You’ve heard it before, but the mantra certainly bears repeating for this week’s Fresh Start: Cleveland rocks. Well, perhaps more precisely, Northeast Ohio rocks. This week, we showcase three divine musical options with strong Ohio ties – and we “go for baroque” with a kicker that will help you come down from a likely adrenaline rush. When we were young, the iterations of sugar collected in our pillowcases on Halloween kept us buzzing until Thanksgiving. It’s safe to assume this week’s picks will achieve the same effect, and all without carrying that rain-expectant umbrella that used to wreck your costume.
Blues and Brews in the Basement
Whether it’s a case of the Mondays or you’re still bitter about wearing a windbreaker underneath your costume as a kid, Kristine Jackson feels your pain. The rootsy guitar troubadour headlines Great Lakes Brewing Company’s “Blues and Brews” shindig at the brewery’s brewpub this Monday, October 25 from 6-9 pm. It’s one of a handful of happy hour gigs the Elyria native has done at GLBC; the last one takes place late next month. This lady’s got soul, she’s a multi-instrumentalist and recently co-founded Kickin’ The Cancer Blues with a friend she eventually lost to Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Can’t make the happy hour? Make time for a benefit show she co-headlines with Carlos Jones, Austin Walkin’ Cane, and Zach at the House of Blues Cambridge Room on Saturday, November 6. Follow the links for all the deets.
Creepers from Planet Cleveland
It is the vaunted Halloween week (read: month) after all, right? That’s why Plumtown’s own Mushroomhead – a group that takes to the Agora stage this Saturday, October 30 to support its latest effort, Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children – is on the list. The group debuted on a Cleveland stage in 1993 and mere days later opened for costumed legends GWAR. They have since signed with a major label, racked up slots on multiple metal festival tours and stoke an on-and-off enmity with masked Iowa-based rockers Slipknot. Like your music darker than your beer? This one’s all you. You won’t see anything like this the rest of the year, we guarantee it.
Gold Star for Robot Boy
Rock reunions are a dime-a-dozen these days, but once in a while a can’t-miss enters the periphery. Until we hear Pavement’s headed here (Columbus scored them on this reunion tour), we think Dayton’s Bob Pollard and the “Classic Lineup” of Guided By Voices is your best bet. The reformed band once referred to as “Guided By Beers” by fans (for their hard-drinking shows) hits Oberlin College’s Hales Gymnasium on Sunday, October 31. As one of history’s most drooled over lo-fi acts, GBV officially reconvened when Pollard was approached do to a one-off for Matador Records’ anniversary show. Weeks later, a whole reunion tour was booked. GBV’s show promises 40 classic songs, replete with the band’s legendary partying. Hmmm. Sounds better than handing out boxes of stale Milk Duds to us. Tickets here.
And Now for Something Completely Different…
After all that volume, maybe a little French baroque is what the doctor ordered. Les Délices’ Halloween-inspired “Mirages and Monstrosities” concerts are hardly easy listening. With deft instrumental drama and sweeping peaks and valleys, the pair of shows this Saturday, October 30 and Sunday, October 31 promise something spooky and spectacular. Baroque oboist/founder Debra Nagy joins critically hailed Julie Andrijeski and Karina Fox (baroque violinists), Josh Lee (viola da gamba), and Michael Sponseller (harpsichord) for performances at the William Busta Gallery and Herr Chapel at Plymouth Church in Shaker Heights, respectively. Tugging at your strings?
