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The Year In Your Ear The top 100 local music releases of 2011
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t was another ridiculously strong year for recordings by artists in Greater Cincinnati, making for a...t was another ridiculously strong year for recordings by artists in Greater Cincinnati, making for another ridiculously hard-to-whittle-down list of the best releases from the past 365 days.
In past years, to prepare for our annual “year in local recordings” round-up, I would create one master list of all new albums (or EPs or singles, if they were good enough) and then start the surgery, carefully removing dozens and dozens of recordings until it was compact enough to fit in the paper without requiring CityBeat to use a font size only slightly larger than a speck of dust.
My master list for 2011 local releases, for the first time, easily reached 100. The fact that there were so many releases coming out of Greater Cincinnati in 2011 speaks to the increased accessibility and affordability of recording technology that has developed over the past few years. The fact that none of them were total garbage speaks to the wealth of talent in our music community.
So here, for the first time, are the Top 100 local releases of the year. In previous years, we would include short blurbs excerpted from CityBeat reviews and articles with each pick, but this time, in order to fit in the whole lot, we could only include detail on the Top 20. The entire list follows.
Use your pal Google (and the CityBeat.com archive) to search for these recordings online, and support local music by purchasing a download or CD and going to the artists’ shows. If you can’t find at least a handful that you really enjoy, then you simply don’t like music.
Eclipse – Around the World
Like a Cincy version of The Roots, Around the World showed Hip Hop/Funk/Rock/Jazz ensemble Eclipse to be a stunning collective of musicians with boundless creative energy and an encyclopedic knowledge of music.
Wussy – Strawberry
One of the more critically acclaimed bands from Cincinnati, Indie Rock quartet Wussy has managed to top itself with each new album. The band’s fourth, Strawberry, is not only the most accomplished record in the Wussy catalog — it’s also the band’s most dynamic, diverse and unforgettable.
The Cincy Brass – Ain’t Nuttin Louder
One of the most unique and entertaining bands on the local scene, this funky, horn-driven crew managed to capture its irresistible party vibe perfectly on its debut.
Ma Crow – Smoky Junction
A collection of covers and traditional old time songs, local Bluegrass great Ma Crow made a much welcome return to the record store bins with the full-length Smoky Junction, an ode to Crow’s friends, family and home.
The Guitars – High Action
High Action, the first “official” release by The Guitars, is an absolute stunner, seven songs’ worth of vintage Pop majesty. It’s glaringly obvious that the four Guitars members are hardcore record-heads and serious students of the classic eras of American Rock, Soul and Pop.
Shiny and the Spoon – Ferris Wheel
Folk Pop duo Shiny and the Spoon became a trio in 2011, but that still doesn’t explain the huge creative growth over just the past year or so. Ferris Wheel was like SATS going from black-and-white to full Technicolor, widescreen 3D.
Valley of the Sun – The Sayings of the Seers
VotS’s dynamic, riff-ridin’ sound could technically be put in the so-called “Stoner Rock” category, but there aren’t many hardcore stoners who could compose and arrange with the sophistication and smarts it so obviously took to make Sayings.
The Chocolate Horse – Beasts
With its dark, hypnotic and emotional allure, dynamic Indie crew The Chocolate Horse’s third (and best) album deservedly received the most attention yet for the band.
The Newport Secret Six – Licking River Rock Steady
Putting its own spin on traditional Ska, the former Duppy a Jamba reemerged as the Newport Secret Six and released this amazing, true-to-tradition long-player.
Kelly Thomas and the Fabulous Pickups – Fly
After numerous releases from her other projects, Thomas finally released the debut LP from her main band after almost a decade. Fly, a beautifully crafted, emotionally stirring Country/Roots effort, was worth the wait.
You, You’re Awesome – Good Point, Whoever Said That
After several EP releases, progressive Electronica duo You, You’re Awesome issued its first long-player, a solid slice of compelling, pleasurable entertainment regardless of your musical tastes.
Skeetones – Retrospektive
Already a regional live favorite, this “live Electronica band” released its first full-length which was a glorious take-home version of the band’s creative mix of various forms of Electro and Dance music and trancelike improv excursions.
