I have to give the Misery Jackals credit. For someone whose musical tastes have refined themselves over the years, I must admit I never got into bluegrass. To me, the genre sounded decrepit and was squarely to blame for giving way to the abhorrent class of recent jam bands. But with “No Place for Children,” Akron’s Misery Jackal’s ensnared my hesitation with a debut album ripe with zydeco, native, punk and even pop-influenced songwriting. Using bluegrass as a mere jumping-off point, the Misery Jackals are lead by the bespectacled, top hat-wearing Sweet Willy C., aka Bill Corgan, who...
If you're a live-music fan living in the Akron or Cleveland areas then you've probably experienced the high-energy Zydeco romp that is Mo' Mojo. The band's garnered a reputation for good ole' jam-band, Cajun-inspired fun. Unfortunately with many jam bands – yes, I would consider Mo' Mojo a jam band – something is lost in translation from live performance to recording studio. Even The Grateful Dead felt limited when restricted to the four walls of a sound booth. The spontaneity suffers. Mo' Mojo, however, doesn't fall victim to the confinement of the studio. The band's latest album, "Tog...
Yeah that's right we said Beers, Bands & Chainsaws. Imagine a night filled with frothy craft beers, raging music from the best in punk/bluegrass/hillbilly and the roar of chainsaws everywhere, for ice carving, duh. Meanwhile, barrels of fire sit on every corner in downtown Canton and thousands of people tromp from bar to bar, gallery to gallery. Welcome to the Canton Froth Fest on January 6. This is an all-ages event, which also happens to be totally free. Who's got your back? That's right, we do. Read more at CantonFrothFest.com. Beers: We're turning 4th street it into a beer garden fo...
Labeling themselves the hardest drinking band in Northeast Ohio, Akron’s bluegrass old-timey punks Johnny & The Apple Stompers are one of the best live acts in the area. Just as quick as they might deliver a Hank Williams cover they can turn on a dime and bust into a frenzied re-working of The Misfits that will have all the punks bouncing around and spilling beer. Multi-instrumentalist Ben Shuber is effortless in his attack of the washboard and accordion and is prone to dress in a dingy old chicken suit that looks like it’s been soaked in copious amounts of drool and booze. These guys are ...
Akron’s Mo Mojo plays Zydeco, a form of Southern folk characterized by the heavy use of accordion and washboard. It’s a lot like Creole, but more uptempo with a bit of jam-band ethics. The band has a revolving lineup, but usually performs as an eight-piece. ...
Donna the Buffalo is the epitome of the contemporary fusion of folk rock and traditional mountain music, but they’re not afraid to borrow from other sources, too. During their 20-plus years together, Donna the Buffalo has infused elements of Cajun, rock, folk, country and even reggae to create a sound all their own. At the core is Tara Nevins, a multi-instrumentalist who sings and switches from fiddle to guitar, accordion and washboard. Alongside her is partner and guitarist Jeb Puryear, who, along with Nevis, is the only original member remaining. Newcomers include keyboa...
