Livewire: 16 of the Best Concerts to Catch in Cleveland in January

Tropidelic returns to Cleveland this month Credit: Photo credit: Michael Freas

THU 01/16

Peter Mulvey
The singer-songwriter who started his career at Marquette University and then busked in Boston to develop his musical chops performs at 8 p.m. at the Beachland Tavern. He released his first demo back in 1992 and has kept at it ever since. Local singer-songwriter Charlie Mosbrook opens.
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

FRI 01/17

Pinkertones
This Weezer tribute act revisits the band’s catalog from the ’90s, when it was at the peak of its popularity. Weezer, which famously signed to Geffen Records in 1993, had a huge hit out of the gates with the release of its debut, known as The Blue Album. That album contained infectious hits such as “Buddy Holly,” “Undone — The Sweater Song” and “Say It Ain’t So.” Expect to hear those tracks and more when the Pinkertones play at 7 p.m. at Mahall’s 20 Lanes in Lakewood. Like Tyrants opens.
13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-3280, mahalls20lanes.com.

SAT 01/18

Electric Feels
This “experiential party” from Los Angeles features DJs who spin popular indie rock tunes in a festive environment that features stage production and special guests. Organizers bill it as “a party with a festival feel.” Tonight’s performance takes place at 9 at House of Blues.
308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.

Rumpke Mountain Boys
Part of the popular jamgrass scene, the Rumpke Mountain Boys, a self-described “trashgrass” band out of Cincinnati, come to the Beachland Ballroom as they celebrate their 25th anniversary. KrisB’s Midnight Railroad and Hunter Skeen & the Forerunners open. The show begins at 8 p.m.
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

SUN 01/19

Rubblebucket
A jam band that regularly swings through Cleveland, Rubblebucket returns to the Beachland Tavern tonight at 8. The group released its debut album, Rose’s Dream, way back in 2008 and has toured clubs and the festival circuit ever since. Singer-songwriter Hannah Mohan opens.
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

TUE 01/21

Big Head Todd & the Monsters
The jam band that started playing college parties in Boulder, CO in the ’80s comes to the Goodyear Theater in Akron, where it performs at 7:30 p.m. The tour celebrates the band’s 40th anniversary.
1201 East Market St., Akron, 330-659-7118, goodyeartheater.com.

Tycho
Last year, this chillwave group released its seventh album, Infinite Health. Another collection of meticulously crafted instrumental tunes that feature pulsating synthesizer and thumping bass, the tunes are often engrossing. Having just launched an international 2025 tour, the group performs at 7 p.m. at House of Blues.
308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.

WED 01/22

Meshell Ndegeocello
Singer-songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello began working on her latest album, last year’s No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin, back in 2016 after having read Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time. The result is a heady mix of avant-garde jazz, spoken word and funk that only someone like Ndegeocello could pull off. The talented singer-songwriter performs tonight at 8 at the Agora.
5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

Joy Oladokun
Since her breakthrough in 2020, singer-songwriter Joy Oladokun has released 2021’s in defense of my own happiness and 2023’s Proof of Life, both of which were widely acclaimed. Proof of Life commences with “Keeping the Light On,” a rousing narrative tune with soulful vocals that sets the tone for the album. Mt. Joy, Manchester Orchestra and Chris Stapleton make appearances on it as well, suggesting the range of Oladokun’s music. The current tour supports the new album, Observations from a Crowded Room. She performs at 7 p.m. at House of Blues.
308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.

THU 01/23

Nile and Six Feet Under
The two veteran metal acts perform tonight at 6:30 at the Agora. Nile formed in 1993 in South Carolina. At the time, the term technical death metal wasn’t bandied about, but it has come to describe the group’s music. Co-headliners Six Feet Under also formed in the early ’90s and has released 14 albums since forming. Psycroptic and Embyonic Autopsy open.
5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

Josh Ritter
Tonight at 8, the fantastic singer-songwriter who’s often compared to acts such as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen brings his trio to the Music Box Supper Club. According to the Music Box website, the show is sold-out, so you may have to hit the aftermarket to find tickets to this gig.
1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.

