Star & Micey at Blue Rock Tavern Thursday

I know that blogging the music scene is Griff's job, but I thought I'd infringe for just a moment.

Earlier tonight, a friend and I decided to check out Star & Micey's performance at FB's. FB is the newest downtown club, on Sixth Street between Race and Elm.

First, about FB's: 5ch4r7z has previously photo-blogged about the place, so go there if you'd like to see pictures. Both the club and the clientele were trendy enough that I often wondered why no one had asked me to leave yet. Nonetheless, the place was comfortable and the bar staff was friendly. Wednesday nights the club is open for live music.

I only caught about an hour of Star & Micey, since it's a week night and I have to work tomorrow. But I was impressed by what I saw. Drew LaPlante and Chris Robinson opened for the Memphis-based "folk pop band." I'd not heard Drew before, but I'll definitely look for an opportunity to hear him again. Star & Micey also made the night very much worthwhile. They had nice, tight vocals and some interesting instrumentals (you've got to love a band with a xylophone, right?).

Star & Micey plays again in Cincinnati tomorrow night at the Blue Rock Tavern. I realize that the timing is bad (as most of you will be getting your Midpoint on), but if you're not attending the first night of MPMF, of you're looking to take a break from the festival, then definitely head on up to Northside and check out Star & Micey.

County Government Reform on the Horizon

Last year, I suggested that David Pepper was asking some important questions. What should our county government look like? Which officials should be elected, and which should be appointed? Earlier this year, I wondered if our commissioners had gotten too busy protecting us from the sky--which seems to be falling at an alarming rate--to start answering these questions.

According to the Enquirer, the Commission today voted to form a task force to study and make proposals about County government. The idea is to look at alternate forms of government with the aim of reducing duplication and saving money, with a goal of a something on the November 2010 ballot for voters to consider.

Commissioner Portune is quoted as saying that the task force's goal isn't about metropolitan government. That probably makes sense, as the switch to a metropolitan government would (I assume) require the approval of any cities or townships whose operations would be merged into the "metro" government. Instead, I think the commissioners intend to look at County operations themselves. Are there redundancies? For instance, does it make sense to have a separate Treasurer and Auditor? Could fiscal stability be better achieved if there were fewer independent, elected officials each protecting his or her own slice of an increasingly smaller pie?

As I've written before, I hope that any reform comes with the de-aggrandizement of the county administrator. Our local governments have become too dependent on unelected, professional managers to make policy decisions that are better left in the hands of elected public servants. Permitting a city manager or county administrator to set budget priorities lets the people we elect wriggle out of difficult decisions and hide behind their own appointees.

There's no telling what the new task force will recommend, or whether HamCo voters will approve any proposal that is advanced. But I applaud the Commission for thinking about the bigger picture at a team when the details are all so frightening.

"Scottie Leibovitz"

Scott Beseler of Soapbox Cincinnati does really fantastic work, with this example showing the Seedy Seeds from this weeks edition of Soapbox as a great calling card. It worked perfectly as an eye catcher with this great story from Sean Rhiney about Midpoint and Cincinnati's music scene. I was blown away with that photo and really had to point some attention to it.

Scott's work, as can be seen at his website: www.taketheday.com illustrates his great work, and great contact with local musicians as well as local "movers and shakers."

I titled this post with a tongue firmly in cheek, but Scott has an amazingly brilliant eye and the Seedy Seeds photograph is worthy of priase I believe in both photo journalism realm, but from a pure art perspective as well. In a certain sense he is the Leibovitz of Cincinnati and he's young, never know what great things he may achieve. We get lots of famous people coming through Cincinnati, maybe he can get a few of them to pose while in town. I hope to see more of his work and a repeat of a showing of his photographs at Final Friday.

Lite Brite Film Test at Midpoint

Germans may have perfected beer, but they have not mastered the combination of cutting edge film and brilliant indie music. The Lite Brite Film Test moves its annual event to the CAC and in partnership with Midpoint starting on Thursday - Saturday. Films include compilations from the 2008 Ottawa International Animation Festival on Friday and the Best of 2009 International Film Festival of Rotterdam on Saturday.

Local films include two films by www.pizzainfinity.com, including Questionable Taste and Robot Love From Another World.

Get the full film schedule here as well as the music line-up.

For another film event, check out the Best of Underneath Cincinnati on September 26th as well. Midpoint 3 day passes will get you into the screening for a discount!

MidPoint: Best Out of Town Bands

There are three ways to know what an out of town band is going to be like: 1) is that you have heard of them or seen them perform before, kinda rare, 2) is listening to their music online, and 3) would be based on the recommendation of others.

Here are my picks of the Best of Out of Town Bands at Midpoint:

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit: Thursday 9:30 PM at Grammer's
The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir: Thursday 11:30 PM at Contemporary Arts Center
Gay Witch Abortion: Thursday 12:30 AM at Courtyard Cafe On Main
The Wildbirds: Friday 8:00 PM at Grammer's
Amo Joy: Friday 11:00 PM at Inner Peace Center
Micachu and The Shapes: Saturday 8:00 PM at Grammer's
Chairlift: Saturday 9:30 PM at Grammer's
The Dø: Saturday 11:30 PM at Contemporary Arts Center

UPDATE: Gay Witch Abortion is now off the schedule totally. Not word why, but this surely won't be the only change to the line up, as prior year's show: bands cancel or the van breaks down.

Midpoint Locals - Best of the Best

For those looking for the best of Local Cincinnati Music at this year's Midpoint festival, here are my recommendations:

Straw Boss: Thursday 9:00 PM at Southgate House Lounge
The Seedy Seeds: Thursday 10:30 PM at Contemporary Arts Center
The Tillers: Thursday 11:30 PM at Madonna's Bar & Grill‎
The Lions Rampant: Friday 6:30 PM at Grammer's
Heartless Bastards: Friday 9:30 PM at Grammer's
The Chocolate Horse: Friday 11:00 PM at Havana Martini Club
The Kentucky Struts: Friday 12:00 AM at Arnold’s Bar and Grill
The Sundresses: Friday 12:00 AM at Blue Wisp Jazz Club
Pomegranates: Friday 12:00 AM at Know Theatre Upstairs
Eat Sugar: Saturday 6:30 PM at Grammer's
Jake Speed and the Freddies: Friday 8:30 PM at Washington Platform
You, You’re Awesome: Saturday 10:30 PM at Contemporary Arts Center
Wussy: Saturday 11:00 PM at Know Theatre Upstairs
Buffalo Killers: Saturday 12:00 AM at Southgate House Ballroom

Keeping Council Tweet-Backs To Myself

So, I was good. I wanted to reply to a council member's petty school kid tweet, but I didn't. I would have been mean and been snottier than this council member was to another council member. So I didn't Tweet-back. That would have been the cheap and easy way to respond. I am not keen on shooting fish in a barrel all the time, so I will pass. I will keep my fingernails out of it.

I do think that there is one current council member who should just stop tweeting her childish comments about her political foes, it demeans the profession. Ok, I do know politicians are only above lawyers on the social food chain. Would it matter any more if you knew this councilwoman was a lawyer too? I didn't think so.