End of Q3 / Start of Q4 Concert Calendar
Ok, as noted yesterday I'm at 18 concerts and 28 bands on the year. I've got two more tickets in the strategic ticket reserve already. What else might I add? As always, bold means I'm going, italics means I'm interested, and anything is listed either because I might want to play it on my radio show (Soul Delirium, 91.1 FM / wruw.org / one hour soul/R&B, one hour freeform), or because I think one of my friends might care, or because it amuses me. Be sure to point out at anything I missed that you think I should care about! Here we go.
September
R 9/06 - Birds of Chicago @ MBCH. Married couple doing folkish rock. I really like some of their music.
Su 9/09 - Fantastic Negrito @ Grog Shop. Guy has an Hollywood back story. Won the Tiny Desk concert contest. Contemporary blues, for whatever that label means. Probably worth a $12 bet.
M 9/10 - Stanley Clarke Band @ Beachland Ballroom. Stanley Clarke is one of the greatest bassists of all time. I've seen him three times (once with Bela Fleck / Jean Luc-Ponty, once with Victor Wooten / Marcus Miller, and once with his band) and enjoyed it each. If it was a lot cheaper I'd go again.
T 9/11 - Liz Phair w/Speedy Ortiz @ Beachland Ballroom. SOLD OUT. Good luck on the secondary market.
T 9/11 - Ani DiFranco w/Peter Mulvey @ Kent Stage. Ani solo was boring. Ani with full band was excellent. This appears to be a full band show. Peter Mulvey is good in all configurations.
T 9/11 - Allison Krauss @ Akron Civic. Bluegrass.
T 9/11 - Subhumans @ Now That's Class. British Political punks circa 1980.
W 9/12 - Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles @ Beachland Ballroom. A maybe to play on my radio show.
W 9/12 - Dinosaur Jr @ Grog Shop. They sold out the Beachland when I saw them, so I'm sure the tickets for this will go really fast.
W 9/12 - The Aquabats @ HOB. Ska weirdos. I saw them nearly 15 years ago. I guess moving to the HOB means their fans are old enough to have real jobs.
F 9/14 - Laurel & the Love-In @ Beachland Tavern. $10 bet on a Nashville band that says they like rock & roll and girl groups.
F 9/14 - Keb' Mo' @ Kent Stage. Blues, mostly Delta style.
S 9/15 - Yo La Tengo @ Beachland Ballroom. I've seen them twice, and quite frankly was bored both times. With that said, I know a lot of people love them, and I do enjoy some of their albums.
S 9/15 - John Oates @ Rock Hall. The latter half of Hall and Oates. Included with admission.
T 9/18 - Lindi Ortega @ Beachland Tavern. "So I got a producer who loves Tarantino and then I got obsessed with Morricone and I made this album." Ok, you have my attention.
T 9/18 - Tamia @ HOB. 90s R&B/soul for my radio show.
T 9/18 - Superchunk @ Grog Shop. Popular among my indie rock friends.
W 9/19 - Henry Rollins @ Playhouse Square. Spoken word based around his travel pictures? I'm so confused.
R 9/20 - The Vibrators @ Now That's Class. The punk legends, really. Ok, so actually the drummer, but whatever.
F 9/21 - This Moment In Black History @ Grog Shop. 26th anniversary of the Grog Shop.
F 9/21 - Occidental Gypsy @ Nighttown. Gypsy swing and jazz.
S 9/22 - Jeffrey Osborne with special guests Angela Winbush, Keith Washington, Peabo Bryson @ Wolstein Center. 80s R&B/soul for my radio show.
S 9/22 - Archie & the Bunkers @ Mahalls. The one local band I really love right now, even if their new album isn't as good as their first one.
Su 9/23 - MC5 @ HOB. The 50th anniversary tour. That just seems wrong, but let's Kick Out the Motherfucking Jams anyway. Just don't hurt your back.
Su 9/23 - Kingston Trio @ Kent Stage. Listed mostly in case my father wants to come down for them.
Su 9/23 - William Shatner @ Akron Civic. First, watch "The Wrath of Khan" then do Q&A with Shatner. Once was enough for me as far as Shatner goes, but if you haven't had the pleasure, it's something to behold.
M 9/24 - Red Fang @ Beachland Ballroom. Heavy stoner rock from Portland, Oregon. I'll be giving away tickets on my show on 9/16.
