Contributor Dave Tobias is back with another great live review today from Orlando, Florida.

If you couldn’t tell, we here at ENS are big fans of The National. Our continuing coverage of the band is a point of pride, as the proud Cincinnati quintet continues to stake their claim as one of the preeminent rock bands of this generation. So, heading into Wednesday night’s show at the House of Blues in Orlando, I expected nothing but the best from a band creating their best music and performing their best shows at the present day. I wasn’t disappointed.

The crowd at this show was the most homogenous group of people I’ve seen in a long time at a concert. Young professionals in their twenties and thirties, looking to have a beer and listen to good music. They were treated to a 19 song set culled mainly from The National’s newest, and arguably best, album High Violet.

The National aren’t necessarily known for danceable numbers, and the band made fun of themselves at multiple points throughout the show for this. However, what they lack in movement, they make up for gorgeous arrangement and inspirational effort. The Dessner brothers’ guitarwork is second to none in independent rock, and they flexed their collective muscles Wednesday night, driving the show to its inevitable peaks and valleys.

While in the past I’ve always enjoyed Matt Berninger’s channeling of Ian Curtis, on this night, I found some of his antics a bit forced, including his romp through the crowd on “Terrible Love.” That’s not to say he wasn’t genuine, but it was evident that the typically boisterous frontman was a bit weathered, seeing as this was the 5th show in as many nights for the band. His voice was a little worse for the wear as well, which is a shame considering that element is the driving force behind Violet’s best tracks, “Sorrow,” “Bloodbuzz Ohio,” and “England.” However, had I never witnessed the band’s live show before, I never would have noticed this subtle difference, as the crowd certainly recognized the effort with thunderous applause.

While there were several highlights from the show, including a rousing rendition of cult favorites “Available” and “Cardinal Song”, I found myself leaving the show pleasantly satisfied, but not overwhelming enthralled. It seems The National exist in this realm on album as well, as I’ve found that every one of their albums is a grower for me; on first listen, I know it’s good, but it takes 5 or 6 to fully appreciate the nuances and complexities.

The National’s show has evolved through the years, and for the better. It is now more about the communal experience the audience and band can have for one night, evidenced by Berninger’s need to link with the audience and the unplugged, acoustic closing number of “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks.” This fits the men well, as they channel the likes of their forefathers, Springsteen, Husker Du, and Cohen, and provides the audience with a much needed experience in rock music today: genuine heart, honesty, and care for the people paying their salaries. It is the true sign of artists making music for the masses, and we’re all the better for it.

Setlist

Runaway
Anyone’s Ghost
Mistaken for Strangers
Bloodbuzz Ohio
Slow Show
Squalor Victoria
Afraid of Everyone
Available/Cardinal Song
Little Faith
Conversation 16
Apartment Story
Abel
Daughters of the Soho Riots
England
Fake Empire
Sorrow
Mr. November
Terrible Love
Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks (unplugged/acoustic)

-Dave Tobias @tobiasdt

While my first night of the Clifton Heights Music Festival consisted of three solid sets by No No Knots, The Happy Maladies and The Cincy Brass, Saturday I decided to hop around so I could see more bands.   Here’s a break down of the night:

Peter Adams & The Nocturnal Collective @ Rohs Street Cafe
I’ve probably seen Peter Adams a dozen times, but I still wanted to catch Peter and his Band at Rohs Street.  Despite the surprising placement as the opening act at Rohs, the band still put on a great show to a receptive audience.  I was only able to catch the last two songs, but I’m glad they were his staple cover of Neutral Milk Hotel’s “Holland 1945″ and “The Disappeared” off his debut, The Spiral Eyes.

