Music | Kate's Queen City Notes

April 13, 2015
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Rubblebucket, The Bonesetters, and Clear Plastic Masks

Yikes. I am behind. My Rubblebucket pictures have been inprisoned on my camera’s memory card for nearly two weeks sans my attention. In the interests of keeping things moving, I’m just going to leave this pictures here. Also, if you have a chance to see Rubblebucket, do so just to watch the fun. It really doesn’t matter if their music is your bag, you will enjoy their energy and performance.

The band Vacationer at The Woodward Theater in Cincinnati OH

Vacationer at The Woodward. They opened for Rubblebucket.

Rubblebucket at The Woodward

Rubblebucket at The Woodward. This show was so fun.

Rubblebucket. All the energy. ALL OF IT.

Rubblebucket

Rubblebucket. Yep. That’s a bari.

The Bonesetters

The band Clear Plastic Masks playing at MOTR in Cincinnati OH

Clear Plastic Masks at MOTR

March 17, 2015
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Music Now Festival: Perfum Genius and The Lone Bellow

There isn’t really a formula that can be used to derive a wonderful performance. Performers can seek to engage the crowd. They can bare a piece of their soul. They can execute their craft flawlessly. Most of the best acts I’ve seen have some measure of all those things.

I went to Music Now intending to take pictures, but once there I wanted to enjoy the music. I love shooting, but when I am in a visual head space, I can’t properly enjoy what I’m hearing. Doing the technical work in my head to get the camera to capture what I see takes me to a different place mentally than listening. I did manage a couple shots below.

I bought the ticket to see Perfume Genius. I listened to him when he was booked for Midpoint 2013. He dropped off the billing a couple of weeks before the show. I was thrilled to see he was making his way back to Cincinnati as part of the Music Now Festival. His work is difficult to describe. His lyrics show a degree of vulnerability that’s rare. His songs digress off the verse-chorus-verse-chorus path. From song to song the textures vary intensely.

Perfume Genius shared the billing with Mina Tindle and Lone Bellow. These acts were vastly different. Mina Tindle was charming, and her music was accessible and enjoyable. Listening to her was like a lazy Sunday morning. Perfume Genius is a power house performer; I was unprepared for this pant-less, porcelain doll-faced, cherry red lipstick wearing feminine man to overwhelm me. He was energy restrained on the stage. When he let out a primal scream in one of the songs, it was a brief window into his raw power.

Lone Bellow felt like an old time church revival sans talking, guilt, and fleecing. They stepped away from the microphones and amplifiers and filled the hall with their harmonies. It was beautiful.

Having such dramatically different, but excellent in their own right artists on one stage demonstrated the power that Music Now has over most other fests. Music Now brings out all the music lovers who are prepared to go on a journey. And the people in that room couldn’t have been happier to ride along Sunday night.

Mina Tindle

Perfume Genius

March 13, 2015
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Magnolia Sons and The Church

I fell behind. It happens. But in the interests of catching up, I am just going to share these shots and offer little to no commentary on these shows. Magnolia Sons were at The Drinkery, and The Church was at The Woodward Theater. Both shows were really spectacular in different ways.

Magnolia Sons

The Church

February 28, 2015
by allthenamesaretakensothisisreallyreallylong 1 Comment

Nobody Expects The Ridges or Final Friday

Last night was crazy at MOTR. I don’t know if spring fever made everyone hungry for a bender. I don’t know if Final Friday attendees finally succumbed to all their complementary wine tastings throughout the night. Maybe the agressive drunken crowd fell victim to a frothy mix of both of these things. I do know that last Saturday at MOTR wasn’t off the rails like last night was.

Now then, the music. I heard Automagic for the first time. Essentially, any band that brings melodic synth sounds is going to win my heart, and win my heart, they did. I got the sense that they are still figuring out their stage presence, but I am happy to watch their evolution.

Although The Ridges were struggling with sound issues for too many moments for the impatient crowd to endure, they opened their act with a fire in their bellies. This effervescent energy is what keeps me coming back to their shows. Of course it helps that they are well rehearsed and have rumbling Americana songs that resonate with any Midwesterner. Here’s what I saw.

Automagic at MOTR Pub

Automagic laying down their pop goodness.

The drummer from Automagic is killing it.

The Ridges at MOTR

Who doesn't love banjo?

Sound check blues.

MOTR is packed!

