The "Exile on Main Street" multi-bar local music showcase series in Over-the-Rhine turns the spotlight on the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards this Friday. The event (booked by different guest promoters the first Friday of each month) features CEA nominees from various categories at four OTR venues. At alchemize, catch Souse (nominated in the "Jam Band" category), Trifectafunk (R&B/Funk), Gregory Morris Group (Folk/Americana/Roots) and Noctaluca (Rock, Best Live Act). RBC's has Blacklilght Barbarian (Hard Rock/Metal), Bastion (Rock, Album of the Year), Black Tractor (Hard Rock/Metal) and Caterpillar Tracks (Punk). Courtyard Café features Cheryl Renee (Blues), Gregory Morris (Singer/Songwriter) and The 13s (Folk/Americana/Roots), while Coopers on Main presents Le TechnoPUSS13s (Experimental/Electronic), The Hiders (Folk/Americana/Roots), The Terrors (Rock, New Artist of the Year) and The Vinyltones (Rock, New Artist of the Year, Album of the Year). Music starts at 10:30 p.m. at each venue; a $5 cover gets you into all four clubs.
The CEAs will be handed out during ceremonies on Nov. 21 at the Taft Theatre. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com or by calling 513-562-4949. This year's theme is based on how Cincinnati's musical output has become one of the city's best exports; as such, several acts making waves outside of the city limits will perform at the ceremony, including The Greenhornes, Heartless Bastards, Thee Shams, Cathedrals and Czar Nok. The new beneficiary of the proceeds from CEA ticket sales this year is the Michael W. Bany Scholarship Fund, which provides financial support for students looking to pursue a musical education.
More Local Notes
· Local Hardcore/Metal act A Present Day Nightmare has announced their recent signing to Austria's Resound Grind Records. The label will distribute the band's new EP, Still Monologue, throughout Europe and Canada early next year. APDN is releasing the CD for local fans Thursday in conjunction with a show at Top Cat's. The gig is headlined by a reunited V-Mob (the over-the-top Metal crew hasn't played since breaking up three years ago), and Azygous and Bludshot round out the bill. (apdn1.com)
· Bluegrass faves the Rumpke Mountain Boys have lined up two benefit concerts for the Freestore FoodBank, dubbing them "Keep on Picking for the Freestore." Friday, the Boys open for Leftover Salmon's Drew Emmitt at The Loft in Covington. Tickets are $12 plus two canned goods for the 9 p.m. show. Then, on Nov. 11 at Annie's, the band presents a 9 p.m. benefit featuring PJ Harrington, The Rusty Van Band and Trifectafunk. Admission is $8 and two donatable canned goods. Along with the food, all proceeds from the Annie's show will also be donated to the Freestore. Tickets for both shows are available at Everybody's Records in Pleasant Ridge. (rumpkemountainboys.com)
· Top-notch acoustic duo Moonlight Graham recently found out that they are on the preliminary ballot for the 2006 Grammy Awards. The twosome was nominated in two categories — Best Rock Performance by a Duo/Group with Vocals and Best Rock Song — for songs that appeared on their fantastic 2005 release, gone.Circus. See what the fuss is about when MG performs Wednesday at the Northside Tavern. The duo also appears Nov. 11 at the Rohs Street Café and Nov. 12 at the Viper Room. (moonlightgraham.org)
· A benefit for excellent local Jazz guitarist Kenny Poole, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, is to be held Friday at Jimmy D's Steakhouse in Montgomery, where Poole has been a weekend mainstay for many years. The restaurant will donate 25 percent of bar sales to help Poole — who, like many musicians, has no health insurance — pay his medical bills. For more info, call 513-984-2914.
· Local Reggae greats Zionites reunite for the first time since 2003 for a show at Stanley's Pub on Friday. The lineup features Lucky Spaulding, Jeremy Lacinak, Joel Cotton, Alonzo Leggette and Barami Waspe, the same crew that played during the band's peak, when they packed the Mad Frog every Wednesday in the late '90s. Showtime is 10 p.m. and special guests are promised throughout the night.
· Multi-media soundscapists 24 Hour Flu celebrate the release of a new EP Thursday with a massive, multi-stage show at the Southgate House. The group is joined by Humans Bow Down, The Defrost Star, Malahida, Mara, The Invitational and 1000 Arms. On a special "third stage" in the ballroom, you can catch The Great Depression and Turnbull ACs. Showtime is 9:30 p.m. (24hourflu.us)
