The Black Keys w/ Modest Mouse; Let’s Rock Tour 2019; Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH – Wednesday, October 2, 2019 There are some bands who put so much distance between their latter day success and their modest early beginnings that its nearly impossible to imagine them learning their musical chops in a garage band from some … Read more
Jeff Lynne’s ELO w/ Dhani Harrison; ELO Live Tour 2019; Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH – Tuesday, July 30, 2019 When Jeff Lynne played ten shows in the U.S. in August of 2018, his first concerts with the Electric Light Orchestra in 35 years, and then announced 20 more dates for this summer it felt like … Read more
Beck & Cage The Elephant w/ Spoon & Wild Belle; The Night Running Tour 2019; Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH – Friday, August 2, 2019 Anybody who saw Beck appear in the “Echo In the Canyon” movie, a film celebrating the music from the LA area in the late 60’s and early 70’s, performing the … Read more
Tedeschi Trucks Band w/ Shovels & Rope and Blackberry Smoke; Wheels of Soul Tour 2019; Rose Music Center, Huber Heights, OH – Saturday, July 20, 2019 There are some pieces of music that are so iconic, so memorable, so potent and influential, that it only takes a few seconds of sound to transport you to … Read more
King’s X; Summer Of Love Tour 2019; Turnbuckles & Brews, Dayton, OH – Thursday, July 18, 2019 Given that King’s X has been playing essentially the same set for the last few years and I reviewed their show in Dayton nearly 3 years ago at TFN, there may not seem like there’s anything new to … Read more
Sheryl Crow w/ Yola; World Tour 2019; Fraze Pavilion, Kettering, OH – Wednesday, July 10, 2019 When Sheryl Crow and her 6-piece band took the stage of the Fraze Pavilion on this hot and sweaty night in July, it was the ease and confidence of someone who had been here before. In fact, as she … Read more
Todd Rundgren; The Individualist Tour; The Taft Theater, Cincinnati, OH – Wednesday, June 5, 2019 Two decades into the 21st Century, Todd Rundgren, noted rocker, producer, and now author, may not be a household name, but for a faithful audience of fans he remains an artist worthy of our time, attention and hard-earned cash. In … Read more
The Dandy Warhols w/ The Cosmonauts; 25th Anniversary Tour; First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN – Sunday, May 12, 2019 Before The Dandy Warhols took the stage at the historic First Avenue nightclub, it was obvious that the band viewed this 25th anniversary as a great excuse for a celebration. The first giveaway were the large balloon … Read more
Van Morrison w/ The James Hunter Six; Chicago Theater, Chicago, IL – Thursday, April 25, 2019 The words “buyer beware” probably apply more to concert ticket prices these days, given that more often than not, it’s very hard for the average ticket buyer to get tickets for a show at the ticket’s printed price, and … Read more
Mott The Hoople ’74 w/ Dream Syndicate; Masonic Auditorium, Cleveland, OH – Saturday, April 6, 2019 If the sold out appearance of Mott The Hoople ’74 at the old Masonic theater in Cleveland proved anything on Saturday night, it was that Ian Hunter, the sunglass wearing ’79 year old at the heart of the band, … Read more
St. Paul & The Broken Bones; Taft Theatre, Cincinnati, OH – Thursday, February 22, 2019 Paul Janaway, lead vocalist and focus of attention in St. Paul & The Broken Bones, may have started his adult life as a preacher, but on Thursday night his only spoken message was quite brief: “alright, Cincinnati, it’s time to … Read more
Richard Thompson; Southgate House Revival, Newport, KY – Thursday, December 6, 2018 Thursday night’s performance by Richard Thompson and his trio would have been a revelation, if I hadn’t come in with such high expectations. But having seen Thompson back in the early 90’s when major label tour support was still a thing, and he … Read more
Tedeschi Trucks Band Tour; Palace Theatre, Columbus, OH – Friday, November 9, 2018 On Friday night the big band led by Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks took the stage at the Palace Theatre for two solid sets that would lead anyone with good ears and an awareness of the roots music of American experience to … Read more
