Never mind the musicianship. The Sex Pistols inspired numerous up-and-coming musicians who had yet to develop their musical chops, making them think that they too could become superstars if they only got onto stage and expressed themselves. That theory pans out when it comes to Joy Division. Famously, Peter Hook, Ian Curtis and Bernard Sumner — the core of what would become the post-punk band Joy Division — saw the Pistols play in Manchester, England in 1976 and decided to form a band with drummer Stephen Morris in the wake of that experience.

Joy Division would release two seminal studio albums before Curtis committed suicide just as the band was to embark on its first-ever U.S. tour. Hook, Morris and Sumner soldiered on as New Order and had great success throughout the ’80s and ’90s. That band has since splintered. Sumner retains the name New Order, but Hook continues to play Joy Division and New Order tunes with his band the Light. Earlier this year, the Rock Hall announced that both Joy Division and New Order will finally be inducted in November as part of the Class of 2026. The two groups have been eligible for induction for several years now.

In advance of that induction, Hook and the Light will hit the road for a U.S. tour that finds them playing the 2001 New Order album Get Ready in its entirety. Hook first revisited the Joy Division album Unknown Pleasures back in May 2010 for a commemorative charity concert and has followed it each year by performing subsequent albums from Joy Division and New Order.

Hook says he’s happy the wait to be inducted is finally over.

“It wasn’t that I didn’t care [about getting inducted]. There’s not much we can do about it apart from promote it when you do get nominated,” he says via Zoom from his home in Alderley Edge, just outside of Manchester, England. Hook and the Light perform at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23, at the Agora. He also gives a talk at 2 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, at the Rock Hall. “We were up three times. The first time, me and the other [members of New Order] promoted it. The second time, I promoted it, and they promoted it a little. The third time, they didn’t promote it at all. The fans did it anyway. There you go. It’s quite interesting. They thought we deserved it.”

Since Hook and his former bandmates have had a falling out, it is unclear who will attend the upcoming induction ceremony and who might perform.

“The whole thing of that is completely up in the air,” says Hook. “Obviously, I would prefer to take the Light with me and do what we do. At the moment, I have nothing to report. If I do go, I might be looking like [Silence of the Lambs’ villain] Hannibal Lecter with the straightjacket and the mouthpiece. They’ll be wheeling me out like that, so I can keep control.”

The Joy Division story is a remarkable one. Shortly after forming, the group released its full-length debut, 1979’s Unknown Pleasures, for the newly formed Factory Records. Curtis’s bellowing vocals and Hook’s thick bass riffs distinguished the group from other bands at the time. Hook says only Curtis knew the group was onto something special.

“The only person that felt that and expressed that [the music was groundbreaking] was Ian Curtis,” he says. “If we ever got down because we didn’t get gigs or were having trouble getting signed, he would always say, ‘Don’t worry. One day, we will be known all around the world.’ That was his speech to keep us going. He really was a fantastic cheerleader. Sadly, you couldn’t do [cheerleading] for him. He hid his disability so well that the only time you would spot it is when we had a [epileptic] fit. When he came around, he was back to being Ian. He would tell you he was fine. We were 22. We didn’t know our ass from our elbow. I’ve lost a few friends to suicide. Luckily for me, so far, it’s been something I can’t comprehend. You hope some people have found some peace and maybe can rest. It’s the only thing you can hope for.”

Hook says that revisiting Get Ready has been instructive. Looking back, he recalls that he and now-estranged guitarist Bernard Sumner were in a good place as they developed the “rockier” side of New Order’s sound.

“It was the comeback album when Barney [Sumner] and I rediscovered our friendship,” says Hook. “He had done Electronic. I had done Revenge and Monaco. It was his idea. He approached us. He felt like we had unfinished business. It was like going back to an old girlfriend. We did it, and it enabled us to play together on Get Ready like when we formed the band. For six months, it was just me and him. It was a special time. It was a moment for us to actually discover what we loved about each other’s playing. I loved the way he played guitar, and he loved the way I loved bass. On [New Order albums] Republic and Technique, we were fighting all the time. This was really refreshing and nice. Barney was full of hope for the future. I had not seen that in a long time. During the sessions, he kept saying, ‘This shit is great. I can’t wait to play it live.’”

The group invited Smashing Pumpkins singer-guitarist Billy Corgan to play on the album, and he had added rock appeal to the tunes as well.

“When we finished, and it came time to do that tour, [Sumner] didn’t want to play,” says Hook. “It’s like being mugged in an alley. I thought it would go back to what it was before, and lo and behold, it was back to how it was before. The next album, [2005’s] Waiting for the Sirens’ Call was a trial, and [2013’s] Lost Sirens was a waste of time. We just couldn’t stand each other.”

Conversely, Hook says playing with the Light has been great. He says he’s now worked longer with the Light guitarist David Potts than he did with Sumner.

“They show amazing respect for the music,” he says of his backing musicians. “They really do. They each have their own lives outside of it. It is a vehicle for me to play Joy Division and New Order songs and give the New Order and Joy Division fans what they want, and it is an absolute pleasure compared to the pain and the awful feelings I used to have when I toured with New Order. They’ve made it out like it was me. They act like, ‘We’re happy as New Order now that he’s gone.’ I know how Caesar felt, let’s put it that way. It is a breath of fresh air. I was very disheartened when [Sumner] took the trademark and then could masquerade as New Order.”

And now that Sumner is the only original member of New Order leading the group, Hook says the band doesn’t accurately represent the group’s innovation synth-rock sound.

“The fans have stuck with them, and they should thank their lucky stars for that,” he says. “But it’s going to come around and bite you in the ass when your fans vote you into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and you can’t even go. You can’t even have the grace to go and be inducted.”

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About seven or eight years ago, renowned designer, collector and musician Gregory Wooten stopped in at Blue Arrow Records to peruse the Collinwood record store’s terrific vinyl collection. A former Clevelander, Wooten was visiting his parents and decided to take a day to dig for albums. At the time, he had built up what he calls a “crazy collection” of defaced album covers and was about to publish the book Marred for Life!: Defaced Record Covers from the Collection of Gregory Wooten. He was looking to add to it and asked Blue Arrow owner Pete Gulyas if he had anything “squirreled away.”

“I was in there digging for records and snooping around for anything defaced. He had a box in the back, and it completely blew my mind,” says Wooten via phone from his Pasadena home. “I had been in Blue Arrow before on trips back to Cleveland. Wherever I go, I try to hit the best shops. Pete was there. I didn’t know him at the time. I got a couple of jazz records. I asked if he had anything that was altered with mustaches or goatees. His eyes lit up. He said he had a box in the back. He told me they were not for sale. I know the etiquette. I didn’t want to be that pushy guy. I wanted to have a look.”

Gulyas brought out the box, and Wooten was enamored by the small collection.

“There were incredible ones in there,” he says. “I have a good poker face for when I’m around great things I wanted to acquire. I was probably shaking a little. At some point, I got the courage up. I told him that I had a proposal. I was doing the book, and I asked him if he would consider letting me buy just one from the box for $100. I usually pay 50 cents or maybe five bucks. With Pete, I thought I had a rare opportunity. I thought, ‘I will step up and make a strong offer.’ He said, ‘Deal, except I’m not taking your 100.’”

Wooten selected a defaced copy of King Crimson’s Court of the King Crimson and became fast friends with Gulyas, and they’ve collaborated on an upcoming exhibit featuring more than 250 items from Wooten’s collection. It will open later this month at Sixty Bowls Gallery. The exhibit will feature embellished covers by the likes of Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane, Yoko Ono, Nina Simone, Led Zeppelin, Sparks, LL Cool J, David Bowie, the Velvet Underground, Mose Allison, Prince, Tim Buckley and Neil Young. An opening reception and book signing takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22.

“[Gulyas] told me to bring the King Crimson record that I got from him for the exhibit,” says Wooten. “I now have like 5,000 albums. I’ve been curating a nice group for the show, and I want to cover all the bases. I kept thinking, ‘Find that record.’ It took me a minute, but I finally found it.”

Prior to the opening event, Blue Arrow Records is sponsoring an Album Cover Defacement Contest. The contest will conclude the night of the opening. Participants should creatively deface an album cover of their choosing.  They can either pick up a cover from Blue Arrow or submit one that they’ve defaced to Blue Arrow during the store’s regular open hours of operation (from noon to 4 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays). Entries must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21. All entrant pieces will be presented at the opening where the attending public can vote on their favorite piece. 

The winning entrant will receive a $50 gift certificate from Blue Arrow Records and will also have a donation for $50 made to Waterloo Alley Cat Project in their name.

“I think it’s a super-fun layering,” Wooten says when asked about the contest. “It was Pete’s idea. We are giving away a gift certificate and donation. I don’t know how many people will do it, but I’m super excited to see what comes in. When I first started, I was such a purist. The record had to be organically found. I had to find it in the bins. I couldn’t know the artist. Through the years it would soften and I would get turned on to an artist, who had done something on a cover. I expanded the vision to any cover that had been altered. So I think this contest will be fun. It’s the first time the exhibit has been interactive.”

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The post Exhibit of ‘Marred’ Album Covers Coming to Sixty Bowls Gallery appeared first on Cleveland Scene.

Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar.

THU 08/13

Asian Lantern Festival

Taking over parks and zoos across the country, the traveling Asian Lantern Festival shows off thousands of colorful handmade paper lanterns in open, green spaces. This year’s festival at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will include an Asian craft market and Asian food vendors. The event takes place from 6:30 to 10:30 tonight through Sunday. Check the Zoo website for ticket prices. It continues through Aug. 23.

