Jay Batista joined 97X before it was 97X… it was more like a real-life WKRP with “odd personnel and wacky programming.” Jay played a pivotal role in helping the station make the switch to the modern rock format. We talk to him about those formative days, going from spinning the Spinners to hanging with the Talking Heads, and he shares what he learned from station owners Doug and Linda Balogh.
Jay used his Masters in Broadcast Management at 97X… and he uses his English degree to this day, as an author specializing in Fantasy, Historical Fantasy and Adventure novels. In 2019, he published the first of his Forerunner Saga novels, following the lives, loves, tragedies and successes of the Agneson clan in England and Scandinavia circa 890.
Jay’s novel Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse was a Bronze Medal winner in the 2021 International Book Awards and also the recipient of the 2021 Bronze Medal for Young Adult Fantasy novels from The Wishing Shelf Book Awards.
A true renaissance man, Jay also is an accomplished acrylic collage artist, represented by galleries in the East and Midwestern US. Learn more about Jay on his website.
Top o’ the evening to ya. Can you believe how late it stayed light tonight? Other than the car wrecks, Daylight Saving Time is the best.
Actually I wrecked trying to change the car clock while driving.
Speaking of car wrecks, congrats to my beloved Xavier Musketeers for backing into the NIT like Jim Rockford eluding the bad guys.
That’s OK, though, I’m sure the entire Tri-State will get behind the… Wright State Raiders?
Their mascot name is Raiders and their mascot is a wolf. Makes sense.
OK, enough sporty-sports talk, let’s get to the music:
Monday, Little Feat’s Waiting for Columbus tour comes to the Taft, with opener Ida Mae. And Rob Schneider’s daughter (Elle King) plays Bogart’s.
Talent skips a generation
Sammy Rae & Friends play Memorial Hall on Tuesday
Wednesday, Manchester Orchestra plays Ovation, and Sam Bush is at Ludlow Garage.
Thursday is St. Patrick’s Day – here’s a public service announcement:
List member Howard Cohen recommends this particular brew:
If you’re looking for tunes that evening, Ludlow Garage is hosting An Evening with J.D. Souther – all the hits, some of the stories.
Friday, 10,000 Maniacs will be at Ludlow, and Jukebox the Ghost plays Taft.
Saturday is a Jethro night.
Martin Barre from Jethro Tull will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Aqualung with a show at Memorial Hall. And David Sanborn will sax up Ludlow Garage.
New tunes
A live version of a new tune from Lucius… goosebumps!
Cincy’s own Afghan Whigs have a rockin’ new tune out:
And The National’s Matt Berninger does guest vocals on a new tune from TWILM favorite Caroline Spence – mighty fine!
(If you haven’t checked out Caroline’s 2019 album Mint Condition, do so posthaste. It’s fantastic.)
Art about artists from an artist
Michael Wilson, acclaimed Cincinnati-based photographer, collaborated on a new body of work with the Visionaries + Voices community. His process, using a 4×5 format camera led to a series of intimate black and white portraits of artists with the possessions they hold most dear.
During his distinguished career Michael has worked with the likes of B.B. King, David Byrne, Robert Plant, Aaron Neville, Bill Frisell, Doc Watson, and Dr. John. See Cherished at V+V’s Northside gallery this spring to learn why Michael is known widely as a master storyteller. The exhibit runs through the end of April at the Visionaries + Voices Northside Gallery, M-F, 10a-4p.
Album Cover of the Week
We’re really diggin’ the main font… and Bob’s disco shirt, of course… but the secondary font is nearly illegible.
So this week’s rundown of gigs ’round town will be short and sweet. Like a ketchup packet.
But without the high fructose corn syrup.
Tomorrow night, Ladysmith Black Mambazo plays Memorial Hall.
Sam Weber is at Southgate on Wednesday.
Thursday, Gangstagrass will be wafting into the Ludlow Garage.
Flying Underground and Paige Beller play a free show at MOTR, and The Way Down Wanderers are at Southgate.
