Ween

Dog days, sweet tunes

Concert Listings, Music, podcast

Are you ready for the dog days of summer?

Damn right “Attica!”

Are you ready for the Dawg days of summer too?

How about the Dogg days?

Well, ready or not, here comes August – the month that gets its name from Augustus Gloop, the fat kid who got sucked up into the chocolate pipe (not as dirty as it sounds) in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

Augustus Gloop also was the inspiration for these sophisticated Def Leppard “Pour Some Sugar on Me” lyrics:

I’m hot, sticky sweet
From my head to my feet, yeah

In other words, Augustus Gloop rocks! And you can too – let’s take a look at all the hot, sticky sweet shows coming your way in the month ahead.

(Note: this post covers only August gigs. If you’d like listings for August and Everything After, please contact Counting Crows.)

My oh my, the sweetest treat comes right out of the chute (again, not as dirty as it sounds):

Cereal Killers play Big Ash this Saturday, August 1st! (a.k.a. “tomorrow”)

They will play all your favorite 97X hits, some Petty… and maybe an Oompa Loompa song for good measure. The usual d2 discount will apply – first beer’s on me (with coupon):

There are other shows on Saturday — although they pale in comparison to the big Cereal Killers gig, much like Cereal Killers’ lead singer Howard Cohen’s skin pales in comparison to Oompa Loompa skin:

  • The Levitt Pavilion in Dayton has a free Rock Fest event, with headliner Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys
  • Chris Stapleton plays the Bengals Stadium (my missus will be there with the Jazzercise gals. You’ve been warned!)
  • Yonder Mountain String Band and East Nash Grass are at the old Annie’s
  • Evanescence plays Riverbend
  • The Grove and Casey Campbell play Radio Artifact
  • Ludlow Garage hosts Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience

(Accent on the “criminal” part.)

Deke Dickerson plays Southgate’s Revival Room on Sunday, August 2, with Kyle Eldridge opening.

On Tuesday:

  • The Black Keys and Eddie 9V play Ovation in Newport – still on the fence about going
  • Andrew Bird plays Taft with a symphony orchestra to be named later

Wednesday is both a WEENsday and a Weenieday. The former because The Columbia in the East End will be spinning Ween’s Quebec album from 7-9 p.m., and the latter because Barry Manilow is playing the Coliseum. If you’re downtown, please watch out for Fanilows.

On Thursday, Watchhouse plays the Taft, and Styx and Chicago bring their “All the Hits” tour to Riverbend.

Cincinnati Parks is sponsoring the On Point Music Festival Friday August 7 – Saturday August 8 at Sawyer Point & Yeatman’s Cove. Here’s the lineup:

Other gigs next Friday (August 7):

  • Chuck Prophet (and band) at Ludlow Garage
  • J. Roddy Walston & the Business play the Fountain Square freebie, with The Bright Light Social Hour
  • The Collies (a dog days of summer band if ever there were one – also the band that my son is in) play the Anderson Tap House Good Time Charley’s (by Four Seasons Marina) – please join me!
  • RiversEdge in Hamilton! has Ozzmosis (a tribute to Ozzie Nelson Ozzy Osbourne) with the Warped Band (a tribute to Home Depot lumber the Warped Tour)

On Saturday, August 8, the two-day Arcade Music Fest kicks off in Covington.

The full daily schedules are here.

Other August 8 shows:

  • Tori Amos plays a sold-out show at the Taft, with Bartees Strange
  • Lynyrd Skynyrd (featuring zero original members!) and Foreigner (featuring one original member!) play Riverbend
  • Boney James is at Ludlow
  • The Fraze Pavilion in Dayton has BaconFest

Rod Stewart brings his “One Last Time” tour to Riverbend on Sunday, August 9, with Richard Marx opening.

On Monday, August 10, The Stray Cats play the Rose Music Center in Dayton and Five Finger Death Punch plays Riverbend.

It’s dueling Dayton concerts on Tuesday, August 11:

  • Joe Bonamassa and Gov’t Mule at the Rose
  • Howard Jones at Fraze

Meanwhile Cincy has The High Kings at Memorial Hall

Lotsa gigs on Wednesday, August 12:

  • Goo Goo Dolls and Neon Trees at the Rose
  • Simple Plan and Bowling for Soup at the Mike Brady
  • The Beach Boys play PNC
  • Fraze has Get the Led Out
  • TyeDye (feat. list member John Sandman) plays Arnold’s (6-8 p.m.)

