Kate's Queen City Notes

Blundering through Cincinnati, laughing all the way

Tag Archives: cincinnati music scene


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MPMF17 What I Will See

Alrighty, into the depths with this year’s line-up. Frightened Rabbit is spectacular. I’ve seen them several times across the years, and I have never been disappointed. Local acts DYAN and Kid Stardust will give you a worthy hour of great music. Automagic put up a rousing show at MOTR a few years back, that featured some rocking out in underwear. Sphinx, when I last saw them, was so kind as to honor my request for “What Is Love” and sent The Drinkery into a 90’s dance party. All your troubles will float away on The Young Heirlooms vocal harmonies. That about rounds out everything I’ve seen before and know and love.

Valerie June, Noname, Bedouine, and Mad Anthony (I know they play out here all the time, how have I not seen them?) are on my most anticipated list. My super human ability to listen to recordings and know how it will translate to a live show is pinging off the charts on BADBADNOTGOOD. I’ve not seen them, but I bet their live show will entrance me. Unfortunately, this will probably make me split my time between these folks and Walk The Moon.

Now then. I’m off to try and remember how to work my camera, and write up my schedule.

 


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MPMF16: Saturday in Pictures

Pictures for now. Words for later.

Lucky Chops at MPMF16
JJ Grey & the Mofros at MPMF16
Lucy Dacus at MPMF16
Wolf Parade at MPMF16
Lucky Chops at MPMF16
Wolf Parade at MPMF16
Dancer at Wolf Parade at MPMF16
Orchards at MPMF16
Lucky Chops at MPMF16
Lucky Chops at MPMF16
Kasami Washington at MPMF16
MULTIMAGIC at MPMF16
Bob Mould at MPMF16
Frightened Rabbit at MPMF16
Frightened Rabbit at MPMF16
Lucky Chops at MPMF16
The Mountain Goats at MPMF16
MULTIMAGIC at MPMF16
JJ Grey & the Mofros at MPMF16
JJ Grey & the Mofros at MPMF16
MULTIMAGIC at MPMF16
Baby Money & The Down Payments at MPMF16
Lucky Chops at MPMF16
Lucky Chops at MPMF16
Reggie Watts at MPMF16
Wolf Parade at MPMF16
The Mountain Goats at MPMF16
MULTIMAGIC at MPMF16
Orchards at MPMF16
Wolf Parade at MPMF16
Oh Pep! at MPMF16
Baby Money & The Down Payments at MPMF16
Bob Mould at MPMF16
Frightened Rabbit at MPMF16
Reggie Watts at MPMF16
Bob Mould at MPMF16
Reggie Watts at MPMF16
Car Seat Headrest at MPMF16
Kasami Washington at MPMF16
By Light We Loom at MPMF16
Oh Pep! at MPMF16
Bob Mould at MPMF16
Wolf Parade at MPMF16
Lucy Dacus at MPMF16

 


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MPMF16: Sunday Schedule

There is one more day. One more day running on coffee and no sleep. One more day filled with music.

115-145 Us, Today – Eli’s BBQ Stage
230-300 Kepi Ghoulie – Central Parkway YMCA Stage
315-345 Coconut Milk – Eli’s BBQ Stage
415-445 The Easthills – Eli’s BBQ Stage
430-500 AJJ – Central Parkway YMCA Stage
515-600 Vandaveer – WNKU Stage
615-700 Nada Surf – Skyline Stage
700-745 Frank Turner – Central Parkway YMCA Stage
730-815 Joan of Arc – Eli’s BBQ Stage
815-915 The Wood Brothers – WNKU Stage
930-1100 Band of Horses


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MPMF16: Friday in Pictures

Friday’s visuals. No time for the wordy words now. I will return at some point and comment on who is who in here. Off to Saturday fun!

The James Hunter Six at MPMF16
Antibalas at MPMF16
Future Islands at MPMF16
HOOPS at MPMF16
Future Islands at MPMF16
Antibalas at MPMF16
The James Hunter Six at MPMF16
Antibalas at MPMF16
Antibalas at MPMF16
Antibalas at MPMF16
It was 87 degrees. This man is committed to his outfit.
Future Islands at MPMF16
Future Islands at MPMF16
Future Islands at MPMF16
Leggy at MPMF16
Injecting Strangers at MPMF16
Injecting Strangers at MPMF16
PUBLIC at MPMF16
Future Islands at MPMF16
Antibalas at MPMF16
Future Islands at MPMF16
Tokyo Police Club at MPMF16
Ona at MPMF16
SMUT at MPMF16
SMUT at MPMF16
PUBLIC at MPMF16
Julia Jacklin at MPMF16
Darla at MPMF16
The James Hunter Six at MPMF16
Ona at MPMF16
Leggy at MPMF16
PUBLIC at MPMF16
Leggy at MPMF16
Tokyo Police Club at MPMF16
Ona at MPMF16
Leggy at MPMF16
Injecting Strangers at MPMF16
Royal Holland at MPMF16
Molly Sullivan braving the sun at MPMF16
PUBLIC at MPMF16
Royal Holland at MPMF16
Molly Sullivan braving the sun at MPMF16
Tokyo Police Club at MPMF16
Ona at MPMF16
Ona at MPMF16
Leggy at MPMF16
Tokyo Police Club at MPMF16
Future Islands at MPMF16
Antibalas at MPMF16


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MPMF16: Saturday Schedule

Friday was a day full of music. And the best thing about today is that there are two more days left. Here’s what I am seeing today… Assuming I consume enough coffee to keep me on my feet.