On Friday, Billy Strings kicks off two nights of shows at the Cindy Brady Icon Music Center. List member Michael Orzali will be there both nights. That sort of devotion explains why both gigs are sold out.
Also on Friday:
Kasim Sultan’s Utopia plays Ludlow Garage.
Angela Perley and Megan Wren are at Southgate
Shiner plays the Woodward Theater
Mol Sullivan and Carriers are at MOTR
Ben Levin plays Dead Low Brewing with special guest Lil’ Jimmy Reed
Saturday is Yolo time… wait, check that, it’s Yola.
She’s at the Taft.
Also on Saturday:
All Them Witches play the Woodward.
You know Gladys Kravitz will be at that gig.
Billy Strings is back at the Jan Brady Icon Music Center
Ace Frehley of KISS plays the Lawrenceburg Event Center
This Pine Box headlines a three-band bill (Thomas & the Work-men, Street Limes) at MOTR
Ben Levin and Lil’ Jimmy Reed shift to Lucius Q
McGuffey Lane is at the Ovation
New Edition is at the Coliseum… I think the last time they were actually a NEW edition was when these guys were around:
On Sunday, The Regrettes play the Taft Ballroom, with Kississippi as the opener… that’s a nice double bill. That same evening, Henry Rollins is at Bogart’s (it’s a spoken word tour) and comedian John Mulaney does his thing at the Coliseum.
And if you’re an early riser, you can catch Ben Levin & Lil’ Jimmy Reed at the Hard Rock Casino at 10:30 a.m. That’s Eastern Daylight Time… ‘cuz we spring forward in the wee small hours of the morning.
The forecast calls for more shows
The summer scene is heating up. Recently announced shows include Death Cab for Cutie, Bright Eyes, Blondie (with The Damned!), Lumineers, The Chicks (with Patty Griffin!) and Idles. Also, RiversEDGE in scenic Hamilton will be hosting David Shaw’s two-day Big River Get Down:
Shameless Self-Promotion
We mentioned Lucius Q earlier in this post. Aaron Sharpe, that dining establishment’s co-owner, was a longtime staffer at WNKU-FM… and he’s the latest interview victim subject in the 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast. Check it out here.
Dueling Album Covers of the Week
We’re diggin’ the 50s TV show vibe of Teresa, but Vivienne!! has a great 70s TV commercial style. I bet she soaked her nails in Palmolive.
Aaron Sharpe never listened to 97X… but he wore many hats at WNKU-FM, a station that picked up the mantle from 97X/woxy.com in being a free-spirited, adventurous, community-oriented radio station that introduced many to music they couldn’t hear elsewhere — including plenty of local artists. Unfortunately, WNKU suffered a similar fate to 97X, signing off for good in September of 2017 after the station was sold.
In this episode, Aaron talks about how he got involved at WNKU-FM, the bittersweet ending, and what he’s up to now.
Many saw WNKU carrying the torch for Oxford’s much-beloved WOXY, which transitioned from the radio to the internet in 2004 and ceased altogether in 2010.
“Today is a moment of deja vu and reliving the same end that came to WOXY many years before this day,” wrote listener Michelle Voss on WNKU’s Facebook page Thursday. “It’s such a shame that all WNKU has stood for and stood with, is to be removed from existence.”
Well, the Orange & Black made a valiant effort, but in the end they were edged out by the Blue & Yellow.
Wait, I’m talking about leftover Halloween candy. What did you think I meant?
Oh yeah, the Bengals lost too. But as the people on this boat said upon further reflection* “that sure was a heck of a ride!”
*i.e. after they recovered from their concussions
OK, let’s move on to the tunes. Great news: as part of the This Week in Live Music President’s Day Weekend Sale, you can buy one week of concert listings and get one week free!
Speaking of furniture, let’s give it up for Lucy Dacus, who played a great show at the Ovation while lying on a couch for most of the gig due to two herniated discs in her back. What a trooper.
