Last Feb. 12 a multi-act Valentine’s Day show was organized showcasing new “love songs” by a wide range of local bands. Besides commissioning new songs from those artists, the show was also set up as a fund-raiser for a new photo book documenting the local underground music scene from the pre-Jockey Club Punk days through today. The love tunes were also recorded by all of the participating bands, to be compiled for a CD that would accompany the book.
On Saturday the fruits of all of that labor come to fruition as Tokyo Rose Records unleashes the ambitious project in conjunction with yet another unique promotional tie-in. For the Southgate House release party, approximately 20 local bands will pay tribute to something near and dear to their hearts: the local music scene, past and present. Throughout the night, local performers will play covers of their favorite songs by other locals. Participating artists include The Tigerlilies, Abiyah, Culture Queer, Len’s Lounge, The Fairmount Girls, Lumens, The Wolverton Brothers, The Woos, Roesing Ape, wil-o-ee, (in)camera, Le TechnoPUSS13s, The Thirteens, Fotos, meadoe and Lovely Crash. The bands having their songs rewired range from still-active faves (The Greenhornes, The Ass Ponys, The Fairmount Girls, The Wolvertons) to beloved local legends (Midnight Star, The Mortals, The Afghan Whigs, Lizard 99, Brainiac, Ditchweed, Roundhead).
The book, Where The Kids Are Goin’ Tonite, is a nostalgic trip, with snapshots documenting Cincinnati’s happenin’ underground scene over the past four decades. The photo quality varies (surely most of the original shots were personal mementos, never intended to be seen by more than a few friends, let alone placed in a book), but it makes the collection fittingly candid.
The compilation includes “Oh yeah, I remember that!” pics of Junta (the ’80s New Wave crew that featured future members of Red Math and Wolverton Brothers), The Libertines, Human Zoo, Amoeba Men and The Murkins, early peaks at The Ass Ponys and The Whigs, and more recent (and more pro) shots of Ruby Vileos, Gazelles!, Iswhat?!, Burning Star Core, Thee Shams, Pearlene, Heartless Bastards and The Virgins. The accompanying two-disc iLove CD is the perfect soundtrack for perusing the book, with new tracks from Campfire Crush, The Minor Leagues, Hilltop Distillery, And How, Coltrane Motion, The Chocolate Horse, The Socials and many of the artists playing the local band tribute Saturday. (tokyoroserecords.com)
More Local Notes
· The “It’s Commonly Jazz” series returns to Jordan Crossing (formerly known as Swifton Commons), kicking off Thursday with local Jazz faves the Cohesion Jazz Ensemble. For the past 19 years, the free series has presented some amazing performances by national and local Jazz greats alike. The shows run every Thursday in August, starting at 6 p.m. The rest of the line-up features Mandy Gaines (Aug. 11), New York City’s Stacy Dillard (Aug. 18) and Anthony Lee (Aug. 25). (itscommonlyjazz.com)
· Blues, Soul and Gospel music fill the streets around Findlay Market Saturday. “Pig Fest” (anchored in front of the Mr. Pig restaurant on Elder Street) kicks off at 12:30 p.m. with Boogie Woogie pianist Ricky Nye and also features sets from local R&B/Blues singers Mr. Keith Little & Cheryl Renee, Blues group Six Strings Down and Gospel crew Charles Collier & The Dynamic Sons. The event is free.
· Local Pop/Rock masters The Swarthy Band will have one of their songs included on the nationally-distributed Not Lame compilation release, International Pop Overthrow, Vol. 8. When the band played the Pop fest in Chicago last spring, they were approached by organizer David Bash about being on the disc; Bash specifically chose the their song “Peculiar” for inclusion. The band will celebrate the good news with a show at Covington’s Mad Hatter Thursday. The Spectacular Fantastic also performs. (SwarthyBand.com)
· Local Rock bands Terravada, Hierophant and Defunct Red have turned their Saturday concert at The Holy Grail in Coryville into an “Independent Media Awareness Show.” There will be discussion about the importance of non-corporate media outlets, something the big media conglomerates (not to mention the government) would like to see disappear completely, but something that is vital for a free exchange of ideas not beholden to business interests. (terravadamusic.com)
· Don’t forget about Friday’s big “Exile on Main Street” event, the new monthly music fest featuring several bands spread out over four Main St. area venues.
This article appears in Aug 3-9, 2005.
