Will 2011 Rock?
Signs point to yes. I'll provide some evidence, but first, here's my favorite vaguely music related joke of 2010, courtesy of my sister, the always entertaining tigerlily_blue.
Q: How many hipsters does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Well, I'd tell you, but it's this new number that you've never heard of.
And now, without further ado, a carefully curated list of the concerts that are coming to the area in the next few months. The list is short due to the time of year. Can I push my $$/show ratio down under the $3.07/show I achieved in 2010?
January
S 1/01 - A Very Roxy New Year @ Beachland Ballroom. So Burlesque isn't the same as rock, but still potentially entertaining.
W 1/05 - Girl Talk @ HOB (sponsored by Grog Shop). CWRU alum who does interesting things with samples and laptops and the like. SOLD OUT. I've tried to snag myself a free ticket though, so I may be joining juddha.
M 1/10 - Herculaneum @ Now That's Class. Featuring members of Wilco and Cursive.
W 1/12 - Rubblebucket @ Beachland Tavern w/Revolution Brass Band. I won my $8 bet when I saw them last March. They've got a fun funky sound; with a little luck they could score a gig opening for a major jam band.
R 1/20 - Naturally 7 @ PSQ. A cappella.
R 1/20 - Lenin-McCarthy @ Now That's Class. Listed for the name alone; features members of Mustard Plug.
R 1/27 - Headtronics @ Beachland Ballroom - Featuring DJ Logic and Freakbass in the same act.
R 1/27 - Ted Leo @ B-Side (downstairs from Grog). The Pharmacists front man does a solo show.
S 1/29 - David Allan Coe @ Peabodys. He's the least metal thing to appear there in years, and he'll still kick ass and take names.
February
T 2/01 - My Brightest Diamond @ Beachland Tavern - I like weirdos, and the description of Shara Worden makes her sound like a musical weirdo. Plus she toured as a supporting musician with the Decemberists.
W 2/02 - Less Than Jake @ HOB.
W 2/02 - Max Weinberg's Big Band @ Kent Stage. I'm sorely tempted. Do I really want to drop as much money on tickets as I spent in all of 2010?
F 2/04 - Leon Redbone @ Kent Stage. I just like reading about this guy. He's terribly mysterious, just like the Sphinx in Mystery Men, but without the ability to cut guns in half with his mind. As far as I know, anyway.
S 2/05 - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings @ Beachland Ballroom - The best $28 you will ever spend. Buy your tickets ASAP! We have ours. EJ & Kisha have theirs. The roof will be blown off!
M 2/07 - The Suzan @ Grog. $5 bet show; all girl pop from Japan, produced by Bjorn of Peter, Bjorn and John.
W 2/09 - Emilie Autumn @ Peabodys - Looks like a freak live show. I'm good with that.
S 2/12 - Cabinet with Hoots & Hellmouth @ Beachland Ballroom - Looks like a good $10 bet. Looks like interesting, non-standard twang.
M 2/14 - James Hunter @ Beachland Ballroom - Throwback to 1950s style rock & roll. Looks like fun.
S 2/19 - Galactic @ Beachland Ballroom - Perpetually on my 'get to see' list, although I suspect I'm past their peak at this point.
T 2/22 - Rasputina @ Beachland Ballroom - Cello driven freaks. I mean that in the nicest way possible; the one time I saw them was a lot of fun.
March
F 3/04 - Revolver @ Grog. Another $8 bet; classically trained French kids doing pop.
Su 3/06 - Jonathan Richman @ Beachland Ballroom. Part of their 11th Anniversary Weekend. His new album is quite interesting. His last one was too, but I was out of town for that tour.
Su 3/06 - Dropkick Murphys with Against Me @ HOB. I like the Murphys; my wife likes them both.
W 3/16 to Su 3/20 - CityMusic Cleveland @ various venues. Fauré, Tchaikovsky, Bizet.
April
F 4/15 - Rush @ Quicken Loans Arena. I've been offered a cheap ticket, which means it only costs about $100.
How do you find local shows? Try these: Pollstar. Beachland Ballroom & Tavern, Grog Shop, Peabodys, CSU Convocation Center, HOB, Winchester, Kent Stage, Agora Theater & Ballroom, Wilberts, Quicken Loans Arena, Night Town, Playhouse Square, Rock Hall, Cain Park, Blossom, Tower City Amphitheater, Nautica Pavilion, Lakewood Civic Auditorium, E.J. Thomas Hall (Akron), CityMusic Cleveland, Cleveland Philharmonic, Now That's Class.