Looking heavenward with the voice of an angel
New release Friday
Today, Jacob Strom (son of list members Jen and Tim Strom) has a new track called “Charger” dropping on all the major streaming sites. It’s a song he co-wrote for an artist named JVKE, who apparently is quite the TikTok-er. Check it out. And by “it” I mean the song, not TikTok. OK, go ahead and do both, you impetuous youth!
Tickets on sale today
Bonnie Raitt and Mavis Staples at the Greg “Johnny Bravo” Brady Center on July 19th.
Gig time
Tonight, John Scofield plays Ludlow Garage.
Saturday, Beth Hart is at the Taft, Madison Live hosts a Weezer and Smashing Pumpkins tribute, and the Icon has a sold-out show: Louis Tomlinson. (Never heard of him? Same here, my friend with discriminate taste in musical artists… apparently he was a member of One Direction.)
On Monday, Superwolves (a band featuring Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy*) plays Southgate.
*no relation to Prince
Tuesday, Drew & Ellie Holcomb play Memorial Hall, and The Thing with Feathers lands in Southgate’s Revival Room.
On Thursday:
Allison Russell plays Memorial Hall. (Allison is from Birds of Chicago, and her solo album from 2021 got rave reviews.)
Zachary Williams (of The Lone Bellow) will be at Ludlow Garage, with local band The Hiders opening the show.
Ovation has Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience. That show is BYOG (Bring Your Own Groupies)
Next Friday evening, Lily Hiatt plays Southgate, with the Harmaleighs opening, and Jack Russell’s Great White (essentially Jack Russell minus all the other members of Great White… it’s complicated when that much hair is involved) plays the Blue Note in Harrison.
“What can I say? I threw a band together because I needed the money.”
On Saturday, Feb. 26th:
Anderson East plays Bogart’s
Local artists Physco and Christian Nicholas Gough play the Woodward
Alex Williams is in Southgate’s Sanctuary
Letterkenny Live is at the Taft.
Sunday, 2/27, British blues-rocker Joanne Shaw Taylor is at Southgate and Gaelic Storm hits the Taft.
The four members of the band called We Banjo Three have two shows at Memorial Hall, on Tuesday, March 1st and Wednesday, March 2nd.
Also on Wednesday (3/2), Beach House will be on the river… at the Ovation in Newport. And Wishbone Ash plays Ludlow Garage.
Goats will march forth when Bockfest kicks off on Friday, March 4th. That same evening the Devon Allman Project (featuring Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars) plays Annie’s with the Samantha Fish Band, and The Well and Howling Giant play Northside Yacht Club. If you’re into tributes, Bogart’s has The Prince Experience (no relation to Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy) and Taft hosts The Fab Four Ultimate Tribute. (I’m assuming it’s a tribute to the Rutles.)
Shows on Saturday, March 5th:
Ministry, the Melvins and Corrosion of Conformity are at the Madison Theater
Mat Kearney plays the Taft
Local artist David McGlynn has an album release show at the Woodward, with Ric Hordinski and Moonshine
Aja – A tribute to Steely Dan is at Ludlow Garage (I’m assuming it’s a tribute to the BAND Steely Dan, not the… um… toy.)
Coheed & Cambria plays Ovation on Sunday, March 6th, and the husband and wife duo called Ordinary Elephant plays Southgate, with Rachael Kilgour as the opener.
Vote early, vote often
I’m with AC Newman…
Album Covers of the Week
I spend a lot of time crate-digging at the local thrift stores, trying to add to my vinyl collection on the cheap. Usually it’s a colossal waste of time, as the bins are filled with nothing but albums from Andy Williams, Engelbert Hump-or-death Humperdinck and the Ray Conniff Singers. But this past Sunday, I scored big:
What a great time to be in the Cincinnati area. This Sunday, the local NFL team, owned by the Browns (in more ways than one), has a chance to take home the ultimate prize: a trip to Disney World!
(Oh, and a shiny trophy too.) This town is going bonkers for their Bengals!
