Music

In this day & age, where Music TeleVision only plays crappy reality shows;, and Clear Channel payolas unoriginal pop music from ‘American Idols’ and Disney tweens, it is refreshing to see & hear a broadcasting station showcase MUSIC.  Lately I’ve been leaving my iPod at home and have been enjoying the non-commercial, member-supported radio of 91.3 the Summit.

I didn’t listen to radio for a number of years.  In April 1999, when Cleveland’s 107.9 the End went off air, I gave up.  I’ve never been one for ‘pop’ music, and I hate hearing the same songs played over and over again.  Thank Apple for the iPod.  When I moved back to Akron early last year, I had a job that I drove around all day long, so I started to listen to the radio a little more.  It’s not the safest thing to drive and have to change the station when a bad song comes on, so I needed to find a station that had a good playlist.  That station was 91.3 the Summit.  They play indie, alternative, old, and unique music that you simply aren’t going to hear on any other station in northeast Ohio.  A station playing Miley Cyrus isn’t going to play old Joy Division or The Smiths, and certainly won’t play local artisits like The Speedbumps or Drummer.  91.3 is amazing.

One of my favorite things about the station is the multiple daily ‘Beatles Breaks’ with Jim Chenot.  It’s great to hear not only a song by The Beatles/solo work/or cover, but also the story behind it.  Actually, 91.3 is pretty good about doing that with almost all of the music they play.  Today, as a special treat to their member listeners, 91.3 is playing Beatles/Beatles-related/Beatles-influenced music ALL DAY.  I’m 4 hours in, and it is AWESOME.  What a great gift to music lovers!

Today is the last day of 91.3’s Fall Membership Drive.  For as little as $5/month, you can support this great radio station and the unique music they play.  I just joined- and you should too!  Click here to fill out a pledge form.  Pledge yourself, or give independent radio as a gift!  You can support them year-round, not just during the membership drives.  Join 91.3 the Summit!

This past Saturday we were down at Grace Park for the 4th Annual University Park Art Fair in Grace Park.  You couldn’t have asked for a more gorgeous day.  The tents were full of local artists and their unique pieces, 91.3 did a live broadcast, their was live music, great people out and about, and some adorable dogs too.  Despite Virtues not having the amazing scallops on this year’s menu, it was a pretty awesome day.

This Saturday we are very excited to be a part of the 4th Annual University Park Art Fair at Grace Park.  It will be a day filled with art, Akronites, great food, live entertainment, and (fingers crossed) nice weather.  We took part in last year’s art fair and had an amazing time.

Located at the corner of North Prospect and Perkins Streets, Grace Park is a lovely park just steps from downtown.  Despite years of a somewhat negative reputation, Grace Park has seen a revival over the last few years thanks to the University Park Development Corporation.  Each year the art fair has gotten bigger & better.  With free admission, dozens of local artisans, a live broadcast from 91.3 the Summit, live local performers, and great food served by one of the area’s best restaurants (last year was Virtues- amazing scallops!).

The Art Fair is this Saturday, August 15th from 10am-6pm.  Admission is free and you are sure to have a great time!

…and for a lot of those, it starts in Northeast Ohio.  All over the world, people questioned (and still do) the decision to put the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.  There are several reasons why the Rock Hall belongs in NEO.  It’s the ‘birthplace of Rock n’ Roll’ because Alan Freed, a Cleveland DJ was credited with coining a style of music with that name (though Benny Goodman used it as far back as the ’30s); but it is also the birthplace of many great musicians/bands- many who you may not realize.

As Akronites, we are certainly well aware of the Akron roots of Chrissie Hynde, DEVO, and our beloved Black Keys; but back in the ’70s, Akron was home to an incredible punk scene (in which Ms. Hynde and DEVO got their starts) with bands like Rubber City Rebels, The Waitresses, The Bizarros, and The Numbers Band (who still play locally).  Plus, Akron was a favorite tour stop for NY punk-darlings The Ramones. In the ’80s and early ’90s, Kenmore’s Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens started out in metal bands/cover-bands before hitting the big leagues as the new lead singer for Judas Priest (which was vaguely interpreted in the movie Rock Star).  Now in the ’00s, we have side projects by The Black Keys- Dan Auerbach’s solo project, Patrick Carney’s new band Drummer; as well as great acts like Maid Myriad, Winslow, Amplexus, House Popes, The Marble Champs, The Speedbumps, and more.  Cleveland served as the birthplace for bands like Nine-Inch Nails, Filter, Pere Ubu and The James Gang (featuring Joe Walsh who went on to play with The Eagles), along with singer-songwriter Tracy Champan (’Fast Car’) and a host of R&B/Hip-Hop acts like Bone Thugs-&-Harmony and Gerald Levert.  Canton is infamously the birthplace of Marilyn Manson (despite the shock value- some of his songs are really great).  What really spearheaded this blog was the discovery of someone I have been a longtime fan of being originally from Warren (near Youngstown- still NEO)- Dave Grohl of Nirvana/Foo Fighters.