Shows on Thursday, August 13:

  • Andy Frasco & the UN with Kitchen Dwellers at the old Annie’s
  • Jack Harlow at the Marsha Brady
  • Terrance Simien plays a freebie at the Levitt in downtown Dayton
  • Soul Pocket does a free show at the Behringer-Crawford Museum in Covington

Whimmydiddle kicks off on Friday, August 14 at RiversEdge, with Sam Bush and Bronwyn Keith-Hynes topping the Friday night bill, and The Jack Wharff Band and Ben Chapman on Saturday. General admission is free, and the full lineup can be found here.

Other shows on Friday, August 14:

  • Courtney Barnett at the Ovation (I’ll be at that gig!)
  • The Mountain Goats play the Taft Theatre
  • Aldo Nova at Ludlow
  • Tusk (yes, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band) at Memorial Hall
  • The Funky Ducks at Stanley’s
  • Abby Holiday at Fountain Square
  • Rick Ro$$ plays a post-game show at Great American Ball Park – maybe he can lend some of his $$ to the Reds.

Saturday, August 15 is another busy day for concerts:

  • Chris Smither plays Southgate
  • Todd Rundgren is at the Ovation
  • The Hiders play Carriage House Farm in North Bend
  • Chicago Farmer & the Fieldnotes at the Liberty Theater
  • Todd Lipscomb plays Camp Springs Tavern (I’ll be there!)
  • McGuffey Lane is at the Levitt
  • Ludlow Garage hosts Kashmir (“the spirit of Led Zeppelin live”)
  • Hard Rock Casino has The Concert: a Tribute to ABBA
  • Tracy Walker plays New Riff Distilling
  • Rose Music Center hosts the Totally Tubular Festival featuring Thomas Dolby, A Flock of Seagulls, The Motels, The Producers, Animotion, The Escape Club and Tommy Tutone

Steve Earle plays solo and acoustic at Ludlow Garage on Wednesday, August 19.

On Thursday, August 20, Annie’s has Lettuce (but not the Taylor Farms kind!)

And RiversEdge has Sensamotion, which is (choose all that apply):

  • a reggae band
  • the brand name of a truck stop restroom condom
  • an updated version of the old “Magic Fingers” motel bed massage
  • what 70s disaster movies were filmed in

On Friday, August 21:

  • Wildermiss Young Heirlooms play a freebie at Fountain Square
  • Arts Fishing Club plays a free backyard show in Pleasant Ridge (reserve your spot here)
  • The Temptations and the Four Tops play the Hard Rock Casino
  • Riverbend features TLC and Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue

Shows on Saturday, August 22:

  • Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order) & the Light at Bogart’s
  • Noah Wotherspoon at the Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg, IN
  • Tommy Emmanuel plays the Taft
  • Stanley Jordan is at Ludlow Garage
  • Slave (Dayton funk legends) play a freebie at the Levitt
  • The Rose Music Center has the Happy Together Tour 2026 featuring The Association, The Troggs, Jason Scheff (of Chicago), Gary Puckett, The Fortunes, Ron Dante (of The Archies), The Vogues and The Cowsills

Bust out the Aquanet for Mötley Crüe with Tesla and Extreme at Riverbend on Tuesday, August 25.

Shows on Wednesday, August 26:

  • Tedeschi Trucks Band with Alabama Shakes at Riverbend
  • Don Was & the Pan Detroit Ensemble at Ludlow (check out this Broken Record interview with Don Was and you’ll definitely want to attend)
  • David Nail at the Levitt
  • TyeDye at Wunderbar

On Thursday, August 27, Hiroshima plays Ludlow and Levitt has Bad Co. Legacy

The Jayhawks play a free set at Fountain Square on Friday, August 28. I’ll definitely be there!

