Comedy: Vince Morris
Comedian Vince Morris isn’t sure at what point he realized he could be funny for a living. “I don’t know, I’m still trying to figure out if I’m being funny for a living,” he says with a laugh. “I realized about two or three years after starting out that I can do this for my…
Art: Urban Interventions at the Reed Gallery
University of Cincinnati's Reed Gallery begins this year with a show, Urban Interventions, curated by three of DAAP’s faculty. The collected artists find inventive ways to insert art-making into life outside typical gallery presentations; they frequently make use of limited resources, a relevant model for artists trying to survive in a rattled economy. A cardboard…
Music: Chicago Afrobeat Project
Setting contemporary Pop to an African beat is threatening to overtake baseball as the Great American Pastime (I’m talking to you, Vampire Weekend and Extra Golden), but there are plenty of practitioners out there who are hybridizing genres in unique and original ways (I’m not done with you yet, Vampire Weekend and Extra Golden). Among…
Crosstown Chicken Smackdown
I'm a south side girl. I live in Kentucky, which means that I don’t really have a stake in Cincinnati’s whole East Side/West Side thing. Moeller grads, Elder alumni — I love ’em all. But, hey, if there’s an angle I can exploit for a story? I’m all over that bad boy. So welcome to…
Music: Logic Molitz Freekbass
Chris Sherman (aka Freekbass) and his Funk band (aka Freekbass) maintain one of the most consistent touring schedules of any band based in Cincinnati. Soon Freekbass (the man, not the band) will be getting a lot busier, especially if his new “all star” group takes off. Sherman has teamed up with two fairly high profile…
Onstage: Miss Julie and Hughie/Krapp’s Last Tape
If you keep your eye on Cincinnati Shakespeare every January, you’ll find less frequently produced classic works onstage. This year is no exception with two programs featuring three memorable scripts being produced in repertory: One evening it’s Samuel Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape (from 1958) and Eugene O’Neill’s Hughie (written in 1941, but not performed until…
Events: Marsapalooza
Mars, the red planet we send robots to, will be the featured planet for a four-night viewing extravaganza at the Cincinnati Observatory Center. “Marsapalooza” invites the public to participate in nightly classes about Mars, take tours of the observatory’s buildings and peep through the observatory’s historic 1843 and 1904 telescopes. If weather permits, visitors will…
Music: The Swellers with Motion City Soundtrack
Even as record sales dip to no apparent end, labels are still a significant source of pride, stability, experience and (despite poor sales) money for young bands. The Swellers know a good label’s value intimately, probably because it’s taken them eight years to find one. Swellers drummer Jonathan Diener recalls taking a walk with the…
Events: Movieoke
Not everyone can sing — or at least sing well — but almost everyone can talk. And if you can also repeat memorized lines or read words on a screen, then you can participate in the Southern Ohio Filmmaker Association’s Movieoke at Below Zero Lounge. As you can probably assume from the spelling of the…
Events: Travel, Sports and Boat Show
Looking to set sail this summer — or at the very least dream about it? Then make those dreams a reality at the Cincinnati Travel, Sports and Boat Show. There will be more than 400 exhibits on display from various boat dealers, including Captain’s Cove Marine; information on travel and vacation opportunities from private resorts…
Attractions: Guided Tour of the Krohn Conservatory
A stroll through the Krohn Conservatory’s steamy indoor rainforest (aka the Palm House) or the arid Desert House is an exhilarating escape from the icy grip of winter. The Tropical House is also therapeutic. The significance of sweating in a T-shirt during the month of January cannot be overstated. Two different guided tours are offered…
Art: Tenthaus at U.turn Art Space
The performance collaborative known as Tenthaus, featuring Cincinnati art students Abby Cornelius and Wyatt Niehaus, will stage an event this Saturday at 8 p.m. at the U.turn Art Space. Their projects combine music and theatrical shadowplay, employing a camping tent as a barrier between the activity and the audience. Cornelius designs and builds the tents.…
Music: Venus Hum
A decade ago, Cincinnati native Tony Miracle headed off to college in Nashville and wound up with more than a degree. A high school multi-instrumentalist, he crossed paths with vocalist Annette Strean and together the duo began creating songs and performing them around the Nashville scene. Adding second multi-instrumentalist Kip Kubin, the trio blended chilly…
Chicago Afrobeat Project
Setting contemporary Pop to an African beat is threatening to overtake baseball as the Great American Pastime (I’m talking to you, Vampire Weekend and Extra Golden), but there are plenty of practitioners out there who are hybridizing genres in unique and original ways (I’m not done with you yet, Vampire Weekend and Extra Golden). Among…
