Labor Day Concert Calendar
It's definitely been too long since my last concert calendar, but I only made it to four shows in the interim, two of which were in one weekend in Detroit. Here are the other two:
17. When I was in Los Angeles I visited my metalhead buddy Ace. He mentioned that he was considering seeing 2Cellos, and did I want to go? Why yes, I did. This was only the second non-metal show Ace had ever been to (The first? The Rolling Stones), and it was the outdoor Greek Theater near Griffith Park on Wednesday, July 19. 2Cellos made their reputation by doing rambunctious classical covers of AC/DC and others. When they played that kind of thing live, it was pretty good. When they played film scores, which is the topic of their most recent album, it was slightly dull. Still, we were outside on a beautiful July night in LA after having had chicken and waffles at Roscoes, so there wasn't really much to complain about.
18. I bought M tickets to see Bruno Mars late in 2016, and my ongoing joke was that I hoped she still liked me when the tour rolled into the Q on Tuesday, August 15. Spoilers: she does. Before the main event we got to (had to?) check out opener Camila Cabello, who is Cuban and adorable looking and not very good. I can see why someone thought putting her on stage was a good idea, and she might end up being good one day, but right now she was pretty boring.
Bruno Mars, on the other hand, was not boring. He's certainly not as good as Prince, but he's pretty much the best Prince-like entertainer we're likely to see any time soon. His backing band is tight, they've got good dance moves, and oh yes, they've got a gigantic pile of chart topping hits that made the capacity crowd very happy. Arena shows like this aren't really my thing, but once in a while it's nice to see someone at the height of their popularity.
That puts me at 18 concerts and 26 bands this year. Here's the list of candidates to add to that list. As always, bold means I'm going. Italics means I'm more than usually interested.
If I missed something, tell me, especially if it's within driving range of Cleveland!
September
Su 9/10 - Antibalias @ Beachland Ballroom. The Daptone afro-beat sensation returns. I bought a ticket.
T 9/12 - AJJ @ Grog Shop. Sold out, and I have other long scheduled plans anyway, but I had a lot of fun at their show the first time I saw them. If you like your punk more political and less loud, this is a good band to check out.
W 9/13 - Roky Erickson @ Beachland Ballroom. The psych rock pioneer. Bucket list show. I have a free ticket.
W 9/13 - Rainer Maria @ Grog Shop. They've reunited and are on tour. I saw their (I think) last previous Cleveland performance back when I lived in Coventry. I'm choosing Roky over them, but it's a tough call.
F 9/15 - The Dead Milkmen @ Grog Shop. Sold out. This went on sale when I was in CA and not paying full attention. Oh well.
S 9/16 - Thee Oh Sees @ Beachland Ballroom. Loud raucous rock & roll.
Su 9/16 - Adam Ant @ HOB. I've had a surprising number of friends tell me they were really excited about this 1980s singer.
S 9/16 - Rhiannon Geddens @ Kent Stage. Ex-Carolina Chocolate Drops.
S 9/16 - Andrew WK @ Agora Ballroom. Party! Free event.
S 9/16 - Smokey Robinson @ Rocksino. It's a miracle! (sorry)
Su 9/17 - Steve Martin & Martin Short @ Jacob's Pavilion. Based on reviews, mostly comedy with some bluegrass thrown in.
T 9/19 - Wire @ Beachland Ballroom. I have a lot of friends who have expressed interest. I like them, but not to the point of obsession.
R 9/21 - ZZ Ward @ HOB. She's got one really good blues rock song, but I haven't listened to any of her other stuff.
R 9/21 - VNV Nation @ Agora Ballroom. Electronic.
F 9/22 - Murder by Death @ Grog Shop. Weird gothic horror rock, sort of. Part of the Grog's 25th anniversary weekend.
S 9/23 - Ted Leo & the Pharmacists @ Grog Shop. Straight ahead rock. Part of the Grog's 25th anniversary weekend.
S 9/23 - Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall. Cunning Little Vixen with my friend Dashon.
Su 9/24 - Cloud Nothings @ Grog Shop. Cleveland's own. I really need to get ahold of the live album they did at the Grog that I was at. Part of the Grog's 25th anniversary weekend.
M 9/25 - Gogol Bordello @ Agora Theater. Gypsy punk. I saw them in a huge venue and wasn't much impressed, so I'm not hopeful for this show.
T 9/26 - That 1 Guy @ Beachland Tavern. I've always respected weirdos, and usually enjoyed their music. This guy does a bunch of solo stuff, some of it on homemade instruments.