That same evening:

  • Brothers Osborne play the Rose
  • Knotts have a record release party at the Woodward with Moonbeau
  • Ludlow has Strangelove (a Depeche Mode tribute)

Gigs on Saturday, August 29:

  • Heather Redman & the Reputation at the Liberty Theater
  • Ray’s Music Exchange at the Woodward
  • Noah Smith has an album release show at Radio Artifact
  • Bret Michaels with Great White at the Rose
  • the family-friendly Fountain Square freebie features “Karate Girls”… guess they’ll have to put their clothes on

ZZ Top tops off August with a show at the Fraze on Sunday, August 30.

We love it live!

Good times in July with Death Cab for Cutie/Jay Som at Megacorp – with list members Todd and Regi and Mighty Joe.

The ageless wonder Nick Lowe with Los Straitjackets at Memorial Hall – with list member Dan “Reds in ’27” Lewis:

And Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit (not pictured*) at the Rose with list members Whit & Barb (not pictured), Dan Bockrath…

… and Tonya, Arnie, and Angelique:

*Isbell’s show was a “no photos or video” show – I respect that.

Arnie gets special props for adding friends to the distro list for this monthly silliness. Feel free to do the same. And Dan Bockrath offered this pro tip for attending any show that isn’t sold out: look at the seating chart on the day of the show, and any “blue dot” seats = instant free upgrade.

New tunes turn-ons

The Tubs continue their power-pop brilliance. I love them so much!

(List member Ken “Lobby Boy” Laube and I will be road-tripping to see them in Cleveland on 10/19.)

And Wishy also just released another tasty confection.

In memoriam

Bonnie Tyler may be gone, but her literal video will live forever.

On a much more serious note, my heart was filled with joy when Jeff Tweedy gave a shout-out to the late great Jay Bennett during the Billy Bragg/Wilco Mermaid Avenue set at Solid Sound.

The Jay Bennett era of Wilco was the best version of that band, and I will fight anyone who disagrees. Check out the Jay Bennett documentary for a deeper dive.

TicketBastard still sucks

Shameless Self-promotion

Dave Tellmann and I had a great time chatting with John Fox (editor of Cincinnati Magazine, former editor of CityBeat and Everybody’s News) on our 97X “Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast. Check it out here.

Album Covers of the Month

If their priority was looking friggin’ awesome, they can consider that box checked! (Clockwise from top: Kojak’s brother, Tony Orlando, Tim Conway and Michael Gross)

We can’t decide which design element we like more: the pixelated band photo or the illegible font for the band name. Nice work, Mylon. Or is it Mylor? Myloo?

Parting shot

But probably not as much as I regret paying some of my hard-earned Piggly Wiggly bag boy paycheck on a Starship concert back in the early 80s.

2 responses to “Dog days, sweet tunes”

  1. Stu McCulloch Avatar
    Stu McCulloch

    One change and one addition:

    Wildermiss has been replaced by Young Heirlooms on Aug 21.

    Noah Smith has an album release show at Radio Artifact in Aug 29.

    Reply
    1. Damian Avatar
      Damian

      Thanks, I’ve made those edits!

      Reply

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Septuneber

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

Hey, if “classic rock” radio stations can use the terms “Rocktober” and “Rollvember” then the staff at 97Xbam (all one of us) can coin our own phrase for the 9th month of the year.

We hope your Labor Day weekend was gloriously labor-free. Now let’s get back to work on the gigs:

Tonight:

  • Ani DiFranco plays the Taft with Hurray for the Riff Raff opening
  • Woodward Theater has The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis with Touchdown Jesus
  • It’s another Ween Wednesday at The Columbia. Tonight they’ll be spinning the Ween album Quebec

Thursday:

  • Ludlow Garage has the Texas Headhunters feat. Ian Moore, Jesse Dayton, and Johnny Moeller
  • Burning Witches play Madison Live

(Remember that before you burn a witch, you have to make sure she weighs the same as a duck.)

The Whimmydiddle Festival kicks off a two-day stand at RiversEDGE in Hamilton on Friday, with The Devil Makes Three and Town Mountain on the bill. Saturday, Grace Potter headlines with Taylor Hunnicutt and Clay Street Unit.

