Summer Concert Calendar
I've somehow managed to make it to ten concerts since the last calendar, most of which were quite good. That brings the total for the year to 19, the best of which was unquestionably Medeski, Martin & Wood with Dr. Lonnie Smith. Now let's see what's on deck for the rest of the summer:
June
F 6/10 - Elizabeth Cook @ Beachland Tavern. Grand Ole Opry style country, if that even means anything now.
S 6/11 - New Bomb Turks @ Beachland Ballroom. Former Studio-A-Rama headliners.
S 6/11 - Bela Fleck & the Flecktones @ Cain Park. It's probably already sold out. If not, you should check it out, seeing as Fleck are arguably the best banjo player and bassist working. The shows are always predictably awesome.
T 6/14 - Glee Live! In Concert! @ Quicken Loans Arena.
W 6/15 - Hot Club of Cowtown @ Nighttown. I'm sorely tempted.
R 6/16 - Art Brut @ Beachland Ballroom. My cohost Shari is pretty excited about these indie rockers, whose latest album was produced by Frank Black.
F 6/17 - Detroit Cobras @ Beachland Tavern. I was underwhelmed when I saw them in the Ballroom, but a smaller venue enhance their loud rock.
S 6/18 - Kevin Seconds @ Beachland Tavern. Member of the semi-legendary punk band 7 Seconds.
July
F 7/01 - Dave Alvin & the Guilty Ones @ Beachland Ballroom. Seems like Dave only has guilty bands, which is appropriate for rock & roll.
S 7/02 - David Mayfield Parade @ Beachland Ballroom. Jessica Lea Mayfield's older (and arguably more talented) brother is an upcomer in the bluegrass world.
Su 7/03 - Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers @ Grog Shop. And I don't have to work the next day!
W 7/06 - Cabinet @ Beachland Ballroom. Bluegrassish.
W 7/06 - Urge Overkill @ Grog. Listed mostly because WTF?
W 7/06 - Fitz & the Tantrums @ R&R HoF. Free show, fun band.
W 7/13 - Mary Chapin Carpenter @ Kent Stage. Probably my favorite mainstream female country artist.
R 7/14 - Kurt Vile @ Grog. Matador artist. I like him.
S 7/16 - Lucinda Williams @ Nautica. Great artist, lousy venue.
M 7/18 - Interpol @ HOB. My wife and I saw them on an early date. The date went well, so I can't say I remember the band too much :-)
F 7/22 - Scythian @ Berea Irish Fest. My wife's new favorite band.
S 7/23 - Rockapella @ Cain Park. I got to boo them once. I guess that doesn't happen too much.
T 7/26 - The Decemberists @ Nautica. Great band, terrible venue.
W 7/27 - Anvil @ Grog. The greatest metal band that never made it. You might have seen the documentary.
R 7/28 - Flogging Molly @ Nautica. Irish folk-punkers are a one-trick pony, but it's quite a trick and they are fun live.
R 7/28 - Carbon Leaf @ Kent Stage. Listed for PK, who I know likes them. I wasn't impressed when I saw them. Think a low budget Great Big Sea.
F 7/29 - Los Straitjackets @ Beachland Ballroom. Everyone should see the surf sounds of Los Straitjackets at least once in their life.
F 7/29 - Girlyman @ Cain Park. Listed just for RH.
Su 7/31 - Steve Earle & the Dukes @ Kent Stage. Saw him once, it was one of the best shows I've ever seen.
August
T 8/02 - Journey w/Foreigner & Night Ranger @ Blossom. I'd go, but how could it possibly be better than singing Don't Stop Believin' in Rock Band?
W 8/03 - Wye Oak @ Beachland Tavern. Their latest album got heavy airplay on all the indie rock shows, deservedly so.
F 8/05 - Iris Dement @ Kent Stage. Country.
W 8/10 - Tiffany & Debbie Gibson @ HOB. Insert punchline here.
Su 8/14 - Reel Big Fish @ HOB. Still selling out.
R 8/25 - BB King @ HOB. One for the bucket list.
W 8/31 - Peter, Bjorn & John @ Grog Shop. A long time ago they put out an interesting debut. Since then, it's mostly been downhill, but then I haven't listened to the new album yet.
September
R 9/08 - Elton John @ Blossom.
T 9/13 - The Zombies @ Beachland Ballroom. Holy crap, it costs $50. I'm glad I saw them back when they only charged $20. Which is a shame, because as nostalgia shows go they were really good. Features the key members (aka, both Argent and Blunstone).
W 9/14 - Eden Brent @ Winchester. Female blues pianist.
F 9/16 - They Might Be Giants w/Jonathan Coulton @ Beachland Ballroom. I was going to skip this, but I do want to see Coulton... Will sell out. Soon. $25.
T 9/20 - Nekromantix @ Beachland Ballroom. Danish psychobilly.
Su 9/21 - Carolina Chocolate Drops & Kent Stage. Bluegrass/countryish, who have parleyed a cover of "Hit'em Up Style" and serious musical chops into recent success. [date changed from last calendar]
Beyond
M 10/24 - Michael Pollan @ PSQ. Of Omnivore's Dilemna fame.
R 10/27 - Dar Williams @ Kent Stage. Someone else who didn't impress me live, but has a lot of good CDs.
F 11/04 - Anthony Bourdain @ PSQ. Must be the month for food-related speakers at PSQ.
Su 11/27 - Straight No Chaser @ PSQ. Acapella to end Thanksgiving weekend.
Su 2/26/12 - Marketa Irglova @ Beachland. The girl from Once, The Swell Season. Now that's planning ahead.
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, Now That's Class.
