Sound Advice: Dex Romweber to Play at Southgate Revival House in Support of New Record, Good Thing Goin'

This story is featured in CityBeat's May 31 print edition.

Underground music legend Dex Romweber is known for his passionate performances and recordings exploring new territory in old forms — breathing new life into older musical traditions.

As frontman of the influential rockabilly-punk duo Flat Duo Jets, Romweber influenced a new generation of musicians with albums like the 1990 self-titled debut full length and the seminal Go Go Harlem Baby, along with appearances on MTV’s The Cutting Edge and a roaring 1990 performance on The Late Show with David Letterman. The 2006 documentary, Two Headed Cow, features artists like Cat Power and Neko Case talking about the band’s influence, as well as Jack White, who also notes Romweber’s heavy influence in the 2008 documentary, It Might Get Loud.

Romweber released a handful of solo records between 1996 and 2016 that have shown his near-musicologist approach to crafting a record. Romweber’s catalogue ranges from the home-recorded and spare Folk Songs (1996) to Chopin-inspired original piano pieces on Piano (2006) and even the varied range on Blues That Defy My Soul (2004).

Romweber is making a Cincinnati appearance in support of his new release, Good Thing Goin’, a record dedicated to the memory of his sister Sara Romweber who passed away from a brain tumor in 2019. Sara, a musician of note herself, was the drummer in ‘80s power-pop band Let’s Active followed by Snatches of Pink until the early 2000s when she joined her brother to become the Dex Romweber Duo. The two recorded and toured together as the Dex Romweber Duo, recording a handful of revved-up roots records with Sara’s steady and dynamic rhythm supporting her brother’s high energy, often explosive delivery, including a 2009 release produced by and featuring Jack White.

Romweber displays the spark of rock and roll, delivering seemingly timeless ballads in his distinct, heart-on-sleeve baritone.

Dex Romweber plays Southgate House Revival at 7:30 p.m. June 15. Info: southgatehouse.com.


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