FRIDAY 09
ART: E IS FOR EDIE: AN EDITH MCKEE HARPER RETROSPECTIVE AT THE CARNEGIE
Edith McKee Harper, better known as Edie Harper, is perhaps not as well known as her husband — wildlife Modernist artist Charley Harper — but was a multifaceted and supremely talented artist in her own right. A graduate of the Art Academy of Cincinnati, where she studied printmaking under Maybelle and Wilson Stamper and color theory with Josef Albers, Harper explored not only paint, photography and illustration but also enamel, silk-screen, weaving and sculpture. While her work has been exhibited at institutions like the Contemporary Arts Center and Cincinnati Art Museum, this exhibit will be the first solo retrospective of Harper’s work; she passed away in 2010. Opening reception 5:30-9 p.m. Friday. Through Feb. 11. Free. The Carnegie, 1028 Scott Blvd., Covington, Ky., thecarnegie.com.
COMEDY: ROBERT HAWKINS
Since he was last in Cincinnati, comedian Robert Hawkins has put out a new album via his website and Pandora, cut his tour schedule in half and moved to Arlington, Texas, where he is “waiting to see how the Dallas Cowboys are going to screw this season up.” Many comedians, especially those who have been performing for a while, have gotten more personal, and even though Hawkins enjoys writing jokes, he will also let the crowd get to know him. “I always cover my time in the Army as a medic,” he says. “Like how I still have hearing loss from the time a buddy farted in my stethoscope.” He still regularly performs for U.S. armed forces overseas. Showtimes Thursday-Sunday. $8-$14. Go Bananas, 8410 Market Place Lane, Montgomery, gobananascomedy.com.
MUSIC: THE BAD PLUS
The Bad Plus is a perfect Jazz trio for the 21st century. The members honor the best of musical tradition, while also embracing the spirit of progressive, changing times. Drummer David King, bassist Reid Anderson and pianist Ethan Iverson are traditional in that they play acoustic rather than amplified instruments. They are also idealistically democratic — together as The Bad Plus since 2000, but friends for far longer, the three men have operated the group as a leaderless collaboration for the entire time. While primarily featuring their own compositions, the band is also fearless in taking on difficult projects that highlight towering avant-garde music achievements of the 20th century. The band has adapted Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring for trio and, augmented with horns, played Ornette Coleman’s entire Science Fiction album live. At the same time as tackling these imposing works, The Bad Plus has also built a reputation for reinterpreting such Rock-era hits as Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and Blondie’s “Heart of Glass.” The Bad Plus performs at the Xavier University Music Series in Xavier’s Gallagher Theater Friday. For more info/tickets, click here.
ONSTAGE: THE NIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Most of us can repeat at least some of “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” commonly referred to by its opening line, “’Twas the night before Christmas.” The story of the poem’s creation in 1823 when it was published anonymously is intriguing. Clement Moore, a scholar of classical literature, was eventually given credit, but there have been disputes about its authorship. Cincinnati Landmark Productions’ Tim Perrino spent four years researching the story to create a holiday musical about Moore, his family and the poem’s release to the world. Steve Goers wrote the music, and Perrino has staged its world premiere at the Covedale Center. Through Dec. 23. $27 adults; $24 students/seniors. Covedale Center, 4990 Glenway Ave., Covedale, cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com.
MUSIC: SHE WANTS REVENGE
In the early to mid-’00s, enough bands (from both the U.S. and the U.K.) that showed the influence of seminal ’80s Post Punk in their music had emerged that the label “Post Punk revival” was created. Of course, bands like The Killers, Bloc Party, Interpol and She Wants Revenge have pretty disparate sounds. Some groups were particularly linked to Joy Division’s dark, icy vibe, but unlike Interpol, She Wants Revenge’s comparisons to that band were largely vicious and dismissive. When the band’s self-titled debut was released, She Wants Revenge was deemed a straight-up rip off by some critics. Perhaps it was due to how certain groups addressed the comparisons. While Interpol’s singer famously claimed he had never even heard Joy Division, She Wants Revenge’s driving creative forces — singer/guitarist Justin Warfield and programmer/multi-instrumentalist Adam Bravin — didn’t run away from their love of influential bands like The Cure, Bauhaus and, yes, Joy Division. She Wants Revenge plays Woodward Theater Friday. Click here for tickets/more info.
MUSIC: THE SELDOM SCENE
The Seldom Scene celebrated its 45th anniversary this year. The band is a pioneer of today’s genre-bending “Newgrass” sound, mixing the sensibilities of Country, Rock and Folk into a traditional Bluegrass context. The Seldom Scene has had a rotating lineup since its start, once its popularity resulted in a demand for the band to tour. Founders John Duffey and Mike Auldridge passed away in 1996 and 2012, respectively, and when banjo player/guitarist Ben Eldridge retired at the start of 2016, The Seldom Scene was without any original members. Still, the majority of members today have been a part of The Seldom Scene legacy longer than the original incarnation, and the group has continued to attract fans and newcomers alike. 8 p.m. Friday. $25-$30. 20th Century Theater, 3021 Madison Road, Oakley, the20thcenturytheatre.com.
ART: SOFT REGARDS AT THE WESTON ART GALLERY
Artistic collaborators Elena Harvey Collins, based out of California, and Liz Roberts, based out of Ohio, will present an installation of new work at the Weston Art Gallery that responds to contemporary self-help sources, including survival manuals and urban planning reports; a paranoia-themed reading room is even situated within the installation. The artists, who translate the anatomy of film into their multimedia works, give a gallery talk 2 p.m. Saturday. Opening reception 6-8 p.m. Friday. Through Jan. 29. Free. 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org.
