Forget what you thought you knew about Leon Thomas. The former Nickelodeon actor, known for his role as Andre Harris on Victorious, has carved out a new lane for himself as a funk-influenced R&B star.

Thomas began his career on Broadway as a child, performing in musicals such as The Lion King and The Color Purple, as well as in films like August Rush. He met his future Victorious co-star and longtime collaborator Ariana Grande on Broadway. After Victorious ended in 2013, he began co-producing songs for Grande’s debut album as a part of the production duo The Rascals, alongside Khristopher Riddick-Tynes.

Thomas has produced for several artists, including Drake, Kehlani, Post Malone, Cincinnati native Arin Ray and many others. In 2024, Thomas received his first Grammy Award as a producer for Best R&B Song on SZA’s “Snooze.“ That same year, he would release his album, MUTT, featuring the popular single “MUTT,” which gave him his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at 10 after a 38-week climb, becoming the third-longest climb in the chart’s 67-year history.

“I’m just putting my neck out there and daring to be different,” Thomas said in an interview with the Recording Academy of the United States. “I’m not doing basic concepts or attacking basic instrumentals. I feel like I’m doing my best to push the genre by taking chances and experimenting. I’m just hoping that it’s received because I genuinely love the R&B genre. I want to see it grow and evolve, and I want to be a part of that process.”

He released his most recent EP, PHOLKS, on Oct. 23. He began his “MUTTS DON’T HEEL” tour on Oct. 30. 

Leon Thomas plays Bogart’s on Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. More info: bogarts.com.

This story is featured in CityBeat’s Nov. 12 print edition.

The post Sound Advice: Leon Thomas Brings His Genre-Bending R&B to Bogart’s appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

Fifth Third Arena was filled with screaming Bearcats, Bengals and Taylor Swift fans on April 11 as Jason and Travis Kelce made their grand return to the University of Cincinnati to bring their New Heights podcast to life. 

The first of its kind, New Heights Live did not disappoint. When I arrived almost an hour before the show’s start time, the arena was packed and the energy was high.

On the arena floor, the Cincinnati Bearcats mascot and a man wearing a shirt that said “TikTok Famous” on the front and “The Dancing Trucker” on the back danced with fans to get everyone hyped. I wasn’t sure what we were in for, but as the clock struck 7 p.m., Jason and Travis ran through fire and smoke onto the arena floor and the crowd went wild. 

The brothers expressed a lot of gratitude for UC and the city of Cincinnati in their opening, followed by Jason asking if there were any Swifties in the house which expectedly got a huge reaction from the audience. They announced that the show would begin with the first-ever Great Lombaby Games. 

The boys explained that the games would be Team Athletic, consisting of student-athletes at UC, versus Team Academic, consisting of non-athlete students. Both teams ran out to the floor through smoke to begin the first game which was one student from each team being spun in a swing, running to pick up a UC football helmet, then throwing that helmet through a cutout of Jason and Travis. Jason spun the Team Academic student a bit too much – making the first game a clean sweep for Team Athletic. The score was now Team Athletic one, Team Academic none. 

The second game was a bit messier, with one student from each team having to dig through an inflatable pool of Skyline chili to find Jason’s 2017 Super Bowl ring. This game led to chili being thrown back and forth between contestants before Team Academic won. The third game was a trivia bull riding contest, and a student from each team would have two minutes to answer as many New Heights trivia questions as possible while on the mechanical bull — the only catch being that they could not answer any questions while off the bull. This game ended in a tie with the tie-breaking question being what color is grass and Team Athletic taking back the lead. The next couple of games were a real back-and-forth with Team Academic winning the coney-eating contest, and Team Athletic winning the spelling bee with one of the words being Freiermuth, the name of a tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers which naturally caused the Cincinnati crowd to boo. Team Academic won Name that Tune and Team Athletic won the ducking and jumping toxic waste game, tying up the game. 

The last game was a winner-takes-all relay that included riding a tricycle, throwing a football through a hula hoop, digging through a pile of pants for Jason’s jeans, blindfolded pin the mustache on Andy Reid and more, all while holding a football. Though Team Athletic got a huge lead at the beginning of the relay, their struggle with finding Jason’s jeans hurt their chances as Team Academic was able to find their footing to become the champions of the first-ever Great Lombaby Games. Team Academic’s prize was a 100-pound golden Lombaby trophy. 

