Inhailer Radio

Tunes in bloom

97X, Concert Listings, Concert review, Music, podcast

Those April showers are a distant memory. They’ve been replaced by May pollen.

But plenty of live tunes are in bloom too, including a rare Cereal Killers show. Let’s get into it!

Tonight, you can catch Cockburn at Memorial Hall.

Oops, my bad, the video above is Frank Cockburn. It’s Bruce Cockburn who is playing Memorial Hall this evening.

Other shows tonight include:

  • The Arcadian Wild w/ River & Rail at the Woodward
  • Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass at the Taft
  • Ovation is hosting a Clown show. I hear there will be lots of jugglers there. Oops, my bad. Juggalos.

Tomorrow night, the Smoking Popes will be at Madison Live. They’re from Chicago, just like the white smoke Pope!

Also, Lettuce and GZA from the Wu-Tang Clan will be co-headlining a show at the Taft.

And Dave Mason brings his “Let it Flow 2025 Tour” to Memorial Hall. It sounds a little something like this:

On Thursday, you can choose Furious Bongos (Ludlow Garage) or Napalm Death (Bogarts, with The Melvins).

Or you can chill out with the Farm Jam at Lost Bridge Beverage Company (North Bend, OH), featuring Sean Geil of the Tillers. And Liberty Theater has the Tray Wellington Band with Adam Gilliam.

Tray Wellington Band is a high energy progressive bluegrass band, led by IBMA award winner Tray Wellington. This band continues to push themselves musically to draw on the influences that continue to shape their musical mold.

Oh, and Jim Gaffigan kicks off six shows over the course of four days at the Taft.

This Friday and Saturday, Springfield will be the center of the musical universe.

Springfield, Ohio is hosting a FREE music festival called IndieCraft. Here’s the lineup:

Wild Pink and Aaron Lee Tasjan for free? You’re damn right I’ll be there Saturday!

(I like what I’ve heard from Snarls too. And I’ll be there in time for The Back Alley – the ticket price is right.)

Shows a bit closer to home (unless you live in Springfield) Friday evening:

  • Tommy Prine plays Southgate with Conrad Moore and Jordan Lee King
  • Rachel Baiman is at Liberty Theater with Maggie Noëlle of Magnolia Boulevard
  • Ben Levin plays Arnold’s
  • Alex Salcido (of The Harmed Brothers) plays Lost Bridge Beverage Co. in North Bend
  • Ludlow Garage has FJ: a tribute to Foreigner AND Journey featuring Constantine Maroulis (“sixth-place finalist on American Idol season 4!”)

For some strange reason, you see a lot of FJ band fans on the golf course.

And the Madison Theater has Kid Kentucky and the American Badass Band… yes, that’s a Kid Rock Tribute. Or you can go to the waste treatment plant on Kellogg Avenue near Lunken Airport for free. Potato/Po-tah-toe.

Speaking of punchable faces, Truist Arena (NKU) has Gutfield Live on Saturday.

And here’s the list of shows that actually will be entertaining on Saturday:

  • The aforementioned freebie Wild Pink, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Snarls show in Springfield
  • JJ Grey & Mofro w/ The Marshall Tucker Band on the lawn outside the Hard Rock Casino
  • Jeffrey Osborne at Ludlow Garage
  • Plazmatic album release show with Electric Indigo and Cousins at the Woodward
  • Hyryder (Grateful Dead tribute) at the Madison Theater

On Sunday, The String Cheese Incident and The Wood Brothers play the Rose Music Center, and Travis Talbert will be at the Lost Bridge Beverage Co.

On Monday and/or Tuesday, you can be part of a massive 69 at Memorial Hall.

The Magnetic Fields will be performing their 1999 triple album masterpiece 69 Love Songs in its entirety over those two nights.

Also on Monday:

  • A Place to Bury Strangers, The Serfs, and The Mall play Northside Tavern
  • The Toasters play Southgate

Next Wednesday, May 21, the always progressive, cutting edge lineup of shows at Riverbend kicks off with… (checks list)… Billy Idol and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. Who needs the Bill & Ted phone booth when you can just buy a ticket to a Riverbend show?

Next Friday, Dark Star Jubilee weekend kicks off in Legend Valley (nee Buckeye Lake):

Other shows on Friday, May 23:

  • Blues singer Carolyn Wonderland plays Southgate’s main room with Scotty Bratcher opening
  • Angela Perley and Hello June are upstairs in the Southgate Revival Room
  • Ricky Nye Inc. plays the Southgate Lounge for free
  • Hunter Root plays the Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg, Indiana
  • The Ben Levin Quartet plays The 1931 (at the Hilton Netherland downtown)

On Saturday, May 24, it’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for: The Cereal Killers play Big Ash Brewing!

Regular readers* of this…uh, whatever the heck this is… know that I’m cuckoo for CK and their amazing repertoire of classic punk, new wave, power pop, and just plain damn fine songs. It’s like a 97X Modern Rock 500 come to life!

*all 3 of them

Cereal Killers gigs have been as rare as hen’s teeth over the past several months. They are the local band equivalent of a century plant:

Some flowers are so rare and extraordinary that they bloom just once in a lifetime—or even once in a century! These plants may require decades of patience, but when they finally burst into bloom, the display is nothing short of spectacular.**

Rare and extraordinary? Check. Decades of patience? Well, maybe just months, but it feels like decades. “The display is nothing short of spectacular” is 100% accurate!

As usual, I’ll be offering my “first beer’s on me” guarantee that this show will be time well spent. Just present this voucher (which I totally did NOT steal from some unsuspecting artist on the interwebs) on your phone and I will buy your first beer.  

**it should be noted that although I compared the Cereal Killers to a plant that blooms only rarely, I am NOT comparing them to the corpse plant, whose unique aroma when it blooms every 7-10 years has been described as “smelling like cheese, garlic, smelly feet, diapers, or rotten fish.”

