Back in the mid-'80s, a group of local lawyers with an affinity for '50s and '60s rock formed the Barflys. They played the occasional benefit around town and started gathering momentum, eventually expanding to include other attorney-rockers.
Over time, they developed an extensive repertoire of cover songs and came to be known as the 11-member No Name Band, specializing in "dancing music, predominantly of the '60s and '70s," says guitarist Randall Solomon. Their sets include everything from Motown to British Invasion to R&B tunes, as well as occasional numbers by Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers. "We try to rehearse about once a week," says Solomon. "But getting 11 busy lawyers together is like herding cats."
Unlike other groups, the No Name Band play mostly pro bono. "We donate our time and talent to worthy causes," says Solomon. This week, they'll headline the Jam for Justice benefit for the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, which assists low-income families. The show takes place at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, at the Blind Pig. Tickets are $25 ($20 in advance), available at lasclev.org.
Members of the Sultans of Bing and the PLUS Band will join together as Into the Blue for a set of Grateful Dead covers at 9 p.m. Friday at the Beachland Ballroom. Tickets are $10, available at beachlandballroom.com.
WCSB-89.3 FM celebrates its 35th anniversary with a dance party at Spaces Gallery on Saturday. WCSB DJs will spin music made popular at the Hacienda, the U.K. club that helped spawn bands like Joy Division, New Order, and the Happy Mondays. It starts at 9 p.m. Admission is free. Go to wcsb.org for more info.
Earth Nightclub hosts the Nerve DJs Midwest Music Summit and Showcase for DJs and rappers on Saturday and Sunday. If you want to participate, head to artistsregistration.eventbrite.com for details.
Sax man Ernie Krivda pays tribute to the late Harvey Pekar with Blues for Pekar, a new CD featuring pianist Claude Black, bassist Marion Hayden, drummer Renell Gonsalves, and trumpeters Sean Jones and Dominick Farinacci. It comes out this week.
The Beachland will host a Waterloo Arts Fest after-party on Saturday. Indie rockers Cloud Nothings, Filmstrip, Jukebox Value, Crave, Sunspots, Nights, and Supermoon will perform. Showtime is 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $5, available at beachlandballroom.com.
Former Clevelander Kevin McCarthy, who now lives in San Francisco, returns to town to play Wilbert's on Thursday. The singer-songwriter will donate 25 percent of his CD sales to the Business of Good, a nonprofit that helps poor families (McCarthy's dad heads the organization). Showtime is 8 p.m. Admission is a donation. You can find more info at wilbertsmusic.com.
