We have been waiting in anticipation, just like you have for some new goodies from Bad Veins, one of our favorite acts to ever come out of the Queen City. The guys have been hard at work and the fruits of their labor are finally starting to see the light of day. Not long ago, the band teased the art for their sophomore album The Mess We’ve Made and now today we get a new video as well.

The new video literally has it all, retro furniture and clothing, Chris Hardwick and even some Cincinnati Rollergirls! Seriously, this is the best video these guys have made, and it might even be the best from a Cincinnati artist. Watch it over and over and get ready for The Mess We’ve Made, due out April 24th on Modern Outsider Records!

Bad Veins 2012 Tour Dates:
03/19 – Denver, CO @ Hi Dive *
03/20 – Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room *
03/21 – Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater *
03/22 – Dekalb, IL @ The House *
03/23 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge *
03/24 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Lounge *
03/25 – Iowa City, IA @ The Blue Moose Tap *
03/27 – Bloomington, IN @ Bluebird Nightclub *
03/28 – Louisville, KY @ Headliner’s Music Hall *
03/29 – Nashville, TN @ Exit/ In *
03/30 – Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree *
03/31 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade *
04/02 – Tampa, FL @ Crowbar *
04/03 – Miami, FL @ Bardot *
04/04 – Orlando, FL @ The Social *
04/05 – Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern *
04/07 – Durham, NC @ Motorco *
04/10 – Baltimore, MD @ Sonar *
04/11 – Pawtucket, RI @ The Met Café *
04/12 – Hamden, CT @ The Space *
04/13 – Philadelphia, PA @ Milkboy
04/14 – Annapolis, MA @ The Whiskey
04/15 – Allston, MA @ Great Scott
04/16 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
05/31 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues ^
06/01 – Austin, TX @ Stubbs BBQ ^
06/04 – Orlando, FL @ Beacham Theater ^
06/05 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution ^
06/06 – Tampa, FL @ The Ritz ^
06/10 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade ^
06/11 – Carrboro,NC @ Cat’s Cradle ^
06/12 – Baltimore, MD @ Ram’s Head Live! ^

* = w/ We Were Promised Jetpacks
^ = w/ Two Door Cinema Club

Not only am I a little surprised to see Wilco tossing a music video out, their first since the late 90′s, but the video itself is a pleasant surprise. It’s a really fun video that gets the 1930′s animated treatment, and actually stars the cast of Popeye. The band gets animated as well, but this video for “Dawned On Me” is all about the cartoon stars of the past. Check it out below. Thanks to COS for the heads up.

Old Dogs, New Tricks:

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but three veterans of the Cincinnati artistic community are doing just that in this new video. The song is from Jeremy Pinnell and a band calling themselves the 55′s. The song and video features former Light Wires and Great Depression frontman Jeremy Pinnell, who is back with the first new music we’ve heard from him in a long time. I’ve always been a sucker for his voice and songwriting. In my opinion he’s been one of the best songwriters in our area for over a decade and this new song is another example of his talent.

Cameron Cochran, better known right now as one half of Pop Empire and the man behind The Recording Label is showing off his newfound skills on the pedal steel, just months after playing one for the first time. And one of Cincinnati’s best and most accomplished photographers Michael Wilson, who’s resume is too extensive to dive into, is turning over a new leaf as well as the man behind the video camera for this performance, (done in one take by the way.)

So what does the future hold for this talented bunch? Maybe nothing, maybe a full blown album. But for now, I’m pretty happy to get this song and video from some of the more talented guys in the Cincinnati area.

Jeremy Pinnell and the 55s-loose women from Pop Empire on Vimeo.

Looks like there is more to share already, as the guys just posted a second video….

The album from The War On Drugs from last year was in our opinion, one of the best records released during 2011. It’s a record that is easy to put on the turntable and just let the whole thing play out. Well, the band has kicked the new year off in a big way as well, releasing the tune “Baby Missiles” from Slave Ambient as a single, and performing the song last night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. With the help of ?uestlove on a second drum kit, and some fans in the background, the guys totally knock their performance out of the park.

