The Secret Sisters

June’s tunes

Concert Listings, Concert review, Music

It’s June!

June is chock-full o’ live tunes. And that’s no jive!

Let’s get into it.

Tonight, American Aquarium plays the Southgate, with Justin Wells as the opener. I’ll be at that gig.

Eric Johanson is at Ludlow Garage… not Eric Johnson as listed in my last post. Can’t believe I confused those two guitarists… it’s like that time I called Jim Hagar Jon Hagar at the Hee Haw convention.

On Tuesday, Alison Krauss & Union Station (featuring Jerry Douglas) will be at the PNC Pavilion.

This Wednesday is WEENsday at The Columbia (4311 Eastern Avenue). They’ll be spinning The Mollusk and it’s BYOB. But they supply crayons.

Wednesday shows include Kids that Fly and Belle Blue at the Woodward, and CFG & Family at the Fountain Square “Fountain Blues” free series. (The full summer lineup is here.)

Thursday:

  • Brent Cobb plays Southgate, with Chloe Kimes opening
  • Los Lonely Boys are at Ludlow Garage
  • Ray Vietti & Jeremy Short play the freebie “Roots Revival” show at Washington Park (6-9 p.m.) The full series lineup is here.
  • The Liberty Theater has a free Songwriters in the Round with Andrew Hibbard, Anthony Ray Wright and Emilie Clepper
  • The Turkeys play a free show at the Behringer Crawford Museum in Devou Park

There are a slew o’ shows this Friday:

  • Blonde Redhead plays the Woodward with Squirrel Flower
  • The Secret Sisters are at Memorial Hall
  • Clay Street Unit and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes play a free show at RiversEDGE in Hamilton
  • Jake Speed & the Freddies play a freebie at Sawyer Point
  • The Levitt Pavilion in Dayton has a freebie show with the REO Classics Band (featuring Terry Luttrell, the original lead singer for REO Speedwagon)
  • Ludlow Garage features a Van Morrison tribute show (not a Jim Morrison tribute show… )

Please note: Friday is June 6th… during the dark of the moon, anyone over the age of 60 is required to fire up their CB radio and alert Rubber Duck and Pigpen about any police presence.

On Saturday, the Ludlow Garage has the Hot Red Chili Peppers… NOT the Red Hot Chili Peppers (or the Red Hot Chili Pipers)

Other Saturday shows:

  • Teddy Swims plays the outdoor stage at the Marsha Brady
  • My Brother’s Keeper has an album release show at the Liberty Theater
  • Joe’s Truck Stop, The Local Honeys, The Montvales and several other bands play the “Gemini Jam” at Southgate
  • Soul Pocket plays the Fountain Square freebie gig
  • Gavin DeGraw and Colbie Caillat are at the Fraze
  • The Levitt hosts the Dayton Pride Afterparty featuring Molly Grace

Also, on Saturday and Sunday, the Woodward Theater screens Pavements, the weird and wild movie about Pavement.

Oh, and Saturday also is the grand opening of Jukebox in the Deerfield Towne Center.

Jukebox is America’s first custom sparkling beverage studio, where creativity meets refreshment. We mix premium ingredients, fresh flavors, and endless customization options to craft beverages that are as unique as you.

The dude behind Jukebox is list member Jay Scherger, who left his gig in corporate America to add more flavor to your life with a “quirky cocktail bar without the cocktails.” Read more in Cincinnati Magazine and and CityBeat. Check it out… you may hear a familiar voice doing some promo breaks between songs on the in-house sound system.

On Sunday, Avril Lavigne plays her Greatest Hits tour with Simple Plan and We The Kings supporting, Valley Maker is at MOTR, and David Spade does standup at the Taft.

On Tuesday, June 10:

  • Barenaked Ladies, Guster, and Fastball play the PNC Pavilion
  • Buddy Guy plays the Taft with Eric Gales opening
  • Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ are at the Rose in Dayton

Shows on Wednesday, June 11:

  • Counting Crows and Gaslight Anthem at the Fraze
  • Honey Island Swamp Band at the Ludlow Garage
  • Leroy Ellington plays the Fountain Square freebie

Thursday, June 12:

  • Mt. Joy plays the outdoor stage at the Ovation in Newport
  • Sunny Sweeney and Cam Pierce are at Southgate
  • The Lost Bridge Beverage Co. in North Bend hosts the 2nd Thursday live broadcast of BlackFork Radio
  • Ludlow Garage has Close Enemies, featuring Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton
  • Washington Park has another Roots Revival show… performers are TBD (that’s not a band…)
  • Travis Tritt plays the old Annie’s

Friday, June 13 has a full slate:

  • Band of Horses plays the Lawrenceburg Event Center
  • The Dave Matthews Band will make their annual stop at Riverbend
  • Motherfolk and Moonbeau play the Woodward
  • Augustana is at Ludlow Garage
  • Thee Sinseers and The Altons (retro soul/R&B) play a free concert at RiversEDGE in Hamilton
  • Kyle Eldridge & the Kentucky Cowhands play the freebie at the Levitt in Dayton

On Saturday, June 14, an enterprising young band called The Collies plays the back patio at the Anderson Township Pub from 7-10 p.m. I’ve heard their music (mostly rock covers, with a few originals) many, many times… because they practice in my son Gabriel’s room. (He’s the drummer.)