The Seedy Seeds – Verb/Noun
The charming Seedys’ national profile continued to rise in 2011, thanks in large part to the impossibly catchy Verb/Noun, one of the best Indie Pop albums of the year.
Buffalo Killers – 3
On the hard-touring Buffalo Killers’ third album, the retro-tinged Psych Pop trio’s songwriting reached a level of excellence on par with the legends that inspire them.
The Mighty – The Mighty
One of the year’s best surprises, Indie Pop trio The Mighty’s self-titled effort found the Pop Rock trio evolving into a majestic Electronic Indie Pop juggernaut.
Brian Olive – Two of Everything
The former Greenhorne and Soledad Brother’s second solo effort received a lot of attention in the national music press thanks to its kaleidoscopic array of classic Pop and Rock sounds and song stylings.
Josh Eagle and the Harvest City – A Good One is Hard to Find
Eagle showed promise from the start as a solo singer/songwriter, but with A Good One is Hard to Find, he and his band evolved into a world-class Folk/Pop unit.
Natalie Wells – Mind The Gap
The young Blues/Rock singer/guitarist’s debut was a revelation, showcasing her diverse songwriting and stylistic influences (from The Beatles to Cream to The White Stripes, with many stops in between).
Beneath Oblivion – From Man to Dust
The Metal underground embraced this progressive, inventive local ensemble, which showed some remarkable creative growth on its heavy, dynamic, hypnotic second full-length for The Mylene Sheath label.
The Kentucky Struts – The Year of the Horse
Even without the interesting release hook (one of the album’s 12 songs was released each month in 2011, with amazing artwork commissioned for each track), this Country/Roots outfit’s latest is one of the best Americana albums of the year, local or otherwise.
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Freekbass – Concentrate
The Tillers with Uncle Mike Carr – Wild Hog in the Woods
The Harlequins – Midwest Coast
Dallas Moore – Hank to Thank
Frontier Folk Nebraska – Frontier Folk Nebraska
i-EL – The Book of Elijah
Belle Histoire – Spirits
Vaudeville Freud – Tapdance!: The Musical
Black Tractor – Applaud My Friends, The Comedy is Over
Sacred Spirits – Some Stay
Mack West – The Long Goodnight
Winterhymn – Songs for the Slain
Bootsy Collins – Tha Funk Capital of the World
Rose Funeral – Gates of Punishment
Messerly & Ewing – Every Bitter Thing
The Sweep - |||
Sleepin’ Dogs – Love Takes Its Toll
For Algernon – Starling Redux
500 Miles to Memphis – Live at the Southgate House
Pomegranates – In Your Face Thieves/Chestnut Attic
Cybele – Medicated America
The Strongest Proof – Paths Will Collide
The Tammy WhyNots – Meet the Tammy WhyNots
The Kickaways – America! America!
Vacation – Vacation
Puck – Still Wishing
Vibe One – The Balance
Fake Hands – Fake Hands
Big Rock Club – Big Rock Club
Dark Colour – Memories
Pop Empire – The Devil’s Party
D-Maub – Death Before Dishonor
Ricky Nye and the Paris Blues Band – Ricky Nye and the Paris Blues Band
Blessid Union of Souls — The Mission Field
Army Coach – Daydream
Shoot Out the Lights – Shoot Out the Lights
The Tempers – Strum and Drag
Vaughn & Company – Still Worth It
Over the Rhine – The Long Surrender
Northside Garage – Waiting for the Breakdown
Ron Esposito – We Are One
Daniel Martin Moore – In the Cool of the Day
The Faux Frencmen – 3AM Waltz
Dusty Bryant – Wasted Midwestern Town Blues
Sweet Ray Laurel – Sweet Ray Laurel
Atlantis Becoming – Atlantis Becoming
Chris Collier – This is Everything
The Dukes Are Dead – The Shot Heard Round the World
Kry Kids – Happy Tomato
SHADOWRAPTR – It’s Always Winter on the Moon
Soapland – The Inflatable Real
A Continuous Now – Transient Soul Umbrella
Mala in Se – Mala in Se
Vincent Vega – Man of Fire
Alone at 3 a.m. – From an Ohio Basement
Ric Hordinksi – Arthur’s Garden
Daniel Joseph Dorff – The Living Room
The Yugos – The Yugos
Switchblade Syndicate – As Long as There’s Whiskey
The Strongest Proof – Paths Will Collide
Serenity Fischer – Rogue Strawberry
Buggs Tha Rocka/DJ Clockwork – Lost Luggage
Ryan Broshear – Ryan Broshear
SS-20 – MetaphorAmerica
Zachary Burns Band – D.I.Y.
