Roundhead-ed To Splitsville
As reported last month, local band Roundhead have decided to call it quits after being one of the leading original bands on the local front in the '90s. The group has parted ways amicably, as cellist Barb Hunter and bassist Jim Antonio relocate to Seattle. Singer Dan McCabe says that he and drummer Bill Bullock have been playing with different projects which should be up and running by this time next year at the latest. (Guitarist Steve Metz, McCabe says, is "an enigma as always," and may also be working on new music.)
The band's final show is this Saturday at the Southgate House, with guests Candy Afterlife and Ruby Vileos. Paul Moran, founder of Violently Hip Records, which released the Roundhead album Breath, Aim, Slack, Squeeze, is giving away free copies of the CD to the first hundred people in attendance.
Sample the Jammin'
This year, once again, there is a CD sampler that has been released to coincide with Pepsi Jammin' On Main 2000, the popular musical street fest that runs May 12 and 13. The disc features almost all of the local bands featured at this year's event (Face, The Shams and Shades of Blue aren't on the disc, but will be performing).
The eclectic nature of the local acts on the bill is well represented. The Brand, Dallas Moore and Jason Allen Phelps offer up the rootsier fare, while Black Magic Rhythm Allstars, Iswhat?! and Freekbass give the album its groove. There's also superb Pop from Ric Hickey, Ass Ponys and Simpletons, plus a rare bonus cut ("The Bottom Line") from The Raisins, pulled off of their 4-disc retrospective, Everything and More, that was recently released. The disc also features fine selections from Lube, Oil and Filter, Oval Opus, The Websters, Thistle and Tracy Walker.
The CD will be available at the event and Best Buy retailers are offering the collection free with any CD purchase (while supplies last). Look for the Jammin' event guide in the May 4 issue of CityBeat.
Diamond's Return
Jim Diamond, who cut his teeth on the Cincinnati Blues scene and now lives mostly on the road (and in Franklin, Ky.), is returning to Cincinnati this Friday and Saturday for shows at the Trio Lounge. Diamond and his band the Groove Syndicate, whose shows feature 95-percent original material, are consistent road-dogs playing regional gigs and music festivals. The band are also returning to Great Britain this October for their second tour, where they are tentatively scheduled to play the Ireland Blues Festival.
Diamond is on the road supporting his latest recording, Somewhere Somehow. The album, which also features former Stevie Ray Vaughan co-hort Reese Wynans playing keys on four tracks, is a sizzling, celebratory Blues album, highlighted by Diamond's propulsive guitar style and a tight, rollicking rhythm section. Also, sax man Joe Digiuseppe does a great job of fleshing out the tracks with puncuating horn riffs. Somewhere Somehow is as good a contemporary Blues album as you're going to hear.
To keep tabs on Diamond and Co., check his Web site at www.jimdiamond.com.
Rumors, Lies and General Misunderstandings
· Local band The Aesthetics will make a return debut this Thursday at Top Cat's, as they open for the Black Magic Rhythm Allstars. The group, which haven't played in years, features a reworked lineup -- joining original member Dan Bennett, Todd Drake (both formerly of Snaggletooth) and Sean Sattkamp will be bassist Chris Mundy and keyboardist Chris Comer, also of the Fabulous Marvel B's.
· A couple of WTO-related events this weekend will feature local music and raise awareness about free trade. Friday and Saturday at Xavier's Alter Hall will be an open forum about Globalization and the WTO, featuring workshops, music by Paul Whitelely and Kate Sanders and other activities. For registration info, call 579-8547.
On Sunday, there will be a benefit concert for an organization that helps protesters arrested in the WTO and World Bank protests in Seattle and Washington. The concert takes place at the Columbia Performance Center (3900 Eastern Ave., East End) and starts at 7 p.m. Featured acts include The Restraints, Bomb Threat, Dead Inside, Miasma and the wonderfully-named Wretched Union of Souls.
· Local band Ditchweed have a new Web site up and running. The site (http://ditchweed.homepage.com) is excellent, with many sound clips, a section called "Qualified Rockers" (which links to "Weed-approved" band sites), a flyer gallery and an updated news page.
· "Telling the Story: The Appalachian Experience" is a celebration this Thursday at the Cincinnati Museum Center (7 p.m. start) featuring documentaries, discussions, storytelling, poetry and music that represents Appalachian life. Alongside the premiere of The Will to Read: Estel Sizemore's Story, a documentary about a local man's overcoming illiteracy and dyslexia, will be musical performances from Katie Laur and Ed Cunningham.
· On Sunday, local acts The Rockefellers, Dark Audio Project, Bliss, Roesing Ape, Hemline and others will join together for a benefit for The Artery, a local arts organization that rents inexpensive studio space for artists in need and teaches art to high school students (on top of running a gallery). The event is doubling as a masquerade party as well -- with a costume, it's only $5 ($7 without). The show starts at 7 p.m.
· Annie's, that Hard Rock (and now just about every type of music) haven on the river, will celebrate 19 years of music this Friday. Festivities being at 8 p.m. with dancing, a buffet and partying.
· David Wolfenberger's performance at York Street Café will be simulcast on Live City Licks this Saturday. The show airs at midnight on WAIF (88.3 FM).
