Big Head Todd and The Monsters come to the State Theatre, the 86ers released their debut EP, and Eric Carlin’s Half-Dead pays tribute to a famous Grateful Dead show -- but it’s not the one you’re probably thinking of!
Note: This week’s shows are listed in chronological order in two sections below.
Wednesday Night Jazz
Kicking off a full night of jazz, Greg Lofaro and The Firefly Trio return for the Deep Dive Jazz Happy Hour. They’ll be followed by the Deep Dive House Big Band at 8-10 p.m. and the new People’s Jam hosted by Drew Martin at 10:30 p.m.
When: 6-11:30 p.m. every other Wednesday
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: free
Winge & Wine
“Join us at Monks on the Commons for an enchanting evening of solo jazz guitar from Dennis Winge, setting the perfect ambiance for our special Wine Down Wednesday events.”
When: 7-10 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17 and 24
Where: Monks On The Commons
Cost: free; donations welcome
It’s a Date!
The Downstairs will host “Date Night: Live Jazz & Bossa Nova,” with Lynn Wiles, Florinda Larkin, Olive Mitra, and Paul Kimball.
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: The Downstairs
Cost: $10
Rocky Mountain High
Big Head Todd and the Monsters come to Ithaca. Founded in 1989, the band has “quietly become an American institution following three and a half decades of writing, recording, and touring (totaling over 3,500 performances). After countless sold-out shows in amphitheaters and on the high seas, beaming their tunes to outer space (literally), earning the endorsement of everyone from Robert Plant to The Denver Broncos, and tallying tens of millions of streams, Big Head Todd and The Monsters cite the friendships formed in the crowd among their proudest accomplishments. Fast forward to 2021 and the Colorado quartet—Todd Park Mohr [vocals, guitar, keys, sax, harmonica], Brian Nevin [drums, percussion], Rob Squires [bass, vocals], and Jeremy Lawton [guitar, keys, vocals, steel guitar]—continue to unite audiences.”
The band just released a new single, the rootsy “Her Way Out.”
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Where: State Theatre of Ithaca
Cost: $35-$55, available online here and at the State Theatre box office
Time for Practice
Practice at Presents returns to Deep Dive for another Punk Rock Happy Hour, this one featuring locals Second Spring, Circus Owl, and Life on Vibrant.
When: 5-8 p.m. Friday
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: $5
Voices Carry
The Cornell Glee Club and Chorus return from their concert tour of the Northeast, performing a selection of repertoire for the Ithaca community.
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Sage Chapel, Cornell University
Cost: free and open to all
Downtown Practice
Practice at Presents follows its Deep Dive Punk Rock Happy Hour by collaborating with the Syracuse venue The Dollhouse for a show in downtown Ithaca, featuring locals Bobo Doll and Spelunking along with Syracuse’s Champagne Blondes and Delinquent Activity.
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Sacred Root Kava Bar and Tea Lounge
Cost: $10; $5 with student ID
Setting Up Shop
Justin Roeland and Friends conclude their monthlong residency at the Downstairs, with Roeland and his band joined by special guests Chris Ploss of River Diver and Rochester singer-songwriter Aaron DeRuyter.
About: “Justin Roeland is an American singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist best known for his work as guitarist/keyboardist with the Long Beach, California psych-rock band, The Fling (Dangerbird Records) and chamber pop ensemble Greater California.” Check out his music here!
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: The Downstairs
Cost: $10 or pay what you can
Ready for Release
The 86ers return to the Range to celebrate the release of their debut EP. The band will be joined by special guests JP Payton of Freight and McKenzie Jones of Strange Heavy, with Skeleton Hands providing visuals throughout the night,
When: 9:30 p.m. Friday
Where: The Range
Cost: $10, $5 with student ID
Ready to Rock
The Cornell Concert Commission will present Mannequin Pussy with special guest Pom Pom Squad at Bailey Hall.
