literary

July 30: Four Horsewomen of the Apocalypse. Wild Goose Creative, 2491 Summit St.

This benefit for the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio brings together four fascinating artists and personalities to riff on apocalyptic themes through their true stories.

Amy Turn Sharp, local poet and organizer of Word Church, speaks about Pestilence. Amy Dalrymple, designer and proprietor of Made by AmyD, talks about War. Emily Toney, from ARC Ohio and the Greater Columbus Arts Council, discusses Famine. Amee Bell Wanzo, frontwoman of garage rock band Trachete, wraps it up with Death.

Show starts at 8:00pm. Suggested donation of $5.

Music

July 29: Aaron Lee Tasjan and Lilly Hiatt. Natalie’s Coal-Fired Pizza, 5601 N High St.

Columbus expat Aaron Lee Tasjan’s songwriting has exploded through his stints as a vital player in NYC’s roots-rock scene – including work with Kevin Kinney, Keith Christopher, and Pat Green – and more recently in Nashville. It’s heartfelt, surprising work with big hooks and an eye for detail that reminds me of Robert Earl Keen and Jon Dee Graham and a voice that’s more his own every time I hear him.

If an occasional return of the prodigal son isn’t enough to get the roots fans out to this, the other side of that coin should be: Lilly Hiatt. Hiatt’s second album, Royal Blue, is one of my favorite discoveries of the year reminding me of early Amy Rigby with a contemporary sheen of synths and big, dark drums wrapped around rock-solid songwriting. The kind of show Natalie’s does better than anywhere else in town.

Show starts at 9:00pm. $10-15 tickets available at Vendini

July 29: Liver Quiver. Brothers Drake, 26 E 5th Ave.

Another favorite expat – of more recent vintage – also returns home this week, jazz and classical guitarist Aaron Quinn. One of my favorite of his groups, Liver Quiver, a trio with Alex Burgoyne on sax and Seth Daily on drums reunites at Brothers Drake for a Jazz Wednesday.

Liver Quiver has a unique empathy that almost reminds me of some of Chris Speed’s groups, partly because Seth Daily does the best drumming in a Jim Black mode of anyone in recent memory. It’s a little spikier and a little edgier than that free Wednesday series usually gets, drifting into both chamber music and free improv territories, but it should be as refreshing as a cold gin drink while the sun melts away through that big open door.

Show begins at 8:00pm. Free.

August 2: Natalie’s Anniversary Celebration: Bobby Floyd Trio. Natalie’s Coal-Fired Pizza, 5601 N High St.

I think it’s pretty clear from the volume of these writeups that I think Natalie’s has added something really special and really needed to the Columbus scene. So consider this me raising a glass to Natalie’s and to having many more anniversaries.

The whole weekend is packed with Columbus favorites that showcase the breadth of the room’s interesting booking but, and again, no surprise, I’d steer you toward our finest organist Bobby Floyd and his trio with Derek DiCenzo on guitar and Reggie Jackson on drums. As good an example of classic organ jazz as you will hear anywhere – New York, Chicago, LA – and not playing as often as they used to with both Floyd and Jackson touring with Dr. John these days. Two birds with one stone and one of the best pizzas in town.

Show starts at 8:00pm. $10 tickets available at Vendini.

August 2: Richard Thompson. Dublin Irish Festival, Perimeter Drive, Dublin, OH.

The Dublin Irish Festival is one of those things it’s easy for locals to take for granted. It’s huge – one of the biggest Irish heritage festivals in the country – and has all the problems that come along with that, but it’s gotten that huge because its organizers have spent many years and no small amount of money turning it into a well-oiled machine huge acts love to play and love to come back to.

One of the best-sounding festivals I’ve ever been to, which will be doubly important when it hosts a return appearance by British singer-songwriter Richard Thompson. While talked about more as an electric guitar virtuoso, I’ve seen him in both guises a number of times and my favorite shows are solo acoustic where he’ll highlight the newest records (the new, very good, Jeff Tweedy-produced Still and the even better Buddy Miller produced Electric from a couple years ago) but he’ll dip into his extensive catalogue, he’ll dust off surprising covers. It’s as close as I’ve ever seen a singer-songwriter come to walking on a wire (if you’ll excuse the borrowing or even if you won’t). If you love songs, storytelling, guitar playing, this is an example of the very highest peaks of those arts.

Literary

June 20: The Art of Storytelling 2. Wild Goose Creative, 2491 Summit St.

Local writer/rapper/ organizer Searius Add has almost infallible taste and both the contacts and the passion to put together some of the most interesting bills in town. Case in point, this week’s special Father’s Day edition of his intermittent Art of Storytelling series in the intimate confines of Wild Goose. There isn’t one element of this that’s less than stunning.

This Art of Storytelling is hosted by JG the Jugganaut (aka John Gibson) who’s one of our most dynamic poets, making noise and touring regularly. An intense, charismatic, funny performer whose writing has an astonishing eye and a rhythm that engages the whole body.