T 9/26 - X @ Kent Stage. 40th anniversary tour for this seminal LA band.
T 9/26 - Hanson @ HOB. If Michael Jackson had performed MMMBop you'd all think it was a work of genius.
W 9/27 - The Vibrators @ Now That's Class. British punks from the late 1970s.
R 9/28 - Matt Pond PA @ Beachland Tavern. I've preferred his house shows, but since we can't fit a full band in my living room, I bought a ticket.
R 9/28 - Hot Club of San Francisco @ Nighttown. I do like gypsy jazz.
October
M 10/02 - Frankie Cosmos @ Mahalls. Ever have that situation where you run into a new band everywhere? That's what's been going on with Frankie Cosmos for me for the last month.
T 10/03 - The Pixies @ Agora (sponsored by Grog Shop). I saw the original line up, I'm good.
W 10/04 - Against Me @ HOB (sponsored by Grog Shop). Everybody tells me they are excellent loud rock.
W 10/04 - KMFDM @ Agora Ballroom. Industrial. They have a new album, of course.
F 10/06 - Here Come the Mummies @ HOB. Halloween themed funk.
F 10/06 - Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul @ Rocksino. Bruce's sidekick has impeccable taste.
S 10/07 - Studio-A-Rama @ MOCA. My radio station's annual concert is at MOCA this year, and features Sweet Spirit, New Bomb Turks and This Moment in Black History.
Su 10/08 - Susan Werner @ Music Box Supper Club. Folkish.
T 10/10 - The New Pornographers @ Beachland Ballroom. I have tickets. Note to self: buy newest album.
R 10/12 - Jon Langford's Four Lost Souls @ Music Box Supper Club. The heart of Bloodshot Records.
T 10/17 - ????? @ My Living Room. I can't officially announce it, but there may be a house concert at my place on this day. Details to follow, if it happens.
10/18 through 10/22 - CityMusic Cleveland @ Various Locations. Schumann.
R 10/19 - The B-52s @ Rocksino. Busted!
F 10/20 - Lou Harrison Centennial @ Cleveland Museum of Art. In honor of the composer's 100th birthday. Featuring a gamelan performance!
F 10/20 - Low Cut Connie @ Beachland Ballroom. Organ based rock. I had a lot of fun when I first saw them, and now they've moved up to the big room.
F 10/20 - Fall Out Boy @ The Q. One of the rare popular bands from the last decade I enjoy, which I blame on my ex.
F 10/20 - Ministry @ Agora Theater. More industrial. Now I have something to play with KMFDM in a set.
M 10/23 - Jake Shimabukuro @ Music Box Concert Hall. The Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele.
T 10/24 - Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox @ HOB. The youtube reimagining sensation. I'm going to have to check this out some time.
R 10/26 - Guns N' Roses @ The Q. I'm sure it can't be better than the first time I saw them.
Su 10/29 - Tori Amos @ Playhouse Square. I'm actually surprised it took this long for her to move to theater venues.
November
W 11/01 - Peelander-Z @ Beachland Tavern. Japanese punks dressed as superheroes. Or something.
W 11/01 - SQÜRL @ Cleveland Museum of Art. Basically, a music project from director Jim Jarmusch. Features scores he wrote for four different Man Ray films.
R 11/02 - Younger Mountain String Band @ Beachland Ballroom. Bluegrass, etc.
R 11/02 - Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn @ Kent Stage. Two great banjo players in one marriage, and now in one venue.
S 11/04 - Victor Wooten Trio @ Beachland Ballroom. One of the strongest current candidates for "best bassist alive", I've seen him four times now, but never with his own trio. It's super expensive though.
S 11/04 - Sharon Isbin @ Plymouth Church. Classical guitarist.
W 11/08 - The Accidentals @ Beachland Tavern. Seems worth a $12 bet on indie folk.
F 11/10 - The Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall. Mendelssohn's Scottish Symphony and others.
S 11/11 - Trepanning Trio @ Mahalls. Local weirdos, of whom I strongly approve. Lots of people formerly from Infinite Number of Sounds.
W 11/15 - Swingin' Utters @ Grog Shop. 1980s San Francisco Bay punk.
F 11/17 - The Descendents @ HOB. California punk. Milo goes to Cleveland!
W 11/22 - Pere Ubu @ Grog Shop (sponsored by Beachland). And it's almost my birthday!
December
Su 12/03 - Janet Jackson @ The Q. Listed solely because M will probably want to go.
12/06 through 12/10 - CityMusic Cleveland @ Various Locations. Mozart, Wagner.
