When the Ultrasuede recording studio was unceremoniously pushed out of its longtime Camp Washington location on Spring Grove Avenue this past spring after more than 25 years, Cincinnati music lost a longtime ally. But fear not — Ultrasuede has since set up shop in Northern Kentucky, inside the arts/music/performance facility The Lodge. 

Studio owner/operator John Curley provided CityBeat with several photos from throughout the years at Ultrasuede, which has been the site of countless recordings by Cincinnati-area artists, including high-profile acts like Heartless Bastards, The Greenhornes and Wussy, as well as non-local music heroes like Ronnie Spector, Patti Smith and The White Stripes. It had also remained the Cincinnati HQ for The Afghan Whigs — the legendary Cincinnati-spawned band of which Curley is a founding member — when they’re in town to write, demo and/or rehearse.

Relive the magic as Ultrasuede embarks on the next chapter of its legacy through photos, as well as via Robert Cherry of Plastic Ants’ beautiful tribute essay here.

The control room at Ultrasuede Studio in March of 2018, shortly before the studio closed for good after 25 years of continuous operation. PHOTO: Jesse Fox
Mad Anthony performing as part of an All Night Party MPMF 2011 live stream event. Photo: John Curley
Ultrasuede gets an exterior makeover for a film shoot. Photo: John Curley
Between takes during a Wussy recording session at Ultrasuede Studio. Photo: John Curley
Jerri Queen and John Hoffman in the control room at Ultrasuede. Photo: John Curley
Plastic Ants’ Robert Cherry during the video shoot for the band’s “A Sea of Upturned Faces” video. Photo: John Curley
Chuck Cleaver of Wussy records a piano overdub during the ‘Attica’ LP sessions. Photo: John Curley
King Records session drummer Philip Paul and songwriter Cheryl Reneé recreate a classic King LP cover for a commemorative photo shoot. Photo: John Curley
The original QCA logo on the wall in Ultrasuede Studio. Photo: John Curley
Holly Golightly and The Greenhornes working out the arrangement for “There Is An End” during The Greenhornes Dual Mono LP sessions. Photo: John Curley
The Afghan Whigs rehearsing for 2012 New Year’s Eve show at Bogart’s. Photo: John Curley
Margaret Darling of The Seedy Seeds recording vocals. Photo: John Curley
Jack White overdubbing guitar for The White Stripes’ cover of the Greenhornes song, “Shelter of Your Arms,” which was released as a B-side. Photo: John Curley
Plastic Ants’ Robert Cherry recording guitar overdubs during the group’s Imperial Phase LP sessions. Photo: John Curley
Spring Grove Avenue in Camp Washington. Ultrasuede was located in the single-story red brick building. Photo: John Curley
Wussy’s Lisa Walker and Chuck Cleaver recording the vocal on the song “Beautiful” for the group’s ‘Attica’ LP. Photo: John Curley
Jerri Queen and John Hoffman in the control room at Ultrasuede. Photo: John Curley
Ultrasuede Studio, set up for a recording session. The kettle drums are from the original King Studio in Evanston. Photo: John Curley
The last day of Ultrasuede Studio, March 2018. Photo: John Curley
Plastic Ants’ Robert Cherry recording guitar overdubs during the group’s ‘Imperial Phase’ LP sessions. Photo: John Curley
Pearlene rehearsing with Kenny Price for their 2006 Cincinnati Entertainment Awards performance. Pearlene’s 2007 LP ‘For Western Violence & Brief Sensuality’ was recorded at Ultrasuede.
John Curley in the control room at Ultrasuede Studio. Photo: Anna Bentley

Leave a comment