Wonky Tonk & The Highlife

“Silverton’s a place, just like Brooklyn is a place.”

That's the message at the heart of Sons of Silverton’s music.

Emcees KyleDavid and Citoak have been in Cincinnati’s hip-hop scene separately for decades, working with acts like The Five Deez and The Watusi Tribe. But making music together didn't start until more recently, when KyleDavid rapped on a solo Citoak single.

“In the process of doing that, Sons of Silverton just worked its way in,” Citoak said. “It felt right.”

“We all have varied histories,” KyleDavid said. “It just made sense for us to come together.”

Since then, Sons of Silverton released “Or Forever Hold Your Peace” in 2017, and their latest album, “GodGotUs”, which dropped in 2021.

On the title track “GodGotUs,” Son of Silverton’s chanting chorus creates a driving energy of confidence and motivation.

For KyleDavid, it expresses positive momentum.

“You continue moving forward and keep driving and eventually things will work out in your favor,” he said.

The track serves as a history lesson in Cincinnati hip-hop, dropping long-gone venue names like Ripley’s and Sudsy Malone’s.

The music video for the song was filmed at The Lodge KY, the same venue as their WCPO Lounge Acts. The video also features a giant cutout of Ohio.

“Ohio is a hidden gem,” KyleDavid said. “We want to take the responsibility and onus of representing not only Silverton but Cincinnati and Ohio, and show the world there’s some talented, dope, hip-hop artists from this area.”

For their WCPO Lounge Acts session, Sons of Silverton were joined by DJ Rare Groove to perform “GodGotUs” and more songs from both albums.

Set list:

• 0:00 - intro
• 0:22 - "Let's Fly Yall"
• 3:46 - "All Day"
• 6:26 - interview
• 12:19 - "GodGotUs"
• 15:33 - "You Know Them As"
• 18:03 - outro

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"Unframed pop and not folksy folk," Cincinnati singer/songwriter Mol Sullivan tried to explain about her songwriting. Adding, “there are elements of a lot of things.”

She's right that her music is hard to place in a genre, yet Sullivan has crafted a sound that is undenyably her own.

Her songs are ethereal, sincere, and almost magical.

For her session for WCPO Lounge Acts, Sullivan performed three songs from her upcoming full-length album that's still in the works, as well as a new single set to drop July, 2022.

Set list:

0:00 - intro

0:32 - Cowboy

5:28 - Cautiously

8:27 - interview

15:04 - Deep End Dive

18:51 - Lamb
23:03 - outro

Mol Sullivan:

https://www.molsullivan.com/

https://molsullivan.bandcamp.com/

WCPO Lounge Acts:

https://www.wcpo.com/loungeacts

Recorded June 16, 2022

Hosted by Brian Niesz

Produced by Brian Niesz

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Alternative indie-pop band Quotah is among the 27 local and regional acts performing at The Northside Rock & Roll Carnival over the holiday weekend.

Quotah performs for WCPO Lounge Acts from The Lodge KY in Dayton, KY.

Setlist:
0:00 - intro
0:30 - Cranberry
4:35 - Crash and Burn
8:37 - interview
12:58 - That'll Do, Pig
16:28 - Different Endings
20:30 - outro

Quotah: https://www.quotahmusic.com/ https://www.facebook.com/quotahmusic

Northside Rock'n'Roll Carnival: https://northsiderocks.com/

WCPO Lounge Acts: https://www.wcpo.com/loungeacts

Recorded June 22, 2022
Hosted by Brian Niesz
Produced by Brian Niesz

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine the ugliest Honda Civic driving by your house and all you can hear over the engine is Arlen Gun Club playing on the speakers.

That’s the mental picture singer/guitarist Leo Martini hopes Arlen Gun Club’s brand of 00-era emo-inspired pop-punk will paint.

On their debut self-titled album, the band really nails that sound.

“We started kinda writing 90’s stuff,” Martini said. “Honestly, I listened to a lot of Nirvana growing up and that’s my main inspiration for making music.”

“I listen to a lot of the late-90’s early-00’s emo,” bassist Jacob Durham added.

Although it could almost be mistaken for a long lost Drive-Thru Records release circa 2002, Alren Gun Club’s album is able to channel their vintage influences without sounding trite. The songs are catchy, moody and fun.

