After not performing together in more than a decade, one of Cincinnati’s greatest bands, Ass Ponys, have announced two reunion shows for this fall.
The band developed a strong local and regional following in the early ’90s, releasing albums like Mr. Superlove and Grim on small independent labels. In the mid-’90s, when major labels went on a spree signing any “Alternative” band it could get its hands on in the wake of Nirvana’s success, Ass Ponys signed with A&M Records, which released Electric Rock Music (which produced the minor college radio hit “Little Bastard”) and the criminally underrated The Known Universe before parting ways with the group.
The band bounced back at the start of the century with two superb albums — Some Stupid with a Flare Gun and Lohio — and Cincinnati’s Shake It Records released the compilation The Okra Years in 2006, after the band had quietly retired from performing.
Toward the Ass Ponys’ end, frontman Chuck Cleaver formed Wussy, one of Cincinnati’s most acclaimed current bands. Ass Ponys’ guitarist John Erhardt joined Wussy in 2012 on pedal-steel guitar. (Wussy is currently working on the follow-up to its widely acclaimed 2014 album Attica! The new album is expected to be released next spring.) Drummer Dave Morrison has played with bands like Ruby Vileos and The Kiss Me Everlasting, but has largely worked in video production since the end of the Ponys. And bassist Randy Cheek has performed with local acts The Fairmount Girls and The Ready Stance in recent years. Cleaver and Cheek reteamed in 2013 for a TEDxCincinnati event, performing a few Ass Ponys songs and talking about music and life in general.
The Ass Ponys’ reunion shows are set for Nov. 6 and 7 at Over-the-Rhine’s Woodward Theater. Tickets are available now through cincyticket.com for $25 (or $40 for access to both shows). Expect both performances to sell out.
More Local Notes
• Cincinnati rockers Bummers Eve — which features singer/guitarist Mike Cipollone, bassist Victor Valentino and drummer Tommy Lee Bummer — are coming off of an East Coast tour in support of the band’s debut 7-inch single release. The trio will play a hometown release party Saturday at Woodward Theater (1404 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, woodwardtheater.com).
The single, featuring the Bummers’ tracks “Fly on the Wall” and “Blue,” was released in June on Brooklyn, N.Y.-based label Almost Ready Records. Locals The Harlequins, Chicago’s Slushy and Indianapolis’ Chives join Bummers Eve for Saturday’s 9:30 p.m. show. Tickets are $7.
• Trenton, Ohio singer/songwriter Samuel Day is hosting a release concert for his new effort, The Spark Recharged, Saturday at The Underground (1140 Smiley Ave., Forest Park, theug.com). The new release is a collection of Day’s songs that have been rewired with electronic and EDM influences. Joining Day for the 7 p.m. show are Dayton’s War of Change, X-Wave and The Prosody. Admission is $8.
For more info, visit samueldayofficial.com.
• Back in January at Music Hall, the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra presented its unique “American Originals” concerts. During the performances, the orchestra collaborated with several local and national Folk/Americana artists to perform and celebrate the music of Stephen Foster and other early songs from the “Great American Songbook.”
Rosanne Cash, Aoife O’Donovan, Dom Flemons and Joe Henry joined Cincinnati artists Over the Rhine and members of the Comet Bluegrass All-Stars to perform versions of Foster compositions like “Oh! Susanna” and “Beautiful Dreamer,” as well as traditional numbers like “Kumbaya” and “Amazing Grace.”
A live recording of the concert featuring 17 songs and titled American Originals will be released Sept. 11.
• Northern Kentucky Blues mainstay Mansion Hill Tavern (502 Washington Ave., Newport, Ky., 859-581-0100) celebrates its 27th anniversary Sunday with a free party/concert. The fun kicks off at 5 p.m., and performers include Johnny Fink & the Intrusion (with guest Noah Wotherspoon), The Juice, Prestige Grease and Chuck Brisbin & the Tuna Project. The night will also feature the every-Sunday open Blues jam hosted by the Ben Duke Band, which should be particularly lively this week.
CONTACT MIKE BREEN: mbreen@citybeat.com
This article appears in Jul 22-28, 2015.
