Photography | Kate's Queen City Notes

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 11, 2015
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Bellvue Street Walker

We took advantage of the warm weather on Saturday to explore Bellvue by bike. We had lunch at The Elusive Cow, and had a walk about the neighborhood. I took some shots.

The Marianne Theater is adorable. I want someone to show old movies there.

We stopped in at an antique shop. Oddities abounded.

Was this movie out the last time this theater was in operation?

Juxtaposition.

I bet this toy would really disappoint today, given that most kids are playing games on iPads.

February 4, 2015
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In My Block

I have struggled to keep shooting. For a myriad of reasons, my inner critic is particularly ruthless with any visual artistic work. So, with every design, illustration and photo comes abuse; no human has ever been as cruel to me as my inner critic. The difference between what I intend to capture vs what actually turns out is vast, and I am continually disgusted with myself. My inner critic uses lots of phrases that start with “I should…”.

I have grace with myself in writing. I know I am still learning, and I accept my poor editing abilities. I have grace with myself in playing guitar. When I make a mess of a tune my first thought is what steps I will take to improve, rather than “I should be able to play this.” That self talk with “I should”, it’s not useful. Who cares what should be? What “is” is all that matters.

I’m working to shush my inner critic. As part of that I decided to walk around my block and shoot. Sure, while taking and editing these pictures I was shouting down my inner critic with, “RESPECT THE JOURNEY!!!!”, more often than not. Here’s the results.

I am a crazy cat lady. You will suffer my furry friends. Also, look at him. He’s adorable.

The letters ALLRIGHT stained on concrete

ALLRIGHT… ALL

Everything changes.

A picture of a no trespassing sign on the ground

No man shall pass

Black and white photo of old granite foundation.

Beauty in all things.

Ghost sign on McFarland Street.

The side of a brick building with some numbers written on it.

Put to order left to time.

Fire department water spigot with a patina

Antique twitter.

A picture of the exterior of a building on Plum Street with the year 1905 impressed in the decorative brick work.

So much struggle was on the horizon.

February 2, 2015
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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.

January 10, 2015
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2014 in Pictures

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January 2, 2015
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NYE 2014 with Wussy

I have quite a bit of work to take care of around the house, so just a few pictures will have to tell the story of my NYE at the Woodward Theater with Wussy.

September 29, 2014
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MidPoint Music Festival 2014: Saturday In Review

Post-MPMF depression. I have it. It’s a thing. Writing this up was my last task to close out the weekend, and I have procrastinated it. This reminds me of how facing January felt after Christmas when I was a kid. An occasion that I look forward to all year passes so quickly, and I’m left was wonderful memories and building anticipation for another year. This is a wonderful problem to have. Having such a wonderful experience that a little bout of depression sets in now that it’s over. On the bright side, I am seeing Chvrches tonight. I have a number of introspective things to say about the festival, but I think I need to let those simmer for a while longer. In the meantime, here’s what happened and some pictures.

Here’s what I planned to do on Saturday.

230 Modoc – Washington Park
345 Public – Washington Park
5 Empires – Washington Park
630 OK Go – Washington Park
715 Ancient Warfare – Moerlein Tap Room
830 Coves – Moerlein Tap Room
845 – The Nepotist – Mainstay Rock Bar
930 Ex Hex – The Know
930 Ravonettes Moerlein Tap Room
945 Low Cut Connie – Midpoint Midway
1030 Speedy Ortiz – The Know
1115 The Tontons – Mainstay Rock Bar
1145 EMA – The Know
1145 Gardens and Villa – Memorial Hall
1215 Milagres – The Drinkery
1230 Ex-Cult – Moerlein Tap Room

I missed Modoc, because I went to the sessions at the Herzog studio and saw Mustered Courage. I was hoping to leave there early enough to catch the end of Modoc, but no luck there. I missed Ancient Warfare, Low Cut Connie, EMA and Ex-Cult. I missed almost all of those because I enjoyed the conflicting acts too much to leave them. I was surprised by how much I liked The Ravonettes and Coves. And damn, The Tontons are now on my do-not-miss list. I will have more to say about the fest in a week or two after the post-mpmf blues leaves me.

Empires

OK Go

OK Go and Confetti!!

Ex Hex

Coves

The Tontons

Milagres

September 27, 2014
by allthenamesaretakensothisisreallyreallylong 4 Comments

Midpoint Music Fest: Friday In Review

Yesterday was wonderful. I have many things to write about it, but I have to go out for more shooting in about 30 minutes. So, I will need to save my introspection for later date.

Here’s what was supposed to happen:

5 Yugos – MP Midway
6 Joseph Arthur – Washington Park
6 Real Estate – MP Midway (I will split my time between these two bands in the 6 o’clock hour)
715 Wussy – Washington Park (If for some reason I am not feeling Wussy, and this is very unlikely, Bully – Christian Moerlein Tap Room)
815 Drowners – Christian Moerlein
830 The Afghan Wigs – Washington Park (will arrive just a bit late)
930 Tycho – Christian Moerlein
930 The Locals – MOTR (Alternate, if I don’t connect with Tycho)
10 Fort Wilson Riot – The Know
1030 Shivering Timbers – Mr Pitiful’s
11 All Them Witches – The Drinkery
1145 Rubblebucket – The Know
1230 Miniature Tigers – Mainstay Rock Bar

Shockingly enough, nearly all of that did happen. The only thing I missed was Rubblebucket. By the time I got to The Know, they were at capacity upstairs. I waited for a bit, but decided to skip out to Holy Ghost Tent Revival. My friends were in for the Rubblebucket show and said it was awesome. I was most surprised by The Afghan Wigs and Tycho. I haven’t seen The Wigs play in at least ten years. Those guys are sounding amazing. Greg Dulli managed to be powerful and vulnerable simultaneously. I am so happy I checked them out again. Tycho is all instrumental music, and I was unsure of what the live experience would be like. Wow, that show was a shocker. They were just incredible.

Normally, I would share any disappointments, but I have none to share. Every band I saw yesterday put up good to outstanding performances. On to the pictures!