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Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Interview with Roger McNamee from Moonalice

roger mcnamee, moonalice, cincy groove

Roger McNamee from Moonalice


Interview and photos by Scott Preston

Cincy Groove: I had the chance to catch your peformance at Nelsons Ledges this past October.

Roger McNamee: That was so much fun. But man was it cold there. There were some great costumes. I think there is a decent shot we will be back there this year. The ekoostik hookah guys were so nice to us. They have actually invited us to do some more things with them.

Cincy Groove: What did the members in Moonalice want to accomplish when you got together?

Roger McNamee: There are alot of old bands playing old music, there are a lot of new bands playing new music. But what there aren't very many of, is new bands of old guys playing the old stuff in new ways. Because if you like the old sound , theres just not that much of it around. We have played 25-30 more gigs since October of 07, and when you are at that early stage, I mean I think we are at 50 gigs total. Those first 50 gigs, you are twice as good as the one before. This is the period when people look back and say "Holy shit, I saw them when they were first getting started and man did they suck lol".

Cincy Groove: I also noticed on your last tour you had different concert posters for every show.

Roger McNamee: Thats partly a San Francisco thing and mostly a roger mcnamee, moonalice, cincy grooveMoonalice thing. We have a guy named Chris Shaw, one of the greatest SF poster artists and we have known him for a long time. When we were the Flying Other Brothers he did a lot of stuff for us. He has this collective of poster artists, that includes himself, David Stinger and a bunch of other guys. We decided from the very beginning that posters were going to be a part of our thing. When we came up with the name moonalice, Chris was a part of that. Because we wanted to make sure that whatever name we picked was graphically interesting. For the kind of music we play the art really matters. We just decided we were going to do that from the very beginning.

Cincy Groove: Is Moonalice working on a studio album?

Roger McNamee: We have recorded a lot of music and T Bone Burnett is the producer. He is the guy who did "Oh Brother Where Art Thou?" and "Walk the Line". He has won a shit load of Grammys. He had album of the year when he went up against U2 in 2000. I think we have recorded 22 or 23 songs and we have 3 or 4 versions of most of them. So we were thinking we would skip the album and go straight to the retrospective lol. We will just do a box set. We have put 3 or 4 of the songs up on the website. You can download them in cd quality if you want. Recording really matters because it gives you the chance to really think about what you are doing. But it no longer drives the business. I think for about the last 40 years the business was really about recordings. That part of the business has just gotten flushed. The important thing is if your us , is that people listen to the music, like it, and if they like it come and see the band. Thats why right now all the music is free. We have the 4 or 5 studio songs and 3 full shows up on the site right now.
Read the full article here

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Cincy Blues Society Winter Blues Fest 1/25 - 1/26/2008 Southgate House

Cincy Blues Society Winter Blues Fest 1/25 - 1/26/2008 Southgate House

jon justice, blues, cincy blues society, cincy blues

Jon Justice Band will be appearing Friday night at 11pm



The Cincy Blues Society is once again hosting Winter Blues Fest at The Southgate House in Newport, KY. Tickets are $15. Cincy Blues Society members get in for $10, you can join by clicking here. 21 and over 6pm doors and 6:30pm show time both nights.


Here is the lineup for the weekend:
1/25/2008 - Friday
Ballroom
Sonny Moorman Group 8-9:15
blumanchu 9:30-10:45
Jon Justice Band 11-12:15
IIJuicy 12:30-1:45
Parlour
Todd Hepburn 9-10:15
Ricky & Bekah 10:30-11:45
46 Long 12-1:15
Lounge
BITS Band 6:30-7:30
John Redell & The Company He Keeps 7:45-9
Josh Dorsey Blues Band 9:15-10:30
Blue Ravens 10:45-12
Them Bones w/ Cheryl Renee 12:15-1:30

1/26/2008 - Saturday
Ballroom
Miss Lissa 8-9:15
M-Miles and the Hitmen 9:30-10:45
Ricky Nye & the Redhots 11-12:15
Malkum Gibson & the Mighty Juke 12:30-1:45
Parlour
Jimmy D. Rogers 9-10:15
Greg Schaber 10:30-11:45
Greg & James Clark 12-1:15
Lounge
BITS Band 6:30-7:30
Sonny Hill & the Nightshift 7:45-9
Mr. Keith Little 9:15-10:30
Blues Merchants 10:45-12
Thomas Henry & Brownstreet Breakdown 12:15-1:30

Cincy Blues Society - http://www.cincyblues.org

Venue Info
Southgate House
24 E 3rd St.
Newport, KY 41071
859-431-2201

Spring Hookahville (XXVIIII) 2008 News

Spring Hookahville (XXVIIII) 2008 News
May 23 - 26, 2008

ekoostik hookah, hookahville, schwa, cincy groove


Spring hookahville 2008 will be taking place at Legend Valley Music Center in Thornville, OH (about 30 miles east of Columbus) from May 23 - 26, 2008.

