Whigs, Throneberry, Wussy, Heartless Bastards, Band of Horses, Plow On Boy, Comet Bluegrass All-Stars, Pearlene and more. And their sound is an amazing amalgamation of folk, country, rock, psychedelia, bluegrass, and indie rock. We talked to B & B about their start, the band’s evolution, Billy’s Ass Ponys tenure, Beth’s harmony vocal work with Erika Wennerstrom and Heartless Bastards, the Hiders most recent album (2021’s Forever at the End) and their plans for the year ahead.

“One of Cincinnati’s musical treasures.”

Mike Breen, Cincinnati CityBeat

You can put your ears on Forever at the End via the player below.

Check out more from The Hiders on their website, as well as on Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Spotify and Apple Music.

Alletzhauser and gifted harmony vocalist Beth Harris, the two constant Hiders in a rotating roll call of stellar talent, have assembled an impressive canon over the past decade and a half, and all without the questionable assistance of a label structure.

Brian Baker, Cincinnati CityBeat, 2021

Here’s their 2009 session on World Cafe from WXPN (home of 97X alum Dan Reed):

Billy Alletzhauser’s old band, Ruby Vileos, (a 97Xposure finalist back in the day) got back together to do a new record. Here’s it is via Bandcamp:

Ruby Vileos is doing an album release show on Saturday, July 15th at The Loon Wine Bar in Northside, with special guest Tyler Ramsey. Looks like the show is sold-out, but if they release more tickets you can get them here.