Shadowraptr @ Mac's (Photo credit: Aaron Conway)

Shadowraptr @ Mac’s Pizza Pub
I was initially drawn to Shadowraptr for two reasons: 1) The band features Stephen Patota of the Happy Maladies, as well as Aaron Collins (drums, vocals), Neal Humphrey (bass) and Kat Hensey (keyboard, vocals). Though I hadn’t heard any of  Shadowraptr’s music prior to the show, the reputation of the Maladies alone was enough motivation to check them out;  2) I’m a huge fan of velociraptors.  Despite the band’s failure to make a single Jurassic Park reference, I was not disappointed.   The band could be pegged as a psychedelic jam band judging by the reverb-soaked guitar and dreamy harmonies by Collins and Hensey, but the band’s incorporation of funk and afropop make it difficult to pin down a genre.   It was particularly great to see versatility from Patota; though the former CCM jazz major kills on mandolin with the Maladies, it’s in Shadowraptr where he is really able to showcase his guitar-shredding skills.

Best Revenge @ Mac's (photo credit: Aaron Conway)

Best Revenge @ Mac’s
The self-described “Porch Rock” band is Josh Estro on guitar and harmonica, Zac Schmidt on drums and Joe Powell on bass.  The music is simple and straightforward – one part punk to two parts twangy rock – but really, it’s all you need when you need a summertime soundtrack to drink whiskey on your porch.  Oh.  Now I get the porch rock reference.

The Prohibitionists @ Christy’s
Loud, raucous and bluesy, the P-Hibs played one of their best shows Saturday night, due in part to the return of guitarist Mike Nauman, who had been studying in Belgium since January.  Though the no-frills garage rock quartet pays respect to influences like The Kinks and The Rolling Stones, The Prohibitionists’ gritty, blues-tinged rock ‘n’ roll has the soul and the skill to stand out in the Midwest music scene.

POSITRONIC @ Uncle Woody’s
Saturday marked my first time stepping foot into the frat-friendly college bar, but it was worth it to catch a set from Cincinnati DJ Positronic.   The Clifton-based DJ aka Eric Leckrone has been fairly under the radar until recently, occasionally surfacing to play house parties or to remix tracks for the likes of local artists Baby Alpaca and Molly Sullivan.  However, the promising DJ – who spins anything from funk, soul and hip hop to house, dub and indie – can soon be found playing every second Saturday at Grammer’s.

When you get an opportunity to work for a station that you are a huge fan of, you take it. That is what was presented to me three and a half years ago after WOXY was revived by lala.com and needed to fill a hole in their on-air lineup. Without any radio experience, but tons of music experience, I somehow fit the need and even up until now, I felt like I somehow cheated the system in order to get this job.

Today, WOXY went silent just after 10 am ET. It hurt alot more than I was expecting it to. All of us at the station have poured ourselves into making this the best thing we could. We all loved our jobs and wanted nothing more than to continue doing it for our listeners. The move to Austin was not an easy one, but the city embraced us and we are incredibly grateful. I have always said that if it all ended tomorrow, I would have no choice but to be grateful for the time I had, and I am.

For those of you that follow me on twitter or facebook, you know that music is a huge part of my life and being able to do it in this environment with good people like Shiv, Mike, Bryan Jay, Brian and Paige has been amazing.

And the thing is, a glimmer of hope has to exist for all of us based on history alone. Nobody is holding their breath that WOXY will be back, but none of us can close the door completely just yet either. That being said, I am hoping my friends and contacts will get in touch with me if you have a lead on anything I might be able to help you do. Yeah, I know, everyone needs a job, well, I’m getting in line.

Thanks for all the heartfelt responses. We have always said that if we could turn your goodwill into cash, we could do this forever.

You can contact me joe@eachnotesecure.com

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This Saturday, Six Feet Deep is using an empty pool for something other than a half pipe.

Matthew Shelton, Wonky Tonk, Envelope, and The Sundresses will perform in the basin of the Ziegler Park swimming pool in Over-the-Rhine.

Please remember to wait 30 minutes after you eat before entering the pool, no diving, and no rough housing!

Zeigler Park
corner of 13 and Sycamore Sts., Over-the-Rhine
8-11 PM
Gate opens at 7:30
$5

Fans of The Seedy Seeds, rejoice!  The cutest banjo-wielding synth-pop band in all the Midwest are unveiling a BRAND NEW song tonight at Midpoint Music Festival!  The trio join Loyal Divide and Chemic at the Contemporary Arts Center right before Scotland Yard Gospel Choir (who are neither from Scotland, nor a gospel choir).   Check out Thursday’s MPMF schedule in its entirety after the jump.

DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI

Fountain Square Kickoff Happy Hour
5th and Vine Streets
FREE
6:15 pm The Young Republic
5:00 pm Shayna Zaid & the Catch

Arnold’s Bar & Grill
210 E 8th Street, (513) 421-6234
Wristband or $5 at the door
11:00 am Spookfloaters
10:00 pm The Lighthouse & the Whaler
9:00 pm The Greens
8:00 pm Stick Figure Drawings

Blue Wisp Jazz Club
318 E 8th Street, (513) 241-9477
Wristband or $5 at the door
12:00 am The Young Republic
11:00 pm Middle Distance Runner
10:00 pm Ketch Harbour Wolves
9:00 pm Western Civ
8:00 pm Ruetschle

Cadillac Ranch
41 E 6th Street, (513) 621-6200
Wristband or $5 at the door
12:00 am Noctaluca
11:00 pm Ellery
10:00 pm Watson Park
9:00 pm Mardelay
8:00 pm Samantha Tieger

Contemporary Arts Center
“A LITE BRITE TEST”
44 East 6th Street, (513) 345-8400
Wristband or $7 at the door
11:30 pm Scotland Yard Gospel Choir
10:30 pm The Seedy Seeds
9:30 pm Loyal Divide
8:30 pm Chemic

Havana Martini Club
441 Vine Street, (513) 651-2800
Wristband or $5 at the door
12:00 am Giselle Grayson
11:00 pm Winslow
10:00 pm The Uniphonics
9:00 pm Abiyah
8:00 pm Tropidelic

Inner Peace Holistic Center
708 Walnut Street, (513) 784-0403
Wristband or $5 at the door
11:00 pm Mock Orange
10:00 pm Kinetic Stereokids
9:00 pm The Harlequins
8:00 pm aficionado

Javier’s
800 Walnut Street, (513) 384-3287
Wristband or $5 at the door
11:00 pm instrument
10:00 pm Shayna Zaid and the Catch
9:00 pm Cassavettes
8:00 pm The Broderick

Lodge Bar
35 E 7th Street, (513) 721-9400
Wristband or $5 at the door
12:00 am Buckra
11:00 pm Return of Simple
10:00 pm The States
9:00 pm The Free Press
8:00 pm The Smith Bros

Madonna’s
11 E 7th Street, (513) 621-8838
Wristband or $5 at the door
11:30 am The Tillers
10:30 pm Rubber Knife Gang
9:30 pm The Rattlesnakin Daddies
8:30 pm Messerly and Ewing

Mainstay Rock Bar
301 W 5th St, (513) 721-7625
Wristband or $5 at the door
12:00 am Rosella
11:00 pm Halo Stereo
10:00 pm Loudmouth
9:00 pm Stereo Deluxe

Subway Bar and Lounge
609 Walnut Street, (513) 421-1294
Wristband or $5 at the door
12:00 am Banderas
11:00 pm The Way Downs
10:00 pm The Subtle Urge
9:00 pm Black Signal
8:00 pm Charlie Hustle

Washington Platform
1000 Elm Street, (513) 421-0110
Wristband or $5 at the door
12:00 am Brighton, MA
11:00 pm Rego
10:00 pm The Brian Stewart Band
9:00 pm The Prohibitionists
8:00 pm The Electric Souls

OVER THE RHINE

Below Zero Lounge (upstairs)
1122 Walnut Street, (513) 421-9376
Wristband or $5 at the door
11:30 pm CHILDE
10:30 pm Karate Coyote
9:30 pm Goose
8:30 pm Light In August

Coffee Emporium
110 E Central Parkway, (513) 651-5483
FREE
10:00 pm MidPoint in the Round
9:00 pm Damen Samuel
8:00 pm Serenity Fisher