The album is out now on streaming, but the band has plans for physical media as well.

“We were lucky enough to partner with a couple labels. Our main label is Rat Poison Recordings and she’s doing all the preorders with shirts and cassettes,” Durhan said.

“Another label called Thumbs Up specifically asked to do vinyl for us. They won’t be coming until later in the fall but they’re available for preorder online,” Durham explained.

Arlen Gun Club performed all four singles from the album for WCPO Lounge Acts.

Set list:
0:00 - intro
0:34 - Clueless
3:36 - Get the Lead Out
5:57 - interview
11:11 - Threat Point Limited
14:20 - Come On
17:06 - outro

Arlen Gun Club:
https://arlengunclub.bandcamp.com/

WCPO Lounge Acts:
https://www.wcpo.com/loungeacts

Recorded May 31, 2022
Hosted by Brian Niesz
Produced by Brian Niesz

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Veronica Grim has been singing her lungs out for some time, but with her latest album “Chaos Magic” she’s singing her heart out too.

The album is set to release Saturday, May 28 on all streaming platforms and will be celebrated with a performance at Fountain Square for their Spring Concert Series.

Grim has released music with rockabilly punk band Switchblade Syndicate as well as a country album under the name Veronica Grim and the Heavy Hearts.

Although it’s not her first album, “Chaos Magic” is her first album to be released simply as Veronica Grim. That nuance is one Grim finds liberating, calling the album “an evolution of not being trapped in any one creative space, any one genre, or any one box.”

It’s easy to see why Grim feels so restricted by genres. Her bold, sultry voice is as suited for outlaw country as it is blues rock, indie, or emo.

When Grim formed her band and started recording, she had that freedom in mind.

“Nobody came into it with the intent of making a record that had to be any one thing,” she explained.

“There’s Americana in there, and there’s absolutely emo in there. We talk about Heart and Blondie and the Stones…“, Grim said.

The songs on “Chaos Magic” are immersive and layered and Grim is quick to compliment her bandmates for sculpting that sound.

“I’m the least talented person in the band,” Grim joked.

For her WCPO Lounge Acts session however, Grim performed stripped-down acoustically with guitarist Michael Bustamante.

“I think that’s the test of a good song,” Grim suggested. “If you can do a version like that [on the album]… but also have it stand alone just the two of us.”

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Cincinnati's “cinematic alternative” band Lung  is made up of opera-trained singer and cellist Kate Wakefield and rock drummer Daisy Caplan.

Wakefield’s cello is a defining element of Lung’s sound. While cello is not a frequently featured instrument in rock, she says she finds it liberating.

“It’s really versatile, I don’t know why more rock bands don’t use them,” Wakefield said.

Wakefield’s talent at cello has also afforded her lots of collaborations with local artists like Jess Lamb, Wonky Tonk, and Wussy, saying “in the Cincinnati area, it’s really fun when you play the cello because everyone wants you to play on their album.”

“Come Clean Right Now” was written over the course of the pandemic as Caplan urged Wakefield to send ideas back and forth over the internet.

“The pandemic was unexpected. Everything shut down and we canceled tours. I was pretty bummed out, but Daisy knows that it cheers me up when I write music,” Wakefield said. “It was the coping mechanism of the early pandemic for us.”

On the album, Lung forms a layered cinematic sound that floats on top of heavy rhythms and harmonized vocals that are at times both dreamy and intense.

“Come Clean Right Now” is available on CD and vinyl from local record label Sofa Burn, as well as streaming platforms.

Before hitting the road, Lung stopped by The Lodge KY to perform five songs from their new album for WCPO Lounge Acts.

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Aprina Johnson, better known as AprinasRevolutionaryLove, is a singer/songwriter/activist who uses music and love to enhance her community.

Aprina’s music is soulful, funky, and above all passionate. But you can’t just hit her up on Spotify; you have to go see her perform live.

“I just feel like it’s over-saturated right now to be in the digital world looking for likes and streams,” Aprina said.

Perhaps an exception to that rule, AprinasRevolutionaryLove recently performed live for WCPO Lounge Acts.

When the pandemic started, Aprina replaced her canceled gigs with performances in front yards and porches all around her neighborhood.

