Matchbox Twenty September 26, 2000 Value City Arena Columbus, Ohio

 Seems odd now that this one didn't make it to the blog sooner. Here you have Matchbox Twenty touring for their sophomore release, Mad Season. I enjoy their early work much more now than I did back then. When Rob Thomas talks about his songs, a repetitive theme is he wants each one to have meaning to the individual listener. That seems to be the way it has worked for me. Throughout the years, these songs have become increasingly meaningful as I've had another twenty-three years to relate to some of them.

I remember thinking when the Columbus Dispatch review of the show came out, how unfair I thought the reviewer (who I knew back in the day) was. Still seems a bit harsh.

I had a chance to catch their tour for their fifth studio album, Where The Light Goes, in Tampa a few days back, which led me to post this one from the archive. 

Anyway, like them or not,  you can listen if you want.  

1. Bent

2. Crutch

3. Argue

4. Girl Like That

5. Kody

6. 3 AM

7. Last Beautiful Girl

8. The Burn

9. Long Day

10. Hang

11. You Won't Be Mine

12. Rest Stop

13. If You're Gone

14. American Girl

15. Mad Season

16. Angry

17. Real World

18. Back 2 Good

19. Stop

20. Leave

21. Busted

22. Push

23. Black and White People

Download this show HERE.

Check out their new album, however you prefer to listen. 

Wussy (Trio) August 09, 2019 Ace of Cups Columbus, Ohio

Next to old friends, the thing I miss most about Ohio after moving to Florida in 2016, is the inability to see Wussy several time a year. Occasionally I get to vicariously attend a show as other fans recount their experiences on Facebook or otherwise. I was fortunate enough to recently become acquainted with Nick the sound guy at Ace of Cups through this blog. Seems we had attended some of the same shows back in the 80's. Anyway, through his generosity we can all enjoy this show.
This time out, the trio consisted of Cleaver, Walker-Hug and Messerly each playing their solo material and stripped down versions of Wussy (and Ass Ponys) tunes in a round-robin fashion, along with some great between song banter. Enjoy this one!

1. Shallow Grave
2. Donald Sutherland
3. Donny's Death Scene
4. The Worst of Us
5. Happiness Bleeds
6. Skip
7. Conversation Lags
8. Folk Night at Fucky's
9. Trail of Sadness
10. Gloria
11. Gen X Lament
12. Kung Fu Reference
13. Pizza King
14. Whispering
15. banter
16. Pretty As You Please
17. Crooked
18. Flowers and the Devil
19. Halloween
20. Terrible Friend

Download this show HERE.

Be sure to check out WussyWorld HERE.

Order their LPs/CDs directly from Shake It HERE.

Nick the sound guy has a great space where some of his other recordings are available. Fans of Wussy will be interested in the Swim Team show he has posted. You can get to that HERE.

Replacements March 12, 1989 Newport Music Hall Columbus, Ohio

Looking back over my notes from the time, I wrote, "This is rock and roll - fast, hard, loud and more loud". From a recent listen, those words still hold true. I refer to this show as Tommy Gets His Girlfriends Out, as there were two young girls standing behind our table all night yelling Tommy's name. This was one of the four times I saw the Replacements between '86 and '91 and although not one of my favorites, it was certainly a really good show. So give this a listen as you're taking a break from For Sale: Live At Maxwell's 1986.

1. Color Me Impressed
2. I Don't Know
3. IOU
4. Anywhere's Better Than Here
5. Back To Back
6. Favorite Thing
7. Kiss Me On The Bus/Another Girl, Another Planet
8. Achin' To Be
9. I Wanna Destroy You
10. Darlin' One
11. The Ledge
12. Walking The Dog
13. I Will Dare
14. Asking Me Lies
15. I'll Be You
16. Answering Machine
17. Little Mascara
18. Can't Hardly Wait
19. Treatment Bound
20. I Can See For Miles
21. I Won't
22. Valentine
23. Left Of The Dial
24. Alex Chilton
25. We'll Inherit The Earth
26. Talent Show
27. Born To Lose
28. Bastard of Young
29. Sadly Beautiful

Download this show HERE.

I believe stage and green room photo credit belongs to
Trace Hull

New Old Cavalry February 24, 2012 Woodland's Tavern Columbus, Ohio

What's not to like about these blue grassers from Bloomington, Indiana? This is some of the best bluegrass/picking I've heard.  Here you have the first time I saw them, opening for the Rumpke Mountain Boys. I've seen them three or four times since, and enjoyed them more each time. Even planned a business trip around catching them in Louisville once. Sadly, I don't believe they play together anymore on a regular basis. If you do ever have a chance to see them, I'd certainly recommend you do. Keep an eye on their Facebook page here. 

1. Finn Mcree
2. New Camptown Races
3. Midnight Train
4. Car Sleep
5. Lonely Winter
6. Beat It On Down The Line
7. Crazy Rooster
8. Katy Daley
9. Big Spike Hammer
10. Balls of Fire in the Sky
11. Why You Wanna Do Me Like That

Download their set here.