Other Friday shows:

  • Red Wanting Blue and Justin Wells plays Southgate’s main room
  • Colby T. Helms & the Virginia Creepers play the Southgate Revival Room
  • Electric Cars and Tragic Blonde Weekend are at the Woodward
  • CFG & the Family play the Liberty Theater
  • Miller & Other Sinners do the free gig at the Levitt in Dayton
  • The Redmoor in Mt. Lookout hosts Fleetwood Gold, which is either a Fleetwood Mac tribute band or a classic Cadillac
  • Ludlow Garage has Toast: the Ultimate Bread Tribute

Note: Toast is the Ultimate Tribute to the band Bread, and this is the ultimate tribute to toast:

It should be noted that Ludlow’s Toast is NOT on a stick.

Saturday is jam-packed with gigs:

  • Whimmydiddle Night 2 (Grace Potter, Taylor Hunnicutt and Clay Street Unit in case you’ve already forgotten the info from a couple paragraphs ago… and I get it!)
  • Carriers play a free show at MadTree Oakley, with the Wussy Duo and Lylak also on the bill, starting at 6 p.m.
  • Bonnie Raitt plays the Rose in Dayton, with Jimmie Vaughan & the Tilt-a-Whirl Band opening
  • The War and Treaty play Music Hall
  • The Brooks Werner Band will be at the Liberty Theater
  • Barrington Levy plays Ludlow Garage
  • The Red Clay Strays and The Dip are at the Carol Brady
  • The Redmoor has the Dead Revival Band
  • Dead Centric is at Stanley’s, with I Dig Pig as the opener

Back in high school, I dug the Pig too. My afterschool job was at the Piggly Wiggly in Morrilton, Arkansas.

Morrilton is also home to Petit Jean Meats, makers of a Mock Chicken Loaf.

Was there really a need in the lunch meat category for “mock chicken loaf”…???

Speaking of mockery, The Beach Boys play the Fraze on Sunday.

That same evening, Jerry Cantrell and Filter play Bogart’s, and Southgate House features Renegade: The Songs of Warren Zevon.

Shows this coming Tuesday:

  • Bob Mould does his solo electric thing at Memorial Hall, with J. Robbins
  • Bogart’s has the Yacht Rock Revue
  • Katie Pruitt and Jess Nolan play Southgate’s Sanctuary
  • Upstairs in the Southgate Revival Room, it’s Thelma and the Sleaze with Leggy

Shows next Wednesday, the 10th of Septuneber (yes, I’m sticking with it until it sticks):

  • Leon Bridges and Charley Crockett (“The Crooner and the Cowboy”) play the outdoor stage at the Marsha Brady*
  • Soccer Mommy is at Bogart’s
  • Chevelle plays the PNC Pavilion
  • AJ Lee & Blue Summit (California bluegrass) at Southgate in the Revival Room
  • Skerryvore (Scottish music) plays Ludlow Garage

*we chose Marsha for the outdoor stage because it always reminds us of this classic outdoor clip:

Shows on Thursday, Septuneber 11:

  • Gangstagrass plays Ludlow Garage
  • Scotty Bratcher and Johnny Mullenax play a free show at RiversEDGE
  • Liberty Theater has a free Songwriters in the Round show with Ryan Moore, Dave Lacey, and TC Eckstein
  • Erin Viancourt (country music… from Cleveland!) and Andrew Hibbard are at Southgate
  • Little Big Town plays Riverbend with Wynonna Judd and Shelby Lynne

(Morrilton, Arkansas is a Little Big Town, because it has a population of 6,992 yet it still has the temerity to mock chicken.)

Friday, Sept. (up to you whether it’s an abbreviation for September or Septuneber) 12:

  • James McMurtry and his band play the Woodward, with Betty Soo opening (I’ll be at that gig)
  • Bonnie Raitt and Jimmie Vaughan circle back to the area to play the Greg Brady
  • The Doobie Brothers and the Coral Reefer Band play Riverbend
  • Carson Lowe & Kayla Rose with Harley Day at the Liberty Theater
  • Poppy plays Bogart’s with MSPaint
  • Southgate House has Back to Mac, which is either a tribute to Fleetwood Mac or Mac Davis (Mac D. had the better perm back in the day)

Shows on Saturday, September (I give up) 13:

  • Momma plays the Woodward, with Villagerrr (not a typo) – I’ll be there!
  • Conan Gray is at Riverbend
  • The Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg, Indiana has an improv comedy show (featuring one of my co-workers in the troupe called Crash Course)

Tuesday, September 16:

  • “Weird Al” Yankovic and Puddles Pity Party are at the Ovation in Newport
  • Todd Lipscomb plays Arnold’s
  • The Close Trio and Jonathan Cody White play a Downtowne Listening Room show at the Historic Boone County Courthouse
  • blink-182 is at Riverbend – this was their finest hour:

We love it live!

