Angela Perley & The Howlin' Moons December 19, 2015 Moe's Original Bar B Que Granville, Ohio

Angela Perley brought her Howlin' Moons into Granville's best kept secret, the DIY, second story of Moe's Original Bar B Que. The place was packed and the band was hot! Fresh off their CD release show for "Homemade Vision" at Skully's Music Diner the night before, the band plowed through thirty-five songs, including the entire new disc, which was also for sale this night, though not officially released until January 22. This Columbus outfit combines alternative country with straight ahead rock and roll mixed with just enough hillbilly drawl and twang to give them a unique and interesting sound. If that weren't enough, The Howlin' Moons put their stamp on a handful of covers, most notably Black Sabbath's N.I.B. to close the nearly three hour show. What a great evening! A quick check of their website reveals a dozen or more shows scheduled into 2016. I believe they mentioned more dates would be added after the release of the new one (which I picked up, by the way, and am anxious to listen through). If you have the opportunity, I strongly encourage you to catch one of their shows, and be sure to pick up "Homemade Vision" when it's released. Last year's "Hey Kid" should also find its way into your collection. 

1. George Stone
2. Milk In The Fridge
3. Ghost
4. Howlin' At The Moon
5. Be Bad
6. Roll On Over
7. Blue Eyed Lola
8. Dangerous Love
9. 18 Feet Under
10. White Doves
11. Gonna Make That Girl Mine
12. I Don't Wanna Be Your Fool
13. Brand New Cadillac
14. Bad Reputation
15. Hurricane
16. Rock and Roller
17. Electric Flame
18. Town To Town
19. Dandelion Kisses
20. Easy
21. Your Love
22. Athens
23. I Put A Spell On You
24. Take Me Back
25. Nowhere Is Here Now
26. Leaving
27. I've Been Blue
28. County Fair
29. White Freightliner Blues
30. You Better Be Scared
31. It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock -n- Roll)
32. Nothin' But Trouble
33. Come On Home
34. Green Eyes
35. N.I.B.

Download this show HERE.

I'd certainly like to add some pictures of the evening- unfortunately, I didn't get out my camera. If you have some to share, drop me a line on Facebook HERE.

Newsboys December 05, 2015 Palace Theater Columbus, Ohio

A 2014 movie entitled "God's Not Dead" named after a 2011 Newsboys album and their cover of a Daniel Bashta/David Crowder Band tune, is the inspiration of their current We Believe God's Not Dead tour. With the sequel to the movie, and a new Newsboys album in the works, presumably linked in content in some way, not to mention this tour, has kept these guys hopping. I've liked Michael Tait since his days with DC Talk, and really enjoyed his subsequent solo work. It was great to see his passion for the music and his faith have not waivered. I really enjoyed this show, much more than I thought I would and considered heading to Canton for their show the following night.

1. intro
2. Restart
3. Fishers of Men
4. banter
5. That's How You Change The World
6. Your Love Never Fails
7. banter
8. Live With Abandon
9. He Reigns
10. prayer
11. Hero
12. banter
13. Guilty
14. banter/I Need Thee
15. We Believe
16. The King Is Coming
17. Born Again
18. Crazy
19. Jesus Freak
20. encore break
21. God's Not Dead (Like a Lion)
22. Revelation Song

Download this show HERE.
Visit their webpage HERE.
Check them out on Facebook HERE.

 

Andrew Grimm November 14, 2015 Tree Bar Columbus, Ohio

I found out Friday afternoon that Andrew Grimm, leader of the mighty June Star, was doing a solo acoustic opening set the very next nigh at the Tree Bar. Naturally I shifted my plans around to attend. I've not seen him solo acoustic, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I knew it would be good. It was a nice surprise to hear "Gone" and "Local 48", two of his tunes that I hadn't heard live. Another nice surprise was a new, yet to be recorded song, "You're Still Here". Finally, "Pope of Mexico" blended smoothly into Richard Thompson's "1952 Vincent Black Lightning". Man I wanted to hear more, but that was it- there were three more bands to play and I had to get on with my original plans. Check out June Star, in whatever derivation, any chance you get.

1. Trouble
2. Thunder
3. Atrophy
4. Valentine
5. Gone
6. Local 48
7. You're Still Here
8. Pope of Mexico
9. 1952 Vincent Black Lightning

The latest June Star release, "Pull Awake" is available at Bandcamp HERE. It's a good one! Give it a listen won't you?

Download this set HERE.

June Star's website is HERE.

And you can find them on Facebook HERE.

Ass Ponys November 6 & 7, 2015 Woodward Theater Cincinnati, Ohio

I've struggled with the decision not to post links to these two shows that I recorded. On one hand, certainly more than the 600 folks each night that got to attend the reunion shows should be able to hear them. On the other hand, I don't want to give someone a reason not to purchase these shows when they are officially released (presumably by Shake It). Instead, I'll take the opportunity to post some pictures and share some memories in an effort to memorialize the weekend.

This was a hugely anticipated event; not only by me but seemingly by folks all across the US. I know or met people those nights from Washington, California, Colorado, Texas, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. I'm sure other states were represented too. It seemed there were more folks there from outside of Cincinnati than were local. No matter where they came from, all had a great time!

