Kate's Queen City Notes

Blundering through Cincinnati, laughing all the way

Tag Archives: Music festivals


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Bunbury 2015 Must See: The Front Bottoms

“When ever I am alone or feeling lonely I pretend I can play the drums inside my head… I am alone only half of the time and the other half I am only hiding.” – “Legit Tattoo Gun” – The Front Bottoms

Words fail when expressing why music resonates. My initial attraction to The Front Bottoms was due to the vocalist’s similarities to the lead vocalist in The Thermals. The Thermals sound is more traditionally punk than The Front Bottoms, but the sincerity in the lyrics crosses the differences in sound.

There’s a thread that runs between The Front Bottoms and the early 2000’s emo bands like The Get Up Kids and Saves the Day. It seems that the only appropriate way to enjoy this band is screaming the lyrics to the songs along with them. And that’s exactly how I intend on enjoying them.

The Front Bottoms play on Sunday at Bunbury 2015.


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Bunbury 2015 Must See: Temples

There’s no plausible explanation for why at twenty years old in 1996 we were listening to The Mama’s and The Papa’s constantly. Mama Cass’s sweet harmonies would emanate from the boom box in the living room of our house in Clifton. AM Radio blared in our kitchen for all of my first 18 years of life. All of this primed me to fall in love with Temples.

Temples bring all of the things that I love about 60’s pop without the acid-soaked lyrics. I love them. Check out the visuals in this video; they say it all. The Mamas & Papas would dig it. Temples play on Friday at Bunbury.


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Bunbury 2015 Must See: Royal Blood

I find it difficult to write about anything when I am going through personal upheaval. It squelches my creativity. And although my random musings might appear off-hand and thoughtless, they require quite a bit of work on my part. Trust me when I say no one would want to read what comes off the top of my head.

This is the context for my delay in producing my posts describing my favorite Bunbury 2015 acts. I have been listening plenty. I just haven’t been able to formulate words about it. Yet, I am running out of time. I must accept that creativity probably won’t come back to me in a timely fashion and power through some posts. Power through it: my mantra for 2015.

Royal Blood. Holy two-piece-band-that-rips-my-face-off-with-gutwrenching-rock-and-roll Batman!! That was awkward, but let’s power through it. If the sexy, crunchy guitars of The Black Keys were layered under Muse’s bombast you would have Royal Blood. These guys have enormous buzz behind them, and I can’t wait to check them out.


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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 image

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!


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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

Empires

OK Go

OK Go

OK Go and Confetti!!

OK Go and Confetti!!

Ex Hex

Ex Hex

Coves

Coves

The Tontons

The Tontons

Milagres

Milagres

 


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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!

 

Real Estate playing Midpoint Midway. This venue is free, giving everyone access to great music.

Real Estate playing Midpoint Midway. This venue is free, giving everyone access to great music.

Real Estate had a great turn out. Lots of children, dogs, and collective art projects.

Real Estate had a great turn out. Lots of children, dogs, and collective art projects.

There's a mirror installation on the Midway. It's a totally cool way to engage with perspective.

There’s a mirror installation on the Midway. It’s a totally cool way to engage with perspective.

The Drowners were outstanding.

The Drowners were outstanding.

Fort Wilson Riot were a fun listen.

Fort Wilson Riot were a fun listen.

I like Shivering Timbers so much that I saw them twice yesterday.

I like Shivering Timbers so much that I saw them twice yesterday.

The Locals rocking out Motr.

The Locals rocking out Motr.

Oh Wussy, I love you so much.

Oh Wussy, I love you so much.

All Them Witches!

All Them Witches!

All Them Witches packed The Drinkery.

All Them Witches packed The Drinkery.

Afghan Wigs filled Washington Park.

Afghan Wigs filled Washington Park.

Greg Dulli, part-time drummer.

Greg Dulli, part-time drummer.

 


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Midpoint Music Fest 2014: Thursday In Review

This was my intention.

5pm Fairmount Girls – Midpoint Midway
615 Indigo Wild – Midpoint Midway
715 The Range – Washington Park
730 Pike 27 – Midpoint Midway
815 Vic and Gab – Mainstay Rock Bar
830 Chromeo – Washington Park
915 Darlene – Know Theater
930 Panda Bear – Moerlein Tap Room
10 Violent Mae – Know Theater
1045 Barrence Whitfield and the Savages – The Taft
1130 Sun Kil Moon – Memorial Hall
1130 Mutual Benefit – CAC
1145 Lost In The Trees – Know Theater
12 St Paul and the Broken Bones – The Taft

So you see, wha happen was… I missed Pike 27, Vic and Gab, Lost In The Trees, Sun Kil Moon, and Mutual Benefit got moved to tonight. I caught a little bit of HEAF, which were my pleasant surprise of the evening. I think I managed pretty well all things considered. One of those things to be considered was that I failed to feed myself yesterday. I had sushi provided by Fusion in the VIP tent, which was lovely but ill-equipped to combat the free beer I was also consuming. Another thing to be considered was that I got out of bed at 445am yesterday. I was on my 20th hour of being awake at St. Paul and the Broken Bones.  There just isn’t enough coffee to set that right.

