Chuck Prophet

Declare your Indie-dependence!

97X, Concert Listings, Concert review, Music

Four score and seven years ago… Keith Richards celebrated his 50th birthday.

As you celebrate the 4th of July this weekend, don’t forget to pay tribute to our founding fathers.

And remember the words upon which our great nation was founded:

We the Party People, in order to form a more perfect Union, insure domestic tranquility*, and promote the local music scene, do ordain and establish this list of concerts…

*except when the missus gets mad because we go to too many shows

Tonight:

  • Ween Wednesday at The Columbia (4311 Eastern Ave. – between Streetside and Terry’s Turf Club) will be spinning White Pepper
  • Greensky Bluegrass at the Rose in Dayton
  • Manchester Orchestra at the Burl in Lexington

On Thursday, the Northside Rock & Roll Carnival kicks off:

The full band schedule is here.

Other Thursday shows:

  • Rachel Mousie and The Montvales play the free Roots Revival gig at Washington Park
  • Mason’s “Red, Rhythm & Boom” (awful name!) has Better than Ezra and Tonic
  • Coral Moons and Pitts & the Vipers play a freebie at the Levitt Pavilion in Dayton

Hearing the name “Better than Ezra” always reminds me of one of my favorite Norm MacDonald lines from SNL:

Friday… hey, baby, it’s the Fourth of July!

And remember:

Independence Day shows (most of which are free, because so is our country… for now):

  • Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top headlines the Red, White & Blue Ash freebie
  • the Danny Frazier Band plays the Newport Blast
  • RiversEDGE has That Arena Rock Show with Dangerous Jim & the Slims
  • the Levitt in Dayton features The Scotty Bratcher Band
  • Stanley’s Pub has the Dead tribute band Graciously Departed ($10… that gives me the U.S. Blues)

If the ‘splosions aren’t still ringing in your head on Saturday, you can check out Sinkane at the Levitt, or Sonny Moorman playing the free concert series in Glendale.

Sunday Funday shows:

  • Steve Earle: Solo & Acoustic at Ludlow Garage
  • Robin Trower plays the Taft
  • Chicago is at the Rose
  • “Weird Al” Yankovic plays a sold-out show at the Fraze

(If you’ve yet to watch the Weird Al “biopic” you really should check it out.)

Shows on Tuesday:

  • Todd Rundgren plays the Mike Brady
  • The Lumineers and Hippo Campus are at Riverbend

Next Wednesday, Aldo Nova plays Ludlow Garage, and Ben Levin plays the free “Fountain Blues” series at Fountain Square

On Thursday, July 10, Maria Carelli and Megan Bee play the Washington Park freebie, and John “Papa” Gros plays the Levitt.

Friday, July 11 is jam-packed with jams:

  • Iron & Wine and I’m with Her play the Taft
  • Indigo De Souza plays the Woodward
  • Dumpstaphunk, Headhunters, Ernie Johnson from Detroit, and Matt Waters play the old Annie’s
  • The Staleys play Ludlow Garage
  • Yam Yam and Empire Pool are at the Levitt
  • Sylmar, Moontype, and Brianna Kelly play MOTR
  • Whiskey Daredevils and Veronica Grim play Southgate’s Revival Room
  • Moonshine Drive and The Foles play Sawyer Point
  • The Menus play the Fraze
  • Sam Bush is at The Burl in Lexington
  • Paul McDonald plays RiversEDGE in Hamilton, with Bee Taylor* opening

*it’s not Aunt Bea from Mayberry… we checked!

The (90s) hits just keep on coming on Saturday, July 12, as Blues Traveler, the Gin Blossoms, AND Spin Doctors play the Rose.

Other shows that evening include:

  • The Swell Season at the Taft
  • A “Christmas in July” show featuring Jake Speed & the Freddies and The Turkeys duo at the Falcon Theater in Newport. Request tickets to this Downtowne Listening Room show here.
  • Electric Citizen has an album release show at Northside Tavern
  • Davina & the Vagabonds at the Levitt
  • Wiz Khalifa headlines a Riverbend show, with Sean Paul, DaBaby, Chevy Woods and more.

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony play the Hard Rock Casino’s lawn on Sunday, July 13, with the Ying Yang Twins.

On Tuesday, July 15:

  • Father John Misty plays the Carol Brady, with Hamilton Leithauser (The Walkmen) and Lucinda Williams (the best!) also on the bill.
  • The Budos Band and Benny Trokan play the Woodward
  • Yonder Mountain String Band and Railroad Earth are at the old Annie’s

Gigs on Wednesday, July 16:

  • Big Sandy & his Fly-Rite Boys are in Southgate’s Revival Room, with Kyle Eldridge opening
  • Leftover Salmon and The Infamous Stringdusters play the Rose
  • The High Kings play Memorial Hall
  • Ke$ha, Scissor Sisters, and Slayyyter play Riverbend.

Chuck Prophet & His Cumbia Shoes play a freebie at the Levitt in Dayton on Thursday, July 17. I’ll make the drive for that one.