Separation Between News Reporting and Opinion Is Like Church and State
The Enquirer is reporting a local woman’s ability to foretell the future as a fact. If that weren’t enough, the paper is providing contact information for anyone who wants a private “reading.” What were Enquirer editors thinking? Were they thinking? Here’s what The Enquirer states as fact: “She's always known she's had the gift, ever…
Logic Molitz Freekbass
Chris Sherman (aka Freekbass) and his Funk band (aka Freekbass) maintain one of the most consistent touring schedules of any band based in Cincinnati. Soon Freekbass (the man, not the band) will be getting a lot busier, especially if his new “all star” group takes off. Sherman has teamed up with two fairly high profile…
Bragg Takes on Banks, Downloads Take Off and the Religion of Metal
[HOT] Tax and Spend (and Spend and Spend and Spend…) Like most of us, politically-minded British Folk singer Billy Bragg is disgusted by the way the banking industry has continued to hand out giant bonuses, despite being given huge “bailouts” from the government (or, more accurately, we the taxpayers). Unlike most of us, he's taking…
Scotty Karate
He's had a beer named after him. He was on an MTV “reality” dating show where he threw pizza at some bonehead competitor. He has recorded albums live in the studio, playing bass drum, hi-hat and guitar … simultaneously. And he wears a giant buffalo head “helmet” when he plays live. What's not to love…
Venus Hum
A decade ago, Cincinnati native Tony Miracle headed off to college in Nashville and wound up with more than a degree. A high school multi-instrumentalist, he crossed paths with vocalist Annette Strean and together the duo began creating songs and performing them around the Nashville scene. Adding second multi-instrumentalist Kip Kubin, the trio blended chilly…
Music: Scotty Karate
He's had a beer named after him. He was on an MTV “reality” dating show where he threw pizza at some bonehead competitor. He has recorded albums live in the studio, playing bass drum, hi-hat and guitar … simultaneously. And he wears a giant buffalo head “helmet” when he plays live. What's not to love…
Freeky Trio Debuts
Chris Sherman (aka Freekbass, pictured) and his Funk band (aka Freekbass) maintain one of the most consistent touring schedules of any band based in Cincinnati. Soon, Freekbass (the man, not the band) will be getting a lot busier, especially if his new “all star” group takes off. Sherman has teamed up with a trio of…
The Swellers With Motion City Soundtrack
Even as record sales dip to no apparent end, labels are still a significant source of pride, stability, experience and (despite poor sales) money for young bands. The Swellers know a good label’s value intimately, probably because it’s taken them eight years to find one. Swellers drummer Jonathan Diener recalls taking a walk with the…
Shiny and the Spoon (Profile)
When “Simple Song” hits, it strikes with a scorching, heartfelt, catchy melody. The echoing “Canary in a Coal Mine” takes a sweet trip back in time. Listen close, and you’ll become that bird singing from the depths of a deep cavern. For Shiny and the Spoon, creating a whimsical, old-timey sound involves using subtlety and…
WNKU Goes All Music
While some have speculated that the proposed royalty fees that would have radio stations pay to play music would cause many stations to go all talk, Northern Kentucky's WNKU (89.7 FM; wnku.org) is headed the other direction. The station just announced a move to all music, meaning it will drop National Public Radio programming like…
MusicNOW Festival 2010 Announced
When it was announced that Cincinnati native Bryce Dessner would be one of the curators of the huge Big Ears festival in Knoxville, Tenn., at the end of March, some wondered if his annual hometown avant/Indie/Chamber MusicNOW festival would happen in 2010, considering the similarities in programming and timing. So it was good news to…
Vote Now for the Best of Cincinnati
The 2010 Best of Cincinnati issue is upon us, and once again you’re being called on to decide the winners of the readers poll. It’s your sacred duty to help bestow the honor of “Best of Cincinnati” on deserving people, places, businesses and organizations.—- From now through the end of February we’ll tabulate your votes…
CityBeat Podcast 43: Local Hiking with Tamara York
Local author Tamara York shares stories of the Cincinnati's best places to hike. Her book is 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles, highlighting hikes in the Tristate. The hikes are being serialized by CityBeat (click here).—- If you like what you hear, please support our podcast by subscribing to our podcast in iTunes or via our…
GLBT Center Holds Election
The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Greater Cincinnati recently elected new leaders for 2010. Rusty Lockett was elected board president, replacing Bill Abney. Lockett had been the center’s clerk for more than a year, served as event chairman for Pride Night at Kings Island in September and is a longtime Pride and Pride Night…
