After 39 years, 15 60 75 (a.k.a. the Numbers Band) are
releasing their new CD, Inward City, on Friday, November 27, at
the Kent Stage (175 E. Main Street, Kent).
All the songs are in the band’s current set — from the 1980
nugget “Nobody’s John” to the charging “Battery B,” written by
multi-position player Jack Kidney. It’s a lively, raw representation of
the band’s repertoire, from the pounding, Appalachian sound of
“Matchbox Defined” to stripped-down blues groove of “Yonders Wall”
— most of them punctuated with blasts of mournful saxophone and
atmospheric Hammond B-3 organ.
The B-3 is a favorite sound of Pere Ubu’s David Thomas, who produced
the disc. Numbers Band founder Robert Kidney calls it the
group’s “first proper studio CD,” without totally disowning 1982’s
The Numbers Band 2. The band recorded Inward City, its
seventh LP, two years ago at engineer Paul Hamann’s Suma studio in
Painesville.
“The [studio] versions are all as good as we can play them, some
better than we play them,” says Robert Kidney. “It’s a nice record of
who we are and what we do.”
The debut album by BlakRoc, the Black Keys’ all-star hip-hop
collaboration, goes on sale Friday, November 27, the day widely known
as Black Friday. That night, the band is playing a benefit for the
family of Alfred McMoore, the recently deceased Akron visual artist who
inspired the Keys’ name, at Musica (51 E. Market St.). VIP packages
include meet-and-greets with the band and signed copies of the BlakRoc
CD, which features vocals by Mos Def, RZA, Q-Tip and others. The event
also features McMoore’s work. Doors 6 p.m.; tickets $50-$200.
The Schwartz Brothers are playing the Beachland Ballroom
(15711 Waterloo Rd.) on Saturday, November 28. It’s their first show
since January. Bassist Gene Schwartz says the blues trio doesn’t
have any plans for the set; they’ll see how they feel at the time:
“We’re just going to go up there and play.” Doors 8 p.m., $5 cover.
The Strange Familiar landed a jingly new original Christmas
song, “The Only Gift I Need,” on Songs to Celebrate 25 Days of
Christmas, an ABC Family compilation.
“ABC Family asked us to write a Christmas song,” says singer Kira
Leyden. “We decided to focus on the theme of finding love at
Christmas time. We started with that idea, thinking it would be tough
to be alone during Christmas. It’s the time of year when everybody
needs someone. We recorded the song in our tiny 400-square-foot
apartment and thought it was just a demo, and the next thing we know,
it’s being released on Walt Disney Records. It was definitely a nice
surprise.”
The band returns home to Akron from Los Angeles for a show at the
Tangier (532 W. Market St.) at 9.m. Friday, November 27. The Woovs
open. Tickets are $10 advance, $15 day of show. It’s a benefit for
Walsh Jesuit High School’s homeless outreach program.
The Beatnik Termites return to release their live DVD,
Insubordination Fest ’08, at a free show on Saturday,
November 28, at Now That’s Class (11213 Detroit Ave.). The
Cleveland-spawned band shot the DVD at a punk festival last year in
their adopted hometown of Baltimore. The trio plays three-part
harmonies you can slam to. The group headlines a free punky rock
showcase, with the Dead Enders, the Struttin’ Cocks, Hollywood Blondes
and Chicago’s Kobanes.
Eighties glam rockers Priscilla come back to life on Friday,
November 27, at the Hi-Fi Concert Club. The set will split old songs
and new tunes. The group has a new rhythm section and a new sound, and
is working on a new album for Australia’s Sun City Records. “It’s a lot
heaver,” says singer El Mar Kramer. “I think it’s industrial-glam. It’s
more Manson than Poison. Musically, we’re a whole different band.” Take
a listen to new material at MySpace.com/PriscillaGlam.
Law of Destruction will open Eternal Legacy’s CD-release show
Friday, November 27 at Peabody’s (2045 E. 21st St.). The band has
finished recording its debut album and is finally working on CD layout.
Guitarist John Comprix says the headbangers plan to release the disc in
the next few months. LOD is the backing band for Tim “Ripper” Owens’
Beyond Fear, and Comprix says he’s writing material for both
that band and the new album from Ringworm, his other group.
Ground Zero, Lick the Blade, and Lower 13 are also warming up te stage.
Doors 7 p.m., no cover.
The Bridge Party have posted their self-titled debut album as
a free download at thebridgeparty.com. The dark dance
group — which features former Whitechapel bassist Eric Pollarine
-— opens for Nitzer Ebb on Sunday, November 29, at Peabody’s
(2045 E. 21st St.).
This article appears in Nov 25 – Dec 1, 2009.