I think we had a record number of folks cash in their “free beer” coupon at the last Cereal Killers show at Big Ash. Which was great. But the tunes from Cereal Killers were even greater.

Dave T. and I also attended a joyful house show featuring Jay and Tim from Too Much Joy — now in the band Wonderlick — in Hamilton.

(Tim and Jay might be coming soon to a podcast near you… )

Speaking o’ podcasts

The Kelce Bros and T-Swift…

… are no match for the “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” Bros and Julie Maxwell.

Tune in via the link below.

The “97X Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast is back, baby!

Maine gets it

Saw this posted on a shop window in Portland and fell even more in love with Maine:

It’s a New Tunes Bonanza!

Uh, that’s not what I had in mind. (But I still love you, Hoss!) I was referring to the new releases from Superchunk (below), Kathleen Edwards, and The Beths. Put yer ears on ’em!

Reason #2,327,097 why I love Chuck Cleaver

This exchange between Dave Tellmann and Chuck on FB was pure gold!

Akron rules!

Album (and 45 rpm) Covers of the Week(s)

The Bonanza cover above was a bonus. But here’s the back cover, so you can see an action photo of Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker, and Pernell Roberts contributing those sweet vocal harmonies to mix:

Spoiler alert: It involves booze. Thomas returned to the Hotel Chelsea, declaring, “I’ve had eighteen straight whiskeys. I think that’s the record!” Which means the record above is a record of the record.

The 80s sure were a different time.

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.

Spring Music Flings

Concert Listings, Concert review, Music

Like an agitated monkey, I’m about to fling some poop at you.

But you should be used to it by now – I do it every few weeks! If you can navigate around the verbal shite, you’ll find some cool concerts to check out.

Shows on tap for tonight:

  • Henhouse Prowlers and Moonshine Drive at the Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg
  • William Elliott Whitmore and Dave Hause at the Woodward, with Micah Schnabel opening
  • The Screaming Orphans at Ludlow Garage
  • Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco is at the Coliseum

Saturday shows:

  • Sylmar does two sets at MOTR
  • Buffalo Nichols plays the Liberty Theater
  • Southgate hosts the Newport Music Roots Festival (doors 3 p.m.) – details below
  • Woodward Theater has “Play for L.A.” – a benefit for fire-impacted musicians. The lineup includes Rae Fisher, The Montvales, Jess Lamb, Siri Imani and more.
  • Mike Detmer and Adam Gilliam play the Lost Bridge Beverage Co. in North Bend
  • Christine Harvilla Duo with Colleen Clark plus Sami Riggs at the Boone County Courthouse
  • Annie’s hosts Grateful River III (a benefit for Down Syndrome) – details below

On Sunday, Ben Levin Blues Band is doing the Rabbit Hash Music Behind the Stove Series at 2 p.m., and the band Lawrence plays Bogart’s in the evening.

Woodward has An Evening with Yo La Tengo on Tuesday. I’ll be at that gig, along with several other list members. Because Georgia, James and Ira are badasses!

Shannon McNally plays Southgate on Wednesday.

Thursday gigs:

  • Shadowgrass in Southgate’s main room, and Jake Blocker in the Revival Room
  • “Sons of Cream” (Kofi Baker, Malcolm Bruce and Rob Johnson) play Ludlow Garage. (Maybe they should call themselves “Half & Half”?)
  • Liberty Theater has a Comedy Night featuring Adam Minnick

Concerts next Friday, March 28:

  • The Blind Boys of Alabama with Shemekia Copeland at Taft Theatre
  • Chicago Farmer & the Fieldnotes at Southgate
  • The Outlaws at Ludlow Garage
  • Cody Ikerd & the Sidewinders Album release show w/Joe Clark at Liberty Theater
  • Little Miami Brewing’s event center has “Night Moves: The Ultimate Bob Seger Experience”
  • Blue Note in Harrison hosts The Prince Experience (pancakes not included)

The slate on Saturday, March 29:

