MusiCal (October 2012)

 By Don Allred

Ryan Smith

“I think I’ve had too much/’Cause I’ve stopped telling lies.” Equipped with urgently concise vocal delivery, elegantly economical keyboard sounds, and probably a long-page legal pad, Columbus singer/songwriter Ryan Smith works out the strategies and stages of a relationship. On Waiting, he persuasively pictures the present and several steps ahead, while life runs a longer game (maybe). Smith’s show, especially recommended to Tim Easton fans, is in the free weekly Local Brews and Burgers series. Tables and chairs will be set up on the Rich Street side of the Commons, near the Carousel.

10/04 @ Columbus Commons, Main Garage: 55 E. Rich St., 5:30 p.m.

Shovels & Rope

Shovels & Rope are Americana singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalists Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent, a committed couple who never settle down, or settle for less than true love and cheap (or at least no-frills) thrills. 2012’s O Be Joyful tracks risky ramblers teaming up, learning the mixing and measuring of pleasures. Thrills-wise, when Hearst later calls, “Come down here and make some sense of it all,” she’s affectionately addressing someone known as Wrecking Ball. Appropriately so: after all, Hearst sent “Hell’s Bells” prowling through True Blood’s third season, and S&R’s sly, Southern Gothic beauty travels many a moonlit mile.

10/06 @ Rumba Cafe, 2507 Summit St., 9 p.m.

Fiona Apple

“I just want to feel everything” is singer/songwriter Fiona Apple’s musical motto, and though she evidently has limited choice in the matter, she’s determined to make the creative most of it. Apple’s 2012 album, The Idler Wheel..., traces the way pain “fits me like a second skeleton,” leading her to try out deft leaps of logic and fair-minded balancing acts, especially inspired by suitably complicated romantic relationships. Hard-won maturity gets tested on stage, as Apple also relives the drama of earlier songs, while her band recharges her rich voice, piano, percussion, and globe-spinning dance moves.

10/07 @ Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St., 8 p.m.

Tiesto/Dada Life

Tiesto was one of the first DJs to perform epic solo stadium sets, drawing his audience from dance club voyagers and pop-rock living room listeners. “Silence,” Tiesto’s 2000 remix featuring Sarah McLachlan, was a crossover landmark, and he’s always had a knack for mixing ethereal voices with bold beats. 2012’s Club Life Volume Two: Miami even gets Coldplay’s “Paradise” and Goyte’s “Someone That I Used To Know” chasing zebra heatwaves. Also featuring several shades of house, traces of trance, and newer infusions of dubstep, Tiesto’s five-hour all ages show opens with mischievous DJ duo Dada Life.

10/10 @ Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd., 7 p.m.

Cadaver Dogs

Offspring of ska combo Sofapunch and Famecast-winning pop-punks Look Afraid, Cadaver Dogs shred most of their pop component like the Sunday paper, although the punk-metal-boogie trio does flaunt its rabidly catchy, Mad Max-worthy turns, while scarring the partylyptic desert highway of song in cracked mirrorshades. This Rover's night out will include some enchanted peeings from their December-aimed release, Superloose. Also pumped by touring, C. Dogs advise, “We'll be ready to rock our hometown fans harder than ever. Bring a poncho.” Other bands will appear; names are still to be announced at presstime.

10/13 @ Kobo Live, 2590 N. High St., 8 p.m.

CHHF Fest

Exploratory roots crew CHHF’s roundup lassos local heroes and twang-stars from afar. We foresee song stylizer-deviser Molly Winters watchfully sailing by the Rumpke Mountain Boys’ trenchant trenchmouth “trashgrass”(their own tag), while the John Turck Trio and Matthew Sullivan’s Black Water Gypsies pursue cosmic cowgirl muses. Dynamic duos include the Paranormals and Crushed Out (formerly Boom Chick). Pigeons Playing Ping-Pong live up to their name. The Ramshacklers are most of the versatile Spikedrivers, in the mood for rock. Rusticated renaissance man Pete Anderson stirred up Dwight Yoakam’s best records. Prize-winning acoustic flat-picker Larry Keel’s Natural Bridge spans trans-genre goodness.

10/18-19 @ Woodlands Tavern, 1200 W. 3rd Ave., 6 p.m.

Tinariwen

Tinariwen are members of Africa’s stubbornly independent Turareg collective, who are often restless, sometimes rebellious, necessarily adaptable, and, in Tinariwen’s case, ready to rock. They started playing together about 35 years ago, around desert refugee campfires, where Tinariwen’s eerie, bluesy, Mali-based sounds also channeled late-night radio and bootleg cassette influences: psychedelia, reggae, Latin rock, and folk-rock. Tinariwen returned to less-amplified or acoustic atmospherics on much of 2011’s Tassili, but their shows build around such moments, in metamorphic, truly electric grooves, as vocal harmonies rise through guitars, bass, wooden flutes, handclaps, and other handmade percussion.

10/24 @ Wexner Center, 1871  N High St., 8 p.m.

Ekoostik Hookah/Under The Sun

Ekoostik Hookah keep their signature mix of psych-rock, jazzy urges, funky blues, and mountain sounds spinning out of Central Ohio, dedicated to finding fresh connections between time-tested routes. They invite comparison to other strong performers at a number of festivals, including their own Hookahville. Without seeming anxiously responsive to the currently surging trend of jamtronica, EH also aren’t too Dead-centric. Recent covers have ranged from the Beach Boys’ expansively mellow “Sail On Sailor” to the Doors’ sardonic sing-along, “Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar).” Under The Sun plug into the same spirit, regenerating more specifically electric juice.

10/27 @ Newport Music Hall, 1722 N. High St., 8 p.m.

Halloween Glow Bash 2012

Party rapper Meechie Nelson is The Fresh Prince of Columbus: self-crowned, but he’s earned it. The promising athlete jumped to music, inspired by lacrosse’ lifestyle--playing to win, winning to play. That’s the all-sporty art of it, from 2010’s fearless Therapy Session to 2011’s frathouse-levitating Hot Chicks and Lacrosse Sticks, to his latest, “Urban Nation/Ohio State Anthem.” Nelson’s “official DJ,” veteran studio/dancefloor wizard Corrupt, spins hip-hop, house, electro, whatever ingredient’s expedient. Gifted Minded Entertainment’s leader, Jet Pack JJ, further fuels enlightening opportunities to achieve lift-off and get your glow in gear.

10/30 @ Skully’s, 1151 N. High St.,  9 p.m.