Courtyard Café
1211 Main Street, (513) 723-1119
Wristband or $5 at the door
12:30 am Gay Witch Abortion
11:30 pm Jookabox
10:30 pm Kuchi Guru
9:30 pm Fists of Love
8:30 pm Where They Landed

Grammer’s
TOPIC DESIGN TENT
1440 Walnut Street, (513) 421-8300
Wristband or $10 at the door
9:30 pm Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit
8:00 pm The Elms
6:30 pm Cash Flagg

Know Theater Downstairs
DEWEY’S PIZZA STAGE
1120 Jackson Street, (513) 300-5669
Covers Main Stage and Downstairs
10:30 pm Makers of Sense
9:30 pm John The Savage
8:30 pm Moon High

Know Theater Main Stage
DEWEY’S PIZZA STAGE
1120 Jackson Street, (513) 300-5669
Wristband or $7 at the door
Covers Main Stage and Downstairs
11:00 pm The Bloodsugars
10:00 pm Look Mexico
9:00 pm Vanity Theft
8:00 pm The Winter Sounds

Mr. Pitiful’s
1323 Main Street, (513) 369-0202
Wristband or $5 at the door
11:30 pm Come On Go With Us
10:30 pm Eric Matthew Tepe
8:30 pm Mike Fair & The Adventure Seekers

Segway of Cincinnati
1150 Vine Street, (513) 225-1583
Wristband or $5 at the door
11:00 pm Lightning Love
10:00 pm Culture Queer
9:00 pm The Daredevil Christopher Wright
8:00 pm The Sleeping Sea

NEWPORT KY

Southgate House
24 E 3rd Street, (859) 431-2201
Wristband or Tix advance from SGH
Ballroom: $8 adv/ $10 dos
10:00 pm Deke Dickerson backed by The Modern Sounds
Lounge: Free
9:00 pm Strawboss

The Baseball Project (photo by Vivian Johnson)

Scott McCaughey might be a robot.

One is forced to conclude that only a machine from the future, or possibly the Highlander, could possibly do everything Scott McCaughey does.  Besides leading Young Fresh Fellows and The Minus 5, touring and recording with R.E.M., and playing with Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3, he recently formed The Baseball Project with Steve Wynn, along with R.E.M.’s Peter Buck (also of the Minus 5) and drummer Linda Pitmon.

In reality, singer-songwriter McCaughey is simply a musician with a passion for music and a feverish ambition that keeps him constantly busy.  In the past year alone,  Young Fresh Fellows released I Think This Is (Yep Rock) – their first album in eight years – and The Minus 5 released Killingsworth, a pedal steel-focused alt-country album featuring collaborations with everyone from members of The Decemberists to an all-girl Bee Gees tribute band called the She Bee Gees.   On top of that, the Baseball Project released their first album, Volume 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails, an album all about – surprise – baseball.

When McCaughey called from the road, he was in North Dakota with tour mates Peter Buck, Steve Wynn, and Linda Pitmon, aka The Baseball Project, the Steve Wynn Four, and the most current incarnation of The Minus 5.  Though it may seem somewhat unconventional to use the same members for all three bands on the tour, McCaughey doesn’t think twice about it. “We like being our own opening band and blending everything into one big mess,” he laughs, “It’s awesome.”  The tour seems to embody McCaughey’s career path as of late, which he describes as “[doing] whatever I felt like with whoever was around, whoever I wanted to work with and who would consider joining in the fun and working with me.”

***
The Baseball Project’s  debut album, Volume 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails is an album with a basic concept: a love for baseball.  The band released the album July 7 on Yep Rock.  “[Steve Wynn and I] went back to the late 1800s, early 1900s for some of the material so you’ve got a hundred plus years of characters and stories to refer to, and I think we came up with some pretty good ones and presented it really well,” McCaughey says.  ” I mean, it’s not for everybody, I suppose.  We figure if we make the music cool enough that even people who didn’t even like baseball might like it. And then if we made the stories good enough that maybe people who don’t like indie rock but like baseball might like it too.”

One would assume that a band like The Baseball Project would regularly catch a few games while on tour; unfortunately, McCaughey said it hasn’t worked out that way.

