Onstage: Letter Perfect
Joan Marcus The puberty-stricken kids of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. If you've suffered through the angst of puberty (who hasn't?), you'll identify with the characters in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. This recent musical by William Finn (it was a Broadway hit and Tony nominee a year ago) is…
Diner: Supermarket Sushi Smackdown
Graham Lienhart When sushi hit grocery stores a few years ago, reactions ranged from delight to disgust. People who'd never tried it took one look at those little plastic trays of shiny tuna slices atop rice footballs and thought, "No way," but big-city types who'd tasted sushi once or twice grabbed it for a…
Cover Story: Noise for Tots
C. Matthew Hamby When my first child was born a couple of years ago, I was in charge of getting the supplies together for the hospital. Hot water bottle, stress ball, pillows … and a CD wallet full of music. I wanted my child to come into the world to The Beatles. My luck…
Cover Story: In the Family Way
Ali Calis Families aren't what they used to be, thank goodness. When "family" meant only a husband, a wife and their kids, family values meant male dominance, female submission and children who did what they were told, no questions asked. If that somehow sounds appealing, consider the rest of the picture. Whites ruled. Women…
Fine ‘Line
Instrumental Indie Rock trio Ampline released its latest long-player, Rosary, on Nov. 14 through the locally based, nationally-distributed Shake It Records. Wednesday night at the Southgate House, the band is hosting a local release party for Rosary, featuring an impressive roster of locals on bill: Caterpillar Tracks, Knife The Symphony, Arms Exploding, Alone At 3am,…
Film: Picture This
Picturehouse Films Nicole Kidman stars as Diane Arbus in Fur. When asked the dreaded question, filmmaker Steven Shainberg actually coughs on his espresso in his hotel suite and then struggles to clear his throat. He really dislikes it! But here it is, anyway. Why, if he were making a film about iconic New York…
News: The Other Side of the Booth
"Will my vote be counted?" The voter looked at me with reservation and a little fear. Knowing the history that gave rise to that fear, I gulped. "Yes, Ma'am, your vote will be counted." The eScan machine at our Roselawn precinct was spitting on Nov. 7 instead of scanning, and our presiding judge fumed at…
Locals Only: : Fifths and Knifs
SARA YASTE The Pernicious Knifs Brothers, some by birth and some by association stick together in this fair city. In the Pernicious Knifs' case, these guys have known each other their entire lives. They've reached a state of near telepathy — they know exactly which brand of whiskey to bring to the table. Tonight,…
The Little Ace of Spades
HOT Warts And Ball Pee-wee sports teams are often sponsored by local small businesses, meaning they usually have non-threatening names like the "Crazy Joey's Used Car Emporium Demons" or the "Zippy's Tax-Returns-in-24-Hours Bombers." But a soccer team in Lincoln, England, has nabbed a sponsor that should make their 10-year-old opponents pee their knickers. The BBC…
Cover Story: Kids Got Rights
C. Matthew Hamby In the women's locker room at the YWCA downtown, a daughter complains to her mother that the school isn't allowed to just cancel her classes and demand that her parents pick her up without any advanced notice. The mom says they can. "I have rights," the daughter says. "No, you don't,"…
News to Use
Workers Can Stop the War The North Shore Federation of Labor and U.S. Labor Against the War (USLAW), a national network of more than 140 unions, labor councils and other labor organizations, are organizing a demonstration at the Federal Building in Cleveland on Dec. 2. A march will begin from Crown Plaza Hotel at 2:30…
Upcoming Concert Reviews of Unwed Sailor, The Pink Spiders and More…
Unwed Sailor Unwed Sailor Unwed Sailor with The Red Balloons and Carriage Thursday · Southgate House Unwed Sailor is not so much a band as it is a musical concept. Unwed Sailor was the brainchild and remains within the unique creative grasp of songwriter Johnathon Ford, an Oklahoma native whose travels have taken him…
Ignore Form
