2013 Summer Concert Calendar
The summer schedule is heating up. I've already got tickets for three different shows, and I'm sure more will follow in the near future. As always, bold means I'm going and italics means I'm more than normally interested but haven't committed yet. You can hear virtually all of these bands on the radio show I share with the fabulous Shari Sundays from 2pm to 4pm EST on WRUW-FM 91.1; listen online or download the MP3 archive at WRUW.org.
I'm sure I'll also catch the orchestra at Blossom this summer, but they don't seem to have the schedule posted yet.
May
T 5/14 - Telekinesis @ Grog Shop. They've got a new album which is pretty solid if you like the indie pop thing.
T 5/14 - The English Beat @ Beachland Ballroom. Or The Beat, if you happen to be English.
W 5/15 - Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express @ Beachland Ballroom. I really liked his last album, Temple Beautiful, which is San Francisco themed rock, more or less.
R 5/16 - JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound @ Grog Shop. Loud Chicago soul. They were great the first time I saw them, and their new disc Howl sounds pretty good to me.
R 5/16 - Bill The Sauce Boss Wharton @ Wilberts. He makes gumbo on stage while playing the blues. After the show, everybody eats.
S 5/18 - The Thermals @ Beachland Ballroom. Really loud. I may see them again in the hopes that they play Stare Like Yours, which is a legitimately great song but which they apparently regard as filler. Sigh.
Su 5/19 - Lady Lamb The Beekeeper @ Beachland Tavern. $8 bet on a woman whose musical style description comes across as 'weird'.
F 5/24 - Gina Sicilia @ Winchester. Sold female blues singer.
Su 5/26 - Buddy Guy @ Nautica. Blues guitar legend. Part of Ribfest.
R 5/30 - Bloc Party @ HOB. They got a few songs I really like, e.g. Sunday.
June
Su 6/02 - Jonathan Richman @ Beachland Ballroom. The former Modern Love has has a strong solo acoustic career for many years. I saw him once and enjoyed it greatly.
R 6/06 - Cyrille Aimee @ Nighttown. With her guitar sextet (same lineup as earlier this year). I've seen her 4 times (more?) now and she's fantastic. I'm not 100% certain I want to drop $25 to see her again so soon... but I probably will.
F 6/07 - B.B. King @ Akron Civic. He's getting up there in age, so if you want to cross this blues legend off your bucket list you should probably jump on this.
F 6/07 - The Dandy Warhols @ Grog Shop. The Grog Shop stalwarts return.
S 6/08 - Wesley Bright & the Hi-Lites @ Happy Dog. At this point it's somewhat of an embarrassment that I haven't been to the Happy Dog, so I'm going to try for this one. Soul & Hot Dogs!
S 6/08 - Rebirth Brass Band @ Beachland Ballroom. I love New Orleans style brass bands.
T 6/11 - Orgone @ Grog Shop. The only funk band in the land that is even close to the same league as the Dap-Kings. Come prepared to dance.
W 6/12 - The Dirty Projectors @ Beachland Ballroom. I have a lot of friends who love their albums. My friend Adam spins records before and after the show.
R 6/13 - Alice Cooper & Marilyn Manson @ Nautica. WE ARE NOT WORTHY! WE ARE NOT WORTHY! That joke may only be funny if you were in junior high when Wayne's World came out.
R 6/13 - Leon Russell @ Kent Stage. Rock & Roll Hall of Famer as a sideman (or whatever they call that category now). He is more deserving than roughly 15% of the current roster.
S 6/15 - Fleetwood Mac @ The Q. I saw them (also McVie-less) some years ago and had a good time. Cross it off your bucket list while you can.
S 6/15 - Mustard Plug @ Peabodys. This is one of my favorite ska bands, and Peabodys is relocating soon, but alas I am out of town that day.
Su 6/16 - Man or Astroman? @ Beachland Ballroom. Naturally, they tour again and I'm out of town. Surf rock revival, sort of.
