Diane Birch Ticket Giveaway
You still have one day to enter our Diane Birch ticket giveaway. What are you waiting for?
What to Do Tonight: Karma to Burn
“We don’t need no stinkin’ singer” There’s an old aphorism: “To thine own self be true.” Straight outta Hicksville, the instrumental metal trio Karma to Burn knows this. They landed a record deal in 1996 on the condition they hire a singer — they did, got signed, decided the compromise wasn’t working, sacked the singer,…
What to Do Tonight: Guy Forsyth
Forsyth and his badass tattoo A founding member of the Asylum Street Spankers, singer-songwriter Guy Forsyth has won music awards in his Austin hometown for his ukulele, harmonica, and singing-saw skills. He’s toured as a solo artist for years, but on his current tour he’s paired with Austin bluesy singer-guitarist Carolyn Wonderland. He’s a little…
What to Do Tonight: Mono
Don’t call them post-rock A little more than a decade ago, Mono began crafting a compelling soundtrack of wordless experimental noise-rock that was equally indebted to Sonic Youth’s visceral clatter and My Bloody Valentine’s shredding guitar sheets. Yet they’ve always steered their own musical course. The Japanese quartet, led by founder/composer/guitarist Takaakira Goto, first made…
What to Do Tonight: Taproot
Someone didn’t get the memo about mandatory chinstraps Signed to a major label back in the late ’90s, when the post-hardcore scene was still going strong, Ann Arbor’s Taproot have settled back into indie life. Their latest album, Plead the Fifth, starts off with off-kilter harmonies in “Now Rise” and then offers a relentless attack…
What to Do Tonight: Mumford & Sons
Not really related The name is a cutesy affectation, of course: Singer-guitarist Marcus Mumford leads Mumford & Sons, but the quartet’s members aren’t related. Or you could say they’re related the same way the Ramones were. Either way, they’re breakout members of the burgeoning underground London folk scene, bypassing Noah and the Whale and Laura…
What to Do Tonight: Jill Scott
Neo-soul, big-ass earrings At first, Jill Scott wanted to be a teacher. But when she found it too difficult to get good grades and work two jobs, she started performing at the small clubs and cafes and clubs near her Philadelphia home. “There are places to get your craft together,” she says of her hometown.…
Pre-Show Q&A: Jill Scott
Who is Jill Scott? Read on R&B singer Jill Scott made quite a splash when she released her debut album in 2000, the Grammy-nominated Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1. The record reflected Scott’s poetic sensibilities and instantly made her star. She and Maxwell are co-headlining a tour that launches tomorrow at…
What to Do Tonight: Greg Laswell
“Those guys said to meet them here” Let’s face it: When you’re truly bummed-out and deeply blue, few people want to know you. Sometimes that’s OK, since you might be feeling a bit allergic to people anyway, even the friendly ones. That’s where singer-songwriter Greg Laswell comes in. On his latest album, Take a Bow,…
What to Do Today: Country Throwdown
Jamey Johnson: Yeah, he’s as badass as he looks The folks behind the Vans Warped Tour are taking a similar approach to their new Country Throwdown Tour, which mixes established and emerging artists on three stages (one main, two side). The tour’s headliners are Montgomery Gentry and Little Big Town, but you’ll also want to…
Wednesday Ticket Giveaway: Diane Birch
We have five pairs of tickets to Diane Birch’s show at the Grog Shop on June 26. Want a pair? All you have to do is send your name, e-mail address and phone number to freetickets@clevescene.com with the subject “Diane Birch.” We’ll pick a winner at noon on June 26. You can listen to “Valentino,”…
What to Do Tonight: Metric
See Emily play Metric sound edgier today than they did back in 2003, when singer and bandleader Emily Haines fiercely urged fans to “fight off the lethargy” in “Combat Baby.” The band has always popped out of the speakers with its stuttered percussion and growling riffs. But their fourth album, Fantasies, purrs with maniacal energy…
How the Cleveland Play House Scored Its Biggest Season In Years (Hint: Booze)
The cause of and solution to all of life’s problems, even theater attendance. The just-concluded theater season was the biggest at Cleveland Play House in more than a decade. It didn’t hurt that the lineup included a well-received musical (Ain’t Misbehavin’) and some Jane Austen (Emma) for the book-club set. But it was the nightcap…
Lori Ann Dyke and Michael Dolan — Papering Tigers
Writes pamphlets when not practicing calligraphy. Like Cavalier players in the postseason, most voters sit out the primary elections. That leaves a relatively meager contingent of dedicated partisans who are often swayed by the endorsements of party organizations. It’s why candidates have been known to claim they’re endorsed when they aren’t. But nobody is quite…
This Just In: Cleveland Concert Announcements
