Next Wednesday, Nov. 27, is one of the most coveted dates to book for musicians, perhaps only rivaled by New Year’s Eve. The night before Thanksgiving will once again see special events all over the area, as clubs take advantage of what is allegedly the biggest bar night of the year.
Instead of waiting until CityBeat’s next issue to suggest some of the best Thanksgiving Eve options featuring mostly local artists playing mostly original music, we thought this year we’d give revelers a chance to make their post-turkey/Tofurky feast plans earlier. Below are just a few suggestions; check the listings in the paper and at citybeat.com for many other options.
• The 20th Century Theater in Oakley (the20thcenturytheatre.com) presents its Thanksgiv’n Rock’n Eve Food Drive, a night of local music and charity. The venue is teaming with MadTree Brewing to collect non-perishable food items, money and grocery store gift cards for the Oakley Community Emergency Food Pantry. The musical lineup features Cincinnati Reggae giants The Cliftones
, Soul/Rock/Roots squad Heavy Hinges and Americana singer/songwriter Josh Eagle . Showtime is 8 p.m. and tickets are $14, though revelers will receive a discount with their non-perishable food donations.
• Self-proclaimed “dive bar” Junker’s Tavern (4156 Langland St., Northside) will have a free night of deliciously gritty Garage Rock on Thanksgiving Eve. Local faves The Cincinnati Suds
will be joined by the fuzzy, melodic Garage Punk twosome Pure Predication . The reverb-happy duo is celebrating its most recent release, the 7-inch vinyl EP Dead Boy , which was issued by Illinois-based indie imprint Manglor Records. Visit manglorrecords.com for your copy of the 7-inch (which includes four songs and access to a digital download of the tracks), pick one up at the show or grab a copy at local music-friendly shops like Everybody’s, Shake It or Black Plastic Records. ( facebook.com/purepredication )
• One of the finest Americana acts in the region, Magnolia Mountain
, has announced an imminent hiatus as frontman Mark Utley once again refurbishes the group’s revolving lineup (offshoots Bulletville and the Magnolia Mountain Trio will continue to perform during the break). On Nov. 27, the band is playing a final show with its current lineup and saying farewell to vocalist Melissa English, bassist Victor Strunk and drummer Todd Drake. The show at Mr. Pitiful’s (1323 Main St., Over-the-Rhine) will also feature Rock foursome Pike 27 , which recently resurfaced on the local club scene it was such a big part of in the ’00s after singer/songwriter/guitarist Dave Purcell returned to the area upon moving back from Northern Ohio. Along with a slate of new songs (which have moved away from the “Roots Rock” for which the group was previously known), Pike 27 also has some new players. Former Clabbergirl frontman Sean Rhiney has returned to the bass position, joining newcomers Mike Fair (guitar) and Dave Killen (drums). ( magnoliamountain.net ; pike27.net )
• Exquisite, soulful and rootsy Cincinnati crew The Hiders
head up the festivities on Turkey Day Eve at Northside Tavern (4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northside-tavern.com ). The band’s final show of 2013 comes at the end of another great year for the long-running group. After releasing the phenomenal LP Temenos just before last Christmas, The Hiders had their music featured on the ABC TV show Revenge and spent the year promoting the album at big summer music fests like Bunbury and Nelsonville, as well as their own unique gigs at the Weston Art Gallery and The Esquire movie theater. Frontman Billy Alletzhauser says the band’s next album is written and recording is slated to begin in early January. Along with an acoustic opening set from former Cincinnati artist (now based in Austin, Texas) Kris Brown , the free show will include a special audio/visual display by David Garza and Anthony Luensman, plus an “in-house after party” kicking off at midnight and featuring DJing by Puck Dunaway, co-founder of the popular DJ/live music night, Girls & Boys. ( thehiders.com )
• Longtime local Dance music promoters Stillfresh Productions
will host their 19th annual “Gobble” event on Nov. 27 at Newport, Ky.’s Thompson House (24 E. Third St., Newport, thompsonhousenewport.com ). Taking over the entire venue, with music happening on multiple stages, Gobble 19’s headliner is Acid House pioneer Terry Mullan, who will be joined by numerous local/regional artists playing a vast array of EDM sounds, from Techno and Drum & Bass to Electro and Industrial. Some of the area artists scheduled to appear include Will Benson , Bob-A-Dob , J. Lettow , Infinite Grey , Lady Bandit , Sideshow , DJ Lost , Gearhead , Travisty , Flash Gordon and many others. The event runs from 8 p.m.-2 a.m.
CONTACT MIKE BREEN: [email protected], @
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