Jeremy Pinnell

Boo! And Now-vember!

97X, Concert Listings, Music, podcast

I’m back from my all-too-brief sojourn to sunnier climes. But I feel better than Tricky Dicky back in the day!

Let’s TCB and dive into the upcoming gigs.

Tuesday’s shows run the gamut from throwback to… older throwback:

  • Everclear plays Bogart’s
  • The Music Box performs Genesis Live (a 1973 release) at Memorial Hall
  • Yes plays “The Fragile 2025 Tour” at the Taft. The Fragile came out in 1972. Which was a big year for audiophiles.

Joshua Radin plays Ludlow on Wednesday, and Otis Gibbs is there on Thursday.

Otis Gibbs is a songwriter, storyteller, painter, photographer, and planter of 7,176 trees. He once wrestled a bear and lost. He’s been called “the best unknown songwriter in music today,” but if you ask him, he’ll just say he’s a folksinger.

Friday is Halloween!

That evening, White Reaper plays Southgate, with Worlds Worst as the opener. When I think of orange, scary, and “World’s Worst” I think of this:

You can smash that pumpkin in Mt. Washington on Saturday.

Or you can just sit around feeling guilty.

Saturday is also the start of Now-vember!

That evening:

  • Jeremy Pinnell plays an album release show in the Southgate Sanctuary, with Kristina Murray and Cristina Vane
  • Tooth Lures a Fang also has an album release show at Southgate, this one will be in the Revival Room with Bear the Moon, and Boy Bandicoot
  • Steve Hackett plays a “Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlights, and Solo Tour” show at the Taft.

Meanwhile, I’ll be down in the Music City to see The Beths at Brooklyn Bowl, Nashville. Check out this KEXP live session and you’ll see why I’m willing to make the road trip.

Aging rockabilly fans should note that Sunday’s Lee Rocker show at the Ludlow Garage has been cancelled, and a young popster named Knox will be there instead. Meanwhile, I’ll be making my way back from Nash-vegas by way of Lexington, to catch Kathleen Edwards at The Burl. Dave Purcell sent me.

Next Monday (11/3), there’s a hobo in your garage! Hobo Johnson & the Lovemakers play the Ludlow Garage.

Next Tuesday, November 4, is Election Day. Rock the vote!

Josh Ritter is at the Taft that evening, and Memorial Hall has “Both Sides Now: The Music & Lives of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen.”

Wednesday, November 5 is another Ween Wednesday at The Columbia in the East End. They’ll be spinning The Friends EP and La Cucaracha from 6-10 p.m. Stop in, hang out. BYOB!

Judy Collins plays Ludlow Garage on Thursday, 11/6. Meanwhile, I’ll be up in Boston for Buffalo Tom’s three-night “Please Come to Boston” festival.

Shows on Friday, November 7:

  • ekoostik hookah plays the Liberty Theater
  • Southgate House has An Evening with Cory Branan in the Revival Room, and Clownvis Presley in the Sanctuary
  • Tito Puente Jr. plays Ludlow Garage (I listened to his dad for years and thought he was fabulous)

Shows on Saturday, November 8:

  • Memorial Hall hosts the return of the Blues & Boogie Piano Summit featuring Ben Levin, Carl Sonny Leyland, Ethan Leinwand & Valerie Kirchhoff (St. Louis Steady Grinders) and Ricky Nye
  • All Time Low with Mayday Parade, Four Year Strong and The Paradox at the Cindy Brady
  • Jon McLaughlin & Eric Hutchison at the Ludlow Garage
  • There’s a Downtowne Listening Room show at the Mansion Hill Sanctuary featuring Karly Davidson with Charlie John

Wishy plays Madison Live on Tuesday, November 11. Their debut full-length Triple Seven was one of my 2024 faves – please join me for that gig!

That same evening, The Stray Cats will be at the Taft. (We see what you did there, Lee Rocker!)