February 27, 2015
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Talk, Talk, Talk, About It: Bunbury 2015 Line-up

True story: I have been disappointed by the Bunbury line-up in the past. Last year’s line-up was lackluster. Of the headliners, I was unpassionate about Empire Of the Sun and Flaming Lips and don’t enjoy Fall Out Boy and Paramore. Turned out, Empire Of The Sun was one of the best live performances I have ever seen. And the Flaming Lips, although not my thing, put up a really fun show. All in all I was satisfied with my experience regardless of what was, IMHO, a bummer booking in Fall Out Boy and Paramore. I am rarely at the fest for the headliners, and there were plenty of mid-tier acts that I enjoyed. Kopecky Family Band, Kishi Bashi, Wild Cub, Cage the Elephant, Holy Ghost!, The Lighthouse and the Whaler, Bronze Radio Return and more, made my ticket well worth it. For my past Bunbury thoughts check these out.

This year? I was concerned when the fest was sold to Promowest. The line-up was anyone’s guess. Given that I purchased my VIP tickets right after Bunbury last year (pro tip: they are cheapest then, but clearly it’s a risk as there’s no line-up announced), I had some skin in this game.

I am thrilled that Promowest put a line-up together that is better than my highest hopes for this fest. Granted the bar was a bit low, given that last year’s line-up was not my favorite. Check out the full announcement here.

Bunbury 2015 Line-up

I haven’t checked out the Avett Brothers, Tame Impala, Atmosphere, and Matt & Kim, so I am excited to see them. I’ve seen The Black Keys, The Decemberists, Twenty One Pilots, Walk The Moon, and Manchester Orchestra, and I am trilled to give all of them another go. While Twenty One Pilots aren’t exactly my bag, their show was really fun to watch. And while Walk The Moon’s fans are little rambunctious for this 38 year-old, the band is so thrilled to play their hometown and with their sound reminiscent of The Talking Heads (if you know me, you know 80’s pop is my catnip), combines to me enjoying their shows. What’s not to love about The Black Keys and The Decemberists? Top it all off with ticking Snoop Dogg off my bucket list, and I am a happy, happy ticket holder. So, cheers to you Promowest!

One other wonkish thing to note, Promowest “leaked” the line-up to Cincinnati local media early. Nice marketing move there. My Facebook feed exploded when that happened. I was a little concerned that a Columbus company might misread the Cincinnati market in terms of line-up and media. This is one of those rare circumstances in which I am happy to be wrong. In a couple months, I will start my Bunbury music reviews, so check back in April. Happy listening!

February 23, 2015
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Low Cut Connie Blew Up MOTR with Old Style and Jean Jackets

This was my third time seeing Low Cut Connie. They tore through MOTR pub on Friday the 21st in a style that Jerry Lee Lewis would appreciate. They’ve revived a retro rock and roll sound with all the stage energy to deliver it in a brain sizzling wallop. The best way for me to convey the energy of this show would be to describe one of the audience members behavior there. A middle aged man took a shot, mysteriously lost his coat, equally mysteriously gained a Domo toque, and then held the toque aloft as though enticing the audience to engage in battle on behalf of Domo. Here’s a few shots.

The piano was really well tuned. I don’t know how your roll a piano over the Midwest’s pothole riddled highways and keep a piano in tune.

Low Cut Connie’s drink of choice seemed to be Old Style tall boys.

His very shiny jacket said nads on the back.

This piano seems to be equipped for rough treatment.

That’s probably not ergonomically correct.

The only problem with Low Cut Connie’s show was that it was a little short. More! More indie rock!

February 17, 2015
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Swan Song For Day Camp

Chuck Cleaver is a compelling person to watch on stage. So, when I saw that he was opening for my friends’ band at The Drinkery it felt like ice cream on pie. Pie is super, and there’s little than can improve upon it aside from ice cream.

This was Day Camp’s last show, so if you missed them you’re officially screwed. But I snagged some photo evidence. They sounded great, so here’s to going out on a high note. Pun intended.

Chuck Cleaver, of Wussy. Also, Grammy detractor, but he’s got a point.

Chuck played Grand Champion Steer, which basically made my night.

The Ready Stance at The Drinkery

Day Camp with guitars at the ready… stance. I’m sorry, I had to.

Um, in another blog I am going to take a picture of the Day Camp cassette that I purchased. It has a cat on it. That’s all you need to know to understand the full awesomeness of this purchase.

The Drinkery is a really cool venue. I keep forgetting about how much I like the lighted window as a back drop for the band. Plus, the band sort of advertises for themselves in the window. I like it when two problems get solved at once.

Day Camp was great. They coupled dissonant guitars with melodic bass lines.