And I should mention that this was their television debut? Watch it for yourself below.

The War On Drugs – Baby Missiles

The Heartless Bastards had a great New Years announcement for us all yesterday. Letting the masses know they will be coming to their city with a newfound energy and a new case full of songs. The band are releasing their latest album, Arrow on February 14th. And now we can confirm that they will be hitting their hometown of Cincinnati for a show at the Madison Theatre as well on February 17th. If you are like me, you’ve already spent some time with the first song from the album, “Parted Ways” and now you can watch that song performed live.

The track was captured by the good folks at Do512 in Austin during a live session and gets me even more excited for the new record. Check it below.

And if that wasn’t enough to get you ready, the vinyl fans need to take note of the awesome looking double LP the band are making available for pre-order this week as well. Here is a picture of the Deluxe Pack….

The pictures package will set you back 65$ but if you can live without the lithograph and CD you can get the package for 38$. Snag one or both here.

Plenty to be amped about for our friends Heartless Bastards in 2012!

With the sad news that Southgate House is closing at the end of December, I wanted to begin to euologize the historic place the best way I know how, with memories. Below are my absolute favorite videos on YouTube from Southgate House, one or two are ours, most of them are yours, enjoy.

After going through the choices, there are simply way too many to post, but I hope you dig these. Feel free to link to your favorites in the comments.

Guided By Voices 2010

Sold out crazy drunken experience for all GBV fans, and of course Uncle Bob.

video by eachnotesecure

Dan Deacon: No Deachunter show

Top 5 show ever for me at SGH, this video captures some of that.

video by ateasegentlemen
uploaded August 2009

Heartless Bastards: Brazen

The old Bastards lineup performs a couple days before Christmas in 2006. Great video.

video by staunchy
uploaded on Dec 26, 2006

Arcade Fire: Wake Up

Before Arcade Fire was winning Grammys, they were doing videos at Southgate House.

video by thanchorcenter
uploaded on July 19, 2007

Beirut: Elephant Gun

Another act about to blow up played at Southgate House in 2006.

video by theanchorcenter
uploaded on Oct 13, 2006

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks 2008

Videographer is playing with the effects, and it actually works.

video by calleyishere

The Hold Steady- How a resurrection really feels 2007

Last song of the sweaty beer soaked 2007 set.

video by Basurasaurusrex

Modest Mouse: Trailer Trash (2001)

Before Float On Modest Mouse played tracks like Trailer Trash to a packed house at SGH.

video by DingleTelevision
uploaded in 2008 (show from 2001)

The Tallest Man On Earth: Death Letter (Son House cover)

Love the perspective and sound of this one, also love it more since I was in attendance.

video by rivetshack
uploaded June 8, 2009

Vic Chestnutt: Flirted With You All My Life

Haunting performance just months before his death.

video by mschuess
uploaded on Nov 4, 2009

Daniel Johnston: Life In Vain

I was also at this show and it sticks in my memory. This video captures it well.

video by FlexYourLoveMuscles
uploaded in 2008, show was in 2007

Bon Iver – 2008

One of my favorite shows at SGH ever. With a snowstorm outside, not many showed for this brilliant effort.

video by mattwalker20
uploaded in March 2008

Adrian Belew Power Trio

Adrian’s solo section during the Live Recording of his Power Trio at Kentuckys signature rock bar the Southgate House.

video by JeanTheBirdman
uploaded on Feb, 18th, 2007

Nice post-Thanksgiving concert news to report this morning from Ryan Adams. Ryan took to Facebook this morning to announce some tour dates that take place early in 2012 and they are quite Midwest heavy. Among the dates is a show at the Taft Theatre on January 28th. Adams latest album, Ashes & Fire has been labeled a return to form for the prolific singer/songwriter, which basically means it sounds more like Heartbreaker than previous efforts.