Neon Trees are coming to town … if they can find their way out of this damn desert SOLD OUT: She & Him. Thu., June 10. House of Blues. CANCELED Freelance Whales: Saturday, June 12. Peter Wolf Crier is still performing. Grog Shop. Martin Sexton/Ryan Montbleau Band: Sat., June 19. Beachland. THIS JUST IN Joan…
Ken Lanci Gives the Public What It Doesn’t Want: Political Reality Television Programming
Ken Lanci: The Snooki of political reality television. Cuyahoga County doesn’t exactly lack in the area of political theater, but Ken Lanci hopes to hike that bar a few notches past your garden-variety federal corruption probe. A wealthy businessman mounting an underdog bid for Cuyahoga County executive, Lanci has just launched The Candidate — what…
Judge Shirley Saffold Has Long History of Courtroom Wackiness
I’m just saying, a little makeup and a skirt wouldn’t hurt. Amid what could be the biggest, grisliest murder trial in Cleveland history, Common Pleas Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold has demonstrated an uncanny gift for making herself the story. Assigned to the Anthony Sowell murder case, Saffold found herself in hot water over dozens of…
The Plain Dealer‘s Handy Corruption Linkage Chart
Bravo, PD, for this guide to the ties of bribery, pleas, charges, and who is ratting out who. Click on over to Cleveland.com for the fully interactive graphic that gives you everything you need to know about each corrupt individual.
I’ll Take Two Hard Tacos and $2000, Thanks
Taco Bell has a strong track record of good decisions. It takes a special sort of local, fast food-related mishap to end up on Gawker, and that’s just what one Taco Bell near Dayton accomplished recently. And it doesn’t even involve drugs being sold through the drive-thru window! When one woman ordered the finest in…
We’re Number One: Ohioans Most Interested in Cheating on Their Spouses
OMG! They don’t even know I’m standing here. How rude. AshleyMadison.com, the virtual extension of the out-of-town hotel bar, serves one purpose and one purpose only: to help you find people to cheat on your significant other with. It’s a multi-million dollar company because, as it turns out, lots of people desire to act in…
Cavs Lose, Man Shaves Eyebrows
That is the aftermath of this. (Via Ball Don’t Lie) Follow me on Twitter: @vincethepolack.
Ohio Has Some Tall Trees, So We’ve Got That Going For Us
I don’t see any cucumbers. I do see good firewood. That there is a cucumber magnolia, and not just any cucumber magnolia, but the tallest one in the country. Impressive, no? The National Register of Big Trees has unleashed the 2010 list of the biggest trees per species and Ohio is home to ten of…
Rock Hall Inductions Still Returning to Cleveland in 2012
Still here. Though it would be hard to move. This was supposed to be the plan all along, but it at least got another vote of confidence Saturday night. Rock Hall CEO Terry Stewart said the plan is to still have the 2012 Rock Hall inductions in Cleveland. They went reasonably well in 2009 over…
Temporary Casino Might Find Home at Higbees Building
Higbees, now dealing in nutcrackers of a different variety. Back when Higbees was Higbees, the windows facing the streets were littered with displays of toys and wonderment during Christmas. At least that’s what A Christmas Story taught me, and since it’s a movie, it’s true. Children would press their faces to the glass to take…
Trent Reznor’s New Video Is Typically WTF?
Trent Reznor just released the first video from his latest project How to Destroy Angels. The song is called “The Space in Between,” and it’s a typically rattling display of the many different sounds the Nine Inch Nails frontman can wring from his gear. The video is also typically Reznor: Look for artsy-fartsy imagery, blood,…
Story Behind the “We Are LeBron” Video
LeBron: “This is where my heart would be, if I had one.” If you couldn’t guess just from watching the “We Are LeBron” video and knowing the history behind the viral Cleveland tourism shorts, yes, the “We Are LeBron” star-studded (?) gala of song and celebrity was created by Mike Polk. The New York Times…
RIP Dio: Cleveland Metalheads Salute Singer
News of Ronnie James Dio’s death broke yesterday. Dio was one of the most respected talents and characters in heavy metal. His name is synonymous with the genre. His brief battle with stomach cancer prevented him from entering his sixth decade as a frontman. At the time of his death he was 67, and he’d…
Golden Palominos Still Got That Gallop
Alt-rock supergroup the Golden Palominos played their first shows since the ’90s recently. The group is led by Cleveland native Anton Fier, a renowned producer and drummer. On bass is another Clevelander who’s relocated to NYC, Tony Maimone, who’s played with Pere Ubu, They Might Be Giants, and the phenom post-metal project Battle of Mice.…
Ohio Says Retired Akron Cops, Firefighters Got Stiffed
No need to take care of these guys… nope. Leo Mueller retired from the Akron Fire Department in 1978 after 28 years on the job. When he signed up to brave smoke, fire, and other on-the-job hazards, he did it knowing he could have made more money working at the Firestone factory. But he took…
Cleveland “One of the most secretive dioceses in the United States.”