M 9/24 - Gary Numan @ HOB. A nice bit of 80s nostalgia weirdness.
W 9/26 - Alina Baraz @ HOB. Clevelander doing contemporary R&B, listed for my show.
R 9/27 - Cautious Clay @ Beachland Tavern. Indie r&b / hiphop.
F 9/28 - Dream Wife @ Beachland Tavern. Girl guitar trio formed in art school that "worships at the twin altars of David Bowie and Madonna." Sounds like it's worth $12.
F 9/28 - UB40 @ Agora Theatre. Based on price point and venue, there are a lot more UB40 fans in the world than I ever would have guessed.
S 9/29 - Nora Jane Struthers @ Beachland Tavern. Her last album was fun americana.
S 9/29 - 4U: A Symphonic Celebration of Prince @ Playhouse Square. Prince's estate cashes in by sending an orchestra on the road to play Prince. Why not?
October
M 10/01 - King Khan & The Shrines w/Gabriella Cohen @ Beachland Ballroom. If I was in town I'd absolutely be there, I had a great time last time. Gabriella Cohen's new album isn't bad at all, if you're going it's probably worth it to get there for her set.
M 10/01 - Frankie Cosmos @ Grog Shop. Indie group of the moment. Or at least last year they were on every damn thing.
W 10/03 - Avery*Sunshine @ MBCH. Listed as neo-soul; need to go dig into her back catalog for my show.
W 10/03 - Joan Baez @ Playhouse Square. Her last formal tour. Regardless of how you feel about the music, she's been on the right side of a lot of causes, most notably the Civil Rights Movement.
R 10/04 - Kurt Elling @ MBCH. Leading contender for best male jazz singer currently performing.
M 10/08 - The Beths @ Beachland Tavern. New Zealand's finest indie rock. My friend Brandt of "The Cream of Broccoli Radio Hour" (Sundays, 10am-noon) loves their new album. I may go just to watch him flip out.
W 10/10 - AJJ w/Kimya Dawson @ Beachland Ballroom. Formerly Andrew Jackson Jihad. They may not sound like traditional punk, but they are political punk in the truest sense of the word. I loved them when I saw them a few years ago. I have to sit down and figure out the baseball playoff schedule, and then I'll buy tickets.
W 10/10 - Shawn Colvin @ MBCH. And oy, it is expensive.
R 10/11 - Cat Power @ Agora Theatre. My friends are divided; some saw her and said it was the worst show they'd been to, others say it was the best. She's put out some really good albums, so I might try my luck.
S 10/13 - Studio-A-Rama @ WRUW. Line up TBA.
S 10/13 - Oh Sees @ Beachland Ballroom. Also, Thee Oh Sees, or whatever name they prefer. Straight up rock & roll. Saw them once, liked them once.
S 10/13 - Ninja Sex Party @ Agora Theatre. I'm not actually interested, but bonus points for the name.
M 10/15 - Captured by Robots @ Now That's Class. Two robots and one enslaved human play punkish stuff.
T 10/16 - The Sun Ra Arkestra @ MBCH. Sun Ra has left the planet, but his Arkestra continues, led by 94-year-old Marshall Allen, who has been in the band since 1957.
T 10/16 - Titus Andronicus @ Now That's Class. Indie rock. at least two good albums.
R 10/18 - Phil Collins @ The Q. Look, I'm not going to buy Phil Collins tickets, but if somebody gave me free ones, I absolutely would go and enjoy it unironically.
R 10/18 - Garbage @ Rocksino. Everything I said about Phil Collins applies here.
F 10/19 - The Church @ Beachland Ballroom. 30th Anniversary tour for "Starfish". Australian indie rock legends. I'm almost glad I won't be in town so I don't get tempted to drop the big $$ on them.
F 10/19 - Reel Big Fish @ HOB. Every ten years or so I like to sell out. Not this time though.
F 10/19 - The Weight Band @ Music Box Concert Hall. A bunch of guys who were in The Band or otherwise have connections to it perform the hits.
S 10/20 - Pete Yorn @ Grog Shop. I'm 99% sure this will sell out. Based on when I saw him at the Beachland, there's a lot of people in Cleveland who want to see his solo acoustic nostalgia set. Gives me an excuse to play one of my favorite songs of all time (" For Nancy 'cos It Already Is").
