After the third-wave of Ska fell out of mainstream favor in the ´90s, the genre became the butt of jokes and many assumed that bands playing Ska disappeared completely. But the Ska underground   

· Local commercial radio has nobly begun sniffing around local music's butt the last couple of years, with local-centric shows popping up on 97.3 FM ("Homegrown," Sundays at 9 p.m.) and WEBN ("  

· Former Metal haven Never on Sundays in Silverton has switched ownership and management. Now called Play By Play Café, the venue has been completely remodeled, adding a party room, kitche  

Local music festivals come and go, but the ones with real staying power grow and grow. Along with the MidPoint Music Festival, the Cincy Blues Fest and last week's Jammin' On ..., the Cincypunk Fest  

Following last year's successful debut, the monstrous Jammin' On festival, featuring over 60 of the area's best original music acts in eight clubs, returns to Over-the-Rhine this weekend. The fest w  

It's tribute/benefit time again, this time with a Big Apple twist. While we're still waiting for the Slim Whitman tribute (fingers crossed), the pool of great artists to honor by having handfuls of   

· Successful local Rock trio Heartless Bastards have been announced as one of the artists performing at this summer's Desdemona Festival, an impressively ambitious new Indie Rock fest spearhead  

Local Emo rockers Close to Home are a band on the verge. In just three years, the group has already racked up more accomplishments than many bands do in a lifetime. They were chosen for a WEBN/Budwe  

Groovy, gritty art/performance space The Mockbee (off Central Parkway, near Brighton Corner) is hosting live music and art events again. The venue presents two cool musical performances this weekend  

One of Cincinnati's best songwriters, David Wolfenberger, has released a new album, Portrait of Narcissus, his first since 2001's World of the Satisfyn' Place (put out by local Folk label, Blue Jord  

The incredible, rootsy quintet The Hiders release its debut CD, Valentine, this Friday in conjunction with a show at alchemize. Locals pictureshow and wil-o-ee also perform. Valentine was recorded i  

This Saturday, local AltRock crew Bulletproof Charm celebrates the release of its debut CD with a show at The Loft (above Tickets Sports Café in Covington). Joining the band is Wake the Bear, S  

Local guitarist Mike Fair unveils his new band, Mike Fair and the Adventure Seekers, on Sunday at Arnold's Bar & Grill. The coming out party will also feature an appearance from one of Fair's other   

Tragedy has struck a local band and all those touched by them. Local visual artist, musician and singer/songwriter Sam Shipman, better known as Sam Nation, died late on March 4 after the car in whic  

One of Cincinnati's finest Rock bands has decided to call it a day. Singer/guitarist Zachary Gabbard recently announced that Thee Shams have ceased to exist. Together since 1999, Thee Shams (who wou