W 6/19 - Fred Eaglesmith @ Beachland Tavern. I'm bummed out that I'm going to be out of town for Fred's latest gig. I think he's fantastic live.
F 6/21 - Black Violin @ Cain Park. Classical Music + Hip-Hop. Why not?
S 6/22 - Susan Werner @ Cain Park. Female singer-songwriter.
Su 6/23 - Golem @ Cain Park. Free Klezmer show.
Su 6/30 - Sharon Jones @ the Dap-Kings @ Cain Park. OH YES THANK YOU. I have my ticket AND an extra, in case I run into a hot girl who likes soul music.
Su 6/30 - Rock & Soul Festival @ Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. No bands listed yet, but it does says "national and local soul acts". Of course, I'll be watching Sharon that night, who is the best soul band currently performing - and if I'm wrong about that it can't be by much!
Su 6/30 - The Zombies @ Beachland Ballroom. The creators of Odyssey & Oracle charge a whole bunch. I saw them once and liked it, but even if they weren't up against Sharon I probably wouldn't drop another $25 on them.
July
W 7/03 - Yeasayer @ Beachland Ballroom. I feel like I should know who these guys are, so I've listed them so I remember to pull them out at the station.
Su 7/07 - O.A.R. @ Nautica. Listed mostly because I have friends from in out of town that weekend specifically for this show, and this way I'll have a nice reminder that I look at every week. Because, frankly O.A.R. sucks. Plus I may be in the car that night, because on the next day...
M 7/08 - David Byrne & St. Vincent @ Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor. I'll be meeting pianodan and drdingbat down there.
T 7/09 - Kurt Vile @ Grog Shop. Matador recording artist, with everything that implies.
T 7/09 - Cat Empire @ Beachland Ballroom. I saw them in their native Australia 9 years ago. Ska/jazz fusion, of a sorts.
T 7/09 - Fun w/Teagan & Sara @ Nautica. If you liked their big hit "We're So Young" here's your chance.
W 7/10 - Xavier Rudd @ Beachland Ballroom. I saw him in his native Australia 9 years ago too. What are the odds that two bands from the 2004 Falls Fest would turn up in Cleveland in the same venue on consecutive nights? Weird.
F 7/12 - Rubblebucket @ Grog. You will dance. Vaguely like Rusted Root.
S 7/13 - Belle & Sebastian @ Stage AE, Pittsburgh. I'm going down with Brandt of "The Cream of Broccoli Radio Hour".
S 7/13 - The Black Lillies @ Winchester. I am enjoying their new album, which is folky country that my parents would like.
T 7/16 - Toro Y Moi @ Grog Shop. The new album is excellent. Vague weird electronicy sound.
T 7/16 - Animal Collective @ HOB. Rescheduled from March 11 due to illness. Sponsored by Grog Shop.
T 7/16 - Great Big Sea @ Kent Stage. They've got one really great live album, which sadly has not been matched by their performances when I've seen them. Most importantly, their bass player is Murray from Moxy Früvous!
T 7/16 - Animal Collective @ HOB. Their show earlier this year was rescheduled for this date due to illness.
W 7/17 - Wire @ Beachland Ballroom. Tickets are on sale April 5, and this will sell out. I've decided I'm not skipping ultimate for them.
F 7/19 and S 7/20 - Soul Rebels @ Mahall's. A great New Orleans band at a venue I can walk to. How can I say no?
S 7/20 - Dick Dale @ Grog Shop. Everybody should see surf guitar legend Dick Dale play Misirlou at least once.
W 7/24 - Chicago @ Nautica. If I was available that night, this would totally be my guilty pleasure show of the summer.
R 7/25 - The Melvins @ Grog Shop. 30 years of weirdness.
F 7/26 - Ted Leo & the Pharmacists @ Grog Shop. Everything that is good about Rock & Roll can be heard on a Ted Leo album.