Then on Monday, it’s VD for everyone! Let me wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day!
Always remember that I love you, even if I forgot to get you something… wait, sorry, that’s the note for my wife. Although sometimes I DO get her a gift and she’s still upset.
I have no idea why…
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Before we get to the Super Bowl and the Super Love, we have an action-packed weekend of hard-hitting rock and/or roll.
Tonight, Lucy Dacus plays the Ovation, with Indigo De Souza as the opener. Should be a stellar show – hope to see you there.
I love Lucy!
This just in… if Lucy has back-to-back back pain, she might be crooning from a couch, like she did last night in the Motor City:
Just don’t make it a hide-a-bed
Saturday, Foxy Shazam plays the Peter Brady Icon Music Center.
Iconic ‘stache!
That same evening, Manor House in Mason hosts The Cincy Winter Blues Experience, Rob Fetters kicks off Season #6 of his “Fetters is Cheap” live streams, and the Tri-State’s smelly hippies find themselves with a tough choice:
Local jam band Spookfloaters (feat. my wife’s cousin Mike on guitar and vocals) plays the event center at Little Miami Brewing Co. AND
Runaway Gin (a tribute to Phish) is at Annie’s.
I guess they’ll have to take two trips that night.
The Peter Brady mustache really makes the outfit.
On Super Sunday, Stay Outside and Leland Blue play Southgate.
Monday, in addition to the aforementioned hug fest that is Valentine’s Day, Langhorne Slim plays Southgate.
I love Langhorne!
Southgate House has two shows on Tuesday:
The Pine Hill Haints play the main room (Sanctuary)
In the upstairs Revival Room, you can enjoy An Evening with Clem Snide – I may hit this show, could be really cool.
Wednesday, Dream Theater plays the Marsha Brady Icon Music Center.
Iconic football scene.
On Thursday, Cary Morin plays Southgate’s Revival Room.
Next Friday, John Scofield will be at Ludlow Garage.
Tickets on sale today
The Who at TQL Stadium on May 15th… yes, Quadrophenia fans, that’s 5:15…
Idles at Ovation on September 12th
“Mickey Dolenz celebrates the Monkees” at Icon on April 9th
Engelbert Humperdinck at Taft on May 6th.
Trick question
Live shot
The War on Drugs put on a stellar show at Ovation this past Sunday. The venue is similar to the Mike Brady Icon Music Center, although it only has a single wraparound balcony instead of two. The sound was very good, sightlines were decent, I just wish they had more exits for post-show egress.
Album Cover of the Week
Your collection of the best Soul music isn’t complete unless you have Hutch in your hutch.
I promised you Superlove music, so here it is:
Ass Ponys covering the Afghan Whigs… it doesn’t get any better than this.
Here’s Part 2 of our interview with Jeff Rohrs, who worked weekends and vacation fill-in shifts at 97X from 1987-1991. In this part of our chat, he talks about the community of music lovers at 97X, the great program directors during his tenure, his scary sighting on the Party Patio, his side hustles (DJ… and grocery bagger), and “Balogh University.”
Jeff mentions former 97X program director Kerry Gray, and former DJ Ken “Mr. K” Glidewell.
Kerry Gray on the right, with Brett Heartz, by Kerry’s burnt car. Mr. K on the right, with former morning show co-host and PD J.J. (John Jesser) on the left
Last night’s Country Westerns gig at MOTR was scuttled by the freezing rain, sleet, and snow. Mmm, wintry mix! (Special message to all those “if it’s going to be cold, I wish it would snow” types: bite me!)
But you can love The Ultimate Doors tribute two times, babe…
OK, technically one time. And probably tonight, because they are riders on the storm.
At press time, Brother Moses and Tom the Torpedoes are still on for Saturday (Southgate and Redmoor, respectively).
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday… it’s The War on Drugs at Ovation in Newport. List member Mighty Joe Sampson and I will be there with bells on (but we will only shake them between songs).