On Wednesday, NOW-vember 12, Thomas Dolby plays Bogart’s (“She blinded me with Lysol”), and The Mars Volta plays Ovation.

On Thursday, 11/13:

  • 10,000 Maniacs (the non-Natalie version) play Ludlow Garage
  • MOTR features Clay Cole (Pavement and Wild Flag) solo with Bridget Battle (Tweens) and Lisa Walker (Wussy)

Feast on these big shows Thanksgiving Week!

Check out that promising band of youngsters The Collies at Valley View Lounge in scenic Williamsburg on Saturday, November 22. Then, because Thanksgiving Week is about overindulgence, catch The Collies again at The Comet in Northside on Monday, November 24. Also on the bill that evening is yet ANOTHER band for which my son Gabriel is the drummer. Double-double your fun!

Another super-cool gig, on 11/26 (Thanksgiving Eve), features “This Week in Live Music” faves Cereal Killers masquerading as “The Distractions” and doing a full set of Elvis Costello tunes, along with Dot. Dot. Dot. (featuring more local luminaries) doing R.E.M. covers.

[Fantastic gig poster is the handiwork of Justin Lynch, who will be playing with Dot. Dot. Dot.)

I don’t even know if The Village Theater serves beer, but if so, the usual Cereal Killers offer of “first beer’s on me” holds, just use the secret phrase “Less than Zero.”

Then, on Black Friday, you can dance away that third helping of Aunt Edna’s stuffing with Freekbass during his “Funksgiving” show at Urban Artifact. Get tickets here.

On Small Business Saturday (November 29), The Mynabirds will be playing an Undertow Show at… an undisclosed location. But it’s in the East End. And it hosts “Ween Wednesdays”… and the name of the venue rhymes with “The Dolumbia.” Get yer tix here.

Singer-songwriter Laura Burhenn has made music as The Mynabirds since 2010, releasing four critically acclaimed and stylistically different albums on Saddle Creek: What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood (2010) & GENERALS (2012), both produced by Richard Swift, Lovers Know (2015), and Be Here Now (2017). Her 5th album, It’s Okay To Go Back If You Keep Moving Forward, will be out 11/7/25.

Pour some (more) Sugar on me

Bob Mould’s post-Hüsker Dü trio (with David Barbe and Malcolm Travis) released a new tune (below) and announced two shows each in NYC and London next May. More here from Stereogum.

Oh, Neko…

I’ve previously chronicled the Neko Case hissy fit at the Taft from many moons ago. She’s still at it. Look, I totally understand her discomfort with an armed guard. But making an 11th hour request and then still refusing to play? Uncool!

What’s the Rush?

Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are hitting the road next year with drummer Anika Nilles for a Rush “Fifty Something” tour. As a longtime Rush fan (first concert was Rush at Barton Coliseum in Little Rock, Arkansas back in ’81), I’m happy that Ged and Alex will be performing the songs that they wrote the music for, after a decade away. Sure, it won’t be the same without The Professor, but that’s not the point. Neil’s not coming back, and Geddy and Alex deserve to do what they love.

Shameless self-promotion

ICYMI (and you’re not alone), the 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast is back. (Dave and I are trying to get our listener count above 13.) The most recent episode features our interview with Tim Quirk and Jay Blumenfield of Wonderlick (and formerly of Too Much Joy). They were a joy to chat with, their new album is a dandy, and they have interesting day jobs too.

Mailbag

In case you missed list member Jay Stowe’s comment on last week’s post, here it is:

“A Quick One (While He’s Away)” cannot be beat. I may be going out on a limb here, but I’m willing to defend this statement: The Who at their motherloving best.

Amen, Brother Jay! The video is worth a second spin.

And not that you asked, but if you did give me the old “Beatles or Stones” question, my answer would be:

  1. The Who
  2. The Kinks
  3. The Rolling Stones
  4. Herman’s Hermits
  5. The Beatles

(Don’t @ me, Lisa Collins!)

Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)

Oh, yeah, baby, back that Jass up!

