7 Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Weekend
FRIDAY, MAY 17 Jamey Johnson/Natalie Stovall Given that many of today’s biggest country’s stars are more concerned with wardrobe and make-up than music, it’s refreshing to see a guy like singer-guitarist Jamey Johnson. He tends to look more like a roadie than a rock star. His beard and long hair make him look a bit…
Admit that John Wick is a Garbage Franchise You Cowards
John Wick is a hyper-violent action franchise about men’s fashion and pet ownership in New York City. It stars a bruised and grunting Keanu Reeves as a retired hit man and features some of the most senseless, brutal, boring fight choreography in the history of cinema. Its deranged narrative architecture, the central plank of which…
Blue October Coming to the Agora in November
The alt-rock act Blue October has experienced extreme ups and downs since forming some 20 years ago. Frontman Justin Furstenfeld chronicles that rollercoaster ride in Crazy Making — The Words and Lyrics of Justin Furstenfeld, a collection of annotated lyrics for the songs in the band’s discography. A couple of years ago, he toured in…
David Crosby to Play the Kent Stage in August
Sky Trails, singer David Crosby’s third album of original material in four years, takes the Rock Hall Inductee in a new musical direction as the songs adopt a full band sound with deep, soulful grooves. “It’s a natural thing for me,” says Crosby in a press release announcing an Aug. 20 tour stop at the Kent…
Poetry for People Who Hate Poetry, No. 9
This is the ninth column in a monthly series by Dave Lucas, the Poet Laureate of the State of Ohio. You can read his previous columns here. *** The most important hip-hop “crossover” event of my youth was not Aerosmith and Run-DMC or Anthrax and Public Enemy or even the Rage Against the Machine and…
British Rockers IDLES Deliver a Short-But-Fierce Set at the Beachland Ballroom
To a bystander observing the Beachland Ballroom last night, the line of ratty teens-to-Boomers decked in clothes black, ripped or studded that waiting outside the bar’s entrance, combined with the sound of buzzsaw-sharp guitars that leaked from the bar throughout the night, might have suggested that blood, or at least sweat, would spill on the…
Cedar Lee Theatre To Honor the Late Doris Day With a Special Screening of ‘Pillow Talk’
In the wake of the death of movie star Doris Day, who passed away this week at age 97, the Cedar Lee Theatre will screen her Oscar-nominated 1959 film Pillow Talk at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The romantic comedy focuses on an uptight interior decorator (Day) who struggles to connect with a carefree playboy (Rock Hudson)…
City Council’s $400,000 for Public Square Upkeep Should be Contingent on Removal of Concrete Barriers
Let’s revisit this Scene piece from 2016 regarding Public Square, in light of the fact that Cleveland City Council yesterday green lit a $400,000 contribution for ongoing maintenance there. At the time of the piece — this was the balmy spring before the RNC, when the Cavs were dribbling masterfully toward their triumphant postseason — Group…
You Can Tour the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge and Subway Once Again June 22
Clevelanders travel over the Veterans Memorial Bridge’s upper motorway daily, but the lower deck (read: dark, abandoned tunnel), which hasn’t been of much use to anyone since 1954 when streetcars were discontinued, is rarely shown to the public. Saturday, June 22, the Cuyahoga County’s Public Works Department department hosts its one-day-a-year tour of the Veteran’s…
Sweet Melissa to Close its Doors in Rocky River after 11 Years
After 11 years in business, Sweet Melissa announced that it will cease operations in Rocky River (19337 Detroit Rd., 440-333-6357) on May 26. The popular all-day cafe was run by Matthew and Melissa Ullom. In a Facebook post (see below), the owners offered thanks to their many loyal customers. Last year, the crew decided to shutter its University…
Statewide Effort Improves Care of Opioid-Exposed Babies
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A statewide effort to improve the care of innocent victims of Ohio’s opioid epidemic is showing positive results. The Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative is aiming for better birth outcomes and fewer preterm births – Ohio’s leading cause of infant mortality. More than 50 neonatal intensive care units monitored over 9,600 opioid-exposed babies…
