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The Rockometer: Desperation by Oblivians
Oblivians Desperation In The Red Records Workmanlike may not be the best adjective to describe Desperation, the fourth album by the Memphis garage-rock outfit, Oblivians, and the band's first since 1997's ...Play 9 Songs with Mr Quintron, but when you put three pedigreed Rock 'N' Roll veterans in a studio with the sole aim of writing a hip-shakin... Read More
Moving Pictures: “You Don’t Care About Me” by Wesley Bright & The Hi-Lites
True story. I had the pleasure of opening for Wesley Bright & The Hi-Lites first shows in Cleveland during the 2012 Waterloo Arts Fest. I was there to play records between bands in the Beachland Tavern. My set wasn't very memorable. I played some rock, punk, and garage and sucked down some Bell's Oberon. People came and went. I didn't know who Wesley Bright was and I didn't know what the Hi-Lites did. However, once that man a... Read More
Your Cleveland Concert Calendar for June
Saturday, June 1st: The Last Waltz of the It*Men, a Benefit for Ken Janssen feat. Hot Rails, The It*Men, Cobra Verde, New Lou Reeds, Charles Hill Jr. @ Beachland Ballroom. Sunday, June 2nd: Johnathan Richman @ Beachland Ballroom. Tuesday, June 4th: Ariel Pink, Purple Pilgrims, Sexy Pig Divas @ Grog Shop. Kendrick Lamar @ Jacobs Pavilion. Wednesday, June 5th: Torche, KEN Mode ,Lo-Pan, Classic Sand @ Grog Shop. Friday, June... Read More
Do It: The Last Waltz of the It*Men, a Benefit for the Ken Janssen Medical Fund
Ken Janssen has been active figure in the Cleveland music scene for many years. He's been in local bands The Hot Rails and The It*Men and he also spent some time booking and bartending at the Beachland Ballroom. Ken, if you don't know him, is the type of dude who'll treat you like an old friend the first time you meet him. That's how he was with me, and believe you me, I'm nothing special. For being one of the good guys in the s... Read More
Watch Me: “Bite My Tongue” by King Khan and the Shrines
In a press release announcing Idle No More, the new album by King Khan and the Shrines (9.9 on Merge Records), the king, himself, had this to say: Idle No More is probably the most refined piece of music we have made to date. The songs are about the state of the world we live in today. It took a long time to make, but we are very proud and pleased to bring you this album. I hope that the future will brighten up every time it is ... Read More
Exit Stencil Confounds Collectors, Excites Fans with Reissue of the Debut Album by 15-60-75 (The Numbers Band)
Reading a history of 15-60-75 (The Numbers Band), even one from Wikipedia, is like being dropped right into the middle of the bursting rock scene that was early '70s in Cleveland and Akron. Terry Hynde, the brother of The Pretender's Chrissy Hynde, was a founding member and still plays in the band. Early versions of the band also included Devo's Gerald Casale and Chris Butler of Tin Huey and The Waitressses. Additionally, a 1982 sing... Read More
Jam Packed Wednesday with Scott & Charlene’s Wedding, Daughn Gibson, Dirty Beaches and Lace Curtain
First off, there's no Scott and there's no Charlene in Scott and Charlene's Wedding. It's just NYC via Melbourne, Australia songwriter Craig Dermody. Also of note, Dermody is a slacker in the Malkmus tradition. On the surface it seems he ain't even tryin' -- One can hear the chuckle of a man unprepared for the tape at the start of "Fakin' NYC," the guitars are conspicuously out of tune, and Dermody isn't particularly concerned wi... Read More
C’Mon Get Heavy with Palms and Deafheaven
When the formation of Palms was first announced and this new project was to include three members of the most influential LA via Boston band, Isis, with Chino Moreno of The Deftones, the heavy music community was understandably excited. After all, Isis stands along side Neurosis and Godflesh as one of the most influential metal bands of the 21st Century. The Deftones, meanwhile, would have to be the considered the more commercialized... Read More
Do Not Think About Diarrhea Planet, Listen to Diarrhea Planet
Diarrhea Planet is a horrible name. Horrible. Try to look up one of their videos on YouTube and YouTube's secret algorithm may suggest you want to watch a video of a kid with explosive diarrhea at a swimming pool. It happened to me and I did not click. Understandably, I avoided Diarrhea Planet for a very long time. I put them in the same category of bands as Wampire, Tunabunny, and all of those all caps missing vowels bands. Life'... Read More
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