¯ Robert Pollard, former leader of Indie Rock superstars Guided By Voices, is from Dayton. But when asked by
Blender magazine what his favorite club was, Pollard didn't say Canal Street Tavern or the Oregon Express. He said the Southgate House in Newport, Ky. In the brief
Blender piece, Pollard said he likes the club because "there's nowhere to hide. You're basically forced to party," and he also referenced the infamous "piss buckets," used as a loo when Pollard plays the club (in lieu of a backstage bathroom). All of this makes this weekend's Guided By Voices tribute show at the Southgate all the more timely and fitting. The show takes place Saturday night and features bands from Greater Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton and Chicago, each playing their favorite GBV or GBV-affiliated songs (covers are open to all branches of the GBV family tree). Proceeds from the 9 p.m. show go to the "Buy Bob Pollard a New Liver Foundation." Just kidding; organizers are giving the money raised to The Scratching Post, a non-kill cat shelter for strays located in Silverton. Locals appearing include
The Harlequins, The Lions Rampant, Loose Threads, Paper Airplane and the
St. Jude's Vigilance Committee. Cover charge is $5. And there will be beer.
¯ Johnny Walker, formerly of late, internationally acclaimed Detroit Garage Blues band Soledad Brothers (which once featured ex-Greenhorne Brian Olive), has a great new band in Greater Cincinnati. Walker, who now lives in Covington, has started the Cut in the Hill Gang with Brad Meinerding (who has performed as Reed Hartman and with the Kenton Country Regulators) and drummer Lance Kaufman from the StarDevils. The band released its debut single on the Little Room Record Company (available on 7-inch vinyl only) on Feb. 12. The slab-o-wax features the band's "Johnny Walker's Quixotic Dream," backed with a cover of The White Stripes' "Sugar Never Tasted So Good." (Walker and the Soledads had many Stripes connections; Meg played with them sometimes and Jack, as well as Reuben Glaser of locals Pearlene, produced a few songs for them.) The band performs a free show at Covington's Down Under this Wednesday and March 1; on Feb. 29, they'll be at Northside's The Comet. Look for a full-length to be released later this year. For a sample of their music and more, go to myspace.com/cutinthehillgang.
¯ Josh Hisle, the Iraq war vet who performs as Lost in Holland, was featured again in Rolling Stone. In the current issue (the one with Britney on the cover), a large photo of Hisle's appearance at the Sundance Film Festival singing "Rockin' in the Free World" with Neil Young accompanies a story about the musical acts that performed at the fest. Hisle is interviewed about his appearance (which also featured special guest Graham Nash) in the piece, which centers around the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young film CSNY/Deja Vu. Hisle appears in the film (as does some of his music). Hisle has a new EP, Hearts and Minds, available now; go to myspace.com/lostinholland to find out how to buy it.
CONTACT MIKE BREEN: mbreen@citybeat.com