‘We’re Old and Still Painting’ — Don’t Miss One-Night Only ‘Geriatric Mayhem’ Exhibition at the Grog Shop This Thursday
If the word geriatric connotes a bunch of geezers sitting about playing canasta, bocce ball or chess in the park, then geriatric mayhem must be the high speed, punk rock version. Imagine the Foo Fighters video for “Run” where our elders break out of the assisted living facility to wreak havoc among the masses accompanied…
Suicide Rate Up By 24 Percent in Ohio, New Study Finds
A horrifying new report revealed Monday that Ohio’s suicide rates have grown over the past decade and not by a slim margin. The study, released by Ohio Alliance for Innovation in Population Health, found that from 2008 to 2017, Ohio suicides increased by 24 percent. Overall, 15,246 people killed themselves, accounting for a little more…
Local Indie Act Mister Moon Releases a New Single and Its First-Ever Music Video
Local indie rockers Mister Moon will release a series of singles this spring and summer, and they’ve just dropped the first one, “Less Than Greater Than.” The song was recorded and produced in Cleveland with the local production team Moshuro. The group has also released its very first music video and announced a string of…
Colin Dussault’s Blues Project Turns 30
Almost 30 years ago to the day, Colin Dussault’s Blues Project played its first-ever gig at the Ultimate Sports Bar (now Bobby O’s), a club located just down the street from Dussault’s Lakewood home. The show sold out, the kegs ran dry and Dussault had a helluva time covering tunes by bands like Rolling Stones,…
What You Need to Know About This Weekend’s Cleveland Asian Festival
The Cleveland Asian Festival may be celebrating its 10th season this year, but it seems like it’s been around much longer than that. The festival, which takes place all day Saturday and Sunday, is located in the heart of Cleveland’s AsiaTown (Payne Ave. between East 30th St. and 27th St.) and offers all sorts of…
Found Baby Falcon Nest Delays $11 million Ohio City Construction Project By Two Months
While rehabbing the Seymour and Forest City Bank buildings in Ohio City, the Snavely Group construction team recently noticed some new tenants. Small falcons known as kestrels had taken up roost on the north side of the development. Further investigation from the Ohio Division of Wildlife found five beautiful eggs inside the birds’ nest. Instead of…
Ball Ball Waffle Brings Popular Hong Kong Street Food to Asiatown
Aldous Lau says that egg waffles (also known as bubble waffles) are one of the most popular street foods in Hong Kong, his hometown. Around since the 1950s, the trend has slowly been spreading across the globe, where the picturesque, honeycomb-shaped snacks are consumed throughout the day. “People eat them all day long, in early…
The Free Uptown Summer Series Returns June 1
The free Uptown Summer Series is making its return next month, when we hope the weather will at least be somewhat warmer. The series kicks off June 1 with a mini-golf and ice cream social from noon to 5 p.m., and at the event, participants can score free ice cream from Mitchell’s or Piccadilly Artisan Creamery…
Latino Makers Exposition Coming to the Michael Zone Recreation Center Park in July
The folks at Festival Latino Internacional have just announced that Taste of Cultura, a Latino Makers Exposition, will take place from July 18 through July 21 at the Michael Zone Recreation Center Park. Mexicans, Puerto Ricans Cubans, Chilean and the many others of Latino descent have all played a part in the growth of the arts,…
Boyz II Men to Perform at MGM Northfield Park Center Stage in August
Hot off their appearance in the new comedy Long Shot, the R&B group Boyz II Men will bring their smooth harmonies to MGM Northfield Park Center Stage on Aug. 18. Throughout a 25-year career, Boyz II Men have won numerous American Music Awards, Soul Train Awards, Billboard Awards and other accolades. They’ve kept busy too.…
R&B Star Bobby Brown Meets and Greets Fans at the Rock Hall
Last night, R&B singer Bobby Brown’s group RBRM performed at the State Theatre, and earlier today, Brown made an appearance at the Rock Hall where he donated a hat and jacket that he wore on the 2016 Soul Train Awards. After the artifact donation, Brown met fans and let them take selfies. He then gave…
Doctors, Experts Take Issue with Ohio Lawmaker’s False Medical Statements on Abortion Insurance Bill
