REWIND: 1979 YEARS
UPFRONT
DOWNTOWN SAFETY PATROL UNDER SCRUTINY AS CUYAHOGA COUNTY COUNCIL DEBATES CRIME, COST, AND RESPONSIBILITY
THE CRASH THAT PUT THE FUTURE of the Downtown Safety Patrol, with its eight Sheriff’s deputies and one sergeant, into question began with a traffic stop around 9:50 p.m. on March 28 in front of the Galleria.
Deputies Kasey Loudermilk and Robert Piccola had decided to turn their lights on a hastily-parked black Dodge Neon after the car’s driver, 24-year-old Nigel Perry, turned without signaling at a red light near St. Clair and East 9th. The Neon might’ve also been stolen: An investigation later showed Perry had placed forged stickers on the car’s license plate.
When Loudermilk flicked the cruiser’s lights on, Perry took off north, driving “recklessly,” the incident report reads. Loudermilk and Piccola followed. Perry shot up to 98 MPH eastward on I-90, as the deputies, following best practices, prepared to stop Perry’s car with a PIT maneuver.
Four minutes later, flying off the Eddy Road exit, Perry collided with a white Range Rover with plates reading “1BADRN.” Tamya Westmoreland, a mother of one who was getting off work as a nurse at University Hospitals, was thrown from her car. Perry’s Neon slammed into a ditch. Both vehicles caught fire. Westmoreland was rushed to UH and died later that night.
That crash, the procedure of which was defended at length in Loudermilk and Piccola’s incident reports, has propelled three members of Cuyahoga County Council to introduce legislation that could possibly defund and axe the DSP, which costs county taxpayers $1.2 million a year.
Axing the roles of eight deputies, charged with patrolling Downtown in the evenings and early hours, might be hasty with the summer months coming up, as several argued at a heated Cuyahoga County Council meeting on Tuesday.
That argument, which drew staunch public comment and submitted letters of concern by at least a dozen Downtown residents and police officers, rested in a concern that the March 28 crash was the culmination of a suite of unknowns: Why isn’t the DSP explicitly named in the county’s
budget? Why doesn’t Cleveland pitch in?
“It’s not a matter of whether this is a worthy endeavor,” District 11 Councilwoman Sunny Simon, who helped introduce a resolution that could cut DSP funds, said on Tuesday.
“It’s not a matter of whether they’re effective and what they’re doing,” she added. “The question is whether the county should assume the responsibility of the city of Cleveland’s role in patrolling and keep it its own streets safe.”
County Council was never fully briefed on how the $1.2 million is fully spent, District 5 Councilman Michael Gallagher said. Especially when, he added, the County is already struggling to navigate, and manage, a deficit that’s upwards of $25 million.
“We don’t have the money,” Gallagher said. “It was never budgeted. Go to your homes. You have no money in the bank. Do you go buy groceries? You don’t. You have to plan, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
County Executive Chris Ronayne, who had once texted select councilmembers photos of AR-15 rifles the
DSP had confiscated downtown as evidence of the unit’s success, immediately protested Gallagher acting on impulse.
Axing the DSP even for a few weeks, Ronayne said, would lead to a crime spike in a downtown that doesn’t really need such a crime spike. Even if its days.
“I say to you, why suspend the DSP with knee-jerk legislation,” Ronayne asked, “when your real motivation is to get equity in the game from the city of Cleveland?”
“Pull this legislation,” he added. “Don’t suspend the DSP; suspend the legislation.”
Weeks after 26-year-old Jaylon Jennings shot nine people on West 6th Street in the early hours of July 8, 2023, Sheriff Harold Pretel decided to assign a handful of his 187 deputies the downtown beat. The goal was, as he told Scene last year, “to keep the temperature down.”
“We need to keep the pressure on,” Pretel said, “so that negative elements will not feel comfortable engaging in disorder downtown.”
In an analysis by Scene last Au-
gust, it was unclear if the unit had any demonstrable impact on crime. Data showed a slight uptick in spring, while citywide crime decreased 13 percent, which Bibb pointed to as evidence of his RISE plan working.
In a statement Monday, a county spokesperson backed up the Downtown Safety Patrol’s work keeping Downtown Cleveland a bit safer than it might be without them. Since August 2023, the spokesperson said, the DSP’s taken 291 illegal guns, made 103 felony arrests and carried out 4,946 traffic stops.