“Formed in 2010, Mannequin Pussy’s music feels like a resilient and galvanizing shout that demands to be heard. Across four albums, the Philadelphia rock band, consisting of Colins “Bear” Regisford (bass, vocals), Kaleen Reading (drums, percussion), Maxine Steen (guitar, synths), and Marisa Dabice (guitar, vocals), have made cathartic tunes about despairing times. Their latest project ‘I Got Heaven,’ which is out March 1 via Epitaph Records, is the band’s most fully realized LP yet. Over 10 ambitious tracks that abruptly turn from searing punk to inviting pop, the album is deeply concerned with desire, the power of being alone, and how to live in an unfeeling and unkind world. Following the 2019 release of their critically acclaimed third album ‘Patience,’ Mannequin Pussy returned in 2021 for their EP ‘Perfect.’ They have toured relentlessly, receiving praise for their majestic, gut-wrenching stage presence from an abundance of music journals.”
“Pom Pom Squad is the solo grunge/rock project of Brooklyn-based artist Mia Berrin. The result of this stymying, galvanizing period—of escaping to come back—is Death of a Cheerleader, Berrin’s critically acclaimed 2021 album. This electrifying project explores contradictory tenets of 21st-century young womanhood—the carnality and the vulnerability, the sugar and the defiance. Pom Pom Squad offers a fresh and decidedly black and queer take on picking up the pieces—from heartbreak, from injustice—and creating yourself anew.”
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Bailey Hall, Cornell University
Cost: $8 and up, available online here
Dancing and Dessert
Hands Four Dancers of Ithaca will present a “sweet evening of dancing,” followed by a dessert potluck. “Beloved Ithaca-based band The Contradictions offers an eclectic mix of blissfully danceable fiddle tunes from American and European traditions. Their repertoire ranges from lively Irish jigs, New England double fiddling, and French-Canadian reels to enchanting Venezuelan waltzes, slick bluegrass fiddle breaks, and 1930s hot swing standards, all designed to get your feet moving. The band features Rick Manning on fiddle and mandolin, Dave Davies on guitar and brass, Tom Hodgson on guitar, and Tim Ball on fiddle. The calling will be done by a group of wonderful Ithaca callers: Nancy Spero, Pamela Goddard, Katy Heine, Vikki Armstrong, and Casey Carr.”
When: 7-10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Community School of Music and Arts
Cost: Admission will be $12 for HFDI members, $15 for non-members, and $8 for students.
Become a member at the door and help support contra dancing in Ithaca!
Dead Ahead
Eric Carlin’s Half-Dead returns to pay tribute to a famous Grateful Dead show.
“Barton Hall. May 8, 1977. The undisputed GOAT of Dead shows, right?!? Not so fast... Eric Carlin's Half-Dead shines a light on the very next night with a concert series titled 'Buffalo 5/9/77 Revisited: Better than Barton?’ Eric and Co. will replicate the entire 5/9/77 setlist, which featured an opening ‘Help/Slip/Franklins’ for the ages, a rare and gorgeous Sunrise, and arguably the greatest ‘Comes a Time’ of all time.
“What do you think? Is Buffalo a contender for the crown? Come on down, share your thoughts, shake your bones, and wave your freak flag with us!”
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: $12 in advance, available online here; $15 day of show
Quiet Storm
Local prog trio BRIAN! – Bubba Crumrine, Brian “Willie B” Wilson, and David Resig – “quiets TF down with an intimate, stripped-down set of early, new, and improvised material via bassoon, percussion, guitar and voice. Don't miss this rare performance, including material never-before performed as a trio.”
Opening the show is Tara & Bobby, filling in for La Llorona, who had to cancel her appearance
*Masks Required*
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Downstairs
Cost: $10; Venmo presale: @BubbaCrumrine with the comment “downstairs”
Beat Crazy
Microtones returns to Forest City Lodge with an event featuring Rochester’s DJ Sweetheart along with resident support from DJ Midwife.
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Forest City Lodge 180
Cost: $20; $10 limited presale tickets at Angry Mom Records
Going Underground
The 1980 Underground will host its first event of 2024.