3900 Wildlife Way, 216-661-6500, clemetzoo.com.

Cuyahoga County Fair

The Cuyahoga County Fair returns to the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds this week. The Midway rides are back this year, and there will be arts and crafts, beer and wine gardens, bee-keeping exhibits, a demolition derby, dog shows, a draft horse pull, fireworks, harness horse racing and a livestock auction. The event continues through Sunday. Check the website for more info.

19201 East Bagley Rd., Middleburg Heights, 440- 243-0090, cuyfair.com.

Dimmu Borgir

The veteran metal band returns to the Agora. The Norwegian group’s roots go back to the early 1990s when singer Shagrath and guitarist Silenoz, the only remaining original members, put the band together. The current tour supports the new album, Grand Serpent Rising, which shows off the group’s symphonic metal tendencies. The show begins at 6 p.m., and Hypocrisy and Hulder open.

5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School

Founded in 2005 in a dive bar in Brooklyn, Dr. Sketchy’s has now spread to more than 100 cities around the world. Dr. Sketchy Akron, a monthly drink and draw event that takes place on the second Thursday of each month at Jilly’s Music Room in Akron, gives patrons the opportunity to “draw glamorous underground performers in an atmosphere of boozy conviviality.” The fun begins at 7 p.m.; it costs $10 to draw.

111 N Main St., Akron, 330-576-3757, jillysmusicroom.com.

Feast of the Assumption

The annual Feast of the Assumption takes place today through Sunday in Little Italy. Once again, Holy Rosary Church’s parish hosts this free, family-friendly festival. Starting and ending with religious processions celebrating the Virgin Mary being taken into Heaven, the Feast includes classic festival staples as well as fireworks, a raffle, and observances and services for those who celebrate the Catholic Holy Day.

littleitalyfeast.com.

Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers

The singer-pianist comes to Cain Park in Cleveland Heights with his backing band, the Noisemakers, in tow. Now in his 70s, Hornsby released his latest effort, Indigo Park, earlier this year. The collection of piano-based rock and pop tunes finds Hornsby in good form as he’s assembled a backing band of talented musicians who settle into a good groove on songs such as the pensive title track. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.

14591 Superior Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com.

The Lion King

Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the play presents a story “filled with hope and adventure set against an amazing backdrop of stunning visuals.” The play also features the work of Tony Award-winning choreographer Garth Fagan and tunes written by Tony Award-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the State Theatre, where performances continue through Sunday.

1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

A Night at the Opera

Grammy-winning soprano Latonia Moore, tenor Brandon Jovanovich, the Blossom Festival Chorus and conductor John Fiore team up to present this program of pieces by Puccini and Verdi. The concert begins at 7 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall.

11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.

Ohio Burlesque Festival

The annual burlesque showcase returns to the Beachland Ballroom. More than 60 award-winning artists from across the United States and around the world will take the stage, and the show will feature classic burlesque, neo-burlesque, drag, comedy and nerdlesque. The three-day event kicks off with tonight’s show. Doors open at 7 p.m.

15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

Simple Plan

The Montreal-based pop-punk band led by singer of Pierre Bouvier performs at 6 p.m. at Jacobs Pavilion. Last year’s documentary film, Simple Plan: The Kids in the Crowd, chronicles the group’s remarkable rise to fame in the late ’90s. #OH!3 and Bowling for Soup open.

2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com.

Sister Act Presented by Akron Civic Theatre’s Millennial Theatre Project

The Millennial Theatre Project puts on this performance of the musical based on the movie about a woman who transforms a choir at a convent. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the Akron Civic Theatre, where performances continue through Sunday.

182 South Main St., Akron, 330-253-2488, akroncivic.com.

FRI 08/14

Afterburn Music Festival

Third Eye Blind and Skillet are among the bands that will perform at this music festival that takes place today and tomorrow at Victory Park in North Ridgeville. Music starts at 12:30 p.m.

7777 Victory Ln., North Ridgeville, theafterburnmusicfestival.com.

Blackberry Smoke

The guys in the redneck rock band Blackberry Smoke regularly spend 200 days, and they routinely perform here in Cleveland. The group’s 2013 album, Whippoorwill, holds up as a great collection of Southern rock-inspired tunes. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Agora.

5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

Tommy Davidson

You might remember Tommy Davidson from the sitcom In Living Color. In addition to acting, he does standup, and his routine is definitely off-color, though pretty hilarious. He performs tonight at 7 and 9:30 and tomorrow night at 6:30 and 9 at the Funny Bone.

1148 Main Ave., 216-696-4677, cleveland.funnybone.com.

Amy Grant: The Me That Remains Tour

Produced by ten-time Country Music Association award winner and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Mac McAnally, All of Me, the latest effort from singer-songwriter Amy Grant, is a stripped-down affair. Grant performs at 8 p.m. at the Northfield Park Racino.

10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-467-4101, northfieldparkracino.com.

Guardians vs. San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres, one of the National League’s tougher teams, come to Progressive Field this weekend to take on the Guardians. Tonight’s game is at 7:10, and the series continues through Sunday.

2401 Ontario St., 216-420-4487, mlb.com/guardians.

Hooked Like Helen

The local group plays its last hometown headlining show before heading out on a North American Tour supporting singer-songwriter Charlotte Sands. The show begins at 8 p.m. at the Winchester in Lakewood.

12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-600-5338, facebook.com/TheWinchesterMusicTavern.

The Kehlani World Tour: North America

The R&B singer-songwriter that got their start with the teen pop group PopLyfe comes to Blossom. The tour supports the new self-titled effort that features the hit single “Folded,” a slow jam with soaring strings. The show begins at 7 p.m. Durand Bernarr, Isaia Huron, Thearti$t and Waseel open.

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

Moe. & Humphrey’s McGee

Two jam bands bring their co-headlining tour to Cain Park in Cleveland Heights. Moe.’s roots go back to upstate New York in the early ’90s, and Umphrey’s McGee emerged in Indiana in the late ’90s. The show begins at 7 p.m.

14591 Superior Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com.

SAT 08/15

Artist in the Atrium

Every third Saturday of each month, stop by the Ames Family Atrium between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to get a firsthand look at the art-making process. Each session provides the opportunity to engage and interact with a different Northeast Ohio maker during pop-up demonstrations and activities.

11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.

Brew & BBQ Bash

Local pitmasters and food trucks will compete at this annual event that takes place from noon to 7 p.m. today at Streetsboro City Park. Cincy’s Hot Red Chili Peppers, a tribute to L.A.’s Red Hot Chili Peppers, will perform.

Route 303 and Kirby Lane, Streetsboro, khttp://www.cityofstreetsboro.com/.

J. Cole: The Fall-Off World Tour

The singer-songwriter and rapper brings his tour in support of his latest album, The Fall-Off, to Rocket Arena. The ambitious 24-track album chronicles Cole’s return visits to his North Carolina home. The show starts at 8 p.m.

One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com.

Lower 13 EP Release Show

The Cleveland hard rock group celebrates the release of its sixth studio effort, Transcend, with tonight’s show at the Winchester in Lakewood. Doors are at 6:30 p.m.

12112 Madison Ave, Lakewood, 216-227-2389.

Music in the Garden

These free concerts featuring local bands take place on the first and third Saturdays throughout the summer at the Ben Franklin Community Garden. You can bring a lawn chair, and admission is free.

1905 Spring Rd., 216-459-1000, benfranklincommunitygarden.org.

PorchROKR

Local bands will converge upon people’s porches in the Highland Square neighborhood today for the annual PorchROKR festival. Porch performances run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

highlandsquareakron.org.

Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet

Conductor Tabita Berglund makes her Cleveland Orchestra debut and leads the orchestra as it plays pieces by Sibelius and Prokofiev. The concert begins at 7 p.m. at Blossom.

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.

Rock Hall Live: The Mountain Goats

The indie rock group that’s released more than 20 albums since forming in 1994 performs at 8 p.m. at the Rock Hall. The group’s latest album, Days, features quirky spoken-sung singles such as the careening, Eels-like “Charlie Sheen Reaches Out to the Feds.”

1100 Rock and Roll Blvd., 216-515-8444, rockhall.com.

Rockin’ the Hills Music Festival

Six local bands will perform at this free event that takes place at the Willoughby Hills Community Center. Local food trucks will be on hand, and there will be a beer garden. It runs from 1 to 9 p.m. It’s free.

35400 Chardon Rd., Willoughby Hills, 440-975-3540, whcommunitycenter.com.

Speak in Tongues Book Release Day

This day-long celebration of the release of a new book about Speak in Tongues, the now-shuttered indie rock venue, kicks off with a performance by local indie artist Uno Lady. She plays at 3 p.m. at Visible Voice, and a panel discussion follows. At 6 p.m., Proof Public House hosts an afterparty, and at 9 p.m. Happy Dog hosts a concert featuring Harriet the Spy, Beckett and Friends, Brian Straw and Applejuice.

4601 Lorain Ave., 216-961-0084, visiblevoicebooks.com.

Violent Femmes

The folk-punk band released two classic albums, 1983’s Violent Femmes and 1984’s Hallowed Ground, shortly after forming. While the lineup has changed over the years, singer-guitarist Gordon Gano and bassist Brian Ritchie remain constants. The group brings its 45th anniversary tour to Cain Park in Cleveland Heights. The show begins at 8 p.m.

