To an outsider, the life of a musician can often appear glamorous and a little cryptic. From the subtle, mysterious singer-songwriter strumming a tune on stage while hiding behind a mess of hair and cigarette smoke to the bombastic life and times of a rock and roll god midway through a worldwide tour, the profession has maintained a hold on public consciousness for as long as artists have been paid to perform music. In CityBeat’s latest issue, writer Nick Grever pens a poignant tale of the secret (and surprising) lives of Cincinnati musicians.Pick up a copy of the latest issue of CityBeat, out on newsstands now, to read this story and others.
The Secret Lives of Cincinnati Musicians: Local Hitmakers are Just as Compelling Off the Stage
By Nick Grever
What do the performers really do when they step off the stage or out of the recording studio? For many local musicians, they transition into an entirely different career to fund their musical dreams or wind down with a hobby that’s just as exciting as life in the limelight. To find out what their secret lives are really like, CityBeat spoke with five Cincinnati musicians whose careers and interests are just as fascinating, surprising and impactful as the effort they put into their songs. Read CityBeat‘s to learn about the secret lives of Cincinnati musicians.
Cincinnati Author Emily Henry’s Latest Rom-Com Novel ‘Happy Place’ Hits Shelves in April
By Katie Griffith
Emily Henry’s forthcoming book Happy Place, like her precursory titles, conquers the romantic-comedy genre. It tells the story of Harriet and Wyn, a perfect couple, and their annual summer trip to the coast of Maine with their closest friends. Only, the seemingly perfect couple have secretly broken up. They learn that their home away from home is for sale and this will be the last friends trip to the beloved vacation spot. Read CityBeat‘s story to learn more about the New York Times bestselling author’s newest book.
Louis Langrée’s Final Season at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Celebrates Musical Diversity
By Anne Arenstein
Louis Langrée’s final season as music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra reflects his passion for music in all its diversity and his great delight in sharing it with audiences and musicians alike. The schedule is classic Langrée, honoring tradition, advocating for new voices and offering a range of artistic collaboration. Read CityBeat‘s story to learn what’s in store for Langrée’s final season.
Aronoff Musical ‘Jagged Little Pill’ is Here to Remind Patrons of Alanis Morissette’s Staying Power
By CityBeat Theater Critic, Rick Pender
Jagged Little Pill has been popular for more than 25 years. Recently its songs became the score for a Broadway musical about a modern family struggling to preserve its reputation while dealing with addiction and trauma. After opening in late 2019 it was interrupted by the worldwide pandemic, but it returned in the fall of 2021, having received an astonishing 15 Tony Award nominations in 2020, including Best Musical. It’s now touring and will have a one-week stop at downtown Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center during the last week of March. Read CityBeat‘s story to learn about the unique local connection to this national tour.
Revival Vintage Bottle Shop is Proof That Good Spirits Have a Long, Delicious Shelf Life
By Brian Cross
Situated in Covington near the northernmost point of bourbon country, Revival Vintage Spirits and Bottle Shop has become a destination for those seeking the finest bourbons and other spirits of yesteryear. Revival specializes in rare and vintage bourbons, but the selection also includes Scotch, brandy, tequila, rum and gin. Since opening in 2020, the shop has grown from 200-300 bottles in inventory with 15 open for tasting to more than 4,000 in inventory and 120 open bottles. Read CityBeat‘s story to learn more about the treasures that await inside of Revival Vintage Bottle Shop.
Good Vibes Are on the Menu at The Well in Covington
By Kelsey Graham
It only takes one visit to Covington to keep you coming back. With its beautiful river and skyline views, breathtaking architecture and lively entertainment options and shops, it’s easy to fall in love with this river town. And that’s just what happened to Chase Daoud and Will Hodges, who recently opened The Well, the city’s newest neighborhood bar. They say they realized the area needed a cozy, welcoming neighborhood bar where visitors and locals could both commune. And thus, The Well was born. Read CityBeat‘s story to learn more about the new neighborhood watering hole in Covington.
Cincinnati Duo Turtledoves are Challenging the Typical Listening Experience, One Release at a Time
By Eric Bates
In decades past, the album was the standard in releasing music – a great work that the public waited for. In some ways, especially with the renaissance of the vinyl record, the release of a complete body of work is still relevant. But in the last few years, streaming has changed the listening experience, forcing musicians to learn new ways of releasing music. With their current collection of songs, Alex and Ashley McGrath of Turtledoves are meeting that challenge head on by releasing one new single every month this year. Read CityBeat‘s story to learn more about Turtledoves’ new campaign.
Sound Advice: They Might Be Giants to Rejoice in 30 Years of Flood at Madison Theater
By Jason Gargano
John Flansburgh and John Linnell have known each other for nearly five decades, devoting 40 of those years to a musical outfit called They Might Be Giants. That’s a lot of music (23 studio albums!), including their best-known effort, 1990’s Flood. Delayed a few years due to the pandemic, the duo is finally celebrating Flood’s 30th anniversary with a tour that will include most of the album’s 19 songs plus a smattering from the rest of their massive catalog. Read CityBeat‘s story to find out more about what to expect at They Might Be Giants’ upcoming show.
Sound Advice: Night Owl to Mark Vinyl Release at Northside Tavern
By Eric Bates
A soulful, acoustic singer-songwriter evening is what Night Owl will present this month. Rob Mohan (aka Night Owl) prides himself on creating an immersive and moody experience for his audience, filling venues with rich acoustic tones that submerge his listeners in a sea of color. For this show, Night Owl will be joined by Billy Alletzhauser on guitar, Tod Drake on drums and Jacob Perez on bass. Read CityBeat‘s story to learn more about Night Owl’s unique music.
Sound Advice: Vanessa Carlton to Bring Piano-Driven Pop to Ludlow Garage
By Jason Gargano
“A Thousand Miles” was everywhere in 2002, an era when MTV and radio still held the keys to the kingdom. For better or worse, Vanessa Carlton’s cortex-sticking phenomenon — marked by that catchy opening piano riff — transformed her from an unknown 22-year-old singer/songwriter/pianist into a ubiquitous presence, informing nearly everything that has happened to her since. Read CityBeat‘s story to learn how Carlton has overcome being defined only by her huge early-aughts hit.
Sound Advice: Cincinnati Act Tedward to Celebrate Full-Length Release at Legends Bar & Music Venue
By Eric Bates
An epic combination of grunge, punk and shoegaze is what you’ll experience at Legends Bar and Music Venue when Cincinnati grunge/shoegaze band Tedward brings a set filled with musical peaks and valleys. With songs both energetic and imperturbable, Tedward guides the listener through a fuzzed-out and sonically saturated landscape. Read CityBeat‘s story to find out more about Tedward’s upcoming live performance in Cincinnati.
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This article appears in Mar 8-21, 2023.