With most of the media's attention focused on the elections, it has become easy to slip an agenda-driven form letter into a newspaper opinion page. Ted Martindale's letter calling for Americans to stop eating fish ("Projected Seafood Decline Stinks," issue of Nov. 8) is a great example. The same exact letter, word-for-word, was published by…
Music: Another Tragedy Triumphs
Another Tragedy Local progressive hard rockers Another Tragedy's new album will hit an international audience thanks to their deal with England's Zebra 3 Records. When some bands first assemble, they pepper their live sets with covers of songs they like in order to flesh out their presentation. Another Tragedy had no interest in that…
Cover Story: Benefits for the New Family
C. Matthew Hamby When Andi Adkins and her partner decided to expand their family several years ago, the senior financial analyst for Procter & Gamble knew that, along with children, come not only increased responsibility but also increased expenses. Eventually giving birth to three children between them, the lesbian couple believed it would be…
News: Cease Fire in the Class War
Matt Borgerding Understanding the perspectives of various class backgrounds can help activists strengthen their causes, according to George Lakey, who spoke last weekend to a workshop organized by the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center. Recognizing class differences is a first step to turning them into assets for political movements instead of obstacles, according to…
Film: Love Across Centuries
Warner Bros. Entertainment Triple threat: Hugh Jackman plays three versions of the same character in The Fountain. Metaphysical space-age imaginings counter the death of a loved one in writer/director Darren Aronofsky's visually stunning yet superficial fantasy The Fountain. Tommy (Hugh Jackman) is a scientist obsessed with discovering and implementing a cure for his wife…
BCS Championship Doesn’t Come up Roses for Big Ten
Jerry Dowling The Rose Bowl and its traditional partners, the Big Ten and the Pac-10, accepted the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) concept more slowly than the other college football entities, which quickly put their traditions and affiliations at risk for the possibility of a true national champion the moment it could be arranged. The…
Onstage: Back to Bedford Falls
Sandy Underwood Harry Bouvy plays George Bailey and every other character in the Playhouse's This Wonderful Life. You've probably seen Frank Capra's 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life more than once. Because someone failed to renew the copyright on the film, it became a ubiquitous TV holiday presence starting in the mid-1970s. Although it…
Deep Cuts Possible for Arts and Human Services
Graham Lienhart Mayor Mark Mallory convened a budget forum at Cincinnati State College and four days later proposed restoring many unpopular cuts. Some tough choices lie ahead for Cincinnati officials as they try to balance the city's budget for the next two years, which could include closing 13 swimming pools and two recreation centers,…
Cover Story: Yes, We Can All Just Get Along
C. Matthew Hamby It has been suggested, in the outcome of the most recent elections and based on a remarkable number of offices secured by more temperate members of the Democratic Party, that although Republicans appear to have "lost" the battle, conservatives — and more important, the values they champion — have "won" the…
Cover Story: We Are Family
C. Matthew Hamby A married couple — a him and a her — with 2.7 children and 1.5 pets, living in a 2.5-bedroom residence. Throw in a Chevrolet out front and an apple pie on the kitchen counter, and you've got the quintessential American family. Wrong. What many people have long accepted as the…
Living Out Loud: : 810 Main Street
I'm back at 810 Main St. downtown, working some hours at Elgin Office Equipment and doing this and that just like I did 33 years ago. It doesn't feel strange coming full circle. Somehow in the back of my head I knew it would happen. We have an interesting mix of customers. Lawyers, judges, politicians,…
Thanksgiving Stuff
Notes: I stuffed together every Thanksgiving memory over the years into one casserole of reminiscence, and I wound up with this sum-it-all-up ballad. Thanksgiving Stuff – Click here to listen By: Jake Speed 11/18/06 Verse 1: I wake up late, it?s Thursday morn The leaves are dropping red and orange I?m skipping breakfast ? Thanksgiving…