14591 Superior Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com.

SUN 08/16

Beachland Flea

Local vendors will be on hand with vintage clothes, vinyl and other rock memorabilia at this event that takes place at 10 a.m. at the Beachland Ballroom.

15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

Howard Jones

It’s ’80s night at Jacobs Pavilion as Howard Jones brings his Things Can Only Get Better Tour to the venue. Eighties acts Wang Chung, the English Beat, Modern English and Richard Blade share the bill. The show begins at 6 p.m.

2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com.

Reggae Sundays

This special Reggae Sunday Happy Hour Concert series continues every Sunday through the end of the summer. The indoor/outdoor concert series will take place rain or shine with live music from 4 to 7 p.m. Music Box will also offer food and drink specials exclusive to the series.

1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.

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The post 15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend (August 13-August 16) appeared first on Cleveland Scene.

THU 08/06

Sam Barber

The singer-songwriter performs at 6 p.m. at Jacobs Pavilion. Waylon Wyatt and Wild Horses open. The tour supports Barber’s new album, Broken View, which shows off his husky voice. Opening tune “Borrowed Tune” has a Bob Seger feel to it and will likely figure into tonight’s set.

2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com.

FRI 08/07

Riley Green: Cowboy as It Gets Tour 2026

The country music superstar and former college football quarterback became a sensation upon the release of his debut album, 2019’s Different ‘Round Here. On tour in support of his new album, That’s Just Me, he performs tonight at 7 at Blossom.

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

MON 08/10

Foo Fighters

The rock group led by dynamic singer-guitarist Dave Grohl brings its stadium tour to Huntington Bank Field. Grohl famously formed Foo Fighters after his former band Nirvana dissolved in the wake of singer-guitarist Kurt Cobain’s death in 1994. Foo Fighters had success right out of the gate with their self-titled debut and with 1997’s The Colour and the Shape. The show starts at 5:30 p.m., and Queens of the Stone Age and Mannequin Pussy open.

100 Alfred Lerner Way, 440-891-5000, huntingtonbankfield.com.

TUE 08/11

Five Finger Death Punch

Twenty years into its career, this hard rock group has become an arena and amphitheater staple. Earlier this year, the group released the single “Eye of the Storm,” another radio friendly hard rock tune with gruff vocals and dramatic, almost tribal drums. The show begins at 6:45 p.m., and Cody Jinks and Eva Under Fire open.

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

Rod Stewart: One Last Time

The mod rocker brings his farewell tour to Rocket Arena. The show begins at 7:30 p.m., and singer-songwriter Richard Marx opens. At 81, Stewart has a huge catalog of hits and has been inducted into the Rock Hall for his work with both the Faces and as a solo artist.

One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com.

THU 08/13

Simple Plan

The Montreal-based pop-punk band led by singer Pierre Bouvier performs at 6 p.m. at Jacobs Pavilion. Last year’s documentary film, Simple Plan: The Kids in the Crowd, chronicles the group’s remarkable rise to fame in the late ’90s. #OH!3 and Bowling for Soup open.

2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com.

FRI 08/14

The Kehlani World Tour: North America

The R&B singer-songwriter that got their start with the teen pop group PopLyfe comes to Blossom. The tour supports the new self-titled effort that features the hit single “Folded,” a slow jam with soaring strings. The show begins at 7 p.m. Durand Bernarr, Isaia Huron, Thearti$t and Waseel open.

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

SAT 08/15

J. Cole: The Fall-Off World Tour

The singer-songwriter and rapper brings his tour in support of his latest album, The Fall-Off, to Rocket Arena. The ambitious 24-track album chronicles Cole’s return visits to his North Carolina home. The show starts at 8 p.m.

One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com.

TUE 08/18

Lindsey Stirling — Duality Untamed Tour

The violinist, dancer and songwriter that mixes classical with rock, pop and electronica performs at 7 p.m. at Blossom. The tour supports 2024’s Duality, an album that yielded pop singles such as “Eye of the Untold Her,” “Inner Gold,” “Evil Twin” and “Survive.”

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

FRI 08/21

Empire of the Sun — Ask That God: Afterlife North American Tour

The rock band brings its theatrical new tour to Blossom. The group’s 2024 album, Ask That God. The album features dreamy pop tunes such as “Changes” and the ’80s-inspired synth-pop number “The Feeling You Get.” The show starts at 7 p.m.

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

SAT 08/22

Ella Mai

The soulful English singer-songwriter who released her third studio album, Do You Still Love Me?, earlier this year performs at 7 p.m. at Jacobs Pavilion. Many of the songs reference her experiences as a new mother. Ama and Girlfriend open.

2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com.

MON 08/24

The Return of the Carnival of the Sins: Motley Crue

The metal group that played a premature farewell tour a few years back performs at 6:30 p.m. at Blossom. The group announced this summer tour that marks its 45th anniversary with much fanfare as it performed at the American Idol finale back in May. Tesla and Extreme open.

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

THU 08/27

Rüfüs Du Sol

The Grammy-winning live electronic trio formed in Sydney Australia has released five studio albums to date. Their most recent effort, Inhale/Exhale, performs at 7:30 p.m. at Blossom. The album features poppy tunes such as “Inhale” and “Music Is Better.” Ben Bohmer opens.

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

FRI 08/28

Josh Groban: Stage, Screen and Symphony

The pop singer whose first four albums went multi-platinum performs at 7 p.m. at Blossom. Earlier this year, Groban released Cinematic, his rendition of soundtrack classics such as “As Time Goes By” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” the latter of which pairs him with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles.

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

SAT 08/29

Don Toliver

The Houston-based rapper and singer brings his Nitrous Octane World Tour to Rocket Arena. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., and the current tour supports his latest album, Octane, an ambitious 18-song release that finds him expanding beyond the trap style of rap for which he’s known.

One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com.

The post The Best Concerts to Catch in Cleveland in August appeared first on Cleveland Scene.

Before singer-songwriter Koe Wetzel’s new album, The Night Champion, was even released, the party hearty country star had logged some serious miles traveling to play shows in support of the release.

“We got to Chicago yesterday, and we do a pop-up show at Carol’s and then we fly to San Diego,” says Wetzel via phone. He performs on Thursday, Aug. 27 at the Wolstein Center. “We left the bus at the house for this trip.”

He also went to the Land Down Under earlier this year and found that Aussies appreciate his rowdy shows just as much as Americans do.

“Australia was kind of the kick-off to the Night Champion Tour,” he says. “Australia was crazy. I don’t know what it is about it, but in the last three or four years, in my eyes, the genre has grown. Dude, they are so fuckin’ great. They are so cool and love the music. They are true fans. It makes me feel like I’m back in the day and having crazy fans come out in smaller rooms. It was a damn blast.”

Wetzel says that The Night Champion was like an unplanned pregnancy. He didn’t intend on making an album, but a few whimsical studio sessions gave birth to it, and he couldn’t be prouder of the results.

“We were just trying to follow up what [the 2024 single] ‘High Road’ did for us,” he says. ‘I wanted to give something back to radio, so we wrote a few songs, and it turned into what The Night Champion is. It came organically. We had a lot of the same writers with me. I wasn’t planning it. It just happened. It’s been cool to see from where it started to where it ended up. We’ve been sitting on it for a about a year now, dude.”

For the first time ever, Wetzel, a Texas native, recorded an entire album in Nashville.

“It was a great process,” he says. “[Producer] Gabe Simon (Noah Kahan) set everything up, and he is phenomenal.”

The first single, “Hurts Like You,” finds Wetzel contemplating a toxic relationship and getting more introspective than he has in the past. “I can take the pain if it hurts like you,” he sings on the tune that features a catchy refrain and shows off his pop sensibilities.

“It’s [about a relationship that’s] like a drug you can’t get away from,” he explains. “You know it’s bad, and it’s going to hurt you. There’s something about it that brings you back. That was the idea going into it. You can tell that that song stands out on its own. We didn’t write for a radio hit; that’s just what we came up with.”

Wetzel exploits his red dirt background on the grunge-y “Time Goes on,” a tune that evokes Soundgarden and Nirvana with its heavy guitars. Wetzel doesn’t hide his affinity for those Seattle-based bands.

“I grew up on Nirvana and pop-punk music,” he explains. “With the last couple of records I’ve done, I’ve slowed it down a little bit. The records weren’t as heavy. I tapped into the emotional side to comprehend all these feelings. I wanted to put a little spark on it, so we grunged it up as best we could, and I think it turned out pretty good.”

For Wetzel, who first performed when he was 6, the album represents the culmination of a lifetime of listening to all kinds of music.

“Each record is a chapter in my life, and this record ropes everything in and closes the book,” he says. “It looks back on everything, and I think I will look back on it in 10, 20 or 30 years and still think highly of it.”

He half-jokingly thinks his embrace of so many different musical genres has to do with a learning disability.

“I think I have ADHD but was never tested for it, and I can’t stay on one thing too long,” he says. “My mom would play honky-tonk country stuff and put me on ’90s country music. My dad loved hip-hop and rock and in high school, I found out about grunge and then alternative rock. I love so many styles and that has pointed me to where I am today. I never sat down and said I wanted to play this kind of music.”

Wetzel broke out when his 2016 debut album, Noise Complaint, became an underground hit.

“That album was just the right place at the right time,” says Wetzel. “In the Texas country scene, there was stuff being done the same way. It was a brash record for Texas. It stood out because it was so honest. It hit the college students in the teeth when they needed it the most. It connected with the younger generation and was a timing deal. It wasn’t anything we did.’