Seriously, why haven't you bought your Sharon Jones ticket yet?
Q: How many hipsters does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Well, I'd tell you, but it's this new number that you've never heard of.
And now, without further ado, a carefully curated list of the concerts that are coming to the area in the next few months. The list is short due to the time of year. Can I push my $$/show ratio down under the $3.07/show I achieved in 2010?
January
S 1/01 - A Very Roxy New Year @ Beachland Ballroom. So Burlesque isn't the same as rock, but still potentially entertaining.
W 1/05 - Girl Talk @ HOB (sponsored by Grog Shop). CWRU alum who does interesting things with samples and laptops and the like. SOLD OUT. I've tried to snag myself a free ticket though, so I may be joining juddha.
M 1/10 - Herculaneum @ Now That's Class. Featuring members of Wilco and Cursive.
W 1/12 - Rubblebucket @ Beachland Tavern w/Revolution Brass Band. I won my $8 bet when I saw them last March. They've got a fun funky sound; with a little luck they could score a gig opening for a major jam band.
R 1/20 - Naturally 7 @ PSQ. A cappella.
R 1/20 - Lenin-McCarthy @ Now That's Class. Listed for the name alone; features members of Mustard Plug.
R 1/27 - Headtronics @ Beachland Ballroom - Featuring DJ Logic and Freakbass in the same act.
R 1/27 - Ted Leo @ B-Side (downstairs from Grog). The Pharmacists front man does a solo show.
S 1/29 - David Allan Coe @ Peabodys. He's the least metal thing to appear there in years, and he'll still kick ass and take names.
February
T 2/01 - My Brightest Diamond @ Beachland Tavern - I like weirdos, and the description of Shara Worden makes her sound like a musical weirdo. Plus she toured as a supporting musician with the Decemberists.
W 2/02 - Less Than Jake @ HOB.
W 2/02 - Max Weinberg's Big Band @ Kent Stage. I'm sorely tempted. Do I really want to drop as much money on tickets as I spent in all of 2010?
F 2/04 - Leon Redbone @ Kent Stage. I just like reading about this guy. He's terribly mysterious, just like the Sphinx in Mystery Men, but without the ability to cut guns in half with his mind. As far as I know, anyway.
S 2/05 - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings @ Beachland Ballroom - The best $28 you will ever spend. Buy your tickets ASAP! We have ours. EJ & Kisha have theirs. The roof will be blown off!
M 2/07 - The Suzan @ Grog. $5 bet show; all girl pop from Japan, produced by Bjorn of Peter, Bjorn and John.
W 2/09 - Emilie Autumn @ Peabodys - Looks like a freak live show. I'm good with that.
S 2/12 - Cabinet with Hoots & Hellmouth @ Beachland Ballroom - Looks like a good $10 bet. Looks like interesting, non-standard twang.
M 2/14 - James Hunter @ Beachland Ballroom - Throwback to 1950s style rock & roll. Looks like fun.
S 2/19 - Galactic @ Beachland Ballroom - Perpetually on my 'get to see' list, although I suspect I'm past their peak at this point.
T 2/22 - Rasputina @ Beachland Ballroom - Cello driven freaks. I mean that in the nicest way possible; the one time I saw them was a lot of fun.
March
F 3/04 - Revolver @ Grog. Another $8 bet; classically trained French kids doing pop.
Su 3/06 - Jonathan Richman @ Beachland Ballroom. Part of their 11th Anniversary Weekend. His new album is quite interesting. His last one was too, but I was out of town for that tour.
Su 3/06 - Dropkick Murphys with Against Me @ HOB. I like the Murphys; my wife likes them both.
W 3/16 to Su 3/20 - CityMusic Cleveland @ various venues. Fauré, Tchaikovsky, Bizet.
April
F 4/15 - Rush @ Quicken Loans Arena. I've been offered a cheap ticket, which means it only costs about $100.
How do you find local shows? Try these: Pollstar. Beachland Ballroom & Tavern, Grog Shop, Peabodys, CSU Convocation Center, HOB, Winchester, Kent Stage, Agora Theater & Ballroom, Wilberts, Quicken Loans Arena, Night Town, Playhouse Square, Rock Hall, Cain Park, Blossom, Tower City Amphitheater, Nautica Pavilion, Lakewood Civic Auditorium, E.J. Thomas Hall (Akron), CityMusic Cleveland, Cleveland Philharmonic, Now That's Class.
Seriously, why haven't you bought your Sharon Jones ticket yet?