“You know, I almost always catch a baseball game on tour in the summer [during] baseball season, but it’s so funny ‘cause on this tour where we thought ‘Well, maybe we can play at some games’ and do stuff like that, there’s almost no opportunities for us to see any games on this tour.  In fact, the only place we’re probably gonna get to see a game is in Cincinnati.”  Go Reds!

***
Despite the numerous gigs on his plate right now, McCaughey admits, “I feel like I should do more.  I should be making more music and putting out more records and writing more songs, so I’m not really satisfied.”

With that in mind, it makes sense that McCaughey doesn’t plan to stop any time soon once the tour is over.  As soon as this tour ends, he’s scheduled to do some Robyn Hitchcock dates right before the Young Fresh Fellows tour in Spain.  Though some could accuse McCaughey of being a workaholic, he certainly doesn’t have the attitude of one, jokingly describing himself as “haphazard.”  “I don’t have a great career plan,” he says, “I just sort of do stuff when I have time and when it seems like fun, when opportunity arises.”

The Minus 5, The Baseball Project, and the Steve Wynn 4 come to the Southgate House this Saturday, September 19.
8pm doors / 9pm show
$10 ADV / $13 DOS
Ages 18+

This blog is not about top 40 pop music. You don’t come here to find out what is burning up the Billboard charts. But like so many of you, I grew up on pop music, and the biggest and most important pop musicians of our time, and maybe ever was Michael Jackson. He died after a cardiac arrest today at the young age of 50.

It’s a sad sad day in the music industry.

Lots more video on the official MJ You Tube Channel…..

We first gave you notice about The Read (pronounced “Red”) back in 2007, after we were blown away at their brand of in your face punk rock, and at the fact that they were doing it so well at such a young age. Well, the guys are back, a tad bit older and a tad bit more known here in the Cincinnati area with a new release. The release is coming from local label Phratry Records, which is home to several local bands of note including Knife The Symphony, and Caterpillar Tracks.

And the release is a very cool 7″ single that you will be able to snag later this month. I know you want the new tunes, so stream one of them below right now and pre-order the 7″ in the Phratry store. Or, catch the band live, all dates after the jump…

May 13 2009 8:00P
BUNK spot w/ Slingshot Dakota + You’ll Get Yours Cincinnati, Ohio
May 16 2009 8:00P
MOBO bike CO-OP Benefit @ Off the Avenue Studio Cincinnati, Ohio
Jun 13 2009 8:00P
RECORD RELEASE SHOW @ Bikehaus w/ Dopamines + tba Cincinnati, Ohio
Jul 11 2009 8:00P
Southgate House w/ Knife the Symphony Newport, Kentucky
Jul 15 2009 8:00P
Dayton @ TBA Dayton, Ohio
Jul 16 2009 8:00P
Browntown! w/ Submarine Spaceship + tba Athens, Ohio
Jul 17 2009 8:00P
BEREA FEST Berea, Ohio
Jul 18 2009 8:00P
BEREA FEST Berea, Ohio
Jul 19 2009 8:00P
Columbus @ tba Columbus, Ohio
Jul 20 2009 8:00P
Rachel’s Cafe w/ DELAY + Good Luck Bloomington, Indiana
Jul 21 2009 8:00P
Halloween House w/ DELAY Indianapolis, Indiana
Jul 22 2009 8:00P
the Fun House w/ DELAY + tba Chicago, Illinois
Jul 23 2009 8:00P
tba w/ DELAY + tba Grand Rapids, Michigan
Jul 24 2009 8:00P
tba w/ DELAY + tba Detroit, Michigan
Jul 25 2009 8:00P
somewhere in OHIO @ tba w/ DELAY Cleveland, Ohio
Jul 26 2009 8:00P
Soggy Dog House w/ TILL PLAINS + tba Lakewood, Ohio
Jul 27 2009 8:00P
Buffalo @ tba w/ TILL PLAINS Buffalo, New York
Jul 28 2009 8:00P
Binghamton @ tba w/ TILL PLAINS Binghamton, New York
Jul 29 2009 8:00P
Fort Fuck Awesome w/ TILL PLAINS Boston, Massachusetts
Jul 30 2009 8:00P
Brooklyn @ tba w/ TILL PLAINS Brooklyn, New York
Jul 31 2009 8:00P
Richmond @ tba w/ TILL PLAINS Richmond, Virginia
Aug 1 2009 8:00P
Knoxville @ tba w/ TILL PLAINS Knoxville, Tennessee
Aug 2 2009 8:00P
Lawrence @ tba w/ TILL PLAINS Lawrence, Kansas
Aug 3 2009 8:00P
Omaha @ tba w/ TILL PLAINS Omaha, Nebraska
Aug 4 2009 8:00P
Minneapolis @ tba w/ TILL PLAINS Minneapolis, Minnesota
Aug 5 2009 8:00P
Y NOT w/ Hawks + White Problems + TILL PLAINS Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Aug 6 2009 8:00P
Chicago @ tba w/ TILL PLAINS Chicago, Illinois
Aug 7 2009 8:00P
Bloomington @ tba w/ TILL PLAINS Bloomington, Illinois
Aug 8 2009 8:00P
Indianapolis @ tba w/ TILL PLAINS Indianapolis, Indiana
Aug 9 2009 8:00P
Moria House w/ TILL PLAINS Indianapolis, Indiana