HOLIDAY: THE NUTCRACKER
The time to dance with sugar plum fairies and waltz with snowflakes has arrived. The Cincinnati Ballet returns home after its November run at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. for 12 shows at the Aronoff. Follow Clara’s classic tale with her Nutcracker Prince as they explore the Land of Sweets. Tchaikovsky’s beloved score will be played live by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and matched with impressive sets, beautiful costumes and, of course, dazzling choreography by the Cincinnati Ballet. This holiday tradition is a sweet treat for the entire family. Through Dec. 18. Tickets start at $32. Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cballet.org.
SATURDAY 10
LIT: MICHAEL CHABON
Moonglow, the latest book by Michael Chabon, is a quasi-memoir. Chabon, a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist who will be discussing and signing his latest effort at Joseph-Beth Booksellers on Saturday, calls it “a speculative portrait.” It features a narrator that seems to be Chabon himself, as he listens to his grandfather, ill and hazy from drugs while sitting in his deathbed, tell stories that range from mundane to fantastical to downright bizarre. Relayed through the nonlinear perspective of these seemingly random memories, Moonglow is a fascinating family saga that spans much of the 20th century, jumping from World War II and the Holocaust to the book-opening anecdote about his grandfather’s connection to accused Soviet spy Alger Hiss. Michael Chabon discusses Moonglow 7 p.m. Saturday at Joseph-Beth Booksellers. More info: josephbeth.com.
HOLIDAY: CINCINNATI SANTACON
The ninth-annual SantaCon invites anyone and everyone 21 and older to put on a Santa suit (or related Christmas character costume — Mrs. Claus, Rudolph, Buddy the Elf, etc.) and participate in a holly, jolly pub crawl through the city. The party kicks off at JACK Casino and heads to the North Pole (aka Mount Adams) via sleigh (aka shuttle). Be respectful of the suit: Santa says don’t mess with cops, kids or each other. A sheet of downloadable song lyrics the group will be singing is available online. Noon-midnight Saturday. Free to participate; donations to The Cure Starts Now encouraged. JACK Casino, 1000 Broadway St., Pendleton, cincinnatisantacon.com.
EVENT: THE SWING HOUSE OPEN HOUSE
Local artist/builder Mark Dejong, known for the artistic renovation of a home he purchased for $5,000 several years ago in Camp Washington, aka the “5K House,” will host an open house for his current project, The Swing House. The swing for which the house was gutted and planned is not yet in operation, but the three-floor building has had all the floors removed. Dejong has broken down the stairs and reconstructed them on their side for viewers and to provide infrastructure for the forthcoming swing. Noon-5 p.m. Saturday. Free. 1373 Avon Place, Camp Washington.
HOLIDAY: MOUNT ADAMS REINDOG PARADE
Holiday cheer and a canine BFF are the perfect combination for this adorable tradition. The SPCA hosts the annual Mount Adams Reindog Parade, a costumed-dog procession led by Santa himself. Prizes will be awarded for the best dressed in categories like small dog, large dog, dog/owner look alike and multiple dogs. Judges will be scoring based on creativity and festivity. Spectators welcome.12:30 p.m. registration; 1-1:30 p.m. judging; 2 p.m. parade Saturday. Free. The Monastery, 1055 St. Paul Place, Mount Adams, spcacincinnati.org.
SUNDAY 11
MUSIC: EXIT VERSE
To the casual Indie Rock listener, the name Exit Verse may not spark much recognition, but the obsessive devotee knows the Chicago trio by virtue of its iconic frontman Geoff Farina, best known for his stint with the renowned Indie/Prog/Jazz outfit Karate. Farina has earned a well-deserved reputation as a musical provocateur who prefers to inhabit his own unique niche within the Indie Rock realm rather than compromise his creative impulses in an effort to mimic prevailing trends. Farina shuttered Karate more than a decade ago due to tinnitus issues, but he’s kept busy in music. He maintains The Secret Stars, his longtime Folk/Pop duo with musician/visual artist Jodi Buonanno; the pair also founded the Grange Hall, a recording/art studio/living space in Boston. Since the end of Karate, Farina has continued his membership in Italian Folk/Punk band Ardecore, his presence in the more traditionally Folk-based Glorytellers and his erstwhile solo career, which has included a handful of full-lengths releases, including his most recent, 2012’s The Wishes of the Dead, and EPs, as well as a number of film scoring projects. Exit Verse plays MOTR Pub Sunday. Click here for more on this free show.
HOLIDAY: CINCY POP SHOPS
For the holiday season, there are seven new vendors in three new shops in the arcade level of downtown’s historic Carew Tower. They will be there until Christmas as part of a special program sponsored by the city, Downtown Cincinnati, Inc. and Carew Tower. Tronk Design, next to Hathaway’s Diner, has a shop all to itself for its modern custom furniture; Davis Cookie Collection, The Flying Pig and Jenco Brothers’ Candy share a space, also next to Hathaway’s; and The Sarah Center, Barcode Glam and Chapeau Couture Hats — plus a gift wrapping service — are in a third location across from Elite Nails. Additionally, existing Downtown furniture store Algin has provided art and furnishings. Shop hours vary for each pop-up; check times online. Through Dec. 31. Free. Carew Tower, 441 Vine St., Downtown, downtowncincinnati.com.
EVENT: THE O.F.F. WINTER MARKET
Support small businesses with your Christmas shopping list this weekend. The O.F.F. Market takes the party inside for a festive afternoon of shopping, brunch and booze featuring a plethora of local vendors selling one-of-a-kind fine art, crafts, creative trinkets, artisan food, drinks and more. 11 a.m -5 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. 20th Century Theater, 3021 Madison Road, Oakley, theoffmarket.org.
This article appears in Dec 7-14, 2016.