Wetzel signed to Columbia and then released an album called Sellout to show that he hadn’t, in fact, sold out.

“I got everybody’s blessing before I went in there and bashed on everyone,” he says. “It was part of the deal. Coming from the Texas country scene, those fans are so loyal. It was me reassuring them that the music would not change. I told those guys at Columbia what I was thinking. They said, ‘We’re looking for some shock value.’ I said, ‘I got it for you, baby.’”

At the time of this interview, Wetzel had just finished rehearsals for the tour and says he was one of the first Texas country acts to use pyro.

“We have a bunch of fire for this tour too,” he says. “it’s a rock ’n’ roll show. The songs from the record will sound re-imagined. It’s super-loud and energetic. It’s a good time.”

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The post Koe Wetzel Reflects on His Humble Roots with New Album appeared first on Cleveland Scene.

Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar.

THU 08/06

Asian Lantern Festival

Taking over parks and zoos across the country, the traveling Asian Lantern Festival shows off thousands of colorful handmade paper lanterns in open, green spaces. This year’s festival at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will include an Asian craft market and Asian food vendors. The event takes place from 6:30 to 10:30 tonight through Sunday. Check the Zoo website for ticket prices. It continues through Aug. 23.

3900 Wildlife Way, 216-661-6500, clemetzoo.com.

Sam Barber

The singer-songwriter performs at 6 p.m. at Jacobs Pavilion. Waylon Wyatt and Wild Horses open. The tour supports Barber’s new album, Broken View, an album that shows off his husky voice. Opening tune “Borrowed Tune” has a Bob Seger feel to it and will likely figure into tonight’s set.
2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com.

Joe Gatto

Best known for TV shows such as Impractical Jokers and The Misery Index, comedian Joe Gatto brings his standup show to Hilarities. Gatto is also the co-host of the Two Cool Moms Podcast. He performs at 7 tonight and has shows scheduled through Saturday.

198 Hill St., Akron, 330-972-7570, ejthomashall.com.

Guardians vs. New York Mets

The New York Mets, a team loaded with some of baseball’s biggest stars, just haven’t been able to get it together. The team missed the playoffs altogether last year. It appears the guys will come up short again this year. They play the Guardians at 1:10 p.m. at Progressive Field.

2401 Ontario St., 216-420-4487, mlb.com/guardians.

The Lion King

Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the play presents a story “filled with hope and adventure set against an amazing backdrop of stunning visuals.” The play also features the work of Tony Award-winning choreographer Garth Fagan and tunes written by Tony Award-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the State Theatre, where performances continue through Aug. 16.

1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

Mean Girls

The musical adapted from the film by the same name comes to Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood. It centers on a teenager who must navigate “frenemies” at her suburban high school. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30, and the play runs through Aug. 9.

17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-2540, beckcenter.org.

Medina County Fair

There will be bull riding, motocross and monster trucks at the annual Medina County Fair that runs through Sunday at the Medina County Fairgrounds.

710 W. Smith Rd., Medina, 330-723-9633, medina-fair.com/main.html.

Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival

The event billed as “football’s greatest week” comes to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton this week. The Arizona Cardinals will play the Carolina Panthers in the Hall of Fame Game, and the country act Lainey Wilson will perform as part of the festivities. Check the website for a complete schedule.

2121 George Halas Dr. NW, Canton, 330-456-8207, profootballhof.com.

Public Square Movie Nights

Feature-length family friendly films screen on a monthly basis at this event that takes place at 8 p.m. at Public Square. Food trucks will be on hand, and there will be a pop-up bar and interactive activities.

clevelandpublicsquare.com.

Sister Act Presented by Akron Civic Theatre’s Millennial Theatre Project

The Millennial Theatre Project puts on this performance of the musical based on the movie about a woman who transforms a choir at a convent. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the Akron Civic Theatre, where performances continue through Aug. 16.

182 South Main St., Akron, 330-253-2488, akroncivic.com.

FRI 08/07

American Football

The emo act out of Urbana, IL released its first album way back in 1997. The group splintered after just three years, but now that Midwest emo is popular again, it’s back at it. The indie group performs at 7 p.m. at House of Blues. Afternoon Bike Ride opens.

308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.

Dutchman

This confrontational one-act play (written by Amiri Baraka formerly LeRoi Jones) which premiered at the Cherry Lane Theatre in 1964 remains “a fascinating exploration of racial identity, oppression  and power dynamics,” as it’s put in a press release. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7 at Dunham Tavern, where performances continue through Sunday.

6709 Euclid Ave., 216-431-1060, dunhamtavern.org.

Riley Green: Cowboy as It Gets Tour 2026

The country music superstar and former college football quarterback became a sensation upon the release of his debut album, 2019’s Different ‘Round Here. On tour in support of his new album, That’s Just Me, he performs tonight at 7 at Blossom.

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

How To Train Your Dragon in Concert

The Cleveland Orchestra provides the live orchestral underscore to the screening of this kids’ films about a young Viking who teaches his family and friends that not all dragons are destructive. The event takes place at 7 tonight and at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Mandel Concert Hall.

11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.

MGK Day

This annual event celebrating the success of local rapper Machine Gun Kelly returns to downtown Cleveland., The weekend begins today at 5 p.m. with the Red Bull Best Trick Contest at Crooked River Skatepark. The event will also feature vendors, food trucks, live music, exclusive merchandise and additional activities. Tomorrow, the celebration moves to North Coast Yard where MGK and rapper Wiz Khalifa will perform.

mgkday.com.

MIX: Summer Soirée

Local heroes Opus 216 will perform at this edition of the Cleveland Art Museum’s monthly party. The event will celebrate the Regency era and Rebecca Sweet, the co-owner and master instructor of Viva Dance Studio, will lead a brief waltz dance lesson. The event begins at 6 p.m.

11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.

Old Brooklyn Art Hop

As part of the Third Annual Old Brooklyn Art Hop, Pinwheel Gallery and Logo Creative Studio will host opening receptions, and a dozen other venues are planning art-related events. All the participating venues will also have a section of what will come together to create a modular mural for Art Hoppers to help paint during the evening. The finished mural will be assembled and displayed on Broadview Road during Old Brooklyn Streetfest. The event takes place from 5 to 9 p.m.

oldbrooklyn.com.

Union County

Actors Will Pouter and Annette Deao and director Adam Meeks will be on hand for this early screening of Union County, a film about two brothers trying to make it through a drug rehab program. The film is set in Ohio and includes a terrific performance by Deao, a therapist in real life. It screens at 6:45 p.m.

11610 Euclid Ave., 216-421-7450, cia.edu.

Vintage Ohio Wine

This two-day event at the Lake County Metroparks Farmpark will feature Ohio wines, live music, cooking demos and family activities. It takes place from noon to 9 p.m. today and tomorrow.

8800 Euclid Chardon Rd., Kirtland, 800-227-6972, lakemetroparks.com/select-park/farmpark.

Marlon Wayans

One of the best-known comics to emerge in the late ’80s and continue to be active, Marlon Wayans has successfully ventured into film and had hits with flicks such as Scary Movie, White Chicks and Little Man. Tonight at 7and 9:30, he performs at the Funny Bone, where he has shows scheduled through Sunday.

1148 Main Ave., 216-696-4677, cleveland.funnybone.com.

SAT 08/08

Civil War Weekend

This annual event at Hale Farm & Village in Akron features an immersive experience thanks to recreations of Federal and Confederate camps. Re-enactors, musicians and interpreters will be on hand to bring the Civil War to life. It begins at 10 a.m. today and tomorrow.

2686 Oak Hill Rd., Akron, 330-666-3711, halefarm.org.

Cuyahoga River Rally

This free community festival celebrating the renewal of the Cuyahoga River with riverside yoga, kids’ crafts, water-themed experiences, free rides on the Holiday Boat, live music and a beer garden. The event begins at 10 a.m. It takes place at Hart Crane Park.

1820 Merwin Ave, 814-746-2350, canalwaypartners.com.

The Happy Together Tour

The tour featuring ’60s acts the Association, the Troggs, Jason Scheff, Gary Puckett, the Fortunes, Ron Dante, the Vogues and the Cowsills comes to Northfield Park Racino. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.

10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-467-4101, northfieldparkracino.com.

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Glow-N-Fire

The event featuring the giant tricked-out trucks that kids love comes to Rocket Arena this weekend. Today’s sessions take place at 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tomorrow’s session is at 1:30 p.m.

One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com.

Peninsula Flea

This upscale flea market features handmade, repurposed and vintage items from dedicated artists, crafts people and collectors. Local musicians are slated to perform and food vendors will be on hand. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Heritage Farms. Admission is free.

6050 Riverview Road, Peninsula, 3306572788, explorepeninsula.com.

Steel Pulse

The veteran reggae act performs at 7 p.m. at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights. Local heroes Carlos Jones & the P.L.U.S. Band open.

14591 Superior Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com.

Summer Night Bazaar

This event at StoneWater will feature more than 15 local artisans and crafters. Vendors will be on hand from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the live music goes until 11 p.m. The Fungry Food Truck will be on hand for the festivities.

One Club Drive, Highland Heights, stonewatergolf.com.

The Voices that Changed Music

The Cleveland Orchestra plays music by the likes of Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Whitney Houston and Elvis Presley at this special concert that takes place at 7 p.m. at Blossom.

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.

The Willoughby Pop-Up by the Lake

Dozens of local artisans, markers, crafters and speciality food vendors will be on hand for this annual event that takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Osborne Park in Willoughby. It’s free.