Other Saturday shows that you won’t be attending because you’ll be at Big Ash drinking free beer and rocking out to great tunes:

  • North by Northside kicks off a two-night run at the Northside Tavern
  • Carriers have an album release show at the Woodward with Gardener and Dyan
  • Maria, etc. has an album release show at the Liberty Theater with Anna Applegate
  • Brit Floyd “Wish You Were Here” 50th anniversary show at the Rose – it’s sold out, but fear not, you can catch the same band on the same tour at the same venue in August…

On Sunday, 5/25, Kinda Grassy plays Lost Bridge (Carriage House Farm).

Monday, May 26 is Memorial Day, a day when we pay tribute to fallen soldiers… typically by grilling hot dogs at the pool.

The Garcia Project (Jerry Garcia Band tribute) plays the Woodward on Tuesday, May 27.

On Wednesday, May 28, I’ll be motoring up to Cleveland to catch The Wedding Present and The Tubs at the Grog Shop.

Peelander-Z and Penfold’s Revenge play Southgate that evening too.

Young Widows play the Woodward on Thursday, May 29 with Kowloon Walled City and Fotocrime on the undercard. And Stanley Clarke kicks off a two-night stand at Ludlow Garage.

Midwest Fest kicks off on Friday, May 30.

Other shows on Friday, May 30:

  • Casey Campbell plays Lost Bridge Beverage Co.
  • Nikka Costa is at the Woodward
  • Dallas Moore w/ Pure Grain at the Liberty Theater
  • Taft Theatre has An Evening with Jon Stewart… it’s sold out

Wrapping up the month, Italian guitar phenom Matteo Mancusco plays Ludlow Garage on Saturday, May 31.  

American Aquarium plays the Southgate House on Sunday, June 1, with Justin Wells opening. I plan to hit that show. Eric Johnson is at Ludlow Garage that same night.

We love it live!

Ken “Lobby Boy” Laube, his friend Suzanne and I went up to Columbus to see Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds on 5/2. What a show! Our seats were pretty far back on the main floor, but we bum-rushed the stage during the 2nd song and stayed there for the duration of the gig. Nick’s a live wire!

List member couples Rico & Ashley and Jay & Alyssa also were in attendance. Nick loves us all.

“When I tell the audience that I love them, the sentiment is entirely true. I feel an emotional transaction with the crowd that is powerful and profoundly intimate. I stand before you all – strangers – witnessing you both individually and collectively, and sense an unbounded love. This love is true. It is not symbolic, metaphorical, or platitudinous. I see before me a group of human beings, precarious and vulnerable, granted a brief time on this earth, each filled with a shocking potential for beauty and terror, good and evil, and with the extraordinary capacity to give and receive love. At that moment, love is the appropriate response.”

From Nick’s Red Hand Files: https://www.theredhandfiles.com/how-can-you-love-a-total-stranger/

True to his word, “Disco Dan” Lewis was at the Son Volt show, along with his friends John W. (also a list member) and Steve (the voice of “The Oasis” – the station that is now on 97.7 FM… I remember that frequency!).

Other list members in attendance: Dan Bockrath, Gene Dow, Mark Morse, Tim Morse, Tom W. and Jamie. Dan Bockrath summed up the show quite nicely:

Fantastic show from Son Volt at The Ludlow Garage. Bumped into many longtime music friends at the gig. Up close and personal for a career spanning set. Amazing!

Meanwhile, list member Kevin Sullivan snuck down to Nashville to catch Lucy Dacus at the Ryman:

An updated version of the 97X Modern Rock 500… with a new spin!

Inhailer Radio (catch Ken “Lobby Boy” Laube Fridays 11a-3p!) is doing an updated version of the old 97X Modern Rock 500, counting down the top 500 indie songs over Memorial Day Weekend.

And this year, they’re expanding the list of songs and extending the listening window with “qualifying laps”:

If you tune in to the 500, you might just catch your ol’ pals Dave and Damian doing a few breaks.

Shameless Self-Promotion (while also promoting the Indie 500)

Dave and I also interviewed Inhailer’s Music Director, Nils Illokken, about the station and this year’s countdown for a “very special episode” of our “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast. You can catch that episode on 97Xbam.com here, or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Podbean, or any other podcast platform that hasn’t banned us yet.

Hot Ticket Alert

X and Los Lobos play the Rose Music Center on Sunday, September 21. They’re calling it the “99 Years of Rock ‘n Roll” tour.

I already have my ticket, courtesy of Steve “El Blanco” White.

The Sad Section

A heartfelt FB post from list member “The Lovely & Talented Elizabeth Cannon”:

Follow-up single “Spirit of ’76” — which Peters co-wrote, as he did for most of the band’s songs — recounted his early days of discovering punk rock and name-checks the likes of Johnny Rotter and Siouxsie Sioux.

“The song is about the most important time in my life,” Peters wrote in the program for the Strength tour. “I had my whole life mapped out before me and life seemed pretty unexciting. Then I saw bands like The Jam and The Buzzcocks and U2, and things and they really had an impact on my life. It gave me the courage to leave something behind and go out and try to build a new life for myself.”

From this article.

Here’s a shot of Mike Peters with Mr. K and Jetson from 97X, along with some fans (not pictured: The Lovely & Talented Elizabeth Cannon):

And R.I.P to singer/songwriter Jill Sobule, who died in a house fire.

Sobule was known for taking control of her career by fundraising so she could make her next album. In 2008, after two major record companies dumped her and two indie labels went bankrupt beneath her, she raised tens of thousands of dollars from fans so she could make a new album.

“The old kind of paradigm, where you’ve always waited for other people to do things, you’d have your manager and your agent,” she said at the time. “You’d wait for the big record company to give you money to do things and they tell you what to do. This is so great. I want to do everything like this.”

From this article.

Shortly before her death, Sobule had written and recorded a provocative song titled “J.D. Vance Is a C***” in collaboration with friends Michelle Lewis and Kay Hanley under the name Sugar Tits. The song, filled with biting satire and rhymes, quickly went viral on social media, thrusting Sobule back into the spotlight in her final days. It’s not radio-friendly. It’s not my best song, but it does get to the point.”

