RADIO HANNIBAL

The fight to repeal the Cleveland admission tax

Over the summer word spread in the local music community of an initiative to curb loud music in local bars and clubs here in Cleveland.  Council members cried that the uproar was for naught.  They said that the initial legislation was merely a starting point to talks and that some sort of compromise could be reached down the road. They were actually taken aback at the attention it drew.

Seriously?  The idea of toning down or even banishing rock and roll from bars and clubs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame city is absurd period.  We should be upset at a city council so misguided in its priorities.

Shortly before this legislation came to light Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson began an initiative to collect back taxes on venues that booked live music.  This admissions tax, as it's called, says that 8% of the ticket price will go into the city coffers.  Because the tax was loosely enforced, a number of clubs and bars were looking at a back tax bill that could wipe them out financially. 

The good news is that the city is being open minded about this.  They are even considering repealing the admissions tax for small venues.  The proposed ordinance is #1492-11.

Local musicians and bars have come up with a two pronged attack.  In an effort to bring awareness of the admissions tax to the public a number of local live music clubs are presenting Defend Music Night this Friday.  Here's the poster with a list of venues and acts.  Please go out and support live, local music.

In an attempt to show the Mayor and Cleveland city council how robust and talented the local music scene is Brent Kirby is asking any and all musicians to send the Mayor your release.  It doesn't matter if it's a CD, vinyl, or even a home made cassette.  Don't procrastinate though, get your albums to the Mayor's office by February 29th. Here's the address:

Mayor Frank Jackson
Cleveland City Hall 
601 Lakeside Ave. 
Cleveland 44114

No physical product? Then email your MP3s to:

mayorsactioncenter@city.cleveland.oh.us

The fact is local venues and musicians helped bring $840 million dollars of income and $91.6 million in taxes to Cuyahoga County in 2010.  That's not counting the synergy created between local music and the Rock Hall that attracts tourism to our city. 

 

Cleveland's Janet Macoska publishes sensational Alex Harvey book

I was record shopping on Saturday afternoon at Blue Arrow Records and came across mint copies of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band's Next and The Impossible Dream.  My own copies were beat, having bought them back in the 1970s when Alex Harvey was a rock star here in Cleveland. 

Alex Harvey was not well known in the United States other than here in Cleveland due to our unique radio station WMMS.  The station still exists but holds none of its former glory, but I digress.  He was relatively well known in the UK, especially in his home country of Scotland. 

Janet Macoska, who was in college when WMMS began turning us Clevelanders onto this interesting rock character.  She became his biggest fan.  At 20 years old she interviewed Harvey twice for the college paper.  Those interviews have just been republished in Classic Rock Magazine, Exclusive: Lost Alex Harvey Interview Published.

30 years ago on February 4, 1982, Alex Harvey died of a heart attack at the age of 47.  In tribute, Macoska is publishing a photobook celebrating the life and music of Harvey titled Alex Harvey: The Last Of The Teenage Idols.  That being one of the songs by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. 

After college Macoska began a career as a photographer, focusing on rock and roll.  Her work has been a featured exhibit at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.  She took many of pictures of her idol and friend Alex Harvey and are featured in the new book. 

Macoska will be unveiling her book at a tribute to Alex Harvey in Glasgow, Scotland this weekend.  The two day event will be attended by Alex Harvey Jr. along with members of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. 

Framed and Next albums on Spotify

All Sensations - The Best Of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band

Praise beginning to rain on Cleveland's Cloud Nothings

I wrote about Westlake's Dylan Baldi and his band Cloud Nothings exactly a year ago on the release of his full length debut, Cleveland's Cloud Nothings Power Pop To Make Us Proud.  Tuesday he released the sophomore effort, Attack On Memory, and is getting some nice critical praise.

The album currently has an 81 rating on Metacritic and the online music mavens are talking about him.  Here's some quotes. 

"So far, 1 and 1/2 listens in, this record is kicking serious ass."

"I ran three miles yesterday after leaving work in a pretty bad mood. This album had me jetting around the park, just a fucking amazing album."

 "It's obvious the guy has a way with hooks"

"The second half of the album loses a little bit of steam, but really, this is a solid album overall. I can't get behind preferring the first album to this. This just has that much more energy, intensity, etc.

This is the first new "indie rock" album I've heard in several months that rocked as much as I wanted it to, and I'm not letting you clowns take that away from me."