  • Liberty Theater has a Rebel Whiskey tasting (4 FREE tasting!) from 5-7, followed by the Lowdown Brass Band
  • Blackhawk at Ludlow Garage
  • Lily Rose at Bogart’s
  • Bumpin’ Uglies at Madison Theater
  • Willi Carlisle at Southgate in the Revival Room
  • Annie’s has the all-female Led Zeppelin tribute band Zepparella
  • Blue Note features “Midnight Blue” (Foreigner Tribute) with One Way to Rock (Sammy Hagar tribute)

Shows on Sunday, March 30:

  • The Star Devils play Rabbit Hash in the afternoon
  • Sarah Shook & the Disarmers are at Liberty Theater (I plan to go to that show)
  • JD Simo and Luther Dickinson (of North Mississippi Allstars) at Southgate

Ricky Nye will be tickling the ivories as only Ricky can on Monday, March 31 at Memorial Hall, and Taft has The Faint with Plack Blague.

Shows on April Fools’ Day:

  • The Surfrajettes with Black Widow at Madison Theater
  • Al Stewart & Livingston Taylor at Memorial Hall
  • The Righteous Brothers “Loving Feeling Farewell Tour” makes a stop at Taft. (If you’ve lost that loving feeling, see your urologist!)

Wednesday, April 2 is another WEENsday at The Columbia in the East End (4311 Eastern Ave.) and this month’s featured WEEN album is Chocolate and Cheese… so they’ll have some chocolate-covered cheese to share.

I plan to attend that event. You should too – The Columbia is a very cool space (with a vintage jukebox in the basement), and WEENsdays are free and you can BYOB!

Tunes & Blooms kicks off at the Cincinnati Zoo on Thursday, April 3. Moonshine Drive and Pickin’ Pear will be on the T&B stages. The full April lineup is here. That same evening, right down the street, you can catch The Seven Wonders (yes, yet another Fleetwood Mac tribute band) at Ludlow Garage.

The Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg has a Record Fair April 4-5.

Shows on Friday 4/4 include Judah & the Lion* at Bogart’s and Eaglemania “The World’s Greatest Eagles Tribute”** at Ludlow Garage.

* If Bogart’s says their bathrooms are clean, they’re lion… er, lyin’.

**Pretty sure the world’s greatest Eagles Tribute is playing the Sphere in Las Vegas.

On Saturday, April 5:

  • The Young Dubliners play Ludlow Garage
  • John Waite is at the Taft
  • Queensrÿche plays Belterra Casino in Florence, Indiana
  • Patterson Hood is at the Whirling Tiger in Louisville, with Lydia Loveless as the opener

Sunday, April 6, Ludlow Garage has The Phil Collins Experience (warning: contains no Phil Collins).

We love it live!

MJ Lenderman and Wild Pink at the Green Lantern Bar in Lexington KY was off-the-charts amazing (set list is here). A Top 5 all-time show for me, thanks to list member Frank B.

This GQ profile of MJ is nice too. Money quote:

“Once music and work and money all become the same thing, it gets hard to do it casually. But that was the reason I was able to do anything meaningful in the first place,” he admits. “You can see that through my whole life, just being able to go to a friend’s house and make something and not worry about what it is.”

Now hear this!

The new album from The Tubs is top-notch. Richard Thompson meets Hüsker Dü.

Speaking of Richard Thompson, Bandcamp has a great feature about his influence on younger artists. Sayeth Mary Timony:

“His tone is always amazing, but here’s the thing—most importantly—his songwriting is great. He’s kind of the total package, in that he does both songwriting and playing guitar very well.”

Neil Young to The Cure: Why can’t I be you?

Neil is following Robert Smith’s lead on ticket prices. Could Neil wearing guyliner be next?

Ohio All The Time

New songs from Mommy and Sun Kil Moon reference the Buckeye State.

Of course it’s not Sun Kil Moon’s first Ohio rodeo:

The Best Video Ever

Today is the greatest… actually, 30 years ago was better

Fake Album Cover of the Week

This one (which came our way courtesy of Cereal Killers frontman Howard Cohen) has been doctored, but it should have been real:

Here’s the original album cover:

Speaking o’ our friends Cereal Killers, their drummer Chris Glen recently had surgery for prostate cancer. Here’s an update and his PSA P.S.A.

