by Mike Breen
08.07.2012
LISTEN: Buffalo Killers' New 'Dig. Sow. Love. Grow.'
Local Psych/Roots/Swamp Rock trio celebrates release today at Shake It
Cincinnati-spawned Psych/Rock/Pop trio Buffalo Killers' new album, the rockin' Dig. Sow. Love. Grow., is available at retailers (online or otherwise) today nationwide.
The album — released on Alive NaturalSound Records — has already scored some great press praise. Magnet says the album "will no doubt beg the comparison to a handful of contemporary blues-rock bands like former tourmates the Black Keys and the North Mississippi Allstars," while Marquee Magazine's Brian Johnson gave the LP five out of five stars and wrote, "Dig. Sow. Love. Grow. sees the band absolutely stampeding back to their raucous rock sound, but it also goes the extra step by showcasing both the majestic side of the Buffalo Killers, while managing to convey the overwhelming and unbridled power of the group."
Spinner has the full album streaming today on its site. Click here to give it a taste, then head to Northside's Shake It Records at 7 p.m. tonight to pick up a copy and listen to a few tunes performed live by the band in-store. The appearance is the official local "release party" for the record and kicks off the band's touring duties behind the release.
Below, listen to the album's second track, "Hey Girl."
The album — released on Alive NaturalSound Records — has already scored some great press praise. Magnet says the album "will no doubt beg the comparison to a handful of contemporary blues-rock bands like former tourmates the Black Keys and the North Mississippi Allstars," while Marquee Magazine's Brian Johnson gave the LP five out of five stars and wrote, "Dig. Sow. Love. Grow. sees the band absolutely stampeding back to their raucous rock sound, but it also goes the extra step by showcasing both the majestic side of the Buffalo Killers, while managing to convey the overwhelming and unbridled power of the group."
Spinner has the full album streaming today on its site. Click here to give it a taste, then head to Northside's Shake It Records at 7 p.m. tonight to pick up a copy and listen to a few tunes performed live by the band in-store. The appearance is the official local "release party" for the record and kicks off the band's touring duties behind the release.
Below, listen to the album's second track, "Hey Girl."
by Mike Breen
08.06.2012
Walk the Moon's 'MTV Unplugged' Debuts at MTV.com
Cincinnati band goes acoustic for MTV
As we told you last week, Cincinnati-spawned RCA Records recording artist (and Perez Hilton faves) Walk the Moon's session for the MTV series Unplugged debuted today at MTV.com (because God forbid the network find time in its schedule amongst the embarrassing stream of exploitative reality TV shows to run an actual music program). I'm fairly certain this is a first for a Cincinnati band (someone please correct me rudely and anonymously in the comments section if I'm wrong). The Palladia HD channel (part of MTV's family of networks) often broadcasts Unplugged episodes after they've run online. We'll keep you posted.
Here's a clip from the program (of the band doing "Tightrope" from its recently released major-label debut full-length). Click here to enjoy the entire show.
And here's an interview with the band tied to the sessions.
Here's a clip from the program (of the band doing "Tightrope" from its recently released major-label debut full-length). Click here to enjoy the entire show.
Get More: WALK THE MOON, Tightrope (MTV Unplugged), Music, More Music Videos
And here's an interview with the band tied to the sessions.
Get More: WALK THE MOON, MTV Unplugged, MTV Unplugged
by Mike Breen
08.06.2012
Lunch with the Playhouse and Hank Today
Lunchtime Fountain Square event to feature local musicians playing Hank Williams tunes
Tickets for the forthcoming season at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park were put on sale this morning at 10 a.m. To celebrate, the Playhouse is hosting a lunchtime event on Fountain Square at noon featuring giveaways and other merriment, as well as a performance by a few excellent local musicians.
Mark Utley, frontman for diverse Americana group Magnolia Mountain, Chris Cusentino (The Turkeys) and Cameron Cochran (Pop Empire, Jeremy Pinnell & the 55s) are slated to be on hand for the festivities this afternoon, performing a few songs from the remarkable songbook of Hank Williams.
The performance is a tie-in to the Playhouse's forthcoming staging of Hank Williams: Lost Highway, a play that follows Williams' early career and starts in "the backwoods of Alabama and winds up at center stage of the Grand Ole Opry." Lost Highway — which features over 20 of Williams greatest tunes (including locally-recorded ones like "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry") — opens Nov. 3 and runs through Dec. 23. Click here for more info on this and all of the upcoming Playhouse performances for this season.