The crowd was still reeling from the games as the arena floor cleared. The air was thick with anticipation in the arena as we waited for the podcast portion of the show. There were some big names like Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Orlando Brown Jr. and quarterback Joe Burrow scheduled to make an appearance. 

When the lights finally dimmed and the fire and smoke were queued up again, Jason and Travis were back out in the arena, now taking center stage. The show started with the duo shooting New Heights Live t-shirts wrapped in Subway sandwich wrappers into the crowd with the help of the cheer squad. 

After the shirt-launching shenanigans, the first guest brought out to join the show was former Cincinnati Bearcats starting quarterback and current Arizona Cardinals quarterback, Desmond Ridder. Jason, Travis and Ridder shared stories of their days at UC, telling the eager crowd how they all had to endure the punishment of running the Nippert Stadium stairs when late for practice. During their time with Ridder, they decided to do their no-dumb-questions segment, the question chosen was – of course – which famous chili chain Ridder prefers, Skyline or Gold Star. Ridder chose Skyline, which prompted the crowd to cheer.

The next guest was Bengals left tackle and former right tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs Orlando Brown Jr. Travis and Brown spoke at length about their time in Kansas City together and their first impressions of each other. Brown explained how he loves the city and playing for the Bengals with Joe Burrow as quarterback. This was almost like a signal for the man himself. 

The crowd was electric. That was the loudest the arena had been the whole night as Burrow took the stage. Travis mentioned the growing Chiefs-Bengals rivalry and told Burrow that he loves it when the teams get to play each other because of how talented they both are. This prompts Jason to ask why Burrow believes the Bengals fair so well against the Chiefs. Burrow says that the Bengals are built to beat the Chiefs and the crowd shouted in agreement. The show went over taunting, the spiciest white boy in the NFL debates and Burrow’s ‘Show me the aliens’ post, which Burrow explained by saying, “Well, where are they?” Toward the end, Jason and Burrow share a touching moment about when Jason was trying to recruit him to UC as he transferred from Ohio State University. As Burrow and Brown left the stage, I figured this was the end of New Heights Live.

However, just as everyone thought the show was over, the president of the University of Cincinnati, Neville G. Pinto, came out in graduation regalia. Despite Jason and Travis graduating from UC, neither participated in their respective ceremonies. Jason and Travis got to wear their gowns, and Travis got to deliver a graduation speech that he ended by downing a beer. The show is then closed out with red and black confetti falling everywhere as it would at a regular UC graduation. 

Travis and Jason brought an energy to Fifth Third Arena that hadn’t been felt since they left UC over a decade ago. To me, the show was everything I’d hoped it would be. It was entertaining, funny and even heartwarming at moments. I wasn’t the only one who felt this way. 

“We loved it. We were freaking out the whole time,” said UC freshmen Elizabeth Butzin and Layla Pelan. 

The roommates originally bonded over their love for the New Heights podcast. “We were on the phone with each other when we ordered the tickets,” said Pelan. “We needed to make sure that we got tickets.”

“We were not taking chances on the student lottery, so we were like, ‘We will buy that ticket. We don’t care about the price,’” said Butzin. 

On what stood out to them the most about the show, Butzin and Pelan said just being able to experience the show in real life and seeing Jason and Travis in the flesh. Butzin and Pelan also agreed that seeing the live show has given them a deeper appreciation for the podcast.

The post ‘New Heights Live’ Review: Jason and Travis Kelce Know How to Party appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

This story is featured in CityBeat’s Feb. 21 print edition.

While Destin Conrad is making waves in the R&B scene now, the Tampa-born singer originally gained his following on Vine where he amassed over a million followers. Conrad was raised by his single mother who emigrated from Jamaica and got his start singing in the church.

He is known for collaborating with his longtime friend and fellow R&B singer Kehlani, including on her album It Was Good Until It Wasn’t. The album debuted at No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart in 2020.

The following year, Conrad released his debut album, COLORWAY, which includes hits like “IN THE AIR” and “EXCITED!” That same year, he would go on tour as an opener with artists Kehlani and Syd. After his second album, SATIN, came out, Conrad would headline his first tour in Europe and the U.K. Since then, Conrad released his third album, SUBMISSIVE, which will be followed by his “SUBMISSIVE Tour,” where he will be able to bring his smooth and romantic style to fans across the U.S.

Destin Conrad plays Bogart’s on March 4 at 7 p.m. Info: livenation.com.

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The post Sound Advice: R&B Singer Destin Conrad and His Smooth Romantic Style are Coming to Bogart’s appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

This story is featured in CityBeat’s Jan. 10 print edition.