115-145 Ryan Fine & The Media – WNKU Stage
130-200 Orachards – Central Parkway Stage
300-330 Lucky Chops – Skyline Stage
315-343 By Light We Loom – WNKU Stage
415-445 Lucy Dacus – WNKU Stage
430-500 MULTIMAGIC – Central Parkway YMCA Stage
515-600 Oh Pep! – WNKU Stage
530-615 – Bob Mould – Central Parkway YMCA Stage
645-730 Carseat Headrest – WNKU Stage
700-745 Frightened Rabbit – Central Parkway Stage
745-830 Reggie Watts – Skyline Stage
815-915 The Mountain Goats – WNKU Stage
830-930 Wolf Parade – Central Parkway YMCA
930-1100 JJ Grey & Mofro – Skyline Stage

 


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MPMF16: Friday Schedule

It’s that time. That time where I determine what awesomeness I will see. Two things to note here. Leggy and Royal Holland are local acts. And they are great. If you aren’t from around here make time to see them. I’m already preparing my cold brew to survive this.

315-345 HOOPS – WNKU Stage
400-430 Injecting Strangers – Skyline Stage
445-515 Royal Holland – Eli’s BBQ Stage
515-600 Ona – WNKU Stage
530-615 PUBLIC – Central Parkway YMCA Stage
615-700 The James Hunter Six – Skyline Stage
645-715 Leggy – Eli’s BBQ Stage
700-745 Cereus Bright – Central Parkway Stage
730-830 Antibalas – Skyline Stage
830-930 Tokyo Police Club – Central Parkway YMCA Stage
930-1100 Future Islands – Slyline Stage


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MPMF16: The Mountain Goats

I am going to stick you in the eye with a foreign object. – The Mountain Goats “Foreign Objects”

This is the year for lyrics. Frank Turner is in my list because of his words. Reggie Watts is in my list because of his snark. The Mountain Goats are in my list because I think my friends have said many of these things about themselves or me.

But The Mountain Goats also muster the same satisfied grin from me that is reserved to They Might Be Giants. Only John Darnielle, writer in all senses, is more personal in his lyrical subject matter. “Istanbul” is a rollicking good time, but it doesn’t express the unreasonable optimism that strikes just after losing your job and your girlfriend.

There’s no real point to cynicism.  The whoomp whoomp baritone saxophone says we all know we’re horrible, but let’s try to have a party anyway. “Ba, ba da da, ba ba ba da, foreign object.”

The Mountain Goats play Saturday Sept. 24th at 815pm at the WNKU stage. I will be there. I will sing like I’m seventeen and will poke you in the eye.


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MPMF16: Frightened Rabbit

The air carried a whisper of fall, and the dry chill made the beer warming and the tight crowd a barrier of warmth holding winter at bay. Death Cab for Cutie was on their Codes and Keys tour. With no research on the opener I was thrilled with the performance I saw. I saw Frightened Rabbit.


The unexpected buoyant melodies warmed the crowd. The intimate outdoor arena was the perfect setting to hear expansive and personal confessions. Let’s see how the years have passed for Frightened Rabbit Saturday the 24th at 7pm at the Elliot Stage.


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MPMF16: Bob Mould

I found Hüsker Dü’s Zen Arcade in the late 80’s and thought what the f*ck is this? Like most moody teens I was listening to The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Smiths, and The Pixies with a little splash of what was happening on pop radio. “Never Gonna Give You Up” was in the top ten for 1998. That should tell you all you need to know. In this context, I ran across this.

Because it sounded like little else at the time Hüsker Dü stuck with me. I followed Bob Mould when he formed Sugar in the early 90’s. FUEL became one of my most listed to cassette tapes. It dropped the year I graduated high school and carried me into my first couple years of college. Listening to it now still gives me the nostalgia warm fuzzies.

And this is mostly why I will be watching Bob Mould at MPMF. The first listens I have given his new stuff have been good. But my inner eighteen year old wants to see the shows I didn’t make more than twenty years ago.


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MPMF16: Frank Turner

My last sixteen months resemble these songs.

I love some music because of how it sounds. I love some music because of what it says. Frank Turner belongs to the latter group. In fact, this rousing anthems aren’t typically my bag.

But words that say something to me can redeem much, and these words describe some tough steps I took with the support of some amazing people. It’s not to say that things are perfect now. But, wow, are they better. I am gonna see this show just to see the guy that wrote my reality for the last several months.