W 7/31 - Weird Al @ Cain Park. This is a step down in venue size for him, so I suspect it will sell out. On the down side, Shari now has to listen to me play Weird Al on our show for the next couple of shows.
August
M 8/05 - The Killers @ Nautica. I understand that a lot of my friends like them, which I can see.
R 8/08 - Kris Kristofferson @ Cain Park. Old school country. Or ask him about Blade, if you prefer.
W 8/14 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy @ Cain Park. Rarely has one band ridden a movie appearance (Swingers) so long, but when I saw them back in 1999 they were fantastic.
F 8/16 - The Official Blues Brothers Revue @ Cain Park. Ok, so this is apparently Blue Brothers impersonators. Since the Blues Brothers were essentially impersonating blues singers (it helps to have GREAT musicians), I guess this might work? Listed mostly because it is weird.
F 8/16 - Old Crow Medicine Show @ PSQ. If this wasn't so expensive I'd mark it as a definite, because I like their high intensity folk.
Su 8/25 - The Reverend Horton Heat @ Beachland Ballroom. With Wayne the Train Hancock AND Deke Dickerson.
W 8/28 - Adam Ant @ Agora. I'm listing less because I like Adam Ant and more because it's the first major show I've seen advertised at the Agora in a gazillion years.
September
R 9/05 - The Duhks @ Beachland Ballroom. Baltimore folk group.
W 9/11 - Deerhunter @ Beachland Ballroom.
R 9/19 - Pere Ubu @ Beachland Ballroom. Arguably the most important band to ever come out of Cleveland. Actually, I'm not sure you can argue about this. Here's some evidence:
Su 9/22 - Ani DiFranco @ HOB. I'm not sure if this is her solo or with a band. If the latter, I can recommend it.
F 9/27 - Jen Chapin @ Winchester. Harry's daughter has a jazz trio which ranges from standards to deeply experimental stuff. I have and like one of her albums, although I doubt it's at all representative of her live show.
Su 9/29 - Diana Krall @ PSQ. Jazz stalwart. Also Mrs. Elvis Costello, if that matters to you (it shouldn't). Mostly expensive, but there are some $10 seats.
Beyond
F 11/01 - The Smithereens @ Beachland Ballroom. Ok, I'm intrigued. Two sets, no opener.
S 11/02 - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons @ PSQ. Apparently Jersey Boys was based on real life. Who knew?
R 12/13 - Justin Timberlake @ The Q. It probably makes me a bad WRUW staff member, but if I happened into deeply discounted tickets I'd probably go to this. Judge me as much as you want!
F 12/14 - Straight No Chaser @ PSQ. Acappella.
How do you find local shows? Try these: 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 (link updated), Tri-C Jazzfest, Dionysus (Oberlin).
I saw five shows since the last calendar. In order:
- gieves and I saw Esperanza Spalding at Playhouse Square on April 7. She was my runner up for 2012 show of the year. This gig didn't quite rise to that level, but that was mostly because in 2012 the crowd energy was very much "we're watching something amazing happening" and this time around the crowd vibe was more "this is very good." Not her fault; I still had a great time.
- Two days later I drove down to Oberlin to catch Marnie Stern at the Dionysus Disco, which is the student bar at Oberlin. It was fun, but I was up way too damn late and I couldn't even buy a CD because they didn't bring any merch. Seriously?
- Two more days later gieves and I went to see the Cleveland Orchestra perform Carmina Burana. This was pretty awesome. You certainly won't see that many people on stage under normal circumstances. They took off really fast out of the gate, but recovered and were their usual excellent self from there on out.
- On Saturday, April 27 I saw Silencio perform at the Beachland Ballroom. I'd seen them open for The Afghan Whigs. I only caught two songs that time, but I immediately went and bought a CD. The full show did not disappoint. This might be my show of the year right now.
- And finally, I'm not counting it as a concert [EDIT - I totally count them as a concert], but gieves and I saw them perform John Cage's HPSCHD at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Five harpsichords, many speakers playing samples, many screens showing synced up projections, general weirdness. Ran into a lot of friends there. Good times.