Jason Ludwig – Lost in Love
Jason Ludwig – Tanglings
Young Butta – Money Train Mixtape
Skeleton Hands – Ravage
Skeleton Hands – Crystalline Dreams
Maurice Mattei and The Tempers - The Tempers Christmas Show
Vito Emanuel – Good Luck
Green Light Morning – Green Light Morning
Loudmouth – Cabin Fever
The Worthmores – The Worthmores
The Upset Victory – The Awakening
Eddy J. Free – I Am the MaD hatter
eleven:eleven – eleven:eleven
Slack Panther – Love Space Desire Forever Love Heartache Longing Cincinnati
The Prohibitionists – Extended Play ©
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What our music writer is listening to
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Songs from Daniele's iPod: Southeast Engine and Shoot Out The Lights
By Daniele Cusentino
March 17...Songs from Daniele's iPod: Southeast Engine and Shoot Out The Lights
By Daniele Cusentino
March 17, 2011
Artist: Shoot Out The Lights
Album: Shoot Out The Lights
Song: "You & Me"
Link: http://www.sotlmusic.com/
Daniele says: Move over, Rhett Miller, Cincinnati has its own upbeat, Americana-infused rock band that surpasses your Old 97s. Yes, you heard me correctly. I went there. Seriously, this song is great and is only a small indication of how great the new album from Shoot Out the Lights sounds. The Cincinnati band, funnily enough, was formed between Memphis and Nashville when the members discovered they all lived near Cincinnati. They met up again later, and voila, a band was formed. Check out the band as it releases its debut in Southgate House's parlour with The Western and Josh Eagle on March 19. You get a free album with the cover charge, and this track's on there. Another fave of mine is "One of These Days." Yeehaw!
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The Best Albums of 2011
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2011 isn’t quite over just yet, but I’m already set on what I feel are the best albums of the year –...2011 isn’t quite over just yet, but I’m already set on what I feel are the best albums of the year – at least as far as my top picks go. Rather than attempt to rank albums 1-50 or 1-100 or even 1-25 like you’ll find most everyone else doing, I thought I’d just share some thoughts on my top five.
Album of the Year
Artist: Bon Iver
Album: Bon Iver
In May 2011, a month before its scheduled release, a mishap over at iTunes caused Bon Iver’s second album to leak early. I happened to find the album in my possession soon thereafter, and even upon first listen, I was certain the album would finish the year at #1 on my list.
Having been a fan of Bon Iver pretty much since the beginning, I already knew that this was a band that truly had something special going on. The band’s front man, Justin Vernon (pictured above), is simply a genius in my eyes and does wonders for the ears with his signature falsetto voice. The sound alone will bring you to your knees as you suffer from heartache and rejoice with joy both at the same time, even though you can’t really make out exactly what he is saying or singing about.
Vernon enlisted a stellar cast for the band’s sophomore self-titled effort. In addition to full-time members Mike Noyce, Sean Carey and Matt McCaughan, other contributors to the album are probably unfamiliar to most. Colin Stetson is a world renouned saxphonist that has toured as a member of both Arcade Fire and Bell Orchestre, while pedal steel guitarist Greg Leisz has recorded with numerous musicians from Dave Alvin and Bill Frisell to Bad Religion and the Smashing Pumpkins. And then there’s Jim Schoenecker of Vernon’s side project Volcano Choir, synth player Tom Wincek, arranger Rob Moore, saxophonist Michael Lewis and trumpeteer Carmen Caerieri.