Oasis April 24, 2000 Palace Theater Columbus, Ohio

No real ambition to run out and see Oasis, but my wife's cousin had a couple tickets and needed someone to go with - so I did. Turned out to be a really good show.

1. Fuckin' In The Bushes
2. Go Let It Out
3. Who Feels Love?
4. Supersonic
5. Shaker Maker
6. Acquiesce
7. Where Did It All Go Wrong?
8. Gas Panic!
9. Roll With It
10. Stand By Me
11. Wonderwall
12. Cigarettes & Alcohol
13. Don't Look Back In Anger
14. Live Forever
15. Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)
16. Helter Skelter
17. Rock-n-Roll Star

Download this show HERE.

Kentucky Headhunters June 8, 2012 Bicentennial Park Pavilion Columbus, Ohio

Last minute decision to check out this free show left me slightly ill prepared. I didn't have any of my microphones with me, so I used the internal mics on the Edirol. I was pleasantly surprised with the results, especially considering it was an out dooor show. All in all, a really good show and a great evening. The Columbus Scioto Mile Rhythm On The River series is one of the best kept secrets in town.

1. intro
2. Only Daddy That'ss Walk The Line
3. Dixie Lullaby
4. Back To Memphis
5. Have You Ever Loved A Woman
6. Ragtop
7. Walk Softly On his Heart Of Mine
8. House of the Rising Sun
9. High Steppin' Daddy
10. banter
11. Tumblin' Roses
12. Big Boss Man
13. Louisianna Cococ
14. My Daddy Was A Milkman
15. Oh, Lonesome Me
16. drum solo
17. Great Acoustics
18. Nine Pound Hammer
19. Sairway to Heaven
20. Up On Cripple Creek/Rock an Roll
21. Spirit In The Sky
22. Dumas Walker
23. encore break
24. Don't Let Me Down/Hey Jude

 Download this show HERE.

Visit their website HERE.

Joe Jackson October 9, 1990 Newport Music Hall Columbus, Ohio

This show was billed as Joe Jackson's Workshop, and was basically a small club rehearsal tour to work out what would eventually become Laughter and Lust. This was a fantastic show. Enjoy this
one!!

1. Stepping Out
2. Right and Wrong
3. Drowning
4. Got The Time
5. My Hometown
6. The Obvious Song
7. Going Downtown
8. Stranger Than Fiction
9. Another World
10. The Other Me
11. Fools In Love
12. Hit Single
13. Rant and Rave
14. 19 Forever
15. Oh Well
16. Jenny G
17. Blaze of Glory
18. band intro
19. Every Time You Walk Into The Room
20. I'm The Man
21. A Slow Song

Download this show HERE.

Visit Joe's website HERE to find new music and tour information.

 

Tait January 25, 2004 Grace Bretheren Church Columbus, Ohio

Taking a break from their usual electric tour, here is Tait in a stripped down, laid back performance that was just as powerful as anytime I'd previously seen them. I remember a really bad snow storm that almost prevented us from getting to the show. For those that may not know, Tait was a band that was formed by Michael Tait after DC Talk broke up, and before he fronted The Newsboys.  He released two exceptional albums, "Empty" and "Lose This Life", while a third was in the works when The Newsboys called him to duty. His music from this period of his career still has incredible meaning for me.

1. intro
2. Lose This Life
3. Loss For Words
4. In The Light
5. banter
6. God Can You Hear Me
7. banter
8. All You Got
9. Thy Word
10. banter
11. Reconnecting
12. band intro
13. Wait
14. Spy

Download this show HERE.

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists July 10, 2010 Skully's Music Diner Columbus, Ohio

Just feeling compelled to share this. I absolutely loved The Brutalist Bricks  LP when it came out, and I also loved Skully's as a music venue in Columbus. Ted was rather cranky this night, and for some reason, I didn't record the entire show (which I hugely regret), but had a great time none the less.

01. broken guitar rant
02. The Mighty Sparrow
03. The One Who Got Us Out
04. Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone?
05. Mourning In America
06. Where Was My Brain
07. Army Bound
08. Everything Gets Interrupted
09. Even Heroes Have To Die
10. The Stick
11. st. louis rant #1
12. Counting Gown The Hours
13. Little Dawn
14 Colleen
15. st louis rant #2

Download this show HERE.

Lou Reed March 31, 1989 Palace Theater Columbus, Ohio

Touring in support of the fantastic "New York" release, Lou and company made a stop at Columbus' Palace Theater. I've often debated this being his best solo album, or at least my personal favorite- though "The Blue Mask" would rank right up there. As was usual during this tour, he played the entire "New York" album before digging into his vast back catalog. The show was amazing! I've seen Lou a number of times over the years, and this was probably my favorite. I've never had great results recording at the Palace, but other than slightly over modulated, this one turned out pretty well. I recall being way up front, like fifth row or so. Portions of the official "Busload of Faith" video was shot here this night.   

Download this show HERE.