What comes to mind when you think about boutique fitness? While some people may not know what that phrase means, others have used it to build community and lifelong habits.

Boutique fitness studios are small gyms that typically specialize in one or two fitness areas for instructor-led group and one-on-one exercises. Though boutique fitness studios have been around for decades, the market is booming now more than ever.

According to Yahoo Finance, in 2021 the global boutique fitness studio market was valued at $49.3 billion and is expected to reach $66.2 billion by 2026. Cincinnati has seen an increase within its own wellness and boutique fitness studio scene with studios popping up all over the city.

Here’s a look into Cincinnati’s fitness studio market, and the people behind it. 

Pilates Center of Cincinnati

Kelli Green became interested in Pilates after giving up running. “As I got older and had three kids, I was a little bit more injury prone, and I kept noticing different women and their physiques,” Green said. “I kept saying, ‘They’re older than me, and how do they look so toned?’ Most of them would say Pilates.”

After a nine-month training program, Green became a Pilates instructor.

Pilates Center of Cincinnati follows the traditional Pilates teachings of inventor, Joseph Pilates. “The main focus on any kind of Pilates is reformer,” said Green. “Pilates today is getting a little watered down, we are a back-to-the-basics Pilates studio where everything is quiet; it’s about perfection of detail, your form, so we (have) a different approach.”

“Pilates is good for your flexibility,” Green said. “You work from the inside out, so you work the finer muscles outward, you incorporate breathing and maintain this core that is practiced. It’s a wonderful way to move. You can do it forever.”

Green believes that Pilates has gained so much popularity because it is community-driven. “You get to know people next to you on your machine, you become friends and I think that was something that people were missing after the pandemic,” Green said. “You have a support system, people kind of count on you and if you’re not in your class, they actually notice. Especially in niche boutique-type studios like these. We’re a family so the teachers are a family and we really treat our clients as a family. I think that’s what’s kept me in business.”

NYXX Cycle

Nick Melnyk discovered his passion for cycling in a search for connection. “I went to University of Cincinnati, and I started school at the College-Conservatory of Music for theater, and it was a really small program,” Melnyk said. “I left the program after my first year, and it was hard for me to adjust from being at that super small program that was kind of its own school on UC’s campus to then being in the large university. I had a hard time making friends and meeting people. I had a friend who was going to the rec and she said, ‘You should come take this spin class with me,’ and I was like, ‘Okay, I don’t know what that is.’ I fell in love, worked up the courage to audition, then taught in college. From there (I) had a love and passion for it.” 

Melnyk found that music made cycling more enjoyable for him and uses this to make cycling fun for others at NYXX Cycle. “What I wanted to open here was much more rhythm-based and less about stats and metrics. For us, when we first opened, (it was about) determining how we introduced that to people who have not ridden like that before and getting them to like it. We were shocked at how quickly people started to adapt and have fun.”

Melnyk runs NYXX Cycle as a no-pressure environment. Welcoming new and old riders alike, he wants riders to feel comfortable no matter where they are in their cycling journey.

“Any class you take here, you see different types of people from physical abilities, age, gender, race, sexuality, everything in this room,” Melnyk said. “That was a huge thing for me, so seeing that growth has been cool. I think a lot of us expected to see people we always taught over the years at other gyms, and it’s been so cool to see all these new faces.”

Melnyk thinks that boutique fitness has always had a special role in fitness because of the larger nationally known boutique studios, but Peloton and the pandemic were the real push for the boom in group fitness.

“COVID happened and Peloton blew up, that was the thing. When that happened, people realized, ‘Oh wait, I miss working out with people,’ and it’s just not the same. It’s not just cycling I think, it’s any group fitness atmosphere. I go and take tons of group fitness classes, for me I need someone to tell me what to do, I need that accountability and I just love the energy of other people around me. I think there’s something really special about it.”

Define Oakley

Jill Fishburn and her husband have owned Define Oakley since November 2022. Fishburn found her passion for fitness through Define, which was a factor in purchasing the studio. Define offers cycling, barre and bounce (HIIT done on a trampoline) classes. 

