Speed's Old School
One of the more entertaining performers in the area, Jake Speed (who often performs with his group, The Freddies), has released the new CD, Queen City Rag. The debut effort is getting the "release party" treatment on Saturday, with performances at Shake It Records in Northside at 6 p.m. and at The Comet that night, starting at 9 p.m. (Speed also plays the BarrelHouse on Friday).
Speed, who can often be seen busking on the streets of Cincy, is a clear disciple of Woody Guthrie and other classic Folk singers and old-time musicians, and that influence is dripping from Queen City Rag. But, necessarily, his endearing personality puts a huge stamp on the record as well. Topically, like Guthrie, Speed mixes together social issues, love songs and a winking sense of humor in his arsenal of tunes. His affable charm is spread all over Rag, making it hard not to smile while listening to, say, the kazoo solo on the title track, or the out-of-nowhere Hanson "sample" on "Twizzler Song," or the spontaneous, hilarious "Talking Fallin' Down Blues," which name checks 'N Sync, the entire cast of Full House and Elvis Costello (surely a first).
But it's not all shits 'n giggles: Speed is a fine songwriter to boot. Songs like the emotive, pining "Railroad Penny" and the thoughtful "Hard Times in Cincinnati" are stand-out tracks that benefit from the record's minimal approach (it's mostly just Speed, an acoustic guitar and the occasional kazoo or harmonica lead). Queen City Rag is a masterful, sometimes playful, Folk album that is entertaining from top to bottom.
Some Candy Talking
If you've been jonesin' for the perpetually delayed My Bloody Valentine record (or even a new Swervedriver album), you may want to find another way to spend your time. Keeping in the spirit, we recommend checking out the local band, Candy Afterlife. With a huge, cascading guitar glaze and trippy, hazy vocals, the band's current CD EP (which they are giving out for free at their shows) shows the band to be a rare but heartily welcome slice of Dreamcore/Shoegazer-type music in our area. The guitar work on the EP is particularly enticing, streaking like some intangible comet over the band's sonic head trip. With a concrete rhythmic pulse (shown best on the grinding, almost heavy "Beechild") and a celestial, streaming glide ("Girl Goes Up"), the four-song effort is a great representation of the band's blissed out approach that will have you salivating for a full length. For the live experience, you can catch Candy Afterlife in concert on Friday at the Southgate House with Johnny 23 and The Emerald Down. More on the band can be found at candyafterlife.com.
Rumors, Lies and General Misunderstandings
· Local Roots bands Len's Lounge and Big In Iowa are making an in-store appearance on Saturday at Galaxy CDs in Hamilton at 2 p.m. The CD shop is a solid local music supporter, carrying plenty of local music CDs on consignment and hosting regular in-store shows by local artists. It's also the first area store to offer local music for sale on its Web site. If you're a local musician and have CDs to sell, check galaxydiscs.com for contact information.
· Funksters the Fabulous Marvel B's have enlisted a new rhythm section. Bassist Jamie Thorman and drummer Bart Foster, both of the late, great Holy Crap, will perform live with the band for the first time this Friday at the Warehouse dance club in Over-the-Rhine. The band will be joined at the gig by their "Mahvelous Horns," which now features Nate Kritzer, Jim Free and Ken Remaly. The band plays from 9 p.m. until midnight. Members of the B's are also working on a new project with Jim Miller of Leap Skyward and ex-Big In Iowa guitarist Rick House dubbed Dangerous Jim and the Slims.
· After being one of the premiere Blues hot spots in the area, Lucille's owners Patti and Greg Mebs have decided to put the nightclub up for sale. If you've got a few grand to spare, it's on the auction block on Tuesday. The open house inspection takes place between 2 and 5 p.m. For more info, check stuartholman.com.
· The bands KDKO, The Gazelles, Bottom Line and No Good Heroes will perform at the Buzz Coffeehouse in Corryville on Thursday. The solid line-up has been assembled to raise money for Amnesty International.
· At Sudsy Malone's on Saturday, Punk Bands Deceiving Ralph, Chapter 11, Rip Rock and Raunch, 16 Piece Bucket and Doctor Up are performing at a benefit/food drive for the Mallory Center. Admission is $5 or two or more canned goods. Showtime is 9 p.m.
· Mojo Nixon and Rockabilly/Honky Tonk crew Stardevils will perform a free show in the Southgate House's lounge area on Saturday. Show starts around 9 p.m.