Su 12/20 - Straight No Chaser @ Playhouse Square. Acapella.
2018
F 1/12 - The Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall. Mahler's 9th.
F 2/16 - The Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall. Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto.
F 2/16 - Roomful of Teeth @ Finney Chapel. Featuring my friend Dashon, this experimental vocal ensemble is more than a little weird and out there. They won a Grammy.
F 2/23 - Mantra Percussion @ Transformer Station. An ensemble dedicated to commissioning interesting and out there percussion music. This one features m
F 3/09 - The Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall. Tchaikovsky & Prokofiev.
3/14 through 3/18 - CityMusic Cleveland @ Various Locations. Merima Kljuco on accordion.
Su 4/08 - The Cleveland Orchestra w/John Williams @ Severance Hall. Performing his film scores, of course. I bought a season pass so I could nail down tickets for this, which is why I have so many orchestra tickets on this list.
F 5/11 - The Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall. Beethoven.
5/16 through 5/20 - CityMusic Cleveland @ Various Locations. Beethoven.
R 5/17 - Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall. Beethoven featuring my friend Dashon.
6/28 through 6/30 - Tri-C JazzFest @ Various Locations.
Here's the venue list:
Beachland Ballroom & Tavern
Grog Shop
Wolstein Center
HOB
Kent Stage
Agora Theater & Ballroom
Quicken Loans Arena
Night Town
Playhouse Square
Rock Hall
Cain Park
Blossom
Jacob's Pavilion (Nautica)
Lakewood Civic Auditorium
Severance Hall
E.J. Thomas Hall (Akron)
Akron Civic
CityMusic Cleveland
Now That's Class
Happy Dog
Euclid Tavern (aka, Happy Dog East)
Mahall's 20 Lanes
Tri-C Jazzfest
Oberlin College
Cleveland Museum of Art
Hard Rock Live
The Music Box
The Odeon
The Bop Stop
Cleveland Chamber Music
Cleveland Classical Guitar Society
Apollo's Fire
I cut Musica from the list; if they can't be bothered to maintain a concert calendar without me having to check five sites to find it, then I can't be bothered to go there. I also dropped the Dionysus, as I've become convinced the one good band that I saw (Marnie Stern) there was a fluke. I also cut Transformer Station because everything for there was on the Cleveland Museum of Art website first.
To balance that out, I added some more classical groups.
17. When I was in Los Angeles I visited my metalhead buddy Ace. He mentioned that he was considering seeing 2Cellos, and did I want to go? Why yes, I did. This was only the second non-metal show Ace had ever been to (The first? The Rolling Stones), and it was the outdoor Greek Theater near Griffith Park on Wednesday, July 19. 2Cellos made their reputation by doing rambunctious classical covers of AC/DC and others. When they played that kind of thing live, it was pretty good. When they played film scores, which is the topic of their most recent album, it was slightly dull. Still, we were outside on a beautiful July night in LA after having had chicken and waffles at Roscoes, so there wasn't really much to complain about.
18. I bought M tickets to see Bruno Mars late in 2016, and my ongoing joke was that I hoped she still liked me when the tour rolled into the Q on Tuesday, August 15. Spoilers: she does. Before the main event we got to (had to?) check out opener Camila Cabello, who is Cuban and adorable looking and not very good. I can see why someone thought putting her on stage was a good idea, and she might end up being good one day, but right now she was pretty boring.
Bruno Mars, on the other hand, was not boring. He's certainly not as good as Prince, but he's pretty much the best Prince-like entertainer we're likely to see any time soon. His backing band is tight, they've got good dance moves, and oh yes, they've got a gigantic pile of chart topping hits that made the capacity crowd very happy. Arena shows like this aren't really my thing, but once in a while it's nice to see someone at the height of their popularity.
That puts me at 18 concerts and 26 bands this year. Here's the list of candidates to add to that list. As always, bold means I'm going. Italics means I'm more than usually interested.
If I missed something, tell me, especially if it's within driving range of Cleveland!
September
Su 9/10 - Antibalias @ Beachland Ballroom. The Daptone afro-beat sensation returns. I bought a ticket.
T 9/12 - AJJ @ Grog Shop. Sold out, and I have other long scheduled plans anyway, but I had a lot of fun at their show the first time I saw them. If you like your punk more political and less loud, this is a good band to check out.
W 9/13 - Roky Erickson @ Beachland Ballroom. The psych rock pioneer. Bucket list show. I have a free ticket.