“The former owner posted that she was looking to sell the studio,” Fishburn said. “My first reaction was, ‘This is my happy place, I can’t let that go.’ My husband and I are very entrepreneurial, we’ve always known we were gonna do something, the plan was to always work for ourselves and we reached out. It happened really fast, we met with her in early September and we took over Nov. 1. I didn’t want to change anything about it, I changed little things but the base of what Define has always been for nearly a decade is exactly the same. The previous owner felt the same way, she didn’t want to pass it off to anybody that was going to massively change it. She still teaches for us, we have 12 active instructors and more than half of them have been with the studio since the beginning which is really unique.”

After graduating from UC, Fishburn realized that despite being active throughout high school, she had not been active at all in college. She tried to get active again by going to the gym with her husband but realized that she needed motivation outside of herself.

“[Define] had a sale, seven classes for $77, for whatever reason that one stuck. I was like I can spend $77 and do anything seven times, I got hooked on bounce. It’s so fun, it’s a killer workout and I finally looked forward to what I was doing in terms of exercising. It became easy to show up and easy to motivate myself to come, eventually just addicting. It got to the point where if I didn’t start my day here, my day was off.”

Fishburn says that outside motivation is a big reason people find boutique fitness so appealing. “I think my story is definitely a common one, it’s so hard to motivate yourself, especially in a post-COVID world where we weren’t able to go places. Everybody got out of routines and everybody was looking to get back with people. Now that people are allowed to do that again, showing up and someone knows your name when you walk in the door or they’re shooting you a text that they miss you when you didn’t show up — that accountability is a piece that I think sets group fitness apart.”

Contrast Studios

Contrast Studios offers an alternative path to fitness for Cincinnati as the first sauna and cold plunge club in the city. Contrast therapy combines hot and cold temperatures for physical performance and mental wellness, with a recommended 57 minutes a week in the sauna and 11 minutes a week in the cold plunge. Contrast therapy offers benefits like increased metabolism, accelerated muscle recovery, improved cardiovascular health, boosted immune system, accelerated injury healing and more.

Co-founder Patrick Coyne’s experience with contrast therapy is what motivated him to bring a studio to Cincinnati. “This was formulated in January, signed the lease at the end of April, then we opened up Oct. 5,” Coyne said. “For me, it was very personal. I’ve always dealt with mental health issues, and I was sick and tired of medicine. I didn’t want to feel numb anymore, and I had done it for about six months by myself, without telling people or even thinking about a business plan because it helped me. After the last one at my buddy’s house, I came outside, and I was tired of using his place, so I Googled cold plunge in Cincinnati — nothing. Cold plunge in Ohio — nothing. Cold plunge in the U.S.? There’s very few businesses, and when there’s that big of a lack of product and a huge demand, that’s when I decided to come up with a business plan.”

Coyne uses his businesses to add value to people’s lives through wellness. “I really wanted to affect the masses’ mental health-wise because not everyone can work out. We just surpassed 200 members in less than four weeks, we’re at 250 members right now.” 

Though contrast therapy is trendy, Coyne believes that the science behind it is the reason for its popularity. “Everyone likes new, exciting things that can better themselves without having to put themselves through rigorous workouts.”

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The weather is warmer, the sun is out longer and flowers are blooming which means live music is soon to take over the city. While summer may be known as the season of concerts, spring is where Cincinnati’s music venues come back to life with artists announcing nationwide tours every day. This May, legends like Billy Idol and rising stars like Ella Mai will bring the heat to the Queen City. Ahead, we are laying out the best concerts set to take place in venues across Cincinnati in May. 

Father John Misty
Folk-rock artist Father John Misty will make a stop at Bogart’s in May. The “Real Love Baby” singer will perform on May 3. Joshua Michael Tillman first began making music in 2004 as a solo artist using a variation of his real name, J. Tillman, until adopting his stage name Father John Misty in 2012. Father John Misty has released five albums over the past decade which have earned him four Grammy nominations and one win. His latest album, Chloë and the Next 20th Century, was released in 2022. 6:30 p.m. May 3. Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St., Corryville, livenation.com.

Gary Clark Jr.
Grammy Award-winning blues guitarist is heading to Cincinnati on May 3 to perform at the Andrew J Brady Music Center. Clark’s third studio album, released in 2019, This Land, peaked at six on the Billboard Top 200, garnering 1 billion streams worldwide. Husband and wife blues duo Lindsay Beaver & Brad Stivers will join Clark on the tour. 7 p.m. May 3. Andrew J Brady Music Center, 25 Race St., Downtown, ticketmaster.com.