From this article. Her JD song is here.

Public Service Reminder for hipster parents of teens

Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)

There’s so much to love in this one. The outfits, of course. The amazing hairdo on the woman… or is that a beaver pelt? And best of all, the band name that’s illegible on that busy background. But we don’t need to read that! Everybody who is anybody knows that’s Johnny & Nadine Rexroat (and the Gospel Travelers).

“Great day for a hike! Let’s put on our best dresses and our white high heels and start ‘going through the land.’”

One response to “Tunes in bloom”

  1. Fred Avatar
    Fred

    “And the Madison Theater has Kid Kentucky and the American Badass Band… yes, that’s a Kid Rock Tribute. Or you can go to the waste treatment plant on Kellogg Avenue near Lunken Airport for free. Potato/Po-tah-toe. ”
    I was eating and almost spit out my food LOL

    Reply

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Rumblings Special Edition: Inhailer’s Indie 500 heats up!

97X, Music, podcast, woxy.com

Your affable (and somewhat addled) co-hosts Dave and Damian have been trapped inside the Big Bush for many moons (and a few Moonpies) but we broke free to chat with Nils Illokken, Music Director and DJ for Inhailer Radio, about the upcoming Inhailer Indie 500. If you remember the 97X Modern Rock 500, Inhailer’s Indie 500 is an updated version of that annual Memorial Day Weekend countdown.

Back in 2023, Inhailer hosted the 40th anniversary Modern Rock 500, with 97X DJs from throughout the station’s rich history hosting the countdown of the top songs played during the 97X and woxy.com era (1983-2010).

You can listen to the archive of that broadcast here.

Last year, Inhailer launched the Indie 500, which added in songs from 2010 to the present… picking up the torch from 97X and WNKU’s annual “Top 89.”

And this year, the cool kids at Inhailer have added a new twist to put even more great tunes into the mix… and to extend the fun to more than a full week!

We chatted with Nils about the Indie 500, his background in broadcasting, how Inhailer got started, how he finds the artists that Inhailer plays, and much more.

You can read more about Nils on the Inhailer website and in this music director profile from a trade publication.

You can find all 100+ episodes of the “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast on Podbean, as well as on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Podcast Addict, and most major podcasting platforms. Hear interviews with former 97X DJs and station staffers, listeners, bands that were played on the station, record label execs, advertisers, and more.

Tune in to the Tunes

Concert Listings, Concert review, Music

Where has the merry month of May gone? It’s darn near Memorial Day. Which means it’s hot dog grilling season. Let’s be careful out there.

Speaking o’ sizzlin’ hot and tasty, feast your ears on the new album from Mammoth Penguins:

Public service reminder: Do not attempt to grill mammoth penguins.

Speaking o’ cool like penguins, Inhailer Radio is currently spinning the 2024 Indie 500. From the press release:

For those who may not know, Inhailer Radio is deeply rooted in the legacies of two iconic predecessors: WOXY and WNKU. WOXY, also known as “97X,” was a trailblazer in the world of alternative and indie music, while WNKU was renowned for its commitment to showcasing local and independent talent. These stations laid the foundation for what Inhailer Radio stands for today. In 2023, we had the honor of hosting the highly successful 97X Modern Rock 500, a nostalgic reunion for listeners and DJs alike. This year, we’re building upon that success with the Indie 500, marking a “passing of the baton” from 97X’s Modern Rock 500 to Inhailer Radio’s Indie 500.

This 2024 Indie 500 grants a nod to the rich histories and contributions of WOXY and WNKU, as well as a celebration of our vibrant Cincinnati independent music community. Inspired by the legendary Memorial Day marathons hosted by 97X, The Indie 500 will showcase the top 500 indie songs curated by our team of dedicated music enthusiasts.

Former WOXY, WNKU, and Inhailer Radio DJs will be joining us for this historic event, hosting their own segments and sharing their unique perspectives and insights. It’s a chance for them to pay homage to the stations they once called home and the audiences they once captivated.

List member and longtime 97X staffer Dave Tellmann and I teamed up to do a few breaks. Because we’re both half-wits, so we figured two heads would be better than one.

Geez, would you look at the time? Here I’ve been prattling on and it’s practically Memorial Day Weekend. I’ll take the “Live Music” category for $200 please, Alex.

Wednesday night, RiversEDGE in Hamilton (city motto: “Quit calling us Hamil-tucky – we have craft breweries now!”) opens their outdoor concert season with Scotty Bratcher and GA-20. And 21 Savage plays Riverbend (unless it’s underwater.)

On Thursday, it’s Orgy Time!

Uh, the band Orgy plays the Madison Theater to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their album Candyass.

Speakin’ o’ candyass, your Peeps should be sufficiently stale by now. Have at ’em!

Tab Benoit plays Madison Theater on Friday, and The Broken Relics play the Southgate Lounge.

On Saturday, it’s time for Boys’ Life:

The Po’ Ramblings Boys and the Whiskey Bent Valley Boys play Southgate’s Revival Room.

That same evening, Don Was and the Pan Detroit Ensemble play Memorial Hall.

Speakin’ o’ Pan Detroit:

Laura Jane Grace graces the Madison Theater stage on Sunday. Sunday is also race day in Indianapolis.

Monday is Memorial Day.

You can enjoy your day off from work by checking out the movie Brainiac: Transmissions After Zero at the Woodward Theater.

Next Tuesday (5/28), Parliament Funkadelic plays the Bobby Brady, with special guest Dumpstaphunk.

Next Wednesday (5/29), Flock of Dimes (a.k.a. Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak) is playing a house concert in Cincy. Actually, the venue will be an art gallery in Mariemont. Hard to believe an Undertow artist would want to play anywhere other than my place, but it happens sometimes. Nevertheless, I’ll be there as a paying customer.