W 9/13 - Rainer Maria @ Grog Shop. They've reunited and are on tour. I saw their (I think) last previous Cleveland performance back when I lived in Coventry. I'm choosing Roky over them, but it's a tough call.
F 9/15 - The Dead Milkmen @ Grog Shop. Sold out. This went on sale when I was in CA and not paying full attention. Oh well.
S 9/16 - Thee Oh Sees @ Beachland Ballroom. Loud raucous rock & roll.
Su 9/16 - Adam Ant @ HOB. I've had a surprising number of friends tell me they were really excited about this 1980s singer.
S 9/16 - Rhiannon Geddens @ Kent Stage. Ex-Carolina Chocolate Drops.
S 9/16 - Andrew WK @ Agora Ballroom. Party! Free event.
S 9/16 - Smokey Robinson @ Rocksino. It's a miracle! (sorry)
Su 9/17 - Steve Martin & Martin Short @ Jacob's Pavilion. Based on reviews, mostly comedy with some bluegrass thrown in.
T 9/19 - Wire @ Beachland Ballroom. I have a lot of friends who have expressed interest. I like them, but not to the point of obsession.
R 9/21 - ZZ Ward @ HOB. She's got one really good blues rock song, but I haven't listened to any of her other stuff.
R 9/21 - VNV Nation @ Agora Ballroom. Electronic.
F 9/22 - Murder by Death @ Grog Shop. Weird gothic horror rock, sort of. Part of the Grog's 25th anniversary weekend.
S 9/23 - Ted Leo & the Pharmacists @ Grog Shop. Straight ahead rock. Part of the Grog's 25th anniversary weekend.
S 9/23 - Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall. Cunning Little Vixen with my friend Dashon.
Su 9/24 - Cloud Nothings @ Grog Shop. Cleveland's own. I really need to get ahold of the live album they did at the Grog that I was at. Part of the Grog's 25th anniversary weekend.
M 9/25 - Gogol Bordello @ Agora Theater. Gypsy punk. I saw them in a huge venue and wasn't much impressed, so I'm not hopeful for this show.
T 9/26 - That 1 Guy @ Beachland Tavern. I've always respected weirdos, and usually enjoyed their music. This guy does a bunch of solo stuff, some of it on homemade instruments.
T 9/26 - X @ Kent Stage. 40th anniversary tour for this seminal LA band.
T 9/26 - Hanson @ HOB. If Michael Jackson had performed MMMBop you'd all think it was a work of genius.
W 9/27 - The Vibrators @ Now That's Class. British punks from the late 1970s.
R 9/28 - Matt Pond PA @ Beachland Tavern. I've preferred his house shows, but since we can't fit a full band in my living room, I bought a ticket.
R 9/28 - Hot Club of San Francisco @ Nighttown. I do like gypsy jazz.
October
M 10/02 - Frankie Cosmos @ Mahalls. Ever have that situation where you run into a new band everywhere? That's what's been going on with Frankie Cosmos for me for the last month.
T 10/03 - The Pixies @ Agora (sponsored by Grog Shop). I saw the original line up, I'm good.
W 10/04 - Against Me @ HOB (sponsored by Grog Shop). Everybody tells me they are excellent loud rock.
W 10/04 - KMFDM @ Agora Ballroom. Industrial. They have a new album, of course.
F 10/06 - Here Come the Mummies @ HOB. Halloween themed funk.
F 10/06 - Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul @ Rocksino. Bruce's sidekick has impeccable taste.
S 10/07 - Studio-A-Rama @ MOCA. My radio station's annual concert is at MOCA this year, and features Sweet Spirit, New Bomb Turks and This Moment in Black History.
Su 10/08 - Susan Werner @ Music Box Supper Club. Folkish.
T 10/10 - The New Pornographers @ Beachland Ballroom. I have tickets. Note to self: buy newest album.
R 10/12 - Jon Langford's Four Lost Souls @ Music Box Supper Club. The heart of Bloodshot Records.
T 10/17 - ????? @ My Living Room. I can't officially announce it, but there may be a house concert at my place on this day. Details to follow, if it happens.
10/18 through 10/22 - CityMusic Cleveland @ Various Locations. Schumann.
R 10/19 - The B-52s @ Rocksino. Busted!
F 10/20 - Lou Harrison Centennial @ Cleveland Museum of Art. In honor of the composer's 100th birthday. Featuring a gamelan performance!
F 10/20 - Low Cut Connie @ Beachland Ballroom. Organ based rock. I had a lot of fun when I first saw them, and now they've moved up to the big room.
