Robert Cray August 24, 1990 Bogart's Cincinnati, Ohio (with the Memphis Horns)

Here you have premier Rhythm and Blues, spiced up some by the Memphis Horns. Posting this one some thirty-four years after the fact, in anticipation of seeing him again in early 2024. I had seen Robert Cray a couple years earlier in Chicago, which was more raw and loose than this rather slick, Cincinnati show. Both very good shows. All of the shows I recorded at Bogart's from my sweet spot in the balcony turned out great. This one is no exception.

1. Phone Booth

2. March On
3. These Things

4. My Problem

5. Bouncin' Back

6. Bad Influence

7. The Forecast (Calls For Pain)

8. Right Next Door (Because of Me)

9. Consequences

10. The Things You Do To Me

11. Holdin' Court

12. Labor of Love

13. Walk Around Town

14. Acting This Way

15. band intro

16. Smoking Gun

17. Nothin' But a Woman

18. I Guess I Showed Her

19. Move a Mountain

Download this show HERE.

Visit Robert on the innerweb at his website HERE, or on Facebook HERE.

Wussy October 29, 2011 Northside Tavern Cincinnati, Ohio

1. Little Paper Birds

2. Pulverized

3. Chicken

4. Asteroids

5. Banter

6. Dreadful Sorry

7. Pizza King

8. Banter

9. Shunt

10. Happiness Bleeds

11. Muscle Cars

12. Magnolia

13. Airborne

14. Tiny Spiders

15. Wrist Rocket

16. Little Miami

17. Encore break

18. Waiting Room

19. Maglight

20. Rigor Mortis

This was the Strawberry CD release party and also the tavern's annual Halloween party. Wussy was dressed up as Lynyrd Skynyrd, post plane crash. Download this show, as well as many more pictures HERE:

Wussy (Duo) April 10, 2016 Shake It Records Cincinnati, Ohio

Last minute call to head to Cincinnati to see the Wussy duo in their last home-town appearance before their first full band tour of the UK later this month. I've heard them perform the "Forever Sounds" tunes several times now, and it was great to hear these stripped down versions, along with a couple Ass Ponys chestnuts. To close the set, Lisa sang a beautiful "I Give You All" from last year's Record Store Day release, "Public Domain Volume 1".  Check below for the remainder of their scheduled tour dates, or visit their website HERE. Pick up their new CD/vinyl, "Forever Sounds", directly from Shake It Records HERE, or download it from your favorite site. This year's Record Store Day release is a limited edition 7" of Wussy covering Joy Division/New Order's "Ceremony" with an unreleased B-side on gold colored vinyl.


1. tuning & intro
2. Hello, I'm A Ghost
3. Majestic-12
4. My Parade
5. Donald Sutherland
6. Donny's Death Scene
7. In The Tall Weeds
8. Pretty As You Please
9. I Give You All

Download this show HERE.

Scrawl February 27, 2016 Woodward Theater Cincinnati, Ohio

Attending Ohio State in the mid/late '80s allowed me to see all the good bands in all the good clubs. Scrawl was one of those bands, and anywhere they played was one of those clubs. Fast forward thirty years. Scrawl, (and any other band Marcy Mays and/or Sue Harshe are playing in) is still one of those bands, and we can credit Marcy for bringing back the feel of campus in the '80s/'90s with her club, Ace of Cups. When I had the opportunity to see Scrawl open for my current favorite band (Wussy), I knew it would be a great double header. I was not mistaken. Their post-punk/riot grrrl sound has fared well throughout the years, and they sounded really good this night. The reaction of the sold out crowd, many of which arrived early enough for Scrawl's opening set, seemed to agree.

1. Good Under Pressure
2. Everyone I Saw Tonight
3. For Your Sister
4. The Garden Path
5. I'm Not Stuck
6. You Make It A Crime
7. Come Back Then
8. Hunting Me Down
9. Warnings
10. Green Beer

Download this show HERE.