It IS a bit of a head-scratcher, as you don’t appear to have any redeeming qualities other than excellent taste in hairstyles and attire.

4 responses to “Boo! And Now-vember!”

  1. Lisa+Collins Avatar
    Lisa+Collins

    Oh, I am @ing you, Damian! Blasphemy!! And after I sent you that Replacements video this week – hahaha!

    Reply
    1. Damian Avatar
      Damian

      Sorry Lisa! That Westerberg/SNL clip was very cool. Speaking of very cool, I just updated my list and put Gerry & the Pacemakers above The Beatles.

      Reply
  2. Dan Lewis Avatar
    Dan Lewis

    You’ll Walk Alone…. After the Hermits and Pacemakers rankings. And you look like you’d fit right in with the Goad Family.

    Reply
    1. Damian Avatar
      Damian

      The Goad Family and I are taking a cruise next summer. It’s a Ferry Cross the Mersey.

      Reply

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Turkey with Jam

Concert Listings, Concert review, Music

Wow, it’s nearly Thanksgiving Day!

The concert slate could use a bit more stuffing. That’s fine, it leaves room for family gatherings… or for watching a WKRP in Cincinnati rerun.

But there are a few shows, which is a reason to be thankful.

Skip the can-shaped cranberry sauce, and feast on The Raisins instead.

Bob, Rob, Bam and Ricky have shows on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at the Woodward Theater. (They also have a documentary movie out that features performances from their March shows – check out the interview on WVXU Cincinnati Edition.) The Saturday gig is sold-out, but tickets remain for the other two shows.

Other Wednesday shows include Northern Kentucky Derby at Southgate House, and State Champs at Bogart’s.

Thursday is Turkey Day! (Or in my house, Tofurkey Day!)

Speaking of expanding waistlines, Bret Michaels is at the Hard Rock Casino on Friday.

Also on Friday:

  • Jeremy Pinnell kicks off a two-night stand at Southgate House with a solo set, along with Justin Wells.
  • Freekbass hosts “Funksgiving” at Radio Artifact, with Tracy Silverman Project.
  • The Raisins are at Woodward

Saturday gigs:

  • Jeremy Pinnell plays a full-band show in Southgate’s main room, with G.W. Garner and The Montvales also on the bill.
  • The Ark Band plays Ludlow Garage on Saturday
  • Memorial Hall hosts Christmas with the Celts
  • The Whiskey Shambles, Veronica Grim, and The Shivers in Southgate’s Revival Room
  • The Raisins at Woodward (sold-out)

Unless you’re going to NYC for the Jesse Malin benefit shows on 12/1 and 12/2 (more on that below), there’s a bit of a lull in the ol’ Koncert Keeper. Maybe you can do some holiday shopping.

Or go see your friend’s band:

On Friday, 12/6, the animals (but not The Animals) are out in full force:

  • Benjamin Tod & Lost Dog Street Band at Bogart’s
  • Spirit of the Bear and Bear the Moon in Southgate’s Revival Room
  • The Surfrajettes and Kyle Eldridge play Southgate’s main Sanctuary – that should be a rollicking good time!
  • Ludlow Garage crams three tributes into one band, when Magical Mystery Doors plays tunes by the Beatles, Led Zep, and The Doors

On Saturday, 12/7, Noah Smith’s Crooner Circus takes over all three Southgate House stages:

Other 12/7 shows include:

  • Tropidelic at Bogart’s
  • Mosant and Ascension Day at the Liberty Theater
  • Siren Suit with Girl Gordon and Marsha at Urban Artifact
  • Ludlow Garage has Aja: A Tribute to the Music of Steely Dan, with shows at 3:30 (when they play The Royal Scam in its entirety) and 7:30 p.m.

Then there’s another lull in the schedule. Maybe you can make sure the Christmas lights are hung.

The English Beat plays Ludlow Garage on Thursday, 12/12.