“In the season of ice, a flame will burn in the underground! BE BRAVE. COME OUT AND PLAY. SOUNDS::: POST PUNK / MINIMAL WAVE / NEW WAVE / COLD WAVE / PUNK / WITCHHOUSE / SYNTHPUNK.”
When: 10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Sacred Root Kava Lounge & Tea Bar
Sunday Matinee
Local farm-to-folk-punk band Motherwort will play a special show in downtown Ithaca on Sunday afternoon. “We're hosting an early show and shooting a film! Come out to CSMA and join us for a rippin' show along with our friends Microbes, Mostly and Spelunking! We're working with Cornell on a Motherwort documentary, and also shooting our entry for NPR's Tiny Desk Contest. It's gonna be a blast and we want you to be part of it, so come hang with us!!! ALL AGES!!!”
When: 2-5 p.m. Sunday
Where: Community School of Music and Arts
Cost: $10 or pay what you can
Trios Grande
The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra presents “Mozart and Schumann,” with a program that includes Mozart’s “Trio in E-flat Major, K. 398, Kegelstatt, for clarinet, violin, and piano,” Francaix’s “Trio for oboe, bassoon, and piano,” and Schumann’s “Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 63.”
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: First Unitarian Church of Ithaca
Cost: $40 for adults, $20 for seniors, $13 for students, available online here
What’s Sup!
Deep Dive will kick off its Southern Supper Sundays, featuring music from the Deep Dive Barn Haulers and food from Babe’s Burgers.
“Get down in Southern dress for supper and a dance with the Deep Dive Barn Haulers featuring special guests from near and far every other week starting January 28th!
Sunday night is when community gathers at Deep Dive - drink, eat, dance your fill, and relax in a charming atmosphere where the mood is light and the timeless sounds and smells of Southern hospitality fill the air. Dance lessons provided, no partner required.
Wide boots, loud hats, button-downs, and bolo ties encouraged. Dine-in with the family, roll your tobacco on the dock, try a new whisky, guzzle a sugary pop and catch local legends + touring artists backed by the house band comprised of members of local honky tonkin' heroes Cast Iron Cowboys and more!”
When: 5-10 p.m. Sunday; doors at 5 p.m., music at 6-9 p.m., dance lesson at 6:30 p.m., kitchen open 5-10 p.m.
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: $5
String Theory
The Northside String Band will host Deep Dive’s monthly “traditional Southern old-time fiddle music jam with a great groove. Join us on the deck to listen or join in! Every last Tuesday of the month!”
When: 6-8 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: free
Piano Man
Acclaimed French pianist Lucas Debargue will perform at Ithaca College for the Rachel S. Thaler Concert Piano Series.
“A performer of fierce integrity and dazzling communicative power, Lucas Debargue draws inspiration for his playing from literature, painting, cinema, jazz, and develops very personal interpretation of a carefully selected repertoire. Though the core piano repertoire is central to his career, he is keen to present works by lesser-known composers like Karol Szymanowski, Nikolai Medtner, or Miłosz Magin.”
Debargue’s breakthrough at the Tchaikovsky Competition is the subject of the documentary “To Music.” Directed by Martin Mirabel and produced by Bel Air Media, it was shown at the International Film Festival in Biarritz in 2018.
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Hockett Family Recital Hall, Ithaca College
Cost: free and open to all
Fly like an Eagle
Pianist Jack Yarbrough presents the premiere of John Eagle's erosion and growth, a solo concert-length work for piano, stones, tiles, and eBows.
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31
Where: Barnes Hall, Cornell University
Cost: free and open to all
Going Galactic
The Galactic Escort Service returns to Deep Dive for Galactic Wednesday, with Ashley Ickes, Tenzin Chopak, Josh Oxford, Emmett Scott, and Michael Schuler ready to whip up some atmospheric grooves.
“Every other Wednesday, a core group of Ithaca based musicians join forces to create live improvised music on the spot. The group projects both obscure and classic films to aid in enhancing the experience as both audience and performers embark into the unknown spaces and places of the sonic realm. Guaranteed no two shows are the same, come be a part of the excitement of musical creation in real time.”