A listen to the outstanding song "Wasted Days" shows growth and a move away from the straight-forward pop punk of the debut.  The song is a bit of an anomaly clocking in at nearly nine minutes when the rest of the compact eight song album averages about three minutes per tune. 

Dylan spent some time working on the album in Chicago with Steve Albini.  The famed producer's touch is evident. 

Baldi's not really breaking new ground here.  He's just showing us that rock and roll is not dead. 

Artist:  Cloud Nothings (surprisingly he doesn't have an official website)

Album:  Attack On Memory

Review:  A.V. Club

Cloud Nothings - Attack On Memory on Spotify

Packy Malley's Capricorn Party, Always A Blast No Matter What Sign You Are

Packy Malley, part of the Malley's chocolatier family here in Cleveland and my mobile DJ partner, is a Capricorn.  I don't put much stock in astrology but that's not why he calls attention to his sign either.  It's an excuse for a party. 

It all started when he was attending Ohio State University.  He and some friends came to realize they were all born around the same time of year, under the Capricorn sign.  Why not throw a party for all of them thought Malley.  After all, he'd already begun promoting concerts at the school.  He knew how to create an event.  Thus the annual Capricorn Party began.

When he moved back to Cleveland he continued the event and it's grown to where it's now held in the main music hall at the House Of Blues. This year's party is this Saturday.

What's a party without some live music.  Since it's been a crowd favorite for about five years now, Packy invited back Terry Lee Goffee's Johnny Cash Tribute Band. 

I'd say it's a great way to escape the cabin fever that usually begins to set in around this time of year in Cleveland but with the spring like January we've had...well...it's still a great time to hang out with a great bunch of people.  See you there.

When A Boy Begins To Rock

I have a 14 year old son.  I tried indoctrinating him into the world of music as a toddler. 

I read once where instead of throwing on the same Barney, Elmo, Teletubbies or Clifford videos try playing The Beatles Hard Days Night or Help.  There's all sorts of slapstick action and great music.  It worked.  He really enjoyed repeated viewings.

In the car we'd play Beatle albums to the point where he'd be singing along.  I progressed to more rocking pop music by bands like Sweet and The Monkees.  I was sure I'd set a trajectory for my son that would please me. That was the problem, it isn't about pleasing me. 

In fact, often when you show a liking to what your kid is into they'll suddenly decide that the music can't be any good, not if Dad likes it.  Even if Dad happens to be a music tastemaker. 

I watched my son progress or digress, a matter of opinion, from The Beatles to rap and hip hop, to metal and screamo.  Actually he has been spot on with some of his taste.  He's a big Kid Cudi fan.  I can dig that.  On the other hand he enjoys the gimmicky metal schlock of Slipnot. 

On his 13th birthday I gave him a collection of 13 albums that were very influential in my early teens.  They included Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon, a truly classic right of passage album. 

During the past year he asked me if I knew The Wall by Pink Floyd.  I thought, wow, my gift of those albums is making an impact.  It turns out he discovered the movie The Wall featuring Bob Geldof through a friend.  The movie contains all the right elements for a rebellious teen.

So last night he asks if we have plans Friday night.  It's his friend's birthday and his father is taking them to see this Pink Floyd tribute band at the House Of Blues.  "You mean the band Wish You Were Here, they're going to play Wish You Were Here in its entirety", I told him. 

He asked how I knew that.  I told him that the band members were friends of mine.  I'm not sure if he believes me yet.  And I hope he doesn't take the counter stand and decide that if Dad likes and knows them then it can't be any good. 

So Friday night my son and I with both be at the same show.  I feel so proud. 

More Press For Radio Hannibal From Cleveland.com

I write this blog because of my passion for music.  Sure I'd like to make it profitable someday but as you can see, for now, there's no advertising.  So it's nice to be acknowledged by my peers. 

Jay Minkin, a freelance writer in the Cleveland/Akron area did a nice write up on me and another local music fan who shoots video for many shows, King Of The Castle 7, for Cleveland.com. 

Here's the story, Faces In Cleveland’s Rock ‘n Roll Crowd.

Cleveland's Rob Duskey Makes His Music Available For All To Discover

You'd think that someone who writes about local music here in Cleveland would know all the players.  After all, it's not like we're New York City.  I'm not ashamed to admit that there's plenty of local music I've yet to discover.  In fact I find it quite thrilling.  So many people are making such good music in my town and that's why I feel the need to let everyone know about it. 