Poll Gives Brunner the Edge
This week’s Porkopolis column mentions a flap over an upcoming local appearance by Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, both of who are seeking the Democratic nomination to run for the U.S. Senate. As the column notes, Fisher is the Establishment candidate and the bigger fundraiser. But a new poll indicates…
Doomsday Clock: We’re Safer
Scientists who operate the Doomsday Clock announced Thursday they’ve set the hand one minute further from midnight, indicating they believe the world has become slightly safer. The changes means the clock, a symbolic measure of the threats facing humankind, moved to six minutes to midnight from five to midnight.—- Say what? To borrow a phrase…
Spring Awakening (Review)
Critic's Pick Let’s be forthright: Despite its seemingly upbeat title, the musical Spring Awakening, onstage at the Aronoff Center in an attention-grabbing touring production, deals with dark and difficult topics: teen suicide, unplanned pregnancy, physical abuse. Set in the 1890s (it’s based on a controversial German play from 1891), it’s about angsty teens whose hormones…
Ringo Starr, Freedy Johnston, OK Go, Vampire Weekend and More
I know it’s not my beat and it’s a couple of weeks late, but the mugging of the UC Bearcats in the Sugar Bowl has been aggravating whatever internal organ activates one’s sense of righteous indignation and I feel the need to address the issue. Here are the things that I would like to see…
Friday Movie Roundup: A Curious Collection
A curious collection of filmmakers populates this week’s opening films — from well-established veterans to foreign masters to newbies to practitioners of Hollywood product. Pedro Almodovar’s entertaining Broken Embraces is laden with the Spanish master’s now signature traits: a rich narrative rife with emotional u-turns and sex galore; a healthy splash of mood-altering color; beautiful…
Concert Reminder: One More Girl on a Stage
Tonight the female-fueled One More Girl on a Stage festival kicks off at the York Street Cafe in Newport. The event — which starts tonight at 7 p.m. and continues tomorrow at the same time — features a diverse batch of local bands and solo performers. Proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast…
Yates: Historic DNA Bill Progresses
A groundbreaking piece of legislation that would update investigative practices used by law enforcement agencies statewide has passed out of committee and is headed for a vote by the full Ohio House. State Rep. Tyrone Yates (D-Walnut Hills), chairman of the House Criminal Justice Committee, announced today that Substitute Senate Bill 77 was approved. The…
New Band Heads-Up: Pop Empire
Local music fans who like their Indie Pop noisy and creative need to check out Pop Empire, a new duo featuring Cameron Cochran (of The Sheds, Lions Rampant fame) and Henry Wilson. And, like Cochran's Sheds (which gave away all of its music free online), Pop Empire is recession-friendly. Head to popempire.com and download the…
Freedom Center Helps Haitian Children
Visitors to downtown’s National Underground Railroad Freedom Center will receive free admission Monday to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. People who visit are asked to bring clothing or a personal care item that will be donated to Haitian children affected by the recent earthquake there.—- The Freedom Center is coordinating the donation collections with…
BEST OF CINCINNATI: Accept No Substitute
Recently Metromix’s local operation announced nominations for a "Best of Cincinnati" contest. D'oh! As everyone knows, there is only one BEST OF CINCINNATI
A Single Man (Review)
Tom Ford arrives on the filmmaking scene fully formed, no doubt the product of a man who has been cultivating and manipulating images for nearly two decades as a bigwig fashion designer. His adaptation of Christopher Isherwood’s 1964 novel benefits from strong performances, evocative, detail-rich production design and an effectively melancholy mood that only occasionally…
Author/Playwright Mosley at the Playhouse Tonight
Best-selling author and playwright Walter Mosley discusses his inventive new play The Fall of Heaven tonight at Playhouse in the Park in the Marx Theatre. The play is based on his novel The Tempest Tales and runs as a world premiere at the Playhouse Jan. 23-Feb. 20.—- I’d say it’s likely that you’ve read something…
Opportunities for Musicians
This one's for the musicians reading (friends, fans and family, go take a smoke and/or potty break and tell your favorite local bands to come over here). Below are a few items that maybe of interest, including local performance opportunities and a chance to be heard on the TV. —- • If you're like me,…
Spencer’s Gift
"Nick Spencer Cincinnati” — the results of this Web search yield a litany of news and critical opinions surrounding the now 31-year-old former co-owner of the Indie-flavored bar alchemize and two-time candidate for Cincinnati City Council. It’s easy to learn about his brush with politics, the bar and his Desdemona Music Festival at Sawyer Point…
