Q3 Concert Calendar
I'd call it a rock & roll calendar, but the shows I've seen since last time weren't particularly rock & roll.
- Fred Eaglesmith put on his usual excellent show at the Beachland Tavern; the Fabulous Ginn Sisters (well, Sister) were fun too. More alt.country than rock & roll.
- gieves, darlox and I had a lovely picnic on the lawn at Blossom and saw Emanuel Ax put on a Chopin clinic with the Cleveland Orchestra. Ax is a rock star, but it's not rock & roll.
- Dweezil Zappa and friends did Zappa Plays Zappa at the House of Blues. That was sort of rock, but you could just as well say it was sort of jazz, or sort of ten other things. I saw it for free.
- I also got free tickets to see The Carolina Chocolate Drops at Cain Park. They're a string band, so they really aren't rock & roll at all. They were also not hitting on all cylinders; there was too much in the ways of pauses and tuning.
- Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band rocked the Kent Stage hard and are strong contenders for 2012 show of the year, but they're folk rockish, with occasional pop influences. They're opener, Bhi Bhiman, was more funny than anything.
Those shows were all good fun. Now let's see what's coming up. Bold means I'm going, Italics (or emphasis, if you prefer) means it is a strong maybe.
July
W 7/25 - Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival @ Blossom. Featuring Motörhead, Slayer and Anthrax and a bunch of lesser bands.
W 7/25 - Torche w/Ohio Sky @ R&R HoF. Free show!
F 7/27 - Kris Kristofferson @ Kent Stage. Be sure to ask him about his starring role in Blade.
S 7/28 - Van Halen @ the Q. 3 Van Halens and David Lee Roth. What can go wrong?
M 7/30 - Florence @ the Machine @ Nautica. The Walkmen are opening and are well worth seeing. Pity it's at Nautica, where acoustics go to die.
T 7/31 - "Jazz and Tap" featuring Sarah Savelli, Ayodele Casel, & Jackie Warren Trio @ Nighttown. A jazz trio and two tap dances. Sounds neat.
August
W 8/01 - Bouncing Souls @ Beachland Ballroom. For me personally this would be one for the bucket list, although they did put out a new album so they're presumably not just phoning it in.
W 8/01 - Mr. Gnome w/Bear in Heaven @ R&R HoF. Free show! Mr. Gnome is easily worth free; they are a local duo doing loud music.
W 8/01 - Anamanaguchi @ Grog Shop. Chiptunes!
R 8/02 - Barry Manilow @ Blossom. Somehow I feel like he won't draw as well as Neil Diamond did.
R 8/02 - The Young Dubliners @ Wilberts. Celtic stuff. Listed on the off chance Mutant is reading this, although presumably he already knows.
F 8/03 - Rufus Wainwright @ HOB. Seems like an odd venue choice for him, seeing as the acoustics aren't good for bands who aren't really loud.
F 8/03 - The Revelations feat. Tre Williams @ Beachland Tavern. Featuring openers Wesley Bright & The Hi-Lites, who are the best local soul band and are well worth the $10 even if the headliner turns out to suck. My man Charles spins rare soul and funk before the show.
S 8/04 - Wilco @ Lifestyle Communities Pavilion (Columbus). I'm going with EJ, will see The Spektron and Lazybones there too.
W 8/08 - Steve Earle & The Dukes @ Kent Stage. When I saw him it was one of the best shows I've ever seen period. That was in the run up to the 2004 election, so he was even angrier than usual.
F 8/10 - Candye Kane @ Wilberts. Once again she comes to town, and once again I'm out of town. I'm beginning to think I'll never see this blueswoman.
S 8/11 - The Queers @ Grog Shop. I think I list these punks just to guarantee that I won't get to go see them. This is no exception.
M 8/13 - Jeff Coffin Mutet @ Nighttown. Bela Fleck's sax player leads a group that includes Future Man.
W 8/15 - Jackson Browne @ Cain Park. I'd be interested, but it coincides with Iceland 2012: A Vacation We Can Believe In. It's also sold out.
W 8/15 & R 8/16 - Hot Club of Detroit @ Nighttown. Gypsy swing from Michigan. It's an album release party for these guys.
F 8/17 - Dokken @ HOB. This guy is really excited.
S 8/18 - Jon Langford & Skull Orchard @ Beachland Ballroom. The Bloodshot mainstay returns with his newest project. Never boring.
Su 8/19 - JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound. If you like soul/funk, get yourself to this show. If my plane lands in time I will be there.
