By Don Allred
Patrick Wolf
Singer/songwriter Patrick Wolf transforms personal trauma into art-pop drama, evoking classy images of words flying from a windswept diary. But if he ever needs a silver page-cutter to get started, Wolf’s probably got one handy. Always seeking to keep an edge to his polish, he peels away signature electronic settings and associated fan club memories on Sundark and Riverlight, a double-disc collection of re-recorded career highlights, now arrestingly tested in acoustic settings. Longtime listeners and new believers will witness Wolf and his touring crew mixing dynamic music with deftly theatrical lighting and video surprises.
12/04 @ Wexner Center, 1871 N. High St., 8 p.m.
Christmas Party With The Randys
Versatile Columbus combo The Randys’ holiday punch includes stratospheric seasonal hits of Alvin and the Chipmunks, balanced by mellow, Dean Martin-ized visions of “Christmas Island” and “Mele Kalikimaka.” Those will be chased by Brave Combo’s polka stomp, “Must Be Santa,” which was faithfully recreated by Bob Dylan, and the Randys-ized version of Dylan’s original classic, “Winterlude.” Plus: the coastal ghost of surf guitar surgeons The Ventures' customized “Jingle Bells,” and “Marshmallow World,” toasted Brenda Lee-style. “Christmas Time is Here,” among other magic chestnuts, will also appear. Vocalist/bass guitarist Canaan Faulkner reveals, “We'll be peppering our regular set with them throughout the night.”
12/07 @ Ace of Cups, 2619 N. High St., 9:0 p.m.
Mod Sun/The Come Up/Pat Brown
Completely at home on Warped Tours and Rolling Stone’s Top 15 Unsigned Acts, giving mad props to Dylan, Jim Morrison, and rap pioneers, Mod Sun (AKA Derek Smith, former drummer for turbulent idealists Scary Kids Scaring Kids and Four Letter Lie) is the Johnny Appleseed of what he’s dubbed hippy hop, dropping homegrown science of positive vibes, while going rogue in a friendly way. Young duo The Come Up reach for a balance of vintage East Coast rap and current trends. All-weather singer/songwriter Pat Brown also appears on Mod Sun’s theme, “Happy As F--”.
12/11 @ The Basement, 391 Neil Ave., 7 p.m.
Over The Rhine
While combining Americana’s shadows and light with suggestions of late night jazz, Over The Rhine named themselves for their Cincinnati neighborhood, an area with a complex, mercurial history. OTR singers/multi-instrumentalists Linford Detweiler and Karen Bergquist are also inspired by their pre-Civil War farmhouse. Not to mention their marriage, among other rich material. Tonight’s set, further flavored by guitar stylist/percussionist Nick Radina, will include songs from 2011’s The Long Surrender, plus selections from previous releases, and maybe some forthcoming seasonal originals, along with a few traditional carols.
12/14 @ The Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St., 8 p.m.
Flex Crew
The Flex Crew’s mind-and-body musical odyssey began when future FC founder Troy Jones was 12. Columbus became a launching pad for drummer Jones’s global explorations of fusion jazz, funk, r&b, and reggae, balancing electronic and organic energy. This proved to be the basis of the Flex Crew, who also add hip-hop elements, relating modern rap to dancehall and other styles of reggae, via Jamaica's D.J. and M.C. strands of hip-hop’s roots. The Flex Crew bring diligent originals and cogent covers, with plenty of expertly creative muscle to flex.
12/16 @ Skully’s, 1871 N. High St., 9 p.m.
Erika Hughes & Well-Mannered/Brittany Reilly Band/Boondogglers
This evening’s Central Ohio Americana crossroads pacesetter Erika Hughes often saddles up “Muleskinner Blues” and “I Know You Rider,” favorites of mountain-high musicians and Jerry Garcia as well. Agile, speedy guitar licks gleefully contradict the title of Hughes’s own “Pull The Brakes.” Brittany Reilly beep-beeps through Western Swing classics like “Route 66," and road-races with Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode.” The roots-rocking Boondogglers’ mostly original setlist includes “Hats Off,” inspired by a one-man audience; “Jeff Davis,” inspired by another man’s audience of justifiably outraged citizens, and “Rogan’s Song,” inspired by the bass player’s son.
12/20 @ Woodlands Tavern, 1200 W. 3rd Ave., 8 p.m.
Papadosio/Emancipator
“This album is dedicated to the next horizon, which is revealing itself little by little.” So declare Athens, OH-launched, currently Asheville, NC-based quintet Papadosio, christening their new musical spacecraft T.E.T.I.O.S., which stands for To End The Illusion Of Separation. The set explores bar-raising possibilities for Papadosio’s forthright themes, vocal clarity, and calm-to-combustible electro-psych grooves, extended onstage amidst equally kinetic visual art. Electronic keyboard sorcerer Emancipator and his traveling apprentice, violinist Ilya Goldberg, conjure choirs, orchestras, and various individual instruments, morphing into Asian and/or Americana motifs, among other border-crossing effects.
12/21 @ The LC, 405 Neil Ave., 8 p.m.
Mike Perkins
Just past the final stampede to Christmas Day, consider chilling out with Columbus singer/songwriter/guitarist Mike Perkins. “Chilling out” may seem like an unfortunate phrase in the dead of winter, but fear not: when Perkins marvels, “There/s something in the water/In Mansfield” (pronounced as “Man’s field”, cosmically and naturally enough), summer’s not far away. Perkins generates a warm, low-key commitment to rhythm, tunefulness, and community, sought and found onstage and in his audience, which has been known to dance. This is open mic night too, so come on in, the water’s fine.
12/26 @ Scarlet & Grey Cafe, 2203 N. High St., 5 p.m.
Clutch/Mondo Generator/Saviors/Wino
Blast off for the lucky 13th year of this century with Clutch, who have always broken off big chunks of the late 60s and early 70s, for their own gnarly blend. Call it hard classic Southern boogie biker rock, also filling the gap left by desert stoners Kyuss. Openers: Mondo Generator, led by Kyuss/Queens Of The Stone Age remnant Nick Oliveri, stoners/ doomsters Saviors, and early-Sabs-inspired, grassroots metal legend Wino. Wino’s solo acoustic set will probably include indelible originals from Adrift, Heavy Kingdom, and hopefully his scary, metal-appropriate Texas Gothic country (Townes Van Zandt) covers as well.
12/29 @ Newport Music Hall, 1722 N. High St., 7 p.m.
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