I have an extra ticket – HMU if you’d like to join me. That same evening, Mr. Big (the band, not the “Sex & The City” character) plays Ludlow Garage, and TyeDye (feat. list member John Sandman) plays Wunderbar in Covington.

On Thursday, 5/30:

  • Ruth Moody of The Wailin’ Jennys plays Ludlow
  • Ben Chapman & Co with Abby Hamilton at RiversEDGE in Hamilton
  • Camp Springs Tavern hosts a bluegrass jam

Gigs on Friday, 5/31:

  • Brainiac plays the Woodward with opener Exit Angles
  • Leftover Salmon is at the old Annie’s

Speakin’ o’ Leftover Salmon:

But that’s just the appetizer. The main course is on Saturday, June 1st:

Hooray and huzzah! Cereal Killers will be bringing their vintage punk and new wave music to Big Ash Brewing. For the uninitiated, the standard “CK One” rules will apply: I will buy your first beer. No coupon necessary!

Other 6/1 shows:

  • Railbird kicks off in Lexington (lineup is here)
  • Highly Likely plays Plain Folk Café
  • Tommy James & the Shondells play Ludlow Garage
  • Pokey LaFarge plays Memorial Hall

Speakin’ o’ Pokey:

On Sunday, June 2nd, you can catch Day 2 of Railbird or see birds of a different feather: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong at the Ovation in Newport.

And don’t forget the big Pixies/Modest Mouse/Cat Power show at the Jan Brady on Wednesday, June 5th.

Speakin’ o’ Cat Power:

I let you down (yet again)

I forgot to mention Kraftwerk’s gig at Ovation in my last post. So sorry. To make it up to you, here’s some exclusive live footage from the show:

In my defense, the gig was a bit of an outlier.

The Engineer has left the station

Steve Albini didn’t produce your favorite album. But only because he didn’t like the “producer” label. He did work the knobs for Pixies, The Breeders, Nirvana, PJ Harvey, and hundreds of other bands, both big and small, often for a fraction of the market rate. He passed away earlier this month, just as his band Shellac’s new album came out. Matthew Berlyant pays tribute to Steve here.

We love live music

But we need to catch our breath after a great run of shows: GBV/Wussy at Madison Theater (tons of list members at that gig), Wussy at The Lodge in Dayton, KY (with list member Dave Roberto), Wussy at my house (several list members in attendance), Robbie Fulks/Scott Miller at Southgate (with noted Cereal Killer Howard Cohen in the house), They Might Be Giants at Madison Theater (hat tip to list member Chris Jones for the ticket – list member Jason Hipskind also was there)… and last but certainly not least, Violent Femmes at the old Annie’s.

The Violent Femmes concert featured a cavalcade of list members, including Ken “Lobby Boy” Laube (Fridays 11a-3p on Inhailer Radio), Dave Tellmann and his rock star son Joe (This Pine Box), Todd Butler, John Sandman (Tye Dye Band), and Chuck and Christine Ackerman. Chuck and Christine (a.k.a. “C+C Music Factory”) get a special shout-out for some way-too-kind words about this lousy little music blog/newsletter/dog’s breakfast. Clearly they had been overserved.

It’s hard to explain the ’70s… but here’s a crash course

After my Star Wars references in the last post, list member “Rowdy” Rob Ervin shared the gem below. As Rob said: Redd Foxx, Kris Kristofferson, Paul Lynde:  TV Magic! I don’t know if hard core Star Wars fans count this as canon, but they should. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/U4dlah65c9A

And of course I’m such a voiceover nerd that I thought I detected the dulcet tones of the legendary Thurl Ravenscroft (original voice of Tony the Tiger and singer of the Grinch song… and Disney’s “Grim Grinning Ghosts”… as Darth). But he wasn’t listed in the credits. Sure enough, the interwebs confirmed my eardrums:

Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)

Praise hands! Because Amy Grant and leg warmers go together like peas and carrots. Or like Amy Grant and The Young Fresh Fellows:

Jive. Turkey.

Concert Listings, Music

No turkey for me, thanks. I’m a veg head.

And I don’t speak jive. But I know Beaver Cleaver’s mom does.

Let’s speak a universal language: music! But before we get to the gigs in the near future, just a quick reminder that pre-sale tickets were made available today for The Raisins reunion shows next March 1st and 2nd at The Woodward Theater – the code is: porkopolis.

Tonight:

  • The Menzingers play Bogart’s
  • Tiny Moving Parts and World’s Greatest Dad (which could be a warning label on a Swiss watch and a coffee mug screen printing, respectively) are at Southgate in the Revival Room
  • John R. Miller plays Southgate’s main room (a.k.a. Sanctuary)

On Friday, Meshell Ndegeocello plays Ludlow Garage.

Saturday gigs:

  • In the Pines (new album is pretty good) plays the Woodward, with Lung and Mol Sullivan also on the bill
  • Memorial Hall has An Evening with Joan Osborne
  • Ludlow Garage features Bruce in the U.S.A. (“The world’s #1 tribute to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band”) – almost as good as this act:

Sunday is a busy day for shows:

  • Black Stone Cherry plays the old Annie’s
  • John Waite and his band are at Memorial Hall
  • The O’Jays make a “Last Stop on the Love Train” tour appearance at the Greg AND Peter Brady

The Whiskey Shambles play Northside Tavern on Tuesday, 11/21, with Achilles Tenderloin and Sarah Dactyl also on the bill.

Wednesday, November 22nd is Thanksgiving Eve… and you can feast on live music:

  • Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band plays Southgate
  • Ernie Johnson from Detroit is at MOTR
  • Maria Carrelli will be playing at Arnold’s in conjunction with the limited edition vinyl release of a live album she recorded at Arnold’s back in April. The album artwork is from list member Keith Neltner, in collaboration with Maker’s Mark. The first 150 people to show up will get the album for free!

Details from the Arnold’s Facebook page:

These aren’t just regular albums. There is a ton of work that goes into them. Releasing these Thanksgiving Eve albums for free has been a passion project for Arnold’s owner Chris Breeden and celebrated graphic designer Keith Neltner for over 5 years now. They handle every aspect of this release from the vinyl pressing all the way to stuffing the records into the sleeves at the end. 