(Meanwhile, it appears my karmic adventures with Hank will continue …)
Utley's Magnolia Mountain recently debuted a brand new music video for its track "Bad For Me" off of the group's recent Town and Country album. Dig it …
by Mike Breen
08.03.2012
Review: 46 Long's 'Tennessee'
Local acoustic Blues duo celebrates new LP release tonight at Arnold's
Eclectic acoustic Blues duo 46 Long is set to release its latest full-length, the dynamic Tennessee, tonight at downtown’s Arnold’s Bar & Grill. Showtime is 9 p.m. and the shindig is a freebie. The show will be a brand-new experience for fans of the duo. The group will be debuting a lot of new material and the first set will feature drumming assistance from percussionist Joe Pro. For 46 Long's second set tonight, the twosome will go "full band" with the addition of bassist Bobby Loggs and some other special guests.
Though “dynamic” and “eclectic” might not be the first words to come to mind when you think “acoustic Blues duo” — all three words suggest inherent limitations — 46 Long is both of those and more. Eschewing Blues clichés while still staying fairly faithful to the music’s rich tradition is a difficult balancing act to pull off, but Tennessee finds the twosome subtly integrating sounds from a broad spectrum of influence without losing their core, distinct sound. In the end, it’s one of the more creative Blues releases you’ll likely hear all year, yet the detours and tangents shouldn’t deter (most) purists.
On Tennessee, Blake Taylor (who primarily sings and blows a mean harmonica, though also contributes keys, percussion guitar and, uh, “crowbar” on the album) and Jonathan Reynolds (who sings and plays guitar while also providing bass and percussion) start things off with the stanky groove of “More,” then take the listeners through deft interpretations of gritty, Delta-esque Blues (like the title track), gruff Tom Waitsian eccentricity (“Lock It Up or Lose It”), full-bodied, swaggering AltCountry (a cover of the Starkweathers’ “One for Her, One For Him”), boogying Lyle Lovett-like Swing (“Don’t Drink”) and stompin’ Garage Rock (“Something Strange”).
Other standouts on Tennessee include a sparsely percussioned take on Morphine’s “Thursday,” and “The Best Revenge,” a dark, ominously atmospheric track that’ll send creepy shivers up your spine.
The recording is refreshingly natural (with only some distortion here and there to add shadowing), the perfect setting to wrap your ears around the duo’s ace musical skills. Taylor once again proves he’s one of the best Blues harmonica players in the region, playing the mouth harp like a saxophone, a vocal part, a rhythm guitar or pretty much any other instrument you can think of.
If you’ve given up on the Blues because you think you’ve heard it all before, pick up Tennessee and let 46 Long show you otherwise.
Here's a live clip of the duo performing the new LP's title track.
by Mike Breen
08.03.2012
For Algernon Leader Restarts Album Project
Serious car accident involving two local musicians puts one's new record back to square one
Not long after putting on a great show with her band The Seedy Seeds at the first-ever Bunbury Music Festival, the group’s Margaret Darling and friend (and equally gifted singer/songwriter) Jason Wells of Indie group for algernon were involved in a serious auto accident that has required not only some time away from music to recuperate (both suffered painful injuries; Wells says Darling suffered the worst of it, fracturing a rib), but also a gutting of their bank accounts to pay for treatment and recovery time. That’s on top of a totaled car and destroyed instruments.
Both are expected to fully recover physically, but it will take some time still.
After being screwed by insurance companies, Wells had to use all of the cash he had stashed away to record the next for algernon album. As a result, Wells started a Kickstarter campaign so that he could get back to work on his project as soon as possible.
In an email, I could sense Wells was very reluctant to ask for help; it’s a sense of pride thing a lot of musicians (and humans) have. But in the Greater Cincinnati music scene, those who need help should never be embarrassed to ask. It’s part of the reason we (the fans) are here — you ladies and gents gives us the sweet gift of music and often enhance our lives greatly. It’s the least we can do to return the favor when you need us. (Don't be shocked if a benefit show pops up in the near future; I'm already hearing rumblings.)
In that spirit, be sure to visit Wells' Kickstarter.com page here and kick in whatever you can. You can also visit facebook.com/theseedyseeds and send your best wishes to Margaret. For more on for algernon, visit www.foralgernon.com.
