The Ohio Players, The Feed More Festival, and Dawes in Area Concerts (Sun., 7/17/16)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7X8aIfqfCA

1) “Love Rollercoaster,” a song from the Ohio Players’ album Honey, was a number one single for the Dayton funkateers. One minute and 24 seconds into this single, amid a percussion breakdown, somebody screams. There have been many explanations for this scream, but the most widely circulated involved Ester Cordet. She is the model photographed on the Honey album cover, lapping from a spoonful of honey held in one hand while holding a jar full of the sticky stuff in the other. The story goes that the heated honey left her burned—her scream is either from the burns themselves or from the band’s manager stabbing her to death (!) after she threatened to sue for her disfigurement. Complete urban legend, of course; it was really keyboardist Billy Beck, whose scream adds a live vibe to the in-studio track. Cordet, a former Playboy Playmate, is also still alive. Urban legend aside, “Love Rollercoaster” is a standout funk tune, its greatness recognized by musical heirs Red Hot Chili Peppers, who covered it for the Beavis and Butt-head Do America soundtrack. “Love Rollercoaster” was one of two number one hits for the Ohio Players—the other was “Fire.” Other songs, like “Funky Worm,” ruled the R&B charts. The group continues to tour and will be bringing the funk for a free show at Hartwood Acres Park Amphitheater. 7:30 p.m. 200 Hartwood Acres, Hampton and Indiana townships. (CM)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZzJ78FWjl8

2) The Pittsburgh Blues Festival may be gone, but the cause is still here. The Feed More Festival, at Stage AE, benefits Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank as the blues festival did for over 20 years. Headlining are Cold War Kids—not the blues, but definitely bluesy. Just listen to the ache in singer Nathan Willet’s voice, the jangly piano which recalls old-school alternative groups like the Velvet Underground. Cold War Kids received international attention from their first album, 2006’s Robbers & Cowards. “Hang Me Up to Dry” epitomizes their metaphorical lyrics and twitchy instrumentation. And “First,” off 2014’s Hold My Home, marks their biggest radio hit yet. Sharing the day’s bill is The Lone Bellow, a Brooklyn-based indie-folk trio. 2015’s Then Came the Morning, the group’s second album, saw production by Aaron Dessner (of The National) and brass and string arrangements by Bryce Dessner (also of The National). A standout single from that LP is “Fake Roses.” The music starts mid-afternoon, with eight opening acts, including local ones like Swiss Army and The Commonheart. Doors open 2 p.m. 400 North Shore Dr., North Shore. (CM)

3) The last time Dawes were in town, they opened for Irish singer-songwriter Hozier. This month, Dawes headline Mr. Smalls. An earlier, more post-punk incarnation of the Los Angeles quartet was called “Simon Dawes.” That name came from the middle names of members Blake Mills and Taylor Goldsmith. (When Mills left, the group dropped the “Simon.”) The band went in a more folk direction, and in 2009, recorded and released their debut album, North Hills. Wilco’s Patrick Sansone assisted with some of the album’s instrumentation. In 2014, members (and brothers) Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith played on Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes, an album built around old, unused Bob Dylan lyrics. Elvis Costello, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons, Rhiannon Giddens, and many other talented musicians also contributed to that collaboration. Dawes are currently touring in support of their fourth album, All Your Favorite Bands, released in 2015. Kathleen Edwards opens. 8 p.m. 400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale. (EC/CM).

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