Next Thursday, you’ll be too stuffed on stuffing to see a show.

But you can dance it off on Friday, 11/24 during the Funksgiving show hosted by Freekbass at Radio Artifact (in the Urban Artifact taproom). Or try this:

Other shows on Friday 11/24:

  • Trouble No More and Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country kickoff a two-night stand at the Madison Theater
  • Buffalo Wabs and the Price Hill Hustle are at Southgate
  • Tweens play MOTR
  • Night #1 of Inhailer Radio’s “Inspired” fundraiser concerts at The Woodward – full lineup:

Gigs on Saturday, 11/25:

  • Night #2 of the Inhailer fundraiser shows (Woodward) and the Trouble No More/Daniel Donato combo (Madison Theater)
  • Blues wunderkind Taj Farrant plays Ludlow Garage
  • Papadosio plays the Taft
  • Camp Springs Tavern hosts Gehner Dueling Pianos – Holiday Kickoff Show
  • Ben Levin plays BrewRiver
  • Your favorite music list author will be slinging beers at the Mt. Washington Biergarten in the parking lot on Oxford Avenue. Stop by and say hi.

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram puts a bow on Rollvember with a show at Ludlow Garage on Thursday, 11/30.

I went to a rock concert and a ballgame broke out… or vice versa

Foo Fighters and Green Day are both playing Great American Ball Park this summer. Foos have Pretenders and Mammoth WVH opening. The Green Day lineup also includes Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid and The Linda Lindas. Look for list member Dan “Reds win it all in ’24” Lewis in the front row for both shows.

Have we learned nothing from “Disco Demolition Day”?

It turns out that Jeff Tweedy likes ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”… [story link courtesy of list member Michael “Rico” Carrico, who said “This seems like some well-timed wisdom from one of our favorites that maybe you should make note of there old (cranky, crotchety) friend…] Hmm, guess Rico wasn’t onboard with my Radiohead bashing. He’d better get off my lawn!

The 70s were the best!

I miss those halcyon days when you could you see the “I am Woman” woman and Fonzie singing along with Neil Diamond.

Album Cover of the Fortnight

I feel better than James Brown.

Happy Thanksgiving!

June’s tunes

97X, Concert Listings, Music

Wow, is it June already? June: our favorite month AND our favorite Johnny duet partner.

I know I’ve been slacking on keeping you abreast of the live local gigs. May was a bit busy. Really!

We had one kid graduate from O.U. (“Oh yeah!”):

[Peter was a triple major (Data Analytics, Finance, and Business Information Systems) and graduated summa cum laude. If you help him find a job, I will pay a finder’s fee (out of the savings on my healthcare plan and grocery bill).]

Lest I forget, our youngest, Andrew, also put on an overpriced robe, as he graduated from Walnut Hills High School:

This fall, he’ll be wearing ugly candy cane/barber pole overalls at Indiana U.

Since we last chatted, there was a fabulous 97X book event at the Mercantile Library.

Chuck Cleaver and Lisa Walker from Wussy played my house yet again!

And Inhailer Radio trotted out the 40th anniversary of the 97X Modern Rock 500, an event that garnered a lot of publicity.

My podcast pal Dave Tellmann and I even made it onto Channel 12, where we were interviewed by former 97X Breakfast Club intern Jen Dalton… and I wore a headset that made me look like the spitting image of noted Hollywood heartthrob Clint Howard:

But the really rewarding part of the whole Modern Rock 500 was stuff like this:

OK, the May madness is over. Let’s turn to June’s tunes. (BTW, I’ll be covering a full month’s worth of concerts, as our whole fam-damily will soon be off to Alaska to see the glaciers before they all melt.)

The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band plays a free gig at Levitt Pavilion in Dayton tonight.

On Friday:

  • Damien Jurado plays the Woodward Theater (good dude, just bad spelling of his first name)
  • Caitlin Rose and Andrew Combs are at Southgate
  • The Harmed Brothers play as part of the free Fountain Square “Indie Fridays” concert series (full summer lineup is here)
  • Zac Brown will perform after the Reds-Brewers game at GABP. (Look for list member and Reds sales all-star Dan Lewis in the front row – he’ll be the shirtless guy with “I ❤ Zac” painted on his chest.)

Saturday has a whole slew of gigs:

  • Wussy plays a house concert in Dayton, KY (of course I’ll be there, I’m a stalker)
  • Barenaked Ladies (not to be confused with Shirtless Dan Lewis) play PNC, with Semisonic and Del Amitri also on the bill (Del Amitri – that’s the band that was on Late Night with David Letterman when I was in the studio audience!)
  • Adrian Belew and Jerry Harrison are doing a “Remain in Light” concert at Newport Music Hall in Columbus
  • Sawyer Point has a free concert featuring Vernon McIntyre’s Appalachian Grass, Jake Speed, and Henhouse Prowlers
  • .38 Special and Loverboy play the Fraze in Dayton. If you enjoy cheesy 80s videos, this one is tough to top:

Dallas Moore has an album release show at Southgate on Sunday, with Ricky Nye also on the bill.

On Tuesday, June 6th, All Time Low plays the Newport venue that has reached an all-time low with its god-awful corporate name… which is why we still call it the Ovation.

On Wednesday, June 7th, Rose Music Center has the Kenny Wayne Shepherd “Backroads Blues Festival” with Eric Gales and King Solomon Hicks. That same evening, The Minks play Southgate.

Next Thursday, 6/8, Sylmar and Electric Indigo play the free “Rockin’ the Roebling” show at the Moerlein Lager House in Smale Park. (Full summer schedule is here.)

Hank Williams Jr. and Old Crow Medicine Show are at Riverbend on Friday, June 9th.

On Saturday, June 10th, Cereal Killers play Big Ash Brewing. Tell a buddy, bring a friend, but don’t you dare miss this big show! First beer’s on me.

