Joseph Arthur

Last year, singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur came through town at about this time of the year. He has family in Akron, so he tries to play a show while he's in town. Last year, he was touring behind The Ballad of Boogie Christ, a concept album that started out as a series of poems. "The Boogie Christ song is trying to humanize Christ and make him one of your bros," Arthur told us at the time. "In a way, that brings more responsibility to it. If you can relate to that kind of figure of enlightenment, it puts more responsibility on you to rise to the occasion. If Christ is this untouchable concept, it takes the responsibility away. You can say you're only human." His most recent release, Lou, features covers of songs by the late Lou Reed — the two were reportedly friends and Arthur brings out the humanity of Reed's songs about walking on the wild side and shooting up. Should be a great show in front of friends, family and fans. (Niesel)