On Friday the 13th:

  • Erika Wennerstrom (Heartless Bastards) kicks off three nights of solo shows at The Loon Wine Bar in Northside. (Friday and Saturday shows are sold-out, but they added a 6 p.m. Sunday show. Tickets on sale here.)
  • Ludlow Garage has A John Waters Christmas on Friday and Saturday
  • The Tillers have a 10th anniversary vinyl release of Hand on the Plow (with cover artwork by list member Keith Neltner)

Motherfolk has “A Very Motherfolks Christmas” at Bogart’s on Satuday, 12/14.

Tears on our Cheek

R.I.P. Randy Cheek (Libertines, Ass Ponys, The Ready Stance, et al.) Here’s a loving tribute from Chuck Cleaver:

Here’s to you, Randy!

Joy to the Wussy World

Now more than ever, we need the healing words and music of our friends in Wussy, on their new release Cincinnati Ohio.

Check out Jason Cohen’s profile of Wussy in Stereogum. And put your ears on this segment about their new album from NPR’s All Songs Considered:

We live for live

It’s hard to believe that Eric Bachmann’s recent Undertow show was off my radar. Heck, he’s played an Undertow show at my house before (2019):

And I applied to host his show this time around. But somehow I missed the listing – thank goodness an alert list member tipped me off that morning, and I DID catch the show thanks to list member Jeff B.

Eric played a cool venue in South Fairmount called the Lunken Lounge. Hopefully there will be more shows there in the future.

Craig Finn also ditched my living room for the Woodward Theater this go-round on his solo tour. (Can’t blame him.) What a great storyteller!

List member Dave Tellmann and I finally made it over to Dan McCabe’s new venue, Whiskey City’s Liberty Theater, in Lawrenceburg, IN. What an amazing place to see a show! And we saw a fantastic high energy performance from Low Cut Connie.

The opening band, Sweat, from Pittsburgh, was great too!

Dan McCabe has some great shows lined up over the next couple of months… check ’em out here and support a great dude who has spent decades bringing great music to our area.

List members Joyce, Matt, Pam, and I also enjoyed the “Words and Music” event featuring Karin and Linford of Over the Rhine (photo above)… especially because we got a sneak preview of updated/upgraded/expanded Mercantile Library. It officially reopens on 12/2.

We now occupy both the 11th & 12th floors of 414 Walnut Street and have more seating areas, more workspaces, more light, more bathrooms, more bookshelves, and, most importantly, more books.

The Reading Room

Tip o’ the tam to Kevin Sullivan for the link to a Jesse Malin feature in the NYT in advance of Jesse’s return to the stage on Dec. 1 and 2, with dozens of high profile friends.

They’re just trying to return the kindness Jesse has always shown to them:

Jesse still has his PMA – positive mental attitude:

Live Performance Video of the Week Year

Waxahatchee and M.J. Lenderman at the Americana Music Awards, with an all-star backing band that includes Buddy Miller, Don Was, Larry Campbell, and Jen Gunderman. Top notch!

Album Covers of the Weeks

Cornucopia… accent on the corn.

This “little singing band” used the Thanksgiving tablecloth to make skirts and ties (or are those dickies?).

You can throw the albums shown below onto the turntable after Turkey Day to make those pounds melt away – it’s a miracle!

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.

New Year’s Rockin’ Eve

Concert Listings, Concert review, Music

Wow, can you believe it’s almost New Year’s Rockin’ Eve? Neither can I!

Dead & Company!

Now that Dick Clark has gone to that great big Bandstand in the sky, I can rightfully claim his former title of “World’s Oldest Teenager.” Just call me Lil’ Dick… wait, strike that.

UNITED STATES – SEPTEMBER 13: AMERICAN BANDSTAND – 2/26/1976, Host Dick Clark (left) chats with Cheech Marin (center) and Tommy Chong of “Cheech & Chong” during the “Rate-A-Record” segment of American Bandstand. , (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)

Er, let’s just get to the gigs, shall we?