Patrick Stewart
Manuel Harlan Rick's favorite trekker: Patrick Stewart OK, I'll admit it: I've been a Star Trek fan since Leonard Nimoy put on his pointed ears. But my favorite character over the years has been Capt. Jean-Luc Picard as portrayed by British actor PATRICK STEWART. So it was a harmonic convergence of my passions to…
Music: And the CEAs Went to …
Graham Lienhart Inducted into the CEA Hall of Fame, Kenny Smith ended the evening with his first live performance in 30 years, ably supported by Pearlene (including Jesse Ebaugh, left), a horn section and backup singers. During the past nine years at the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards, CityBeat's annual celebration of the local music (as…
Music: Without Burnout
The Sheds The Sheds (Chris Haubner, right, and Paul Bunyan) can't quit. You can't help it. When a song gets you, it gets you. Maybe the words describe your father's eyes, your closest friend, the addiction you cannot shake. Perhaps it's the shy interlude, the shocking chorus. Maybe it's the steamy beat, as hot…
No More Sell-Outs
What's the devil to do? Back in the day, there were deals to be made. We all know the mythic version of the story: Faust wants all the knowledge in the world, signs on the dotted line with Mephistopheles and gains it all for the mere price of his soul. That simple gentlemen's agreement actually…
More Concerts of Note
Matthias Clamer Donna The Buffalo Upcoming Concert Reviews of Donna The Buffalo, Blue Cheer and More… Donna the Buffalo Thursday · Southgate House Donna the Buffalo is a versatile quintet from Trumansburg, N.Y., whose mastery over genres like Roots, Country, Bluegrass, Folk, Zydeco, Reggae and Rock have earned the band a very loyal and…
The Music Made Me Do It!
HOT You Are What You Hear? An extensive study of people's listening habits and what they say about their personalities and personas is being conducted by University of Leicester psychologist, Dr. Adrian North. The British shrink's initial research surveyed over 2,500 Brits, who were asked about their musical likes as well as questions about their…
Johnny Cash — Johnny Cash at San Quentin (Columbia/Legacy)
Johnny Cash — Johnny Cash at San Quentin With Johnny Cash's final recordings, discussions centered naturally on the legend's uncanny ability to allow his musical gifts to shine through his increasing frailty. Although it was often painful to hear Cash's cracked vocals and the effort he was exerting to record in his life's twilight,…
Frank Zappa — Trance Fusion (Zappa)
Frank Zappa — Trance Fusion A new collection of previously unreleased guitar solos culled from numerous live performances, Trance Fusion is a sterling representation of a stunningly gifted guitarist of incomparable skills and stark individuality: the late, great Frank Zappa. Relatively few are familiar with Frank's "spontaneous compositions" on guitar, the blinding display of…
Cover Story: The Michael W. Bany Scholarship Fund
CityBeat Archive Rich Miller with Michael Bany The Michael W. Bany Scholarship Fund rolls on, presenting its 2006 music scholarship to Rich Miller, who's now pursuing a bachelor's degree in music. (Miller is pictured with Mark Bany at right.) Miller was active in high school music, belonging to the marching band, concert band, Jazz…
Diner: A Place for Men from Mars
Anthony's Cigar Bar & Grille Go: 7641 Voice of America Center Drive, West Chester Call: 513-779-3455 Hours: 11-2 a.m. on Monday-Saturday, noon-2 a.m. Sunday. Limited menu served after 10 p.m. Prices: Moderate to expensive Payment: Major credit cards Red Meat Alternatives: Chicken, seafood, pasta, salads Accessibility: Yes (short step up to non-smoking section) Grade: B-…
News to Use
Jon Hughes Join the Mayor's Night In. Remembering Buddy Gray This year marks the 10th anniversary of the death of Buddy Gray, advocate on behalf of the poor and homeless. Supporters will hold a memorial march from Buddy's Place, 1300 Vine St., to Washington Park beginning at 5 p.m. Nov. 15, with fellowship at…
Film: He’s Baaack
MGM Best Bond ever?: New 007 Daniel Craig relaxes with Eva Green (left) and Caterina Murino. All fears surrounding the future of cinema's longest running franchise are put to rest with Daniel Craig (Layer Cake) more than capably filling 007's shoes in a Bond film that shatters formula constraints and delivers nail-biting action in…