Unlike the band’s 2008 breakthrough debut album For Emma, Forever Ago, which was more or less a collection of melancholic, wintery campfire-inspired acoustic songs, the new album is so intricate and heavily textured that Bon Iver might be the last band you thought you were listening to had these songs been completely instrumental.
Not a single Bon Iver fan could have predicted what was to come after For Emma and even the Blood Bank EP, and now that Vernon and company have gone to extreme new heights, we can only bask in the glory that is this album. The bar has been set so high this time around, one can only wonder just how they will continue to top themselves.
Unlike Vernon who sings in “Holocene” that he is “not magnificent”, I have to say that this album certainly is.
Don’t be surprised at all when you see this album landing near or at the top of pretty much every list for 2011's Best Albums. Afterall, it did peak in the Top 10 of 14 seperate charts from around the world, as well as having earned the band several Grammy nominations for “Record of the Year”, “Song of the Year”, “Best New Artist” and “Best Alternative Album”, in which they were placed alongside My Morning Jacket.
Check out this breathtaking live performance of the album’s closing track, “Beth/Rest”, which also happens to be one of my favorite songs of the year.
Number Two – Best Albums of 2011
Artist: Dawes
Album: Nothing Is Wrong
Two years ago Los Angeles roots rock band Dawes made their mark in the world with their stunning debut North Hills, an album with a sound somewhere between The Band and Jackson Browne. This year they have continued to impress even themselves with Nothing Is Wrong, which I believe is one of the strongest releases of the year both musically and lyrically.
Front man Taylor Goldsmith (who sounds an awfully lot like Browne) is just as much a poet as major Romantic Age players William Blake and Lord Byron. If there’s a general theme to be found on Nothing Is Wrong it would be Goldsmith’s bouts with love and spending much of his time on the road. I know, I know. Typical subject matter for yet another rock band. Hear me out.
Over the course of the album you can see Goldsmith battling the loneliness being on the road brings while coming to terms with and accepting or understanding what matters the most in love.
In the opening song “Time Spent in Los Angeles”, Goldsmith sings “These days my friends don’t seem to know me without my suitcase in my hand, I used to think someone would love me for the places I have been”, while younger brother Griffin sings about how far the band has come in a different song, ironically called “How Far We’ve Come.”
Though the subject matter may be overplayed, the guitar licks and multi-part harmonies (which include Browne on “Fire Away”) make the lyrics all the more better, such as “The only time I am lonely is when others are around” and ”I learned that love is not as simple as I thought.”
While Nothing Is Wrong is basically an extension of the sound on North Hills, the difference here is time and experience. Goldsmith and his counterparts – his brother and drummer Griffin, bassist Wylie Gelber and keyboardist Tay Straithairn – have been seasoned to perfection as a unit.
Like the title “Nothing is Wrong”, there is nothing wrong with Dawes. Everything is oh so right on this album
Number Three – Best Albums of 2011
Artist: My Morning Jacket
Album: Circuital
Despite the fact that this is probably My Morning Jacket’s most inconsistent album to date, it is actually their most commercially successful, as is every single album that has landed on my Top 5 list. But’s that not to say that I’m basing my choices off of only what is selling well.
The Jacket, as they’re known, have never really stayed the same band for too long, which can be a pretty good thing if you can pull it off, can continue to be successful and if you’re fans are willing to stick by your side. Luckily for this Louisville fearsome fivesome they have become one of America’s biggest rock and roll bands of the 21st century.
On Circuital they dive further into the weird and unknown while staying connected to their roots, which is reflected in front man Jim James’ lyrics. A song like “Outta My System” is said to be about a man’s reflection on his reckless youth, while “Holdin On To Black Metal” is about holding onto something that you loved as a child to cope with aging.
Some of the songs will remind you of a lost era between the makings of 2003's It Still Moves and 2005's Z, while others are just the next step for this ever-changing band. Then there’s a song like “Wonderful (The Way I Feel)”, a somber-yet-hopeful acoustic ballad that sends chills down your spine when your hear James’ voice accompanied with orchestral strings and pedal steel guitar peppered throughout.
While “circuital” may come from its root word “circuit”, a movement taking you back to the same place from which you started, My Morning Jacket doesn’t seem to be running around in circles because they’re not doing the same thing over and over again. Perhaps the true meaning in all this imagery deals more with the band members as human beings as opposed to artists.
