Camp Springs Tavern

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:

Out with the old, in with the new*

Concert Listings, Music, podcast

*does not apply to the annual summer calendar of shows at Riverbend Music Center (unofficial motto: “where every year feels like 1985”)

Wow, 2024 is almost over!

We still have a few more shows before we make like Bob Seger and turn the page to 2025 (a.k.a. The Year of the Snake Rat Pig… at least in D.C.)

Shows tomorrow:

  • Marcus King plays the Hard Rock Casino
  • Rumpke Mountain Boys play Annie’s
  • Halfway Hammered plays the Liberty Theater, with Wes Shipp opening
  • The Wonderlands and Coastal Club have a holiday show within the decidedly un-festive confines of Bogart’s
  • Abiyah plays Southgate with Radar
  • Northside Tavern has Abandoned Malls of America, Moonbeau, Bear the Moon, and Knavery
  • OYOXOYO / Static Falls / Oh Condor triple bill at MOTR

Tinfoil Hat Cowboys play two sets at MOTR on Sunday.

Kate Wakefield has an album release party at The Comet on Monday.

Tuesday is New Year’s Eve (a.k.a. “Amateur Night”). Watch out for all the drunken Dicks out there!

You can ring in the new year with… Rebecca Black?

Yep, she’s at the Hard Rock Casino. Or you can enjoy “Weird Year’s Eve” at the Woodward with Ernie Johnson from Detroit and several other bands.

Madison Theater, Ovation, Ludlow Garage, and MOTR also have NYE celebrations.

[Speaking of balls dropping, New Year’s Eve also is the 60th birthday of your favorite creator of weird concert listing posts. Maybe Chrissie Hynde will stop by.]

On Thursday, Jan. 2nd, list member Keith Neltner and I will be celebrating our BDs (Keith’s is that day!) with a super-casual happy hour gathering at Camp Spring Tavern. Stop by if you’d like. First beer’s on me.

BTW, Camp Springs Tavern has live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday all month long:

Also on 1/2, Joe’s Truck Stop kicks off two months of “Honky Tonk Thursdays” in the Southgate House Lounge.

Blanche will probably be there…

But Fred and Lamont won’t.

Next Friday, Jan. 3rd, 2025, Lez Zeppelin (“All Girls, All Zeppelin”) plays Physical Graffiti in its entirety at Ludlow Garage.

The Woodward Theater unspools a couple of classic rock docs soon:

  • Stop Making Sense on Monday, 1/6
  • Don’t Look Back (the Bob Dylan doc by D.A. Pennebaker) on Tuesday, 1/7

The Loon Wine Bar in Northside hosts a Folk Jam Session with Mike Oberst of The Tillers on Weds., Jan. 8th.

On Friday, Jan. 10th:

  • Tommy Prine plays Southgate
  • Ludlow Garage has the Pink Floyd tribute band Floyd Nation – they’ll be doing a Wish You Were Here-inspired set list and light show.

The Maria Carrelli Band plays the Liberty Theater on Saturday, 1/11, and Warren G will regulate at Bogart’s.

[Oops, my bad, that’s Warren, E (D). She’s also a big fan of regulatin’.]

On Sunday, Jan. 12th:

  • The Rabbit Hash General Store’s “Sunday Music Behind the Stove” series kicks off with The Tillers at 2pm – full slate is below.
  • The Woods (folk rock trio) and Jonathan Cody White (Cincy singer/songwriter) play a Downtowne Listening Room show at the Historic Boone County Courthouse

On Monday, 1/13, Woodward Theater screens Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story.

(I’ve heard good things about this documentary – here’s the Sound Opinions podcast interview with Redd Kross founders, brothers Jeff & Steve McDonald.)

Shows of Note(s)

  • Kim Deal is playing the Woodward on 2/21… that show is already sold-out.
  • Robyn Hitchcock will be at Southgate on 3/1.

A screen grab of this Insta (courtesy of list member Whit Gardner) really sums up how I feel about live music:

Reading is Fundamental

Here’s Amanda Petrusich’s year-end list of favorite albums from The New Yorker.

And from that same magazine, this book review/article about Spotify is scary and depressing for true music fans.

Money quote:

The Internet was supposed to free artists from the monoculture, providing the conditions for music to circulate in a democratic, decentralized way. To some extent, this has happened: we have easy access to more novelty and obscure sounds than ever before. But we also have data-verified imperatives around song structure and how to keep listeners hooked, and that has created more pressure to craft aggressively catchy intros and to make songs with maximum “replay value.” Before, it was impossible to know how many times you listened to your favorite song; what mattered was that you’d chosen to buy it and bring it into your home. What we have now is a perverse, frictionless vision for art, where a song stays on repeat not because it’s our new favorite but because it’s just pleasant enough to ignore. 

