thu 04/03
Gomez Addams/Root Bottle/Dead Buckeye Six: 8:30 p.m., $5. Grog Shop.
Atlantic Thrills/Teen Vomit/Swirly in the Fryer: 9 p.m., $5. Now That’s Class.
Bad Boys Jam: 9 p.m. Brothers Lounge.
Hathaway Brown Musical Showcase: 7:30 p.m., $5. Nighttown.
Chris Hatton (in the Wine Bar): 8 p.m. Brothers Lounge.
Neck Deep/Knuckle Puck/Light Years: 7 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Mahall’s 20 Lanes.
Spyder Stompers/Charlie Mosbrook/Rupert Wates: 6 p.m. Barking Spider Tavern.
Stoned & Beautiful/Scarlet & the Harlots: Calling itself a “garage funk power trio,” this local act boasts, “We like to rock. If your face likes to rock, we will rock your face.” It’s an appropriate motto given the trippy music on the group’s debut, Songs for My Mom. The woozy opening tune “Lines in the Sand” features cooing vocals and a snappy bass riff. It’s hardly representative of the band’s approach, however. The group quickly shifts gears with the hard-rocking “Fuck It,” a twangy tune that recalls early Wilco. And the band lets its funk flag fly in the synth-y tune “Your Love.” Some of the sonic shifts are rather abrupt (the wispy intro to “The Woods” doesn’t really work) but these guys are good enough musicians to pull it off. 9 p.m., $8 ADV, $10 DOS. Beachland Tavern. (Jeff Niesel)
fri 04/04
American Authors/Wild Cub/These Knees: Even if you don’t recognize this band by its name, chances are you’ve heard at least one of its catchy pop tunes. “Best Day of My Life,” the first single from their new album Oh, What a Life, has been used in a variety of different contexts. It was in a Lowe’s TV ad, a trailer for the film Delivery Man, the Secret Life Of Walter Mitty, a Major League Baseball Fan Cave commercial, and the opening sequence of this year’s ESPN World Series Of Poker coverage. Whew! The music on Oh, What a Life veers from Mumford-like anthems (“Home”) to pretty pop ballads (“Love”). All the tunes have a jubilance that suggests this show, part of a small club tour before the band hits bigger venues with One Republic and the Script, will have a similar vibe. 8 p.m., $15. Grog Shop. (Niesel)
Desert Rose Band — Acoustic: 8 p.m., $26-$36. The Kent Stage.
Elm Street Blues Band/Elderly Brothers/George Foley & Friends: Barking Spider Tavern.
Kristine Jackson (in the Wine Bar): 8 p.m. Brothers Lounge.
John Brown’s Body/Easy Star All-Stars: High on something that can really only be called progressive reggae, John Brown’s Body have been building a castle of enticing grooves for nearly two decades now. At times buzzing along like the Wailers on acid, JBB has always focused on how far they take the music — both outwardly and inwardly. That plan is heard most definitely on All Time and Spirits All Around Us, early albums that threw down a bass-heavy gauntlet. The band has only expanded on its sound since then, releasing Kings & Queens in 2013. The new stuff, like “Step Inside,” still bears the same jazzy-reggae DNA that first flared in tunes like “33 RPM” and “Garden Tree.” Semi-relatedly, JBB alumni dot all corners of today’s jam and reggae scenes. (If you haven’t yet, do look up Alex Toth and Kalmia Traver in Rubblebucket, which carries the JBB torch quirkily well.) 9 p.m., $18 ADV, $20 DOS. Beachland Ballroom. (Eric Sandy)
Keratoma/Filament 38/Discordia/Squidling Brothers Circus Sideshow/Swingshift Sideshow/Painsolution: Tonight, Cleveland industrial metal band Keratoma reunites for a one-off show at the Foundry, and it’s sure to be an intense one. The band played around town from 2002 to 2011, challenging the standard tropes of metal culture: “not dressed up for radio, and too damn ugly for TV,” as they put it. Imagine Pantera, Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM and Slayer having a whiskey-fueled orgy. The hell spawn that emerges from this debauchery is Keratoma. Traveling sideshow act the Squidling Brothers open; they’ll offer their take on the humorously bizarre/grotesque. These guys do it all: sword swallowing, glass bathing, fire breathing and knife play. 7 p.m., $10. The Foundry. (Eric Gonzalez)
Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys/Rachel & the Beatnik Playboys: 8:30 p.m., $13 ADV, $15 DOS. Beachland Tavern.
The Ohio Weather Band (Album Release)/Cody Martin/The Hawkeyes: 9 p.m., $7. Musica.