Here are some tasty tunes by Wells and Co. to sample:
Both are expected to fully recover physically, but it will take some time still.
After being screwed by insurance companies, Wells had to use all of the cash he had stashed away to record the next for algernon album. As a result, Wells started a Kickstarter campaign so that he could get back to work on his project as soon as possible.
In an email, I could sense Wells was very reluctant to ask for help; it’s a sense of pride thing a lot of musicians (and humans) have. But in the Greater Cincinnati music scene, those who need help should never be embarrassed to ask. It’s part of the reason we (the fans) are here — you ladies and gents gives us the sweet gift of music and often enhance our lives greatly. It’s the least we can do to return the favor when you need us. (Don't be shocked if a benefit show pops up in the near future; I'm already hearing rumblings.)
In that spirit, be sure to visit Wells' Kickstarter.com page here and kick in whatever you can. You can also visit facebook.com/theseedyseeds and send your best wishes to Margaret. For more on for algernon, visit www.foralgernon.com.
Here are some tasty tunes by Wells and Co. to sample:
by Mike Breen
08.03.2012
Watch Afghan Whigs Live at Lollapalooza Today
Lollapalooza YouTube channel to stream live sets all weekend from Chicago
It's not quite the same as being there — unless you have long lines at your refrigerator, like to keep your house a balmy 105 degrees and live shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of drunk people — but watching a music festival from the comfort of your own home isn't the worst thing in the world. (You could, for example, be watching Two and a Half Men.)
The Lollapalooza YouTube channel will be streaming various artists' sets from this year's festival in Chicago, including today's 5:15 p.m. (Cincy/EST time) performance by reunited Cincinnati icons The Afghan Whigs. The festival begins this afternoon; streaming starts at 1:30 p.m. I watched a few live sets from last year's Lollapalooza through the YouTube site and the footage and stream were both pretty strong.
Here's another Cincy act performing at Lolla last year.
Here's the full rundown of streams for the next three days of Lolla (times are CST, so add an hour if you are in the Queen City):
FRIDAY
• 1:30 PM
• Yellow Ostrich
•
• 1:30 PM
• Michael Kiwanuka
•
• 2:15 PM
• The Black Angels
•
• 2:15 PM
• Dr. Dog
•
• 3:00 PM
• The War on Drugs
•
• 3:30 PM
• Blind Pilot
•
• 4:00 PM
• Metric
•
• 4:15 PM
• The Afghan Whigs
•
• 5:15 PM
• The Head & The Heart
•
• 5:15 PM
• Tame Impala
•
• 6:15 PM
• The Shins
•
• 6:15 PM
• Band of Skulls
•
• 7:00 PM
• Sharon Van Etten
•
• 7:30 PM
• Dawes
•
• 8:00 PM
• Die Antwoord
•
• 8:30 PM
• The Black Keys
SATURDAY
• 1:30 PM
• JEFF the Brotherhood
•
• 1:30 PM
• Los Jaivas
•
• 2:15 PM
• Delta Spirit
•
• 2:15 PM
• GIVERS
•
• 3:00 PM
• Neon Indian
•
• 3:15 PM
• Aloe Blacc
•
• 4:00 PM
• The Temper Trap
•
• 4:15 PM
• Alabama Shakes
•
• 5:15 PM
• FUN.
•
• 5:15 PM
• First Aid Kit
•
• 6:00 PM
• The Weeknd
•
• 6:00 PM
• Washed Out
•
• 6:45 PM
• tUnE-yArDs
•
• 7:00 PM
• Bloc Party
•
• 8:00 PM
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
•
• 8:30 PM
• Avicii
SUNDAY
• 1:30 PM
• Oberhofer
•
• 1:30 PM
• Bombay Bicycle Club
•
• 2:15 PM
• Trampled By Turtles
•
• 2:30 PM
• White Rabbits
•
• 3:00 PM
• The Walkmen
•
• 3:15 PM
• Gary Clark Jr.
•
• 4:15 PM
• Franz Ferdinand
•
• 4:15 PM
• J.Cole
•
• 5:15 PM
• The Gaslight Anthem
•
• 5:15 PM
• Toro Y Moi
•
• 6:00 PM
• At The Drive-In
•
• 6:15 PM
• Of Monsters & Men
•
• 7:15 PM
• Florence + the Machine
•
• 7:15 PM
• The Big Pink
•
• 8:15 PM
• Miike Snow
•
• 8:30 PM
• Jack White
•
• 9:15 PM
• Childish Gambino
Click here to watch all of the Lollapalooza streams.