Tomorrow evening, Old Crow Medicine Show plays the Taft, with Molly Tuttle as the opener.

On Friday, Goose kicks off a two-night stand at the Alice the Housekeeper Brady Center.

The Goose is almost ready…

That same evening:

  • Jeremy Pinnell and Justin Wells play Southgate, with special guest Adam Lee
  • Afroman’s “Merry Spliffmas” is at the old Annie’s (this is a rescheduled date from the Snowpocalypse)

Saturday is New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. Or New Year’s Rocking Eve if you only have one apostrophe.

On the cusp of a new year:

  • Goose plays Night #2 at the Carol Brady
  • Arlo McKinley is at Bogart’s
  • Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band is at Southgate, with Joe’s Truck Stop and The Hammer & The Hatchet (not Molly Hatchet… that would be flirtin’ with disaster)
  • Mad Anthony and A.M. Nice play a free show in the Southgate Lounge
  • Rumpke Mountain Boys play the old Annie’s
  • Rob Fetters hosts another “Fetters is Cheap” online show starting at 9 p.m.
  • Noah Smith’s Big Ol’ Family New Year show is at Big Ash
  • The Almond Butter Band (local Allman Bros. tribute outfit) plays Fretboard
  • The Newbees and Chalk Eye play the Village Theater in Ft. Thomas
  • The Hard Rock Casino has a NYE party hosted by… Joe Mixon? Shouldn’t he be studying the Bills defense?
  • Your favorite publisher of sporadic concert updates turns… Joseph Ossai’s jersey #.

Then there’s a bit of a live music drought. (I blame climate change… and the ghost of Dick Clark.)

You’ll have to wait until Friday, January 6th before the shows crank up again:

  • Pure Prairie League (“featuring one original member!”) is at Ludlow Garage
  • The Menzingers play Bogart’s
  • Diamond Rio is at the Taft

Then there’s another mini-drought until Friday the 13th… but we’ll chat again before then.

R.I.P. D.R.B. Fare thee well, Dan.

Local music legend David Rhodes Brown (Warsaw Falcons, 500 Miles to Memphis) passed away in early December. Cincinnati.com story is here.

Dan Hamilton’s family hosted a celebration of life for Dan at Little Miami Brewing’s event center last night. It was a fine send-off for a great dude, capped off by Dan’s longtime Spookfloaters bandmate Mike Holmes playing the Grateful Dead’s “Eyes of the World” and Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic” for Dan.

Dan, a soulful and whole-hearted musician, was a beloved and dedicated father, life partner, son, brother and friend to many. He had a giant, magnificent heart as wide as the ocean. He was a kind soul to friends and strangers alike. Whether you were in the audience watching him play, working with him or were lucky enough to call him family or friend – Dan had a way of making you feel seen and heard. He was the personification of love, light, art, kindness and humor.

from Dan’s obit

Royal Crescent Mob rules once again!

Fantastic show by the RC Mob at the Madison Theater on 12/17.

It was great to see them on stage again, and great to see so many familiar faces in the crowd. (CincyMusic photo gallery of shots from Jon Calderas is here.)

A special shout-out to 97X superfan David Groff (the one who looks like he’s a foot taller than I am in the photo above), who rented a party bus to take him and his Miami U. friends and their spouses to the show:

“Get on the bus…”

I’ve got a mailbag in my trousers… or a Trouser in my mailbag

The PR folks at Trouser Press must have a Google Alert set up… that’s the only possible explanation for how they came across the 97Xbam.com website post that mentioned them.

Why yes, I’d be happy to mention your books, available here.

The Ira A. Robbins Music in a Word three-volume set looks pretty cool, and you can get all three books for $48. Not too shabby!

Best of the Best of 2022

This website compiles a boatload of “best of” lists (Pitchfork, NPR, Stereogum, NYTimes, et al) in one handy-dandy location. It’s like American Bandstand‘s Rate-A-Record on steroids.