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Boston-based watchdog group BishopAccountability.org visited the headquarters of the Diocese of Cleveland Friday. Joined by local Catholic organizations, activists demanded that Bishop Richard Lennon release the names of over sixty clergy accused of sexual abuse in Northeast Ohio. According to the Diocese, 118 clerics have been accused of abuse, but the church has released…
Reader: I Carry My 1964 Ticket Stubs Around Too
A comment left by a reader on this post, which talked about some grumpy Cleveland fans and a 1964 ticket stub: Dear Vince: I read about your blog in The New York Times article in which you make reference to the possible loss of LeBron. I am a Clevelander now living in Syracuse, New York.…
When George Steinbrenner Was Hours Away From Owning the Indians
Everyone knows that Steinbrenner is a Clevo native and had interest in buying the Tribe, here’s a little detail on how a handshake deal to buy the Tribe fell apart at the last minute. Via the NYT Bats blog: In his new biography, “Steinbrenner: The Last Lion of Baseball” (Harper), Bill Madden recounts that on…
A Tale of Two Shaqs
Top, Shaq on the cover of last week’s Sports Illustrated, looking old. Bottom, picture taken for a profile of Shaq in next month’s Esquire, looking young. That is all. Follow me on Twitter: @vincethepolack.
The One Where I’m Quoted in the New York Times
It’s not the cover of Rolling Stone, but I’ll get there one day too, just as soon as Vince the Polack’s Polka All Stars practice a little more. We’re almost there. Anyway, former Scene editor Frank Lewis penned an article for the NYT looking at the mood in Cleveland now that the Cavs have done…
A Grumpy Old Man, A Grumpy Young Man, and a Ticket Stub From 1964
The morning after the Cavs lost in Boston to finally excuse themselves from a series they didn’t appear to want to play in the first place, my friend Scott Raab called. Scott is a native Clevelander who has since moved away and moved on to bigger and better things — he’s a writer for Esquire…
Jazz Moving Into Verve
Jazz 28, the homey little restaurant/jazz nightclub in Ohio City, has closed. But those looking for a place to listen to the area’s top jazz performers while enjoying some good food and drink don’t have to go far. The jazz aficionados behind Jazz 28 are presenting a similar roster of artists from 8:00-11:30 p.m. every…
Set Nightclub Opening
Ready, set, go. The southwest corner of West 9th Street and St. Clair Avenue in the Warehouse District has looked pretty dreary since the last occupant of the ground-floor space there, Club Shadows, closed late last year. That changes tomorrow night with the opening of a brand-new nightclub called Set (1360 W. 9th St., 216-298-4448,…
Go See the Lonesome Stars Tonight
They don’t look too lonesome, do they? Cuyahoga Valley National Park concludes its Cuyahoga Valley House Concert series tonight with a performance by the Lonesome Stars. The alt-bluegrass group is a side project for three of the area’s top musicians — singer-songwriter Chris Allen, bassist Tom Prebish and blues singer/guitarist Austin “Walkin’ Cane” Charangat. The…
The “We Are LeBron” Video
Local celebrities sang a “We Are the World” parody. It’s fun. Dick Goddard, Big Chuck, Zack Reed, Tim Misny, Peter Lawson Jones, and many, many others lend their voices to the cause. We Are Lebron Video – Watch more Funny Videos
“We Are LeBron” — The Video
You’ve seen the “We Are the World” video. Watch the “We Are LeBron” video, a plea from Cavs fans in the only way that makes sense: song. We Are Lebron Video – Watch more Funny Videos
First-rate cast can’t save Robin Hood remake
Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood tries to give its legendary English hero-thief (played by frequent Scott collaborator Russell Crowe) a gritty update/reboot à la Batman Begins or Casino Royale. Scott is a capable filmmaker, and he certainly knows how to stage a visually stunning action sequence, but his talents — as well as those of the…
Ke$ha’s New Video Kinda Sucks
I’m not really digging Ke$ha’s new video for “Your Love Is My Drug.” I like the song. And I certainly like parts of the album, one of the year’s fizziest pop records. But this video reminds me of those lame ones MTV used to show back in the day, when record companies sent glammy girlie…
Meet the Band: Horse the Band
Actually, a horse would come in handy right about now When Horse the Band make music, it sounds like a demented soundtrack to Castlevania. The five Californians call their sound “Nintendocore,” recreating those infamous 8-bit sounds of early video games into their bizarre version of metal music. Keyboardist Erik Engstrom is still credited with “Game…
Tim “Ripper” Owens Recording Live Set on Saturday
Tim “Ripper” Owens will record a live set on Saturday at Akron’s Tap House for future release, either as a CD or as bonus tracks on an album. Owens will perform as half of an acoustic duo with former US Metal bandmate Scott Jones playing guitar. The singer, one of Akron’s favorite sons, says they’ll…
Concert Review: Ratt at House of Blues
Ratt, still hott If ’80s hair-metal princes Ratt were upset about performing in a moderately filled club instead of a packed hockey arena last night, it didn’t show during their spirited and satisfying performance at House of Blues. The show didn’t suffer for lack of pyrotechnics, lighting, or staging either (Ratt always were the most…
Wednesday Ticket Giveaway 2: Metric
We love them by the meter We have a pair of tickets to Metric’s show at House of Blues on May 19. Want ’em? All you have to do is send your name, e-mail address and phone number to freetickets@clevescene.com with the subject “Metric.” We’ll pick a winner at noon on May 17.