News: A Matter of Ownership
Matt Borgerding Nancy and Patty Wagner review plans for what 3CDC calls Music Hall Square, including a garage on property it doesn't yet own. Things were going fine at the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp.'s (3CDC) Over-the-Rhine "rap session" Nov. 2 at Memorial Hall until Pipefitters Union Local 392 spoke up. The second of…
Web Onstage: Letter-perfect
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee If you've suffered through the angst of puberty (who hasn't?), you'll identify with the characters in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. This recent musical by William Finn (it was a Broadway hit and Tony nominee a year ago) is a winning combination of comedy and tunes…
The Bengals Kant Shake the Suicide Instinct
Jerry Dowling Think of the Bengals, for a moment, the way Kant thought about nations. Think of the Bengals as a moral agent, as something like a human being with a personality. What are we to make of this mixed-up kid? The Bengals have lost their way, about as fully and quickly as they…
News: Still Crazy After All These Years
Joe Lamb U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot enters Champs upon announcement of his re-election victory. As Democrats across the nation and across Ohio swept to victory in a broad array of races for governor, House and Senate, Hamilton County voters bucked the trend, preferring instead to merely dip a toe in the rising tide of…
Cover Story: Foggy Memory Breakdown
Danny Nader And away we go: The Tigerlilies celebrate their 1997 CEAs with award presenter Bill Harvey of Buddy Roger's Music (right) and friends. In revisiting the past nine years of the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards, it's interesting to see how the awards adapted to the times. The late '90s Ska boom necessitated a category…
The New Hands of Change
Jakes Notes: Hip, Hip Huzzah for Americas regime change. For once in my life, most of the candidates that I voted for turned out winners. So Long, It's Been Good to Know Ya? I sing to Red-Staters all around. Let's give the Blues a chance to screw things up in their own way. The New…
Cover Story: The Show
Local 12 Your hosts for the evening Jen Dalton and Bob Herzog 6:30 p.m. Doors open to the Taft Theatre 7:30 p.m. Curtain Up Performance: Freekbass Hosts: Jen Dalton and Bob Herzog, Local 12 Awards: Bluegrass, Singer/ Songwriter, Hard Rock/Metal(presented by WAIF hosts/musicians Chris Comer and Rob Ervin and WNKU announcer Jeff Menke) Performance:…
Music: Angels on the Battlefield
Justin Dylan Renney The Black Angels didn't intend to become a "political" band, but the state of affairs today led them to address issues about the war on their new album. Despite constant media reports that a majority of Americans disagree with the Iraq War, it hasn't seeped into art and music the way…
Downtown
Downtown — it's not just for lunch anymore. Burrito Joe's now serves breakfast burritos from 7-10 a.m. The new restaurant fresh offers organic egg sandwiches to go with your coffee, while ingredients has breakfast panini and calzones as well as bagels, cereal and smoothies. Boys' night out has some competition. The Cincinnati Museum Center is…
Locals Only: : Setting New Standards
Northside Jazz Ensemble Northside Jazz Ensemble There's nothing standard about the way the Northside Jazz Ensemble plays standards. From Funk, Reggae and Soul to Rock, Free Jazz, Blues and straight-ahead Jazz and back again, this tight four-piece puts familiar tunes in a brand new bag. I don't usually find myself out on Monday nights,…
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Chita Rivera Chita Rivera stars in — what else? — Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life at the Aronoff Center. If your holiday shopping list included a pair of tickets to see the touring production of DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS set for the Aronoff Center in the latter half of December, you'll need to revise your…
Disabilities Need Not Preclude Art
Lisa Molyneux is in her 16th season as the leading scenic artist for Playhouse in the Park. Wayne Hambrick is one of 15 full- and part-time people on her team. Jane Seymour, actress and artist, was linked to both of them while her work was on display here the past few weeks. So, what do…
