After a, like, totally successful debut year in 2004, the '80s Pop ... Rocks tribute show/benefit concert returns to the Southgate House on Friday. The popular event features more than 40 local bands performing the hits (and less lauded gems) of the Reagan era, an '80s Karaoke Lounge for revelers and even a best '80s outfit contest. This year the show kicks off with an opening set by New York City's Sam Champion at 7:30 p.m., with the local artists starting at 8 p.m. (DJ Empirical spins '80s tunes between sets). Proceeds from the event go to the AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati, Inc., an organization founded in 1983 after the first AIDS-related death in the area (see avoc.org for more).
The artists participating (in order of appearance): Wussy, Cats Walking Backwards, Kelly Thomas and the Fabulous Pick-Ups, view-finder, David Garza, The Woos, Meadoe, Pilar, patientZero, The Matt Shadley Band, The Hiders, The Elliott Ruther Trio, The Chocolate Horse, (in)camera, The Waywards, Montana Wildhack, Whitney Barricklow, JC3, The Green Room, Patrick Ewing, Lovely Crash, Kelp, The Moon Fails, Le TechnoPUSS13s, And How, Abiyah, The Fairmount Girls, Staggering Statistics, 500 Miles to Memphis, Paperback Leagues, Super77, The 13s, Buckra, Kohai, Giant Wow, Clabbergirl, The Ass Ponys and The Tigerlilies. For more info, check myspace.com/80s_pop_rocks_ii.
The Resurrection Continues
With the purveyors of Christianity working overtime to make sure the good Lord permeates every nook and cranny of our society (whether you want Him there or not), what better timing for a good ol' fashion Satanic Bluegrass trio to return to the musical fray and shake shit up once again. After an overwhelmingly successful reunion concert on Halloween last year at the Southgate House announced Hogscraper's full return to the scene (an estimated 1,000 fans attended, most of them singing along to every word), the band is now set to continue its march with the reissue of their hallowed self-titled debut on the locally-based, nationally-distributed Shake It Records imprint.
A decade after their rise and implosion, the band's slanted, side-splitting take on the Appalachian sound still has an otherworldly quality, now made crisper thanks to the careful remastering work. The disc also features expanded, full-color artwork, but perhaps the most alluring feature is the inclusion of four bonus cuts from the band's legendary, limited-edition Subliminal Pig cassette-only release, which helped initially spread word of their devilish goodness around the local music scene. The Pig material — which includes an early version of "Old Man Scratch" (re-recorded for the CD release), as well as "Ode To Beulah," "Meanest Man" and "Pussum Poacher" — is perfectly raw, often sounding like it could have been unearthed from under an outhouse in the mountains of West Virginia. Hogscraper are also working on a CD of new material, due by year's end.
The band will celebrate the reissue at the Southgate House Saturday. Like the Halloween show, the night will once again feature the "Barnyard Burlesque" dancers. Le TechnoPUSS13S and The Virgins open the show. (hogscraper.com)
More Local Notes
· The long-awaited split-CD by locals The Sundresses and 4192 (featuring four songs from each act) gets its official release on Saturday at alchemize. The gig is a part of the monthly "Girls & Boys" night at the Downtown club.
· The Sonny Moorman Group took home the grand prize at the Cincinnati Blues Challenge, hosted by Cincy Blues Society, organizers of the upcoming Cincy Blues Fest (July 29-30 at Sawyer Point along the riverfront). Moorman and his band earned a slot at the festival and will also compete in the 2006 International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Moorman is currently finishing a new album for Atlas Records out of Macon, Ga., titled Crossroads Motel. You can see the SMG live on Friday and Saturday at Burbank's in Sharonville. (sonnymoorman.com)
· Pop/Rock duo Big Pictures have returned to the local scene and will perform a free acoustic set at the Glendale Pub on Saturday. Singer/songwriter Peter Mayer says he and Greg Rezenbrink will mix Big Pictures originals with cool cover choices (Small Faces, Kinks, Jayhawks), and reports that the band is currently working on new material. For more on Big Pictures and Mayer's solo work, check petermayermusic.net.