Sweet Apple (myspace.com/sweetapplesongs) just announced a new set of dates in support of their debut album, Love & Desperation. The indie-rock band featuring Clevelanders John Petkovic and Tim Parnin — who are also members of Cobra Verde — will play a few East Coast dates in early September before opening for the recently reunited Guided by Voices in Washington, D.C.; Carrboro, North Carolina; and Atlanta in October. Even though he didn't play drums on the album, Cobra Verde's Mark Klein will join the band — which also includes Dinosaur Jr.'s J. Mascis and Witch's Dave Sweetapple — on tour.
You're Among Friends' new three-song EP, Powerpop From Cleveland!, is available as a free download for a limited time at youreamongfriends.bandcamp.com. The set includes the Elvis Costello-inspired "Enjoy Life" and "Until the Next Girl Comes Along." The band plans to charge for the EP soon, so get it for free while you can.
Sax man Bobby Selvaggio (bobbyselvaggio.com) and his new band Grass Roots Movement (guitarist Nir Felder, keyboardist Frank LoCrasto, drummer James Johnson, and bassist Kip Reed) are in the studio recording an album due out later this year on the jazz-centric Arabesque Records.
There's a local connection to Bad City
(myspace.com/badcitymusic), the Chicago-based hard-rock group that recently released a retro-sounding major-label debut, Welcome to the Wasteland: Akron's Kevin Cane is the group's drummer. The band spent July opening for the Smashing Pumpkins (frontman Billy Corgan is a big fan) and is now on the road supporting Hinder.
Joanne Fox
, who worked in the public-relations department at the Parma-based Toxic Entertainment, died of cancer last month. Several local artists are playing a benefit concert at 8 p.m. on Friday at the Phantasy Nite Club. Tickets are $10. Find more info at phantasyconcertclub.net.
For the past few months, the Mojo Big Band (myspace.com/mojogenerations) has held down a Monday-night jam session at Brothers Lounge. The 17-piece group (which includes musicians of all ages) covers a range of classic jazz and big-band material. It celebrates the release of its new CD at 9:30 p.m. Friday at Brothers Lounge.
Pennsylvania's Sacred 13 (myspace.com/sacred13band) celebrate the release of their new CD, Jagged Regrets, at 9:30 p.m. Friday at the Phantasy Nite Club. Led by gruff-voiced guitarist Josh Karickhoff, the band sounds like a cross between Metallica and Godsmack on songs like "Out of Time" and "Wash Away the Pain." Marco Inman, the Formula, and Sky's the Limit open the show. Tickets are $6.
Billing itself as "Planet Earth's Largest Gathering of DEVOtees," Devotional returns to the Beachland Tavern and Ballroom at 8:30 p.m. Friday and at noon on Saturday for a weekend of festivities that honor Akron's wacky Spudheads. Now in its tenth year, the annual event will feature a video chat with Devo frontman Mark Mothersbaugh, a slideshow of vintage Devo photographs, and an appearance by bassist Gerald Casale. A bunch of tribute bands are also slated to play. The Church of the Subgenius' Rev. Ivan Stang hosts. Admission is $8 for Friday's Tavern show and $20 ($10 if you show up after 7 p.m.) for Saturday's Ballroom gig. A weekend pass costs $25. Find more info at boojiboysbasement.com/devotional2010.
Cleveland's School of Rock (schoolofrock.com), the local arm of the national kid-rock camp, pays tribute to garage rock at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, then switches gears with a set of Metallica and Iron Maiden covers at 6 p.m. Both shows take place at the Phantasy Nite Club. Tickets are $10.
The newly formed punk/horrorcore band Dead Federation (myspace.com/deadfederation) introduces bassist T-scum on Saturday when it plays a 2 Nights of Terror show at Sachsenheim Hall at 9 p.m. Fellow horror-punk bands Aaron Omen, the B Movie Monsters, and the Uncaged are also on the bill. Expect songs from Dead Federation's forthcoming debut, which frontman Tom Dark says is due out soon. Tickets are $6.
In addition to writing a memoir, Ohio State University professor and aspiring actress Dr. E just released her debut album, Elevated, a collection of soul songs that recall Jill Scott. The autobiographical numbers deal with breakups ("Kicked to the Curb") and self-empowerment ("Walk This Road"). Dr. E hosts a CD-release party at 5 p.m. on Sunday at Gibb's Lounge. Tickets are $10. The concert is also a benefit for the East Tech High School Scholarship Fund. You can find more info at giveusfreerecords.com.Send feedback to [email protected].