I've seen 14 shows this year but I still haven't been really blown away. Tell me what I should go see to change that!
I'm sure I'll also catch the orchestra at Blossom this summer, but they don't seem to have the schedule posted yet.
May
T 5/14 - Telekinesis @ Grog Shop. They've got a new album which is pretty solid if you like the indie pop thing.
T 5/14 - The English Beat @ Beachland Ballroom. Or The Beat, if you happen to be English.
W 5/15 - Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express @ Beachland Ballroom. I really liked his last album, Temple Beautiful, which is San Francisco themed rock, more or less.
R 5/16 - JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound @ Grog Shop. Loud Chicago soul. They were great the first time I saw them, and their new disc Howl sounds pretty good to me.
R 5/16 - Bill The Sauce Boss Wharton @ Wilberts. He makes gumbo on stage while playing the blues. After the show, everybody eats.
S 5/18 - The Thermals @ Beachland Ballroom. Really loud. I may see them again in the hopes that they play Stare Like Yours, which is a legitimately great song but which they apparently regard as filler. Sigh.
Su 5/19 - Lady Lamb The Beekeeper @ Beachland Tavern. $8 bet on a woman whose musical style description comes across as 'weird'.
F 5/24 - Gina Sicilia @ Winchester. Sold female blues singer.
Su 5/26 - Buddy Guy @ Nautica. Blues guitar legend. Part of Ribfest.
R 5/30 - Bloc Party @ HOB. They got a few songs I really like, e.g. Sunday.
June
Su 6/02 - Jonathan Richman @ Beachland Ballroom. The former Modern Love has has a strong solo acoustic career for many years. I saw him once and enjoyed it greatly.
R 6/06 - Cyrille Aimee @ Nighttown. With her guitar sextet (same lineup as earlier this year). I've seen her 4 times (more?) now and she's fantastic. I'm not 100% certain I want to drop $25 to see her again so soon... but I probably will.
F 6/07 - B.B. King @ Akron Civic. He's getting up there in age, so if you want to cross this blues legend off your bucket list you should probably jump on this.
F 6/07 - The Dandy Warhols @ Grog Shop. The Grog Shop stalwarts return.
S 6/08 - Wesley Bright & the Hi-Lites @ Happy Dog. At this point it's somewhat of an embarrassment that I haven't been to the Happy Dog, so I'm going to try for this one. Soul & Hot Dogs!
S 6/08 - Rebirth Brass Band @ Beachland Ballroom. I love New Orleans style brass bands.
T 6/11 - Orgone @ Grog Shop. The only funk band in the land that is even close to the same league as the Dap-Kings. Come prepared to dance.
W 6/12 - The Dirty Projectors @ Beachland Ballroom. I have a lot of friends who love their albums. My friend Adam spins records before and after the show.
R 6/13 - Alice Cooper & Marilyn Manson @ Nautica. WE ARE NOT WORTHY! WE ARE NOT WORTHY! That joke may only be funny if you were in junior high when Wayne's World came out.
R 6/13 - Leon Russell @ Kent Stage. Rock & Roll Hall of Famer as a sideman (or whatever they call that category now). He is more deserving than roughly 15% of the current roster.
S 6/15 - Fleetwood Mac @ The Q. I saw them (also McVie-less) some years ago and had a good time. Cross it off your bucket list while you can.
S 6/15 - Mustard Plug @ Peabodys. This is one of my favorite ska bands, and Peabodys is relocating soon, but alas I am out of town that day.
Su 6/16 - Man or Astroman? @ Beachland Ballroom. Naturally, they tour again and I'm out of town. Surf rock revival, sort of.
W 6/19 - Fred Eaglesmith @ Beachland Tavern. I'm bummed out that I'm going to be out of town for Fred's latest gig. I think he's fantastic live.