But the unit has not been without its own controversy, beyond the highspeed car chase.
In October 2024, one member of the unit shot a 15-year-old who was fleeing from a stolen car that deputies had chased. The shooting is still under investigation, and it took months for Cuyahoga County to release footage of the incident, and then only under pressure from the Marshall Project and News 5 Cleveland.
But the majority of public comments this week came from those who’ve either worked hand-in-hand
Photo by Mark Oprea
GET OUT Everything to do in Cleveland for the next two weeks
WED 04/23
Alton Brown Live: Last Bite
The famous food critic discusses his culinary “mega-hacks” and sings funny food sings during this special live performance. The event begins at 8 p.m. at the State Theatre. 1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Don Giovanni
Cleveland Institute of Music presents this opera about a man forced to confront the consequences of his actions in Mozart and Da Ponte’s telling of the Don Juan story. The performance takes place at 7 tonight and Friday night at the Mimi Ohio Theatre. 1511 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
THU 04/24
Fine Print Fair
The Print Club of Cleveland’s annual benefit “supports and enriches” the print collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. There will be 15 dealers from around the U.S. Tonight’s preview party begins at 5:30, and the event continues through Sunday. 11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.
Mozart and Elgar
Kazuki Yamada conducts the Cleveland Orchestra as it plays selections by Mozart and Elgar. Tonight’s concert takes place at 7:30 at Mandel Concert Hall, where performances continue through Saturday. 11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
FRI 04/25
Jim Gaffigan: Everything is Wonderful! The veteran comedian and actor who’s famous for his hilarious bit about Hot Pockets brings his Everything Is Wonderful! tour to the State Theatre. He performs at 7 tonight, at 8 tomorrow night and at 7 on Sunday night. Euclid Ave., 216-771-8403, playhousesquare.org.
Guardians vs. Boston Red Sox
While the Boston Red Sox missed the playoffs last year and finished the season at 81-81, this year’s team is reportedly much-improved. Tonight at 7:10, the Red Sox come to Progressive
Field to take on the Guardians. The series continues through Sunday. 2401 Ontario St., 216-420-4487, mlb. com/guardians.
Noises Off
The award-winning farce comes to the Hanna Theatre in the Great Lakes Theater’s production of the play. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the Hanna Theatre, where performances continue through May 18. 2067 East 14th St., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Under A Baseball Sky
José Cruz González, the author of American Mariachi, wrote this new play about baseball’s deep roots in the Mexican American community. Tonight’s performance of the play takes place at 7:30 at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood. It runs through May 4.
17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-5212540, beckcenter.org.
SAT 04/26
Fiddler on the Roof
Set in the Ukranian village of Anatevha, Fiddler on the Roof centers on Tevye, a poor milkman who struggles to support five unmarried daughters and a wife. His family troubles, however, become insignificant when the ruling regime turns against the Jews of Anatevka. The classic play comes to the Allen Theatre. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30. It runs through May 25.
1407 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
The Screwtape Letters
The stage adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s
The Screwtape Letters follows Screwtape, a “senior tempter in Hell,” as he schemes to capture the soul of an “unsuspecting” human on Earth. Performances take place at 4 and 8 p.m. at the Mimi Ohio Theatre. 1501 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
SUN 04/27
Discover Weekly Cleveland
This free series at the B-Side in Cleveland Heights will feature a different line-up of emerging artists and area nonprofits to promote their message to the community through song. The event takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-932-1966, bsideliquorlounge.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 7 at Hilarities. John Bruton and Jimmie Graham host the event. 2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.
Alyssa Edwards brings her fabulous drag show to the Agora. See: Thursday, May 1. | Courtesy of AEG Presents
POUND FOR POUND
At the Village Butcher and Smokehouse 91, Chefs Zach Ladner and Carl Quagliata are doing BBQ and sandwiches worth the weight
By Douglas Trattner
IT’S ALWAYS A GOOD SIGN when you can smell wood smoke as you’re pulling up to a barbecue restaurant. It’s even better when you can actually see the smoker doing its thing in the great outdoors, proof that the pitmaster isn’t cheating by using an automated indoor cooker.