38575 Lakeshore Blvd, Willoughby, avantgardeshows.com.

SUN 08/09

Warren Haynes and Joe Bonamassa

The jam band Gov’t Mule and blues rocker Joe Bonamassa bring their co-headlining tour to the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre.

201 S Phelps St., Youngstown, 330-746-5600, theyoungstownfoundationamp.com.

Boney James

The smooth jazz act performs at 7 p.m. at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights. The sax man has recorded and toured since the 1970s and received several Grammy nods along the way. Avery* Sunshine opens.

14591 Superior Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com.

LoveMuffinPalooza 2026

Launched in 2008 when Love Muffin label owner Adam Rich wanted to do his own version of Undercurrents, the popular yearly music showcase that took place in Cleveland in the ’80s and ’90s, LoveMuffinPalooza benefits the Gathering Place. This year’s incarnation of the benefit concert includes the G Strings, Blue Drivers, Mal SanMarco, Lost State of Franklin, Flowers Love, Being Eerie and Bill DeGidio. It takes place at 7 p.m. at the Treelawn.

15335 Waterloo Rd, 216-677-8733, thetreelawn.com.

The Princess Concert

A traveling music group performs the music of Frozen, Wicked, Kpop Demon Hunters, Moana, Taylor Swift, Wizard of Oz, Beauty & the Beast, Aladdin Anastasia and Pocahontas during this concert at Akron Civic Theatre. It begins at 3:30 p.m.

182 South Main St., Akron, 330-253-2488, akroncivic.com.

Reggae Sundays

This special Reggae Sunday Happy Hour Concert series continues every Sunday through the end of the summer. The indoor/outdoor concert series will take place rain or shine with live music from 4 to 7 p.m. Music Box will also offer food and drink specials exclusive to the series.

1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.

WKYC Channel 3 Talent Showcase: A Fundraiser for VeloSano

Local comedian Mike Polk Jr. hosts this special fundraiser for VeloSano cancer research. The show will feature local celebrity comedians. It begins at 7 p.m. at Hilarities.

2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.

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The post 15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend (August 6-August 9) appeared first on Cleveland Scene.

Super Troopers 3, the latest comedy from the Broken Lizard improv troupe, centers on a romance that threatens to destroy the camaraderie that exists between the fictional Vermont state troopers. Farva (Kevin Heffernan) has become engaged to Thorny’s (Jay Chandrasekhar) sister, and Thorny sets out to do what he can to break them up before the Big Day.

The film opens areawide on Thursday.

On tour to promote the film, the entire Broken Lizard gang, which also includes comedic actors Steve Lemme, Paul Soter and Erik Stolhanske) rolled into Music Box Supper Club recently for a sold out fan event. Local comedian and podcast host Bill Squire moderated the discussion.

Before the event began, we squeezed into a booth with the five actors and comedians to discuss the movie and the comedy group’s cult following. 

Talk about what it’s been like to stop in different cities to promote the film.

Heffernan: We have a great grassroots fanbase. We crowdfunded our second film, and the fans contributed to a large portion of the budget. It was the only way to get it made. You spend a year working on the movie and six months in a dark room editing it, and finally you can show it to people and say hi to the fans.

Soter: We tend to go on tour for every project and film. We have done standup on the road together. It’s always our favorite part of the process because it’s much more relaxing than shooting a movie. With a movie, there are always fires to put out. We love it. We get more quality as a group than in any other point in the process. It’s fun in that way. 

Stolhanske: It’s like being in a band. We get to tour and meet our fans.

What inspired you to want to do a third movie?

Heffernan: We had a story for a different angle. It was this wedding story. You sit around and think about a funny premise. The premise is what if the worse guy you knew was sleeping with your sister. What if they were going to marry your sister? What would you do? Would you stop it? We put the conflict in there. There is a cultural thing too with the Indian stuff. It snowballed from there and shows a different side of the troopers. It grew from there.

When did you start working on the script?

Chandrasekhar: We all write it together. We outline it and then each person does 20 pages for the first three drafts. Someone is the point person who turns the notes into a script.

Soter: There were three or four Frankenstein drafts. Five guys writing 25 pages. It’s all over the place. The point person gets brought in to synthesize and get everything done and write down everything that was thrown out there. It’s a thankless job.

Where did you go to film?

Chandrasekhar: We shot it in Massachusetts near Boston. It’s the same place we shot No. 2. We had a station we already built. We rebuilt it. It was great. We already knew how to light it.

The plot revolves around Farva’s wedding, so that is a twist. But what else did you want to do differently with this film?

Heffernan: It was to get behind-the curtain of these characters and see more of their personal sides of their lives in terms of romance and family. There’s already a fanbase, so it’s fun for the fans to see that and go deeper into that universe, which I think this accomplishes.

Lemme: We’ve had some sexual content, but we get to see the Farva character in action, and he is quite the lover and Lothario. 

Soter: [Actress] Hannah [Simone] was so delightful and put all of us at ease. All of a sudden, we were looking at it, and the film was an actual romance. We wanted to see them survive.

Brian Cox has become a superstar since the last Super Troopers film. What was it like working with him again?

Heffernan: Between Super Troopers two and three, he shot Succession, which was an iconic role. He became this crotchety Logan character. It’s a ferocious character. And then, he came to our set and made us all nervous because we had seem him as Logan

Soter: He’s a capital A actor. We are clowns. He always carried more gravitas and legitimacy, which made him more imposing. We tried to take the piss out of him whenever possible. This time around, he was larger than life.

I’ve always like actor Nat Faxon. Talk about what he brings to the film.

Soter: He’s an Oscar winner but not the first Oscar winner we’ve ever had.

Heffernan: He’s an old friend of ours. He was in Club Dread, which was about 20 years ago. He’s been in a bunch of movies since. It was nice to find someone in the same food group as us with the same improvisational skills. [Brian] Cox made a point to us that he is 79 years old. Cops that age still aren’t on duty. We need to figure that out. We went to this guy who can do anything.

Soter: A new captain would still be our age. We realized there were opportunities for comedies in that our new boss is also our contemporary. Our new boss is also our contemporary. It gave us the chance to fuck with someone who went to academy with who is technically our boss.

Broken Lizard has been together for decades. Did you know you had great chemistry from the get-go when you formed in college in 1989?

Chandrasekhar: We met in 1987 when we were 18 before we did anything. The group didn’t form until three years later. We started out as close friends before we had ambitions.

Heffernan: You can see the banter. You stick the knife in and twist it. It’s a lot of grab ass and sarcasm. Then, you put it into a movie.

What was the New York comedy scene like in your early days?

Heffernan: It was cool. There was sketch stuff. There was us and the State, and the Kids in the Hall were rising. At the same exact time there was this independent low budget film moment led by guys like Kevin Smith and Richard Linklater. We went that route.

Soter: We were on the sketch success track. Then, we thought, maybe we can make movies. We looked around and everybody is making low-budget movies. We skipped the line.

Chandrasekhar: There was a bunch of sketch stuff. I think there were also five sketch shows. It was between us and the State. [MTV] saw the State one night and us the next night. They gave [a contract] to the state. We killed it but the State killed more.

Why do you think the other two Super Troopers films became such cult classics?

Chandrasekhar: I think it’s the rhythm of our dialogue. Some people say it’s because we remind them of their friend group. That could be another reason. We are in the footsteps of Jon Landis movies. They play it straight and write good jokes and make good films with good characters. The logic makes sense.

Are you improvising in the films?

Soter: It feels that way because the writing process was improvisation. It was five of us acting out scene, and the improv routines turned into scripts.

Chandrasekhar: It’s funny to me that it feels like improv. It’s very, very structured. We pour over every little bit. We argue over dashes and ellipses.

Soter: The biggest joy is watching two or three guys argue to the death about something I don’t give a shit about.

Any plans for a fourth installment?

Chandrasekhar: If this movie makes enough money. We have fun making them. If they let us, we would even be happy to make five.

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The post ‘Super Troopers 3’ Delves Deeper into Character appeared first on Cleveland Scene.

From 1994 to 2001, Speak in Tongues served as Cleveland’s DIY outpost for unrestricted creative expression. The space hosted the city’s debuts by then-unknown acts such as Modest Mouse, Godspeed You Black Emperor!, Neutral Milk Hotel, U.S. Maple and hundreds more bands, artists, filmmakers and other creatives. 

A new book, Where Shit Happened: The Paper Trail to Speak In Tongues, documents Speak in Tongues’ history with over 500 pages of fliers, photos, newspaper clippings and other preserved ephemera.

At 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14, Spotlight Cleveland will host a pre-party gathering featuring performances by five bands whose members had close Speak in Tongues connections: AWESOME*QUEST!, Murderous Vision, Blue Antidote, the Stephe DK Band and Heavy Rains Stringband.

On Saturday, Aug. 15, Visible Voice will host the book’s official release. The event will start at 3 p.m. with a performance by Uno Lady, Cleveland’s one-woman choir. A panel discussion will follow at 4 p.m., moderated by Cleveland historian John Skrtic, featuring SIT archivists Sean Carney and Ken Blaze, former SIT residents Danny Noonan and Jake Kelly, and book creators John Delzoppo and Ron Kretsch. Later that night at 9 p.m., Happy Dog will feature a lineup including Harriet the Spy, Beckett and Friends, and Applejuice, all closely associated with SIT. 

John Delzoppo, Jake Kelly, and Ron Kretsch, all of whom worked on the book, recently met at Proof Public House to discuss the project.

How did the idea for the book come about?

