Seems like for the past few years, a day doesn’t go by without an announcement that some band or other is getting back together for a reunion show, tour and/or album. The reasons vary. Usually it’s a combination of wanting to play for fans that never got to see you, wanting to play for superfans that really miss you, wanting to get back with your old friends to play for the sheer joy of it, and wanting to make a little cash money on the side.
Local bands aren’t immune to the allure of “getting the band back together.” Several beloved local groups (because, if you weren’t beloved and you reunite, you’re really just restarting) have announced reunion shows that will take place before 2011 is over. Below are some of the Greater Cincinnati faves reconvening over the next several months (let us know if we missed anyone), as well as a “wish list” of who we’d love to see pull a reunion move, even for just one night. Who would you like to see again? —-
This Saturday, Funk/Jazz/Rock/Fusion/Jam ensemble Ray’s Music Exchange take over the Southgate House for their now-annual family reunion, while legendary veteran Pop/Rock trio psychodots — whose reunions were more than just annual this year — come back to the Southgate (Nov. 25) for their traditional Thanksgivingtime show. The Edge and Snare & The Idiots — bands from the ’80s Punk scene centered around Newport’s Jockey Club — get back together for the annual Jockey reunion at the Southgate (Nov. 12).
Hard ’n heavy rockers A Present Day Nightmare and V-Mob pull off a double-reunion Nov. 11 at Covington’s Mad Hatter/Radiodown, in an example of another reason bands reunite — for a good cause. The show is a benefit for V-Mob bassist Andrew Craig, who recently suffered a stroke. On Dec. 30, groovin’ Rock/Pop group Homunculus reunites for a Southgate show that will also raise funds for The Wellness Community of Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky.
As for who else is out there to reunite, the local field of realistic contenders is pretty big, though not as big as one might think. Some tragically can’t re-team due to deaths in the band (Heavy Weather, Big In Iowa, The Lemon Pipers, Wheels). Many others have already done reunions of some sort, like Human Zoo, The Zionites, The Amoeba Men, SHAG, Throneberry, The Stapletons, The Speed Hickeys and The Customs. And some have returned and gone beyond simply reuniting, gearing up the old crew for more than a one-off, like Hip Hop trio Mood, The Long Gones and Pure Prairie League.
Topping my wish list for bands I’d love to see reassemble is a group that’s probably on a lot of people’s wish list … and not just in Cincinnati. The Afghan Whigs got back together a few years back, but not for any performances. The group recorded two new tracks for a greatest hits collection released by Rhino. But, oh, to see the four original Whigs — Dulli, Curley, McCollum and Earle — blaze though a three or four hour hometown reunion show at, say, Sawyer Point (or Music Hall during MidPoint 2012?!). Greg Dulli has been consistent in his insistence that the Whigs would never get back together, but if anyone has any billionaire pals, we might be in luck. Dulli told Spin last year that a Whigs show could happen: “If you know a sheik or a sultan who wants us to play a party, I’ll play that party.”
The Deele is another group it would probably take a lot of money to see together again. Though Carlos Greene and Darnell Bristol have reformed The Deele (which had hits with tracks like “Two Occasions” and “Body Talk”), two of the band’s members are quite busy with other projects — Cincy native Antonio “L.A.” Reid is a judge on The X Factor and Indianapolis’ favorite son, Kenneth Edmonds, has a pretty successful thing going as a solo artist under his stage name, Babyface.
One of the biggest “New Wave” bands on the local scene in the ’80s, the ahead-of-their-time ensemble Red Math splintered into other groups after their run, including The Mimis, Oyster and, eventually, SHAG. Members are scattered across the country, but that’s rarely been a big enough reason to squash the chance of a reunion.
Likewise, it would be great to see Sleep Theatre — which featured SHAG/Freekbass bassist Chris Sherman, Rob Hamrick (lately of Tonefarmer), drummer Johnny Miracle (whose played in a variety of bands around town) and Itaal Shur, who went on to win a Grammy for co-writing Santana’s “Smooth” with Rob Thomas — back on a stage together. Sleep Theatre was sorta the Stones to Red Math’s Beatles. Or vice-versa.
The Ass Ponys‘ spirit lives on in the music of Wussy, lead singer Chuck Cleaver’s latest, successful band. But if I were a sheik or a sultan, I might make a bid for a full on reteaming of Cleaver, bassist Randy Cheek, guitarist John Erhardt and drummer Dave Morrison (the “classic lineup” from the Okra/A&M days), running through classics from “Grim” to “Earth to Grandma” to “It’s Summer Here.” When my sultan paperwork goes through, I’ll throw a big party (you’re all invited) and The Ass Ponys can open for Beyonce. Or vice-versa.
Who else?
This article appears in Oct 5-11, 2011.