On my first visit to Smokehouse 91, the new barbecue spot attached to the Village Butcher in Mayfield, I walked to the rear of the building in search of the source of that intoxicating aroma. There, emitting a steady stream of pale white smoke, was a radiator-black offset smoker chugging along in stubborn defiance of the unseasonable weather.
With the recent arrival of Smokehouse, the corner of SOM Center and Wilson Mills roads has become a food-rich destination with assets too numerous to list. The Village Butcher, which chefs Zach Ladner and Carl Quagliata opened in 2022, is the type and caliber of butcher shop that any home cook would kill to have down the road. The spotless display coolers are packed with a mouthwatering selection of premium steaks and chops – including unusual cuts like petite tender and bavette – as well as pork, poultry, sausages and burgers. A glass-encased room is dedicated to dry aging meats that wind up in the coolers as well as on the plates at sister establishments like Tutto Carne, Paloma and Giovanni’s.
The Village Butcher is also the place to head for gourmet products like imported pasta, canned tomatoes, sauces, spices, oils, vinegars, mustards and other surprises.
When you combine talented chefs, premium meats and a wellstocked pantry, a logical extension of the brand is sandwiches. Since opening, this small but mighty butcher shop has cultivated a zealous following for hot and cold subs made with a level of care and attention typically reserved for fine dining. Italian beef fans will find a new favorite in the Butcher ($14), a big bundle of thin-sliced braised beef bathed in flavorful jus. It’s all topped with crunchy, tangy giardiniera. Both the Meatball ($14) and the CQ ($13) – chicken parm – are flawless, flavorful representations of the type. In the former, three airy two-inch balls are nestled in marinara, draped in melted provolone, and dusted with flurry of grated pecorino. In the latter, thin breaded chicken cutlets get the sauce, cheese and pecorino treatment, but also a generous slather
of creamy pesto sauce. Likewise, if you love a classic Italian cold cut sub, opt for the PLG ($13), which is densely packed with capicola, soppressata, prosciutto, provolone, arugula, tomato, red onion and Italian dressing.
The adjacent Smokehouse 91 is a well-run fast-casual operation starring smoked meats like brisket, pulled pork, ribs, turkey and sausage. All are available by the half pound and some – brisket, pulled pork and turkey – in a sandwich. Everything is a la carte, with sides like beans, greens, mac and cheese, creamed corn and others available in small or large portions.
The fatty beef brisket ($14.99) is thickly sliced, meltingly tender and assertively smoked. Slices are cloaked in a dark, peppery bark and there’s enough fat to keep things moist and lush. The baby back ribs
($7.99) will appeal to the fall-offthe-bone crowd as the meat slips off with barely a nibble. It too is tender, smoky-sweet and flavorful. The pulled pork – piled high onto a bun ($14) – is not so much “pulled” as it is shredded into fine threads, giving the meat a texture that approaches mushy. I prefer to see and bite some larger strands and pieces. By-the-pound meats come with pickles, slaw and sliced bread. A spotless sauce station provides guests with a half dozen different regional styles to mix and match. Like the sandwiches prepared next door, the sides and desserts offered here exceed expectations. I’m not sure I’ve tasted better collard greens ($5.50), which are braised until crisp tender with pork bones and served with plenty of meat in a rich broth. A cup of deeply spiced brisket chili ($5.50) eats more like a meal thanks to a winning meat-to-bean ratio. Little touches here go a long way: crispy garlic breadcrumbs that top the thick, creamy mac and cheese ($5.50); slaw, pickles and thinsliced red onions that cap sandwiches; honeyslicked butter that comes with cornbread ($5.50).
At checkout, guests find themselves face-to-face with a cooler of desserts, with items like fruit cobbler, Oreo and peanut butter trifle, and banana pudding staring back from seethrough containers. I’m firmly in the no-pudding camp but the banana puddin’ ($6) will win over even the most ardent holdouts thanks to a textural balance of banana slices, wafers, pudding and whipped cream.
dtrattner@clevescene.com
t@dougtrattner
Photo by Doug Trattner
Photo by Doug Trattner
BITES
Sneak Peek: Kyuramen, Opening at SouthPark Mall in May
By Douglas Trattner
KYURAMEN, A GLOBAL JAPANESE ramen restaurant, is just weeks away from opening its first Ohio location at SouthPark Mall in Strongsville. Founded in 2014 by Gary Lin – and imported to Cleveland thanks to Sheng Long Yu – the quickly expanding brand is reinventing the ramen experience.