“I was very blessed to be able to bring songs and messages and feelings of love and adoration to my community through music at that time,” she said.

Aprina believes music and love can be “weaponized” to better her community and explained “when you’re able to really move and show people the mechanics of what love is, then it becomes this thing that combats real weapons like division.”

Aprina says her songs "have the power to infiltrate places and people.”

That’s why she was excited at the opportunity to work with local think tank Action Tank to create music for Cincinnati City council candidates as part of their Vote Smarter project, saying “because I’m deep in the streets it was very exhilarating for me to talk to them.”

You can find out more about Aprina on her website at aprinasrevolutionarylove.org.

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For local music fans, Jess Lamb and the Factory are a staple of Cincinnati music. Others may remember Lamb from Season 14 of American Idol.

This Thanksgiving, the band will help celebrate with music.

The group teamed up with Arnold’s Bar and Grill, Neltner Small Batch, Otto Printing and Mus-i-col Records to offer hand-crafted limited edition 7-inch vinyl records. The records feature two songs from Jess Lamb and the Factory and the sleeves were hand dipped at Maker’s Mark. They’ll be giving away 150 on opaque red vinyl.

A limited number of copies pressed on clear, pink and black splatter vinyl will be available at local record stores Shake It Records, Everybody's Records, Plaid Room Records, Torn Light Records and Herzog Records on Black Friday.

The 7-inch record features music from the band’s 2020 album, You Are.

Recorded during the lockdown, You Are contains a collection of what Lamb calls “misplaced songs.”

Making music during a pandemic can be a challenge.

“I felt like I needed to be more calm and centered and still,” Lamb said.

Keyboardist and producer Warren Harrison found a silver lining. “Honestly, it’s been a great opportunity to not be distracted by gigs,” he said.

The album’s first single, “Beautiful” has been called a “celebration of personal empowerment.” The track features a collaboration with rapper and activist Siri Imani.

Lamb describes the track as “a bunch of sisters telling each other ‘you are beautiful, you are powerful, you can make it.” Adding, “it’s a mantra for us all.”

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"I love to sing pretty, but I also like to turn up the guitar."

That's how Cincinnati singer/songwriter Sarah Asher described her sound during her performance for WCPO Lounge Acts.

Asher's music blends her folk roots with 90s-influenced alternative rock, but is unique enough to avoid being lumped into either genre.

"I've never really gotten along with genres really well," she said. "I'm a songwriter and I love melodies."

Asher used the downtime from quarantine not only as an opportunity to write music, but also as an opportunity to collaborate.

Asher traveled to Echo Mountain Recording in Ashville, NC to record her new album with studio musicians who would've normally been unavailable.

"Since there were a lot of musicians that were grounded, we were able to get some people that would normally be touring," Asher explained.

Asher would return to Ashville to shoot a music video for her song "Summer Never Came."

Written in spring 2020, Asher described the song as "looking ahead to the summer and the uncertainty and thinking about summer never happening in a way."

Asher performed "Summer Never Came" along with other songs from her new album, 'Echo Mountain Sessions,' for WCPO Lounge Acts.

Sarah Asher's album 'Echo Mountain Sessions' will be available Thursday, Oct. 14 with a release show at MOTR Pub in Over-the-Rhine.

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Not many indie rock bands can fit blistering guitar solos into their moody songs, but Nashville's Safari Room sure can.

The band formed when the quartet met while attending music school at Belmont College in Nashville.

"We all did music school and were definitely playing in different groups," singer/guitarist Alec Koukol explained. "Safari Room came out of my writings and I brought these guys along on it. We've been going heavy since 2018."

Shortly before the pandemic brought the world to a halt, Safari Room were just finishing up their debut full-length, 'Look Me Up When You Get There.'

The band decided to stay the course, and the album dropped in July of 2020.

"We might as well just open up the door and let folks in rather than holding on to it and waiting," Koukol said. "We'll get to go tour when get to go tour; which is happening now."

On their album, Safari Room blends dreamy melodic indie rock with power-pop sensibilities. Guitarist Chris Collier is notable for his ability bust out impressive licks without overpowering the dream-live vibe.

Safari Room performed four songs from the album for their WCPO Lounge Acts session at The Lodge KY in Dayton, Kentucky.

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