F 10/20 - Fall Out Boy @ The Q. One of the rare popular bands from the last decade I enjoy, which I blame on my ex.
F 10/20 - Ministry @ Agora Theater. More industrial. Now I have something to play with KMFDM in a set.
M 10/23 - Jake Shimabukuro @ Music Box Concert Hall. The Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele.
T 10/24 - Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox @ HOB. The youtube reimagining sensation. I'm going to have to check this out some time.
R 10/26 - Guns N' Roses @ The Q. I'm sure it can't be better than the first time I saw them.
Su 10/29 - Tori Amos @ Playhouse Square. I'm actually surprised it took this long for her to move to theater venues.
November
W 11/01 - Peelander-Z @ Beachland Tavern. Japanese punks dressed as superheroes. Or something.
W 11/01 - SQÜRL @ Cleveland Museum of Art. Basically, a music project from director Jim Jarmusch. Features scores he wrote for four different Man Ray films.
R 11/02 - Younger Mountain String Band @ Beachland Ballroom. Bluegrass, etc.
R 11/02 - Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn @ Kent Stage. Two great banjo players in one marriage, and now in one venue.
S 11/04 - Victor Wooten Trio @ Beachland Ballroom. One of the strongest current candidates for "best bassist alive", I've seen him four times now, but never with his own trio. It's super expensive though.
S 11/04 - Sharon Isbin @ Plymouth Church. Classical guitarist.
W 11/08 - The Accidentals @ Beachland Tavern. Seems worth a $12 bet on indie folk.
F 11/10 - The Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall. Mendelssohn's Scottish Symphony and others.
S 11/11 - Trepanning Trio @ Mahalls. Local weirdos, of whom I strongly approve. Lots of people formerly from Infinite Number of Sounds.
W 11/15 - Swingin' Utters @ Grog Shop. 1980s San Francisco Bay punk.
F 11/17 - The Descendents @ HOB. California punk. Milo goes to Cleveland!
W 11/22 - Pere Ubu @ Grog Shop (sponsored by Beachland). And it's almost my birthday!
December
Su 12/03 - Janet Jackson @ The Q. Listed solely because M will probably want to go.
12/06 through 12/10 - CityMusic Cleveland @ Various Locations. Mozart, Wagner.
Su 12/20 - Straight No Chaser @ Playhouse Square. Acapella.
2018
F 1/12 - The Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall. Mahler's 9th.
F 2/16 - The Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall. Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto.
F 2/16 - Roomful of Teeth @ Finney Chapel. Featuring my friend Dashon, this experimental vocal ensemble is more than a little weird and out there. They won a Grammy.
F 2/23 - Mantra Percussion @ Transformer Station. An ensemble dedicated to commissioning interesting and out there percussion music. This one features m
F 3/09 - The Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall. Tchaikovsky & Prokofiev.
3/14 through 3/18 - CityMusic Cleveland @ Various Locations. Merima Kljuco on accordion.
Su 4/08 - The Cleveland Orchestra w/John Williams @ Severance Hall. Performing his film scores, of course. I bought a season pass so I could nail down tickets for this, which is why I have so many orchestra tickets on this list.
F 5/11 - The Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall. Beethoven.
5/16 through 5/20 - CityMusic Cleveland @ Various Locations. Beethoven.
R 5/17 - Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall. Beethoven featuring my friend Dashon.
6/28 through 6/30 - Tri-C JazzFest @ Various Locations.
Here's the venue list:
Beachland Ballroom & Tavern
Grog Shop
Wolstein Center
HOB
Kent Stage
Agora Theater & Ballroom
Quicken Loans Arena
Night Town
Playhouse Square
Rock Hall
Cain Park
Blossom
Jacob's Pavilion (Nautica)
Lakewood Civic Auditorium
Severance Hall
E.J. Thomas Hall (Akron)
Akron Civic
CityMusic Cleveland
Now That's Class
Happy Dog
Euclid Tavern (aka, Happy Dog East)
Mahall's 20 Lanes
Tri-C Jazzfest
Oberlin College
Cleveland Museum of Art
Hard Rock Live
The Music Box
The Odeon
The Bop Stop
Cleveland Chamber Music
Cleveland Classical Guitar Society
Apollo's Fire
I cut Musica from the list; if they can't be bothered to maintain a concert calendar without me having to check five sites to find it, then I can't be bothered to go there. I also dropped the Dionysus, as I've become convinced the one good band that I saw (Marnie Stern) there was a fluke. I also cut Transformer Station because everything for there was on the Cleveland Museum of Art website first.
To balance that out, I added some more classical groups.