Are you less of a Drugs person and more of a jazzer-person?
Admit it, you can’t look away…
Then you can catch the Blue Wisp Big Band’s 40th Anniversary CD Release party at The Redmoor on Sunday starting at 6 p.m.
On Tuesday, Anaïs Mitchell and Bonny Light Horseman trot into Memorial Hall. Bonny Light Horseman is Anaïs Mitchell with Eric D. Johnson (of Fruit Bats fame) and Josh Kaufman (a multi-instrumentalist and producer known for his work with Craig Finn, Hiss Golden Messenger, Josh Ritter, The National and Bob Weir). Should be a really cool show.
Washout Wednesday
Sleigh Bells were supposed to play Taft on Wednesday… but they moved their entire tour back several months.
And the Wailing Jennys were supposed to play Memorial Hall on Hump Day, but they moved that show back an entire year!
Oh, and I hate to pile on, but here’s more breaking news:
Speaking of non-music, The Moth Mainstage will be at Memorial Hall on Thursday, and comedian Whitney Cummings is appearing at the Taft.
But there IS music on Thursday: you can catch list member John Sandman’s Tye Dye Band at Eli’s BBQ in the East End. They’ll be playing (inside the heated/tented barn-like structure) from 6-8 p.m.
Next Friday, Lucy Dacus plays Ovation, with Indigo De Souza as the opener. Once again, list member Mighty Joe Sampson and I will be there. I’m assuming our bells will have been confiscated by Ovation staff earlier in the week, but we’re really pumped up for this show.
Lucy’s most recent album, Home Video, was one of our faves from 2021, and she has a new one-off single out that’s pretty tasty too.
Also next Friday, Ben Levin plays Wiedemann Brewing.
Tickets on sale today…
Manchester Orchestra is playing Ovation on Wednesday, March 16th, and Tori Amos will be at the Taft Theatre on Tuesday, May 24th. Tickets for both shows go on sale this morning. I wonder if Tori will play “Oil Spill”…
If you love me, you’ll buy this for me
Just a gentle reminder that VD is right around the corner. That’s Valentine’s Day – get your mind out of the gutter! And if you’re looking for the perfect gift for your favorite This Week in Live Music correspondent, you can get me this:
The pro model will suffice, no need to splurge on the premium or limited edition… it’s a mere $7K – you probably have that in your couch cushions. Better “rush” out and buy it soon though!
Magazine Cover of the Week
Now that’s an unfortunate sticker placement. Or not, depending on how phreaky Mike Gordon is.
Album Cover of the Week
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. And the Pathway to Heaven is peppered with polyester.
February is just around the corner… and if you look around that corner you might see a few band vans headed your way. Maybe even a tour bus or three.
I loved Your Logo Here’s first EP, but they’ve sucked since they signed with a major label.
You might even spot a tour Winnebago.
Charles Napier ruled!
We covered this weekend’s shows in last week’s post, but just in case you were stricken with a serious case of Bengal Fever and missed it, here’s a recap:
Tonight:
Ana Popovic plays Ludlow Garage
Hyryder plays Annie’s
Knotts are at MOTR
Ben Levin is at BrewRiver
Alice Cooper plays the Icon.
Saturday:
The Wombats play Ovation
.38 Special plays the Hard Rock
Buckcherry and The Lacs are at Annie’s
String Theory plays Wiedemann’s
Ben Levin is at Japp’s
[The Big Mountain show at Ludlow Garage has been postponed. Which just goes to show that you can move a Big Mountain if you put your mind to it.]
Sunday:
Railroad Earth plays the Madison Theater.
The Cincinnati Bengals play the Kansas City Chiefs. Playoff football, NBD.
But there might be a QB who can beat him in 13 seconds or less.
The week ahead is kinda desolate. Julia Jacklin was slated to play Madison Live on Monday, but that gig has been cancelled. It’s like a pre-Groundhog Day Groundhog Day.