Regardless, yesterday was huge fun. Chromeo and St Paul and the Broken Bones put up stellar performances, as I expected. I was a little disappointed with Panda Bear and The Range. It’s not that their performances were bad; they both sounded excellent. I like seeing people playing instruments; it’s my favorite thing about live music. And both The Range and Panda Bear were a lone dudes with lots of technology. I don’t find that compelling to watch in a live setting. I will jam out in my car to it all day. I like hearing it. I just don’t need to see it. I will let the pictures do the talking from this point forward.

 

Fairmount Girls kicked things off.

Fairmount Girls kicked things off.

Indigo Wild. The sun setting behind them was beautiful, but it also was the cause for much squinting.

Indigo Wild. The sun setting behind them was beautiful, but it also was the cause for much squinting.

Folks at Washington Park enjoying The Range.

Folks at Washington Park enjoying The Range.

Violent Mae killing it at the Know

Violent Mae killing it at the Know

HEAF! These guys were a fun surprise. Get it Stubenville.

HEAF! These guys were a fun surprise. Get it Stubenville.

Let's be honest, phone videos of rock shows suck in almost every way. Why do people keep trying to do it? Why??

Let’s be honest, phone videos of rock shows suck in almost every way. Why do people keep trying to do it? Why??

Audience getting ready for Chromeo.

Audience getting ready for Chromeo.

ChromeoCrowd3

Chromeo, in spite of being two dudes with lots of technology, made for a fun performance.

Chromeo, in spite of being two dudes with lots of technology, made for a fun performance.

Oh the lights and the hands.

Oh the lights and the hands.

"Reach out and touch faith"

“Reach out and touch faith”

Chromeo! Also, that guy, he's really tall.

Chromeo! Also, that guy, he’s really tall.

Panda Bear wasn't really my thing, but his look and stage set-up was visually appealing.

Panda Bear wasn’t really my thing, but his look and stage set-up was visually appealing.

My suspicions were confirmed. My first impression in hearing Barrence Whitfield, was that he would be touring with crusty musicians who had been honing their skills for decades. Confirmed. This was a great show.

My suspicions were confirmed. My first impression in hearing Barrence Whitfield, was that he would be touring with crusty musicians who had been honing their skills for decades. Confirmed. This was a great show.

BarrenceWhitfiele2

St Paul and the Broken Bones serving up a hearty serving of soul.

St Paul and the Broken Bones serving up a hearty serving of soul.

St Paul and the Broken Bones at The Taft.

St Paul and the Broken Bones at The Taft.

Washington Park stage just before Chromeo came out.

Washington Park stage just before Chromeo came out.

 


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Midpoint Music Fest 2014 Must-see: EMA and Saturday’s Schedule

Here’s what I am afraid of. I like EMA’s recordings, but it sounds like there was lots of technology used to create them. This leaves me uncertain of what this will be like live.

And here’s Saturday’s schedule! No more scheduling. Huzzah!!
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

 


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Midpoint Music Fest 2014 Must-see: The Tontons

When I heard that there was a band sharing the name of the furry creature that Luke Skywalker used to navigate Hoth, I was surprised that it took so long. Oh, this vocalist’s silky voice! The peppy guitar rock sailing along behind her smooth crooning is delightful, considerably more delightful than tonton guts, and apparently their breath.

These guys play Mainstay Rock Bar on Saturday September 27th as part of Midpoint Music Festival.


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Midpoint Music Fest 2014 Must-see: Miniature Tigers

Lyrics. Sometimes they matter to me because they are dense and beautiful. The elaborate emotions that can be evoked by and economical number of words astounds. Sometimes they matter because they are funny and charming. Miniature Tigers are in that latter group.

The lead’s voice and the harmonic backing vocals make me feel like I should be at a 50’s soda fountain sipping a chocolate malt. It’s so wholesome. Then the lyrics for the chorus float in. “We used to be the shit.” I almost always enjoy lyrical content when it clashes with the vibe of the music. This is right in my wheelhouse. They play on Friday September 26th at Mainstay Rock Bar as part of Midpoint Music Festival.