Stop by and check ’em out. I’ll buy you a beer.

Then tell your friends, because right now my retirement plan consists of hoping The Collies make it big.

Other shows on 6/14:

  • Tab Benoit plays the Taft
  • Buddy Guy is at the Rose
  • Houndmouth will be at the Ovation
  • Coastal Club, Mosant, and Deaf Andrews are at the Madison Theater
  • Boney James plays Ludlow Garage

On Sunday, June 15:

  • The Wallflowers play Bogart’s
  • Laurelview Ramblers are at the Lost Bridge Beverage Co.
  • Lynyrd Skynyrd (featuring ZERO original members) plays the Rose

We love it live!

The bad news: Wild Pink was a late scratch from the IndieCraft festival lineup in Springfield, Ohio.

The good news: No dogs or cats were eaten during the festival.

The better news: Aaron Lee Tasjan did two sets to cover for Wild Pink, and Snarls absolutely crushed it during their outdoor set.

Thanks to a ticket from Ken “The Lobby Boy” Laube (catch him on Inhailer Radio Fridays from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.) I caught Night 2 of The Magnetic Fields doing 69 Love Songs at Memorial Hall. I’m pretty sure it’s the first show I’ve seen where all the band members were seated, but the set was stellar.

The Cereal Killers killed it at Big Ash Brewing. It was great to see so many list members in attendance for that gig: Whit, Barb, Dan R., Dan B., Mike, John, Dave, Phil, Aron… A great evening of music – here’s hoping for another CK gig soon!

It was great hanging out with the Inhailer Radio crew (and list members Amy, Ken, and David) at Hi-Wire Brewing on Memorial Day during their Indie 500 countdown.

This past Wednesday, I went up to Cleveland to catch The Tubs opening up for The Wedding Present at The Grog Shop. I’m so glad I made the long drive – both bands were outstanding!

Hot ticket alert

Emma Swift is playing an Undertow show in Cincinnati on Tuesday, August 5th. You can get your tickets here. I can neither CONFIRM nor deny that the venue will be The Columbia (home of WEENsdays).

At least one D2 has talent!

Congrats to list member Dale Doyle (the OG D2) for his fantastic design work on Matt Berninger’s new solo album, which came out Friday.

At least one (former) Foo Fighter has a sense of humor

Josh Freese was relieved of his drummer duties, but he seems to be taking it in stride. Here’s his IG post from the next day:

Take me to the RiversEDGE… and you’ll Levitt in Dayton

Hamilton’s free summer concert lineup is below. And the outdoor stage is just a stone’s throw an empty beer can’s throw from Municipal Brew Works too!

And here’s the lineup for the free concerts at the Levitt Pavilion in Dayton – highlights include Chuck Prophet, Robbie Fulks, Carlene Carter, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Say She She, Eilen Jewel, and Sinkane. You can BYOB (cans) too!

Out with the old (music), in with the new

Music historian Ted Gioia talks about the challenges of today’s music biz (accent on the “biz” part) in The Atlantic:

But there’s hope for the future:

The full article is here.

Punk’s not dead, it just moved to Tennessee

Article is here.

Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)

Glenn is trying to hoodwink us. That woman doesn’t want to “share his life” – she has been abducted by Glenn and taken out to international waters.

The Devil IS real, and his name is Glenn Yarbrough, the kidnapper.

May the tunes be with you

Concert Listings, Concert review, Music

It’s almost time for that very special holiday:

Uh, not May the 4th… a.k.a. Spock’s birthday. Or maybe his “Life Day.”

The big day is May 10th – members of Wussy are playing a gig at my house. It’s the 3rd appearance for Chuck & Lisa, and to celebrate #3 they’re bringing a third member: Mark Messerly.

Mark and I are twin sons of different mothers – or we just have similar tastes in cool band t-shirts:

BTW, Mark’s solo project INERT has a new album out soon. Here’s the lead track:

But there are plenty of other cool (albeit less exclusive) gigs coming our way in the merry month of May. Let’s eyeball ’em.

Tonight (5/1):

  • The 502s and Daniel Nunnelee play Bogart’s
  • Kelsey Waldon is at Southgate
  • Todd Lipscomb and Easy Mark play MOTR

On Thursday:

  • The Tillers play the “Tunes & Blooms” gig at the Cincinnati Zoo
  • Red Wanting Blue plays Southgate
  • Camp Springs Tavern hosts the bi-weekly Bluegrass Jam
  • The Breakers (a tribute to Tom Petty… or to ’91 Keanu and Swayze) play Ludlow Garage

Friday night, the Wussy Trio (Chuck, Lisa, Mark) plays The Lodge in Dayton, KY.