MC50 “Kick Out The Jams” The 50th Anniversary Tour w/ The Detroit Cobras & Lift The Medium; Bogarts, Cincinnati, OH – Thursday, October 25, 2018 Thursday night’s MC50 concert was a chance for some to revisit history, as the band’s original guitarist, Wayne Kramer, returned with an all-star supporting cast to relive the music of … Read more
The Decemberists “Your Girl/Your Ghost” World Tour w/ Kacy & Clayton; Taft Theatre, Cincinnati, OH – Thursday, September 20, 2018 Thursday night’s concert by The Decemberists was one whole day late for “International Talk Like a Pirate Day” but, while no one said anything close to an “Arrgh, Matey,” fans of the Portland, Ore., band … Read more
Counting Crows w/ Special Guest Live: “25 Years And Counting” Tour 2018; Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH – Saturday, September 1, 2018 It was a hot, muggy night on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend when the Counting Crows brought their 25th anniversary tour to the Ohio River valley. Earlier in the day we’d seen … Read more
David Byrne w/ Special Guest Benjamin Clemetine: “American Utopia” Tour 2018; Rose Music Center, Dayton, OH – Saturday, August 11, 2018 The English language is not particularly helpful when one sets out to describe the music and artistry of David Byrne, words like unique and quirky tend to carry a pejorative connotation, while intended as … Read more
Radiohead w/ Special Guest Junun: “A Moon Shaped Pool” Tour 2018; US Bank Arena; Cincinnati, OH – Wednesday, July 27, 2018 British band Radiohead’s mercurial leader and frontman, Thom Yorke may have had a love/hate relationship with the mechanisms and expectations that come with an arena rock tour across America, but at Wednesday night’s concert … Read more
Weezer & Pixies w/ Special Guest The Wombats: North American Summer Tour 2018; Riverbend Music Center; Cincinnati, OH – Friday, July 6, 2018 As if giving alternative rock fans a gift, temperatures dropped overnight Thursday, so that after a blistering 4th of July holiday in the mid-90’s, Friday night’s weather was perfect for a night … Read more
U2: “eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE Tour”; United Center; Chicago, IL – Wednesday, May 23, 2018 Much like our political affiliations in these profoundly partisan days, we often wear our musical preferences as a flag about our own preferences and values. When I wear my tour t-shirts, whether it’s Wilco, Steve Earle, or Lollapalooza ’92, it’s often … Read more
Kansas: “Leftoverture” 40th Anniversary Tour; Victoria Theater; Dayton, OH – Wednesday, March 21, 2018 So, over the years, my appreciation and interest in the band Kansas has diminished my standing on the “Cool” quotient data board, that’s a given which I’ve managed to live with for decades. RollingStone magazine once declared that Kansas made music … Read more
The Breeders: “Secret Show”, The Yellow Cab Tavern, Dayton, Ohio – Friday, March 2, 2018 I really like to think that I pay attention, especially when it comes to music. But, it seems that this one slipped under my nose. I consider myself lucky because if it weren’t for a certain friend my wife and … Read more
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Wrong Creatures Tour, Newport Music Hall, Columbus, Ohio – Friday, February 9, 2018 The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, with it’s gloriously long moniker, arrived in middle America in support of their 8th album, Wrong Creatures (see album review HERE) on Friday night, playing the Columbus club closest to the Ohio State … Read more
Foo Fighters: Concrete & Gold Tour, US Band Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio – October 20, 2017 Dave Grohl is an everyperson’s rock star, he’s the rock star you think you would want to have a beer with, hell, he’s the rock star that would buy you a beer, and you’d gladly buy a round yourself. There’s … Read more
The Afghan Whigs: Bogarts, Cincinnati, Ohio – Sept. 28, 2017 Any time the Afghan Whigs return to play Cincinnati, it’s going to have the feel of a homecoming, and it certainly did last Thursday night at Bogart’s. For lead singer and primary songwriter, Greg Dulli, born and raised in Hamilton, attended U of C, and … Read more