Number Four – Best Albums of 2011
Artist: The Low Anthem
Album: Smart Flesh
I have yet to see or hear another band on the planet quite like the Low Anthem.
For Smart Flesh, they recorded about 30 songs during the colder season while living in an abandoned pasta factory in Rhode Island for three months. Front man Ben Knox Miller will tell you that their main instrument is whichever room they are recording or playing in at the time, and that the band is more concerned with the craft of music making rather than the perception of it.
Whereas a multitude of over 30 instruments were experimented with on their last effort Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, the band cut back a bit this time around, mastering fewer instruments and learning how noises faded between the metal and wooden walls in the factory, which by the way, never got above 50 degrees even when the heating was on.
The album opens with the slow-burning, Tom Waits-like “Ghost Woman Blues”, before going into the crooning of “Apothecary Love.” All around the album continues with this mellow spookiness but songs like “Hey, All You Hippies!” and the 9/11 retrospective “Boeing 737? will jump start your heart with blasting horns and pounding drums.
Smart Flesh is a powerful delicacy full of haunting tales about redemption and death, and if you listen close enough, you can almost feel yourself freezing alone at night in this factory while spirits play these songs through an old time radio when you least expect it. Kinda like that scene in the John Cusack movie 1408.
The Low Anthem are a band that requires attentive listening and they are an absolute must-see in concert because after hearing a band or album like this, you have to witness the beauty and magic unfolding in front of your eyes.
I was fortunate to see them two times in 2011 – the Bonnaroo Music Festival and Cincinnati’s MidPoint Music Festival – and it is because of those two shows that the Low Anthem have surprised me with a spot so high on this list.
Number Five – Best Albums of 2011
Artist: The Decemberists
Album: The King Is Dead
For most of their career, the Decemberists have been making concept albums centered around the poetic tales written by front man Colin Meloy. 2009's The Hazards of Love was a love story with an experimental, progressive rock edge, while 2006's The Crane Wife, which was centered around Japanese folklore, was at times folkie and other times dancey.
On their latest, The King Is Dead, Meloy chose modern American country and folk music as his inspiration. A lot of these songs recall Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen, though Meloy has stated that R.E.M. remains the major influence. Ironically, R.E.M.’s Peter Buck appears on the album, as does David Rawlings and Gillian Welch.
You’ll find some of the songs just don’t feel to go along with the others, however, they find a way to make them work. The most noticeably of these are the final two closing tracks. “This Is Why We Fight” is an upbeat rocker, while “Dear Avery” could have found a place on their previous recording. Even “Rox in the Box” could have found a home in the band’s back catalogue with the accordion playing of Jenny Conlee, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in May. In October, Conlee went into remission.
Nevertheless, the Decemberists decision to explore unchartered waters was a wise one at that. Just twelve days after its release, the album landed at #1 on the Billboard 200. More recently the band was nominated for a Grammy for “Best Rock Song” for “Down By The Water”, the Neil Young-esque single from the album.
Honorable Mentions
Ben Sollee – Inclusions
Booker T. Jones – The Road From Memphis
Brian Olive – Two of Everything
Chamberlin – Bitter Blood
Daniel Martin Moore – In the Cool of the Day
Deer Tick – Divine Providence
Explosions in the Sky – Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
The Felice Brothers – Celebration, Florida
Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
The Guitars – High Action
The Head and the Heart – The Head and the Heart
Iron & Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean
Jessica Lea Mayfield – Tell Me
Josh Eagle & the Harvest City – A Good One Is Hard To Find
The Joy Formidable – The Big Roar
Kelly Thomas & the Fabulous Pickups – Fly
Middle Brother – Middle Brother
Robert Ellis – Photographs
Ryan Adams – Ashes & Fire
The Seedy Seeds – Verb Noun
Shiny and the Spoon – Ferris Wheel
Shoot Out the Lights – Shoot Out the Lights
The Tammy WhyNots – Meet the Tammy WhyNots
Those Darlins – Screws Get Loose
Tom Waits – Bad As Me
U.S. Royalty – Mirrors
Walk the Moon – I Want! I Want!