Billy Idol
Rock legend Bill Idol is bringing his rebellious spirit to Cincinnati. Attendees can expect Idol to light up PNC Pavilion by performing the biggest hits from his 40-year career, as well as from his latest EPs. The singer will be accompanied by his longtime collaborator and lead guitarist Steve Stevens and pop punk band Kelsy Karter & The Heroines. 8 p.m. May 6. PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., California, riverbend.org.

Sullivan King
Heavy metal DJ Sullivan King is bringing his head-banging hits to Bogart’s. King announced his “Thrones of Blood” tour after releasing an album of the same name, and a stop in Cincinnati is part of that tour. King has found a way to stand out in the EDM scene by blending dubstep and rock to make music for people to rage to. Concertgoers can expect epic guitar riffs, DJing and crowd surfing that King is known for at his live shows. 6:30 p.m.May 10. Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St., Corryville, livenation.com.

John Mellencamp
Rock & Roll Hall of Famer John Mellencamp is embarking on a 76-stop tour where he will visit Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center in May. His “John Mellencamp: Live and In Person” tour will rock the city on May 12 and 13 with a mix of new and classic hits spanning Mellencamp’s decades-long career where he’s had 22 Top 40 hits. The tour will start and end in Mellencamp’s home state of Indiana. 8 p.m. May 12 and May 13. Procter & Gamble Hall, Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org.

Larry June
California-based rapper Larry June will bring his “Larry’s Market Run 2023” tour to Bogart’s on May 15. June rose to prominence in 2014 when Complex shared his mixtape, Route 80, which led to a record deal with Warner Records. The tour comes along with June’s newest album, The Great Escape, which is a collaboration with producer the Alchemist and features tracks “60 Days” and “89 Earthquake.” June also released a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the album through a 13-minute documentary. 7 p.m. May 15. Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St., Corryville, livenation.com.

Dave Matthews Band
Beloved rock group Dave Matthews Band is stopping by Riverbend Music Center on May 27. The group’s catalogue goes back to 1994, when they first released their major debut album, Under The Table And Dreaming. Throughout their decades of live performances, Dave Matthews Band has been known for playing songs differently in each performance. The tour will coincide with the band’s newest album, Walk Around The Moon, which will be released on May 19, just eight days before the Cincinnati show. Fans also will have the opportunity to donate $2 to The Nature Conservancy’s Plant a Billion Trees campaign, which has an ongoing partnership with Dave Matthews. The Plant a Billion Trees campaign is a forest restoration effort with the goal of planting a billion trees by 2025. 7:30 p.m. May 27. Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave, California, Ohio, riverbend.org.

Ella Mai
British R&B singer Ella Mai will bring her “The Heart On My Sleeve Tour” to Bogart’s on May 27. Mai rose to fame in 2018 with the release of her debut hit single “Boo’d Up,” which reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and won a Grammy for best R&B song. Mai announced the tour after releasing her sophomore album, Heart On My Sleeve, which features her RIAA Gold-certified single, “Not Another Love Song”. 7 p.m. May 27. Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St., Corryville, livenation.com. 

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The post 8 Cincinnati-Area Concerts You Won’t Want to Miss In May appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

What Cincinnati restaurant makes a great margarita? How will the big sports teams do this year? What issues should local government focus on? Nobody has more opinions on these and other pressing questions than Cincinnatians themselves. In our column CityBeat Streets, CityBeat reporters are asking local residents about a different topic each week, highlighting the Queen City’s good, bad and ugly.

This week’s question:

What do you like about spring in Cincinnati?

Erin Hamm
Age 33
Northern Kentucky

“I would say just being outside and all the great Cincinnati parks, enjoying nature. I love Findlay Market, especially in the springtime, you know, there’s something for everyone there. I like to hang out along the river [at] Smale Park.”

Margaret Hebeler
Age 58
Mount Lookout

“[Going] to Reds’ games. We would come downtown [and go to] Reds’ games mostly and restaurants.”

Marha Gronas
Age 26
Downtown

“I think my favorite thing about spring in Cincinnati is getting to spend time on my fire escape and in the park. Those were habits that I got from quarantine days. I spent a lot of time secluded but still outside in the city. Ziegler Pool, I’m so excited to spend time there. Pool, outside is usually my vibe. I hope to get some good weather and hit the pool early this year ‘cause last year it was reservation only so they’ve opened it up a bit more this year.”

Jeffrey Marcall
Age 30
Downtown
“I mean, the riverwalk, once they put out all the flowers and the fountains, come on. Just walking out there.”

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The post CityBeat Streets: Four Cincinnatians Reveal Their Favorite Thing About Spring in the Queen City appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.