A bill that would prohibit most private insurance plans from covering abortions has a key exemption that protects the lives of pregnant women, Clermont County State Rep. John Becker has claimed — an allowance for a procedure that would remove an ectopic embryo and re-implant it inside a woman’s uterus. Just one problem, some doctors…
We Can’t Stop Looking at the Largest, Most Disgusting Hairball From Ohio
The largest hairball from Ohio was on display this weekend at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, and it is a thing of true and utter horror. This is not the largest hairball in the world — that honor goes to a ball based in Missouri, naturally — but Hoss, as its owner Steve Warden affectionately calls…
Here’s the New Music Video from Local Indie Rockers Salinas Pali
Earlier this year, the Canton-based indie rock band Salinas Pali released its first studio EP, Focal Point, and just today, the group issued a music video for the album’s first single, the perky, horn-driven “Circles.” The video was shot in downtown Canton and at Stadium Park. “The intent of the video/song is to capture positive…
The Cavs Have Hired a Head Coach Who is Not Jim Boylen, Jim Boylan or Jim Boeheim
The Cavs have rocked the NBA world by hiring a head coach with the initials J.B. who is not Chicago head coach Jim Boylen, former Cavs assistant Jim Boylan or Syracuse legend Jim Boeheim. He’s not even Memphis castoff J.B. Bickerstaff or current Charlotte head coach James Borrego! It’s University of Michigan “culture driver” John…
Jazz Musician Chris Mondak Records a Song Written By His Middleburg Heights Grandfather
Born in Venezuela, raised in Illinois, and now residing in Boston, composer and bassist Chris Mondak has studied with bass luminaries such as Cecil McBee, Dave Holland and Larry Gray and performed with the likes of Shelly Berg, Melanie Charles, Dave Douglas, Wayne Escoffery, Wycliffe Gordon, Jeff Hamilton, Jesus Molina, Matt Savage and Marvin Stamm.…
Logic to Bring His Confessions of a Dangerous Mind Tour to Wolstein Center in November
Rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and author Logic became a household name after he released his 2017 hit single “1-800-273-8255 (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline)” featuring Alessia Cara and Khalid. The popular song even garnered two Grammy nominations. Earlier this year, Logic returned with a new studio album, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, and he’s just…
Amy Grant Coming to the Canton Palace Theatre in September
The first Contemporary Christian Music artist to have a platinum record, the first to hit No. 1 on the pop charts and the first to perform at the Grammy Awards, singer-songwriter Amy Grant has a celebrated career that stretches back 30 years now. She has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide and was recently…
The Metroparks’ Water Taxi Starts Up Today, is Once Again Free for Riders
Water taxi season is back floating on the Cuyahoga River just in time for Mother’s Day Weekend. And for the third year in a row riders can shuttle between both sides of the Flats free of charge, thanks to a centennial gift from local steelmaker ArcelorMittal. Last year, the 26-foot eLCee2 water taxi — which…
Julia Michaels Gives a Highly Personal Performance at House of Blues
“Cleveland, holy shit,” Julia Michaels shouted to a packed House of Blues last night, “This is the 13th show of our first headlining tour, and I can already tell it’s gonna be one of our fucking favorites.” The 25-year-old Iowa native began her energetic set with “Pink,” a tongue-in-cheek laugh at the expense of an…
Nashville-Based Grateful Dead Tribute Act To Play This Year’s Waterloo Arts Fest
Back in the late ’80s and early ’90s, guitarist Jack Silverman played with local acts such as the Janglers, ACO (Afro-Cleveland Orchestra), Joe Bell and the Swing Lizards, and the Sky Dogs before relocating to Nashville. He currently plays with the Grateful Dead cover band, the Stolen Faces. While a Dead cover band is hardly…
Ohio Trail a Major Part of Ambitious Coast-to-Coast Route
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio is in the spotlight today, unveiling part of an ambitious coast-to-coast multi-use trail made up of segments that, for the most part, used to be rail lines. The Great American Rail-Trail will connect 3,600 miles of trails across 12 states and Washington, D.C.. Today, local and regional leaders are in Columbus…