F 6/21 - Black Violin @ Cain Park. Classical Music + Hip-Hop. Why not?
S 6/22 - Susan Werner @ Cain Park. Female singer-songwriter.
Su 6/23 - Golem @ Cain Park. Free Klezmer show.
Su 6/30 - Sharon Jones @ the Dap-Kings @ Cain Park. OH YES THANK YOU. I have my ticket AND an extra, in case I run into a hot girl who likes soul music.
Su 6/30 - Rock & Soul Festival @ Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. No bands listed yet, but it does says "national and local soul acts". Of course, I'll be watching Sharon that night, who is the best soul band currently performing - and if I'm wrong about that it can't be by much!
Su 6/30 - The Zombies @ Beachland Ballroom. The creators of Odyssey & Oracle charge a whole bunch. I saw them once and liked it, but even if they weren't up against Sharon I probably wouldn't drop another $25 on them.
July
W 7/03 - Yeasayer @ Beachland Ballroom. I feel like I should know who these guys are, so I've listed them so I remember to pull them out at the station.
Su 7/07 - O.A.R. @ Nautica. Listed mostly because I have friends from in out of town that weekend specifically for this show, and this way I'll have a nice reminder that I look at every week. Because, frankly O.A.R. sucks. Plus I may be in the car that night, because on the next day...
M 7/08 - David Byrne & St. Vincent @ Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor. I'll be meeting pianodan and drdingbat down there.
T 7/09 - Kurt Vile @ Grog Shop. Matador recording artist, with everything that implies.
T 7/09 - Cat Empire @ Beachland Ballroom. I saw them in their native Australia 9 years ago. Ska/jazz fusion, of a sorts.
T 7/09 - Fun w/Teagan & Sara @ Nautica. If you liked their big hit "We're So Young" here's your chance.
W 7/10 - Xavier Rudd @ Beachland Ballroom. I saw him in his native Australia 9 years ago too. What are the odds that two bands from the 2004 Falls Fest would turn up in Cleveland in the same venue on consecutive nights? Weird.
F 7/12 - Rubblebucket @ Grog. You will dance. Vaguely like Rusted Root.
S 7/13 - Belle & Sebastian @ Stage AE, Pittsburgh. I'm going down with Brandt of "The Cream of Broccoli Radio Hour".
S 7/13 - The Black Lillies @ Winchester. I am enjoying their new album, which is folky country that my parents would like.
T 7/16 - Toro Y Moi @ Grog Shop. The new album is excellent. Vague weird electronicy sound.
T 7/16 - Animal Collective @ HOB. Rescheduled from March 11 due to illness. Sponsored by Grog Shop.
T 7/16 - Great Big Sea @ Kent Stage. They've got one really great live album, which sadly has not been matched by their performances when I've seen them. Most importantly, their bass player is Murray from Moxy Früvous!
T 7/16 - Animal Collective @ HOB. Their show earlier this year was rescheduled for this date due to illness.
W 7/17 - Wire @ Beachland Ballroom. Tickets are on sale April 5, and this will sell out. I've decided I'm not skipping ultimate for them.
F 7/19 and S 7/20 - Soul Rebels @ Mahall's. A great New Orleans band at a venue I can walk to. How can I say no?
S 7/20 - Dick Dale @ Grog Shop. Everybody should see surf guitar legend Dick Dale play Misirlou at least once.
W 7/24 - Chicago @ Nautica. If I was available that night, this would totally be my guilty pleasure show of the summer.
R 7/25 - The Melvins @ Grog Shop. 30 years of weirdness.
F 7/26 - Ted Leo & the Pharmacists @ Grog Shop. Everything that is good about Rock & Roll can be heard on a Ted Leo album.
W 7/31 - Weird Al @ Cain Park. This is a step down in venue size for him, so I suspect it will sell out. On the down side, Shari now has to listen to me play Weird Al on our show for the next couple of shows.
August
M 8/05 - The Killers @ Nautica. I understand that a lot of my friends like them, which I can see.