S 10/20 - Arch Enemy @ Agora Theatre. I'm not actually cool enough to go a metal show like this anymore.
Su 10/21 - Billy Gibbons @ Agora Theatre. His other band is a little thing called ZZ Top.
W 10/24 through Su 10/28 - CityMusic Cleveland @ Various Locations. Brahms.
W 10/24 - Postmodern Jukebox @ EJ Thomas. Today's Hits in Yesterday's Styles. I had a good time when I saw them.
R 10/25 - John Lodge @ MBCH. My mom loves the Moody Blues.
R 10/25 - Remember Jones @ Beachland Ballroom. If, like me, you never got to see Amy Winehouse before she imploded, this show with Remember Jones leads a 12 piece soul orchestra in recreating her show plus plays his own stuff. I don't think I'd miss playoff baseball for it... but if the A's go down early I might check it out.
F 10/26 - Low Cut Connie @ Beachland Ballroom. Weirdo high energy organ based rock & roll. First time I saw them I bought all the albums they had with them... but I haven't made it back yet.
F 10/26 - Polyrhythmics @ MBCH. Funk, soul, etc.
November
R 11/01 - Arlo Guthrie @ EJ Thomas. One Dad's favorites.
F 11/02 - Steve Martin & Martin Short w/The Steep Canyon Rangers @ EJ Thomas. M really wants to go to this, so we have tickets!
F 11/02 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy @ MBCH. Way back in 1997 they were one of the best shows of my life. Probably still a lot of fun!
S 11/03 - Elton John @ The Q. If I was rich, I'd have tickets already. I'm not rich.
Su 11/04 - I'm With Her @ Kent Stage. Country super group (Sara Watkins from Nickel Creek and Aoife O'Donovan from Crooked Still, plus Sarah Jarosz).
M 11/05 - The War & Treaty @ Beachland Ballroom. A married couple doing roots soul. The new album is wicked good. I'll probably have bought tickets before you read this.
T 11/06 - Jake Shimabukuro @ MBCH. The leading thing in ukulele music.
F 11/09 - KT Tunstall @ Beachland Ballroom. About a million years ago I heard about her before she was big... and missed the chance to see her in a small club. Not sure I'd go at the price point, but maybe.
F 11/09 - MC Lars @ Mahalls. I think I'm in!
S 11/10 - Gladys Knight @ Rocksino. Sans Pips, apparently, but still one of Motown's greatest, and priced that way too.
S 11/10 - John Medeski's Mad Skillet @ Kent Stage. Side project for Medeski of Medeski, Martin & Wood.
S 11/10 - The Alarm @ MBCH. 80s.
T 11/13 - Cursive @ Grog Shop. A lot of people like Cursive's brand of rock & roll.
W 11/14 Low @ Grog Shop. If you slow down rock & roll as much as possible, it sounds like Low. I liked them the one time I saw them.
W 11/14 - Booker T. Jones @ MBCH. As much as any person, the man who made Stax Stax. Also, Green Onions.
R 11/15 - The Spinners @ Rocksino. Old school r&b. One original member, but he's been doing it for 60+ years now.
F 11/16 - Tauk @ Beachland Ballroom. Prog rock; touring on "AI conquers world" concept album.
F 11/16 - Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul @ Rocksino. Solo project for Bruce's sidekick and host of pretty kick-ass rock & roll radio.
S 11/17 - Cloud Nothings @ Grog Shop. Local favorites.
S 11/24 - Maxwell @ Rocksino. Noted for my radio show.
W 11/28 - Rubblebucket @ Beachland Ballroom. I saw them in the Tavern years ago. A little Rusted Rootish.
R 11/29 - The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band @ Kent Stage. Rootsy country blues. The soundtrack to my divorce, for which they will always be thanked and listed on this calendar.
F 11/30 - Ministry @ Agora Theatre. I probably don't actually need to see Ministry, but listed for the industrial fans on my list.
December
S 12/01 - Thom Yorke @ Playhouse Square. The Radiohead front man does a show based on his solo works with visuals from Tarik Barri. I really liked "The Eraser", so maybe. Or more cynically, "Thom Yorke reaches the 'my fans prefer to sit down' stage of his career."