The Whigs — who will perform at great Chicago club Metro for a sold-out post-Lolla party tomorrow night — have most recently added tour dates in Cleveland, Boston, Philadelphia, Portland, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The group comes home to Cincinnati's Bogart's on Oct. 25 for a sold-out gig with part-time tourmates Wussy. (Don't have tickets? Click here for a chance to win a a pair.)
by Mike Breen
08.02.2012
Music Tonight: It's Commonly Jazz Tributes Coltrane
Annual free summer Jazz series kicks off this evening in Eden Park
The long-running, always-solid It's Commonly Jazz music series returns to Eden Park's Seasongood Pavilion this evening. The series (now in its impressive 27th season) brings free, live Jazz music to the park every Thursday this month, with concerts running 6-8 p.m.
The concerts have always been a superb mix of some great nationally-touring headliners and many of Cincinnati's top Jazz players. Next week, on Aug. 9, Dan Karlsberg headlines ICJ with a quintet that includes local greats Marc Fields and Brent Gallaher, plus Karlsberg's mates Steve Whipple and Anthony Lee (who now work out of New York). Renowned drummer Kenny Phelps plays ICJ on Aug. 16 with special guest trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, plus Jim Anderson on bass and Zach Lapidus on keys. Local Jazz hero Phil DeGreg brings his Samba Jazz Syndicate to the series on Aug. 23. The group also includes noted area players Rusty Burge, Kim Pensyl, Aaron Jacobs and John Taylor. The series concludes with the thoroughly excellent trumpeter Mike Wade and his septet (acclaimed saxman Steve Wilson guest stars).
For tonight's opening concert, It's Commonly Jazz presents something a little different. The program, dubbed "A Love Supreme - Spiritual Music of John Coltrane," was originally presented in Louisville by vibraphonist Dick Sisto. The debut tribute to the Jazz legend's "spiritual" sides — including A Love Supreme album material and works from Meditations — was such a success, Sisto put together a quintet and hit the road, performing the show across the region. Joining Sisto tonight is Steve Allee on keys, Rob Dixon on sax, Steve Houghton on drums and Jim Anderson (again!) holding down the bass.
Here's Coltrane's full masterpiece to get you in the mood. Click here for more on It's Commonly Jazz.
The concerts have always been a superb mix of some great nationally-touring headliners and many of Cincinnati's top Jazz players. Next week, on Aug. 9, Dan Karlsberg headlines ICJ with a quintet that includes local greats Marc Fields and Brent Gallaher, plus Karlsberg's mates Steve Whipple and Anthony Lee (who now work out of New York). Renowned drummer Kenny Phelps plays ICJ on Aug. 16 with special guest trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, plus Jim Anderson on bass and Zach Lapidus on keys. Local Jazz hero Phil DeGreg brings his Samba Jazz Syndicate to the series on Aug. 23. The group also includes noted area players Rusty Burge, Kim Pensyl, Aaron Jacobs and John Taylor. The series concludes with the thoroughly excellent trumpeter Mike Wade and his septet (acclaimed saxman Steve Wilson guest stars).
For tonight's opening concert, It's Commonly Jazz presents something a little different. The program, dubbed "A Love Supreme - Spiritual Music of John Coltrane," was originally presented in Louisville by vibraphonist Dick Sisto. The debut tribute to the Jazz legend's "spiritual" sides — including A Love Supreme album material and works from Meditations — was such a success, Sisto put together a quintet and hit the road, performing the show across the region. Joining Sisto tonight is Steve Allee on keys, Rob Dixon on sax, Steve Houghton on drums and Jim Anderson (again!) holding down the bass.
Here's Coltrane's full masterpiece to get you in the mood. Click here for more on It's Commonly Jazz.
by Mike Breen
08.02.2012
WATCH: Walk the Moon Covers Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Cincy RCA recording artists release first clip from MTV Unplugged sessions
Cincinnati's Walk the Moon has been doing the promo rounds hardcore for a while now, performing on network TV shows like the Late Show and Late Night, and touring the planet to ever-increasing crowds. The band tweeted photos about a month ago from its sessions for an episode of MTV Unplugged, the long-running acoustic series on the now-music-deficient network.