Overall, we think it’s a great album and can’t wait for a chance to hear some of the new material live. Not many details have come out about the tour yet, like whether Adams will be flanked by the Cardinals or another backing band or have no accompaniment at all. What we do know is that tickets are going on sale this Friday and Saturday, and we should keep an eye on the PAX-AM website in the meantime. Adams last played Cincinnati in 2008 at the Taft. Here are all the dates that were announced this morning.

1/24 Bethesda, MD – Strathmore
1/25 Cleveland, OH – Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square
1/27 Ann Arbor, MI – Hill Auditorium (Ann Arbor Folk Fest)
1/28 Cincinnati, OH – Taft Theatre
1/30 Louisville, KY – The Louisville Palace
1/31 St. Louis, MO – Peabody Opera House
2/1 Kansas City, MO – Music Hall
2/3 Denver, CO – Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre

Great news as we head into a season of cold from the warm front that is Austin, Texas. Cincinnati ex-pats Heartless Bastards have been hard at work on a new album for some time now, and they are finally ready to unveil the details.

The now four-piece Bastards got together with Jim Eno of Spoon again in his Austin studio and cooked up their first release as a gang of four. The new album is titled Arrow and it also sees the band parting ways with Fat Possum and joining the likes of Middle Brother and Deer Tick on the Partisan label.

The album hits store shelves on February 14th of the new year, but you can grab the first song from it in early December by signing up at theheartlessbastards.com. The first song is titled “Parted Ways.”

“I feel like this is the strongest record I’ve ever done,” Wennerstrom says. “I feel like playing with these guys, us all being so connected, really helped make it so fully realized. I’m really, really happy with it.”

Here is a quick video of Erika covering Bob Dylan at the Southgate House this summer.

Our friends The Seedy Seeds are always up to something, and usually that something is creating some new musical art for our enjoyment. Today is no exception, as the Seeds have been hard at work on the latest video in their growing library. This time around, it’s a vid for the song “I Am A Conductor” and it might be their best yet.

The other big news is the official introduction of the newest Seedy Seed. I’ll let the band give it to you all official like….

This video marks the world’s introduction to the band’s newest member, Joe Frankl. Joe is no stranger to the music scene in Cincinnati (drummer and namesake for The Frankl Project, bassist for Till Plains) and has been collaborating with The Seedy Seeds since June 2011, joining the band on stage for several performances, including the dual-drummer-assault performance at this year’s Midpoint Music Festival.
Joe will be joining the band full-time following the departure of Brian Penick, the group’s drummer and resident beard co-expert for the past two years. Brian has decided to take a break from performing music, and The Seeds wish Brian the very best. They are excited about what Mr. Frankl is able to bring across the drumming horizon—despite his clean-shaven appearance.

The Seedy Seeds will be celebrating the release of the new video by performing a free show Wednesday, November 23 (the evening before thanksgiving) at Cincinnati’s MOTR Pub.

Once again the Cincinnati trio have outdone themselves and I think you’ll agree when you get to check out the video. Have a look and listen below and let us know what you think in the comments.

Of course, if you haven’t picked up your copy of Verb Noun yet, you should, and grab a copy for someone else for Christmas.

The War on Drugs are from Philadelphia and make dreamy psychedelic Americana. Current indie sensation Kurt Vile was a member for a time. But more importantly, they’ve just released an awesome album (possibly one of the best of 2011), Slave Ambient, and are touring behind it. Their sound has slowly evolved over the years, but if their live sound is anywhere near the stuff on the record, it’s like Bob Dylan singing and strumming his guitar behind blissed-out samples and reverb-soaked guitars.

They’ll be at Mayday in Northside on November 4th (it’s FREE, like most Mayday shows). They’re slowly getting some buzz around them, so if nothing else you should stop by to see a band people living in other cities actually have to pay to see.

Check out a live video below:

The War on Drugs @ Cameo Gallery 8.19.2011 from Jessica Amaya on Vimeo.

-John Crowell