Music this time around will be on Saturday (5/24) and Sunday (5/25) with Early bird admission on Friday (5/23).

As it is still early in the year but this is the lineup so far:
2 nights of ekoostik hookah
Lotus (playing on Friday night 5/23 main stage)
You can expect around 5-6 more bands to be added over the coming months

Special discounted tickets go on sale Febuary 1st for $50. Goto legendvalley.net to purchase tickets.

You can also visit hookahville.com to see the history of this festival. This year 2008 is bringing up hookahville's 29 and 30. Not too many festivals can attest to having a longevity as hookahville has had. My opinion might be a little biased, as I have been to 22 consecutive hookahvilles. I always look foward to this every year, its a great time to see some great music, camp under the stars and see all your friends. I will be posting any new information as it becomes available.

Related links:
legendvalley.net
ekoostik hookah
hookahville.com

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

RUSH to play at Riverbend Music Center on 6/20/2008

rush, riverbend music center, cincinnati, cincy groove


Just a quick news flash for everyone, RUSH will be appearing at Riverbend Music Center here in Cincinnati, OH on June 30, 2008. Show starts at 7:30pm. Be sure to check out RUSH's web site at rush.com for up to date information. So far this is the only show on Riverbends schedule, but its only January so keep checking back on their website as well, www.riverbend.org .

Video Vault : Walker Project, 7.17.2004, Mt Adams Pavillion, Cincinnati, OH

Video Vault : Walker Project, 7.17.2004, Mt Adams Pavillion, Cincinnati, OH

MusicNOW 2008 April 2nd - 5th Line-up Announcement

MusicNOW festival


MusicNOW 2008 April 2nd - 5th Line-up Announcement

The 2008 festival will feature contemporary music pioneers Bang on a Can; and Bill Frisell, alongside three of the world’s most creative rock bands, Grizzly Bear, The Dirty Projectors, and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird. Visual artist Karl Jensen will create a large installation in Memorial Hall, and Glenn Kotche; (WILCO) and Bryce Dessner (The National) will perform as special guests with Bang on a Can.

Festival Schedule:

Wednesday, April 2nd
An evening of music and film featuring vintage experimental films from the New York Filmmaker’s Cooperative by Robert Breer, Marie Menken, and Harry Smith along with contemporary artists Matthew Ritchie and Bill Morrisson accompanied by festival performers and special guests at the Contemporary Arts Center.

Thursday, April 3rd
An evening of American Guitar with classical guitarist Benjamin Verdery and Bill Frisell’s 828 Quartet, featuring Eyvind Kang, Hank Roberts & Jenny Scheinman, at Memorial Hall

Friday, April 4th
Dirty Projectors and Bang on a Can featuring Glenn Kotche and Bryce Dessner at Memorial Hall

Saturday, April 5th
Andrew Bird and Grizzly Bear at Memorial Hall.

Tickets are $15 for individual concerts, $40 for 3 nights at Memorial Hall and available to purchase online.

MusicNOW 2008 website : http://www.musicnowfestival.org

Interview with Lee Rocker (from The Stray Cats)

Interview with Lee Rocker (from The Stray Cats)

lee rocker, stray cats, cincy groove


Interview by Scott Preston

Lee Rocker (from The Stray Cats) took some time to answer a few questions about his career with the Stray Cats and about his upcoming tour supporting his latest solo release "Black Cat Bone".

Cincy Groove: How did the Stray Cats reunion tour go?

Lee Rocker: That was a blast. It was a lot of fun. I mean the three of us grew up together and have been through so much. It was like going back to a high school reunion.

Cincy Groove: Are there any plans for a new Stray Cats release?

Lee Rocker: We talked about a couple things, but I don't see anything in the near future. I'm busy right now with the new record and the touring behind it. Everyone has their own thing, Brian just finished his Christmas tour. Its defintely not out of the question at any rate.

Cincy Groove: Back in the late 1970's, what made the three of you move to England?