Today, Walk the Moon announced that the episode will premiere this coming Monday (Aug. 6) on MTV.com. The band also revealed the first clip from the episode — an a cappella version of "Maps" by popular AltRock trio the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Enjoy.
by Mike Breen
08.02.2012
Rewind: Why Parrotheads Hate Me
Celebrating the 12th anniversary of the CityBeat/Jimmy Buffett shitstorm
A dozen years ago, I was asked to come up with something for CityBeat's annual summer preview "Hot Issue." At the time, easy-groovin' singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett was the king of Cincinnati's summer concert scene, selling out his shows in minutes and routinely winning the "Best Concert" award in CityBeat's "Best of Cincinnati" readers' poll. So I figured that, five years into CityBeat's existence, it was time to weigh in on the Parrothead phenomenon.
I've told the story of the backlash a few times in the past (apologies if you've heard it before). After the article was published, I received the most hate mail I've ever seen for a story appearing in the paper. My colleagues printed out the emails and wallpapered the area around my desk; it covered a good quarter of that room in the old CityBeat building on Seventh Street.
I expected some of it (and probably deserved some of it, too; as a young punk-ass writer, I was an even bigger dick then). But the sheer amount of correspondence was kind of a shock. I soon discovered it was the result of a cheap Buffett fan website that literally told its members to attack.
In the vein of anti-abortion activists publishing the names and home addresses of doctors who dare provide abortion services, the site ran Mike Breen's home address.
I probably would have filed a police report were it not for the fact that the site ran the wrong Mike Breen's home address. Some other poor Mike Breen in Cincinnati probably received a few house-eggings and tree-TPings (hopefully nothing worse).
I sent the site owner a polite note advising them that they had the wrong Mike Breen's address and invited them to publish CityBeat's business address for anyone who'd like to chime in with a letter. (They already had our email up there.) Eventually, they removed the innocent man's address.
Out of the 300 or so emails of protest sent, about 10% simply suggested that Buffett concerts are just good fun and I shouldn't criticize how people get their ya-yas out (fair enough). About 5% were supportive of my comments. Around 2% said they were indeed Parrotheads, but found my article amusing and felt the pilers-on were being stupid and taking it all too seriously (my favorites).
The rest of the emails were the opposite of Jimmy's good-time, laid-back vibe. Most just called me rude names (totally fine). Some wished death on me (not cool!). The only one I remember with any kind of clarity was the note that said, "I hope your children are raped by drug dealers in Over-the-Rhine and get AIDS and die" (come near my family and I WILL cut your balls off).
Included in many of the death-wishes and "Fuck you, asshole!" comments were a few people who trumpeted Jimmy's great contributions to charity. I applaud that, as well as the efforts of the Cincinnati Parrot Head Club, who also work good deeds into their good times. Buffett and I also share a lot of the same political/cultural/social views (I can find no evidence, but I'd be willing to wager that Jimmy's NOT anti-gay marriage and he is definitely a Democrat). I also thought it was kind of funny/cool that Jimmy got booted from an NBA game for passionately (and good-naturedly) sticking up to the refs that were giving his team (the pre-LeBron Miami Heat) the shaft.
I also thought it was really cool that Jimmy found Bill Paxton's fairly scathing parody of him (as "Coconut Pete") in the Broken Lizard film Club Dread to be hysterical. (On the DVD commentary track, the filmmakers say Buffett asked for permission to perform some of the parody songs on tour.)
Here's Paxton doing Coconut Pete's hit "Pina Coladaburg":
I'm unsure how Jimmy feels about South Park's much rougher treatment in the show's own parody (pictured above). (For the record, I think the spreading of quotes from and footage of Buffett fans being bigoted is really unfair, in a Breitbart kind of way.)
So, as I've matured, I've found at least five things I like about Buffett. If I drank, I bet he'd be fun to have a beer with and talk politics and sports. (Drop me a line, Mr. Buffett; I'll be designated driver!)
There are still tickets available for tonight's Buffett concert at Riverbend, which would have been impossible to imagine 12 years ago. When the Radiohead concert earlier this summer was announced, I had a chat with our publisher about how fast it would sell out. When it didn't, we bemoaned the fact that Buffett's show would still sell out in minutes. It didn't.