Album Cover(s) of the Week(s)

Yet another PSA P.S.A.

The Clarion Trio was waaay ahead of the curve on “throuples.”

New Year, New Tunes

Concert Listings, Music

Happy New Year, my friend! May your 2025 be rockin’!

I hope your resolutions are holding up well, too.

It’s not exactly a monster lineup of concerts, but let’s check the ol’ calendar to see what’s brewing the the live lab.

Tomorrow night, Memorial Hall has Queen Of The Queen City, The Musical Times of Mamie Smith. The band will be Ben Levin, Candice Ivory, Noah Wotherspoon, and Brandon Pettiford. And the Woodward Theater screens Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story.

On Wednesday, Hillary Hahn (the NKY singer-songwriter, not Hilary Hahn, the violinist) plays Arnold’s, and The Gilmour Project: Wish You Were Here is at Memorial Hall. The Gilmour Project is:

  • Pete Lavezzoli (drums with Black JGB, Oteil & Friends), and Hilary Hahn plays Arnold’s
  • Jeff Pevar (lead guitar with CSN, David Crosby/CPR, Joe Cocker, Ray Charles, Bette Midler, Phil Lesh & Friends, Ricki Lee Jones, Marc Cohn)
  • Berry Oakley (bass & vocals with Allman Betts Band, North Mississippi All-Stars, Blue Floyd & The Doors)
  • Mark Karan (guitar & vocals with Bob Weir, RatDog, The Other Ones, Dave Mason)
  • Scott Guberman (keyboard & vocals with Phil Lesh & Friends, Keystone Revisited)

The Gilmour Project isn’t: David Gilmour.

Thursday, The Daniel Wayne Band (more on them later) plays MOTR. And if you’re into pro wrasslin’, Lori’s Roadhouse in West Chester has something big… er, little, in store.

Shows this Friday:

  • Peter Mulvey plays Southgate
  • Ernie Johnson from Detroit is at the Liberty Theater in Lawrenceburg, IN
  • Ludlow Garage has The Ultimate Doors
  • Ludlow Theater rolls out the red(s) carpet for the Bronson Arroyo Band

On Saturday:

  • Pelican and Knife the Symphony play the Woodward
  • Southgate House hosts Blind Mouse (a Radiohead tribute band)
  • Annie’s has the KISS tribute band Strutter

I wonder if, when Strutter hits the stage, they say “you wanted a reasonable facsimile of the best, you got a reasonable facsimile of the best”…

A week from tomorrow — on MLK Jr. Day, no less — it’s inauguration day for, as Jeff Tiedrich calls him:

a quadrice-indicted twice-impeached once-convicted popular-vote-losing adderall-huffing insurrection-leading ear-diapering testimony-ducking judge-threatening lawyer-ignoring debate-avoiding witness-tampering day-one-dictatoring disabled-veteran-dishonoring inheritance-squandering rube-fleecing clown-makeup-smearing language-mangling sneaker-hawking serial-sexual-predating draft-dodging casino-bankrupting butler-bullying daughter-perving hush-money-paying real-estate-scamming bone-spur-faking ketchup-hurling justice-obstructing classified-war-plan-thieving golf-cheating stock-manipulating weather-map-defacing war-criminal-pardoning horse-paste-promoting paper-towel-flinging race-baiting tax-evading evidence-destroying charity-defrauding money-laundering diaper-filling 88-count 78-year-old fluorescent-tangerine narcoleptic fart factory. 

Next Tuesday (1/21), local singer/songwriter/all-around-great-guy Todd Lipscomb plays Arnold’s.

Liberty Theater has a free Songwriters in the Round show next Thursday (1/23) featuring Harley Day and James Reed.