It’s exciting when you really think of the musical/cultural relevance that this area has had.  While we’re not San Francisco in ‘67, Manchester, UK or New York in ‘78, or Seattle in ‘91- Akron once had a mini-scene, and maybe we’ll have another one.  Someday you can tell the grandkids, “Yeah I used to see them at Matinee or Musica…”.

For those about to rock Northeast Ohio, we salute you.  (Yes I’ve been listening to a lot of AC/DC lately).

I am very very excited to announce that I have an intern!!!!  RCC is pleased to welcome Wanida, our new intern.  Hailing from Toledo, Ohio (a fantastic city to the northwest) she currently living in Lakewood (also a fantastic city slightly northwest).  I first met Wanida when she interned for me at Anna Sui in New York a few years ago. She has her BS in Fashion Merchandising from Kent State (like me) and is currently working on her MBA at CSU.

When she’s not working at Wet Seal, Wanida is really into the Cleveland music scene, tattoos, and the Cavs.  She is so much of a LeBron WITNESS, that she has it tattooed on the inside of her lip!  In addition she’s got a really cool Ohio tattoo with a trail from Toledo to Cleveland and a brand new Cavs logo tattooed on the back of her neck.

We’re really excited to have her on board with us!  I think together we’re going to do some really cool things for RCC!  Keep on the look out for special events, more bands in-store, and lots of great promos!

Rubber City Clothing has certainly been known to cause a good laugh, start a conversation, or piss some people off when they see “Where the Weak are Killed and Eaten” (here’s a hint, if you don’t like it…don’t look at it; and I’ll refrain from quoting Redd Fox or Red Foreman); but now our designs are INSPIRING!!!!

Introducing The Marble Champs

We just got turned onto an underground recording artist with Akron roots, Kramies.  His music is soothing, yet haunting and definitely unlike anything you may have heard before.  Being that his songs are so experimental, Kramies is often called a scientist with gadgets more than a musician with instruments.

Golden Like A New Thing (2008), Kramies’ first album is currently out on ACM Records NY.  His next album, Castles of Ghosts will be out this upcoming May.   We hear that Kramies will be returning to Akron soon to work with northeast Ohio producer Todd Tobias, who has worked with Ohio indie faves Robert Pollard and Guided by Voices.  Check out his MySpace page, www.myspace.com/kramies to listen for yourself and buy the album.  Cross our fingers, we’ll be adding Kramies’ album(s) to the RCC/Akron music family.

Not only do we like his music, but he also likes our shirts

Tonight, Tonight….Get down to Thursday’s Lounge for their Halloween Party/80’s/Indie Night.  It is sure to be an awesome time.  Dress Up, Get Drunk, and Dance Around.  The party starts at 8pm with DJ Mario Nemr spinning all your indie faves and goes till the lights go on, the music stops, and you’re pushed out the door.  Don’t worry, it usually continues out front, then carries on to Taco Bell or White Castle (if you want to go home, that’s entirely up to you).

What will Akron’s coolest kids be dressing up as for Halloween?  Get creative, as there are prizes for the best costumes!  Look for me tonight, I’ll be Juno complete with a Bleecker and a hamburger phone.

Thursday’s Lounge…306 East Exchange St, Akron.

This will be my roommate and I

On top of tonight’s AMAZING Akron rock bonanza of DEVO, Chrissie Hynde, and The Black Keys- Akron’s local folk rock darling Rachel Roberts will be performing with Chrissie.  Many of you have probably seen Rachel play at Musica or every Monday at the Northside.  She is very talented and has fun with her audience.  One time I saw her she made up a song on the spot about a guy in the audience with a fantastic mustache.  That is true talent.

Come out tonight and support Akron and Akron music.  Even if you’re not a fan of Barack Obama or the Summit County Democrats, this is one show that cannot be missed! Enjoy Akron!

Tickets are still available for this once in a lifetime show at the Civic!  Pick ‘em up at the box office or go to www.ticketmaster.com.

From this week’s Cleveland Scene Magazine

Volume 15, Issue 76
Published October 15th, 2008
Chatter
We Are Demo
Devo And Black Keys Team Up In Akron For Obama

It’s the ultimate Akron-bands concert, and it’s a benefit for the Democrats: Devo and the Black Keys will play a rally for the Summit County Democratic Party at the Rubber City’s Civic Theatre this Friday, October 17.

“The last couple elections, we were living in California, and you’re around all these people that thought Al Gore was going to win,” explains Devo frontman Mark Mothersbaugh from his home in Los Angeles, where he’s lived since the band scored a record deal in 1976. “And we were surprised when we realized not everybody in the world felt the same way. And this time, we wanted to see if we could do something to help. And it’s not necessary out here in California.”