Is the Parrothead era over in Cincinnati?
Here, from the May 25, 2000 edition of CityBeat, are the "Ten Things I Hate About Buffett." Feel free to chime in with your Buffett support and call me a few names if you'd like. (But threats will be taken seriously this time around and if you come near my family … well, see above.)
I sincerely hope that, if you're going, you have a great time. Just be safe! I have to imagine that cops see Buffett visits as a good chance to make a few extra DUI arrests.
I've told the story of the backlash a few times in the past (apologies if you've heard it before). After the article was published, I received the most hate mail I've ever seen for a story appearing in the paper. My colleagues printed out the emails and wallpapered the area around my desk; it covered a good quarter of that room in the old CityBeat building on Seventh Street.
I expected some of it (and probably deserved some of it, too; as a young punk-ass writer, I was an even bigger dick then). But the sheer amount of correspondence was kind of a shock. I soon discovered it was the result of a cheap Buffett fan website that literally told its members to attack.
In the vein of anti-abortion activists publishing the names and home addresses of doctors who dare provide abortion services, the site ran Mike Breen's home address.
I probably would have filed a police report were it not for the fact that the site ran the wrong Mike Breen's home address. Some other poor Mike Breen in Cincinnati probably received a few house-eggings and tree-TPings (hopefully nothing worse).
I sent the site owner a polite note advising them that they had the wrong Mike Breen's address and invited them to publish CityBeat's business address for anyone who'd like to chime in with a letter. (They already had our email up there.) Eventually, they removed the innocent man's address.
Out of the 300 or so emails of protest sent, about 10% simply suggested that Buffett concerts are just good fun and I shouldn't criticize how people get their ya-yas out (fair enough). About 5% were supportive of my comments. Around 2% said they were indeed Parrotheads, but found my article amusing and felt the pilers-on were being stupid and taking it all too seriously (my favorites).
The rest of the emails were the opposite of Jimmy's good-time, laid-back vibe. Most just called me rude names (totally fine). Some wished death on me (not cool!). The only one I remember with any kind of clarity was the note that said, "I hope your children are raped by drug dealers in Over-the-Rhine and get AIDS and die" (come near my family and I WILL cut your balls off).
Included in many of the death-wishes and "Fuck you, asshole!" comments were a few people who trumpeted Jimmy's great contributions to charity. I applaud that, as well as the efforts of the Cincinnati Parrot Head Club, who also work good deeds into their good times. Buffett and I also share a lot of the same political/cultural/social views (I can find no evidence, but I'd be willing to wager that Jimmy's NOT anti-gay marriage and he is definitely a Democrat). I also thought it was kind of funny/cool that Jimmy got booted from an NBA game for passionately (and good-naturedly) sticking up to the refs that were giving his team (the pre-LeBron Miami Heat) the shaft.
I also thought it was really cool that Jimmy found Bill Paxton's fairly scathing parody of him (as "Coconut Pete") in the Broken Lizard film Club Dread to be hysterical. (On the DVD commentary track, the filmmakers say Buffett asked for permission to perform some of the parody songs on tour.)
Here's Paxton doing Coconut Pete's hit "Pina Coladaburg":
I'm unsure how Jimmy feels about South Park's much rougher treatment in the show's own parody (pictured above). (For the record, I think the spreading of quotes from and footage of Buffett fans being bigoted is really unfair, in a Breitbart kind of way.)
So, as I've matured, I've found at least five things I like about Buffett. If I drank, I bet he'd be fun to have a beer with and talk politics and sports. (Drop me a line, Mr. Buffett; I'll be designated driver!)
There are still tickets available for tonight's Buffett concert at Riverbend, which would have been impossible to imagine 12 years ago. When the Radiohead concert earlier this summer was announced, I had a chat with our publisher about how fast it would sell out. When it didn't, we bemoaned the fact that Buffett's show would still sell out in minutes. It didn't.
Is the Parrothead era over in Cincinnati?
Here, from the May 25, 2000 edition of CityBeat, are the "Ten Things I Hate About Buffett." Feel free to chime in with your Buffett support and call me a few names if you'd like. (But threats will be taken seriously this time around and if you come near my family … well, see above.)
I sincerely hope that, if you're going, you have a great time. Just be safe! I have to imagine that cops see Buffett visits as a good chance to make a few extra DUI arrests.