Lee Rocker: Well, we were 18-19 years old. We were playing out around New York and we saw some British rock magazines and it looked like there was a cool scene going on. Once summer hit , we said hell lets go and see what happens and we never looked back. Things just took off for us. But it wasn't like we had anything setup.

Cincy Groove: It seems as soon as you stepped foot in England that things really started to roll for you guys.

Lee Rocker: We got their in June of 78, and had a single out that was a top 10 record in 6 months maybe less. Things happened very quickly.

Cincy Groove: Over the last 20 - 25 years is there one performance that really sticks out in your mind?

Lee Rocker: We did a Willie Nelson Family Picnic at the Atlanta Speedway for about 80-90,000 people and we walked out on stage and went to play the first note and there was a sea of cowboy hats looking at us. Somehow the power blew so we were standing there not able to make a sound.

Cincy Groove: Who was one of the first British musicians to come up to you after a show?

Lee Rocker: Steve Edmunds, who became lee rockerour record producer, was one of the first people we met. He came down to a show, came back to our dressing rooms, drinking a few pints, talking to us. We were big fans of his, he is a great record producer. He went on to produce with the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Elvis Costello, The Stray Cats early records, Everly Brothers. He was one of the first people to come down. He really wanted to produce the band and said he really knew what this is all about.
The Rolling Stones were there as early supporters as well. They came to a lot of shows and hung out and we eventually went out and did a bunch of tour dates with them.

Cincy Groove: Is there somebody that you haven't had a chance to play with yet that you wold really like to?

Lee Rocker: I have been fortunate enough to work with a lot of my heroes. From Willie Nelson, John Fogerty, George Harrison. I would love to play with Bob Dylan if he is ever looking for a bass player lol. Thats the call I'm still waiting for.

Cincy Groove: Did you have any special collaborations on "Black Cat Bone" or did you just use your band?

Lee Rocker: I used my band. I have the greatest band together now, we have been together for 10 years. Brophy Dale on guitar, Buzz Campbell on guitar and Jimmy Sage on drums. The band has really hit a point now where I couldn't be happier. Its a well oiled machine and they really know what I'm looking for.

Cincy Groove: I see that you are going to be playing the Wood Songs Radio Hour on 1/28/08.

Lee Rocker: Yeah I have done that show before and they do a great job at the theater there. I did the show a year or two ago and knew I had to come back. I really enjoyed myself.

Cincy Groove: You also have your own line of upright bass', how did that come about?

Lee Rocker: Thats with a company, King DoubleBass. They have been building bass's for me for the last couple years and I have been consulting with them on the electric pickups. Yeah so they do a Lee Rocker model bass. I will have 2 or 3 on the road with me.

Lee Rocker will be making 2 appearances in the northern Kentucky area:
1.28.2008 - Woodsongs Radio Hour, Lexington, KY
2.1.2008 - Southgate House, Newport, KY

more Lee Rocker Tour Dates can be found at Lee's Website: http://www.leerocker.com

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Flogging Molly appearing at Shake It Records 2/14/2008

Flogging Molly will be making an appearance at Shake It Records here in Cincinnati, OH performing an acoustic set before their show at The Madison Theater in Covington, KY later on in the evening. more details to follow.....

Straight from the Video Vault

From the Cincy Groove Magazine Video Vault:

1.11.2008, Colin John, Cliff Starbuck, Adam Mercer, Thirsty Ear, Grandview, OH

One More Girl On a Stage artists on City Nights TV 1/18/2008



One More Girl on a Stage artists Lauren Houston and Kristen Key will be performing on the City Nights tv show friday night 1/18/2008. Heather Turner (from Tupelo Honey) and Kelly Thomas will also be on the show to talk about the One More Girl on a Stage benefit show on 1/19/2008 at The Southgate House in Newport, KY.

City Nights is THE television authority for Greater Cincinnati entertainment, including the hottest bands, comedians, magicians.... you name it - we've got it!

Cablecast LIVE each Friday evening at 8:30pm on Insight Cable, CPC 21, in Northern Kentucky (Kenton, Boone and Campbell Counties), with replays in NKY on CPC 21, Mondays at 11:00pm, on Media Bridges in Cincinnati at various times and as part of the Digital-On-Demand lineup on Time Warner Cable in Cincinnati and Dayton.

City Nights website : http://www.citynightstv.com

Interview with Natalie MacMaster

Welcome to Cincy Groove Magazine's first blog posting, here is the latest addition to cincygroove.com:

Interview with Natalie MacMaster
http://cincygroove.com/?q=node/114