Though the new-wave group is best known for wearing triangular red energy domes in 1980’s kitschy “Whip It” video, its political convictions run deep. Devo’s core quartet - Mothersbaugh, his brother Bob, co-mastermind Gerald Casale and brother Bob Casale - met at Kent State University in 1970. Later that year, the arty young students were present at the protests that culminated in the National Guard opening fire on students, killing four and wounding nine.

The Obama concert was announced last week and was initially just a Devo show. The Black Keys, Akron’s two-man reigning representatives to the rock world, quickly volunteered to open. Drummer Patrick Carney has called Devo “one of my favorite bands ever” and once stalked the Mothersbaugh brothers when the band returned to town for 1997’s Lollapalooza. (This Moment in Black History, whose new single is “Obama [The Pres Is You, The Pres Is Me],” was offered an acoustic opening slot, but declined.) All proceeds benefit the Summit County Democratic Party.

A December 2007 Black Keys show at the Civic sold out quickly. Combined, the two groups could probably play at least a four-night stand, but Mothersbaugh and his wife (a St. Louis native who organized the show) have two school-age children back home. Scene caught Mothersbaugh in a rare chatty mood; he gladly discussed the Democratic candidate, the concert, the election’s stakes, the band’s relationship to its hometown and whether he’ll ever have a 330 area code again. - D.X. Ferris

Do you know the Black Keys?

I knew Ralph Carney from the old days. And his [nephew Patrick] is one of the halves of the band. But they’re well thought of in the world, and it was a nice treat that they wanted to be added on. I think [frontman Dan Auerbach has] got a great voice. I like the idea of [just] a guitar and a drummer. I like their sound. I’ve never gotten to see them. This works out great.

What do you hope to accomplish with the show? Do you think you’ll be doing more than just energizing the base?

I think there’s potential that people will show up for non-political reasons. I, like everybody in the world, have mixed feelings about celebrity endorsements. But this seemed like something where we could go back to our hometown and talk to a very specific group of people. In the last election, some counties were determined by something like nine votes. Ohio isn’t a slam-dunk for anybody, for sure. What do you see as the stakes for this election? This could be the most important election during my lifetime. I think deregulation and trusting big business to take care of everybody … it should be very evident that Wall Street and big business - and the Republicans along with that - are concerned about themselves first and people second.

As someone who was part of the politically active generation of the ’60s and ’70s, do you think this generation is sitting down on the job when comes to making its voice heard?

I think they’re suffering from over-inundation of media and the ability of people to use television and radio and magazines and the internet to create as much disinformation as information.

So, that said, is there something else you could be doing besides playing a concert for Ohio Democrats? You’re one of the more media-savvy people on the planet; could you be spreading some kind of counter-propaganda?

In my way, I do what I can do. That isn’t my profession, and I’m not the best person at it, and I’m not the most articulate person in the world. I can only tell you how I feel and what my observations are. And they cover a big arc, because I’m 58 now.

Are you more about Obama, the Democrat party in general, or both?

I think Obama is a very enigmatic person. I think he’s very intelligent. I think he’s one of the smartest people running for office. I want someone smarter than me in the White House. We haven’t had that for a while. We’ve had people that any of us could outsmart and people did outsmart.

Do the Kent State shootings loom large in your mind?

I think it helped form us as a band. It formed who we were. We looked around and tried to find a description of what we were observing. And we decided we were watching de-evolution, instead of evolution. And to some extent, it’s been borne out over 30 years, where 30 people years ago, people would say, “You’re cynical and have a bad attitude.” And you say it now, and people cheer. Devo wasn’t an overtly political band, but it had messages.

If you do listen to the lyrics, if it’s something of content, it’s generally [that] we’re pro-information and anti-stupidity. We encourage people to use their freedom of choice.

What will your set list be like?

We’ll probably stop and talk more than we normally do. We don’t normally waste people’s time. And I’d say 50 percent of the songs we play will be songs we wrote within a five-mile radius of the Akron Civic Theatre. There’s people that like later albums better, but the material we tend to play, we normally cull it from the earlier, more guitar-dominated time period. To me, I like the way it holds up to the test of time better than the later material.

Will the concert be a full production?

It’s getting thrown together a little bit, but we’ll probably have video. There may be a few surprises.

Do you still consider Ohio part of your life, or is it something from the past, like how most people look at their high school experience?

I think more than a lot of people are with their hometown. I think Devo, around the world, is considered an Akron, Ohio, band. We haven’t lived there for a long time. Our formative years were there. We created our big statement as artists in Akron, Ohio. And we went out into the world and saw ourselves as observers from Planet Akron. And I think of us that way.

Do you see yourself possibly coming back one day?

Easily. I like to come back and see green. I miss seasons. I have two kids, and I think Ohio and Akron’s a great part of the planet.

Devo and the Black Keys play the Akron Civic Theatre (182 S. Main St.) at 8 p.m. Friday, October 8. Tickets: $25-$150 (VIP tickets include a post-show reception with band members).