Of course, you can hear many of these bands (and sometimes win tickets to see them) every Sunday from 2pm to 4pm on WRUW-FM 91.1.
Anything I missed? Let me know.
June
F 6/10 - Elizabeth Cook @ Beachland Tavern. Grand Ole Opry style country, if that even means anything now.
S 6/11 - New Bomb Turks @ Beachland Ballroom. Former Studio-A-Rama headliners.
S 6/11 - Bela Fleck & the Flecktones @ Cain Park. It's probably already sold out. If not, you should check it out, seeing as Fleck are arguably the best banjo player and bassist working. The shows are always predictably awesome.
T 6/14 - Glee Live! In Concert! @ Quicken Loans Arena.
W 6/15 - Hot Club of Cowtown @ Nighttown. I'm sorely tempted.
R 6/16 - Art Brut @ Beachland Ballroom. My cohost Shari is pretty excited about these indie rockers, whose latest album was produced by Frank Black.
F 6/17 - Detroit Cobras @ Beachland Tavern. I was underwhelmed when I saw them in the Ballroom, but a smaller venue enhance their loud rock.
S 6/18 - Kevin Seconds @ Beachland Tavern. Member of the semi-legendary punk band 7 Seconds.
July
F 7/01 - Dave Alvin & the Guilty Ones @ Beachland Ballroom. Seems like Dave only has guilty bands, which is appropriate for rock & roll.
S 7/02 - David Mayfield Parade @ Beachland Ballroom. Jessica Lea Mayfield's older (and arguably more talented) brother is an upcomer in the bluegrass world.
Su 7/03 - Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers @ Grog Shop. And I don't have to work the next day!
W 7/06 - Cabinet @ Beachland Ballroom. Bluegrassish.
W 7/06 - Urge Overkill @ Grog. Listed mostly because WTF?
W 7/06 - Fitz & the Tantrums @ R&R HoF. Free show, fun band.
W 7/13 - Mary Chapin Carpenter @ Kent Stage. Probably my favorite mainstream female country artist.
R 7/14 - Kurt Vile @ Grog. Matador artist. I like him.
S 7/16 - Lucinda Williams @ Nautica. Great artist, lousy venue.
M 7/18 - Interpol @ HOB. My wife and I saw them on an early date. The date went well, so I can't say I remember the band too much :-)
F 7/22 - Scythian @ Berea Irish Fest. My wife's new favorite band.
S 7/23 - Rockapella @ Cain Park. I got to boo them once. I guess that doesn't happen too much.
T 7/26 - The Decemberists @ Nautica. Great band, terrible venue.
W 7/27 - Anvil @ Grog. The greatest metal band that never made it. You might have seen the documentary.
R 7/28 - Flogging Molly @ Nautica. Irish folk-punkers are a one-trick pony, but it's quite a trick and they are fun live.
R 7/28 - Carbon Leaf @ Kent Stage. Listed for PK, who I know likes them. I wasn't impressed when I saw them. Think a low budget Great Big Sea.
F 7/29 - Los Straitjackets @ Beachland Ballroom. Everyone should see the surf sounds of Los Straitjackets at least once in their life.
F 7/29 - Girlyman @ Cain Park. Listed just for RH.
Su 7/31 - Steve Earle & the Dukes @ Kent Stage. Saw him once, it was one of the best shows I've ever seen.
August
T 8/02 - Journey w/Foreigner & Night Ranger @ Blossom. I'd go, but how could it possibly be better than singing Don't Stop Believin' in Rock Band?
W 8/03 - Wye Oak @ Beachland Tavern. Their latest album got heavy airplay on all the indie rock shows, deservedly so.
F 8/05 - Iris Dement @ Kent Stage. Country.
W 8/10 - Tiffany & Debbie Gibson @ HOB. Insert punchline here.
Su 8/14 - Reel Big Fish @ HOB. Still selling out.
R 8/25 - BB King @ HOB. One for the bucket list.
W 8/31 - Peter, Bjorn & John @ Grog Shop. A long time ago they put out an interesting debut. Since then, it's mostly been downhill, but then I haven't listened to the new album yet.
September
R 9/08 - Elton John @ Blossom.
T 9/13 - The Zombies @ Beachland Ballroom. Holy crap, it costs $50. I'm glad I saw them back when they only charged $20. Which is a shame, because as nostalgia shows go they were really good. Features the key members (aka, both Argent and Blunstone).
W 9/14 - Eden Brent @ Winchester. Female blues pianist.
F 9/16 - They Might Be Giants w/Jonathan Coulton @ Beachland Ballroom. I was going to skip this, but I do want to see Coulton... Will sell out. Soon. $25.
T 9/20 - Nekromantix @ Beachland Ballroom. Danish psychobilly.
Su 9/21 - Carolina Chocolate Drops & Kent Stage. Bluegrass/countryish, who have parleyed a cover of "Hit'em Up Style" and serious musical chops into recent success. [date changed from last calendar]
Beyond
M 10/24 - Michael Pollan @ PSQ. Of Omnivore's Dilemna fame.
R 10/27 - Dar Williams @ Kent Stage. Someone else who didn't impress me live, but has a lot of good CDs.
F 11/04 - Anthony Bourdain @ PSQ. Must be the month for food-related speakers at PSQ.
Su 11/27 - Straight No Chaser @ PSQ. Acapella to end Thanksgiving weekend.
Su 2/26/12 - Marketa Irglova @ Beachland. The girl from Once, The Swell Season. Now that's planning ahead.
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, Now That's Class.
Of course, you can hear many of these bands (and sometimes win tickets to see them) every Sunday from 2pm to 4pm on WRUW-FM 91.1.
Anything I missed? Let me know.