By Mike Breen

Gregg Spence

Legendary Return
One of Cincinnati's biggest acts ever, Pure Prairie League, has decided it's time to hit the road again, mounting their first national tour since 1988. The band has had many lineup changes since it formed in 1969, including Vince Gill (playing Riverbend on Thursday), local favorite Larry Goshorn of the Goshorn Brothers and Country songwriter Gary Burr. The 1999 lineup features mainstays Burr, Craig Fuller, Mike Reilly and Michael Connor, plus new guys Rick Schell and Fats Kaplin.

PPL's popularity soared in the '70s, starting with the huge success of their song "Amie" in '75, now a Classic Rock staple the world over. The band will play a hometown gig this Sunday at Jillian's in Covington, and all the hits are promised, plus some new material from Fuller and Burr. Heads Up
Here's a run-down of a couple of upcoming roll-around-in-the-mud music festivals happening later this month. Mark your calendars, get your tickets and plan your life.

· The sixth annual Camp Buzz concert goes down June 18 and 19 at Scioto County's Wayne National Forest. The camp out/rock out gets bigger every year, this time featuring 18 acts from all over the region and playing various styles of Rock, from Hardcore to Funk, Ska to Space Rock. Friday's lineup features Columbus' Switch, Sporadic Still, and Quarkspace National Steam, Portsmouth's Mutha 8 Track and The Schaefers and Cincy's own Yen Renaissance. Saturday's all-day festivities feature NUdE, Go Evolshiki, Fuz, Blue Collar Robot and Martian Death Lyric from Columbus and Lexington's Flat Mary Stone and Supafuzz, plus Chiaroscuro, Mothman, Escape Velocity and Voodoo 101. Mansfield's Ghost Ryder will provide acoustic sounds between sets. For comprehensive information (directions, schedules, etc.) on this always wild event, check the awesome Camp Buzz Web site (http://out.at/buzz).

· This year's Swamp Stomp '99 is also on an upswing, bringing together some nationally recognized artists alongside a couple of local favorites. The show, sponsored by Dingo Boy and the Barrelhouse, features Cincy's Ray's Music Exchange and Heavy Weather, plus sets from Big Ass Truck, Jazz Mandolin Project, Moon Boot Lover and Umphrey's McGee. Local vinyl whizzes Mr. Dibbs and Osiris will host the event's DJ stage. The show starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 26 and takes place at the Riverfront West Pavilion (call 861-6800 for details).

Gregg Spence Benefit Concerts
The Dayton Indie Rock community has always been fairly tight-knit, but it's pulling together even more to lend some help to one of their own. Gregg Spence is the drummer for Surf masters The Mulchmen and a former member of several other Dayton bands (Cage, The Killjoys, Real Lulu), not to mention a superb solo singer/songwriter. Spence recently began to require lengthy hospitalization as a result of his battle with cancer. His friends from the music community have set up several shows in an effort to help offset his mounting expenses.

On June 4, The Mulchmen, Johnny Smoke, Shrug and Robthebank kicked off the series at Dayton's Gilly's. This Friday, Swearing at Motorists, Real Lulu, Heike and The Altered Statesmen will be at Dayton's 1470 West, and next Friday, June 18, Canal Street Tavern will host Let's Crash, The Mystery Addicts, Big Marauder, Nostromo and Sundrop, which features members of Mink. The last show booked is a little closer to home, as Guided By Voices, Dayton's reigning Pop kings, lend their time and talent for a show at Bogart's on June 25.

For complete info about the shows and how you can make donations directly, check out Big Beef Records site on the Web (www.bigbeef.com). Rumors, Lies and General Misunderstandings
· The CityBeat sponsored cdBeat listening party this month features new music from Dido, Papa Vegas and Jamiroquai. At the event -- this Wednesday at Holy Grail in Corryville at 9 p.m. -- listeners can also win tickets for the upcoming Jamiroquai show in Detroit, as well as other prizes.

· Hungry Lucy, a new project from local artist War-N, the mastermind behind the electronic Fishtank No. 9, along with singer Christa Belle of Blue Dress, has a sampler CD available through its Web site (www.mp3.com/hungrylucy), where you can also download songs. The project is self-described as "a dark Trip Hop thang with the occasional industrial crunch."

· Next Thursday, June 17, Annie's will play host to a huge concert featuring Hip Hop/Dance DJs and performers that will benefit the Freestore FoodBank and Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment. The event features artists like Mista Rare Groove, BJ Rock and Junior B. Diedrich, plus DJs Boombip, DJ Soul, Mellowman and oodles more. The show runs 12 hours (from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m.) and will cost ya' a mere $10, plus five canned goods.

E-mail Mike Breen

Summer Music Guide (May 27, 1999)
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Short Takes (May 27, 1999)
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