Watch This!

Waxahatchee on NPR’s Tiny Desk… chef’s kiss!

Holiday fun(nies)

(If Baby Jesus had been born in Toronto instead of Bethlehem, he could’ve played “YYZ.”)

Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)

“A dramatic comparison to death.” Geez, that sounds like a really uplifting album. (Or me describing a two-hour “long range planning” meeting at my work.) Can’t we listen to something happier?

Ah, yes, that’s more like it. (Vestal doesn’t realize that the boys are laughing at her hairdo!)

March(ing) Bands

books, Concert Listings, Music

Happy John Philip Sousa Month!

Let’s see what’s on the ol’ Koncert Keeper, shall we?

Tomorrow night:

  • Mike Mains & the Branches play Madison Live
  • Alex Salcido (of The Harmed Brothers) plays the Southgate House lounge
  • Camp Springs Tavern hosts their bi-weekly Bluegrass Jam

On Friday:

  • Lydia Shae has an album release show at the Woodward Theater, with Daniel Noel and The Laurelys
  • Ron Pope plays Ludlow Garage
  • The old Annie’s has The Broken Hearts: Ultimate Tom Petty Tribute

Saturday, Southgate House hosts a benefit show that kicks off at 1:30 p.m.

Other Saturday shows:

  • Sammy Rae & Friends at Bogart’s
  • Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band at the Lawrenceburg Event Center in Hoosier country
  • Grateful River 2 – a benefit For Down Syndrome – is at the old Annie’s
  • The Ark Band: 7th annual Bob Marley & the Wailers tribute concert at Ludlow Garage
  • Flying Underground and String Theory play Taproom on Ludlow

Oh, and don’t forget to “Spring forward” on Saturday evening.

This Sunday, the Stardevils play Rabbit Hash General Store at 2:30 (which will feel like 1:30). In the evening (which will feel like the afternoon), Josh Ritter plays a solo show (“Works in Progress + Songs You Know”) at Memorial Hall and Hannah Wicklund plays Top Cats.

The California Guitar Trio plays Southgate on Monday, 3/11, and the Woodward Theater screens Ghosts of the Chelsea Hotel.

On Tuesday, 3/12, The Dollyrots are at Southgate.

Celtic band Screaming Orphans plays Ludlow Garage on Wednesday, 3/13. (‘Tis the season…)

On Thursday, 3/14, Marc Broussard is at the Taft Theatre and Leslie Mendelson plays Southgate’s Revival Room, with Ashley Peacock.

Friday, 3/15: Spokes (a band featuring Jeffrey Seeman and Mickey Foellger of the band Wheels… see what they did with the new band name?) plays Southgate.

Shows on Saturday, 3/16:

  • Camp Springs Tavern celebrates 8 years with music from Mike Oberst (Tillers), Justine Cefalu, Todd Lipscomb and The Northern Kentucky Derby – and food from Marty’s Waffles and wine from 4 Mile Wine Co.
  • Emmaline plays Ludlow Garage
  • The Downtowne Listening Room features Brittany Gillstrap, Taylor Henry, and Sami Riggs in the round at Memorie Makers Café in Florence, KY

Sunday, March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day. Don’t forget to Irish Spring forward.

On St. Paddy’s evening, Margo Cilker plays the Southgate House. I plan to attend that show – her new album Valley of Heart’s Delight is delightful.

Stop Making Sense will be on the big screen at Woodward Theater on Monday, 3/18.

Sierra Hull plays Memorial Hall on Tuesday, 3/19 with Gabe Lee as the opener.

On Wednesday, 3/20:

  • Rhiannon Giddens plays Memorial Hall
  • Grouplove (the band, not the orgy… also not the band Orgy) is at Bogart’s

Beth Bombara plays Southgate’s Revival Room on Thursday, 3/21, with The Montvales opening the show.

Gigs on Friday, 3/22:

  • Shovels and Rope play the Southgate House (I’ll be there)
  • Black Violin is at the Taft
  • Joshua Radin plays Ludlow Garage

Saturday, 3/23:

  • JJ Grey & Mofro at the Taft
  • Karla Bonoff and Livingston Taylor play Memorial Hall

Jill Sobule is at Southgate on Sunday, 3/24 and Ambrosia plays Memorial Hall.