FRI 01/24

George DeLancey
The jazz bassist has toured nationally and internationally with the Larry Fuller Trio and has performed as a sideman with acts such as Wessell Anderson, Peter Bernstein, Bobby Broom, Tia Fuller, Philip and Winard Harper, Christian Howes, Willie Jones III, Wynton Marsalis, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Tomoko Omura, Johnny O’Neal, Houston Person, Russell Malone, Ben Paterson, Jeremy Pelt and Bria Skonberg. He is also the director of the Midwestern arts initiative Appalachian Muse and owner and operator of Sunrise Music Center in Zanesville, OH. He and his group perform tonight at 8 at the Bop Stop.
2920 Detroit Ave., 216-771-6551, themusicsettlement.org.

LILIEAE
LILIEAE’s Lydia Puccini and Kayleigh Hyland took an art class together when they attended Westlake High School several years ago. At the time, they had no idea that they’d wind up a band together. A mutual acquaintance made that happen and brought them together to form LILIEAE. The group, which plays a mix of hard rock and ’90s-style alternative rock, formed in 2019 and released its first EP that same year. They’ve been going strong ever since and perform at 7 tonight at Mahall’s 20 Lanes in Lakewood.
13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-3280, mahalls20lanes.com.

Pile
The hard rock band comes to the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights as part of a tour supporting its latest album, All Fiction. A press release describes the album as a “carefully paced study on the subjectivity of perception, the data-shaping despotism of big tech, and the connections between anxiety and death.” The show begins at 8:30 p.m.
2785 Euclid Hts. Blvd., 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs.

SAT 01/25

ATliens
The EDM group famous for performing in disguise — the group favors chrome faces and red illuminated eyes — brings its Leaving the World Behind tour to the Agora. Doors open at 8 p.m. LAYZ, Gorilla T and Automhate open.
5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

Tropidelic
This local jam band doesn’t play Cleveland as much these days now that’s become a national act. This past summer, it released its latest album, Royal Grove, and the album’s lead single, “Floating,” pairs the group with Iration and the Elovators. Tonight, the group makes a rare local appearance when it plays Kent Stage. Doors open at 6:30.
175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.

TUE 01/28

Albert Lee Band
The influential British guitarist brings his band to the Music Box Supper Club. In the 1960s, Lee left school to play guitar full-time and formed the Thunderbirds, a successful British R&B/rock band in the 1960s. Upon leaving that band, he performed with the Everly Brothers for a good 20 years and has toured with the likes of guitarist Vince Gill and Bill Wyman. Tonight’s show begins at 7:30.
1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.

THU 01/30

Bertha: Grateful Drag
A Nashville-based group that claims to be the world’s first draq Grateful Dead tribute band formed two years ago to fight the anti trans and LGBTQ laws being passed in Tennessee and around the country. Tonight at 8 at the Beachland Ballroom, the band makes its Cleveland debut. The concert serves as a benefit for Trans Ohio, and local drag queen Dr. Lady J will host the affair.
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

Hooked Like Helen CD Release Party
The local group celebrates the release of its new album. Singer Nikki Stipp performs with real intensity, and the band draws from glam rock and metal. The national act Platinum Moon shares the bill. The show starts at 7 p.m. at the Winchester in Lakewood.
12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-600-5338, facebook.com/TheWinchesterMusicTavern.

FRI 01/31

Bumpin’ Uglies
The reggae/ska/punk band brings its tour in support of its new album, Lyrics Over Everything, to the Beachland Ballroom tonight for the start of a two-night residency. The show begins at 7:30, and Joey Harkum and Derek McBryde open. Joint Operation and TobyRaps open tomorrow’s show.
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

Joe Grushecky & the Houserockers
The Pittsburgh-based singer-guitarist became a regional sensation in the 1970s and 1980s and continues to regularly tour and record. He counts Bruce Springsteen as one of his biggest fans. He plays at 8 p.m. at the Music Box Supper Club. Fri: Jan. 31.
1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.

Kerry King
Slayer guitarist Kerry King launched his solo career last year with the release of From Hell I Rise. To cut the tunes and to play them live, he assembled a band of heavy metal all-stars, including Death Angel singer Mark Osegueda, Vio-lence/Machine Head guitarist Phil Demmel, Hellyeah bassist Kyle Sanders and Slayer/Testament/Forbidden/Exodus drummer Paul Bostaph. The tour that brings him to House of Blues tonight supports the album. Doors open at 6.
308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.

Mourning [A] BLKstar 10th Anniversary Concert
The ambitious local band that draws from noise, funk, indie rock and jazz celebrates its tenth anniversary with this special show at the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights. The concert begins at 8:30 p.m.
2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs.

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