This Week in Local Music

June 2nd, 2009    Posted in Local Music, Uncategorized

It’s going to be a busy week for music venues in the Cincinnati/Tri-state area. As usual, there’s a lot of great local bands playing around town, as well as some heavy-hitters and even some Grammy winners.

You can probably assume that the weekends generally have the most going on, however, Tuesday (tonight) offers the biggest selection of music around town.

Probably the biggest show of the night is happening at the Mad Hatter in Covington. Attention all old-school alternative rock fans. Attention all of you who like Nirvana and Soundgarden but weren’t born until after their demise. Sounds weird huh? I know but it’s true. Occasionally you’ll see people at shows who weren’t born until the mid-90’s, especially at a place like the Mad Hatter. If you thought Nirvana was the very first alt-rock band, well, you’re wrong. Long before Nirvana, was a band called the Meat Puppets. Not strictly alternative, rather, mixing country, punk, psychedelica and hardcore, the brothers Kirkwood would go on with the Meat Puppets to become one of the biggest in the underground alternative music scene. Forming in 1980, they’ve seen their share of breakups and tragedies over the years. They’ve been back since 2006, so don’t miss out on seeing where bands like Nirvana, Pavement and Dinosaur Jr. got their roots from. Playing with the Meat Puppets tonight are the Retribution Gospel Choir.

Continuing on with what has basically become the alternative rock of the 21st century, you’ll find a few bands at the Southgate House. Headlining the show are the Clash/Springsteen-inspired Canadians, The Constantines, along with experimental, progressive and post-rock bands Crystal Antlers and my new favorite band in town, State Song.

If neither of these sound like your thing, you may want to check out some pop-rock from both Carbon Leaf and the Alternate Routes at the 20th Century Theatre in Oakley. As always, there’s the Northside Tavern, who’s got a group of friends playing together tonight – Messerly & Ewing and Chuck and Lisa from Wussy.

On Wednesday night, you’ve got Joe Lally of Fugazi, along with Glorytellers at the Southgate House, or if you like free music you can stop in the Lounge for the Rattlesnakin Daddies. Also on Wednesday, is PJ Harvey with John Parish at the Madison Theater, and Jukebox the Ghost with Jenny Owen Youngs at the Northside Tavern.

It’s all big names in music on Thursday night. Coldplay returns to Riverbend for the first time since 2005, and as an added bonus, they’re bringing some opening bands this time around. Joining them on tour this year are both Pete Yorn and Howling Bells. But if you’re one of those people who just don’t get Coldplay, then maybe you’d be better suited to go to the Madison Theater on Thursday night. There, you’ll see another British pop/rock band called Gomez, along with gritty, southern rockers, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. Isbell last played in town a few months ago at the Southgate House and will be returning in September for MidPoint. Personally, I enjoy all of these bands, so I’d be in a bit of a pickle in deciding who to see on Thursday. However, I probably won’t be seeing any of them, as I’ve got Bonnaroo coming up next week and have to save the cash for that.

 MidPoint’s Indie Summer Series returns Friday night on Fountain Square beginning at 7 pm. This week, the free concert series takes on a bluesy, garage-rock theme, with bands like the J. Dorsey Blues Revival and the Lions Rampant. In between the sets of those two bands, former Cincinnati Suds members return with the debut of their new band called the Mysts of Time. Stick around afterwards, because there’s always an open mic on the Square from 10 pm until midnight, and you never know what kind of talent is out there waiting to be discovered.

For those of you who like to enjoy your music indoors, you can get your dose of funk and soul at the Southgate House. The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker, who have become quite popular around here, return with local bands Daughters and Sons, as well as the J. Dorsey Blues Revival, who’ll be doing their second show of the evening.

If you’re looking to avoid the crowds of downtown and Newport, then your best bet is to probably head over to Hamilton Avenue, where Jake Speed and the Freddies will be playing at the Northside Tavern.

On Saturday night there’s a lot of harder rock going down at the Southgate House, in both the Ballroom and the Parlour. In the Ballroom, Chakras is hosting their CD Release Party, along with bands like The Host, Bastion, Riley, Vertigo and The Dig, while upstairs in the Parlour you can catch New Machines, Lovely Crash, The Black Sites and the Matt Truman Ego Trip.

If hard rock’s not exactly your thing, there’s something a little bit easier on the ears happening at Riverbend’s PNC Pavilion. The “Three Girls and Their Buddy” tour comes to town featuring Buddy Miller, Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin and Shawn Colvin.

There’s also the Dance_MF Party presented by Project Mill, which happens every Saturday night at the Northside Tavern.