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit this, but this was the first time I saw Ass Ponys live. During their heyday, I was busy attending soccer matches, basketball games or cross country meets and otherwise being super dad to my three daughters. I didn't get out much during that time. I did pick up each of their new discs as they came out (and played them endlessly), and accumulated a boat-load of their live recordings during those years. Just as the kids got to an age where I got a part of my life back, Wussy was taking off and I got into them - big time.

I've also struggled with how to describe my experience over the reunion weekend. Obviously it was a good time and the music was fantastic- that goes without saying. I guess the word that comes to mind most often when I think of this weekend is magical- as pansy as that sounds. Friday night was surreal, from the opening notes of Hey Swifty to the last lines of Little Bastard. In its entirety, night one's set list was:

1. Hey Swifty
2. Ape Hanger
3. Grim
4. Earth To Grandma
5. Azalea
6. Pretty As You Please
7. Kung Fu Reference
8. It's Summer Here
9. Redway
10. Butterfly
11. I Love Bob
12. Banlon Shirt
13. Last Night It Snowed
14. Stupid
15. Shoe Money
16. Donald Sutherland
17. Astronaut
18. Dried Up
19. Ring A Ding Ding I'm Rotten Inside
20. Sidewinder
21. Your Amazing Life
22. Gypped
23. Wall Eyed Girl
24. Little Bastard

They did take a short break after Banlon Shirt because, "We're old". Banlon Shirt night one was probably the musical highlight of the weekend for me. That is such a intense song. Also top of my favorites from night one were Redway and Butterfly, with honorable mention going to Wall Eyed Girl.

Night two's set list in its entirety was:

1. Hey Swifty
2. Ape Hanger
3. Grim
4. Earth To Grandma
5. Azalea
6. Pretty As You Please
7. Kung Fu Reference
8. Nothing Starts Today
9. Redway
10. Butterfly
11. (Baby) I Love You (Baby)
12. Banlon Shirt
13. Last Night It Snowed
14. Stupid
15. Shoe Money
16. Donald Sutherland
17. Mr. Superlove
18. Dried Up
19. Ring A Ding Ding I'm Rotten Inside
20. Sidewinder
21. Place Out There
22. Gypped
23. Wall Eyed Girl
24. Little Bastard
25. encore break
26. I Love Bob
27. Your Amazing Life


Chuck seemed more relaxed night two, as he spent more time chatting with the crowd and telling more song intro stories. Randy goofed off a little more this night than the previous. I've heard the Ring A Ding Ding story many times (the Wussy Duo regularly plays it), but I'm amused anew each time I hear it. It was great to hear Mr. Superlove on night two, but when Chuck introduced (Baby) I Love You (Baby) by simply saying, "I'm from a cancer family", I thought I was going to ball- again, pansy, I know.

Swim Team opened the festivities Friday night and did a fantastic job, as did Vacation on Saturday night. You should check them out!

Enough rambling. If you could have been there and you weren't, shame on you! If you couldn't be there, I understand WNKU will broadcast at least part of the pro-recorded audio over the Holidays, and some variant thereof will be officially released, presumably by Shake It, in the new year.

The above fantastic photos courtesy of Richard Tarbell. Check out his site HERE.

Cincinnati City Beat reviewed the show HERE, and summed it all up quite well!

In addition to the really cool poster limited to 100 (above) that was sold at the show, they also sold a set of four buttons, with a miniature flyer from a past Ass Ponys show, and a cool t-shirt (limited to 200) modeled here by Wussy's Lisa Walker. Supposedly, the shirt is patterned after the very first Ass Ponys shirt that was designed by Chuck's daughter when she was quite young. When asked why there were only three people in the design, she indicated it was because nobody ever sees the drummer.

For the reunion, they did take one promo photo of the band because Chuck didn't want the band represented by a 20 year old photo. Here it is in color and black and white.

Finally, after the show, the band was awarded a medal memorializing the reunion weekend. I'd like to share a special THANK YOU to Chuck Cleaver, Randy Cheek, John Erhardt and Dave Morrison for a totally wonderful weekend!

Colt Ford October 15, 2015 Tequila Cowboy Columbus, Ohio

Two of my daughters and I decided to go see Colt Ford on this Thursday night. This was the second time I'd seen him and the evening was a blast! Country music is not my normal go-to, but Colt Ford blends many styles into his music that somehow hits a sweet spot for me. His vocals tend to have a rappy hint to them, but it's subtle and oddly enough, fits in well with the Country/Southern Rock that clearly dominates his style.  

1. Mr. Good Time
2. Answer To No One
3. The High Life
4. Crank It Up
5. Back
6. Crickets
7. Country Thang
8. Drivin' Around Song
9. Medley
      Waste Some Time
      Cricket On A Line
      Huntin' The World
      This Is Our Song
10. Working On
11. Ride Through The Country
12. She's Like
13. Chicken & Biscuits
14. Dirty Side
15. Hip Hop In A Honky Tonk
16. No Trash In My Trailer
17. Washed In The Mud
18. encore break
19. Lose Yourself
20. Dirt Road Anthem

 Download this show HERE.