T 8/21 - Shonen Knife @ Beachland Ballroom. Imagine that you took a bunch of Japanese women and taught the rudiments of Rock & Roll Stardom ("Hello Cleveland! Pete Townsend style windmilling, etc) and then had them do poppy rock & roll. You've just envisioned Shonen Knife.
W 8/22 - Sharon Van Etten w/Bethesda @ R&R HoF. Free show! My co-host Shari plays Van Etten all the time; it's fun poppy stuff and definitely worth checking out for free.
W 8/22 - The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band @ Grog Shop. Their last few albums are good country blues.
R 8/23 - Secret Cities @ Now That's Class. Listed solely because they're from Fargo, North Dakota! Described as psychedelic dark pop, but in any event the first ND band I've seen listed in Cleveland other than Jonny Lang!
F 8/24 - Lou Ragland & Hot Chocolate @ Beachland Ballroom. Another long-time soul journeyman (this one from Cleveland) attempts to cash in on the neo-soul revival. And more power to him.
Su 8/26 - Maps & Atlases @ Grog Shop. On the long list of bands I really mean to go back and listen to some more. Indie rock, for whatever that description is worth (not much).
Su 8/26 - Jello Biafra & The Guantanamo School of Medicine @ Beachland Ballroom. Jello Biafra is still loud, angry and political.
W 8/29 - Jason Lescalleet @ Now That's Class. "Experimental musician specializing in reel-to-reel tape manipulation & electro-accoustic sound." Sounds like something for glacial23.
September
S 9/01 - Herman's Hermits @ Akron Civic. With Peter Noone. I'm not sure if I'm listing this for the irony value or because I'm actually considering going. Hopefully for the former.
W 9/05 - Daikaiju @ Now That's Class. Described as revved up Alabama surf rock; sounds like a $5 bet to me.
Su 9/16 - GWAR @ HOB. Apparently getting fluids thrown on you by marginally talented musicians never grows old. And that's fine by me.
M 9/17 - Antibalas @ Beachland Ballroom. The Daptone instrumentalists return!
T 9/18 - Missy Higgins @ Beachland Ballroom. I saw her in Australia, she's pretty good.
W 9/19 - Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators @ HOB. I was fortunate enough to see Slash many years ago when he toured with the Snakepit, and the man has more stage presence than anyone I have ever seen. He can play guitar a little too.
W 9/19 - Emilie Autumn @ Peabodys. Didn't see her last time, still looks like strange good fun.
F 9/21 - The Jesus & Mary Chain @ HOB. All bands reunite some day, apparently. Although I admit I'm not actually sure if they broke up after the last reunion or not.
S 9/22 - Journey @ Blossom. They can't stop believing.
Su 9/23 - RJD2 @ Grog Shop. Hip-hop / beats, loosely speaking.
M 9/24 - Steve Vai @ HOB. Made his bones playing with Zappa, may be the best guitarist David Lee Roth has ever played with, consistently listed as one of the best guitarists working.
R 9/27 - Less Than Jake @ Grog Shop. The venues keep getting smaller, but they still keep playing. Maybe this is the time I'll see them. Nah, probably not.
S 9/29 - Ani DiFranco @ Kent Stage. Saw her once with the full band and it was fantastic. Saw her again solo, and it was meh. This appears to be the latter.
Su 9/30 - The Afghan Whigs @ Beachland Ballroom. This is the single most expensive show I've ever seen listed at the Beachland. I'm sure it will sell out.
October
S 10/06 - Firewater @ Grog Shop. They were my 2008 show of the year, and that year's album "The Golden Hour" was brilliant. I look forward to seeing them again.
10/08 - Neil Young and Crazy Horse @ Wolstein Center. As stated previously, he is at the top of my bucket list... AND I HAVE TICKETS!! WOOOOO!!! And Los Lobos is opening!
M 10/08 - Tilly & The Wall @ Grog Shop. They finally come back... and it's the same night as Neil Young. There is no justice. Anyway, tap dancing supplements the percussion.
T 10/09 - Propagandhi @ Grog Shop. Loud, angry Canadian political punk.
R 10/18 and F 10/19 - Social Distortion @ HOB. There's been no new material worth speaking of, but Social D can still pack them in.
F 10/19 - Electric Six @ Grog Shop. Listed so I have an excuse to play Gay Bar on the radio. Like I need one.