R 8/08 - Kris Kristofferson @ Cain Park. Old school country. Or ask him about Blade, if you prefer.
W 8/14 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy @ Cain Park. Rarely has one band ridden a movie appearance (Swingers) so long, but when I saw them back in 1999 they were fantastic.
F 8/16 - The Official Blues Brothers Revue @ Cain Park. Ok, so this is apparently Blue Brothers impersonators. Since the Blues Brothers were essentially impersonating blues singers (it helps to have GREAT musicians), I guess this might work? Listed mostly because it is weird.
F 8/16 - Old Crow Medicine Show @ PSQ. If this wasn't so expensive I'd mark it as a definite, because I like their high intensity folk.
Su 8/25 - The Reverend Horton Heat @ Beachland Ballroom. With Wayne the Train Hancock AND Deke Dickerson.
W 8/28 - Adam Ant @ Agora. I'm listing less because I like Adam Ant and more because it's the first major show I've seen advertised at the Agora in a gazillion years.
September
R 9/05 - The Duhks @ Beachland Ballroom. Baltimore folk group.
W 9/11 - Deerhunter @ Beachland Ballroom.
R 9/19 - Pere Ubu @ Beachland Ballroom. Arguably the most important band to ever come out of Cleveland. Actually, I'm not sure you can argue about this. Here's some evidence:
Click to viewSu 9/22 - Ani DiFranco @ HOB. I'm not sure if this is her solo or with a band. If the latter, I can recommend it.
F 9/27 - Jen Chapin @ Winchester. Harry's daughter has a jazz trio which ranges from standards to deeply experimental stuff. I have and like one of her albums, although I doubt it's at all representative of her live show.
Su 9/29 - Diana Krall @ PSQ. Jazz stalwart. Also Mrs. Elvis Costello, if that matters to you (it shouldn't). Mostly expensive, but there are some $10 seats.
Beyond
F 11/01 - The Smithereens @ Beachland Ballroom. Ok, I'm intrigued. Two sets, no opener.
S 11/02 - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons @ PSQ. Apparently Jersey Boys was based on real life. Who knew?
R 12/13 - Justin Timberlake @ The Q. It probably makes me a bad WRUW staff member, but if I happened into deeply discounted tickets I'd probably go to this. Judge me as much as you want!
F 12/14 - Straight No Chaser @ PSQ. Acappella.
How do you find local shows? Try these: 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 (link updated), Tri-C Jazzfest, Dionysus (Oberlin).
I saw five shows since the last calendar. In order:
- gieves and I saw Esperanza Spalding at Playhouse Square on April 7. She was my runner up for 2012 show of the year. This gig didn't quite rise to that level, but that was mostly because in 2012 the crowd energy was very much "we're watching something amazing happening" and this time around the crowd vibe was more "this is very good." Not her fault; I still had a great time.
- Two days later I drove down to Oberlin to catch Marnie Stern at the Dionysus Disco, which is the student bar at Oberlin. It was fun, but I was up way too damn late and I couldn't even buy a CD because they didn't bring any merch. Seriously?
- Two more days later gieves and I went to see the Cleveland Orchestra perform Carmina Burana. This was pretty awesome. You certainly won't see that many people on stage under normal circumstances. They took off really fast out of the gate, but recovered and were their usual excellent self from there on out.
- On Saturday, April 27 I saw Silencio perform at the Beachland Ballroom. I'd seen them open for The Afghan Whigs. I only caught two songs that time, but I immediately went and bought a CD. The full show did not disappoint. This might be my show of the year right now.
- And finally, I'm not counting it as a concert [EDIT - I totally count them as a concert], but gieves and I saw them perform John Cage's HPSCHD at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Five harpsichords, many speakers playing samples, many screens showing synced up projections, general weirdness. Ran into a lot of friends there. Good times.
I've seen 14 shows this year but I still haven't been really blown away. Tell me what I should go see to change that!