Shows closer to home on 7/17 include:

  • The Harmed Brothers Duo and Jolly Old Hawk at Washington Park
  • A Songwriters in the Round show at the Liberty Theater featuring Ethan Hopper and Caden McMullen
  • The Bacon Brothers play Ludlow Garage.

On Friday, July 18, the two-day Big River Get Down kicks off at RiversEDGE in Hamilton.

That same evening, Carlene Carter plays a free show at the Levitt.

Sunday, July 20:

  • Ryan Adams plays the Taft
  • The Head & The Heart, Wild Rivers, and Marfa play an outdoor show at the Marsha Brady
  • Yelawolf plays Bogart’s
  • Live, Collective Soul, and Our Lady Peace play the Rose
  • We’ll wrap up this list of concerts where we began: with a Greensky Bluegrass show (they play the old Annie’s this time around)

OK, one more: Beck plays a show with the CSO at PNC Pavilion on Monday, July 21.

We love it live!

It’s been a whirlwind tour of tours for your humble scribe. Nelsonville was a very cool festival — two of the stages have plenty o’ shade — and it was great to see list members Dan “Reds in 2025… or 2026” Lewis and Bruce Frasure there with their lovely brides, along with list members Matt & Pam (with their kids) and happy camper Jeff B. (with his son Finn, who is as cuckoo for concerts as I am!). Friday night’s run of MJ Lenderman, Bug Club, Waxahatchee, and Dehd (on alternating stages) will be tough to top. Other highlights included Being Dead, Ryan Davis, Styrofoam Winos, Low Cut Connie, Garrett T. Capps and Gardener.

Then it was Devo at the Cindy Brady with list members Ken “The Lobby Boy” Laube, Jarrod M., and four Cereal Killers! A perfect old man show: no opener, started at 8, played a great set, wrapped well before 10.

On Thursday, I saw the Rush Tribute Project at Memorial Hall with my buddy Craig and a bunch of other pickleball old-timers. I could do without two of the band members dressing like Geddy and Neil, but with 27 songs over two sets, they certainly delivered a reasonable facsimile of the ol’ Rush concert experience. Neil’s not coming back, so it’ll have to do.

This past Saturday, my lovely bride and I… and list member Heather E. — drove up to Over the Rhine’s Nowhere Else Farm to see Patty Griffin play in their restored barn (with a short opening set from Linford & Karin). What a great space to see such top-notch singer/songwriters!

What, no Puppet Show?

In advance of the Spinal Tap sequel that Rob Reiner credits Kate Bush for, several theaters are playing the OG This is Spinal Tap this Saturday/Sunday/Monday. Check listings here. Unlike Stonehenge, it’ll be huge.

We should give the R&R HoF an “It’s about damn time!” award

Warren Zevon will finally be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame through their “Musical Influence Award.” I agree with Sound Opinions’ Greg Kot that he should’ve been in as a performer and songwriter long ago, but if his daughter is okay with it, and his son is okay with it, then I am too.

He came through the industry in an indirect way, which is how he came into a lot of things — by taking his own strange route. And he earned his reputation and fan base through hard work. People who really put value on songwriting know the influence his songs have had on his peers. They appreciate his lyrics and poetry and the commentary on humanity, heart, and humor. – Ariel Zevon

“In the same way you’ll hear Philip Seymour Hoffman called an actor’s actor, to musicians (Zevon) is a musician’s musician. He was in his own separate box. It’s that Stravinsky influence and classical background he had…that made him think a little different than everyone else. I’ve had instances where I’ve had to cover his songs and you go, ‘Wait, he went to THAT chord? That’s the wrong chord,’ but it works.” — Jordan Zevon

Don’t let the TicketBastards and Ticket Shysters get you down

Huge tip o’ the 97XBam hat (it’s a Mojo Nixon trucker cap) to list member Frank B., who found a great way for me to sell my Waxahatchee/MJ Lenderman tickets for their show near Syracuse, NY. (I bought those tix before the Nelsonville lineup was announced – same weekend.) It’s called CashorTrade, and you can use it to buy or sell tickets without scalpers or brokers. I was able to sell my two tickets for face value, and the whole process was pretty easy.

I’m sure the TicketMafia will figure out a way to shut them down, but for now, check it out!

Rust Never Sleeps, especially in Akron

Before the Devo show, list member and Super Spud Jarrod M. shared this wild, woolly, and wacky ’78 collab between Neil Young and Devo:

If you listen, you will cry. Guaranteed.

Ben Kweller lost his 16-year-old son in a tragic accident and somehow managed to keep on making music. His interview on the Broken Record podcast is deeply moving.

This just in…

The brand-new episode of the Broken Record podcast is an interview with Jesse Malin.

Patriotic Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)

Andy Warhol, eat your heart out!

Yes, please pray for the billionaires who will need new storage space for the Big Beautiful Boats that they purchase with their new tax breaks.