Wednesday Ticket Giveaway: Jimmy Gnecco
We have a pair of tickets to Jimmy Gnecco’s show at House of Blues on May 20. The Ours frontman (who has a new album, The Heart, coming out on July 20) is on tour with Greg Laswell. Want the tickets? All you have to do is send your name, e-mail address and phone number…
Waiting for Armageddon makes its local debut at CMA
A documentary about people who believe that the second coming of Christ will be a “rapture”-like event, Waiting for Armageddon makes its Cleveland debut tonight at 7 at the Cleveland Museum of Art Lecture Hall. Here’s our review of the film. Waiting for Armageddon (U.S., 2009) According to this documentary film, over 50 million Americans…
Listen to Band of Horses’ New Album
There are lots of good albums coming out next Tuesday, including new ones by LCD Soundsystem and the Black Keys. Hopefully, you’ve been listening to the Keys on NPR’s stream. Another record coming out next week — Band of Horses’ Infinite Arms — also comes out next week. But you can listen to it now…
Sophie’s Choice
Thank heaven for Vanessa Redgrave. Without her ethereal yet palpably human presence, Letters to Juliet would probably evaporate into the ether. Arguably the world’s greatest living actress, Redgrave brings such dignity, warmth, grace, and elegance to Jose Rivera and Tim Sullivan’s connect-the-dots screenplay, it’s easy to pretend that director Gary Winick’s (13 Going on 30,…
Paul Weller
Discussions of musical reinvention and exploration are generally dominated by marquee names like David Bowie, U2, and Neil Young. But Paul Weller wouldn’t be out of place in their company. The Jam’s mod-punk verve and the Style Council’s cocktail jazz-pop cool represented a broad sonic spectrum for Weller. But his solo career has been even…
Out of Bounds
Leslie Wright (Queen Latifah) is a physical therapist who would rather talk trash at a New Jersey Nets game than make small talk over a fancy dinner. Needless to say, she doesn’t end up getting a lot of dates. When she goes to see her favorite team play, she usually takes her best friend Morgan…
REEL CLEVELAND
The Oscar-nominated Irish-French-Belgian animated feature The Secret of Kells opens on Friday, May 14, for a week-long engagement at the Cedar Lee Theatre (2163 Lee Rd., 216-321-5411, clevelandcinemas.com). Based on a medieval Irish story, Kells centers on the relationship between Abbott Cellach (Brendan Gleeson) and his nephew Brendan (Evan McGuire), who live in a fortified…
Probable Paws
Imagine a park turned into a mine field of wagging tails and hopeful whimpers. Now imagine getting out of that park without a new four-legged friend of your own. The Public Animal Welfare Society, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing, caring for, and (here’s where you come in…) finding new homes for abandoned pets, is betting…
CLEVELAND PLAYBACK
The League of Proper Musicians The League of Proper Musicians (self-released) theleagueofpropermusicians.com Occasionally backed by a group of singers called the Tickle Up the Butt Choir, local jam band the League of Proper Musicians sounds particularly boisterous on this groove-oriented disc (which was recorded at Akron’s Smiley Sound Studios). The jumpy “Make It So Hard”…
Power Walking Humility OPTIONAL
If you’ve ever faced down an angry driver vying for the last open parking spot near a store entrance, you know how obsessed we modern humans are with the avoidance of walking. That’s why it’s good to pause and reflect on the joys of bipedal locomotion in Wanderlust: A History of Walking, now playing at…
STAY IN!
