· My first "blind item!" I feel like Cindy Adams. In the '90s, when The Afghan Whigs were becoming more and more well known, the band would sometimes book "super secret" shows at smaller clubs,  

Local rockers American Hardcore have been through an almost soap opera-like couple of years. If nothing else, the band has a riveting first 15 minutes of their Behind The Music special someday. Form  

This week sees the return of the annual Chicks Rockfest at Downtown's Poison Room. The event is now in its seventh year (an impressive feat for a homegrown festival) and it has stayed true to its in  

Rockabilly music seems to have more spin-offs than All In the Family. Sub-genres include Psychobilly, Voodoobilly, Thrashabilly, Punkabilly, Horrorbilly, Countrybilly and numerous others. I even fou  

Local benefit/tribute shows are often set up to raise funds for a charitable organization. Sometimes, friends will organize a benefit for one person, say, a sick child. And sometimes, a benefit show  

Up in Oxford last Thursday, city officials were again nervous about Miami University's infamous, unsanctioned all-day St. Patrick's Day celebration, where students start drinking green beer before t  

Newly recorded Afghan Whigs songs are less than two months away. I'll write more about my personal feelings about The Whigs and their legacy (and my own experiences with their music) closer to the M  

Texas native/Cincinnati transplant Steve Manuel landed in the Queen City with a handful of tuneful Pop/Rock songs he was eager to record. As his new CD shows, he found the right guys to work with he  

· We were sad to learn of the passing of a local musician this past weekend. Bruce Willis, drummer for the local cover band Saving Stimpy (who play current Rock hits at clubs all over the area)  

· Acclaimed Indie crew Wussy performs a little post-Valentine's Day gig at the Northside Tavern Saturday, joined by The Sweep, a new group featuring former members of the excellent local band p  

Local trio Trifectafunk celebrate the release of their new self-titled EP (the group's second effort) this Friday at the East End Café. Locals The Rumpke Mountain Boys and Headband also perform  

· Those behind the revitalization of the area around the "new" Fountain Square downtown are eager to get local music in the mix. Beginning in the spring, the square will host local acts on Frid  

· Northern Kentucky rockers Sweet Ray Laurel follow up their successful multi-band festival show, Laurelpalooza, from last year with this Saturday's Laurelpalooza 2 at Newport's Southgate House  

· A very cool, promising new local band makes its debut this Friday night at the new Gypsy Hut in Northside (at the corner of Spring Grove Avenue and Dane Street; see myspace.com/thegypsyhut fo  

· Sad news for the local Blues scene this past weekend. Police reported that a body found wrapped in a blanket on Gilbert Avenue on Jan. 5 was Paula Wolfe's, a local Blues harmonica player who