Pencil Storm readers in central Ohio: consider yourselves warned! Austin, Texas rock and roll outfit Bottlelcap Mountain is bouncing through the Midwest with stops in Columbus and Dayton this week.

On Tuesday, March 28 the “Strictly Legal” Tour hits Blind Bob’s in Dayton. Bob’s is a personal favorite spot of mine, having played that stage many times (and again this coming April)! It’s where I was introduced to the pickleback (called a Tommy Gun at Bob’s), and was the setting that led to the events that inspired our song “Hey Kentucky.” Anyhow, Bob’s rules and it’s gonna be a ripper!

On Wednesday it’s 72 miles to the east for a show at The Spacebar in Columbus, with local support from Bade and Clay White. Most Pencil Storm readers don’t need a history lesson about Columbus, it’s venues, and music scene (my own personal relationship with the city was exhaustively documented here). Let’s just say – go to the Spacebar on Wednesday night!

I spent the weekend with Bottlecap Nation up here in Michigan. They hit the stage hard with a Gibson SG dialed in to the likes of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin grooves, but the pop sensibilities, hooks and melodies of early Who and Kinks singles, and a good dose of later-era songwriting masters like Westerberg, Pollard, and Tweedy. Then throw in some soaring harmonies, and a rhythm section that locks in tight, seemingly (deceptively) without effort, and you’ve got a decent overview of their sound.

It’s a great set, and easily worth your weeknight time and entertainment dollar. Do yourself a solid and catch one of these shows, and don’t head to the parking lot without a stop at the merch table!

Jeremy Porter is a Co-Editor in Chief at Pencil Storm. He lives near Detroit and fronts the rock and roll band Jeremy Porter And The Tucos. Follow them on Facebook to read his road blog about their adventures on the dive-bar circuit.
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Twitter: @jeremyportermi | Instagram: @onetogive & @jeremyportermusic