The undercard of authors is a pair of intriguing voices I’d bet on hearing more about very soon. Rayshawn Wilson is a local therapist and motivational speaker who, in 2014, put out a memoir, Lionheart: Coming Where I’m From which has received rave reviews including this one from the School Library Journal: http://blogs.slj.com/adult4teen/2015/01/05/inspirational-memoirs/ Quartez Harris released his first poetry collection, Nothing But Skin, last year and I’ve heard nothing but good things about both his writing and his performance.

The headliner, Scott Woods, probably needs no introduction to readers of this blog because I’m a shameless, unabashed fan of the man and his work. He was the first person to take teams of Columbus poets to the National Poetry Slam, eventually serving on the board of PSI (the organization that throws said NPS) and has put out many books and records. He’s one of the most vital, necessary voices in Columbus art right now and maybe literature period and he’s one of the few artists I’ve seen in any genre or town who keeps leaping out of his comfort zone, swinging for the fences, and and consistently getting even better. Any time he does a feature set, anyone in any creative field – or anyone who loves words – should take notice.

Live music is provided by Matt Seward II, son of local R&B/gospel legend Matt Seward who brings a tenor voice and guitar that reminds me of a young Terry Callier.

6:30-8:30pm. Tickets available here.

https://youtu.be/ghply_J2nR4

Music

June 15: Drainolith with Mike Shiflet. Double Happiness, 482 S Front St.

Over the last few years they’ve been open, Double Happiness has quietly turned into a primary home for some of the most interesting booking in town. Things that might otherwise pass our city by or fall through the cracks get a home with an almost built in audience and some of the best sound in Columbus.

Mike Shiflet, since I first saw him in Sword Heaven, has plowed a fertile field of richly textured abstract noise. As he’s added more guitar of late, the textures have gotten both harsher and more sensual, as seen on his recent collaboration with Jerry DeCicca (Black Swans), Walks on the Beach, and any solo show in town is going to be rewarding.

The headliner, Drainolith, is the new solo project of Alexander Moskos, formerly of noise rock juggernaut AIDS Wolf. A collaged, abstract take on depressive singer-songwriter music that feels incredibly fresh. This solo work uses guttural blues signifiers a la Will Oldham but arranges them with noise and static threading the elements together.

Doors at 8:00pm. $8 tickets available at http://www.doublehappinessohio.com/event/848617-drainolith-columbus/

June 17: Bobby Floyd Trio featuring Brian Olsheski. Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza, 5601 N High St.

Bobby Floyd’s principal gig in Dr. John’s band keeps him on the road a lot so anytime Columbus’s finest keyboard player is back in town it’s cause for jubilation. But this show is special even above and beyond that.

Floyd’s regular trio with Derek DiCenzo on bass or guitar and usually Reggie Jackson (also touring with Dr. John) on drums have an uncanny empathy and the unshakable confidence of people who can do anything musically, and special guest Brian Olsheski on tenor sax has a similar musical bond with Floyd that I’ve seen take the roof off many a bar or concert hall. If you love jazz, do not miss this.

Starts at 9:00pm. Tickets available at http://www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?t=tix&e=d1e364c99068f524e1b639c96f04fb42

https://youtu.be/tgSCfvpZ09o

June 19: Tink and Kim Joyce. Park Street Saloon, 525 N Park St.

Chicago rapper Tink’s collaboration with Tazer, “Wet Dollars,” is a convincing early contender for song of the summer 2015. Buzz for her upcoming record executive produced by Timbaland, Ratchet Commandments, is blisteringly hot and the couple singles out so far are dancefloor monsters. Her voice doesn’t need more than a few bars to get stuck in your brain and not let go and the choice of beats is top notch.

Local Kim Joyce opens with her modern blend of edgy, sensual R&B – great songs put across like her life depends on it.

This interesting booking merges the live music aesthetic of Woodlands’ management with the clubbing past of Park Street Saloon and promises a sweaty good time. Doors at 9:00pm. Tickets available at Ticketweb.

June 19: A Tribute to Camu featuring Da Intalec, Metro, Copywrite, Tame One, and C-Chan. Double Happiness, 482 S Front St.

Camu Tao’s loss is still felt in Columbus and underground hip-hop in general. Much like the Mark Flugge tribute we talked about here last week, this is an astonishing lineup full of people who knew and collaborated with him that speaks to the depth of feeling he and his music gave us all.

This tribute features Da Intalec, often referred to as a mentor to Camu Tao and many others, still making vital, virbrant music. A collaborative set between Metro (who worked with Camu in the still-underrated party rap group SA Smash along with work with Cannibal Ox and many more) and Copywrite (who needs no introduction except to say he’s been making some of the best music of his storied career in the last few years). A set of Tame One (in The Weathermen with Camu along with collaborations with Del tha Funkee Homosapien, KRS-One, and Mos Def) and fellow Jersey rapper C-Chan. Held together and held down by DJ Bombay spinning before, between, and after the other acts. This would be a great show no matter what but as a tribute, it’s almost unparalleled.

Starts at 9:00pm. Tickets available at http://www.doublehappinessohio.com/event/864439-tribute-camu-columbus/