· Singer/songwriter Brian Cammerer returns to the local scene this Thursday with a CD release show at the York Street Café in Newport. Cammerer — whose eccentric personality and interesting Indie Pop songwriting and home recordings make him akin to a more rockin' Cincinnati version of Roky Erickson — was a founder of the local band, Higbee, which recorded three discs before disbanding. Since then, he's kept busy writing poetry and songs, and recording enough albums to make even Bob Pollard say, "Slow down there, bucko." Operating under the solo guise of Kayneevol (aka Kay Neevol), Cammerer has taken an unusual approach to getting his vast discography (and other writings) to the world. His Web site, kayneevol.com, collects his eight solo albums as well as the entire Higbee output, which fans and curiosity-seekers can download for free. Cammerer's most recent record (assuming he hasn't recorded six more by the time you read this) is You Rock My World, a fiery, ragged, lo-fi Pop/Rock art project that he says is a concept album about the moon, inspired by one of his favorite Jazz albums, Detour to the Moon, by Mary McCall. The CD will be available to those attending Thursday's show, while they last.
· Singer/songwriter Elliott Ruther is set to unleash his debut CD, Rock-N-Roll Conceived, which is being released through the local label, Brown Room Records. The album, a very accomplished collection of Ruther's well-crafted Blues- and Roots-inflected Rock songs, gets its official CD release party May 7 at the Northside Tavern. But on Friday, Ruther plugs the disc with a free acoustic in-store performance at Shake-It Records in Northside (7 p.m.) and a CD listening party at the Sugar Lounge in Neon's at 10 p.m.
· Also going the "listening party" route is local music vet Kevin Carlisle, whose new album, Analogue, is unveiled Saturday in conjunction with a shindig at alchemize in Over-the-Rhine. The disc — which was fully produced and performed by Carlisle, without any outside assistance — is a sublime representation of the singer/songwriter's diverse sound, which uses an emotive, acoustic Pop base, but is augmented by everything from electronic ornamentation to the occasional World music undertow. Imagine The Postal Service helmed by Joe Henry or Joseph Arthur. The listening party starts at 9 p.m. and is free until 10 p.m.; "DV80s," the popular '80s dance night Carlisle co-DJs, follows immediately after. (kevincarlisle.com)
· Stephen Moore's new EP, featuring three of his catchy, jangly, acoustic-based Pop songs, will be available at his show at Allyn's Café on Saturday. The singer/songwriter, a Connecticut native now living in Cincinnati, has also just launched a new Web site — stephenmooremusic.com — which features sound clips and more info.
Rumors, Lies and General Misunderstandings
· Pop/Rock masters The Swarthy Band have been invited to perform at this year's International Pop Overthrow festival in Chicago. Along with a couple of other promo gigs, the group showcases on April 30 during the massive, three week long festival. Before the band splits, you can wish them well on Friday when they play the Southgate House's parlour stage with Knoxville Pop rockers The Rockwells and The Royal Bangs. (swarthy.net)
· Singer/multi-instrumentalist Jen Shepherd, known for her work with local acts like The Flock, Shepherd's Pi and Len's Lounge, is leaving town to pursue her musical ambitions in the Pacific Northwest. Shepherd plays her final gig with The Flock on Friday at Arnold's in Downtown Cincinnati. The show might be recorded for possible inclusion with the new studio album on which The Flock are currently working. Shepherd's Pi performs Saturday at Arlin's.
· Puerto Rican percussionist Sammy DeLeon, who has worked with Latin artists like Tony Vega and El Gran Combo of Puerto Rico, joins local Latin music faves Salsa Caliente for their show at the 20th Century Theater in Oakley on Friday. Festivities begin at 9 p.m. with free salsa lessons. (salsa-caliente.com)