Shows on Friday, Jan. 24:

  • Webb Wilder and Bucket play Southgate
  • Mosant is at MOTR
  • Papadosio kicks off a two-night stand at the Madison Theater
  • Meshell Ndegeocello plays Ludlow Garage
  • Little Miami Brewing Co. hosts The Eagles Project
  • The Blue Note in Harrison has Captain Fantastic (Elton John tribute) with 52nd Street (yes, a Billy Joel tribute band)

On Saturday, Jan. 25:

  • Memorial Hall has “On a Winter’s Night” with singer/songwriters Cliff Eberhardt, John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky, and Patty Larkin
  • Magnolia Boulevard plays the Liberty Theater, with Pure Grain also on the bill
  • The Montvales play the Woodward, with The Harmed Brothers and Rae Fisher
  • Papadosio is papa-doing it again at Madison Theater
  • Adeem the Artist plays Southgate
  • JD Legends in Franklin, OH has Thunderstruck (America’s AC/DC)
  • The Aronoff hosts The Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular

Noah Wotherspoon plays the Rabbit Hash “Music Behind the Stove” series on Sunday, Jan. 26 (2 p.m. show start) and Tinfoil Hat Cowboys play two sets that evening at MOTR.

The Faux Frenchmen play Memorial Hall on Monday, Jan. 27. Here’s my favorite faux Frenchman:

Memorial Hall has “All You Need is Love: An All-Star Tribute to the Beatles” on Tuesday, Jan. 28.

  • Kasim Sulton – Vocals, Bass, Guitar (Meatloaf, Todd Rundgren’s Utopia, Blue Oyster Cult, Hall & Oates, Cheap Trick, Cyndi Lauper, Patty Smyth, Joan Jett)
  • Steve Kimock – Guitar, Bass (Zero, Oteil & Friends, Jazz Is Dead, The Other Ones, RatDog, Rhythm Devils, Phil Lesh & Friends, Kingfish, Heart of Gold Band)
  • Prairie Prince – Drums (The Tubes, Journey, Todd Rundgren, Blue Floyd, Jefferson Starship, Phil Lesh & Friends, XTC, George Harrison, Chris Isaak)
  • Bobby Lee Rodgers – Vocals, Guitar, Banjo, Sitar Simulation (Jazz is Dead, The Codetalkers with Col. Bruce Hampton, Vassar Clements, Warren Haynes, Widespread Panic, George Porter Jr.)
  • Gil Assayas – Vocals, Keyboard (Kasim Sulton’s Utopia, Todd Rundgren’s Utopia)
  • Mark Rashotte – Guitar (Jake Clemons, Creed, Photograph)
  • Andy Forgie – Vocals, Theatrics (Creed, Photograph)
  • Narrated by Michael Des Barres (The Mistakes, Power Station, Detective, Silverhead)

Not part of the band: Pete Best.

Go to church on WEENsdays

Here’s a pretty cool monthly event going on down on Eastern Avenue (where it’s still called “Eastern Avenue” not the hoity toity “Riverside Drive” section). My friend Eric’s wife Laura runs The Columbia, an old church that’s been converted into a performance space.

I’ve visited the venue, it has great acoustics, a cool vibe, and a vintage jukebox in the basement.

And it’s available for audio and video recording (Ruby Vileos, The Hiders, and Daniel Wayne Band all have test driven it), rehearsal space, private shows, social gatherings, and more.

Follow The Columbia on Instagram, and email the.columbia.cincy@gmail.com for more info.  

A+ on SNL

I’m not the biggest Hozier fan in the world, but he and his band and backup singers did justice to one of the best Xmas songs ever.

Wurster has Slim musical knowledge

Jon Wurster (drummer for Mountain Goats and Bob Mould, formerly with Superchunk) is a great follow on Instagram. His #mynewworstfriend posts are consistently hilarious (see below for a prime example). But he also is a student of the the scene, and his tribute to the late great replacement Replacement Slim Dunlap was fantastic:

List member Joe Sampson and I will always fondly remember talking to Slim at the old Southgate House. The liquor store named Cabooze figured prominently in the conversation.

Jon Wurster also played on this tune (as did Wilco’s John Stirratt):

Winter weather is the Wurst

From the aforementioned Jon Wurster Instagram, where folks can submit weird and wacky photos/images to claim the daily title of his new worst friend.

America is catching on to Wussy

Their new album Cincinnati Ohio made several 2024 year-end best of lists. #50 on the Rolling Stone’s 50 Best Indie Rock Albums, #50 in the Stereogum Top 50, and #36 on Paste’s 40 Best Rock Albums.

Album Covers of the Weeks

My new year’s resolution. It’s a lot better than my current “work and stay poor” plan. I’m struggling with the “think” part, though.

Drinking and driving… what could possibly go wrong?

R.I.P. Slim