Delzoppo: I guess the origin was cleaning up my closet and sorting through old fliers, noticing that I had a bunch from Speak in Tongues and appreciating how different they were from each other. There was a lot of variety, despite being from the same place and time period. It got me thinking it would be fun to expand the collection, so I reached out to a few friends, including Jake, to see what they had. It started to take shape from there.

Kelly: John had been doing a weekly Flier Friday post on Instagram. I was working on flier books of my own at the time and while I was looking at one of his posts I thought, “I would like to see a Speak in Tongues flier book.” Five minutes after I had that thought, John texted me and asked if I’d want to publish a book of them. It seemed like a natural “yeah.”

Can you each talk about how you were involved with the club?

Kelly: The first time I went to Speak in Tongues was when I was playing a show there. It was early on, like in the first 6 months. I was instantaneously intrigued by the place. It was unlike any other club. Then, I just started going there as much as I possibly could. My friend Danny and I lived in the Western suburbs. He was in Rocky River, and I lived in Fairview. We used to ride our bikes down Lorain all the way to Speak in Tongues. That Walrus statue at the library at 117th was our half-way demarcation point. I was still in high school and went to see Crash Worship, and the show got out at 4 in the morning. I went home and took a shower and went to school, and I remember sitting in study hall and going, “I am done with all of this. I’m dropping out of high school.” I barely graduated. After high school, I lived in a couple of different places, and the guys from the band Grain, who lived at Speak in Tongues, were moving out. I moved in, and I was there on and off for a few years. At a certain point, you have to get out of the Speak in Tongues basement, so I was living upstairs for a while, and then right down the street. It was a huge part of my life until I moved to New York, and then it closed three months later.

Kretsch: The guy who ran the Pieta upstairs was a roommate of mine in college, so I was used to going to that building to see shows. When Speak in Tongues opened, they booked a lot of the kind of stuff I liked. Much of it was stuff that regular clubs didn’t want to do because you couldn’t sell a lot of beer at shows like those. There were always spaces that would do those types of shows, but Speak in Tongues weirdly seemed the most stable. At Speak in Tongues, you walked in the door, and you could tell it was different. It was its own thing, it was home to more than one scene. Euclid Tavern was one scene and one kind of music. I loved that scene, but Speak in Tongues was all over the place, and that was more exciting.

Kelly: It’s a “blind man and the elephant” thing. People often say it was the home of the noise scene, or it was where all the emo bands played, but it was a lot of things all at once. 

Krestch: I was also a musician and played there a bunch. When it became a cooperative, I joined the collective as soon as it was a possibility.

Delzoppo: I started going there the summer before my senior year of high school. A few friends who were more involved in the scene started taking me along to the Grog Shop, Euclid Tavern, VFW Halls, and some shows at Speak in Tongues. I felt a strong connection to Speak quickly because it was so different. It was hard to process what it actually was on my first few visits. I just didn’t have a reference point for it, which was exciting. It felt like a place where anything unexpected could happen on any given night. It was just a very special place to be exposed to a lot of new music you couldn’t hear anywhere else. 

Kretsch: There is a lot about the place that comes down to vibe. You hear it a lot from people that the first time they went there they felt something. There have been a lot of show houses, and there still are, but I don’t think there will be three books about the Tower. And that’s not a slam, I liked that place, too.

Delzoppo: The lore is so massive and we’re still talking about it for a couple main reasons. For one, it truly pulled in world-class artists from many different scenes to this one place that was kind of separated from reality. And it ran for seven years, an eternity in terms of illegal DIY venues. The best of many worlds were converging in one place, and it ran long enough to make a lasting impact.

Kretsch: Never once did it cross my mind that it was illegal.

What kinds of challenges did putting this book together present?

Delzoppo: The biggest challenge was finding the individuals who had the pieces I was missing to fill in the gaps. Reaching out — either directly or by proxy, hoping for a response, then continuing to remind them to look through their stuff and get it to me. All the tedious legwork comes with a very real level of mental exhaustion. I’m not great at being a pest, but the nature of this project requires it. I really had to overcome my own politeness, badgering people to keep looking and send what they found. In most cases it eventually paid off, but there were a lot of dead ends that still irk me when I think about pieces that never turned up. 

Kelly: Almost everyone who saves fliers also has interesting photos. Initially, it was like, “Okay, we’ll include a few photos.” Then, it became, “Okay, we’ll include two or three hundred photos.” The size of the book kept expanding, but somehow never felt big enough to include everything.

Kretsch: For a flier book, there were a lot of photos of shows for which we had no fliers. It kind of ballooned into a different project with the material we received really dictating the scope of the book. 

What was it like to do the layout?

Kretsch: It was a lot. The last really visual coffee table book I did was 300 pages. That was slim compared to this one. John and I talked about how every spread has to be its own work of art. You’re addressing a different subject on every page, but they are all thematically linked. It was a matter of creating 250 really complex spreads.

Delzoppo: And puzzling everything together while trying to treat every piece with the care it deserves. Looking at fliers or photos from legendary gigs that are still talked about 30 years later, we wanted to give them their deserved real estate without shortchanging other things. Five hundred fliers can’t all have their own full page, so it was a constant balancing act between significance and available space. This was initially just going to be a flier book, but I wanted people who’d never been there to get a feel for what it was like, and the photos really help to paint the full picture.  

Kretsch: The first chapter is really heavy with broad photos of the space. We needed to give a sense of what it was like to be in there, to shape the context for the rest of it.  

Kelly: For a book with no words, there is a lot of narrative drive, especially in sequential photos. There is also a lot of humor. There are funny page turns and humorous punctuation in the form of a photo or flier. It’s dense. For an art book, you sit, and you read it.

Delzoppo: The goal was to bring someone into that world and tell the story from start to finish. I felt like the only way to really accomplish that was to lay it out chronologically. That added a ton of extra work to get everything in its proper place, but without sticking to the timeline it would have been too chaotic — both to create and to digest.

What are some of your best memories of the place?

Kretsch: There are hundreds.

Delzoppo: I was in a band called Oblongata at the time, and Speak was the first actual venue we played. As a young band, getting to play there felt like the older cool kids inviting you into their inner circle. Mike Rodemann and Sean Carney liked what we were doing and invited us to play some shows they were booking. We were honored to be included and it gave us a lot of confidence. It wasn’t the kind of place where local bands would submit demos to get on shows, so it felt special just to be welcomed into the fold. 

Kelly: There were a ton of amazing bands that played there that always blew your hair back like Lightning Bolt and Federation X and Crash Worship, so it’s hard to pick favorites. One that stands out was a noise band from Pittsburgh called the Warlocks. It was a bass player and French horn and drummer and some guy making noise on something. Their whole set lasted four or five minutes as part of a big day-long noise thing. They came out and exploded. I probably looked like the guy in the old Maxell commercial. The singer shoved a bunch of newspaper into a toaster and turned it on, burning newspaper flying out. He ran from the stage to the front wall, which was a fake thin wall. He jumped off the couch and onto the wall, and it bent down to where it almost touched the front glass and it sprung back, and he went flying through the air and landed, and there was fire everywhere. It was a good thing I was 22 at the time, and it didn’t register as something that was really dangerous. I remember thinking, “This is our house. What are we doing here?” There were tons of shows like that.

Delzoppo: I’m sure everyone who went there has a mental inventory of their craziest experiences. The oral history book that Microcosm published touches on a lot of that. With my book, I wanted it to be more objective and less story-based.

Kretsch: One person’s totally insane show is another person’s average Tuesday. One non-show night, a bunch of us were just hanging out there. I don’t know why this happened, but there were golf clubs, so we turned the place into an ad hoc mini golf course. We played putt-putt all night using bullshit around the room as obstacles.

Delzoppo: It’s a shame there are no photos of that.

What fliers are some of your favorites?

Kelly: For me, I had done cut-and-paste fliers for my friends in high school and would occasionally draw a flier. I started drawing fliers when I was living at Speak in Tongues. Now, I am in year 30 of making fliers. There is a Wolf Eyes flier that I drew, and that’s one I showed to Kathy [Blackman] at the Grog Shop and Cindy [Barber] at the Beachland that convinced them to let me start doing fliers for their clubs which lined up every other domino in my life. 

Delzoppo: In 1998, Al Karpinski from Six Parts Seven had a unique style of fliers he was making at the time. There’s a Bedhead one, Ariel M, Songs Ohia and some others. They were very simple two-color fliers he made on his night shift at Kinko’s, featuring hand-stamped lettering and simple imagery. They’re super clean and bold. Their simplicity makes them stand out and they match the music really well — the perfect aesthetic for the vibe of those bands. On the other side of the spectrum, I love all of Shaun Filley’s hand-drawn cartoonish violence fliers, especially the first one he drew for Spazz in 1997. It was important to me to get a wide variety of favorites in the flier collage on the cover. 

The club abruptly closed in 2001. What would you hope someone who never went there gets out of the book?

Delzoppo: I hope it can be something like the experience I had with the Jabberjaw book, It All Dies Anyway, covering the legendary ’90s venue in L.A. They made a beautiful hardcover document with fliers and photos covering the history of the place. Jake gifted me a copy early in this process and it was really inspiring. Even though I never went there, I can flip through that book and get a clear idea of what it was like. I would hope that someone could pick up our book and have that same kind of feeling. Even if they’ve never been to Cleveland or weren’t alive in the ’90s, they can get an idea of why it was important and holds significance. And for the folks who did spend time there, I hope it can open their eyes to everything they missed that was happening in parallel with their time at Speak. 

