Back-to-Cool Music

Concert Listings, Music

Howdy boys and gurls, I hope back-to-school season is treating you well.

Let’s dive into the live… live music, that is.

Tomorrow night, legendary concert promoter/booker Dan McCabe (Sudsy Malone’s, Southgate House, MPMF, MOTR, Woodward) opens up a brand-spanking-new music venue in an old German music hall in the historic downtown DORA district of Lawrenceburg, Indiana. The venue is called Whiskey City’s Liberty Theater.

The very cool logo was crafted by very cool list member Keith Neltner of Neltner Small Batch (available to work on your brand too!)

You can read more about Dan’s new concert baby on the Cincinnati Magazine website. You might recognize the byline, too! (It was a real treat to tour the venue with Dan and get the scoop! Hardhat tip to list member John Fox for the assignment.)

Allison Kiehl also did a nice article for The Cincinnati Enquirer, complete with Dan doing his best Village Person impersonation:

“It’s fun to rock at the WCLT… ” (Photo credit: Frank Bowen IV/The Cincinnati Enquirer)

Dan’s a great dude and I wish him all the success in the world. Kelsey Waldron will be the headliner for tomorrow night’s debut concert with Henhouse Prowlers and My Brother’s Keeper playing on Saturday. The full lineup of shows is on the Whiskey City’s Liberty Theater website.

And in the interest of saving my hands from carpal tunnel, Whiskey City’s Liberty Theater shall henceforth be known in these posts as Liberty Theater, or the Liberty, or WCLT…

Other Friday shows include:

  • Deer Tick at Southgate house with Dylan McCartney and Dakota Carlyle also on the bill.
  • Gable Price & Friends at the Woodward
  • Sweet Lizzy (no relation to Thin Lizzy) plays the Levitt Pavilion in Dayton.

Saturday shows:

  • Henhouse Prowlers and My Brother’s Keeper at the Liberty
  • Crash Test Dummies play Memorial Hall
  • Riverbend hosts the Ohio is for Lovers Festival (fun fact that I just made up: Jerry Springer coined the phrase “Ohio is for lovers” when he was writing checks as Cincinnati’s mayor.)
  • Ovation in Newport has the Bourbon Baron Bash with Town Mountain and Kelly Willis (“Enjoy bourbon tastings from local distilleries, a variety of food trucks, and live music. All proceeds benefit The Cure Starts Now to fund pediatric brain cancer research.)
  • Brad Paisley plays outdoors at the Hard Rock Casino
  •  Arnold’s hosts local Americana band Jim Trace and the Makers

Silversun Pickups play Bogart’s on Monday.

John Legend performs with the Cincinnati Pops at Riverbend on Tuesday.

If you want proof that age ain’t nothing but a number, put on your cheater glasses and look no further then the Outlaw Music Festival at Riverbend on Wednesday night: Willie Nelson Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp top the bill. That’s 91, 83, and 72 if you’re keeping score at home. But you shouldn’t be.

Next Thursday:

  • Carson Lowe plays a free show at WCLT with Harley Day also on the bill.
  • Sierra Green and the Giants play the Levitt Pavilion for free. (They’re doing a ticketed show the prior evening at Ludlow, but you wouldn’t want to disappoint John Matarese, would you?)

Calling all Beardos! Calling all Beardos!

This year’s Whispering Beard Festival is next Friday and Saturday (September 13th and 14th) at Carriage House Farm in North Bend, Ohio. The full lineup:

Other shows on Friday, September 13th:

  • Ruby Vileos plays the Liberty Theater
  • My Brightest Diamond is at the Woodward Theater
  • Lung headlines the Indie Friday free show at Fountain Square
  • Taft Theatre has An Evening with Esperanza Spalding
  • The Cincinnati Nature Center hosts Music under the Moon with Jam Band Jovi
  • Jamey Johnson plays PNC Pavilion
  • Ludlow Garage has 1964: The Tribute (I’m not sure if they’re paying tribute to the Beatles or to the year of my birth and at this point I’m afraid to ask)
  • Soulja Boy marches into the Ovation
  • Last but certainly not least, GWAR plays Bogart’s

On Saturday September 14th:

  • Kings Of Leon play the Marsha Brady (According to Greg, her sex is on fire, even if her nose is out of whack)
  • Cincinnati band Sylmar plays WCLT
  • RiversEDGE in Hamilton host Signs of Life: The American Pink Floyd
  • Ice Cube plays the Hard Rock Casino’s outdoor stage

STRFKR (spelled just like it sounds!) are at the Madison Theater on Sunday, September 15th, and Saintseneca (punctuated just like it sounds!) plays the Woodward with Strawberry Runners as the opener

Shows on Tuesday September 17th:

  • Manchester Orchestra plays the Peter Brady
  • Megadeth, Mudvayne and All That Remains are at Riverbend
  • Celtic band Skerryvore plays Memorial Hall

On Wednesday September 18th Riverbend hosts the Marley Brothers: The Legacy Tour. (Why yes, Damian IS part of that show… thank you for asking!)