Su 10/21 - Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain @ Kent Stage. The man is 85. If liked O Brother Where Art Thou and you've always meant to see him, stop putting it off.
T 10/23 - Dinosaur Jr @ Beachland Ballroom. Note: no actual dinosaurs.
T 10/23 - Morrissey @ Heinz Hall (Pittsburgh). I've got a ticket and people to carpool with.
S 10/27 - Gina Sicilia @ Winchester. Ten dollar bet on a young blues singer.
S 10/27 - Savion Glover @ EJ Thomas Hall. Possible the greatest living tap dance, due to shows such as "Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk".
Su 10/28 - Rush @ The Q. I may have a free ticket, which is good, because I'm not paying those rates.
Far Beyond
S 11/3 - Yo-Yo Ma & the Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall. Will sell out. Need to be a subscriber to buy tickets (at least at first). Might be enough to push me to subscribe.
R 12/6 and S 12/8 - Béla Fleck and the Cleveland Orchestera perform the Béla Fleck Banjo Concerto @ Severance Hall. I'm really excited by this.
Su 12/16 - Straight No Chaser @ Playhouse Square. As mentioned here.
F 1/18/13 - Joshua Bell and the Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall. Featuring the Beethoven Violin Concerto.
R 2/07/13 - The Black Watch and the Band of the Scots Guards. Lots and lots of bagpipes.
How do you find local shows? Try these: Pollstar. Beachland Ballroom & Tavern, Grog Shop, Peabodys, CSU Convocation (aka Wolstein) Center, HOB, Winchester, Kent Stage, Agora Theater & Ballroom, Wilberts, Quicken Loans Arena, Night Town, Playhouse Square, Rock Hall, Cain Park, Blossom, Nautica Pavilion, Lakewood Civic Auditorium, Severance Hall, E.J. Thomas Hall (Akron), Musica (Akron), Akron Civic, CityMusic Cleveland, Now That's Class, Happy Dog, Mahall's 20 Lanes.
As always, you can hear a lot of these bands on Fantasy for Transmitter and Two Hosts, every Sunday from 2pm to 4pm on WRUW-FM 91.1, or online either streaming or as a downloadable MP3. Sometimes Shari & I even give away tickets.
And stay tuned; another house concert is in the works. November is the target, and I hope to be able to make an announcement sooner rather than later.
Man, October is shaping up to be awesome.
- Fred Eaglesmith put on his usual excellent show at the Beachland Tavern; the Fabulous Ginn Sisters (well, Sister) were fun too. More alt.country than rock & roll.
- gieves, darlox and I had a lovely picnic on the lawn at Blossom and saw Emanuel Ax put on a Chopin clinic with the Cleveland Orchestra. Ax is a rock star, but it's not rock & roll.
- Dweezil Zappa and friends did Zappa Plays Zappa at the House of Blues. That was sort of rock, but you could just as well say it was sort of jazz, or sort of ten other things. I saw it for free.
- I also got free tickets to see The Carolina Chocolate Drops at Cain Park. They're a string band, so they really aren't rock & roll at all. They were also not hitting on all cylinders; there was too much in the ways of pauses and tuning.
- Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band rocked the Kent Stage hard and are strong contenders for 2012 show of the year, but they're folk rockish, with occasional pop influences. They're opener, Bhi Bhiman, was more funny than anything.
Those shows were all good fun. Now let's see what's coming up. Bold means I'm going, Italics (or emphasis, if you prefer) means it is a strong maybe.
July
W 7/25 - Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival @ Blossom. Featuring Motörhead, Slayer and Anthrax and a bunch of lesser bands.
W 7/25 - Torche w/Ohio Sky @ R&R HoF. Free show!
F 7/27 - Kris Kristofferson @ Kent Stage. Be sure to ask him about his starring role in Blade.
S 7/28 - Van Halen @ the Q. 3 Van Halens and David Lee Roth. What can go wrong?
M 7/30 - Florence @ the Machine @ Nautica. The Walkmen are opening and are well worth seeing. Pity it's at Nautica, where acoustics go to die.
T 7/31 - "Jazz and Tap" featuring Sarah Savelli, Ayodele Casel, & Jackie Warren Trio @ Nighttown. A jazz trio and two tap dances. Sounds neat.
August
W 8/01 - Bouncing Souls @ Beachland Ballroom. For me personally this would be one for the bucket list, although they did put out a new album so they're presumably not just phoning it in.
W 8/01 - Mr. Gnome w/Bear in Heaven @ R&R HoF. Free show! Mr. Gnome is easily worth free; they are a local duo doing loud music.