Raisins rocked the house

Great reunion shows from Rob, Bob, Ricky and Bam at The Woodward Theater.

I’ve got a fever… for Cabin Fever

The Cabin Fever festival at several unique venues (including a funeral parlor!) in Ludlow, KY a couple of weeks ago was fan-freaking-tastic. Highly recommended next year for catching up on some stellar singer-songwriters and local bands. It’s a DORA district too, so you can drink as you bop down the street. Proceeds benefitted Music Fund Cincinnati, a non-profit started by list member John Sandman.

Byrne, baby, Byrne

From David Byrne’s How Music Works book. It’s powerful stuff too!

Buffalo. Boston.

New tunes from my favorite band, that talented trio from Beantown known as Buffalo Tom? Yes, please!

Album Cover of the Week(s)

We’re not sure if this counts as “dancin'” or old Mack had too much chili before his gig.

Album Liner Notes of the Week(s)

I signed up… and included the 25 cents for postage too!

May the Sixth be with you

Concert Listings, Music

Hello friend! It’s purt near May (that’s how we say it in Arkansas) which means it’s purt near time for another Cereal Killers gig… or two! But I reckon we have a few shows before then too. Let’s take a look-see.

Friday, Khruangbin and Toro y Moi are at the Sam the Butcher Music Center. You remember Sam the Butcher, don’t you? He was the one who always delivered meat to Alice the cook at the Brady Bunch house.

Nice package!

Other gigs on Friday evening:

  • Gavin DeGraw plays the Horseshoe Jack Hard Rock Casino
  • Brit Floyd is at the Taft
  • Ben Levin rocks BrewRiver
  • Sierra Ferrell plays Southgate. According to list member Dave Green (who also plays bagpipes in the 35th Indiana Pipes & Drums), Sierra likes to make her own stage costumes by modifying thrift store clothes. I think she should call this outfit “Partridge Family Bus”:
C’mon get happy…

On Saturday evening, you can get some clean laughs with Brian Regan at the Mike Brady Music Center.

Or you can head to Camp Springs Tavern to enjoy a cold beverage, served up by guest bartenders (and brothers) Chris and Nathan Dye, founders of the local brand design agency Dye Brothers (fitting name, ain’t it?).

All tips earned that night will be donated to the Karen Wellington Foundation for Women LIVING with breast cancer, so it’s a good time for a great cause. The missus and I will be there for a spell. Hope you can join us!

NRBQ plays Southgate on Sunday.

On Wednesday, The Happy Fits are at Top Cats.

Thursday, the Walter Trout Band plays Ludlow Garage.

Next Friday (5/6), the Cereal Killers play at Fries Cafe in Clifton!

Remember, the first beer is my treat.

That same evening, Leon Bridges plays the Carol Brady. Which was your favorite Carol Brady hairdo?

The only correct answer is #3.

Ben Levin plays Wiedemann’s Brewing.

Comedian/guy who sings “Toast” Heywood Banks is at the Ludlow Garage.

And Engelbert Humperdinck plays the Taft. I hear he does a cover of “The Humpty Dance,” while wearing the glasses…

Next weekend features a flurry of festivals

Here are the gig posters:

Support local artists

Music Fund Cincinnati is a new non-profit established to promote free events and provide financial assistance to local musicians.

Please consider volunteering your time and/or making a donation.

A Public Service Announcement to the people who go to shows to talk

I’d like you to STFU. Andrianne Lenker of Big Thief put it a bit more politely:

“When music is happening in a room, there’s a performer onstage playing and doing their craft, when you enter into that space, try to be mindful of what’s happening and pay attention and don’t talk,” Lenker said. Later in the message, she rephrased the same thought: “When you come into this space where music is happening, even if you’re coming just to see a specific act play, be mindful if there is somebody performing and playing, to either listen or at least be quiet so that other people can listen. Or go and put yourself elsewhere.”

Her full message can be found in this Stereogum article

I couldn’t agree more. Wanna chat? Go to the lobby… or just go home!

Gig pix

James McMurtry put on a stellar solo show at Memorial Hall. I knew he had a way with words but was impressed by his gee-tar pickin’ too!

Valley Heat is spreading…

Remember the podcast I touted last week, called Valley Heat? We have another convert – Cereal Killers frontman/Great Lakes Brewing rep Howard Cohen:

The show is so damn funny, including the music. Check it out posthaste.

Album Cover of the Week

List member Ted Gardner wants to know if this is the worst or best album ever made? What say ye? You can put your ears on it below… enter at your own risk!

Have a great week!