Adding some spice to Pumpkin Season

Neltner’s Farm Fall Fest starts up at the end of this month, with cool bands on the bill every weekend through October. Here’s a brief description and the full music lineup courtesy of Courtney Phenicie at CincyMusic:

I would write 4 U

Sage advice from Seth Godin:

I’m gonna name you “The Concert Keepers” – because:

a. you like concerts, and

b. if you read this hot mess on a regular basis, you’re a keeper!

Makes No Sense at All…

In a budget cut, NBC axed Seth Myers Late Night band, led by Fred Armisen. This was their kiss off/send-off:

Album Covers of the Week(s)

Brother Dave looks like a Fred Armisen character.

I think you can hang a “Mission Accomplished” banner now, EBO!

July flies by…

Concert Listings, Music

Wow, would you look at the time?

It’s “purt near” August (as my Arkansas kinfolk the Beverly Hillbillies would say). I reckon we should take a gander at some live music.

Uncle Jed rocks! There plenty of other rockin’ shows coming to town, but first, this:

Perhaps the “unforeseen circumstances” were “not selling enough tickets to a show with Slash and three blues artists.” But I know this is a massive disappointment for those who were anxiously awaiting the Tri-state debut of the Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N’ Tolerance tour.

AJR plays the Coliseum on Tuesday. AJR = brothers Adam, Jack and Ryan in the band. Whereas Jar Jar = George Lucas jumping the shark.

On Wednesday, Japanese punk band Otoboke Beaver plays Bogart’s. And you-you-you oughta know that Alanis Morissette plays Riverbend, with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and Morgan Wade also on the bill.

That same evening, Jake Speed & the Freddies play a free show at Burnet Woods from 7-9 p.m. (Weather permitting… but if it rains AND it’s your wedding day, Alanis will show up.)

Also on Wednesday, Dave Mason kicks off two nights at the Ludlow Garage. Unless he gets stuck in Traffic. And if he does, Alanis will sit in for him.

Speaking of traffic jams, downtown will be hopping on Thursday night:

  • Foo Fighters play Great American Ball Park, with Pretenders and Mammoth WVH
  • The Cincinnati Music Festival (CMF) kicks off at the Bengals stadium, with MC Lyte and KRS-One on the bill

If neither of those gigs is your speed (or in your price range), you can catch Ruby Vileos for free at Washington Park, or join in on the bi-weekly Bluegrass Jam at Camp Springs Tavern.

Friday is “Festival Friday”

  • the Nelsonville Music Festival kicks off in… you guessed it, Nelsonville, OH (sorry Alanis). The Felice Brothers, Amyl & the Sniffers, The Deslondes and Killer Mike are on the schedule.
  • Night 2 of the CMF features Maxwell, Ne-Yo, Fantasia, and the original Lakeside.

Other Friday shows:

  • Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew play a “Remain in Light” show at Bogart’s.
  • Lyle Lovett is at the Rose in Dayton
  • Gabe Lee and Sophie Gault play Southgate
  • The Bill Frisell Trio plays Ludlow Garage
  • Ben Levin plays the Cincinnati Nature Center’s Music Under the Moon concert series. (Ben’s show is sold-out, but tickets still remain for the 8/23 and 9/13 shows.)

—- SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION —

List member Dan Bockrath needs to part with his two tickets to the Remain in Light show listed above. (Because he’s going to see the Bill Frisell gig that same night. Don’t tell Alanis.) Here’s Dan’s note:

“The RIL show is essentially sold out, but I bought my seats several months ago. I have a 2-top table in the lower balcony. Asking what I paid for – $110 for the pair.” Dan’s digits are 513-493-7307. Ring him up if you’re interested.

This special advertising section has been brought to you by the Geek of Seats

———————————-

Saturday’s a doozy for live music:

  • Steve Earle plays a solo acoustic show at Ludlow Garage
  • Black Flag plays the old Annie’s
  • Zapp plays a free show at the Greg Brady after the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame 2024 induction ceremony (noon start).
  • Warren Haynes is at Rose in Dayton
  • Riverbend hosts the Totally Tubular Festival featuring Thomas Dolby, Modern English, Men Without Hats, Wang Chung, Tommy Tutone, Bow Wow Wow, Eddie Munoz of The Plimsouls and Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey. (In their heyday, Thompson Twins were a trio… now it’s just one dude. I hope Alanis sticks around for that!)
  • Nelsonville has Bonnie Prince Billy, Bob Mould, Snõõper, Courtney Barnett and several more bands on the bill. (Full list here.)
  • CMF features New Edition and En Vogue, among others. (Full lineup is here.)