W 8/01 - Anamanaguchi @ Grog Shop. Chiptunes!
R 8/02 - Barry Manilow @ Blossom. Somehow I feel like he won't draw as well as Neil Diamond did.
R 8/02 - The Young Dubliners @ Wilberts. Celtic stuff. Listed on the off chance Mutant is reading this, although presumably he already knows.
F 8/03 - Rufus Wainwright @ HOB. Seems like an odd venue choice for him, seeing as the acoustics aren't good for bands who aren't really loud.
F 8/03 - The Revelations feat. Tre Williams @ Beachland Tavern. Featuring openers Wesley Bright & The Hi-Lites, who are the best local soul band and are well worth the $10 even if the headliner turns out to suck. My man Charles spins rare soul and funk before the show.
S 8/04 - Wilco @ Lifestyle Communities Pavilion (Columbus). I'm going with EJ, will see The Spektron and Lazybones there too.
W 8/08 - Steve Earle & The Dukes @ Kent Stage. When I saw him it was one of the best shows I've ever seen period. That was in the run up to the 2004 election, so he was even angrier than usual.
F 8/10 - Candye Kane @ Wilberts. Once again she comes to town, and once again I'm out of town. I'm beginning to think I'll never see this blueswoman.
S 8/11 - The Queers @ Grog Shop. I think I list these punks just to guarantee that I won't get to go see them. This is no exception.
M 8/13 - Jeff Coffin Mutet @ Nighttown. Bela Fleck's sax player leads a group that includes Future Man.
W 8/15 - Jackson Browne @ Cain Park. I'd be interested, but it coincides with Iceland 2012: A Vacation We Can Believe In. It's also sold out.
W 8/15 & R 8/16 - Hot Club of Detroit @ Nighttown. Gypsy swing from Michigan. It's an album release party for these guys.
F 8/17 - Dokken @ HOB. This guy is really excited.
S 8/18 - Jon Langford & Skull Orchard @ Beachland Ballroom. The Bloodshot mainstay returns with his newest project. Never boring.
Su 8/19 - JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound. If you like soul/funk, get yourself to this show. If my plane lands in time I will be there.
T 8/21 - Shonen Knife @ Beachland Ballroom. Imagine that you took a bunch of Japanese women and taught the rudiments of Rock & Roll Stardom ("Hello Cleveland! Pete Townsend style windmilling, etc) and then had them do poppy rock & roll. You've just envisioned Shonen Knife.
W 8/22 - Sharon Van Etten w/Bethesda @ R&R HoF. Free show! My co-host Shari plays Van Etten all the time; it's fun poppy stuff and definitely worth checking out for free.
W 8/22 - The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band @ Grog Shop. Their last few albums are good country blues.
R 8/23 - Secret Cities @ Now That's Class. Listed solely because they're from Fargo, North Dakota! Described as psychedelic dark pop, but in any event the first ND band I've seen listed in Cleveland other than Jonny Lang!
F 8/24 - Lou Ragland & Hot Chocolate @ Beachland Ballroom. Another long-time soul journeyman (this one from Cleveland) attempts to cash in on the neo-soul revival. And more power to him.
Su 8/26 - Maps & Atlases @ Grog Shop. On the long list of bands I really mean to go back and listen to some more. Indie rock, for whatever that description is worth (not much).
Su 8/26 - Jello Biafra & The Guantanamo School of Medicine @ Beachland Ballroom. Jello Biafra is still loud, angry and political.
W 8/29 - Jason Lescalleet @ Now That's Class. "Experimental musician specializing in reel-to-reel tape manipulation & electro-accoustic sound." Sounds like something for glacial23.
September
S 9/01 - Herman's Hermits @ Akron Civic. With Peter Noone. I'm not sure if I'm listing this for the irony value or because I'm actually considering going. Hopefully for the former.
W 9/05 - Daikaiju @ Now That's Class. Described as revved up Alabama surf rock; sounds like a $5 bet to me.
Su 9/16 - GWAR @ HOB. Apparently getting fluids thrown on you by marginally talented musicians never grows old. And that's fine by me.
M 9/17 - Antibalas @ Beachland Ballroom. The Daptone instrumentalists return!
T 9/18 - Missy Higgins @ Beachland Ballroom. I saw her in Australia, she's pretty good.