Su 12/02 - Parquet Courts @ Beachland Ballroom. Indie rock. My friend Brandt either already has tickets or already has plans to mock anyone who goes. Probably the former, but who can tell with Brandt.
W 12/12 through Su 12/16 - CityMusic Cleveland @ Various Locations. Mozart & Strauss.
Su 12/16 - Straight No Chaser @ Playhouse Square. I'd kind of prefer to not see them do a holiday show, but since that's the only time they come...
Su 12/16 - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts @ Rocksino. One hopes not a Christmas show.
S 12/22 - Mannheim Steamroller Christmas @ Playhouse Square. My mother loves Mannheim Steamroller.
2019
F 2/01 - Metallica @ The Q. Again, if I was rich...
W 3/13 through Su 3/17 - CityMusic Cleveland @ Various Locations. Assorted composers.
W 4/17 - The Spring Quartet @ Finney Chapel. Drummer Jack DeJohnette, saxman Joe Lovano, bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding, and pianist Leo Genovese. I've had good luck with team ups like this, and you can't top the venue.
W 5/15 through Su 5/19 - CityMusic Cleveland @ Various Locations. Includes some rarely played Mendelssohn.
Here's the venue list in no particular order:
Beachland Ballroom & Tavern
Grog Shop
Wolstein Center
HOB
Kent Stage
Agora Theater & Ballroom
Quicken Loans Arena
Night Town
Playhouse Square
Rock Hall
Cain Park
Blossom
Jacob's Pavilion (Nautica)
Lakewood Civic Auditorium
E.J. Thomas Hall (Akron)
Akron Civic
CityMusic Cleveland
Now That's Class
Happy Dog
Euclid Tavern (aka, Happy Dog East)
Mahall's 20 Lanes
Tri-C Jazzfest
Oberlin College
Cleveland Museum of Art
Hard Rock Live (aka, the Rocksino)
The Music Box
And I don't go through all of these, but I highly recommend them:
Severance Hall/Orchestra
Cleveland Chamber Music
Cleveland Classical Guitar Society
Apollo's Fire
It takes more than two hours to put this together. I need to find a way to be less anal retentive! To that end:
- I stopped checking the site for The Odeon, since they haven't had a single show worth mentioning since they reopened.
- I stopped checking the Bop Stop, on the argument that I am not likely to go there and Jazzbo will tell me anything really important I miss!
- Most of the classical stuff is pretty special interest, so I do a quick pass through, but assume you will check them yourself if you're into them.
September
R 9/06 - Birds of Chicago @ MBCH. Married couple doing folkish rock. I really like some of their music.
Su 9/09 - Fantastic Negrito @ Grog Shop. Guy has an Hollywood back story. Won the Tiny Desk concert contest. Contemporary blues, for whatever that label means. Probably worth a $12 bet.
M 9/10 - Stanley Clarke Band @ Beachland Ballroom. Stanley Clarke is one of the greatest bassists of all time. I've seen him three times (once with Bela Fleck / Jean Luc-Ponty, once with Victor Wooten / Marcus Miller, and once with his band) and enjoyed it each. If it was a lot cheaper I'd go again.
T 9/11 - Liz Phair w/Speedy Ortiz @ Beachland Ballroom. SOLD OUT. Good luck on the secondary market.
T 9/11 - Ani DiFranco w/Peter Mulvey @ Kent Stage. Ani solo was boring. Ani with full band was excellent. This appears to be a full band show. Peter Mulvey is good in all configurations.
T 9/11 - Allison Krauss @ Akron Civic. Bluegrass.
T 9/11 - Subhumans @ Now That's Class. British Political punks circa 1980.
W 9/12 - Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles @ Beachland Ballroom. A maybe to play on my radio show.
W 9/12 - Dinosaur Jr @ Grog Shop. They sold out the Beachland when I saw them, so I'm sure the tickets for this will go really fast.
W 9/12 - The Aquabats @ HOB. Ska weirdos. I saw them nearly 15 years ago. I guess moving to the HOB means their fans are old enough to have real jobs.
F 9/14 - Laurel & the Love-In @ Beachland Tavern. $10 bet on a Nashville band that says they like rock & roll and girl groups.
F 9/14 - Keb' Mo' @ Kent Stage. Blues, mostly Delta style.
S 9/15 - Yo La Tengo @ Beachland Ballroom. I've seen them twice, and quite frankly was bored both times. With that said, I know a lot of people love them, and I do enjoy some of their albums.