Next Sunday (7/28):

  • Warren Haynes plays PNC
  • The Struts play the Bobby Brady
  • the bluegrass band Never Come Down will be at the Woodward
  • Nelsonville wraps up

Primus and Coheed & Cambria play the Jan Brady on Tuesday, July 30th, while across the river, Taking Back Sunday and Citizen will be on the Ovation stage. (“Taking Back Sunday” on a Tuesday… Alanis, where are you?)

Bowling for Soup will be at Bogart’s on Wednesday, 7/31, and Ludlow Garage hosts Tusk (“America’s #1 Tribute to Fleetwood Mac”).

Three freebie shows to choose from on Thursday, August 1st:

  • The John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band (John Jorgenson on acoustic guitar, mandolin and vocals; Herb Pedersen on banjo, acoustic guitar and vocals; Mark Fain on bass; and Patrick Sauber on acoustic guitar and vocals) plays the Levitt Pavilion in Dayton
  • The Casey Campbell Project is at Washington Park
  • Lawrenceburg Civic Park has a tribute to Hoosier boy John Mellencamp, called “Small Town”

Or if you want to part with some of your hard-earned cash, you can buy tickets to see Johnny A & Davy Knowles at Ludlow Garage.

I don’t know how to break this to you gently, so I’m just going to come right out and say it: The Creed show at Riverbend on Friday, August 2nd is sold-out.

No one in this world, so far as I know—and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me—has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. 

H.L. Mencken… talking about the promoter of the Creed show

Fear not, Coastal Club has a vinyl release party at the Woodward that same evening, with Moonbeau and Michael Williams. David Shaw of The Revivalists does a special VIP acoustic show at the Fitton Center in Hamilton in advance of the Big River Get Down. Oh, and Luke Combs kicks off a two-night stand at the local NFL Stadium.

The aforementioned Big River Get Down happens on Saturday, 8/3:

(Thao & the Get Down Stay Down are not playing the Big River Get Down… Alanis, come back!)

Other 8/3 shows include:

  • Jeremy Pinnell headlines a SofaBurn Inc. fundraiser supporting healthcare costs for artists – that show is at The Redmoor in Mt. Lookout
  • Jewel and Melissa Ethridge at the Rose
  • John Sebastian and Jimmy Vivino at Ludlow Garage
  • S.G. Goodman at Southgate (a reschedule of her June show) – I’ll be at that gig.

On Sunday, August 4th:

  • Riverbend has a Jimmy Buffett tribute feat. the Coral Reefer Band
  • 10cc plays Ludlow Garage

Music Fun Facts

Contrary to popular belief, the band 10cc did NOT get their name from… er… how can I put this delicately… bodily fluids emanating from a dude’s… um… you know… when he… um… you know.

I can confirm, however, that my new band D5W is named after a fluid.

We love it live

Fun shows from Band of Horses (Bogart’s) and Hurray for the Riff Raff (Woodward) and Aaron Lee Tasjan (Fountain Square).

Magic moments happen live

Speaking of Aaron Lee Tasjan’s free show at Fountain Square, someone in the audience requested his song “Alien Space Queen” but ALT said “we just found out that we only have an hour set, so we had to cut some songs… but come to the merch booth after our set and I’ll play it for you acoustic.” Sure enough, he did – playing that tune and his song “Pants” for a dozen or so folks huddled around. Super cool!

Why (most) radio sucks today

Bill Janovitz, lead singer of Buffalo Tom, speaks the truth in this Boston.com Q&A:

Why the Spotify algorithm might not be much better

This Stereogum article talks about how an obscure B-side (“Harness Your Hopes”) became Pavement’s most streamed song on Spotify… and how the Autoplay function may be rewarding “safe” songs… and how “streaming payola” is coming soon. Oh joy!

Songs that don’t suck

Deer ticks suck, but Deer Tick doesn’t

And let’s savor R.E.M.’s network TV debut on Letterman, shall we?

That clip is from 1983… man, I feel old.

Album Covers of the Week(s)

Oh Barbara, you’re such a brazen hussy.

Jack, you should get Barbara Dewey’s phone number… from the bathroom wall.