W 9/19 - Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators @ HOB. I was fortunate enough to see Slash many years ago when he toured with the Snakepit, and the man has more stage presence than anyone I have ever seen. He can play guitar a little too.
W 9/19 - Emilie Autumn @ Peabodys. Didn't see her last time, still looks like strange good fun.
F 9/21 - The Jesus & Mary Chain @ HOB. All bands reunite some day, apparently. Although I admit I'm not actually sure if they broke up after the last reunion or not.
S 9/22 - Journey @ Blossom. They can't stop believing.
Su 9/23 - RJD2 @ Grog Shop. Hip-hop / beats, loosely speaking.
M 9/24 - Steve Vai @ HOB. Made his bones playing with Zappa, may be the best guitarist David Lee Roth has ever played with, consistently listed as one of the best guitarists working.
R 9/27 - Less Than Jake @ Grog Shop. The venues keep getting smaller, but they still keep playing. Maybe this is the time I'll see them. Nah, probably not.
S 9/29 - Ani DiFranco @ Kent Stage. Saw her once with the full band and it was fantastic. Saw her again solo, and it was meh. This appears to be the latter.
Su 9/30 - The Afghan Whigs @ Beachland Ballroom. This is the single most expensive show I've ever seen listed at the Beachland. I'm sure it will sell out.
October
S 10/06 - Firewater @ Grog Shop. They were my 2008 show of the year, and that year's album "The Golden Hour" was brilliant. I look forward to seeing them again.
10/08 - Neil Young and Crazy Horse @ Wolstein Center. As stated previously, he is at the top of my bucket list... AND I HAVE TICKETS!! WOOOOO!!! And Los Lobos is opening!
M 10/08 - Tilly & The Wall @ Grog Shop. They finally come back... and it's the same night as Neil Young. There is no justice. Anyway, tap dancing supplements the percussion.
T 10/09 - Propagandhi @ Grog Shop. Loud, angry Canadian political punk.
R 10/18 and F 10/19 - Social Distortion @ HOB. There's been no new material worth speaking of, but Social D can still pack them in.
F 10/19 - Electric Six @ Grog Shop. Listed so I have an excuse to play Gay Bar on the radio. Like I need one.
Su 10/21 - Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain @ Kent Stage. The man is 85. If liked O Brother Where Art Thou and you've always meant to see him, stop putting it off.
T 10/23 - Dinosaur Jr @ Beachland Ballroom. Note: no actual dinosaurs.
T 10/23 - Morrissey @ Heinz Hall (Pittsburgh). I've got a ticket and people to carpool with.
S 10/27 - Gina Sicilia @ Winchester. Ten dollar bet on a young blues singer.
S 10/27 - Savion Glover @ EJ Thomas Hall. Possible the greatest living tap dance, due to shows such as "Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk".
Su 10/28 - Rush @ The Q. I may have a free ticket, which is good, because I'm not paying those rates.
Far Beyond
S 11/3 - Yo-Yo Ma & the Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall. Will sell out. Need to be a subscriber to buy tickets (at least at first). Might be enough to push me to subscribe.
R 12/6 and S 12/8 - Béla Fleck and the Cleveland Orchestera perform the Béla Fleck Banjo Concerto @ Severance Hall. I'm really excited by this.
Su 12/16 - Straight No Chaser @ Playhouse Square. As mentioned here.
F 1/18/13 - Joshua Bell and the Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall. Featuring the Beethoven Violin Concerto.
R 2/07/13 - The Black Watch and the Band of the Scots Guards. Lots and lots of bagpipes.
How do you find local shows? Try these: Pollstar. Beachland Ballroom & Tavern, Grog Shop, Peabodys, CSU Convocation (aka Wolstein) Center, HOB, Winchester, Kent Stage, Agora Theater & Ballroom, Wilberts, Quicken Loans Arena, Night Town, Playhouse Square, Rock Hall, Cain Park, Blossom, Nautica Pavilion, Lakewood Civic Auditorium, Severance Hall, E.J. Thomas Hall (Akron), Musica (Akron), Akron Civic, CityMusic Cleveland, Now That's Class, Happy Dog, Mahall's 20 Lanes.
As always, you can hear a lot of these bands on Fantasy for Transmitter and Two Hosts, every Sunday from 2pm to 4pm on WRUW-FM 91.1, or online either streaming or as a downloadable MP3. Sometimes Shari & I even give away tickets.
And stay tuned; another house concert is in the works. November is the target, and I hope to be able to make an announcement sooner rather than later.
Man, October is shaping up to be awesome.