2019 Lake Erie Algal Bloom Forecast: Pretty Bad!
It’s that time of year, folks. The first forecast for algal bloom levels in Lake Erie this year was released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and right now it’s looking like it will be worse than last year. “We project that the bloom will have a severity greater than 5, which is larger than…
The ‘I Ohio Voting’ Sticker is Getting Replaced, And You Can Vote For the New One Now
In an effort to include kids in Ohio’s voting process, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced a voting sticker design competition exclusively for teens in grades 6-12 back in March. The Top 3 contenders have been chosen by a committee and now any Ohio citizen, regardless of age, can vote for their favorite sticker…
Chris Isaak to Perform at MGM Northfield Park Center Stage in August
Singer-songwriter Chris Isaak has got the flashy attire (he often wears outlandish Western suits), the band (a bunch of old guys who can play just about any classic early rock tune) and the charisma to make his live shows well worth the investment. Now, he’s just announced the dates of a summer tour. He performs…
Lorain Mayor Chase Ritenauer to Resign, Move to Chicago
Two-term Lorain, Ohio Mayor Chase Ritenauer announced Thursday that he’d be vacating his seat at the end of the month to take an executive position with Republic Services in Chicago. The Lorain Morning Journal reports that Ritenauer made the announcement to a roomful of Lorain city officials and their staffs after rumors had circulated that…
Local Singer-Songwriter Jack Rugan to Play a Release Party Next Week at Yorktown Lanes
Like Guided by Voices singer Robert Pollard, a songwriter who didn’t blossom until reaching his 30s, local singer-songwriter Jack Rugan has penned hundreds of tunes. Now, he’s just announced that he’ll release Wurlitzer, his 29th album, on Friday, May 17. It’s his first collection of new music since 2007’s Gatherings. The release features songs he…
One Ohio Man Vows to Eat 1,000 Skyline Chili Coneys in 2019 Without Barfing Everywhere
Patrick Kaple really likes Skyline Chili. So much so that he’s challenged himself to eat 1,000 cheese coneys in one year. Kaple, a recent graduate of Xavier University, may not be a native Cincinnatian, but his love for our controversial chili is one that was instilled in him from childhood. “I wouldn’t be as big…
Asian Lantern Festival to Light Up Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Once Again This Summer
The Asian Lantern Festival is coming back to Cleveland this summer, the Metroparks Zoo announced today. Taking over parks and zoos across the country, the traveling Asian Lantern Festival shows off thousands of colorful handmade paper lanterns in open, green spaces. This year’s Cleveland edition, which runs June 20 through July 28, brings 40 brand new light…
The Geto Boys to Bring Their Farewell Tour to the Agora
Last year, members of the rap group the Geto Boys began to discuss the possibility of reuniting for one final tour. It took a tragedy to bring the tour to fruition. In the wake of member Bushwick Bill’s Stage 4 cancer diagnosis, the group has decided to hit the road one last time. The group…
Local Singer-Songwriter Holden Laurence to Play a Release Party Next Week at Mahall’s
Local indie singer-songwriter Holden Laurence received rave reviews for his debut, 2017’s Wild Empty Promises. “It’s a fantastic debut that blends Mope-rock, Post-punk and New Wave deftly with its bittersweet tone and cinematic delivery,” Scene’s Eric Sandy wrote at the time of its release. On his new album, Rewire, Holden expands his musical range with “walls of…
CLASH Lawyers Up, Demands that City Accept Lead Safe Petitions
In a letter filed yesterday, Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing (CLASH) demanded that Cleveland Law Director Barbara Langhenry compel city council clerk Patricia Britt to accept the 6,350 signatures that CLASH submitted last month with the hopes of putting a lead-safe ordinance on the November ballot. Those signatures were rejected by council because the petitions…
Upcoming BorderLight International Theatre + Fringe Festival to Feature More Than 100 Artists From All Over the World
Yesterday afternoon at the 78th Street Studios, organizers of the upcoming BorderLight International Theatre + Fringe Festival that’s coming to downtown Cleveland this summer spoke about the 100 theatrical performances and special events that will take place from Wednesday, July 24, through Saturday, July 27. There will be 40 unique productions on 14 stages across…
7 Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Weekend
FRIDAY, MAY 10 Uriah Heep/ProgNation After debuting in 1970 with the release of Very ‘Eavy, Very ‘Umble, the hard rock act Uriah Heap has gone to great success and has since sold in excess of 40 million albums worldwide. To this day, they continue to play 125 shows a year, and the band’s live set…
Slavic Village Development Offering Free Daisy’s Ice Cream in Exchange for ‘We Buy Houses’ Signs
Slavic Village Development is encouraging members of the community to take down public signs that advertise anything to the effect of “We Buy Houses,” or “Houses for Cash.” For a new promotion, Clevelanders are welcome to bring these signs to SVD offices (5620 Broadway Ave.) to receive a free cone coupon from Daisy’s Ice Cream. Community…
Chef Doug Katz to Unveil Two New Eateries in Spring and Fall