Take Rob Duskey And The Rounders as an example.  His latest release, Blank Canvas To Man, sounds like it could easily have been written, performed and produced in Nashville.  Instead he uses the treasure trove of talent we have right here in Cleveland to create a polished and accomplished album.  Well, except for the appearance of John Popper (Blues Traveler)who plays harmonica on a tune. 

Blues Traveler is a fine comparison to Duskey's music.  It carries the same rootsy rhythyms and a voice that is reminsicent of Popper's own.  The added highlight is Jodi Dobos vocals which help create something that is uniquely their own.  

The fact that music's new delivery model is streaming isn't lost on Duskey.  He's one of the first musicians I've seen who's embedded the album on the band's Facebook profile which I linked to above. You can also find his 2009 debut,  Cautiously Optimistic on Spotify.

Musical Guilty Pleasures, Cleveland Musician Jack Rugan Is Not Ashamed

As a regular reader of my blog you're no doubt aware that I'm a sucker for a good pop song.  Give me a hook and catchy melody and I'll follow you anywhere. 

I have a kindred spirit in Cleveland musician Jack Rugan.  He, too, is an unabashed fan of all things pop and bubblegum.  So much so that he's not afraid to get on stage and perform some of these songs which he'll do tonight at Tommy's Place in Rocky River.  Yes, that's the same Tommy who once had a bar called, simply, Tommy's in what is now Salmon Dave's.  Heck, I'm old enough to remember when he called it Toad's Place. 

And speaking of oldies, Rugan will be playing classic top 40 hits by the likes of The Partridge Family, The Archies, Bay City Rollers, even The Bells' "Stay Awhile".  It's not the first time he's attempted this, having done Guilty Pleasures shows two years ago.  How'd I miss it then?!  But Rugan plans on making this a monthly event and is even looking for fellow musicians to join in the fun.  His wife Rhonda is also part of the act.   

This is not some sort of mockery though it is to be taken lightly.  I actually have a hard time calling songs like these guilty pleasures for I have no guilt at all.  I could care less what others think I find great in a song.  I wonder if I could join the band and strum along on guitar and sing back up vocals or play the tambourine and maracas like Davey Jones?

Bay City Rollers pix and footage set to Nick Lowe's "Roller Show"

New Study Shows Music Means Money For Cleveland

In a front page story in today's Plain Dealer, Music rocks the Cleveland economy, according to a new study from Cleveland's Community Partnership for Arts and Culture, a study reveals that the local music community helps generate significant income for the city and surrounding communities.  Here's a key quote from the article. 

"In terms of its work force, the music industry is not large," said Tom Schorgl, president and chief executive officer of CPAC. "What is large is the economic return on that small work force. If we were to encourage growth in that industry, we would generate more jobs, resulting in more employed people in Cleveland."

The efforts to attract musicians to the city of Cleveland which offers affordable housing and cost of living such as the project in Collinwood has a good chance of reaping benefits for the city. 

As my whole life evolves around music, the idea that we continue to work toward growing the musical community and just as importantly, the patronage of it, is very exciting.  It is not far fetched to one day count Cleveland as a music city the same way Nashville and Austin are known.  It happened to Seattle and Portland and with the Rock Hall here it seems natural. 

Gram Parsons Tribute Band To Perform Sweetheart Of The Rodeo Tonight

In May of 2010 I wrote about Brent Kirby's Gram Parson's tribute band, The New Soft Shoe, Gram Parsons Tribute Band Soon To Be The Rage In Cleveland.  Ok, maybe it's not "all the rage" but the monthly show at the Happy Dog (every second Thursday) has certainly gained a following and on some nights the crowd grows to weekend-like size.  

Tonight at 9:30 the tribute band is taking on a challenge by performing The Byrds album Sweetheart Of The Rodeo in its entirety, including outtakes.  WRUW DJ Emma Caroline will introduce the work with some informational background on the historic release.

Most are familiar with The Byrds but many have never heard Sweetheart Of The Rodeo.  The album garnered no hits but became very influential over the years.  Bands from The Grateful Dead to The Jayhawks have held it in high esteem.  It brought Parson's pioneering country rock to the mainstream but alienated Byrds fans. 

The album is a testament to Gram Parsons.   His presence affected The Byrds sound radically. Parsons left The Byrds shortly after to form The Flying Buritto Brothers.

Here's a great write up on the occasion of the album's remastered and expanded release in 2003 from Pop Matters, The Byrds: Sweetheart of the Rodeo: Legacy Edition. 

Sweetheart Of The Rodeo, Legacy Edition on Spotify