Visit Colt Ford's website HERE.

Colt Ford's Facebook page HERE.

Oakhurst September 24, 2015 Woodlands Tavern Columbus, Ohio

The return of the mighty Big Oak! There's some debate on when they last played Woodlands Tavern (it was either three or four years ago), but one thing is certain- gone are the days when we could see them once, sometimes twice a year. There are a couple new faces in the lineup this time around too. I was glad to see the return of the banjo to the band, and Matt Cooper handled the task effortlessly. Drummer Michael Colon kept the beat and seemed to be having a blast behind the kit. New or old, this is a great group of guys, and I'm really glad I got to see them one more time. I'm not sure how often they play outside of their home base of Denver these days, but if you get the chance, go see them live. I guarantee you will have a great time. You can download/listen to their three outstanding releases from your favorite site including iTunes and Spotify. I happen to be partial to "Jump In The Get Down".   

1. Eggs On My Face
2. Muddy Water
3. Close Your Eyes
4. Down Along The Dixie Line
5. Jim 'n' Nan
6. Blue Song
7. instrumental
8. Down The Lane
9. Blue Night
10. Little Maggie
11. Arkansas River
12. Columbus Stockade
13. Tennessee Mountain Girl

Download their first set HERE.

Follow them on Facebook HERE.

Their website is HERE.

Wussy (duo) September 18, 2015 Big Room Bar Columbus, Ohio

I never tire of seeing Wussy, in whatever formation. For me, this night was particularly entertaining, despite both members of the duo not feeling well. Lisa was a little slow getting to the stage, so Chuck opened the show with what he explained would be the B-side to their first ever 7", a non LP cut from the upcoming album. He offered a certainly bogus title- in true Chuck fashion (UPDATE: the real title of the song is actually Folk Night At Fucky's). This was one of the two new songs they played. The set also included four Ass Ponys tunes and a couple I hadn't heard them play live recently (Bought It Again and Mayflies). The inclusion of "I Give You All" from the Public Domain Vol. 1 disc was a pleasant surprise as well. Speaking of Ass Ponys, there are reunion shows planned for November 6 and 7 at the Woodward Theater in Cincinnati. Tickets are available right HERE. Hats of to the Scrawl ladies for opening- they kicked it! It was great seeing Marcy and Sue playing together as a duo.

1. new song
2. Ring A Ding Ding I'm Rotten Inside
3. new song
4. Maglite
5. Pretty As You Please
6. Dried Up
7. Bought It Again
8. Donald Sutherland
9. I Give You All
10. Mayflies
11. Airborne
12. Acetylene
13. Don't Leave Just Now

Download this show HERE.

Visit their website HERE,

Check out Wussy on Facebook HERE.

Order their official releases from Shake It Records HERE.

June Star July 13, 2015 Tree Bar Columbus, Ohio

Once again June Star rolled into the Tree Bar, this time the last stop of their 2015 Summer Tour. Even though it was a rainy Monday night, and I was looking at only four hours before the next work day began, the experience, like all the other times I've seen June Star, was exceptional. I'm really not complaining at all. I'm sure bands like June Star make much bigger sacrifices to entertain a handful of people in a dingy bar, 4oo miles or more from home, night after night. Driving home in a torrential downpour and being tired at work the next day is a small price to pay. I've written many positive comments about June Star over the years- all of which apply to this night as well. For now, suffice it to say these are great folks playing great music to an appreciative, albeit too small of a crowd. Thanks for coming back time and time again!      


1. Saint
2. Valentine
3. Count To Ten
4. House Call
5. Thunder
6. Coma
7. Apollo
8. Undertow
9. Telegraph
10. Tether
11. Feather
12. Atrophy
13. Hard Working Miner
14. Pope of Mexico

Download this show HERE.

Visit June Star on Facebook HERE.

Check out their Bandcamp page
HERE where you can download their brilliant 11th and latest release "Pull Awake" and a couple others. I have it on good authority that more of the back catalog will be made available on Bandcamp soon.

By all means, go see this band live if you ever get the chance.

Discography:

1998 June Star
2000 Songs From An Engineer's
Daughter
2001 Telegraph
2004 Sugarbird
2007 Cora Belle
2009 Shift, Engage and Initiate
2010 Lower Your Arms
2012 Slow Dance
2013 Kill the Lights
2014 Simple Truths
2015 Pull Awake

Blue Highway June 5, 2015 Bicentennial Park Amphitheater Columbus, Ohio

The evening started out great with beautiful weather and a strong opening set for locals Strung Up. About 30 minutes into their set, Blue Mountain left the stage due to lightning. A torrential downpour followed which sent the entire audience scrambling for cover. Most simply left, and the show was over at that point. 

1. intro
2. Pikeville Flood
3. Lonesome Pine
4. Marbletown
5. Keen Mountain Prison
6. instrumental
7. band intro
8. Just To Have A Job
9. All The Things You Do
10. Some Day
11. show stopped due to storm

See these guys live if you get the chance, and pick up some of their recorded output.


Visit their webpage HERE.

Download this show HERE.