Mwatabu Okantah & Vince Robinson: It “ain’t hip-hop, but it’s hip!” That’s how Mwatabu Okantah has described the music he’s makes with Vince Robinson & the Jazz Poets. You may have heard Okantah perform with Cavani String Quartet or the Muntu Kuntu Energy Ensemble over the years. Now he’s joined up with local poetry and arts advocate Vince Robinson and his band to deliver the power of words set to gospel, funk, blues, jazz and African-inspired beats. If you’re familiar with hip-hop poet Gil Scott-Heron, you’ve got a good idea what this sounds like. Expect to hear a more modern point of view from these very relevant poets. 8:30 p.m., $20. Nighttown. (Gonzalez)
Quiet Riot: 8 p.m., $15-$25. Hard Rock Rocksino.
Cal Scruby/Lorrine Chia/Ezzy/Swah: 6:30 p.m., $19. Agora Ballroom.
Michael Stanley and the Resonators: Last year was a solid year for heartland rocker Michael Stanley. The guy self-released his new album, The Ride, which came on the heels of last year’s The Hang, an introspective album he’s referred to as his darkest release yet. The Ride presents a much more positive perspective, something that’s reflected in Stanley’s more regular live appearances (last year, he held down a four-night stand at the Tangier). Expect to hear MSB favs as well as a good sampling of Stanley’s solo material as the guy opens a multi-night stand at the Tangier. 8:30 p.m., $45-$90. Tangier Cabaret. (Niesel)
Taste of Nashville: 7 p.m., $8 ADV, $10 DOS. Mahall’s 20 Lanes.
Victory High: 9:30 p.m. Brothers Lounge.
Zoso — A Tribute to Led Zeppelin: 9 p.m., $10-$15. House of Blues.
sat 04/05
The Cleveland Battle of the Bands Finals: 4 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Agora Ballroom.
The Flip Side CD Release: 8:30 p.m., $5. The Winchester.
Get On Up: 9 p.m., $6. Musica.
Joe Hunter CD Release: 8:30 p.m., $10. Nighttown.
Kiss Army: 8 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. House of Blues.
Knyce Presents Potluck: 10 p.m. Grog Shop.
John Krautner/Chomp: 9 p.m., $5. Happy Dog.
Bill Lestock/Luca Mundaca/David Bavos & Willow: 6 p.m. Barking Spider Tavern.
Richard Marx: $20-$55. Hard Rock Rocksino.
Steve Masek (in the Wine Bar): 8 p.m. Brothers Lounge.
Kim Richey/Stevie Ann: 8:30 p.m., $15 ADV, $18 DOS. Beachland Tavern.
Michael Stanley and the Resonators: Last year was a solid year for heartland rocker Michael Stanley. The guy self-released his new album, The Ride, which came on the heels of last year’s The Hang, an introspective album he’s referred to as his darkest release yet. The Ride presents a much more positive perspective, something that’s reflected in Stanley’s more regular live appearances (last year, he held down a four-night stand at the Tangier). Expect to hear MSB favs as well as a good sampling of Stanley’s solo material as the guy plays a multi-night stand at the Tangier. 8:30 p.m., $45-$90. Tangier Cabaret. (Niesel)
Walkin’ Cane: 9:30 p.m. Brothers Lounge.
Welshly Arms/Teddy Boys/Dan Miraldi & the Albino Winos: Riding the crest of newfound recognition following Positively Cleveland’s Cleveland Anthem marketing video, Welshly Arms is eyeing nothing but blue skies. And rightfully so. This is one of those local bands — one among many, sure — that deserve a broader fan base. This year, the band dropped a six-song EP, Covers, that revives classics like Sam and Dave’s “Hold On, I’m Coming” and the Chambers Brothers’ “Time Has Come Today.” It’s an exciting roundup of tunes, all of which work really well in Welshly Arms’ throwback rock style. Check out last year’s Welcome EP. “Two Seconds Too Late” and “The Touch” became much-loved singles over the past year, helping to lift Welshly Arms’ shows to must-see status. And that song in the Cleveland Anthem video? That’d be the newly recorded “Never Meant to Be,” which boasts that great, woozy riff we all have stuck in our heads now. 8:30 p.m., $10. Beachland Ballroom. (Sandy)
Wetbrain/Moron/Fat Vegan: 9 p.m., free. Now That’s Class.