Living Out Loud: : Two Girls and a Guy
Last week this column turned three years old. I've lost track of how many bus or bus stop stories I've written about over this period of time — probably about 10 or so. You're about to get another one. This happened on a Tuesday morning maybe three weeks ago. It was around 7 in the…
1305 Gallery
Art Academy of Cincinnati Mary Magsamen and Stephan Hillerbrand's video installation "Coffee & Milk" is on view at the Art Academy's Pearlman Gallery through Dec. 15. Make sure to bring your flashlight when you head to the 1305 GALLERY (1305 Main St., Over-the-Rhine) for a look at MATTHEW SHELTON's latest exhibition, Lightboxes. A series…
Willie Nelson — Songbird (Lost Highway)
Willie Nelson — Songbird Now that he's done almost everything else — Jazz standards, Blues, duets, even a (great) Reggae album last year — it's nice to finally hear a straight "Rock" production on a Willie Nelson record. Producer Ryan Adams does a bang-up job on lead guitar, bringing some reckless fire and feedback…
Art: Transitory Visions
Joe Lamb Katharina Grosse's untitled installation greets patrons in the CAC's lobby. Check Out Katharina Grosse Exclusive multimedia The Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) began a new kind of exhibition last year inviting the artist group SIMPARCH, to create a lobby installation that cut into Zaha Hadid's architecture with more than a hint of iconoclasm.…
Bizarro Votes
Well, I really gotta hand it to Ohio voters this year. We have three ballot initiatives that have a rock solid influence on how downtown Cincinnati is going to look, and somehow the voters vote the bizarro way. What am I talking about? First there's Issue 3. Not only would this issue have had a…
Rumors, Lies and General Misunderstandings
Liquid Fire, a local five-piece that mixes Metal and Hard Rock influences into their boot-stomping Country mix (they are nominated in the County category for this year's Cincinnati Entertainment Awards), releases its first full-length CD this weekend. The band found a fan in Country music star John Michael Montgomery and the disc (which follows last…
Cover Story: Soul Man
One of the most heartwarming and vindicating moments of this year's Cincinnati Entertainment Awards ceremony will come when local Soul/Funk legend Kenny Smith takes the Taft Theater stage to accept his long overdue Lifetime Achievement Award. If he accepts, that is. "Can I turn it down?" Smith says with a hearty, self-deprecating laugh from his…
Cover Story: CEAs
10: This year is the 10th annual Cincinnati Entertainment Awards 6: Total number of CEAs won by Jake Speed with and without his Freddies over the years, the most awards won by any single act 13: Total number of CEA nominations for Iswhat?! over the years, including 2006, the most nominations for any single act…
Maybe They Could Call It Tombstone
Jymi Bolden Greg Harris, progressive Democrat, is ready to run for Cincinnati City Council. Spring Grove Village could soon become Cincinnati's newest neighborhood. No, that won't take the count to 53 neighborhoods in the city; it will stay at 52 if Winton Place residents vote to change the name of their community. The Winton…
Web Onstage: Back to Bedford Falls
You've probably seen Frank Capra's 1946 film It's A Wonderful Life more than once. Because someone failed to renew the copyright on the film, it became a ubiquitous TV holiday presence starting in the mid-1970s. Although it was a box-office flop 60 years ago, its constant exposure on the airwaves made the story a sentimental…
CityBeat Goes Mainstream?
Some pretty astounding things happened last week on Election Day, led by Democrats taking over control of the U.S. Senate, the House of Representatives, the Ohio governorship and the Hamilton County Commission. Possibly even more astounding: CityBeat endorsed candidates and issues actually won. Loads of them. It's a running joke around our office that a…
News: A Cop Watching Cops
Joe Lamb Both police and the public must work to improve relations, according to Kenneth Glenn. A former cop is the new head of the agency handling citizen oversight of the Cincinnati Police Department (CPD). With 25 years as a police officer in Detroit, is Kenneth Glenn, the new director of the Citizens Complaint…