The immersive interior features distinctive honeycomb seating that stacks glowing booths on top of each other. A corridor with numerous nooks and snugs attempts to replicate the feel of a “ramen alley” in a historic Japanese district. Other design elements include paper lanterns, Shoji screens and a large wishing tree onto which guests can pin their hopes and dreams.
“I’ve been to a lot of ramen places, but this one really catches my eye,” Yu explains. “From the design and atmosphere – just the feel when you walk in.”
Kyuramen currently has about 50 locations in the United States, but another 50 already are planned. In addition to the striking interior, the big draw is the food, a sprawling selection of Japanese specialties. The main attraction, of course, is the ramen, which comes in various forms and permutations. In addition to the thick, creamy tonkotsu broth, diners can order shio ramen, shoyu ramen or miso ramen. There is also Korean kimchi ramen, Japanese curry ramen and vegetable ramen.
Yu, a Strongsville resident for more than 20 years, says that he was tired of having to travel long distances for a quality bowl.
“I’ve lived here for a long time, and every time I want ramen I have to travel to Ohio City or Chicago or New York,” he says. “So we wanted to bring something new to the area.”
Yu, the driving force behind Shinto, Lao Sze Chuan, YYTime, Build the Pho, Kenko Sushi and others, says that despite its popularity, ramen is still largely uncharted territory for many local diners.
“Most people are not as familiar with ramen,” he explains. “People are familiar with pho and other kinds of noodles, but most people only know the basics of ramen. Kyuramen offers more than just the basics.”
To pair with the ramen are starters such as shrimp tempura, fried oysters, yakitori, steam buns, takoyaki, okonomiyaki and more. There is also a selection of rice burgers, kamameshi – or “kettle rice”–and omurice, the social-media sensation that is a fluffy omelet sliced tableside to reveal a creamy core.
To drink there is beer, sake and soju.
In the front of restaurant is a standalone TBaar shop, which offers a great selection of bubble teas, milk teas, fruit teas and smoothies.
Yu revealed that he is already at work planning a second Kyuramen location on Cleveland’s east side.
Look for Kyuramen to open sometime in May.
Agave Social to Open in Former Beerhead Spot in Flats
Agave Social, a new Mexican eatery, will open in the former Beerhead space in the Flats East Bank, which closed this winter. The restaurant is the latest addition to the expanding hospitality group that includes Blue Agave on East 4th Street, Tacologist in University Circle, and multiple Azteca and
Tres Potrillos restaurants.
The owner describes Agave Social as a “stylish and social, always chill, go-to restaurant for tequila-forward drinks, modern Mexican bites, and patio vibes by the water.”
The plan is to open the doors in early August.
Ninja City to Usher in Refreshed Brand, Menu and Space Following Brief Closure
Ninja City burst onto the scene a decade ago in a brash, colorful way that represented the personality of its principals. Situated on a college campus in University Circle, the whimsical Asian pub was an homage to the 1980s-era kung fu flicks, comic books and video games that founders Bac Nguyen and Dylan Fallon grew up admiring.
When Ninja City relocated to Detroit Shoreway in 2018 (6706 Detroit Ave.), it brought with it the same sense of youthful playfulness that got it noticed in the first place. But now, a decade later, it’s time for the brand to grow up, says Fallon.
“When we started this, we were just trying to have fun – and that’s what we’re still trying to do,” Fallon explains. “But what was fun for us 10 years ago, it’s a little bit different now.”
Fallon says that like so many of his restaurant industry colleagues,
he and his team have been struggling to adapt to an ever-changing landscape since Covid. Their doors are still open, so they have fared better than many of their counterparts, but it was time for some soul searching, he adds.
“Last year we struggled quite a bit in a lot of ways, but as the economy continues to do what it does, the political world continues to evolve, we are faced with some tough choices,” he explains. “Either we really pull back on all the extra things that we do outside of Gordon Square or we double down, elevate the brand and give people a reason to choose Ninja City, become more aware of Ninja City, and to come back more often.”