Hat tip to list member Cullen Lewis, of Bourn Yesterday fame, for the “best of” link. Cullen’s latest post is “22 Great Songs from ’22.”

Album Cover of the Week

Perfect for your New Year’s resolution!

I hope 2023 is really rockin’!

Making music memories

Concert Listings, Music, podcast

Everybody wants to rule the world. Except me. I’d settle for the dogs staying off my side of the bed.

But Tears for Fears said everybody wants to rule the world. And they’ll be at Riverbend tonight, along with Garbage… dogs like garbage too!

Other gigs tonight include Will Kimbrough at Southgate and Al Stewart at Ludlow Garage. Al’s more of a cat person.

The two-day Big River Get Down kicks off at RiversEDGE in Hamilton tonight as well. Here’s the full schedule:

On Saturday:

  • Martin Sexton plays Ludlow Garage
  • The Heavy Hours play Southgate
  • It’s Night #2 of the Big River Get Down
  • SNL funnyman David Spade plays the Taft. Let’s hope he makes his audience crack up half as much as Chris Farley made him crack up in this sketch:

Miranda Lambert plays Riverbend on Sunday, with Little Big Town. Country shows always seem to draw a crowd there. I’m really hoping Memphis-Kansas Breeze comes to town this year.

On Tuesday, John R. Miller and Vincent Neil Emerson play Southgate, and Tabitha Johansen Tori Amos is at the Taft Theatre.

on Wednesday, Elephant Stone plays MOTR and Valerie June plays Memorial Hall.

Southgate has a couple of options on Thursday:

  • Charlie Hunter & Scott Amendola Duo play the Southgate Sanctuary
  • Joe Buck Yourself plays the Revival Room

Speaking of Joe Buck, here’s a fun game to play this fall – it’s a variation on the old “Hi Bob” game. Watch a football game where Joe Buck is the announcer and take a drink every time he says “pass is caught”… you’ll be hammered before the 1st quarter is over.

Next Friday is a busy night for gigs:

  • Kitchen Dwellers and Neighbor play RiversEDGE in Hamilton
  • Smashing Pumpkins do an outdoor gig at the Ovation in Newport
  • Comedian Tom Segura kicks off a two-night stand at the Aronoff
  • Local bluesperson Erin Coburn plays a free gig on Fountain Square
  • Last but certainly not least, America’s AC/DC tribute, Thunderstruck, plays the Event Center at Little Miami Brewing in Milford.
The Angus and Malcolm of the late 1800s.. or more like the Liam and Noel Gallagher.

Next Saturday (5/28), Ray Lamontagne plays the Carol Brady, with Sierra Ferrell as the opener. Also, local band Kentucky Struts plays Southgate.

Due to a recent COVID outbreak within the touring group, the Haim show originally slated for 5/19 has been rescheduled for Sunday, May 29th. That same evening, Fountain Square has a nice freebie show featuring Jeremy Pinnell, Wonky Tonk and the Dead Man String Bang.

Cool cover of an amazing original

Jenn Wasner has a new album out under the Flock of Dimes moniker (she also is in Wye Oak) and she does a great cover of a gorgeous tune from the woefully underappreciated Joan Armatrading. Here’s a live version from her appearance on KEXP:

The original always gives me goose bumps too. Here’s Joan doing it live:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjQG8zYCQFw

This Teacher is a Wussy

Congrats to Mark Messerly, bassist for Wussy, on being a finalist for Educator of the Year.

Why I love Jon Wurster’s social media posts

Jon is the drummer for Superchunk… and Bob Mould… and the Mountain Goats… and he’s part of The Best Show… and he’s well worth a follow on the socials – you know, your Facegrams and Instatweets and such.

Shameless Self-promotion… and local music promotion

The latest episode of the 97X Rumblings from the Big Bush podcast (available wherever you get your pods… but not your Tide Pods) features our interview with Brian Niesz, who engineered 400+ live performances on woxy.com. If you go to our post on 97XBam.com, you’ll find a few of Brian’s favorites – including one from Magnolia Electric Co. Brian is keeping the old woxy.com “Lounge Acts” name alive with live performances from bands on WCPO.com. Check ’em out here.

