This Friday, the PNC Summer Music Series — the umbrella title for all of the almost-daily free concerts on Fountain Square throughout the summer — concludes with the last MidPoint Indie Summer Series concert at 7 p.m. If you haven’t checked the lineups since the start of the summer, you might not have noticed that this week’s final Indie Summer show is headlined by Wussy, who replaced The Greenhornes a few weeks ago.
The Greenhornes’ touring schedule was abruptly cancelled with no official explanation given, though dates with The Raconteurs and musical contributions to Karen O’s opera debut, Stop the Virgens, have Greenhornes bassist Jack Lawrence and drummer Patrick Keeler tied up this fall. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer co-created the “psycho opera” with production designer K.K. Barrett, and when it opens in Brooklyn this October, the Greenhornes rhythm section will be joined by YYY guitarist Nick Zinner, Beastie Boys cohort Money Mark, actress Lili Taylor and others in the show’s band.
Wussy’s appearance Friday is a welcome return following a similar disappearing act by the group the Village Voice called “one of the best bands in the world.” Wussy members have been playing shows around town solo or with other projects, but full-band Wussy shows have been scarce. It appears the band’s Friday appearance is just the first step back — it’s followed by a Columbus date and Wussy’s Facebook page hints that they’ll have news about a new record Friday on the Square.
Friday’s show also features the Psych Rock foursome Two Headed Dog (with former members of The Virgins and Thee Shams), which is prepping its debut album release, and popular local rockers The Lions Rampant.
Two Headed Dog and The Lions Rampant are both on the schedule for the fast-approaching MidPoint Music Festival. Grab your three-day wristbands and find the latest updates for the fest (Sept. 22-24) at mpmf.com And look for the official MPMF ’11 guide in next week’s CityBeat.
More Local Notes
• Saturday, tiny Rabbit Hash, Ky., once again becomes the capitol of regional Roots music as Folk, Americana, Bluegrass, Blues and Country acts from Cincinnati and beyond provide the sounds for the 32nd annual Old Timers Day celebration. Running 11 a.m.-11 p.m., the musical lineup includes Jake Speed and the Freddies, Rabbit Hash String Band, Shiny and the Spoon, G Miles and the Hitmen, Pure Grain and Star Devils. Visit www.rabbithash.com for full details.
• Local publisher Aurore Press is presenting its latest compilation of short stories/essays this Saturday with a celebration at The Comet in Northside Saturday featuring readings and live music. It’s a fitting way to spend Labor Day weekend, as the theme of the latest anthology is “work.” Living in the Lap of Labor features contributions from over 20 writers, including several with ties to the local music scene (Jughead of SS-20, Uncle Dave Lewis, Wussy’s Mark Messerly and others). Readings begin at 9:30 p.m, followed by music from Uncle Dave Lewis and William Gilmore Weber III (local guitar hero who’s played with Chrome Cranks, Human Zoo, The Tigerlilies and GG Allin), Dixie Trash and SS-20. Aurore is also prepping its annual concert featuring bands from the ’80s Jockey Club scene. This year’s event is set for Nov. 12 at the Southgate House. So far, bands scheduled to appear include The Edge, Snare and the Idiots, SS-20 and The Wolverton Brothers. (www.aurorepress.com)
CONTACT MIKE BREEN: [email protected]
