• Tune into WAIF (88.3 FM on your radio dial; listen online at waif883.org) this and next Thursday for a couple of special holiday editions of the talk/music program The Curved Air Show. Hosted by veteran local musicians Roger Yeardley and Marcos Sastre, the next two editions of the show will feature a variety of local musicians playing all sorts of holiday songs (you’ll hear “Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice or any (other kind of) seasonal song,” according to Yeardley). The lineup is still be pieced together, but Yeardley says that you can expect to hear tunes from Steve Schmidt, Chris Arduser, Bam Powell, Bob Cushing and Robert Beatty, in addition to his Balance Allstars and Sastre. Will anyone tackle Adam Sandler’s modern classic “The Hanukkah Song”? Tune in and find out.
• Awesome Roots Rock duo Messerly & Ewing have been popping back up on the local club front, following a slow-down as the members tended to other projects (Mark Messerly with Wussy and 7 Speed Vortex and Brian Ewing with Catalog Cowboys). The band performs Thursday at Mr. Pitiful’s for a special “Over-the-Rhine Neighborhood Holiday Party.” The event is billed as “a new holiday tradition for old and new residents and friends of Over-the-Rhine,” meaning, of course, that you don’t have to reside in the neighborhood to attend. Prizes from local businesses will be raffled off and the proceeds benefit the Over-the-Rhine Foundation. The fun starts at 5:30 p.m. (otrfoundation.org)
• The Queen City Balladeers host a special concert this weekend as a part of their long-running Leo Coffeehouse music series. This Sunday at 7 p.m., at the Zion United Church of Christ in Norwood, artists Sharon Udoh, Greg Hansen, Joanie Whittaker, Roberta Schultz, Dave Hawkins, Papa Joe Kretschmer, Tim Kelly, Prudence Hunt, Megan & Chase Williams and Zak Morgan will be performing songs from the Isn’t It a Wonder CD. The excellent compilation features 20 local musicians performing original children’s music. Proceeds from the CD sales benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Greater Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Children’s Choir and the Literary Network of Greater Cincinnati. If you have a little one who digs music, you can’t go wrong with this disc. I’m looking at you, Mr. Claus... (ceilidhgroup.org)
• Beloved Indie Pop sweethearts The Seedy Seeds are December’s “Artist in Residency” at the Southgate House, playing for free every Wednesday (yes, including Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve) in Junie's Lounge. The band has invited some of their talented friends to join them at the shows. This Wednesday, the Seeds are joined by Sub Pop recording artist Daniel Martin Moore and Rodeo Ruby Love for what Seed Mike Ingram calls “an evening of folky bittersweet Pop with other folky bittersweet Pop awesomeness.” Things get a little “AltCountry” for the Dec. 17 show, with Hospital Garden and Idaho, Alaska. Christmas Eve’s event will include electronic outfit You, You’re Awesome, and on New Year’s Eve you can watch the ball drop with The Seeds, Towhee and Happy Birthday Amy. (theseedyseeds.com)
• Ric Hordinski (of Monk, Over the Rhine and kick-ass production fame) hosts a holiday concert at his gorgeous Monastery Studio (myspace.com/monasterystudio) Friday. Renowned Folk Pop duo Ellery will also perform, collaborating on a few songs with Hordinski and playing some of their original holiday tunes. Only 100 tickets are available, so hop to it before it sells out. Tickets can be bought through brownpapertickets.com (search “Hordinski”). Doors open at 6 p.m. and music starts at 7:30 p.m.
CONTACT MIKE BREEN: [email protected]