Recent text reply from a friend/list member when I mentioned the Cereal Killers yet again:

Maybe, but I don’t know if I can amply express how damn good they are. If you enjoyed the 97X Modern Rock 500, you’ll love this gig.

I feel duty-bound to mention the other shows that evening, albeit whilst holding my nose:

Fraze has the “I Love the 90s Tour” featuring Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath, Treach of Naughty by Nature, Kid N Play, All-4-One, 2 Live Crew, DJ Kool, and Color Me Badd. And Ludlow Garage hosts Bronson Arroyo’s tribute to Pearl Jam. It’s kinda like “pick your poison”… only without any members of Poison.

Sunday, 6/11 Jim Lauderdale plays the Southgate, with Lillie Mae.

Dead & Company make their final tour stop in Cincinnati on Tuesday, June 13th.

That same evening, Pat Metheny is at Memorial Hall.

The Pixies play the Mike Brady on Wednesday, June 14th with Franz Ferdinand and Bully – great triple bill!

On Thursday, 6/15, Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers and Dex Romweber (Flat Duo Jets for the win!) play Southgate. Love the gig poster:

That same evening, The John Doe Folk Trio plays a free gig at the Levitt Pavilion in Dayton — and they play a ticketed show on Friday, 6/16 at the Woodward, with Chuck & Lisa (Wussy Duo…. tired of playing my house) as the opener.

Other 6/16 shows:

  • Lyle Lovett & his Large Band play Ovation
  • Bruce Cockburn (“it’s pronounced ‘COE-burn’!”) and Dar Williams are at Ludlow Garage
  • The Rebirth Brass Band plays Memorial Hall
  • Matchbox 20 is at Riverbend

On Saturday, June 17th:

  • Jimmie Vaughan plays Ludlow Garage
  • Ben Folds is at the Rose
  • 500 Miles to Memphis plays a 20th anniversary show at Southgate

Counting Crows and Dashboard Confessional are at PNC on Sunday, June 18th.

W.I.T.C.H. and Death Valley Girls are at the Woodward on Tuesday, June 20th. Also that night, Mike Gordon is at Madison Theater and Young The Giant and Milky Chance play the Jan Brady.

Gigs on Wednesday, June 21st:

  • James Taylor & band are at Riverbend
  • Peter Frampton plays the Rose
  • Ludlow Garage has a 70s Rock Revival Troubadour Project
  • Tracy Walker plays a free concert in Burnet Woods (7pm start)

On Thursday, June 22nd:

  • The Chris Knight Duo and Mic Harrison (V-Roys, Superdrag) play Southgate (American Aquarium has a Southgate date listed on their website, but it’s not on Southgate’s site… guess you’ll have to go and see who shows up)
  • Peter Frampton comes alive at the PNC Pavilion
  • Ally Venable plays Ludlow Garage
  • Stripmall Ballads and Ray Vietti play the Washington Park “Roots Revival” freebie (full summer schedule is here).

On Friday, 6/23:

  • AJR is at Ovation
  • Melvin Seals and the Jerry Garcia Band play Ludlow
  • Sloan plays a freebie at Fountain Square (at least according to the Fountain Square website… it’s not listed on Sloan’s website). Don’t sleep on Sloan, they are great. I’d definitely be at that gig if I weren’t watching glaciers melt.

Saturday, June 24th:

  • My Morning Jacket plays the Ovation
  • The SteelDrivers are at the old Annie’s with Stringus Khan and the Restless Leg String Band
  • Woodward Theater has Victoria Victoria featuring Charlie Hunter
  • The Surfrajettes and The Nailers play Southgate
  • Richard Marx plays the Fraze
  • Debbie Gibson is at the Taft. I wonder how her kid is now…

Legendary bluesman Buddy Guy plays the Rose on Sunday, June 25th, with next gen blues legend Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Ally Venable on the bill as well. Also, Jesus Jones will be “Right here, right now” if the “here” is Ludlow and the “now” is 6/25.

Toad the Wet Sprocket plays Taft on Monday, 6/26, with Marcy Playground as the opener. That show is “bring your own sex and candy.” That same evening, the Doobie Brothers play the Rose.

Best What’s Happening!! episode ever!

What’s that you say? You’d love to see some bonus What’s Happening!! music content? Your wish is my command:

Santana plays the Rose on Tuesday, June 27th. Or maybe it’s Cheech Marin from Cheech & Chong… I always get those two mixed up.

On Wednesday, June 28th, The Deslondes play Southgate with Esther Rose as the opener (strong double bill!) and Earth, Wind & Fire (strong triple elements!) are at the PNC.

And June goes out with a bang on Friday the 30th:

  • Dave Alvin & the Guilty Ones play a free show at Levitt Pavilion in Dayton (I’ll be at that gig)
  • Greensky Bluegrass plays the Rose
  • The Steel Wheels are in Southgate’s main room
  • Maurice Mattei & the Tempers play a free show in Southgate’s Lounge (10pm)
  • Ambrosia is at Ludlow Garage

Homecoming when I’m not home

The National announced their lineup for this year’s Homecoming Festival.

I’ll be out of town when it’s going on, and to be honest, I’m not overly distraught that I’ll miss it.

“20th Century” is right… and I’m alright with that

JBM is booking shows at the 20th Century Theater in Oakley once again. The acts tend to skew toward an older demographic, but this old man is cool with that. I saw two great shows from septuagenarians in May – Richard Thompson and Junior Brown.

Up next, the young whippersnapper Bob Mould (a mere 62!) on October 22nd.

Oh! You Pretty Things

Book publishing guru Jane Friedman tipped me off (in her free Electric Speed newsletter) to this cool site called Album Whale where you can create visually appealing lists of albums to share with friends.

Album Covers of the Month

Listen your way to that beach body you’ve always wanted.

