Weekly Concert Calender

Sunday, July 26
Catch the great Americana/Roots trio, The Tillers, on the last Sunday of every month at Northside Tavern. Hear some fine originals and maybe some Woody Guthrie covers. The music’s always free and starts at 10 pm.

Monday, July 27
In CityBeat’s last issue of the “Best of Cincinnati”, the Southgate House was voted for having the best open mic night in the area. There’s a great rotating cast of hosts including Ryan Mallott of 500 Miles to Memphis (he’ll be hosting this week), Billy Catfish, Mike Kuntz and Kinsey Rose, as well as a number of aspiring singer-songwriter’s from the area. Did I mention it’s free? 

Tuesday, July 28
Catch the latest in indie pop rock, when Chicago’s Yourself and the Air comes to the Southgate House. See them before they play MidPoint – I’ve got them listed as one of my ten must-see’s of MidPoint 2009. Opening the show are Thing One (fresh off their gig this past weekend on Fountain Square) and another fine up-and-coming band, Come On Caboose. Doors open at 8 pm, the show’s at 9 and tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.

If it’s free music you’re looking for, look no further than Northside Tavern. The music’s always free, although it starts a little later than most of the shows around town. Playing on this night are a freak-folk duo from Kansas, called Drakkar Sauna and our very own, Chocolate Horse, who happen to be one of my local must-see’s of MidPoint 2009.

If you don’t mind spending a bit of green, classic rock icon, Jackson Browne, will be bringing a “peaceful, easy feeling” to PNC Pavilion. There’s a free cook-out at 6:30 pm, with the show starting at 8. Tickets still remain and range from $39.50-$79.50, plus service fees.

Wednesday, July 29
It’s a full day of adrenaline-fueled, hardcore and punk rock, when the Vans Warped Tour returns to Riverbend. Featuring a slew of younger bands, a couple of old school acts like Bad Religion and Less Than Jake, locals Banderas and even Shooter Jennings. Wait…Shooter Jennings playing a punk rock show? Didn’t he open for someone like Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney or Toby Keith the last time he was in town? Don’t tell the teenage punk rockers. Anywho, there will be several stages and a number of activities going all day and night. Doors open at 11 am and the music starts at noon. Tickets range from $33.50-$40, plus service fees.

Thursday, July 30
Towards the end of the week we’ll be seeing quite a few release parties. Thistle’s instrumental, post-rock side project, Ampline and France’s post-hardcore band, Atomic Garden, are celebrating their split 7″ releases at the Southgate House, along with bands Disguised As Birds, Knife the Symphony and The Strongest Proof. It all starts in the ballroom at 9 pm, and tickets are cheap. $5 for 21+ and $8 for those 18-20.

Friday, July 31
The Macy’s Music Festival returns to Paul Brown Stadium. The first night of the two-day fest features music from R&B/Soul singer Charlie Wilson (of The Gap Band), the multi-Grammy winner sensation John Legend, American Idol season three winner Fantasia, R&B/Soul singer Eric Benet and the long-established R&B/Dance/Vocal group The Whispers.

The other two CD Release parties happening this week take place on Friday night. The Harlequins are releasing their first full-length LP, entitled ”Baron von Headless”, and are playing at the Southgate House with Wonky Tonk, The Flux Capacitors and The Happy Maladies. The show starts at 9 pm in the ballroom, and tickets are $7 for 21+ and $10 for 18-20. Also at the Southgate House, playing upstairs in the parlour, are The Host, Rosemary Device, Freezing Scene and New Vega. That show is at 9:30, and tickets are $5 for 21+ and $8 for 18-20.

There’s all kinds of madness happening at the Mad Hatter, where Horseshoes & Handgrenades are releasing their album. Joining them for the show are Milkweed, Gabriel’s Hounds, Killbot, Avignon, Don’t Forget to Tip Your Waitress and Earth Stands Still. Doors open at 8 pm but who knows when the music will actually start. Tickets are $5 in advance and $8 at the door.

With Woodstock celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, there’s no better way to reminisce than with the sounds of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Of course the nice thing is that you won’t have to suffer through the rain and mud or the lack of food or proper restroom facilities. The trio is playing PNC Pavilion, although it’s a shame that Neil Young won’t be joining them. Tickets are a pretty penny, ranging from $42.50-$79.50, plus service fees. The show starts at 8 pm.

The free shows of the night include Johnnytwentythree and Fists of Love at Northside Tavern and Indie Summer on Fountain Square. Indie Summer returns with another stellar lineup (yet again), with Chicago’s Baby Teeth, Matthew Shelton’s Picnic, Nathan Holscher and the Ohio 5 and Messerly and Ewing.

Saturday, August 1
Day two of the Macy’s Music Festival features legendary R&B/Soul singer Anita Baker, R&B singer and record producer Joe, multi-Grammy Award winning musician and composer Robin Thicke, legendary R&B/Soul group The Ojays and twenty-two year old R&B/Soul singer Jazmine Sullivan.

It should be a busy night for the bartenders and staff at the Southgate House. Playing in the ballroom are 500 Miles to Memphis, Cari Clara, Dutch Henry and Stereo Deluxe, while the Koala Fires, Spd Gvnr (pronounced ”Speed Governor”) and the Never Setting Suns are playing upstairs in the parlour. For ticket information and show times visit the Southgate House’s website here.

Acoustic troubadour, Mike Perkins, will be playing at the Mad Frog in Clifton. His debut album, Sway, features several well known musicians from the Columbus area including saxophonist Jerry DePizzo of O.A.R. and Ward Scott and Robb McCormick of The Shantee, as well as West African drummers Sogbety Diomande and Papa Zumana.

Head over to Northside Tavern, for DANCE_MF presented by Project Mill. Featuring the latest in indie, dance and new wave music, this party has been described as a mix of “Studio 54, CBGB’s and Warhol’s Factory.” I’ve never been but have heard that the place is usually a packed house of 20 and 30 somethings. Make some new friends or meet that special someone.

Take A Drive
If you happen to be going out of town during the week or would like to (but don’t want to travel too far), there are a few good shows within a reasonable driving distance.

There’s a couple of good shows on Monday night in Indianapolis. Cursive and Love Language will be playing at Radio Radio and Paolo Nutini is playing at The Vogue with Erin McCarley and Matt Hires.

On Tuesday, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are playing at the House of Blues in Cleveland with Amanda Blank.

On Wednesday, Josh Ritter is playing in Louisville at Waterfront Park with the Young Dubliners. The Dave Matthews Band will be in Cuyahoga Falls (near Cleveland), at the Blossom Music Center with special guests Old Crow Medicine Show. 

On Friday, The Crystal Method are playing in Columbus at Boma, while the Dave Matthews Band return to Noblesville’s Verizon Wireless Music Center (the venue formerly known as Deer Creek) for a two-night stand (Fri & Sat) with special guests Hill Country Revue, which features Cody Dickinson and Chris Chew of the North Mississippi Allstars.

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