Warren Haynes – Man In Motion
Washed Out – Within and Without
Wilco – The Whole Love
Will Hoge – Number Seven
Recommendations
The Airborne Toxic Event – All At Once
Alexander – Alexander
Alexi Murdoch – Towards the Sun
Amos Lee – Mission Bell
An Horse – Walls
The Antlers – Burst Apart
Asobi Seksu – Fluorescence
Aunt Martha – Bloodshot EP
Beirut – The Rip Tide
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones – Rocket Science
Belle Histoire – Spirits EP
Ben Harper – Give Till It’s Gone
Ben Lee – Deeper Into Dream
Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears – Scandalous
Bootsy Collins – The Funk Capitol of the World
Braids – Native Speaker
Brett Dennen – Loverboy
Bright Eyes – The People’s Key
Bruce Hornsby – Bride of the Noisemakers
Buffalo Killers – 3
Caitlin Rose – Own Side Now
Caspian – The Four Trees
Cass McCombs – Humor Risk
The Chain Gang of 1974 – Wayward Fire
The Chocolate Horse – Beasts
City and Colour – Little Hell
Cloud Nothings – Cloud Nothings
Cold Cave – Cherish the Light Years
Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto
Colin Stetson – New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges
Cults – Cults
Cut Copy – Zonoscope
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – It’s A Corporate World
Daniel Knox – Evryman For Himself
Deas Vail – Birds & Cages
The Del McCoury Band with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band – American Legacies
DeVotchKa – 100 Lovers
The Dodos – No Color
Drive-By Truckers – Go-Go Boots
The Drums – Portamento
The Dukes Are Dead – The Shot Heard Round the World
Ezra Furman & the Harpoons – Mysterious Power
Face to Face – Laugh Now, Laugh Later
Feist – Metals
Florence + the Machine – Ceremonials
For Algernon – Starling EP
Fort Frances – The Atlas
Foster the People – Torches
Futurebirds – EP
Gardens & Villa – Gardens & Villa
Gillian Welch – The Harrow & the Harvest
Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost
Graveyard – Hisingen Blues
Handsome Furs – Sound Kapital
The Harlequins – Midwest Coast EP
Here We Go Magic – The January EP
James Blake – James Blake
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – Here We Rest
Jason White – The Longing
The Jayhawks – Hollywood Town Hall
Jeff Bridges – Jeff Bridges
Joseph Arthur – The Graduation Ceremony
Kaki King – …Until We Felt Red
Kevin Devine – Between the Concrete and Clouds
The Kickaways – America! America!
Lia Ices – Grown Unknown
Lisa Hannigan – Passenger
Low – C’mon
Mala In Se – Mala In Se
Man Man – Life Fantastic
Maren Parusel – Artificial Gardens
Mates of State – Mountaintops
Mike Doughty – Yes and Also Yes
Mogwai – Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
Neon Indian – Era Extraria
The Newport Secret Six – Licking River Rock Steady
Nicole Atkins – Mondo Amore
The Nightwatchman – World Wide Rebel Songs
Noah & the Whale – Last Night On Earth
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Okkervil River – I Am Very Far
Old 97's – The Grand Theatre Volume 2
The Parson Red Heads – Yearling
Paul Simon – So Beautiful or So What
Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three – Middle of Everywhere
Pomegranates – In Your Face Thieves/Chestnut Attic
Pop Empire – The Devil’s Party
Portugal. the Man – Church Mouth
Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band – Peyton on Patton
Rich Robinson – Through A Crooked Sun
The Ridges – The Ridges
The Rosebuds – Loud Planes Fly Low
Sacred Spirits – Some Stay
Shadowraptr – It’s Always Winter on the Moon
She & Him – A Very She & Him Christmass
Sister Crayon – Bellow
Skeetones – Retrospektive
Smith Westerns – Dye It Blonde
St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
Steve Earle – I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive
Steve Martin & the Steep Canyon Rangers – Rare Bird Alert
Sweet Ray Laurel – Sweet Ray Laurel
They Might Be Giants – Join Us
Toro y Moi – Underneath the Pine
Tristen – Charlatans at the Garden Gate
Trombone Shorty – For True
Tune-Yards – Whokill
TV on the Radio – Nine Types of Light
Tyler Ramsey – The Valley Wind
Umphrey’s McGee – Death By Stereo
Vacation – Vacation
Vetiver – The Errant Charm
Wanda Jackson – The Party Ain’t Over
The Wood Brothers – Smoke Ring Halo
Yo La Tengo – They Shoot, We Score
Yuck – Yuck
Zee Avi – Ghostbird
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Petty Fest Rock The Southgate House
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On the biggest bar night of the year, over twenty Cincinnati-based bands gave thanks to Tom Petty & ...On the biggest bar night of the year, over twenty Cincinnati-based bands gave thanks to Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers by celebrating the music the band has given to us over the past thirty-five years. In the true spirit of Thanskgiving, all proceeds from the show went to the Leukemia and Lymphoma societies.