WRUW Presents Punk Prom with Shannon & the Clams/Wooly Bullies: Put on the puffy skirts and fancy up-dos! Shannon and the Clams are bringing their classic, punky doo-wop sound to Mahall’s tonight for the WRUW Punk Rock Prom. Staples like “Sleep Talk” and “Ozma” feature surfy guitars and dreamy female backing vocals while Shannon Shaw’s scratchy voice takes you on a nostalgia trip. The Chicago Reader described them as “something from a John Waters lucid dream… complete with horny teenage anthems that walk the line between greasy, frantic ’50s rock ‘n’ roll and innocent, hip-swinging ’60s pop.” Indeed, listening to their music incites images of a darkened gymnasium with mirror-ball lights flashing in romantic, musical harmony. Local act Wooly Bullies will also play. 8 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Mahall’s 20 Lanes. (Liz Trenholme)
Zup/Koly Kolgate: 7 p.m., free. The Foundry.
sun 04/06
Antoine Dunn: Plenty of musicians refer to their careers as journeys. But R&B singer Antoine Dunn, a Cleveland native, really has experienced a journey, both literally and figuratively. While he was still in high school, he had a formative experience. He served as the musical director for the Cuyahoga Community Church (his official bio says he was “Minister of Music” but Dunn prefers the title “musical director”). The process of learning to sing different gospel tracks and then teach the tunes to church members made him into a leader. And the fact that he taught himself to play drums and bass guitar in the process gave him an extra bit of confidence too. But shortly before the album, Truth of the Matter, dropped in 2012, his mother passed way. The album ended up being a smash hit, but the success was “bittersweet” because his mother wasn’t there to witness it. Despite his success, his record deal fell apart, and he moved back to Cleveland last year to finish “I Am,” a beautiful ballad he had written about his mother’s death. 6 p.m., $23. Brothers Lounge. (Niesel)
Alejandro Escovedo & the Sensitive Boys/Amy Cook: Veteran Austin-based singer-guitarist Alejandro Escovedo has persevered through three decades of rough-and-tumble rock ‘n’ roll and lived to make an album about it. He’s seen his ballyhooed punk/garage bands the Nuns, Rank and File, and the True Believers come and go. He’s also eluded death after a really bad bout with hepatitis. All the while, he’s delivered one stellar album after another but hasn’t had anything resembling a hit. And yet, he’s a phenomenal live performer. He’s put on many terrific shows at the Beachland Ballroom and tonight’s performance will undoubtedly be right up there with the best of them. 8 p.m., $20. Beachland Ballroom. (Niesel)
Gramatik/Branx/Gibbz/Russ Liquid: 7 p.m., $17 ADV, $20 DOS. Agora Ballroom.
Iron Chic/Broadcaster/Worship This/Signals Midwest: 8 p.m., $10. Now That’s Class.
Kataklysm/Aborted/Solipsist/Limbsplitter/Merciless Reign/Horse Drawn Death Machine/Atomic Grave/Messiah of Rage/Blood Gluttony: 7 p.m., $15 ADV, $18 DOS. The Foundry.
Lonesome Ranger: 6 p.m. Barking Spider Tavern.
The Nostalgia Factor: 3pm. Barking Spider Tavern.
The Pack A.D./Thaddeus Anna Greene/The Next New Nothings: 8:30 p.m., $10. Grog Shop.
White Mystery/Dirty Fences/Jivviden: Hailing from Chicago, this brother and sister glitter-rock duo are touring in support of their latest album, Telepathic. Songs like “Junglecat” and “Secret Garden” pack a heavy beat, messy guitars and Miss Alex White’s vixeny voice into tight melodies. Their lyrics sometimes seem a little contrived. The line from “Secret Garden” — “I don’t mind the sun sometimes / I can smell the roses in your hair” — sounds like something we’ve heard before (cough, Butthole Surfers, cough). Still, songs like “White Spiders” and “Buttheads from Mars” beg you not to take them too seriously. With catchy rock riffs and White’s chanting bordering on fake British accents in both songs, you can’t help but find yourself dancing to the ridiculous lyrics and jaunty drumming. 8:30 p.m., $10. Beachland Tavern. (Trenholme)
mon 04/07
George Foley & Friends/Red Brick Rhoades: 8 p.m. Barking Spider Tavern.
The Julie Ruin/Screaming Females/ShiSho: 8:30 p.m., $15. Beachland Ballroom.
Jon Langford & Skull Orchard/Home & Garden/The Insurance Salesmen: 8 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Beachland Tavern.
Mojo Big Band: 8 p.m. Brothers Lounge.
Ovlov/Disco Doom/Heart Attack Man/ITEM/Spirit Guide (in the Locker Room): 7:30 p.m., $6. Mahall’s 20 Lanes.