Like death, taxes, Who reunion tours and Wolfen sequels, one certainty every year in Cincinnati is a local summer appearance by the master of mediocrity, Jimmy Buffett. If you live here, it's as inevitable as the changing of the season: Buffett brings his plastic palm tree and awful music to Riverbend, and thousands of morons flock to see him.We've resisted writing about this "phenomenon" in the past. It's kind of like making fun of Kathie Lee Gifford or Kenny G -- it's just too cheap and easy. Of course, CityBeat is nothing if not cheap and easy.
So, here, we bring you the only press you will ever read about Jimmy Buffett in this publication. Unless, of course, there's a shooting spree in the middle of the concert or Riverbend sinks into the river.
10) His music It's sorta tropical, sometimes Country-ish, sometimes "silly," and always boring. It's music for people who don't like music: background, laid-back fluff. It's easy listening for Boomers.
9) His lyrics
"Blew out my flip flop/Stepped on a pop top/Cut my heel, had to cruise on back home."
"So he took her to this movie called Body Heat/She said, 'The Junior Mints were mushy and the sex was neat.' "
"Fruitcakes in the kitchen/Fruitcakes on the street/Struttin' naked through the cross walk/In the middle of the week."
"Evolution can be mean/There's no 'dumb-ass vaccine.' "
Apparently not.
8) His album titles A White Sport Coat & A Pink Crustacean. Last Mango in Paris. Off to See the Lizard. This guy makes "Weird Al" look like Oscar Wilde.
7) He recorded a cover of "Purple People Eater" "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" is bound to be next.
6) He likes to sue aspiring restaurateurs Buffett's lawyers have gone after entrepreneurs for calling their new bistros things like "Margaritaville" and "Cheeseburger in Paradise." Hey, if they're that stupid ...
5) He was a fratboy No doubt. At the University of Southern Mississippi. Shocker!
4) He wrote and staged a musical (Don't Stop the Carnival) Rock stars shouldn't do that.
3) He tricked Brian Wilson into recording one of his songs "South American" on Wilson's Imagination record. Hasn't this man been taken advantage of enough?
2) His CDs don't even make good coasters I proudly own one Jimmy Buffett CD -- 1999's Beach House on the Moon, which I use on my desk to set my drink on. Damn things keep slippin' off.
1) Parrotheads Fans of Buffett use his summer concerts for an excuse to get completely obliterated and "partay." It's like Mardi Gras with tasteless people in stupid hats and Hawaiian shirts. Not so amazingly, his strongest cult is here in Cincinnati. Like we need some other cultural crisis to be embarrassed about.
by Mike Breen
07.31.2012
Wussy To Join Afghan Whigs U.S. Tour
Two of Cincinnati's all-time best join forces this fall
Cincy rockers Wussy are set to join the much-celebrated Afghan Whigs' reunion tour this fall when the band finally hits the U.S. for a string of dates. Another great exhibition of Cincy's rich music scene, again in the national spotlight. Wussy has been touring a lot more than usual lately, including its first West Coast jaunt, so this should help raise the group's national profile even more.
So far, Wussy is set to open for The Afghan Whigs for their homecoming show at Bogart's on Oct. 25 (sold out), as well as dates in New Orleans (Oct. 19), Atlanta (Oct. 20), Carrboro, NC (Oct. 21) and another sold-out affair in Detroit (Oct. 24). More dates are expected to be announced soon.
Wussy co-lead-singer/songwriter Chuck Cleaver is a longtime friend/mutual fan of the Whigs. Back in 1993, the local label Mono Cat 7 released a split single featuring the Whigs and Cleaver's former band, The Ass Ponys. The Ponys covered The Whigs' tune "You My Flower," while Greg Dulli and Co. tackled the Ass Ponys classic "Mr. Superlove." (That's the cover art, with former Short Vine mayor Archie acting as the model, above.)
Here's a fan-made video for the Whigs' take on "Mr. Superlove" (NSFW due to mild nudity).
More recently, Wussy recorded a great cover version of another early Whigs song, Up In It opening track, "Retarded," for an Afghan Whigs tribute compilation put out by fantastic Afghan Whigs site Summer's Kiss (listen or purchase here). The comp also included Whigs renditions by Mark Lanegan, Joseph Arthur and several other acts.
Give a listen to Wussy's "Retarded" below.