S 9/15 - John Oates @ Rock Hall. The latter half of Hall and Oates. Included with admission.
T 9/18 - Lindi Ortega @ Beachland Tavern. "So I got a producer who loves Tarantino and then I got obsessed with Morricone and I made this album." Ok, you have my attention.
T 9/18 - Tamia @ HOB. 90s R&B/soul for my radio show.
T 9/18 - Superchunk @ Grog Shop. Popular among my indie rock friends.
W 9/19 - Henry Rollins @ Playhouse Square. Spoken word based around his travel pictures? I'm so confused.
R 9/20 - The Vibrators @ Now That's Class. The punk legends, really. Ok, so actually the drummer, but whatever.
F 9/21 - This Moment In Black History @ Grog Shop. 26th anniversary of the Grog Shop.
F 9/21 - Occidental Gypsy @ Nighttown. Gypsy swing and jazz.
S 9/22 - Jeffrey Osborne with special guests Angela Winbush, Keith Washington, Peabo Bryson @ Wolstein Center. 80s R&B/soul for my radio show.
S 9/22 - Archie & the Bunkers @ Mahalls. The one local band I really love right now, even if their new album isn't as good as their first one.
Su 9/23 - MC5 @ HOB. The 50th anniversary tour. That just seems wrong, but let's Kick Out the Motherfucking Jams anyway. Just don't hurt your back.
Su 9/23 - Kingston Trio @ Kent Stage. Listed mostly in case my father wants to come down for them.
Su 9/23 - William Shatner @ Akron Civic. First, watch "The Wrath of Khan" then do Q&A with Shatner. Once was enough for me as far as Shatner goes, but if you haven't had the pleasure, it's something to behold.
M 9/24 - Red Fang @ Beachland Ballroom. Heavy stoner rock from Portland, Oregon. I'll be giving away tickets on my show on 9/16.
M 9/24 - Gary Numan @ HOB. A nice bit of 80s nostalgia weirdness.
W 9/26 - Alina Baraz @ HOB. Clevelander doing contemporary R&B, listed for my show.
R 9/27 - Cautious Clay @ Beachland Tavern. Indie r&b / hiphop.
F 9/28 - Dream Wife @ Beachland Tavern. Girl guitar trio formed in art school that "worships at the twin altars of David Bowie and Madonna." Sounds like it's worth $12.
F 9/28 - UB40 @ Agora Theatre. Based on price point and venue, there are a lot more UB40 fans in the world than I ever would have guessed.
S 9/29 - Nora Jane Struthers @ Beachland Tavern. Her last album was fun americana.
S 9/29 - 4U: A Symphonic Celebration of Prince @ Playhouse Square. Prince's estate cashes in by sending an orchestra on the road to play Prince. Why not?
October
M 10/01 - King Khan & The Shrines w/Gabriella Cohen @ Beachland Ballroom. If I was in town I'd absolutely be there, I had a great time last time. Gabriella Cohen's new album isn't bad at all, if you're going it's probably worth it to get there for her set.
M 10/01 - Frankie Cosmos @ Grog Shop. Indie group of the moment. Or at least last year they were on every damn thing.
W 10/03 - Avery*Sunshine @ MBCH. Listed as neo-soul; need to go dig into her back catalog for my show.
W 10/03 - Joan Baez @ Playhouse Square. Her last formal tour. Regardless of how you feel about the music, she's been on the right side of a lot of causes, most notably the Civil Rights Movement.
R 10/04 - Kurt Elling @ MBCH. Leading contender for best male jazz singer currently performing.
M 10/08 - The Beths @ Beachland Tavern. New Zealand's finest indie rock. My friend Brandt of "The Cream of Broccoli Radio Hour" (Sundays, 10am-noon) loves their new album. I may go just to watch him flip out.
W 10/10 - AJJ w/Kimya Dawson @ Beachland Ballroom. Formerly Andrew Jackson Jihad. They may not sound like traditional punk, but they are political punk in the truest sense of the word. I loved them when I saw them a few years ago. I have to sit down and figure out the baseball playoff schedule, and then I'll buy tickets.
W 10/10 - Shawn Colvin @ MBCH. And oy, it is expensive.
