Shows to know
This week's notes on the local music scene
By Daniele Pfarr
MetromixNovember 16, 2009
Rosemary Device
- Mad Hatter - 620 Scott Blvd. - Riverfront
Hell yes! Are you ready for Rosemary Device's debut album release? You should be. It's going to make you thrash your head around and throw up those rawk hands, for sure. The band houses former members of two Cincinnati bands, Spindle and Krinj. Its MySpace page says it sounds like "a rock band with a little bit of Mrs. Dash." Add a little hot sauce, and that's more of the recipe we've been hearing. Check out the band as they celebrate the release with quite a lineup, sure to whet your Thanksgiving appetites The Brothers and Sisters, Famous Mr. Nobodies, Crashing Plains and Lions Rampant.
Franksgiving Bash
- Mad Hatter - 620 Scott Blvd. - Riverfront
It's the fifth annual Franksgiving event at Mad Hatter, and you know what that means party on Thanksgiving night (as if the night before Thanksgiving weren't enough). Join Pete Dressman and the Turkeys for music and drink specials all night. The yearly event earns donations to benefit the Jeff Pfetzer Memorial Scholarship Fund. Pfetzer was a University of Kentucky freshman and Covington Catholic High School alum who passed away in 2002. The Turkeys bring the acoustic. Dressman brings the jam. It's like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Possibly better.
The Sweep
- Northside Tavern - 4163 Hamilton Ave. - Northside
It has pretty harmonies like The Beach Boys. There are upbeat "oh oh ohs." Heavy lead guitar is prominent in every song. And when Billy Alletzhauser from The Hiders is somehow involved in a band, there can only be a good outcome. The Sweep is no exception. The four guys recorded the new tunes from November of last year until July, and it has a new release to show for it. "New Songs (For Good Kids)" is the band¹s second release, and it's partying with Kry Kids and 1000 Arms to deliver it directly into your grubby little hands. Oh, and we heard a clap track on one of the MySpace songs. If we haven't reiterated it enough, clap tracks catch our attention every time.
Friends for Chris Walker
- 20th Century Theatre - 3021 Madison Road - Oakley
A couple of years ago, bass player extraordinaire Chris Walker was injured in a car accident. His road to recovery has been long, hard and ongoing. Friends for Chris Walker, a fund created to help Walker on this journey, is hosting a benefit that is quite a doozy. It’s a unique reunion show for Heavy Weather, the funky soul band that Walker and his sister Carole started in the 90s. Plus, five prominent players are sitting in to play bass for the show. The lineup includes Freekbass, Nick Blasky (Ray’s Music Exchange), Andrew Scorti (Romeo Champagne), Mike Cobb (Worldwide) and Mike Georgin (Over the Rhine). If you know Chris, you know he’s one heck of a guy, and an all-star lineup is just one of many ways to pay homage to such a great bass player. Bootleg Rider opens the show.
Earthquakes and Romance
- Mayday - 4231 Spring Grove Ave. - Northside
Earthquakes (DJs Kendall Bruns and John Hogan) started shattering your brains on the opening night of Mayday, the newest Northside hangout (formerly Gypsy Hut). Looks like the Richter Scale is going to keep rocking, because every final Saturday of the month, Earthquakes will spin tunes for you to dance your heart out after a featured guest plays a set. This week, The Harlequins will be the musical guest. Musters up thoughts of romantic novels, doesn’t it? Well, its pop sound has earned showcases at MidPoint Music Festival and Cincinnati Entertainment Award nominations. Swoon. The tunes are reminiscent of surf rock, and singer Michael Oliva channels old time crooners with his range and clarity. We can even hear a little Neil Finn dabbled in there for good measure. Save your Sunday afternoon for the aftershock.
Fall Feast
- Duke Energy Convention Center - 525 Elm St. - Downtown
It’s the fifth year that Give Back Cincinnati hosts Fall Feast. It’s the largest Thanksgiving celebration in the Tri-State, and this year is no exception. It’s a free Thanksgiving dinner for the community, with free stuff for kids, and you guessed it – local music. This year, some of the live entertainment will be provided by Flaregun. Craig Dockery and Ryan Adcock started Flaregun after Adcock wrote some songs at church where they both volunteered. It began as recording some demos, but evolved into a full album effort. It’s the perfect music to enjoy while eating some turkey and stuffing. The band recently played for MidPoint Music Festival, and you have maybe heard of the guys before this band. Adcock has been a singer/songwriter in the city for years, and Dockery fronted The Vinyltones (Oh, how we miss them). If you’re not going home for the holidays, we can’t think of a better way to celebrate.
Psychodots
- Southgate House - 24 E. Third St. - Riverfront
What do bears and raisins have in common? Both share members of prominent Cincinnati band, psychodots. The Raisins were pretty popular in the early 80s, and had a hit (“Fear is Never Boring”) from its self-titled album. The album was produced by guitar guru, Adrian Belew. This becomes important later. Okay. Well, now. The Raisins were done and the Bears were formed. The Bears are a power pop band that was formed in 1985, fronted by guitar guru, Adrian Belew and other guys from the Raisins. Are you keeping up with me here? I guess it doesn’t matter. All you need to know is that after the Bears and the Raisins, the psychodots were formed, and it plays a show every year, the day after Thanksgiving. It’s a tradition. And you shouldn’t miss it.
Got a show we should know? Send it to cinmusic@cincinnati.com.
» More shows in our upcoming concert calendar.
