A variety of Greater Cincinnati acts have scheduled shows over the coming weeks, from local garage rock legends to hip hop activists, storied Cincinnati venues hosting punk, rock 'n' roll and DIY house shows hosting improvisational instrumental compositions. Here are just a handful of must-see shows for June.
Stella Research Committee, Stud Count (Philadelphia), and Mad World at Junker's Tavern
Stella Research Committee (formerly known as Stella) is a three-piece act from Cincinnati and Columbus that incorporates synths, programming and manipulated noise (alongside guitar, drums and vocals) to make experimental, sometimes sporadic noise rock that pushes the boundaries of rock 'n' roll. Philadelphia’s power-pop punk group Stud Count and Cincinnati hardcore band Mad World will join them at rock 'n' roll destination Junker's Tavern. 8:30 p.m. June 1. Free. Junker's Tavern, 4156 Langland St., Northside. Bar is cash only. facebook.com/event.
Service (Indianapolis), Mr. Phylzzz, and Isabelle Helle & The Hell’s Bells at Northside Tavern
Indianapolis dark garage punk band Service soon will head to Northside Tavern to promote their new album, Drag Me. The album features the Queen City’s own Izzi Krombholz, who also will perform with her band, Isabelle Helle and The Hell’s Bells, at Cincinnati music cornerstone Northside Tavern. Also appearing are self-described “weirdos” Mr. Phylzzz, a rock band formerly from Cincinnati. 9 p.m. June 1. $8. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside. facebook.com/event.
All-Seeing Eyes, Brood X (Cleveland), and Pop Empire at MOTR Pub
Local legend and 1/3 of garage-rock revival favorites The Soledad Brothers, Johnny Walker will be making an appearance with his band All-Seeing Eyes at MOTR Pub on June 4. Lucky locals may have caught his recent guest appearance onstage with Jack White back in April at The Andrew J Brady Center. Since the '90s, members of The Soledad Brothers frequently have collaborated with White. All-Seeing Eyes will be joined at the MOTR Pub show with local psychedelic glam band Pop Empire and Cleveland psychedelic band Brood X. 10 p.m. June 4. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine. motrpub.com.
Pete Fosco, Andrew Elaban, and Mariel Westermeyer at Hexagon House
Head to the Hexagon House in Northside for some experimental explorations of sound. A Northsider had hosted semi-formal events in her backyard during the COVID-19 pandemic and is bringing it back on June 4 with a trio of solo performers. Pete Fosco makes ambient, improvised soundscapes with electric guitar and effects, often experimenting with soft textured sounds. He’ll be joined by instrumentalist Andrew Elaban in a collaborative piece. Local singer/songwriter Mariel Westermeyer of Sharp Toys will also perform at the event. 8 p.m. June 4. $10. Hexagon House Presents, 1590 Glen Armand Ave., Northside. eventbrite.com.
Leggy, Honey Cutt (Boston), and Raavi (NYC) at The Hub OTR
Cincinnati’s Leggy, which was voted second in CityBeat's Best of Cincinnati® for Best Local Band, will host a show at The Hub, joined by Boston's dreamy pop outfit Honey Cutt and New York City pop punk band Raavi. June 4. The Hub OTR, 1209 Main St., Over-the-Rhine. More info to be released at a later date.
ACCESSTOGOD, Compactor (NYC), Professor A (PA), and THX1312 at The Mockbee
Longtime Cincinnati punk collective Realicide put together this grouping for treasured local venue The Mockbee. Housed in a 19th century brewery building, the Mockbee is home to beer storage tunnels that are more than a century old and now house a bar and venue space. Cincinnati punk and experimental acts ACCESSTOGOD and THX1312 will be joined by New York City's Compactor and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's Professor A. 8 p.m. June 5. $10 suggested donation. 2260 Central Parkway, Brighton. facebook.com/event
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at Maple Ridge Lodge
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra will host free public concerts in select neighborhood parks this summer as part of the Andrew J Brady Neighborhood Concert Series. The June 19 event at Westwood's Maple Ridge Lodge kicks off this series and invites guests to "[c]elebrate Juneteenth and Father’s Day with the CSO/Cincinnati Pops," according to CSO's website. The performance will feature conductor John Morris Russell, vocalist Lauren Eylise and violinist Charles Morey. The program will contain a variety of pieces, from historic King Records’ own Hank Ballard’s “The Twist” to jazz great Duke Ellington’s “River Suite” and a tribute to film score composer John Williams. 7 p.m. June 19. Free. Maple Ridge Lodge, 3040 Westwood Northern Blvd., Westwood. cincinnatisymphony.org
Tweens, Flasher (Washington D.C.), and The Mimes at MOTR Pub
Cincinnati's Tweens, the perfectly punk rock 'n' roll band who are at times sweet and delicate and at other times intense and abrasive, will be making its first appearance on June 24 since recently finishing the yet-to-be-released new record. It joins Washington D.C.'s critically-praised Flasher, which is touring to support new album Love Is Yours. Also appearing is the enjoyably playful and experimental Cincinnati punk garage trio The Mimes. 10 p.m. June 24. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine. motrpub.com.
Paige Beller, Nick Keeling, Caravan Discordia (Lexington), Connie Kissel (Louisville), and Openly Weep at The Comet
Local solo musician Paige Beller‘s layered and looped sounds back her emotional vocal delivery and raw, often experimental songwriting. Nick Keeling makes home-recorded, experimental pieces of music that act as mini orchestrations. The pair will be joined on June 25 by ambient act Openly Weep, Louisville ambient noise musician Connie Kissel and Lexington’s dark cabaret/folk/punk act Caravan Discordia. If you happen to be at The Comet on a Sunday night, be sure to stay for the weekly performance of the establishment's house band, The Comet Bluegrass All-Stars, which has playing traditional and bluegrass music for more than two decades. The Comet Bluegrass All-Stars perform at 7:30 and 9 p.m. on Sundays and admission is free. 8 p.m. June 25. The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside. bandsintown.com.
Siri Imani's Open Mics and Inclusive Music Events
Hip-hop vocalist, poet, and community organizer Siri Imani of the Triiibe Foundation hosts a weekly open mic with various local acts at Somerset every Tuesday beginning at 8 p.m. Imani also hosts a free LGBTQ+ mixer/open mic 8 p.m.-midnight Wednesdays at Homemakers Bar in Over-the-Rhine and “Femme Fridays” 8 p.m.-midnight on the second and fourth Fridays of June at Hexagon House for anyone who doesn’t identify as a cisgender male. facebook.com/siriimaniartistpage.
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