Photos courtesy of citymusic.com/ORU Media
and John Smallwood

Wussy February 27, 2016 Woodward Theater Cincinnati, Ohio

Wussy rolled into the sold out Woodward Theater with their sonic assault, playing the entire new (fantastic, awesome, wonderful, great, spectacular, super) album "Forever Sounds". Almost sticking to the set list, the evening also included fifteen other tunes, include the newer than new "The Tall Weeds" and two covers; the Twinkeyz "Aliens In Our Midst", and the slightly less obscure "Ceremony" by Joy Division/New Order. I've seen Wussy dozens of time now, but this time was a little different. Overall, they seemed more practiced, yet still gloriously shabby. Lisa in particular seemed to have a renewed swagger to her stage presence, and John Erhardt has certainly become an integral part of their live sound. For years now, Wussy has been critally acclaimed in the press- let's hope "Forever Sounds" is the breakthrough this band deserves. Opening the show were the Columbus based post-punk pioneers Scrawl who delivered a tight and impressive set of their own. These are the better days...  

1. Dropping Houses
2. She's Killed Hundreds
3. Donny's Death Song
4. Gone
5. Hello, I'm a Ghost
6. Hand of God
7. Sidewalk Sale
8. Better Days
9. Majestic-12
10. My Parade
11. I Give You All
12. Teenage Wasteland
13. Pizza King
14. The Tall Weeds
15. To The Lightning
16. North Sea Girls
17. Aliens In Our Midst (Twinkeyz)
18. Pulverized
19. Maglite
20. Gene, I Dream
21. Rigor Mortis
22. Beautiful
23. encore break
24. Folk Night At Fucky's
25. Ceremony (New Order)
26. Airborne

Download this show HERE.

Photos courtesy of citymusic.com/ORU Media et al

 

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!

Ramones July 18, 1990 Timberwolf Amphitheater Kings Island Amusement Park Cincinnati, Ohio

Billed as the Escape From New York Tour, the awesome lineup this day also included  The Tom Tom Club, Jerry Harrison and the Casual Gods and Debbie Harry.


Joey
Johnny
C.J.
Marky


1. Durango 95
2. Teenage Lobotomy
3. Psycho Therapy
4. Blitzkrieg Bop
5. Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio?
6. I Believe In Miracles
7. Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment
8. Rock and Roll High School
9. I Wanna Be Sedated
10. Beat on the Brat
11. I Wanna Live
12. Bonzo Goes To Bitburg
13. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker

14. Rockaway Beach
15. Pet Sematary
16. Mama's Boy
17. Animal Boy
18. Wart Hog
19. Surfin' Bird
20. Cretin Hop
21. I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You
22. Today Your Love Tomorrow the World
23. Pinhead
24. Chinese Rock
25. Somebody Put Something In My Drink
26. We're A Happy Family

 Download this show HERE.

Wussy June 6, 2014 Fountain Square Cincinnati, Ohio

1. Teenage Wasteland
2. Rainbows and Butterflies
3. Bug
4. Pulverized
5. Pizza King
6. Gene, I Dream
7. North Sea Girls
8. To The Lightning
9. Happiness Bleeds
10. Maglite
11. Beautiful
12. Airborne

Seemingly (and hopefully) on the verge of exploding with their latest release Attica!, Wussy played to a packed Fountain Square on this beautiful spring evening. Not sure I can say anything more than what's been written lately in order of praise; all the glowing reviews of Attica! are absolutely spot on, and the songs certainly translate well live. Of particular note this night were the inclusion of Gene, I Dream and North Sea Girls, complete with Lisa's lovely mandolin strumming. Beautiful remains my favorite from the new release, and I also really, really like Rainbows and Butterflies. If you haven't seen them live, I beseech you to check them out on this tour.  

Download this show HERE.
Visit their website HERE.
Follow them on Facebook HERE.
 

Los Lobos April 3, 1987 Bogart's Cincinnati, Ohio

1. Evangeline

2. We're Gonna Rock

3. Tears of God

4. Will The Wolf Survive

5. Is This All There Is?

6. Anselma
7. I Got To Let You Know

8. Our Last Night
9. One Time, One Night
10. My Baby's Gone
11. Come On Let's Go

12. A Matter of Time

13. The Hardest Time
14. All I Wanted To Do Was Dance
15. Why Do You Do
16. Let's Say Goodnight
17. How Much Can I Do
18. Serenata Nortena
19. Volver, Volver
20. I Got Loaded
21. Shakin' Shakin' Shakes
22. Set Me Free (Rosa Lee)
23. Don't Worry Baby
24. Prenda del Alma
25. I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday
26. encore break
27. Serves Me Right To Suffer
28. 300 Pounds of Heavenly Joy/band intro
29. Mighty Old Love
30. I'm A Girl Watcher
31. La Bamba


Download show HERE

Check out their website here, buy their discs and go see them live if you get a chance.