Album Cover of the Week

Let the double entendres commence. (The album is actually pretty good… in other words, I think you might really enjoy some new Peaness.)

No Turkeys in Our House

Concert Listings, Music

No thugs either. But for sure no turkeys.

Let’s get to this week’s listings on the old 97X Koncert Keeper.

Tonight Shovels & Rope at Ludlow Garage, Bendigo Fletcher plays the Woodward with Sylmar as the opener, and the local Allman Bros. tribute band The Almond Butter Band plays their “Butterball” at the Redmoor in Mt. Lookout.

(Sidebar: after the year we’ve had, I can understand if you want to take a time capsule back to 1982. If so, you’ll be glad to know that Journey and Toto will be playing the Coliseum next April 24th. Tickets go on sale today. Warning: “Steve Perry” might look a bit different, but he still sounds the same.)

Beach Bunny has a sold-out show at Southgate on Saturday night. Didn’t get a ticket? That’s OK, you can “shop local”: Jeremy Pinnell will play two free sets at MOTR to celebrate the release of his new album Goodbye L.A., from local label SofaBurn Records.

Buy the LP or CD here

You can read list member Gil Kaufman’s interview with Jeremy for Cincinnati Magazine online. (We love Gil’s “resting outlaw face” turn of phrase.) Jason Gargano’s profile in CityBeat is here. And here’s the video (shot in Cincy/NKY) for “Wanna Do Something” from the new album:

Also on Saturday, Ludlow Garage features “Broken Arrow: The Music of Neil Young.” And if you’d prefer to laugh it up that evening, you have two fine choices:

  • Jim Gaffigan is at the Coliseum
  • Iliza Shlesinger is at the Taft (check out her Netflix specials, pretty damn funny)

On Sunday you can take a load off with The Weight Band, featuring members of The Band (revamped edition… no Robbie or Garth) and the Levon Helm Band (we still miss you, Levon). They’re playing Ludlow Garage. Wait! Looks like The Weight was too much to bear, and that show has been postponed.

Taft Theatre has a Scribble Showdown on Monday. But it’s an improv animation game, not a throwback to the old hip-hop Scribble Jam.

On Thanksgiving eve (Wednesday, 11/24), you can catch “All Together Now – A Beatles Thanksgiving Celebration” featuring the Newbees – it’s at Memorial Hall. Or you can head to Annie’s to enjoy the song stylings of the band that many* have called “The new Beatles”: Jackyl.

*these people are stoned out of their gourds

Ernie Johnson from Detroit will be at MOTR on Wednesday too.

On Thursday, Bird is the word.

Ted Cruz’s dream…

Or in my case, Tofurkey.

Wanna dance off your turkey/tofurkey coma next Friday? Get your booty down to Ludlow Garage for Freekbass and his “Funksgiving 2021” celebration.

Next Saturday, 11/27, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band plays Southgate, and Tom the Torpedoes will be at the Redmoor.

Watch this

Johnny Rotten on The Masked Singer is so 2021.

Speaking o’ punk, Devo is a band that doesn’t get nearly the credit they deserve. Check ’em out live in 1977 in NYC:

More Devo footage from that era is here.

Road trip next summer?

This festival lineup is redonk:

Whereas this pairing — Psychedelic Porn Crumpets with Acid Dad as the opener — is an early contender for twin billing of the year.

2021 favorites – care to share yours?

We’re heading down the homestretch of this year (2020 Part Deux: More Dumpster, Slightly Less Fire). If you care to share your list of favorite albums, EPs, songs, TikTok clips, whatever, you can add them here.

Album cover of the week

When you go over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house for Turkey Day, don’t forget to bring along some Sloppy fifths. Rated “Code E” for everyone.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!