For the most part, bands performing both in the ballroom and parlour were only given enough time to bust out a few songs, while in the lounge, four seperate bands performed as a part of a different show, performing their own material and sprinkling in other covers here and there.
Some of those bands in the lounge included Saturn Batteries, who did a kind of half electric, half unplugged version of Nirvana’s “About A Girl”, while Michael Oliva of the Harlequins acoustically covered the Beatles “Mean Mr. Mustard” and the Beach Boys “God Only Knows.”
With such short and overlapping sets by the bands in both the ballroom and parlour, it was hard to catch every single act.
My night began with the final song from two of the members from the Evans Collective including Andrew Antle, who put a beat and sample-heavy, trippy psychedelic spin on “Time to Move On” which led into the chorus of “Free Fallin.” Downstairs in the ballroom, the Le Whorenettes wrapped up their set with a standard rock version of “You Wreck Me.” As I was watching the band’s lead guitarist, whose name I didn’t catch, I thought to myself that at anytime he could step in for Heartbreaker lead axeman Mike Campbell and no one would really know the difference.
Back upstairs in the parlour, Southgate House bar manager and For Algernon saxophonist Mike Kuntz was wrapping up his set with an acoustic cover of “Square One”, while downstairs in the ballroom, Bang Bang Salon owner Tina Sullivan joined local blues band the Mudpies for “Even the Losers”, “Here Comes My Girl” and “Stop Dragging My Heart Around.”
I spent the next few sets in the ballroom, where State Song had time for just two songs. Both songs unrecognizable to the casual Petty fan, their first cover was “One More Day, One More Night” from the Echo album, while the other song could have easily passed as their own, as they put their own post-punk stamp onto it.
Alt-Country/folk rockers Shoot Out the Lights used their time wisely to perform four songs, which included “Stop Dragging My Heart Around”, “Here Comes My Girl”, “The Waiting”, and my personal favorite of the night, the Traveling Wilburys “Handle Me With Care.”
Both Martin Luther & the Kings and Sweet Ray Laurel made their cover choices their own, with the Kings doing a punkish “Wildflowers” and Sweet Ray adding some reggae-style guitar riffing to “Don’t Come Around Here No More.”
Back upstairs in the parlour Jason Wells channeled his inner Petty, as his band For Algernon, which included sax and trumpet, chose to do the often times forgettable hits “Room at the Top” and “Walls.” Both the Never Setting Suns and Frontier Folk Nebraska put some heavy drumming and guitar soloing into their covers of “Learning to Fly”, “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” and “Rebels.” Frontier Folk actually ended their set with a cover of Neil Young’s “Rockin in the Free World”, which led into the closing segment of Skynyrd’s “Freebird.”
Several bands originally scheduled to perform at the show were unable to make it, including the Dopamines, the Minor Leagues, Wonky Tonk, Shiny & the Spoon and Josh Eagle & the Harvest City, who were performing at Mainstay with Jody Stapleton & the Generals and Pete Dressman & the Soul Unified Nation.
It was great to see so many of the city’s best bands pay tribute and put their own spins into all of the songs heard tonight, but for now, I’m kind of burnt out on Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.