That same evening, local Mumford-adjacent band Jim Trace & The Makers plays Arnold’s. That group features two of my co-workers… and a name clearly dreamt up on the bourbon aisle of a liquor store. (Perhaps “Cabooze” – the train caboose retrofitted to be a liquor store that was a famous landmark in Newport, KY.)

Saturday, in the new-Newport, Ovation hosts The Ultimate Doors: a tribute to The Doors. (Now I really miss the old Sin City… and the doors of Cabooze.)

Shows on Tuesday, May 7th:

  • Rufus Wainwright plays Ludlow Garage
  • Stiff Little Fingers are at Bogart’s (and also on my pickleball paddle hand)
  • The Messthetics (drummer Brendan Canty and bassist Joe Lally from Fugazi) play the Woodward. Opener is James Brandon Lewis w/Siren Suit

Kamasi Washington plays Ludlow on Wednesday, 5/8, and EXTC (with XTC drummer Terry Chambers) plays Radio Artifact.

On Thursday, 5/9, it’s time to bust out the pipe.

The Verve Pipe plays the Woodward Theater. That same evening, Tenille Townes (no relation to “Captain &” or “Van Zandt”) plays Ludlow, and Thievery Corporation plays Bogart’s. Thievery Corporation has a pretty cool logo:

Hah, that’s just a little good-natured ribbing there, my IRS friends… no need to audit me for that jibe. My “Cabooze” deductions are research expenses, and therefore completely legit!

On Friday, May 10th, Chuck Cleaver, Lisa Walker, and Mark Messerly of Wussy will be playing in my living room! (A rare occasion when I’m not the only wussy in the house…)

That same evening, Stanley Clarke plays the first of two nights at Ludlow. And Southern Culture on the Skids plays Southgate. Their poster is pretty cool:

Stanley Clarke is back at it on Saturday, 5/11 at Ludlow Garage.

Other 5/11 shows:

  • Robbie Fulks and Scott Miller play Southgate’s Revival Room (I’ll be at that gig)
  • Snõõper. Fruit Loops and The Serfs play the Woodward (list member Dave Tellmann’s son Jack produced some Snõõper tracks and has an engineering credit on their new album)
  • Bendigo Fletcher is in Southgate’s main room

Social Distortion and Bad Religion play the Cindy Brady on Sunday, May 12th, and Tommy Prine plays Southgate.

(My neighbors occasionally listen to live Wussy too!)

They Might Be Giants play a two-night “An Evening with…” stand at the Madison Theater on 5/14 and 5/15. The bill promises “2 very different shows. 8 piece band. 3 horns. 2 sets. 0 openers. Starts early. Gets loud.”

Another cool gig on Wednesday, May 15th is Parker Millsap and Robert Ellis doing the solo acoustic thing at Southgate.

There’s another bluegrass hootenanny at Camp Springs Tavern on Thursday, 5/16. Bring your own instrument.

Also on 5/16, Kraftwerk is playing the Ovation in Newport.

Friday, May 17th is a big night for shows:

  • The Violent Femmes will play their first two albums in a row during a show at the old Annie’s (I’ll be there. I already bought tickets… I got “two, two, two for my family” but now my son can’t go, so LMK if you want my extra, free of charge.)
  • The Secret Sisters play Southgate, with special guest Tyler Ramsey, formerly of Band of Horses
  • The jam band Houseplant plays Madison Theater
  • Ludlow Garage hosts “Live at the Fillmore – the definitive Allman Brothers tribute”
  • Saxon and Uriah Heep will rock Bogart’s… well, it’s more like Sagsome and Heap of Urologists now, but still, more power to ’em.

On Saturday, May 18th, the PNC Pavilion opens the shed season with… Brit Floyd… celebrating the 30th anniversary of a post-Roger/”meh” PF album (The Division Bell). (Sigh.) But at least on your way in, you can check out the progress on the destruction of the beloved Coney Island Pool. Maybe this guy can save it:

Webb Wilder closes out the weekend with a 70th Birthday Bash at Southgate House on Sunday, May 19th.

Love it live

Suzanne Vega put on a great show at Memorial Hall, and it was great to see quite a few list members there, including Janet W., who hooked me up with the presale code for Jayhawks tickets. Score!

Alvvays played a great set at Bogart’s. I went with list members “Deuce” and Matt V. List member Mighty Joe Sampson also was there with his 21-year-old daughter Maggie.

The GBV/Wussy show at Madison Theater was top-notch. Great to hear the full Wussy band. List members David and Amy Groff were there, but their daughter Maggie wasn’t… she’d better up her concert game!

John P. Strohm (Blake Babies, Lemonheads, Antenna, Velo-Deluxe) wrote a really nice Substack post about Guided By Voices. Check it out here.

The Far Side said it best

Then again, it beats the alternative. But old age does create some challenges:

Visual/caption above from this New Yorker piece called “How to dress for a concert in your thirties.”

Fast forward a generation and this happens:

Album Cover of the Week(s)

Ever the gracious hosts/hostess. Hold the lobster. But bring your dentures!