TOP PICK OF THE WEEK Rock ‘N’ Roll High School: 30th Anniversary Special Edition (Shout! Factory) The Ramones play some songs in support of a group of students standing up to their rock ‘n’ roll-hating principal in this 1979 exploitation movie, part of Roger Corman’s Cult Classics series. The 30th-anniversary DVD includes commentary by Corman,…
Get on the Stick
Already a seasoned jazz bassist and drummer, Tony Levin joined Peter Gabriel’s band more than 30 years ago, just as the onetime Genesis frontman was working on his self-titled debut album. Levin purchased a 12-stringed instrument called the Chapman Stick and brought it to the recording session, figuring he’d play it on a few tracks.…
LETTERS
A CRITIC’S OBLIGATION What makes Plain Dealer classical music critic Donald Rosenberg’s situation stand out is that his critiques of the Cleveland Orchestra were usually very fair and accurate [“The Orchestra Pit,” May 5, 2010]. He did a good job evaluating the technical and interpretive aspects of the orchestra’s performances, and I looked forward to…
LIVEWIRE
Plants and Animals Plants and Animals played their first gig after the trio graduated as electro-acoustic music majors from Montreal’s Concordia University. Warren Spicer, Matthew Woodley, and Nicolas Basque have been on a journey of musical evolution since their 2005 self-titled debut, which consisted entirely of acoustic instrumentals. On 2008’s Parc Avenue, Plants and Animals…
What’s Next?
Narlin Shadd looked forward to a summer evening spent watching an Indians game with his family. But things took a sour turn when the 55-year-old teacher from Brooklyn Heights drew the wrath of a traffic cop while navigating clogged downtown streets after the game. Angered that Shadd did not immediately follow an order to stop…
Power Walking
If you’ve ever faced down an angry driver vying for the last open parking spot near a store entrance, you know how obsessed we modern humans are with the avoidance of walking. That’s why it’s good to pause and reflect on the joys of bipedal locomotion in Wanderlust: A History of Walking, now playing at…
Keane
(Cherrytree/Interscope) On this eight-song EP, Keane moves even further away from the Radiohead/Coldplay comparisons that have chased the British trio since its 2004 debut. They still make pretty piano-based pop with massive hooks and a spacious theatrical flair, but Night Train (which was recorded on the run at various studios during the band’s last tour)…
Riffs and Rants
Part of the Davenport Collective — a group of indie bands that share a Lakewood practice space — Megachurch has just released a self-titled EP that it’ll introduce at an 8 p.m. show on Thursday, May 13, at the Front Room Gallery (3615 Superior Ave., building 42, frontroomcleveland.com). The album begins with a sound bite…
Deftones
(Reprise) Before System of a Down claimed the title of metal’s most experimental weirdos, the Deftones were filling albums with a combination of vicious power riffs, random noise bursts, and a medium-size dose of pretension. In 2008, their bass player was left in a coma following a car accident, and in a way, the Deftones’…
Far East Meets Near West
Bac Nguyen’s timing seemed impeccable. Just as contemporary pan-Asian eateries were becoming the darling of the food scene, the Case Western Reserve grad was putting the final touches on his eponymously named restaurant. Situated in a prominent corner storefront in food-obsessed Tremont, Bac was meticulously designed to take advantage of the latest dining trends. A…
Josh Ritter
Singer-songwriter Josh Ritter spins tales of exploration and growth, stitching them together with details so minuscule that every character is a living, breathing apparition. Whether he’s basking in alt-country (2000’s Golden Age of Radio) or delivering rock-driven melodies (2007’s The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter), the Idaho-born Ritter surveys his worldly curiosities through poetic lyricism…
BITES
Hiroshi Tsuji, owner of the long-running Shuhei Japanese Restaurant (23360 Chagrin Blvd., 216-464-1720, shuheirestaurant.com), is just weeks away from reviving an old concept. No, he’s not bringing back Shujiro, the sushi restaurant he operated years back: Tsuji is resurrecting Hiroshi’s Pub, a popular watering hole that existed in Cleveland Heights in the late 1980s. Taking…
Minus the Bear
Seattle quintet Minus the Bear has spent its career searching for an identity. At first, they were kinda like a comedy group, with songs like “Lemurs, Man, Lemurs” and “Thanks for the Killer Game of Crisco Twister” splitting the difference between twisty time signatures and downright silliness. On 2007’s Planet of Ice, they dropped the…