On the Vine: Solo Lunching Downtown
I hate to eat in restaurants by myself. Yes, I know it’s ridiculous. I mean, I’ve done it … but I’d rather not. When I do, I usually fake that I’m reading some Very Important Report, and that all my friends would have come with me if only I hadn’t had this Major Work to…
Lambert, Speedwagon, MacGowan
[HOT] American IdiotsThe awesome Web site The Smoking Gun (www.thesmokinggun.com) recently posted documents featuring some of the complaints to the FCC over American Idol loser Adam Lambert’s allegedly shocking performance on the American Music Awards broadcast late last year, during which he made out with a bandmate (who was a dude!) and simulated oral sex…
Shaking the Faith in Science
America’s fascination with the use of forensic science to solve crimes is best proven by the explosion of TV shows dealing with the topic, from dramas like CSI and Cold Case to reality shows like Forensic Files and The Bureau. During the past two decades, advances in forensics — the use of science and technology…
Mimes R Us
The first time I put on Got to Tell the World, the new album by local Pop/Rock foursome Screaming Mimes, and cued up the first track, “You’re the Kind of Girl,” I listened for about a minute then had to run outside to pay my parking meter. Walking back to the office, I found myself…
The Reds and City Council
[WINNER] CINCINNATI REDS: With the Bengals blowing their playoff game against the Jets, local sports fans thought they’d spend the long, cold months of winter grumbling over their Hudepohls. Instead, Reds management gave them something to be happy about with the signing of Aroldis Chapman to the roster. The 21-year-old Cuban was star of the…
The Quarter Bistro (Review)
Now that the holidays are over and out-of-town friends and family are sleeping in their own beds, a relaxing dinner out is called for. The Quarter Bistro in Mariemont, with its warm and intimate red decor, answered the call for a friend and me on recent chilly evening. For 6:30 p.m. on a Tuesday, the…
Hip Hop (Un)scene: The Future Is Unwritten
I have a theory, and the theory goes like this: Your dream is kind of like the moon — the further away you are from it, the more beautiful it looks. The closer you get to it, the more you see the reality of it: the craters, the flaws, the reality. This theory has led…
‘Reel Art’ Movies Come to CAM
Cincinnati Art Museum’s Reel Art film series — movies with a strong connection to the visual arts — starts a new season Friday at 7 p.m. with Zabriskie Point. It’s a great lineup … and I don’t just say that because I’ll be the guest speaker after that film’s repeat screening at 1 p.m. Sunday.…
Lee Fisher’s Snub Irks Some Local Democrats
****UPDATE AT BOTTOM Some local Democrats are upset with Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher over his demands for attending an upcoming political event in Oakley and believe he’s disrespected Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. Fisher and Brunner are squaring off in the May 4 Democratic primary to get the party’s nomination to run for the…
Music: One More Girl on Stage
Things seem to have progressed since the Lilith Fair festival began in 1997 as a response to female performers' exclusion from other big fests of the time. Not that sexism doesn't still exist — the playing field just seems more level these days. Kelly Thomas (pictured), organizer of Friday and Saturday's “One More Girl on…
Erin in Springfield
I can’t find her. Springfield, Ohio, is on my mind, and I don’t know where Erin is. In the fall of 1993, I moved to Springfield. This was a location transfer from my employer, and in my head I thought it was going to work out fine. I was separating from my wife and looked…
Broken Embraces (Review)
Harry Caine (Lluis Homar) has dedicated himself to writing, but our first encounter with him in Pedro Almodovar’s Broken Embraces captures the writer seriously devoted to playing the charming rogue. He seduces a young beauty he picks up on the street, much to the chagrin of his longtime manager Judit Garcia (Blanca Portillo), who along…
Jan. 6-12: Worst Week Ever!
WEDNESDAY JAN. 6If you're allowed to have just one rule, it’s generally not a good idea to have that rule be that there are no rules (someone will inevitably get poked in the eye). Mayor Mark Mallory today declared anarchy on City Council by delaying a vote on a new set of rules for the…
Music: Screaming Mimes CD Release Party
Got to Tell the World (the band's third LP) is, start to finish, loaded with ear-candy hooks. If you don't have a handful of these melodies in your head after listening to the album once, you should see an otologist. The band can lean towards a “Soft Rock” side at times — the tune “Open”…
YPs Promote Mentoring
Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory and Cincinnati Public Schools Superintendent Mary Ronan are slated to attend an event this evening aimed at encouraging young professionals to become mentors for local youth.—- The event will be held from 5:30-8 p.m. at the Fifth Third Bank Theater in the Aronoff Center for the Arts, located near Main and…