R 10/11 - Cat Power @ Agora Theatre. My friends are divided; some saw her and said it was the worst show they'd been to, others say it was the best. She's put out some really good albums, so I might try my luck.
S 10/13 - Studio-A-Rama @ WRUW. Line up TBA.
S 10/13 - Oh Sees @ Beachland Ballroom. Also, Thee Oh Sees, or whatever name they prefer. Straight up rock & roll. Saw them once, liked them once.
S 10/13 - Ninja Sex Party @ Agora Theatre. I'm not actually interested, but bonus points for the name.
M 10/15 - Captured by Robots @ Now That's Class. Two robots and one enslaved human play punkish stuff.
T 10/16 - The Sun Ra Arkestra @ MBCH. Sun Ra has left the planet, but his Arkestra continues, led by 94-year-old Marshall Allen, who has been in the band since 1957.
T 10/16 - Titus Andronicus @ Now That's Class. Indie rock. at least two good albums.
R 10/18 - Phil Collins @ The Q. Look, I'm not going to buy Phil Collins tickets, but if somebody gave me free ones, I absolutely would go and enjoy it unironically.
R 10/18 - Garbage @ Rocksino. Everything I said about Phil Collins applies here.
F 10/19 - The Church @ Beachland Ballroom. 30th Anniversary tour for "Starfish". Australian indie rock legends. I'm almost glad I won't be in town so I don't get tempted to drop the big $$ on them.
F 10/19 - Reel Big Fish @ HOB. Every ten years or so I like to sell out. Not this time though.
F 10/19 - The Weight Band @ Music Box Concert Hall. A bunch of guys who were in The Band or otherwise have connections to it perform the hits.
S 10/20 - Pete Yorn @ Grog Shop. I'm 99% sure this will sell out. Based on when I saw him at the Beachland, there's a lot of people in Cleveland who want to see his solo acoustic nostalgia set. Gives me an excuse to play one of my favorite songs of all time (" For Nancy 'cos It Already Is").
S 10/20 - Arch Enemy @ Agora Theatre. I'm not actually cool enough to go a metal show like this anymore.
Su 10/21 - Billy Gibbons @ Agora Theatre. His other band is a little thing called ZZ Top.
W 10/24 through Su 10/28 - CityMusic Cleveland @ Various Locations. Brahms.
W 10/24 - Postmodern Jukebox @ EJ Thomas. Today's Hits in Yesterday's Styles. I had a good time when I saw them.
R 10/25 - John Lodge @ MBCH. My mom loves the Moody Blues.
R 10/25 - Remember Jones @ Beachland Ballroom. If, like me, you never got to see Amy Winehouse before she imploded, this show with Remember Jones leads a 12 piece soul orchestra in recreating her show plus plays his own stuff. I don't think I'd miss playoff baseball for it... but if the A's go down early I might check it out.
F 10/26 - Low Cut Connie @ Beachland Ballroom. Weirdo high energy organ based rock & roll. First time I saw them I bought all the albums they had with them... but I haven't made it back yet.
F 10/26 - Polyrhythmics @ MBCH. Funk, soul, etc.
November
R 11/01 - Arlo Guthrie @ EJ Thomas. One Dad's favorites.
F 11/02 - Steve Martin & Martin Short w/The Steep Canyon Rangers @ EJ Thomas. M really wants to go to this, so we have tickets!
F 11/02 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy @ MBCH. Way back in 1997 they were one of the best shows of my life. Probably still a lot of fun!
S 11/03 - Elton John @ The Q. If I was rich, I'd have tickets already. I'm not rich.
Su 11/04 - I'm With Her @ Kent Stage. Country super group (Sara Watkins from Nickel Creek and Aoife O'Donovan from Crooked Still, plus Sarah Jarosz).
M 11/05 - The War & Treaty @ Beachland Ballroom. A married couple doing roots soul. The new album is wicked good. I'll probably have bought tickets before you read this.
T 11/06 - Jake Shimabukuro @ MBCH. The leading thing in ukulele music.
F 11/09 - KT Tunstall @ Beachland Ballroom. About a million years ago I heard about her before she was big... and missed the chance to see her in a small club. Not sure I'd go at the price point, but maybe.
F 11/09 - MC Lars @ Mahalls. I think I'm in!
S 11/10 - Gladys Knight @ Rocksino. Sans Pips, apparently, but still one of Motown's greatest, and priced that way too.