Kretsch: I say this in the book: I wanted the experience of flipping through the book to be as overstimulating and chaotic as it was to exist in the space. I think we accomplished that. 

Kelly: The only thing that’s missing is the smell.

Kretsch: We talked about scratch and sniff.

Delzoppo: Sadly, the logistics of scratch and sniff cards just didn’t work out.

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The post New Speak In Tongues Book Celebrated By Release Events at Visible Voice, Happy Dog and Spotlight Cleveland appeared first on Cleveland Scene.

Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar.

THU 07/30

Asian Lantern Festival

Taking over parks and zoos across the country, the traveling Asian Lantern Festival shows off thousands of colorful handmade paper lanterns in open, green spaces. This year’s festival at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will include an Asian craft market and Asian food vendors. The event takes place from 6:30 to 10:30 tonight through Sunday. Check the Zoo website for ticket prices. It continues through Aug. 23.

3900 Wildlife Way, 216-661-6500, clemetzoo.com.

Evanescence

While this rock band is best known for its 2003 record Fallen, new singles such as the Garbage-like “Fight Like a Girl” show that it remains relevant. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m. at Blossom. Spiritbox and Nova Twins open, and the group has reportedly partnered with PLUS1 so that $1 from every ticket sold will support organizations providing humanitarian aid and medical relief to people around the world.

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

An Evening of Poetry with Donald King

Raised in foster care, poet Donald King spent much of his youth navigating hardship. But he channeled that struggle into his poetry after his wife encouraged him to begin writing. He reads from his work at 7 p.m. at Loganberry Books in Shaker Heights. Admission is free, but a $10 donation to the Shaker Heights Arts Council’s community arts program is suggested.

13015 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Heights., 216-795-9800, loganberrybooks.com.

Hallmark Stars Live: Christmas in July

Model, singer and actress Nikki DeLoach (A Grand Ole Opry Christmas) hosts this special event featuring Hallmark movie stars who’ll talk about what it’s like to be on the movie set of some of the channel’s best-known films. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Northfield Park Racino.

10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-467-4101, northfieldparkacino.com.

Kaleidoscope!

The Maltz Museum hosts this summer party featuring local rockers Apostle Jones and DJ Teddy Eisenberg. Ladybug A/V Club will provide the visuals, and admission to the event includes access to the exhibit Icons in Ink: The Jewish Comics Experience. The event begins at 6 p.m., and tickets cost $20.

2929 Richmond Rd., Beachwood, 216-593-0575, maltzmuseum.org.

Lake County Fair

Livestock plays a key role at the annual Lake County Fairgrounds, which takes place on the county fairgrounds in Painesville. The 4-H Club’s annual livestock auction is a key attraction, and there will be daily milkings. Of course, there’s lots of other stuff too, including truck pulls, live music and fair food.

1301 Mentor Ave., Painesville, 440-354-3339, lakecountyfair.org.

The Lion King

Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the play presents a story “filled with hope and adventure set against an amazing backdrop of stunning visuals.” The play also features the work of Tony Award-winning choreographer Garth Fagan and tunes written by Tony Award-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the State Theatre, where performances continue through Aug. 16.

1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

Mean Girls

The musical adapted from the film by the same name comes to Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood. It centers on a teenager who must navigate “frenemies” at her suburban high school. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30, and the play runs through Aug. 9.

17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-2540, beckcenter.org.

Saint-Saëns’s Organ Symphony

Brian Wendel, a trombonist known for his score for The Godfather, joins the Cleveland Orchestra tonight at Mandel Concert Hall as it takes on Saint-Saëns’s “Organ” Symphony. The concert begins at 7 p.m.

11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.

Summit County Fair

This county fair that dates back to 1850 offers truck and tractor pulls as well as livestock competitions and that glorious delicacy known as fair food. The event runs through Sunday at the Summit County Fairgrounds.

229 E. Howe Rd., Tallmadge, 330-633-6200, summitfair.com/.

FRI 07/31

Amber Autry

The comedian who hosts the I’m Fine, It’s Fine podcast about mental health issues performs at 7 and 9:45 tonight and tomorrow night at Hilarities. According to the club’s website, the shows are sold out.

2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.

Reginald “Bruh Man” Ballard

Famous for playing the “Bruh Man” character on the sitcom Martin, this standup comedian comes to the Funny Bone tonight at 7 and 9:30 and tomorrow night at 6:30 and 9.

1148 Main Ave., 216-696-4677, cleveland.funnybone.com.

CHERRY! Release Party

The local rock group celebrates the release of its new EP with this show at the Beachland Ballroom. No Bullets Til They’re Beautiful, MK Ultra and Moravian open. The show begins at 8 p.m.

15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

Guardians vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

The Guardians go up against the Arizona Diamondbacks for the first-and-only time this regular season. The National League team got off to a rough start but has recovered and is in the NL wildcard chase. Tonight’s first pitch is at 7:10, and fireworks follow the game.

2401 Ontario St., 216-420-4487, mlb.com/guardians.

Jukebox Breakdown aka Emo Night CLE

Over the years, emo, the style of music characterized by noisy guitars and emotional/introspective lyrics, has been through a number of phases. The roots go back to the Washington D.C. hardcore scene of the ’80s and extend to today as bands such as Hawthorne Heights, Silverstein and the Used play some version of emo. Expect to hear music from different time periods at tonight’s Jukedown Breakdown that takes place at 10 at Mahall’s.

13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-3280, mahalls20lanes.com.

Pour on the Shore

Formerly known as the Avon Lake Beer Fest, this event will feature live music, local food, artisan booths and family activities. The event takes place today and tomorrow at Miller Road Park in Avon Lake. There will be a fireworks display tomorrow.

pouronshore.com.

Sister Act Presented by Akron Civic Theatre’s Millennial Theatre Project

The Millennial Theatre Project puts on this performance of the musical based on the movie about a woman who transforms a choir at a convent. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the Akron Civic Theatre, where performances continue through Aug. 16.

182 South Main St., Akron, 330-253-2488, akroncivic.com.

SAT 08/01

Ashnikko

The singer and rapper brings their latest tour to the Agora. Doors open at 7 p.m. Last year, Ashnikko released Smoochies, a studio record that yielded five singles.

5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

Dazz Band: 50th Anniversary Celebration

The funk band from the ’70s brings its 50th anniversary tour to the Northfield Park Racino. The show starts at 8 p.m.

10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-467-4101, northfieldparkracino.com.

Lakewood Arts Fest

More than 170 regional and national artists will be on hand for this annual event that takes place in downtown Lakewood. The juried festival will feature paintings, prints, photography, glass, ceramics and jewelry. Local musical acts Opus 216, Tam Tam Magic Senegalese Drums and Cats on Holiday will perform. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Detroit Avenue between Belle and Elmwood Avenues, Lakewood, lakewoodartsfestival.org.

Music in the Garden

These free concerts featuring local bands take place on the first and third Saturdays throughout the summer at the Ben Franklin Community Garden. John Orsini Jazz Quintet performs today. The show begins at 6 p.m. You can bring a lawn chair, and admission is free.

1905 Spring Rd., 216-459-1000, benfranklincommunitygarden.org.

No Surf Festival

Labra Brothers, Black Voltron, Nikki D & the Sisters of Thunder, Ray Flanagan and Da Land Brass Band will perform at this local music festival that takes place at Halloran Park. There will be food trucks, local vendors and activities for kids. It starts at 3 p.m.

3550 W 117th St., nosurfhouse.org.

Over the Rhine

The folk-rock act from Cincinnati featuring husband and wife Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler performs at 7:30 p.m. at the Kent Stage. Members of the Newbees, a self-described vintage rock band, will join OTR for this special show.

175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the 1975 film that still draws an exuberant, costumed crowd that likes to throw rice and dry toast and sing along to the songs in the movie, still draws big crowds to local showings. Expect a throng to show up for tonight’s screening that takes place at 10 p.m. at the Cedar Lee Theatre. Tickets cost $12.

2163 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights, 440-528-0355, clevelandcinemas.com.

Schumann’s Second Symphony

Conductor Kazuki Yamada leads the Cleveland Orchestra as it takes on Schumann’s Second Symphony, a piece written during a personal crisis. The Blossom Festival Chorus guests. The concert begins at 7 p.m. at Blossom.

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, clevelandorchestra.com.

Tomahawk

After a decade-long hiatus from performing live, the experimental rock band featuring singer Mike Patton is back on the road. The group initially formed back in the early 2000s and has steadily released albums since putting out its self-titled debut in 2001. The show starts at 7 p.m. at House of Blues.

308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.

SUN 08/02

“Crucible of Honor”: Indian Dance Theatre with Live Orchestra

This dance theater production with live music coincides with the Cleveland Museum of Art exhibit Epic of the Northwest Himalayas: Pahari Paintings from the “‘Shangri’ Ramayana.” It takes place at 2 p.m. at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.

Men at Work, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Shonen Knife

Three very different musical acts affiliated with the ’80s and ’90s bring their summer tour to Cain Park. Men at Work delivered a number of quirky pop hits in the ’80s while Toad the Wet Sprocket take more of an indie and alt-rock approach and broke through thanks to college radio. The concert begins at 7 p.m.

14591 Superior Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com.

Orion Levine

The bio for this comedian boasts that he’s “incredibly handsome.” Find out for yourself when he performs at 7 tonight at Hilarities.

2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.

Reggae Sundays

This special Reggae Sunday Happy Hour Concert series continues every Sunday through the end of the summer. The indoor/outdoor concert series will take place rain or shine with live music from 4 to 7 p.m. Music Box will also offer food and drink specials exclusive to the series.