Australian pop-rock band 5 Seconds of Summer will return to the city this summer on “The 5 Seconds of Summer Show” tour. 

The band announced a tour along with the release of their new live album, The Feeling of Falling Upwards – Live from The Royal Albert Hall. The album consists of reimagined versions of songs from their catalogue, new songs from their fifth studio album, 5SOS5, with a 12-piece string orchestra and a 12-member gospel choir from the band’s performance at Royal Albert Hall in London, according to a press release. 

The group started their careers by uploading song covers to YouTube in 2011, which eventually earned them a deal with Capitol Records and a spot as openers for One Direction’s “Take Me Home Tour” in 2013. In 2014, the band would release the EP Don’t Stop with the hit single “She Looks So Perfect,” followed by their debut album 5 Seconds Of Summer.

“’The Feeling of Falling Upwards’ is simply supposed to describe to you the feeling that we have experienced together, the feeling of taking a leap of faith on such a fickle thing like music,” Ashton Irwin, vocalist and drummer for 5 Seconds of Summer, says in the press release. “And sharing this experience together year after year, season after season of our lives.”

5 Seconds of Summer will be performing at Riverbend Music Center on Aug. 26.

Tickets will go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. April 14 on ticketmaster.com. 

For more information, visit riverbend.org.

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Indie pop singer Melanie Martinez will make a stop at Andrew J Brady Music Center this summer on her “PORTALS” tour.

Locan fans of the singer will finally be able to see Martinez live after she was slated to perform at Bunbury Music Festival in 2020 before it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Martinez announced a tour for her album PORTALS, with a performance in the city set for July 7. According to a press release, the singer will exclusively perform as an otherworldly creature that is a rebirth of her alter ego “Cry Baby,” the main character of Martinez’s debut concept album, Cry Baby.

Martinez originally gained a following by appearing on The Voice in 2012, making it to week five before she was eliminated. After her appearance on the show, Martinez released an EP in 2014 titled “Dollhouse,” which featured the RIAA Gold-certified single “Carousel.”

Tickets to Martinez’s show can be purchased by visiting ticketmaster.com.

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Rock icons Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper are set to visit Cincinnati on tour in September. 

According to a press release, the performance will take place on Sept. 13 at Riverbend Music Center for their “Freaks on Parade Tour.” The tour will also feature performances from industry trailblazers Ministry and Ohio alt-rock band Filter.

Zombie is known for his heavy metal hits inspired by horror themes like “Dragula,” as well as for directing horror films like House of 1000 Corpses, and Cooper is known as the godfather of shock rock, heavy metal and rock and rock with a theatrical spin. 

Zombie last visited Riverbend as a part of the “Twins of Evil: Hell Never Dies Tour” in 2019. Cooper returned to the city in 2022 on tour for his album Detroit Stories.  

“It’s the hardest thing in the world. It’s the same for The Who or The Rolling Stones or anyone who’s been around for 50 years,” Cooper told Brian Baker for CityBeat in 2022 when discussing touring after his legendary decades-long career. “All of our records are the soundtrack to somebody’s life. I hear a Stones song and go, ‘Oh, I know what car I had.’ But I’m not really thinking, ‘Well, Alice, you’ve been around that long. People will want to hear something from Easy Action.’ We can’t go that far back, but we do try to find good stage songs that fit this show.”

Tickets for the show can be purchased starting at 10 a.m. April 7 at ticketmaster.com. 

For more information, visit riverbend.org.

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Spektor added 13 summer shows as a continuation of her tour after a string of sold-out shows in March, locking Cincinnati in for a performance on July 30, according to a press release. Known for hits like “Fidelity” and “On the Radio,” the Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and pianist is giving fans an encore for her latest album, Home, Before and After.

Spektor began to gain prominence in the New York anti-folk scene in 2004, earning her a contract with Warner Brothers’ record label Sire Records and a spot as an opening act for Kings of Leon’s European tour.

“Spektor is one of those rare artists whose multicultural background and truly broad range of influences have legitimately resulted in a beautiful and compelling style that defies mere genre tags,” CityBeat wrote in 2017.

Tickets will go on sale to the public at 10 a.m., April 7 at ticketmaster.com.

Below, check out Spektor’s song “Fidelity” from her RIAA Gold-certified LP, “Begin to Hope:”

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The post Indie Singer Regina Spektor Brings Her Tour to Cincinnati This Summer appeared first on Cincinnati CityBeat.