It’s been five years since an arsonist destroyed chef Doug Katz’ dreamy Katz Club Diner on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights. Meanwhile, Fire (13220 Shaker Sq., 216-921-3473), his flagship eatery at Shaker Square, is fast approaching its 18th birthday. It is such a finely tuned machine, notes Katz, that the time is right to make a…
Trump Tweets that GM’s Lordstown Plant Will Be Sold to Electric Vehicle Manufacturer, Sides Say Deal is in Negotiation Phase
President Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday morning that he’d spoken with General Motors CEO Mary Barra, who told him that the recently closed GM Lordstown plant will be sold to Workhorse Group Inc., a manufacturer of electric trucks and utility vehicles. Workhorse is a Cincinnati-based company that currently only has about 100 full-time employees. Among other…
Punk Icons Bad Religion Coming to the Agora in August
In the wake of the release of their new album, Age of Unreason, the veteran punk rock band Bad Religion has announced the dates of a summer tour. The group comes to the Agora Theatre on Saturday, Aug. 10. Age of Unreason offers “a political and deeply personal treatise” on everything the band represents. “The…
Local Rockers the Tufted Puffins to Play a Release Party Next Week at the Beachland Tavern
The guys in the local punk rock band Tufted Puffins possess some serious musical pedigrees. Prior to forming the Puffins, singer-guitarist Mike Baker played in local bands such as Sleazy Jesus and the Splatter Pigs and Hucklebuck. Bassist Ken Brown also played in Sleazy Jesus and spent time in the hard rocking Ten Tons of…
Popular Westlake Deli Lehman’s to Expand, Add Bakery and Seating
Norm and Marge Lehman opened up their quiet country store at a time when Westlake was an agricultural hub. In fact, the Lehmans were farmers themselves, growing much of the apples, grapes and other small fruits that comprised the bulk of the trade at Lehman’s Country Store. That was nearly 80 years ago, and over…
Poetry for People Who Hate Poetry, No. 8
This is the eighth column in a monthly series by Dave Lucas, the Poet Laureate of the State of Ohio. You can read his previous columns here. *** Relax. This is not a column about iambic pentameter. This is a column about the secret history of the English language. But the story of English happens…
Here Are the 391 Police Officers Who Have Been Decertified by the State of Ohio
Outside of buckshot Google searches and public records requests, there is no easy way to find out about the bad cops in your state—the police officers who’ve broken the public’s trust and gotten themselves banned from the force. Who are they? What did they do? What guardrails are in place to prevent those men and…
Cleveland’s Sitting Pretty With Fast-Casual Middle Eastern Fare
There may be no hotter food trend right now than Middle Eastern cuisine — specifically, fast-casual Middle Eastern. From large and growing national chains all the way down to indie one-offs, new concepts built around hummus, pita and falafel seem to be popping up every other day. Two such concepts recently joined the fray in…
Band of the Week: The Shootouts
MEET THE BAND: Ryan Humbert (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Brian Poston (electric, acoustic guitar), Ryan McDermott (bass), Dylan Gomez (drums, percussion), and Emily Bates (harmony vocals) MORE THAN A SIDE PROJECT: Based out of Akron, the Shootouts formed when founding members Humbert and Poston bonded over a mutual love of heartfelt, authentic country music. While…
Savage Love: Best Wishes
I’m a 43-year-old straight woman, and I spent the majority of my 30s celibate. At 40, I realized that while I wasn’t interested in dating, I was tired of my vibrator. I also realized that it was time to go forth and fuck with the body I had instead of waiting for the idealized body…
Get Out: Everything You Should Be Doing in Cleveland This Week (May 8-14)
WED 05/08 A Bronx Tale Oscar winner Robert De Niro and Tony winner Jerry Zaks teamed up to direct A Bronx Tale, a musical based on the film of the same name. The story centers on a boy who aspires to be a mob boss, and it features tunes from Alan Menken (Beauty and the…
‘Thiz Girlz Lyfe’ Brings a Cleveland Morality Play to the Stage
The sins are different and the setting is 500 years removed, but at its heart, Thiz Girlz Lyfe is a morality play, presenting a lesson about good character and conduct. The new semi-autobiographical work by Clevelander Ernesta Jefferson traces the journey of Nasheema, a young African-American wife and mother who struggles to surmount the challenges…
Tolkien Biopic is Middle-Earth Reference Fest Void of Magic
Why, oh why, it occurs to this critic to inquire, does a story as rich with drama as that of British novelist and master philologist J.R.R. Tolkien — the father of modern high fantasy himself! — seem so void of life onscreen? Tolkien was born in South Africa and orphaned at a young age. He…
‘Bathtubs Over Broadway’ Takes a Look at Unknown Industrial Musicals
Longtime David Letterman writer Steve Young explores the hidden world of industrial musicals in Bathtubs Over Broadway, a fascinating documentary that screens at 9:20 p.m. Saturday and 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque. The film commences with an animated sequence featuring a giddy tune that sounds like a number in a…