1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.

Wax + DJ Hoppa

Two years ago, Wax, a rapper/singer/songwriter with a career that stretches back two decades, teamed up with DJ Hoppa for a tour. The two then collaborated on an album, Highway Hotel. They bring their trek in support of the release to House of Blues Cambridge Room. The show starts at 7 p.m.

308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.

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The post 15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend (July 30-August 2) appeared first on Cleveland Scene.

Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar.

THU 07/23

Asian Lantern Festival

Taking over parks and zoos across the country, the traveling Asian Lantern Festival shows off thousands of colorful handmade paper lanterns in open, green spaces. This year’s festival at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo will include an Asian craft market and Asian food vendors. The event takes place from 6:30 to 10:30 tonight through Sunday. Check the Zoo website for ticket prices. It continues through Aug. 23.

3900 Wildlife Way, 216-661-6500, clemetzoo.com.

Chris Botti

The smooth jazz artist comes to Northfield Park Racino. He won a Grammy for his 2013 album, Impressions, and has collaborated with numerous pop stars. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.

10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-467-4101, northfieldparracino.com.

Christmas Ale in July

Great Lakes Brewing Company taps its beloved Christmas Ale for this special Christmas in July party. The event begins at 11 a.m. It’s a charitable event, too. Organizers suggest bringing an unwrapped toy donation for a toy drive presented by Scott’s Haul, benefiting Providence House.

2516 Market Ave., 216-771-4404, greatlakesbrewing.com.

Guardians vs. Minnesota Twins

The Guardians wrap up their four-game set against the Minnesota Twins with today’s day game at Progressive Field. First pitch is at 1:10 p.m.

2401 Ontario St., 216-420-4487, mlb.com/guardians.

The Lion King

Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the play presents a story “filled with hope and adventure set against an amazing backdrop of stunning visuals.” The play also features the work of Tony Award-winning choreographer Garth Fagan and tunes written by Tony Award-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the State Theatre, where performances continue through Aug. 16.

1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

Mean Girls

The musical adapted from the film by the same name comes to Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood. It centers on a teenager who must navigate “frenemies” at her suburban high school. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30, and the play runs through Aug. 9.

17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-2540, beckcenter.org.

Pavement

The indie rock group that likes its music slanted and enchanted comes to the Agora. Doors open at 7 p.m. After Nirvana introduced the world of indie rock, Pavement benefited, and tracks such as the sardonic “Cut Your Hair” became underground hits.

5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

Public Square Movie Nights

Feature-length family friendly films screen on a monthly basis at this event that takes place at 8 p.m. at Public Square. Food trucks will be on hand, and there will be a pop-up bar and interactive activities., clevelandpublicsquare.com.

Javier Red Quartet

Led by Javier Red, a Chicago-based jazz pianist and composer who’s originally from Mexico City, this group draws from American jazz and West African music. The group recently completed the recording of a new album featuring special guest Steve Coleman; it’s scheduled for release later this year. The group performs at 8 tonight at the Bop Stop.

2920 Detroit Ave., 216-771-6551, themusicsettlement.org.

Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Festival

The annual Greek Festival at the Saints Constatine & Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Cleveland Heights kicks off today. Expect food, music and church tours. Admission is free, and the event runs through Sunday. In addition to raising funds for the ministries of the church, the festival also will raise money for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

3352 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Heights, stsconstantine.com.

Slightly Stoopid

The ska-punk band from the ’90s returns to Jacobs Pavilion. Over the course of the past 30 years, the group has maintained a DIY approach. The band founded its own record label, Stoopid Records, which released the platinum single “Closer to the Sun,” and gold singles “2am” and “Collie Man.” The Elovaters and Bumpin’ Uglies open the show. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m.

2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com.

SOUND: MEDS

Local musician LaToya Kent has organized this experimental listening experience that comes across as an artsy yoga class. The first 25 minutes will host two local artists performing a 12 min set each. A short break is followed by a 25-minute silent meditation. It takes place at 7 p.m. at SPACES.

2900 Detroit Ave., 216-621-2314, spacesgallery.org.

FRI 07/24

Chill @ CMNH

This event at the Museum of Natural History features after-hours access to the museum, including Perkins Wildlife Center, animal ambassador encounters, a cash bar, and a screening of Little Shop of Horrors. It all begins at 5 p.m.

1 Wade Oval Dr., 216-231-4600, cmnh.org.

A Conversation with Stewart Copeland: Have I Said Too Much?

The Rock Hall of Fame Inductee with discuss his lengthy musical career, which includes a long tenure with the Police. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.

175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.

Faculty & Staff 2026 Visual Arts Exhibition Reception

Featuring artwork in a wide variety of styles and media, this exhibition highlights the creative voices of the artists who help make Beck Center a vibrant center for arts education and performance. A reception takes place from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

17801 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, 216-521-2540, beckcenter.org.

Parker McCollum

The country superstar performs tonight at 7:30 at Blossom Music Center. Last year, he released his self-titled fifth studio album and then followed it up this year with an expanded version that includes four additional tracks, including the fan-favorite “Big Ole Fancy House.”

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

Mind Magic Live with Mentalist Joshua Seth

Winner of the Magic Olympics at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, Joshua Seth has become one of the top comedy mentalists in the world. He reads minds and conducts psychic experiments while blindfolded. He performs tonight at 7 at the Hanna Theatre.

2067 East 14th St., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

Kevin Nealon

A former star on Saturday Night Live, comedian Kevin Nealon created some of the shows more memorable characters. He was responsible for the Subliminal Man and played one half of Hans and Frans. He performs tonight at 6:30 and 9:15 at Hilarities, where he has shows scheduled through Sunday.

2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.

Ted Nugent

The divisive classic rocker known as the Motor City Madman was a liberal hater before it was cool to hate liberals. Nugent, whose career dates all the way back to the 1960s, hit the road on a farewell tour three years ago. Still in the process of hanging it up, he performs at 8 p.m. at the Northfield Park Racino.

10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-467-4101, northfieldparkracino.com.

Zeds Dead

The electronic group performs at 6 p.m. at Jacobs Pavilion. The electronic group is promoting this tour as a career retrospective that’ll even include tracks from its early days when it posted songs on MySpace.

2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com.

SAT 07/25

Beach Bunny

The Chicago-based indie rock band fronted by the exuberant Lili Trifilio performs at 7 p.m. at House of Blues. The current tour supports the group’s new album, Tunnel Vision, a collection of emo-ish tunes that possess a Paramore vibe.

308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.

Cleveland Blues Jam Series

This quarterly series at the Sixty6 celebrates the ongoing legacy of local bluesman Wallace Coleman. Coleman and one other local artist will perform. Check the venue’s website for more info.

1966 E. 66th St., 216-615-7261, thesixty6.com.

Inlet Dance Theatre

The dance troupe performs at 8 p.m. at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights as part of it 25^th annual summer concert. Local Bill Wade founded the group in 2001.

14591 Superior Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com.

Peninsula Flea

This upscale flea market features handmade, repurposed and vintage items from dedicated artists, crafts people and collectors. Local musicians are slated to perform and food vendors will be on hand. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Heritage Farms. Admission is free.

6050 Riverview Road, Peninsula, 3306572788, explorepeninsula.com.

Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances

Conductor Kevin John Edusei leads the Cleveland Orchestra as it plays Symphonic Dances, Rachmoninoff’s last major composition. The Kent Blossom Chamber Orchestra will join the festivities as well. The concert takes place at 7 p.m. at Blossom.

1145 W Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, clevelandorchestra.com.

Tacos & Tequila Festival

Shaggy, Chamillionaire, XZibit, Trina, Ying Yang Twins, Bubba Sparxxx, and Murphy Lee will perform at this event that celebrates throwback hip-hop heroes as well as tacos and tequila. It takes place at ForeFront Field.

2009 Baseball Blvd., Avon, 440-934-3636, lakeeriecrushers.com.

SUN 07/26

Brit Floyd

Singer-guitarist Damian Darlington reportedly formed this Pink Floyd tribute act because it wanted it to improve upon the work he did with his previous band, the Australian Pink Floyd Show. The group has been touring since 2011, and it performs at 6 p.m. at Jacobs Pavilion.

2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com.

An Evening with Idina Menzel

Famous for singing the tunes on the popular soundtrack to the Disney film Frozen, Idina Menzel performs tonight at Blossom with backing from the Cleveland Orchestra in a show that should draw a capacity crowd. Andy Einhorn conducts. The concert begins at 7 p.m.

1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.

Jokes on You

Inspired by crowd work clinicians like Dave Attell, Ian Bagg, and Big Jay Oakerson, Jokes On You makes the audience the center of the show by “pushing comics to avoid prepared material or written jokes and instead focus on organic interaction with the audience,” as it’s put in a press release about this event, which takes place tonight at 8 in the Frolic Cabaret Room at Hilarities.

2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.

Reggae Sundays

This special Reggae Sunday Happy Hour Concert series continues every Sunday through the end of the summer. The indoor/outdoor concert series will take place rain or shine with live music from 4 to 7 p.m. Music Box will also offer food and drink specials exclusive to the series.

1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.

Vigatron x Burner Album Release

These two local hip-hop acts collaborated on the new 14-song album, Hollow Apologies. They celebrate its release with tonight’s show at the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights. It begins at 8 p.m.

2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs.

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The post 15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend (July 23-26) appeared first on Cleveland Scene.