The local music scene lost one of its veteran players this past weekend. Larry Malott
— also a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War — suffered a brain aneurysm Oct. 9 from which he never recovered. Malott passed away on Oct. 12.
A gifted bassist, Malott (who was 65) was the low-end anchor of hard-working, popular local Blues band Them Bones, which he founded. Along with regular gigs with the group around town (and beyond — the band toured in Europe and represented Cincinnati at 2010’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn., placing an impressive third overall), Malott and Them Bones were also the anchor of the long-running Sunday night Blues jams at Newport club, Mansion Hill Tavern, hosting the weekly event since 2001. Many local musicians gathered this past Sunday at the open jam to pay their respects to Malott. Judging by the outpouring of grief and appreciation on social media the past few days, Malott was not only a great bass player and dedicated Blues supporter, he was also something of a mentor to other local musicians and incredibly supportive of his fellow artists.
In honor of the musician, Malott’s family is asking that friends and supporters make a donation to a favorite charity and/or one of the following — Sophie’s Angel Run, Cincinnati Shriners Hospitals for Children Burn Center, Down Syndrome Association and/or Blues in the Schools.
New Local Releases
• Indie Pop trio Darlene
is set to release its latest recording effort, Shiny and Bright , with a free, 10 p.m. release party/performance this Friday at MOTR Pub in Over-the-Rhine ( motrpub.com ). The threesome will be joined by Brooklyn, N.Y., band Wilder Maker, while Cincinnati’s Fists of Love close the night out with a midnight set. The eight-song Shiny and Bright is the follow-up to 2009’s Studio of Beauty and follows along the same sweet/sour lines, with irrepressible melodies and harmonies bursting like fireworks around the magnetic rhythms and sideways blasts of guitar dissonance. Visit facebook.com/darleneband for more on the trio.
• Saturday at Stanley’s Pub (facebook.com/stanleys.pub) in Columbia-Tusculum, Cincy four-piece Jamwave
celebrates the recent release of its debut full-length, Brighter Days (available now on iTunes). The band got its start in the late ’00s, forming at Ohio Northern University in Northwestern Ohio, releasing an EP and touring on a regular basis. Since moving to Cincinnati, the band has been a steady presence on the local club scene. Brighter Days is a breezy, laidback collection of groove-laced Pop Rock, subtly blended with Reggae and other flourishes (think Jack Johnson meets O.A.R.). Frankly Speaking and Jim Casto are special guests for Saturday’s 9 p.m. release show. Preview the new album here .
More Local Notes
• The international Red Bull Thre3Style
DJ competition returns to the area this week with a slight twist. Thursday at downtown nightclub Play ( playcincy.com ), five DJs from area colleges will compete as part of the Thre3Style U competition, which is open to only full-time college student DJs. The competing turntablists are University of Cincinnati’s DJ HD and DJ EFEX , Northern Kentucky University’s DJ Underground , University of Dayton’s DJ Web and Miami University’s DJ Gabe C . Former Red Bull Thre3Style victor Apryl Reign and Kiss 107 FM’s DJ Sab are among the judges. The event is free and kicks off at 10 p.m.
• The Jubilee Peace Fest
celebrates its fifth anniversary this year, returning to the Grailville Retreat and Organic Farm in Loveland, Ohio, Oct. 17-20. The fest — which runs 6 a.m.-10 p.m. each day — features “yoga workshops, meditation practices, cooking classes, health and fitness seminars, spiritual activism … kirtan and more, with national (and) internationally known teachers, musicians, authors, artists and chefs unfolding the path to world peace,” according to the official event page on Facebook. The festival is organized in conjunction with the non-profit World Peace Earth, whose mission is “educating, encouraging, researching and promoting a loving lifestyle to create a virtuous, kind, gentle, respectful and spiritual relationship between all beings and the earth, contributing to world peace.”
You’d be forgiven for thinking the musical lineup is all soft New Age music but, while that is represented, the Peace Fest boasts a surprisingly eclectic collection of performers, playing everything from Hip Hop and Rock to Experimental and World music. Sticman of one of best contemporary Hip Hop groups around, Dead Prez, is one of the big names performing, joining acts like Canadian “Neo-Folk World Rock ‘Country & Eastern’ Fusion” troupe HuDost, Rock band ThePeace, popular Hip Hop collaborator (and organic gardening proponent) DJ Camem and Cincinnati native Amy Ferguson. Visit jubileepeacefest.com for a full rundown of the fest’s offerings.
CONTACT MIKE BREEN: [email protected], @CityBeatMusic or on Facebook here.