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Super-chunky and Wussy gigs

Concert Listings, Concert review, Music

Howdy, we’re short on time and long on concerts, so let’s get into it!

Tonight, Woodward Theater’s Cinema Series will be screening a movie about Brian Eno. It’s called… wait for it… Eno.

Meanwhile, I’ll be in Nashville for the Charly Bliss show at Exit/In. CB is about the poppiest my musical tastes get, but boy oh boy do they put on a great show! (Hence the long car ride.)

Tomorrow evening, Martin Sexton does an Abbey Road show at Memorial Hall.

Thursday:

  • Chromeo & the Midnight will be at the Ovation in Newport
  • Michigander plays Top Cats
  • Tinfoil Hat Cowboys play the Southgate Lounge (free!)

This Friday and Saturday, Bellevue Park Pavilion in Clifton Heights is hosting Rocktoberfest with several local bands playing three stages.

Other Freaky Fun Friday shows:

  • John Hiatt plays Memorial Hall
  • Keller Williams (yes, sounds like a real estate company) and the Motet are at the old Annie’s
  • Parker Millsap and Nat Myers play Southgate’s Sanctuary
  • Mike Viola will be upstairs in the Southgate Revival Room
  • The Yugos headline the Indie Friday free show at Fountain Square
  • Yung Gravy is at Bogart’s

We kinda wish Yung Gravy would tour with Disco Biscuits and play Cracker Barrels from coast to coast.

On Saturday

  • Tropicoso plays the Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg, Indiana
  • Moonshine Drive plays Neltner’s Farm Fall Fest (1:30-4:30)
  • Madison Theater has Pink Talking Fish (a fusion of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish).

On Sunday, The Mountain Goats Trio (John Darnielle, Matt Douglas and Jon Wurster) plays the Taft, with Tift Merritt as the opener. And Justine Cefalu & Mike Oberst play Neltner’s Farm.

Monday, ISWHAT?! plays the Woodward, while list member Ken “Lobby Boy” Laube and I will be road trippin’ to Columbus to see Superchunk at Scully’s. (Catch Ken Fridays 11a-3p on Inhailer radio.) Merge labelmates Quivers open the ‘chunk show. Great double bill!

Next Wednesday, 10/16:

  • Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes play Bogart’s
  • Tommy Castro & the Painkillers plays Southgate
  • Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears play the Woodward, with Eddie 9V as the opener. List member Dave Tellmann and I will be at that gig. (Dave and I have a bonus edition of the old “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast — the one three people listened to — coming soon!)

Shows next Thursday (10/17):

  • Bluegrass Jam at Camp Springs Tavern
  • Mickey Dolenz, the last Monkee, does a “songs and stories” gig at Ludlow Garage
  • Two indie bands from Chicago, Finom and Moontype, play the Woodward. Jeff Tweedy produced Finom’s latest album at the Wilco Loft.

Madison Theater hosts Puddles Pity Party on Friday, 10/18.

Wussy is playing at my house, again!

On Saturday, October 19th, Chuck Cleaver and Lisa Walker of Wussy will be playing their favorite east side venue, Casa de Damian (my house). The show is sold out, but I DO have my full allotment of five freebies – HMU if you’d like to attend.

Earlier that day, Chelsea Ford & the Trouble play Neltner’s Farm, and that same evening, just down the hill from my house, the California Honeydrops play the old Annie’s. I heard a good report about their live show in Lexington recently.

Wussy has a new album coming out!

We are excited to finally announce our first new record in six years! It’s called Cincinnati Ohio, and features ten tracks that we hope you’ll enjoy. (We were gonna call it The Great Divide, but in the end couldn’t bear to alter this amazing Langford / Calderas cover art).

It features all the regular Wussy folks – me (Lisa), Chuck, Mark, Joe – plus John E. on two songs, and newest member Travis on four songs. Producer and honorary member John Hoffman helmed and steadied the ship (and added some extra flourishes, too). Speaking of honorary members, John Curley recorded some of the basic tracks, and it was nice to have him back on board for those early days, as it was kind of an emotional rollercoaster to start recording again. He helped us navigate those first difficult sessions with a lot of grace and patience. There were many moments where we were all thinking – “is this even gonna work without John E”? We hope this album honors his legacy, as we move forward the best way we know how.

Album artwork is a painting by Jon Langford, based on photo by Jon Calderas. First track:

Listen to the Prophet

Chuck Prophet has a delightful new tune out.

It’s about time the dB’s got some love

Full post on Allmusic is here.

We love it live!

Great show from the Psychedelic Furs a couple weeks back, with Frankie Rose as the opener.

Hat tip to list member Todd Butler and Regi for the ticket. List members David and Amy Groff also were in the house at the old Annie’s

Album Covers of the Weeks

“Julie, you’re 16 now… it’s time for you to start hanging out with much older men in smoke-infested bars.”

Alternate title: Julie’s 50th Birthday.

Groundhog Day… or Groundhog Month?

97X, Concert Listings, Music, podcast

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.)