When: 9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31
Where: Deep Dive
Cost: $10
More Shows
Jim Scala is at Salt Point Brewing at 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday
DJ Dale hosts Trivia Night at Revelry Yards at 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays
Sacred Root Kava Bar and Tea Lounge hosts its weekly Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. Wednesday
The Upstairs hosts its weekly Open Mic Night at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday
Richie Stearns and Friends are at South Hill Cider at 5-8 p.m. Thursday
Benny T brings his Open Mic Posse to CrossRoads in Lansing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday
Aiken and Nadge are at Cortland Beer at 6-9 p.m. Thursday
ComedyFLOPs are at AKE Gallery in Cortland at 7-9 p.m. Thursday
Atlas Bowl hosts Vinyl DJ Night at 7-10 p.m. Thursday
DJ Dale hosts Karaoke Night at the Upstairs at 10 p.m. Thursday
Tenzin Chopak and Emmett Scott are at Two Goats Brewing at 5-8 p.m. Friday
Scratched Vinyl is at Hopshire Brewing at 6-8 p.m. Friday
Just Joe is at Homer Hops Brewing at 6-8 p.m. Friday
Colleen Prossner and Friends – Loren Barrigar, John Dancks, Kevin Roe, and Jason Jeffers – are at Heuga’s Alpine in Tully at 6-9 p.m. Friday
Raised on Radio is at the St. Charles Hotel in Cortland at 6-9 p.m. Friday
The Homebrewed Comedy Show is at McGraw Box Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Friday
Los Blancos are at ONCO Fermentations in Tully at 7-9 p.m. Friday
Clint Bush is at the Dryden Hotel at 7-9 p.m. Friday
Scott B Adams is at Grist Iron Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Friday
Vibrante plays Cortland Beer Company at 8 p.m. Friday
Papa Muse and the Lit Fuse head upto Rochester’s Abilene Bar and Lounge at 9 p.m. Friday
Bill Ali is at Treleaven Winery at 1-4 p.m. Saturday
The Louiston Trio is at Two Goats Brewing at 5-8 p.m. Saturday
The Shylocks are at the Puffin Bird at Labrador Mountain in Truxton at 5-8 p.m. Saturday
Benny and the Mex are at Aurora Brewing Company at 6-8 p.m. Saturday
DJ Bobcat is at Homer Hops Brewing at 6-8 p.m. Saturday
DJ Dijon brings “boogie, disco and funk” to South Hill Cider at 6-8 p.m. Saturday
Pat Kane is at Grist Iron Brewing for “St. Practice Day” at 6-9 p.m. Saturday
The Dean Goble Band is at McGraw Box Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Saturday
Zingology hosts a swing dance party at Hopshire Brewing at 6-9 p.m. Saturday
The Tarps are at Garrett’s Brewing Company at 7-10 p.m. Saturday
Planet Jr is at Cedarwood Event Venue in Trumansburg at 7-10 p.m. Saturday
Modafferi is at Cortland Beer Company at 8 p.m. Saturday
Caviar & Grits are at the John Barleycorn in Owego at 8 p.m. Saturday
Felix Free and the Rxcketeers are at the Range at 10:30 p.m. Saturday
TruBleu is at Six Mile Creek Vineyard at 1-3 p.m. Sunday
Just Joe hosts a CD release party at ONCO Fermentations at 2-5 p.m. Sunday
DeWayne Perry hosts the monthly Jazz Jam at the Downstairs at 6-9 p.m. Sunday
Scuba Jerry treks up to Syracuse for Dead Night at Funk N Waffles at 7 p.m. Monday
Jimmy Stapp is at Salt Point Brewing at 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday
DJ Dale hosts Trivia Night at Revelry Yards at 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays
Sacred Root Kava Bar and Tea Lounge hosts its weekly Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. Wednesday
The Upstairs hosts its weekly Open Mic Night at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday
