· The "iLove" concert at the Southgate House Saturday gets in the Valentine's Day spirit via an impressive roster of local Indie bands performing an original love song. Each band is recording their song, which will be included on a CD that will accompany the photo book, Where the Kids Are Goin' Tonite, featuring pics from the Cincinnati area underground scene, from the Jockey Club days up through today's tireless practitioners. The book — slated for release this summer by David Garza (he took most of the photos of local acts scattered around the Southgate House) and his Tokyo Rose Records and Chapultepec Press imprints — is still looking for pics, particularly from the "Sudsy's era" of the '90s. If you have some shots to offer, contact Garza at [email protected].
Kicking off at 9 p.m., the iLove show (set up like an extravagant "Valentine's Ball," with campy/cool extras throughout the night) presents quick, one-song sets from (in order) Culture Queer, Hilltop Distillery, Campfire Crush, Coltrane Motion, Lovely Crash, The Woos, The Wolverton Brothers, Ruby Vileos, And How, Len's Lounge, The Haywards, The Ass Ponys, (in)camera, The Chocolate Horse, Chalk, The 13's, wil-o-ee, The Fairmount Girls, Le TechnoPUSS13S, The Minor Leagues, The Socials, Staggering Statistics and Roesing Ape.
· On Sunday, it's time for the annual "Love Songs" showcase at the York Street Café in Newport. The concert — spearheaded by local musician (and CityBeat circulation guru) Benj Clarke features mini love-song-themed sets from Clarke and Bobbi Leeds, Ric Hickey and Shawna Snyder, Toby and Annette Ellis, Chris Arduser, Ben Davis, Ramsey, Eric Falstrom, Justin Lynch, Greg Mahan, Roger Yeardley, Scarlet Fionn and Brandon Wheeler and Eric Wise with Kortez Kaufman. Music starts at 8 p.m. and proceeds go to 405 Oak Street, a popular Alcoholics Anonymous meeting place.
· Though not necessarily in the "love" motif, "An Evening for Couples" is still a viable V-Day option. The Friday show at Downtown's Crush features duos only — Le TechnoPUSS13S, wil-o-ee, Meadoe and Chicago's Toy Band (who use only "toy" instruments).
Showtime is 10 p.m.
More Local Notes
· Happy Birthday, Joe! Beloved local Blues veteran Big Joe Duskin celebrates his 84th birthday on Thursday with a special "jam" at Fat Fish Blue in Newport. The free 7 p.m. concert features the local legend and many of his cohorts from the Blues scene. Duskin's latest album, Big Joe Jumps Again!, has been nominated in the "Blues Comeback Album of the Year" category of the 2005 W.C. Handy Blues Awards (The Grammys of the Blues world), where his sole competition is Gary U.S. Bonds.
· The Rohs Street Café in Clifton Heights presents "Artists for Orphans," a benefit for young victims of the recent tsunami disaster, on Saturday. The show raises money for the Samaritan Children's Home in Sri Lanka. Scheduled to appear at the 7 p.m. event: Emily Strand, Brooke Trisler, Monk's Ric Hordinski, Moonlight Graham, Brian Ewing, Greg Mahan, Chris Haubner and Jonah Sage.
· Also helping out with tsunami relief is Saturday's show at Stanley's Pub, featuring Rob Hamrick (of Tonefarmer), Shaun Henry (of Kohai), Automatic Slim (the new group featuring members of Noah Hunt's 420 All-Stars), The Walker Project and mcatee. Stanley's will also donate a portion of the bar sales from Saturday night to the cause.
· The Winter Blues Festival, presented by Northern Kentucky University's Department of Music, takes place Friday at the Madison Theater in Covington. The show will help launch NKU's EMPOWER program, which strives to help inner-city and "at-risk" young people by teaching them about Jazz. Internationally renowned Blues singer/guitarist Carl Weathersby headlines the 5 p.m. event, while various NKU ensembles and locals G. Miles and the Hitmen round out the bill.
· Dig out the platforms! On Friday, the York Street Café presents "Disco for the Dogs," a tribute to '70s Disco that also serves as a benefit for The Pet Vet Connection, a low-cost clinic that treats the pets of area residents who can't afford care. The 9 p.m. event features music from For Algernon, patientZero, Clabbergirl and Spiff. Doors open at 8 p.m.
· Northern Kentucky-based Classic Rock-influenced band Blues For Dharma host a free CD release party for first album, Song of Ourselves, on Saturday at the Olde Fort Thomas Pub in Fort Thomas. Acoustic Rock vet Bob Cushing will. The fun starts at 9 p.m.