Remember last year when Mobius Band did a free EP on Valentines Day that had covers of songs from The National, Daft Punk and more? Well, the band are at it again, and the covers are just as ambitious this year, and once again, it is all free!

I’m enjoying this Tom Petty cover myself…

Mobius Band – You Don’t Know How It Feels (Tom Petty Cover)

1 – Say You Will (Kanye West)

2 – Love Hurts (Everly Brothers)

3 – Lullaby (Dixie Chicks)

4 – Satellite (TV on the Radio)

5 – At My Window (Townes Van Zandt)

6 – You Don’t Know How it Feels (Tom Petty)

Download the entire EP right here.

So what is the proper way to celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s 200th Birthday? That is seriously a tough question that probably causes indie rockers to dust off The Presidents Of The United States album that you swore you threw away. Don’t do that, because I have an alternative for you that you are really going to enjoy.

It’s from the multi-talented Bryce Dessner of Cincinnati, The National, MusicNOW and most recently, the excellent Dark Was The Night compilation. Bryce has been busy and today offers up a very cool project he is a part of, celebrating Abe Lincoln.

The project is titled “21st Century Abe”.

Bryce offers up “The Lincoln Shuffle,” a series of short compositions featuring different acoustic instruments. You can download an original Lincoln playlist, and mix it around to make your own Lincoln song. If you are familiar with any sound editing software, such as Garageband, or the freeware Audacity, then you can have even more fun, since he designed the songs to be layered and manipulated. Bryce wants his work to be “the seed of an archive that starts to grow,” so we invite you to remix his music or create your own, and share it on 21st-Century Abe.

Lincoln was born two hundred years ago. Happy birthday Abe! But why are we in the 21st century still obsessed with this 19th-century man? We find Abe everywhere from advertising to political punditry. What does this popular Abe have to do with the historical Abe? 21st-Century Abe has six months to tackle these questions—starting February 12, 2009—and we need your answers. We’ve asked scholars and artists to get the ball rolling, but your responses will define 21st-Century Abe.

Have a listen to one of the compositions Bryce contributed.

Bryce Dessner – The Rose Of Lincoln

Bryce had this to say about the piece…

The Rose of Lincoln is a short brass fanfare inspired by a Civil War era composition, Hunters’ Chorus from the Rose of Erin, by Julius Benedict. I have long been fascinated by early-American brass music and this particular piece has a very strange melody in its first 16 Bars which modulates twice over a static harmony. I decided to repeat this introduction and then build a quasi-minimalist fanfare around the pulsing trombones of the original work.

Wow! Pretty impressive eh?

I’ll leave you with a great tribute video I found on 21st Century Abe. Don’t forget to visit the site, its a really great one!