To accomplish that, Fallon will close the doors following Dyngus Day on Monday, April 21. On Friday, May 2, Ninja City will reopen with a refreshed interior, revamped menu and restored sense of purpose.
“We are doing what we can to elevate the space – to take away some of the older, immature items that don’t necessarily need to be there,” he says. “Softening up the place is really important.”
In addition to new wall colors and décor, they will seal up the open kitchen, install Shou Sugi Ban (Japanese charred-wood siding), and introduce a permanent host station.
dtrattner@clevescene.com t@dougtrattner
Photo by Doug Trattner
MUSIC
THE CYCLE OF SOUND
Veteran rocker Bob Mould returns with his first new studio effort in more than four years
By Jeff Niesel
BY HIS OWN RECOLLECTION, it’s been about a decade since singer-guitarist Bob Mould played Cleveland with a band behind him. His last show at the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights convinced him that needs to change. As a result, when Mould plays on Tuesday, April 29, at the Grog Shop, he’ll have drummer Jon Wurster and bassist Jason Narducy backing him up.
“Not for nothing, when I came through last time at the Grog Shop, I thought, ‘Yeah, I need to bring the band back here,’” says Mould via phone. “That crowd was off the hook. [When I return,] it’s going to be a tornado.”
Mould’s musical resume features the time he spent fronting notable indie/alternative acts Husker Du and Sugar. But for the past two decades, Mould has actively pursued a solo career. His new studio album, Here We Go Crazy, represents his 15th solo effort and first full-length new album in more than four years.
Mould says the pandemic threw a wrench into his usual method of writing, recording and touring.
“My life is like a series of repeated cycles,” he says. “I write a record, I record a record, I wait for a bit. The record comes out, and people like you write about it. The last step is taking it out on stage and integrating it with the songbook. That’s where I get to see if I did my job right. I didn’t have that for two years [because of the pandemic], and it stunted the writing. In 2022, when I got back solo electric, I was bringing a handful of these songs
out. People were responding well. I kept writing. This was recorded at the beginning of 2024. That’s the backstory on how it took so long.”
The Southern California desert where he’s recently spent a significant amount of time provided inspiration for many of the tunes. Specifically, he and his husband recently started visiting Palm Springs on the regular.
“We enjoy the open space and found a little place to hang,” he says. “Right now, it’s back and forth between San Francisco and the desert. There’s a lot of inspiration. A lot of the record, especially the title track, is trying to describe the vibe: the time and the place and the open sky and that it’s a gay friendly place to live. It’s very quiet and unlike my normal life, whether it was New York or D.C. or San Francisco or Berlin. It takes getting used to, but it had a big impact on this record.”
says Mould. “It’s like the Fifth Dimension or even some Jimmy Webb stuff. I try to turn bits of phrases inside out. It has the tiniest amounts of ornamentation. I sing that the third time is the charm, and you hear the three door bells chime. It’s stuff like that. “
The thrashy, Foo Fighters-like “Fur Mink Augurs” has a similar intensity.
“I must have been high when I came up with the title,” says Mould. “I think I said it in the car, and I laughed. Then, I remembered it and thought what would it mean. It was cold in Minnesota, and it was a long winter. In life, we’re on a road and then we take an emotional turn. Then you go, ‘How the fuck did I end up here?’ in a bad way. There’s a lot of that stuff in the song. It’s a darker song. There’s broken glass and ambulances.”
The anthemic, brighter “You Need To Shine” marks the beginning of what Mould says is the album’s second act.
In typical Mould fashion, the album’s opening title track features a nice balance of noisy guitars and upper register vocals. Layers of vocals make the song really shimmer.
“When in doubt, take the song that sets the stage for everything else and put it first,” Mould says when asked about the tune. “You can also name the album after it. I’ve done this before, and I think about the song ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.’ You hear the band tune up and the crowd and fanfare. It’s like, ‘Here is where we are and the characters you are about to see.’ It’s trying to paint a little bit of a visual picture of what it’s like in the desert these days and a nice easy way for people to enter the records.”
With its driving guitars and rapid fire vocals, “Hard To Get,” another album highlight, has a raw intensity to it.