Gigs and Books

97X, Concert Listings, Music, podcast, woxy.com

I let you down yet again (you should be used to it by now). I’m tardy with my list of gigs so I didn’t get to tell you about the New Pornographers show at Memorial Hall last night. That said, the show was sold out. Besides, I don’t know why people need New Pornographers, the old ones still work just fine.

Tonight, Southgate House is hosting The Nude Party. (It’s a band, get your mind out of the old pornographers gutter.)

OK, let’s focus on the future. The Future of Rock and Roll, that is. Robin James wrote the book about 97X, and thanks to Northside’s Downbound Books and Shake It Records, she’ll be talking about it with a couple of knuckleheads at the Mercantile Library this Thursday. If you’re one of the faithful 200 who registered for this event, you can hear from Robin, get a book signed and enjoy some tasty Great Lakes Brewing Co. beverages courtesy of our ol’ pal Howard Cohen (Cereal Killers… more on them later).

If you can’t attend in person, you can stream the event on Crowdcast here. (Great Lakes Beer not included.)

Tomorrow night, Richard Thompson plays a solo acoustic show at the 20th Century Theater. I’ll be there, of course. Forget about King Charles III, to me, King Richard is the Brit who rules.

KT Tunstall and Martin Sexton are also playing a double bill tomorrow, at Memorial Hall.

On Thursday, if you can’t make the Merc, Memorial Hall is hosting An Evening with the Cowboy Junkies.

Wait, wrong sort of Cowboy Junkie…

Friday night, Chuck Cleaver and Lisa Walker from the band Wussy are playing at my house. (Apparently they didn’t learn their lesson from the first time I hosted them back in October of 2022 and totally fanboyed out.)

John “Don’t call me Cougar” Mellencamp also kicks off a two-night stand at the Aronoff on Friday. And The Comet hosts BurritoFest 2023 on Friday and Saturday.

The Taft Theatre has some interesting shows lined up:

  • An Evening with Natalie Merchant on Sunday
  • The Wood Brothers with Shovels & Rope on Tuesday, May 16th
  • David Cross on Thursday, May 18th

Roger McGuinn does a “Songs & Stories” gig at Memorial Hall on 5/18.

On Friday, May 19th, Cereal Killers play at MadTree Brewing in Oakley. 7-11 p.m. First beer’s on me.

I won’t be dressed like that… unless you ask nicely.

That same evening, Frank Turner plays Bogart’s and Leo Kottke is at Ludlow Garage.

On Saturday, 5/20, Dopapod is at the Madison Theater, Steve Goodie and Eric Gnezda play a comedy music show in Florence, KY, and Fountain Square hosts the KISS tribute band Strutter.

The Gem City shines

Dayton, Ohio (birthplace of flight… and the Deal sisters) has some really nice freebie shows coming up this summer at the Levitt Pavilion downtown, including Dave Alvin, John Doe, Tab Benoit, Ernie Johnson from Detroit, and Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys. The first gig is The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band on Thursday, June 1st. Check out the full lineup here.

Mailbag

List member Mighty Joe Sampson, a resident of a posh Cincy suburb, wrote:

This longtime subscriber is formally objecting to your slanderous comment about Madeira aka “the friendly town.”

You’re right, Joe. Madeira is very accepting of strangers… as long as they follow the instructions to leave the DoorDash food delivery on the front porch.

Reading Room

Amanda Petrusich profiles The National in The New Yorker.

Sweet Swag

Inhailer Radio has a nice t-shirt to celebrate the 2023 Modern Rock 500, coming to their airwaves May 22-29.

You can order yours here.

Shameless self-promotion

The latest episode of the “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast features the woxy.com crew (Shiv, Mike Taylor, Joe Long, Bryan J and Brian Niesz) talking about their rollercoaster ride on the interwebs from 2004-2010.

Album Cover of the Fortnight

Those wacky Brits… I don’t know how in the heck you can guard a horse when your helmet obstructs 70% of your field of vision and your “chin” strap is well above your chin. But… “tradition!”

Episode 93: Memories of the 97X station signoff in 2004

97X, Music, podcast, woxy.com

It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly two decades since that fateful evening when Steve Baker said “goodbye to the future of rock and roll.” For current and former staffers and loyal listeners, it was like the death of a loved one. We reunited an all-star cast of folks who were at the station at the bittersweet end (Bakerman, Shiv, Barb, Mike Taylor, Sledge, Bryan J., Gentleman Jim Mercer) to share their memories of that time.

But we’re not just here to rue the day and mourn once again. There’s actually a future for “the future of rock and roll.” We’re getting the gang back together for one last heist Modern Rock 500 this May.

Read more here.

It’ll be just like old times. Maybe even better. It’s like getting a present from your old friends, in the present day. We can’t wait to share the music and the love with you!

Speaking of love, you gotta love the Bakerman’s “now and then” coda for the episode:

Start spreadin’ the news – 97X is back (for a limited time)!

97X, Music, podcast, woxy.com

97X, BAM, THE FUTURE OF ROCK AND ROLL RETURNS WITH THE 2023 97X MODERN ROCK 500

(Oxford/Cincinnati, OH) – March 9, 2023 – It’s been 20 years since the legendary Oxford, OH-based alternative radio station WOXY FM, aka “97X, BAM! The Future of Rock and Roll” first left the airwaves. Celebrating what would have been its 40th anniversary, 97X makes its triumphant online return in May 2023 with the 2023 97X Modern Rock 500 countdown.

In partnership with Cincinnati-based streaming station Inhailer Radio, 97X and WOXY.com present the 2023 97X Modern Rock 500, airing May 22 – 29, 2023 on Inhailer Radio, also available on the Inhailer Radio app and WGUC 90.9- HD3 in Cincinnati.

The 2023 Modern Rock 500 will air on Inhailer Radio in five 100-lap segments from May 22-26, 2023, and repeat in the 500’s traditional Memorial Day weekend timeslot from May 27-29, 2023. Plans are in the works for an on-demand archive of the broadcast. 