S 11/10 - John Medeski's Mad Skillet @ Kent Stage. Side project for Medeski of Medeski, Martin & Wood.
S 11/10 - The Alarm @ MBCH. 80s.
T 11/13 - Cursive @ Grog Shop. A lot of people like Cursive's brand of rock & roll.
W 11/14 Low @ Grog Shop. If you slow down rock & roll as much as possible, it sounds like Low. I liked them the one time I saw them.
W 11/14 - Booker T. Jones @ MBCH. As much as any person, the man who made Stax Stax. Also, Green Onions.
R 11/15 - The Spinners @ Rocksino. Old school r&b. One original member, but he's been doing it for 60+ years now.
F 11/16 - Tauk @ Beachland Ballroom. Prog rock; touring on "AI conquers world" concept album.
F 11/16 - Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul @ Rocksino. Solo project for Bruce's sidekick and host of pretty kick-ass rock & roll radio.
S 11/17 - Cloud Nothings @ Grog Shop. Local favorites.
S 11/24 - Maxwell @ Rocksino. Noted for my radio show.
W 11/28 - Rubblebucket @ Beachland Ballroom. I saw them in the Tavern years ago. A little Rusted Rootish.
R 11/29 - The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band @ Kent Stage. Rootsy country blues. The soundtrack to my divorce, for which they will always be thanked and listed on this calendar.
F 11/30 - Ministry @ Agora Theatre. I probably don't actually need to see Ministry, but listed for the industrial fans on my list.
December
S 12/01 - Thom Yorke @ Playhouse Square. The Radiohead front man does a show based on his solo works with visuals from Tarik Barri. I really liked "The Eraser", so maybe. Or more cynically, "Thom Yorke reaches the 'my fans prefer to sit down' stage of his career."
Su 12/02 - Parquet Courts @ Beachland Ballroom. Indie rock. My friend Brandt either already has tickets or already has plans to mock anyone who goes. Probably the former, but who can tell with Brandt.
W 12/12 through Su 12/16 - CityMusic Cleveland @ Various Locations. Mozart & Strauss.
Su 12/16 - Straight No Chaser @ Playhouse Square. I'd kind of prefer to not see them do a holiday show, but since that's the only time they come...
Su 12/16 - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts @ Rocksino. One hopes not a Christmas show.
S 12/22 - Mannheim Steamroller Christmas @ Playhouse Square. My mother loves Mannheim Steamroller.
2019
F 2/01 - Metallica @ The Q. Again, if I was rich...
W 3/13 through Su 3/17 - CityMusic Cleveland @ Various Locations. Assorted composers.
W 4/17 - The Spring Quartet @ Finney Chapel. Drummer Jack DeJohnette, saxman Joe Lovano, bassist/vocalist Esperanza Spalding, and pianist Leo Genovese. I've had good luck with team ups like this, and you can't top the venue.
W 5/15 through Su 5/19 - CityMusic Cleveland @ Various Locations. Includes some rarely played Mendelssohn.
Here's the venue list in no particular order:
Beachland Ballroom & Tavern
Grog Shop
Wolstein Center
HOB
Kent Stage
Agora Theater & Ballroom
Quicken Loans Arena
Night Town
Playhouse Square
Rock Hall
Cain Park
Blossom
Jacob's Pavilion (Nautica)
Lakewood Civic Auditorium
E.J. Thomas Hall (Akron)
Akron Civic
CityMusic Cleveland
Now That's Class
Happy Dog
Euclid Tavern (aka, Happy Dog East)
Mahall's 20 Lanes
Tri-C Jazzfest
Oberlin College
Cleveland Museum of Art
Hard Rock Live (aka, the Rocksino)
The Music Box
And I don't go through all of these, but I highly recommend them:
Severance Hall/Orchestra
Cleveland Chamber Music
Cleveland Classical Guitar Society
Apollo's Fire
It takes more than two hours to put this together. I need to find a way to be less anal retentive! To that end:
- I stopped checking the site for The Odeon, since they haven't had a single show worth mentioning since they reopened.
- I stopped checking the Bop Stop, on the argument that I am not likely to go there and Jazzbo will tell me anything really important I miss!
- Most of the classical stuff is pretty special interest, so I do a quick pass through, but assume you will check them yourself if you're into them.