Speaking of our ol’ pal Punxsutawney Phil and his special day, Ben Levin plays the Hard Rock Cafe on Wednesday. And in true Groundhog Day fashion, he’s got a few other gigs this week… just like he does every week. You can see the entire list on Ben’s website. (No word on whether he’ll play a cover of “I Got You Babe.”)
The mighty fine band called Country Westerns will be at MOTR on Thursday. (Hey, do they drive a Winnebago too?) The Hiders duo opens the show. I hope to make that gig, but it’ll be a game day decision, given the late set time and my advanced age. (I might be too tired from playing pickleball and/or shooing kids off my lawn and/or yelling at a cloud.)
Next Friday you can watch Garage Doors…
Wait, check that, it’s actually a Doors tribute at the Ludlow Garage.
You’ll believe that Gym is him…
Next Saturday, Brother Moses (a rock band from… Arkansas!) plays the Southgate House’s Revival Room, and The Fighting Side and Wonky Tonk play a free show in the Southgate Lounge. Over on the Ohio side of the river, Tom the Torpedoes, a Tom Petty tribute band, is at the Redmoor.
Big show next Sunday: The War on Drugs at Ovation in Newport. List member Mighty Joe Sampson and I will be there. You should be too.
Their first EP was pretty good…
Watch This
Superchunk’s video for their new song “This Night” is a homage to the Replacements’ videos of yore.
Read This
Longtime Cincinnati arts journalist Steven Rosen has a new book called Lost Cincinnati Concert Venues of the ’50s and ’60s : From the Surf Club to Ludlow Garage. Read more here and order the book on Steven’s website. (Thanks to list member Jay Stowe for the story.)
The Words of the (Chuck) Prophet
And even if there’s a lot of political noise out there, and people who have strong opinions about things like science and religion, the stage remains my church and my job is to bring a group of strangers together and make them into a community for 90 minutes or so. If they don’t agree with every word that comes out of my mouth, that’s cool. Hell, if they don’t like every chord, that’s okay too. All I know is that they all left the house and had to find a place to park and they have to decide how much alcohol it’s okay to drink to be a responsible citizen or just not to get a DUI and have to sit in traffic school and endure the jokes of failed comedians. It’s because of those folks that I’m not one of those guys teaching at traffic school myself.
(Sign up for Chuck’s always entertaining and often enlightening newsletter on his website.)
The Words of the Podcast
The latest episode of the “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast features an interview with former 97X weekend DJ Jeff Rohrs, who talks about polka music, mispronouncing an artist’s name, bands he loved, and that time it rained on stage at Bogart’s during a Violent Femmes show.
You can listen to every episode of the podcast on pretty much every major podcasting platform (Spotify, Apple podcasts, Podbean, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, etc.) I don’t like to brag, but in 2021, “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” was the 27th-fastest growing podcast about defunct radio stations. Take that, Joe Rogan! Oh, and take this too! (not a link to ivermectin)
Album Cover of the Week
Look at that track list! (Hat tip to list member Howard Cohen for sharing the Dick.)
Jeff Rorhs was hooked on 97X from the very first song he heard on the station. In fact, he attended Miami University mostly because of 97X, and he was so determined to work at the station that he played polka music at his hometown radio station just to get on-air experience. All that polka-playing paid off – he wound up working weekends and fill-in shifts at 97X for his entire college career, from 1987 through 1991.
In this episode, we talk to Jeff about that first song he heard, how he scored the weekend gig, his unfortunate mispronunciation of an artist’s name, how he pissed off Doug Balogh, the longest song in the 97X library, the bands he championed both at 97X and on his music video show at Miami U., his MTV regrets, and the Violent Femmes concert at Bogart’s when it started raining on the stage.
Jeff still has a special place in his heart for 97X, as witnessed by his description of the station in his LinkedIn profile:
Here are the photos of the Violent Femmes show at Bogart’s back in 1990 when it rained on stage.
Jeff is at the left, getting Gordon Gano’s autographJeff and a friend with Brian RitchieJeff has many leather-bound books…