1.Romeo Had Juliette
2. Halloween Parade
3. Dirty Blvd.
4. Endless Cycle
5. There Is No Time
6. Last Great American Whale
7. Beginning of a Great Adventure
8. Busload of Faith
9. Xmas in February
10. Strawman
11. Dime Store Mystery
12. I Love You Suzanne
13. One For My Baby
14. Doing The Things That We Want To
15. Rock-n-Roll
16. Video Violence
17. The Original Wrapper
18. Sweet Jane
19. Walk On The Wild Side
20. Vicious

Wussy July 07, 2016 Double Happiness Columbus, Ohio

Wussy hit Columbus toward the end of their Forever Sounds tour, spewing their gloriously noisy brand of rock and roll into the face of a full room at Yalan Papillons' Double Happiness. Heavily represented by tunes from their newest Forever Sounds, the set's only tune earlier than Strawberry was the opening Little Paper Birds. They also served up a handful of tunes from Attica!, and the set included two covers that have become standards on this tour. It's bitter-sweet that they have so many good new songs, that they don't have enough time to play more good old songs. Everyone knows, or has certainly read, that Wussy is one of the best, if not the best, band in America right now (and in my opinion, has been for several years now). I wondered how they would top the momentum they achieved from  the Attica! release/tour, and the experiences I've had during the Forever Sounds era have proven these guys get better with age.

1. Little Paper Birds
2. Dropping Houses
3. Gone
4. She's Killed Hundreds
5. Donny's Death Scene
6. Pulverized
7. Pizza King
8. Better Days
9. To The Lightning
10. Hello, I'm A Ghost
11. Aliens In Our Midst (Twinkeyz)
12. Teenage Wasteland
13. Beautiful
14. Ceremony (Joy Division/New Order)

Download this show HERE.

See them live, buy their merch, download their tunes and otherwise celebrate the gloriousness of all things Wussy.

Wussy.org

Shake-It Records

Wussy @ Bandcamp

Hot Hot Heat November 7, 2005 Newport Music Hall Columbus, Ohio

Back in 2005/2006, this Canadian band was all over alternative/college radio, and they were indeed, hot. Their first two albums (2002's Make Up the Breakdown and 2005's Elevator) were brilliant, but the two since lack the poppy, turn-it-up-real-loud impact that their earlier material had on me. This was the second show of this tour, and they sounded tight and put on a great show. I briefly read somewhere that they are planning to release brand new material in the Spring of 2016. As a bonus, I've included an FM broadcast from the local radio station from earlier the same day.

Download this show HERE.


1. Running Out of Time
2. Dirty Mouth
3. Get In and Get Out
4. Pickin' It Up
5. Middle of Nowhere
6. Talk To Me, Dance With Me
7. Island of the Honest Man
8. Le Le Low
9. You Owe Me An IOU
10. No, Not Now
11. Ladies and Gentlemen
12. unknown
13. Oh, Godammit
14. Save Us S.O.S.
15. Bandages
16. Jingle Jangle
17. Elevator
18. Goodnight Goodnight

BONUS
November 7, 2005
CD101 Big Room
Columbus, Ohio
Live In Studio
01. You Owe Me An IOU
02. Goodnight Goodnight
03. Middle of Nowhere
04. Jingle Jangle

Andy Bopp/Andrew Grimm (June Star) March 23, 2016 Big Room Bar Columbus, Ohio

Andy Bopp/Andrew Grimm (June Star)
March 23, 2016
Big Room Bar
Columbus, Ohio

1. Red Eye
2. Love
3. Limousine
4. Hello
5. unknown
6. Whisper
7. Telegraph
8. You're Still Here
9. Feathers
10. Swing Away
11. Pope of Mexico

Download this show HERE.

Any time I go see June Star, (eight times in the past six years) I never know what to expect. Will it be Andrew leading a full band, Andrew and (more often than not), Dave Hadley on pedal steel, Andrew solo acoustic or some other configuration. Not that it matters much, each is a very enjoyable experience, and Andrew has a way of drawing his audiance in to feel each song as he does. At least that's how it goes for me. The emotion is real and can be felt as well as heard. 
This night was a bit different- just Andrew and Andy Bopp playing together. First, a handfull of Andy Bopp songs with Andrew backing him on lap steel. Then Andrew taking the mic for a few of his tunes, including the new single "You're Still Here" which you can find HERE.

June Star December 17, 2010 Treehouse Columbus, Ohio

1. Breakdown
2. Without You Now
3. If You Leave
4. Telegraph
5. Somehow
6. Inside
7. Wolves
8. Pope of Mexico
9. Sweet Division
10. Slow Hours
11. Arrows and Rocks
12. Thunder

Download this show HERE.

My original text from this show:
"First exposure to this band, opening for Wussy, but won't be my last! What a great little band. Certainly glad I had the foresight to hit the record button. Thanks Andrew!
Enjoy this one!!"

Since then, I've seen June Star seven other times, and will not miss an opportunity. If you haven't heard of them, or haven't seen them live, check these guys out! HERE is some of their stuff on Bandcamp.