Velvet Voyage (in the Wine Bar): 8 p.m. Brothers Lounge.
tue 04/08
Bun B/Kirko Bangz: Rap icon, distinguished college lecturer and coloring book author, Bun B is a man of many talents. Focusing more on the rap portion of his career, Bun B’s rap tracks have a deep intensity and heaviness about them. A standard of Southern rap, his albums have been hailed as modern classics. His latest, Trill OG: The Epilogue, is a bombastic and boisterous album, akin to the kind of thing you’d hear being blasted out of an SUV rolling on 26-inch rims. Tracks like “Fire” feature the played-out rap sirens, sampled choirs and prominent snare drums lines we’ve been bombarded with for years now. There’s something under the surface of his songs that deserves a deeper look. In his guest lecture series at Rice University, where he teaches a class called Religion and Hip-hop Culture, he analyzes the cross-section of the two worlds. And so, in his music he poses similar questions about the world of crime, murder and money. If that’s too much to think about, Bun B’s Rap Coloring and Activity Book may be more to your liking. 9 p.m., $18-$50. Grog Shop. (Patrick Stoops)
Casual User/Minimal Concern: 10 p.m., free. Now That’s Class.
Joe Rollin Porter/Jerry Mitchell: 8 p.m. Barking Spider Tavern.
Two Set Tuesday (in the Wine Bar): 6:30 p.m. Brothers Lounge.
Yonas/The Speckators/Pell/The Overlooked Youth: These days, up-and-coming artists don’t need to land deals with major record labels to start building a buzz. A 25-year-old rapper out of New York, Yonas has been on the radar of hip-hop heads ever since he dropped his mix tape The Transition in 2012. He’s just issued a video for “Leaving You,” a ballad that showcases his ability to alternate between rapid-fire rapping and soulful singing, which he does over a mellow string arrangement. The tune lives up to his motto: “bringing content back to music.” 8:30 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Beachland Tavern. (Niesel)
wed 04/09
10 X 3 Hosted by Brent Kirby (in the Wine Bar): 8 p.m. Brothers Lounge.
Broken Gold/The Old One Two/Old Souls: 9 p.m., $5. Now That’s Class.
Jody Getz & Friends/Tim Matson: 8 p.m. Barking Spider Tavern.
Jimkata/Vibe & Direct: A trio of terrific albums has showcased Jimkata’s early growth as a band raising curious eyebrows among the jam scene. They’ve progressively leaned more toward the electronic end of things, and the result is quite enticing. The band’s latest output, a 13-song live album inexplicably titled 10 More Songs!, is a heady set of jams mostly recorded somewhere in upstate New York. The album-opening “Electronic Stone” is a really great way of kicking things off; it’s got the spacey bird calls, the steel drum danceability, the wordless choruses. From there, the band flexes its jamtronica muscles in better form than most other attempts across the scene these days. “Night Shade,” a single of sorts off 2012’s Die Digital, moves from a slowly drifting verse into more upbeat waters as the tune progresses. This being a live album, everything is accented really well by the ambient crowd noise. The raucous cheering is pretty consistent throughout. You can likely expect the same at tonight’s Beachland show. 9 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Beachland Tavern. (Sandy)
John Jorgenson Quintet: John Jorgenson and his gypsy jazz band do all they can to keep the unique sounds of Django Reinhardt alive. Jorgenson’s lightning-fast guitar playing is accompanied by violin, guitar, bass and percussion giving it that unmistakable swinging style that Reinhardt pioneered in the 1930s. This band has a wide palette, combining elements of bluegrass, rock and classical to create its signature sound. In “Mediterranean Blues,” the guitar and violin playing produce exciting bursts of melody that evolve into some great soloing. The group gets really mysterious on the slow shuffling ballad “Waiting for the Fog to Rise” that whispers wonderfully blue notes. It’s no wonder these players are heralded as the “U.S. ambassadors of gypsy jazz.” 7 p.m., $25. Nighttown. (Gonzalez)
B.B. King: At 82, the renowned king of the blues, B.B. King, is still going strong. Sure, blues music has changed since he started in the late ’40s. Artists such as Eric Clapton and Robert Cray have popularized the genre, but B.B. started it all and influenced nearly all the artists from that era. His style of minimalist guitar solos is rarely heard anymore because it can be considered boring at times in this world of ever-changing sounds and instruments. But B.B. remains the King because he knows when to step back and let his band take over. Performances today still have that infectious humor he exuded on stage back in the ’50s as well as the same quality blues. For the avid blues fan there is nowhere else to be. 7:30 p.m., $45-$80.50. Hard Rock Rocksino. (William Hoffman)
This article appears in Apr 2-8, 2014.