February 9, 2015
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Who Needs Clothes? Automagik Doesn’t

I checked out Automagik on Saturday night at MOTR. I didn’t know much about the band, so I didn’t have expectations. They have a bombastic sound and stage presence. Their high energy reminded me a bit of Cincinnati’s own Foxy Shazam. The vocalist enjoyed the show so much that he stripped down to his boxers for the last half of the show. Everyone deserves some privacy, so I decided to keep the pictures of that to myself. One could argue that all the fans with cell phones have already posted pictures. I’m sure they have. But that’s on them.

Automagik working out out.

Grand pronouncements!

February 2, 2015
by allthenamesaretakensothisisreallyreallylong 2 Comments

The Night OTR Exploded Local Music

The Woodward and MOTR were booked with great bands on Saturday. They staggered the set times such that listeners could take a couple strolls across the street and catch all the bands with ease. Local bands the Yugos and The Harlequins were booked at The Woodward, and with tickets at 5 bucks a great value. The Ready Stance and The Locals, ironically the only band that isn’t local to Cincinnati, played MOTR Pub. MOTR is always free. Net, for 5 bucks you could get 4 hours of indie rock goodness.

All the bands sounded great, but the primal energy of The Harlequins popped out for me. I stumbled upon Iggy Pop’s “Lust for Life” on Sunday; it struck me that The Harlequins energy reminds me of Iggy. I also enjoyed their approach to audience participation. In preparation for their last song, they inquired fast or slow, fast or slow. This simple decision was in harmony with the band’s raw sound and understated stage presence. I loved it.

The Yugos on stage at The Woodward Theater

The Yugos filling The Woodward with their atmospheric rock goodness.

The Yugos performing at The Woodward Theater

The Yugos and, apparently, specks of dust. It’s probably historic dust from The Woodward.

The Yugos on stage at The Woodward Theater.

The Ready Stance at MOTR

The Harlequins on stage at The Woodward Theater

The Harlequins delivering a rock and roll punch in the gut.

The Harlequins playing The Woodward Theater

The Harlequins on stage at The Woodward Theater

The Locals are tearing up MOTR.

January 31, 2015
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Sidewalk Chalk and Eclipse Movement Make White People Dance Afool at The Woodward

All horns all the time, that’s what I want in many live music situations. Sidewalk Chalk and Eclipse Movement nail that requirement. If there’s rapping that isn’t disparaging to women, that’s also a big plus.

I like hip hop. I like the beats. I like rapping. I don’t mind trite lyrics. But as a bearer of lady parts, I can’t put my dollars into something that’s disparaging to women. Sidewalk Chalk’s and Eclipse Movement’s cerebral, positive lyrics are an oasis in a desert of lady objectification.

Eclipse Movement performing at The Woodward Theater

Eclipse Movement driving the beats.

Eclipse Movement opened for Sidewalk Chalk at The Woodward Theater. I haven’t seen them play in a year and a half; I was overdue to check in with them. The musicians in this band are highly skilled. It shows in the face-melting guitar solo that closed out the last song of their set. It shows in their dynamic and textural range. They tore into quoting “Immigrant Song”; it was a shockingly perfect interlude.

There’s a keytar. That equals immediate awesome.

Eclipse Movement was an excellent opener for Sidewalk Chalk.

Who doesn’t like horns? And carpets.

Sidewalk Chalk regularly brings huge energy to their shows, but last night was exceptional as I had a bird’s eye view of the crowd. Beardy white men clad in ugly sweaters shook what God gave them in each and every awkward way possible; they did so with such enthusiasm and joy that permanent grinning was the only possible response. When Sidewalk Chalk finished off “Us, Them” chanting that we must better love each other, the crowd gleefully joined. It was a joyous 60 minutes that I will cherish.

Sidewalk Chalk perfomring at the Woodward Theater

Get ready!

There might have been some hands in the air.

Sidewalk Chalk performing at The Woodward Theater

The plane! The plane!

Sidewalk Chalk horns at full tilt!

Can I take a moment to enthuse about The Woodward? The Woodward Theater is nailing it’s infancy. At 4 months old, they have stellar bookings coming up. Cloud Nothings and Will Butler (member of Arcade Fire) booked as part of the Music Now Festival. The Church, a band with one of my favorite early 90’s hits “Under The Milky Way”, will come all the way from Australia to play in humble Cincinnati. The Antlers were just announced for this May. Rubblebucket, one of the bands I missed at MPMF2014 due to the venue being at capacity is coming up in April. Tonight, while the Woodward hosts The Harlequins and The Yugos, a mere 20 paces away, MOTR will host The Ready Stance and The Locals. All these shows are under twenty bucks, and in a venue where there’s a view of the stage nearly everywhere. Oh, and I can walk to it from my house. Basically, this is perfect.

Kate's Queen City Notes

Blundering through Cincinnati, laughing all the way

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