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Spill It (Local Music)
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Cincy Roots Rock band Shoot Out the Lights celebrates the release of its two-years-in-the-making deb...Cincy Roots Rock band Shoot Out the Lights celebrates the release of its two-years-in-the-making debut full-length Saturday at the Southgate House’s Parlour. The self-titled release — which should appeal to fans of artists from Gram Parson to Ryan Adams — was recorded with producer Mike Tekulve at Ric Hordinski’s Monastery studio, CAA Studios and at Cincinnati State’s facilities. Opening Saturday’s show are The Western and Josh Eagle and the Harvest City, who are working on their sophomore album with an eye on a summertime release. The $5 cover charge includes a copy of Shoot Out the Lights debut. (www.sotlmusic.com)
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Anthony's Army Bands Together featuring The Joneses, Regal Blend, Burn Bros. and Shoot Out the Lights
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Anthony’s Army will host its 1st Annual Anthony’s Army Bands Together Charity Benefit Concert. 5 Loc...Anthony’s Army will host its 1st Annual Anthony’s Army Bands Together Charity Benefit Concert. 5 Local Bands from all different genres will perform on April 16, 2011 at the Avenue Lounge 411 Madison Ave in Covington, Kentucky. The Event will start at 9:00pm. Ticket price is $10.00. Proceeds raised will go towards The Melodic Connections Non Profit Music Therapy in Cincinnati and Anthony’s Army.
Lead Vocalist Jay Ober is excited about the event. “The Joneses understand the restorative and healing effects that music has on all people we are proud to be soldiers in Anthony’s Army and excited to perform for such a wonderful cause.”
Where: The Avenue Lounge
Phone: 859-261-6120
Address: 411 Madison Ave.
Website: www.theavenuelounge.com
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Shows to know
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Have some coffee and folk music, get a concert and an album and get your tickets quick for Ra Ra Rio...Have some coffee and folk music, get a concert and an album and get your tickets quick for Ra Ra Riot....
By Daniele Pfarr
March 15, 2011
Shoot Out the Lights
Southgate House - 24 E. Third St. - Newport & Levee area
March 19 : 9 p.m. CD Release Party. With Josh Eagle and the Harvest City, and the Western. Doors open 8 p.m.
It’s an album release show for local rock band Shoot Out The Lights. For the price of admission, you get to see it perform live and you get a copy of the new album. Not a bad deal in these tough economic times. The Cincinnati band, funnily enough, was formed between Memphis and Nashville when the members discovered they all lived near Cincinnati. They met up again later, and voila, a band was formed. Now you have a new local band with a new album and a superb release show lineup to go with it. Also scheduled on the bill is The Western and Josh Eagle and the Harvest City.
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A Blessid Rebirth
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More Local Notes
Saturday at Memorial Hall (on Elm St., next to Music Hall), there will be a spec...More Local Notes
Saturday at Memorial Hall (on Elm St., next to Music Hall), there will be a special benefit concert for Venice on Vine, the pizza parlor at 13th and Vine streets in Over-the-Rhine run by Power Inspires Progress to provide job training for inner city residents having difficultly finding employment. Longtime local Jazz fave (and current SCPA music teacher) Erwin Stuckey and his trio performs at 7 p.m., followed by headliner Rick DellaRatta, a philanthropic musician whose “Jazz for Peace” performances have raised funds for over 700 different charities in the past decade. The New York-based pianist has performed all over the world (including a concert at the U.N.) with the goal of bringing people together through Jazz. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event includes dinner, a cash bar and a silent auction. To purchase tickets and read more about the cause, visit www.powerinspiresprogress.com.
Cincy Roots Rock band Shoot Out the Lights celebrates the release of its two-years-in-the-making debut full-length Saturday at the Southgate House’s Parlour. The self-titled release — which should appeal to fans of artists from Gram Parson to Ryan Adams — was recorded with producer Mike Tekulve at Ric Hordinski’s Monastery studio, CAA Studios and at Cincinnati State’s facilities. Opening Saturday’s show are The Western and Josh Eagle and the Harvest City, who are working on their sophomore album with an eye on a summertime release. The $5 cover charge includes a copy of Shoot Out the Lights debut. (www.sotlmusic.com)
supersonic