As a special treat, the broadcast is hosted by over 30 station DJs sharing memories from WOXY’s 40-year run. From its fledgling 80s days to the explosion of the format in the 90s and its time as an online entity in the early 2000s, the 2023 Modern Rock 500 is represented by the people who were there making it happen.

If there was one signature program that became synonymous with 97X, it was the annual Modern Rock 500. Borrowing thematically from the nearby Indianapolis 500 and broadcast over Memorial Day Weekend, the 97X Modern Rock 500 counted down the best alternative songs as “laps”. The Modern Rock 500 aired on 97X from 1988-2003 and continued on WOXY.COM from 2005-2009. 

Now it returns for one final countdown.

The broadcast also serves as a wrap-up of the 97X-focused podcast Rumblings from the Big Bush (a reference to a distinctly large shrubbery located on the station’s Oxford, Ohio property), hosted by former DJs Dave Tellmann and Damian Dotterweich.

“Rumblings over the last few years has caught up with former air talent, station employees, fans of the station, and some of the artists that we played at 97X. It’s been a blast! The podcast has about run its course; but the idea of capping it with the Modern Rock 500 couldn’t be a better way to sign off,” said co-host Dave Tellmann.  Rumblings… episodes can be found on all major podcast player sites and on 97Xbam.  

“We here at Inhailer are honored to hand over the airwaves to the people of 97X who influenced our own musical journeys and the music we play here”, adds Taylor Fox, Founder and Program Director at Inhailer. “We’re downright giddy with excitement!”

“This new Modern Rock 500 will be limited to those songs that landed on the countdown in the past.  It’s taking a look back from a present-day point of view”, states Mike Taylor, 97X Program Director from 2001 to 2010.  “Any way you slice it, it’s gonna be 500 great tunes.”

The 2023 97X Modern Rock 500 is a love letter to its loyal legion of listeners and to station owners Doug and Linda Balogh, for giving the world something super special. We’ll see you at the starting line…

Full list of featured talent:

Aaron Borns

Ali Castellini

Barb Abney

Bill Douglas

Brian Ewing

Bryan Jay Miller

Damian Dotterweich

Dan “Danny Crash” Reed

Dave Tellmann

Dorsie Fyffe

Forrest Griffen

Julie “Jae Forman” Clay

Jeff Rohrs

Jim Mercer

Joe Long

John Jesser

Julie “Maxwell” Argonis

Keri Valmassei

Luann Gibbs

Matt Shiv

Matt “Sledge” Waller

Matthew Harris

Mike Taylor

Mike Winstead

Nick Pleimling

Phil Kollin

Ric “Tile” Cengeri

Rob Ervin

Robin Plan

Stase Wendland

Steve Baker

Tina Kristina Mueller

If all the old bands can reunite, so can we. Long Live 97X – The Future of Rock and Roll!

Bah! Humbug!

Concert Listings, Music

December strikes another devastating blow to the hearts of Cincinnati music lovers, stealing Dan Hamilton of the Spookfloaters:

Kinda hard to go on with this silly little post now. But Dan loved music, and lived music. Next gig you go to, send some positive vibes to his family.

This Friday:

  • Ian Noe plays Southgate
  • Over The Rhine kicks off a three-day run at Memorial Hall (Sunday’s gig is a 4 p.m. matinee)
  • Ricky Nye plays a free gig at The Orbit Room near Findlay Market
  • Plush Machine and Fairmount Girls rock Northside Tavern
  • Herman’s Hermits/Peter Noone have an Xmas show at Ludlow Garage
  • The 1975 has a sold-out gig at the Marsha Brady
The 1971… “how about the flip side?”

Saturday night, it’s the Big Show… the Royal Crescent Mob reunion show at Madison Theater. It’s a fundraiser for the Tri-State Cancer Research Fund. Dan “Danny Crash” Reed (97X, WVXU Nightwaves, WNKU, WXPN) will be spinning some old school funk to open up the gig. Hat tip to Jon Calderas for a great interview with David Ellison on CincyMusic.com. Nice to see some coverage in CityBeat and Cincinnati.com as well. Hope to see you there!

Less hair now, but still just as cool.

Other Saturday shows:

  • Motherfolk plays “A very Motherfolk Christmas” at Bogart’s
  • Afro-Man’s “Merry Spliff-mas” is at the old Annie’s
  • Pam Tillis plays a holiday gig at Ludlow Garage
  • Hard Rock Casino hosts “A Boy Band Christmas” with members of 98 Degrees (but not Nick Lachey… weird), O-Town and All-4-One, plus Ryan Cabrera.

I will Alvvays love you…

After Saturday’s shows, we hit the Xmas lull… not much on the ol’ Koncert Keeper until late in the month. You’ll have to tide yourself over with this great live in-studio set from Alvvays:

Speaking o’ live, Ryan Adams brought his A-game for his 35-song set at the Jan Brady.

We can still have fun on Twitter

Ranking albums is dumb

Steven Hyden has it right in his Favorite Albums of 2022 piece:

If you care to share your faves of the year, you can do so here.

He “Ken” rock you!

List member Ken “Music is my hobby” Laube now has an air shift at Inhailer Radio. Tune in (online, on the app or WGUC HD-3) to his “Welcome to the Weekend” show Fridays from 3-7 p.m.

Album Cover of the Week

He can’t rock you:

I’m pretty sure rock hung up on him.

Episode 83: Taylor Fox, keeping cool music on the air

97X, Music, podcast

Taylor Fox (a.k.a. “TayFo”) is a co-founder and morning host on Inhailer, a streaming/HD radio station that plays indie rock and helps promote local bands and the music scene in Cincinnati. The impetus for the station came from losing other local stations that played cool music, first 97X and WVXU’s Nightwaves, and later WNKU. Taylor tells us about how the station started, how he discovered 97X, and how the 97X message boards helped him connect with kindred spirits.

Inhailer can be streamed from their website or mobile apps (Apple App Store and Google Play), and you can also tune in over the airwaves on 90.9 HD3.

In our podcast interview, we mentioned Taylor goes to a ton of live concerts. Here’s his list for June: