This Wednesday, you’ll find ample laughs at the Beachland, with this grouping of comedians, local boys making good on the national scene. We’ll spare you the hype, and let some of their live work speak for itself:
Clevelander, and ClevelandYucks.com vanguard Mike Baker kicks in with a bit about his baldness:
Infamous comic Mike Polk discusses his least impressive work ever, most of which landed him in the midst of talk-show shenanigans:
Here, Polk bumps up his famous “Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism” skit (which you’ve seen, so we won’t post it) with a jab at TNT basketball commentator Charles Barkley:
Also on this bill are Ryan Dalton and Chad Zumock, who’ve both seen action on WMMS’ Maxwell show.
In this ish of the Beachland blog, we keep up with the compliments, following from our New Year’s series of posts regarding the upcoming 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY. Submitted by you, the public:
As some of the others who have posted about their experiences, it’s very difficult to pick the best musical moment from my many visits to the Beachland. I have never been truly disappointed with any show; I’ve always heard (or seen) something that made the trip worthwhile; sometimes it was an opening band that I had never heard, other times it was some of the, well, interesting people in the audience.
One such moment does stand out- several of us went to the Tavern to see Rosie Flores and Katy Moffatt. It was one of the rare two shows in one night bills. Rosie and Katy were great (the shots of tequila we did with Rosie didn’t hurt that impression). The second show was Chuck Prophet. I was vaguely aware of Chuck from Green on Red, but was not familiar with any of his solo work. Our original intent was to leave after the first show, since I believe it was a weekday, and we also thought we might have to pay for the second show. When it became apparent that we were not going to get kicked out before Chuck came on, and seeing that he had a full band, along with a funky microphone from what looked like the 1940’s in addition to the more typical gear, we decided to stay.
What a revelation. There is nothing like seeing a live act for the first time that is able to rise above the listeners’ unfamiliarity with his songs, and yet immediately get them over in a memorable way. The band was tight, Chuck was engaging, and the songs were fantastic. We stumbled out at the end of the night commenting about how it was just another example of the Beachland magic.
I’ve been a believer in the redemptive power of live music since seeing Eli Radish in the front of a Chesterland shopping plaza at the age of 12. I’ve never stopped going to shows, but there was a bleak period of time in Cleveland for roots music after the original Wilbert’s closed and the Beachland’s opening. It is without question my favorite place to see live music, and I’ve been fortunate enough to go to plenty, both here in Cleveland and in other cities across the country.
Since you are reading this, you are probably already a fan of the Beachland. Make it your New Year’s resolution to drag some friends out to see some live music-you know who I’m referring to, the people who were once into music, but just can’t find the time or energy to get out to shows anymore. I guarantee they will thank you later. The Beachland and the other live venues in town are as worthy of our support as the other cultural institutions in our city- the museums, orchestra and theaters, all of which get more attention and public funding. And, I would argue, the support of venues like the Beachland is more important to the 20 to 35 year-olds that this region desperately needs to retain, and to attract.
So, step out with your buds, and feel the redemptive body and soul experience of live music. Music Saves, indeed. God bless Cindy and Mark-here’s to another 10 years!
There are SO many musicians who deliver an absolutely transformative experience on your stage, but hands-down, my personal favorite was:
Nick Lowe (acoustic)–It was in the ballroom, but it felt so intimate…like he was in a living room, singing to you, only. And he has such an ease with a guitar in his hands…he is truly a master of his craft.
Runner up is Greg Cartwright. No matter what he’s belting out, he really makes you feel it, too
Karen Downie
Railroad Earth just sounds so wonderful in the Beachland Ballroom. I just love the venue. Great acoustics and all. But then of course I would love Railroad Earth if they were playing under a bridge.
Mary Lynn Pirtz
Tonight, we’ve got one of our favorites, Alejandro Escovedo, who you might’ve read about on this very blog. This Thursday, we’ve got the feisty pop of Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles, written about in Scene Magazine, and who’ve been in steady rotation on new Cleveland radio station 107.3 The Boom.
Saturday’s a soul session, celebrating the birthday of Beachland co-owner Mark Leddy, with noisy blues breakers The Bassholes and northern soul colossus Melvin Davis. Don’t be afraid of the dance floor, friends.
Pro-Cleveland blogger Cleveland Bachelor has helped us push this Sunday’s upcoming Rural Alberta Advantage / Buried Wires / The Octagon show, which you can read about HERE.
As Bryan Ferry once crooned, “Don’t stop the dance”: even the coiffed and laquered Mr. Ferry might have to cut a rug at this Sunday’s Beachland Polka Brunch! Co –sponsored by The Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame, the price of admission also includes a delicious brunch and a free polka dance lesson by world dance champion Valerie Salstrom from Get Hep Swing. Polka’s a family affair, so grab the crew for a twirl and a tipple:
(reposted from the Beachland Mailing List. Sign up for it HERE and get weekly updates on our shows!)
“So it’s the end of ’09, the end of the first decade of the new century, and the Beachland is looking at its 10th anniversary in March. It’s hard to believe we’ve been doing this for an entire decade!
This year has been particularly tough. The Cleveland economy is not making it easy for independent stores, restaurants or venues like ours. Job cutbacks and forced furloughs make it harder for our longtime supporters to come out as often to see live music. But to all of you who have been so loyal, we thank you for every dollar you have spent at our establishment. There were a few times these past few months when we thought, “let’s just do our 10th anniversary shows and call it quits, this is too hard.” However, there seems to be a greater force at work, whispering in our ears that we will find a way. People have been coming out of the woodwork with both financial and emotional support (though we could always use more)! And we, like many of you, still believe in the healing and inspirational power of music.
Even though the music industry today is in deep trouble, there are so many redeeming points and we certainly had many this year. Highlights included Paul Thorn with his band transforming the tavern into a rapture, Brave Combo creating a frenzy of dancers and energy in the ballroom, St. Vincent pulling us all into her fascinating artsy musical world and the upbeat and generous Bootsy Collins sitting in with the Crop Bistroband when we hosted the Cleveland Food Rocks benefit in our parking lot this past summer.
Since we’re facing a decade, we’d like to hear from you about a favorite show you saw in the last 10 years or a band you discovered at the Beachland…. send your tale to cindy@beachlandballroom.com and we’ll start putting your testimonials up on our blog as we move toward March and the anniversary. As we enter 2010, remember Music Saves is more than the name of our favorite indie record store! For that reason we hope to keep the Beachland going for another decade.”
Some of you sitting cozily in Blogsville might have experience the rush and the push of holiday hubbub: rehearsing for a Christmas pageant, gearing up for Hannukah hijinks, finding new footie pajamas for the Baby Jesus, and the like. Cooking, shopping, cleaning, and making travel plans seem to be inextricably tied to the season of Peace on Earth and Goodwill To All. Yeah, peace and goodwill can wait–we’ve got work to do!
Likewise, the Beachland is rolling and tumbling through the prep work needed to insure that this year’s seasonal shows work flawlessly, like a certain mythological character’s sled. We do the work, so you don’t have to. Just lively up yourself and we’ll nice up the dance, as Bob Marley and reggae greats Mitchigan & Smiley both wisely said. Just bring your ID, your admission fee, and your cheer; we’ll do the rest.
Mr Gnome CD release show, Friday December 18
Though they’re based in Cleveland, this duo’s been slowly but surely acquiring a national buzz with spookily heavy albums such as Deliver This Creature. Mr. Gnome’s newest release is called Heave Your Skeleton, which you can read about at the Dallas Observer.
Mr. Gnome, “Night of the Crickets”
Music Saves & Square Records 6th Annual Holiday Get Down, Saturday December 19
When money is lacking, let love be your commerce, says indie record stores Music Saves and Square Records. Hailing respectively from Cleveland and Akron, these two establishments put together a bill of fine young bands from their towns. Akron’s Walkies bring to mind a lot of the weird beardo folk that’s currently on the zeitgeist’s holiday shopping list; on the other hand, their spiky guitar and banjo duets sound pretty cool:
The Walkies, “Going Down the Valley”
Yulesville Pre-Holiday Bash w/ Bears, Unsparing Sea, and a shload more bands, Wednesday, December 23What doesn’t this bill have? From Bears’ candy-flavored, buzz-worthy indie pop and the reptilian metal drones of the mysterious Terminal Lovers, this should have it all. Dig the Japanese monster riffery on the Lovers’ “Mr. Astronaut Glenn”, and put those toys on your wish-list!
If anyone asks, this show is sponsored in part by Beachland bud Cleveland Bachelor.
7th Annual Old Home Night featuring California Speedbag, Kidney Brothers, Home and Garden, and Nicholas Deveney
Memories of Cleveland punk and new wave, grimy but drunkenly hopeful in the 70s and 80s, will belly up at the bar during this 7th Annual Old Home Night. OHN was created by a group of veteran bohemians–among them, the writer Michael DeCapite–who wanted to throw a very special party for ex-pats and current residents of our fair town who hailed from a time when the underground was freshly dug. Tonight we’ll have an apperance by cowpunk pioneers California Speedbag, avant-lords Home and Garden, the Kidney Brothers (from The Numbers Band), and if you’re not careful, you might see a Pere Ubu or Dead Boys member floating around. Good times, great memories, such as this of CLE punks Numbskull tearing Sabbath’s “Supernaut” to ribbons at the old Variety Theatre (still there on Lo-rain Road!):
Cowslingers Reunion Wednesday December 30
If Old Home Night isn’t proof enough that “Cleveland punx not dead”, this two-night stand of total rock should convince doubters. Rock N’ Roll’s a sure bet, solid as the Hope Memorial Bridge, unyielding as the Cuyahoga. The Cowslingers were ambassadors for that aesthetic throughout Europe and the US, playing very fast and very loose with sounds pioneered by Link Wray, X, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, and other immortal troublemakers. Here’s the kind of trouble the Cowslingers caused, shot at the Beachland many years back (note the difference in decor):
After their breakup, the ‘slingers formed different bands, such as the Whiskey Daredevils and Jack Fords. Yet the demand for that special Cowslinger brand of fun never wavered; in fact, tickets are flying out the proverbial door for this near-New Year’s humdinger with Lords of the Highway. ACT NOW.
Beachland Ballroom and Tavern Blog 