Square Sounds
This weekend marks the unveiling of the restored Fountain Square fountain, and local music will play a big part in the festivities.
The music will be split between two stages and run across both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday, music starts at 4 p.m. with Promenade, and continues with Gwendolyn Speaks, Second Sister, David Wolfenberger, Leap Skyward, Tracy Walker and 7 T Sly. The reunited Pure Prairie League will headline with an 8:45 p.m. set.
On Sunday, music begins at noon, with sets from Backtrack, Mama's Boys, Backbeat, Fred Steffen, Uncle Daddy and the Family Secret, Doug Gehner, Ricky Nye, H-Bomb Ferguson and the Medicine Men, Wild Carrot, Big In Iowa, Hello Oscar and Dallas Moore, all on the main stage.
Also on hand will be the 7-year-old Cincinnati Brass Band, which took first place at the North American Brass Band Association competition in April. (They will host the event, which draws tons of international talent, in 2002 here in Cincy.) The group is slated to provide accompaniment to the Tyler-Davidson Fountain's actual unveiling and ensuing fireworks display, followed by a 45-minute concert of marches, Disney and other movie music and musical numbers. The CBB will also perform a concert on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Hyde Park Community Methodist Church.
Judging Amy
Local singer/songwriter Amy Donovan O'Meara will celebrate the release of her debut solo album, Little Stuff ..., with a show at the York Street Café in Newport on Saturday at 9 p.m.
O'Meara, a classically-trained singer, left the area for New York City after completing college, chasing her dream. Disappointed and frustrated by unfruitful auditions, O'Meara returned to Cincinnati, but not before seeing Tori Amos -- then unknown -- wow a small audience in a Manhattan club. The experience provided her inspiration and hope, and when she returned to Cincinnati, she formed the bands Johari's Window and Velvet Lapel.
Now, with Little Stuff ..., O'Meara sounds right at home, with passionate, emotionally charged songs and an airy, Adult Contemporary vibe, thanks in part to producer/guitarist Ric Hordinski's helping hand. O'Meara's songs (which she writes largely with collaborator Jay Aronoff) have a hypnotic glide, with her soaring, yearning vocals leading the way. Little Stuff ... is a lush, rich effort that spotlights O'Meara as one of the city's more promising talents.
Rumors, Lies and General Misunderstandings
· Dayton Funk legend, Roger Troutman, who was murdered last year in Dayton, will get the tribute album treatment with a new compilation due May 23. Troutman, who had been sampled by and has worked with a slew of Hip Hop heavyweights, is saluted on Tribute to Roger Troutman, featuring tracks (mostly previously released) by 2Pac and Dr. Dre, Jodeci, EPMD, MC Breed. New tracks from Chantay Nelson, the trio of Ant Banks, Too Short and Dolla Will, and A.L.T. and JV will also be included.
· Sunday's Sub Vinyl show at the Mad Frog will also feature a special fashion show. The Clifton Independent Clothing Coalition will present fashions from Ali's Boutique and Bedlam. Showtime is 10 p.m.
· Promoting the retrospective release, Everything and More, and their upcoming reunion show at next week's Pepsi Jammin' on Main, The Raisins will sit down for a collective interview on the Chris and Rob Radio Talk Show on Tuesday. The round-table discussion with all of the band members airs at 10 p.m.
· Local acoustic duo Messerly and Ewing will be opening for Smithereens singer Pat Dinizio this Saturday at the Maria Schmidt School near Oxford. Dinizio has been in town a lot recently, scoring a movie by a local filmmaker. The show (starting at 1 p.m.) will benefit St. Rita's School For the Deaf. For more info call 756-0277 or check the Messerly and Ewing Web site at www.grossi.org/markandbrian.
· Local group Len's Lounge, who are smoking the AltCountry and Americana charts on MP3.com, have announced a new line-up. Joining long-time drummer Chris Brown and leader J.R. is Throneberry's Paul Cavins (on organ), Afghan Whigs drummer Michael Horrigan (on bass) and singer/guitarist/mandolin player Ann Winslow. Check lenslounge.com for upcoming show dates.
· Local Modern Rock band Fizzgig will perform live at the WAIF (88.3 FM) studios on Saturday at midnight. The performance will be simulcast on WAIF's live local music show Live City Licks.