“That’s just me trying to be a clever pop song writer,”
“For the last three songs, I tried to give the album a happy ending,” he says. “It’s written for somebody really close to me. The idea is that music is therapy. Music can lift us all up. Do what you do. It’s your time to shine. It’s a real simple idea. It’s nothing too heavy.”
At 64, Mould admits he’s in the “fourth quarter” of his career. But, as the inspired new album demonstrates, he’s as committed as ever to the craft.
“In my twenties, I seriously doubted I would live past 30,” he says. “When I did, I realized this was my life and that I need to start taking care of myself to have a long life in music. It is everything to me. It is the first thing I think about when I wake up. I think about what I am going to do with music. I don’t take anything for granted. I do what I can to stay in physical shape. I am grateful that anyone is still listening, and I get a kick out of it.”
J. ROBBINS,
Bob Mould.|Ryan Bakerink
“Strange Love,” features a groovy guitar solo and some terrific organ riffs. 11609 Detroit Ave., 216-226-2767, brotherslounge.com.
Karenpalooza: A Euclid Tavern Reunion
The Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights hosts this special concert that pays tribute to the Euclid Tavern, a now-shuttered concert venue that provided noisy alternative bands with a place to play in the ‘90s. Derek Hess, Clay Parker, Ron K, Karen Novak, Keith Marlowe and Anastasia Panstios, artists and photographers who captured the scene will be on hand for the event, and Season to Risk, Lo-Pan and Red Giant will perform. It all begins at 8:30 p.m.
2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs.
Lachlan MacKinnon Annual Memorial Show
Wrong Places, OONGOW!!!, Whatever..., Strange Notes, Public Squares, Living Stereo, St. Fragile, and The Faraways play this annual concert that will pay tribute to Lachlan MacKinnon, a beloved local musician who tragically passed away last year. The concert begins at 8 p.m. at the Beachland Ballroom.
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.
SAT 04/26
Joseph Arthur
The talented musician who became a critics’ darling in the 1990s returns to the Beachland Tavern. Arthur signed to Peter Gabriel’s Gabriel’s Real World label in the 1990s and has regularly toured and recorded ever since. An Akron native, he often uses a variety of loops and pedals during his experimental live shows. The concert begins at 8 p.m. 15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.
SUN
OK Go
04/27
With its latest album, And the Adjacent Possible, this indie rock band pays tribute to the likes of Phil Spector, Toni Visconti and Nile Rodgers with the tunes such as the unhinged, psychedelic opener, “Impulse Purchase,” and the woozy, Mercury Rev-like “Don’t Give Up Now.” The group performs tonight at 7 at the Agora. L.A. Exes open the show. 5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.
WED 04/30
Michigan Rattlers
Last year, the band increased its visibility with its third studio album, Waving from
a Sea. Dominic John Davis (Jack White, Willie Nelson, Greensky Bluegrass). produced the project that finds the band combining heavy hitting lyricism with folk, Americana and country influences. 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs.
FRI 05/02
How We Feel
The local rock act How We Feel christens the new concert club Globe Iron with this inaugural show at the venue. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m., and A Sense of Purpose, Ghostatic and Erasing Never open.
2320 Center St., globeironcle.com.
Nada Surf
The terrific indie rock act comes to the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights in support of its new album, Moon Mirror. The LP represents Nada Surf’s first album in four years and marks the 30th anniversary of its debut single, “The Plan”/“Telescope.” The album features the kind of meticulously crafted power-pop tunes for which the band is known. The show begins at 8 p.m. 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs.
SUN 05/04
Durand Bernarr
Since the debut of his self-titled album, DUR&, in 2020, Durand Bernarr’s popularity has soared. He showcased his versatile persona and style in his music video for the soulful, Sade-like “Company,” and he also headlined the 2022 NYC PrideFest that included a live broadcast of his performance of “Stuck.” He brings his You Gon’ Grow, Too! Tour to House of Blues. The show begins at 7 p.m. 308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.
MON
The Damned
05/05
The Sex Pistols might get all the glory, but these guys were actually the first punk band from the United Kingdom to release a single and studio album. Tunes such as “New Rose” and “Neat Neat Neat” still sound groundbreaking for their ferocity. The group returns to town to play Globe Iron. The show begins at 7 p.m., and garage rockers the BellRays open. 2320 Center St., globeironcle.com.
