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According to a CNN report in June last year, suicide rates in the U.S. are at the highest level since World War II. On February 8th, a local concert is dedicated to the memories of every tragic loss by increasing suicide prevention, awareness and education. The GNL Rocks Music Benefit is being held to remember the son, brother, and friend, Gabriel Nicholas Lopez, who died of suicide on October 15, 2018. On this episode, we’ll be talking to the organizer of this event and the mother of Gabriel, Angela Finn. All proceeds will benefit counseling and suicide education agencies in our area, including Kelly's Grief Center. We’ll hear how Angela turned her grief into something positive. At the event, you will hear Joe Culley play tabla drums; various soulful acoustic acts, including Nick Ashbaugh, Guy Pernetti and Jim Zeller; blues artist Ray Flanagan; reggae inspiration from David Smeltz; punk band Dump Cake; power pop band, Librarians With Hickeys; progressive fusion core sounds of Kent band Mount Ratz; fast and furious rock and roll band from Cleveland the Tufted Puffins; and Northcoast Americana band Hey Mavis. During the episode, we preview two of the acts at the event.  First, we've got exclusive access to Akron's Librarians with Hickeys' new song called “That Time Is Now” that is planned for a spring release on Big Stir Records. And we have a track from Cleveland punk rockers Tufted Puffins called "Good Times". Tickets available at gnlbenefit.eventbrite.com. We all need help in living our best lives and preventing suicide so that no friend or family endures life's challenges alone. There is help and support. If you or someone you know is struggling, please call the National Suicide Lifeline for help. The number is: 1-800-273-8255. http://thetuftedpuffins.com/ https://www.facebook.com/librarianswithhickeys/ https://www.thekentstage.com/e/gnl-benefit-concert-for-suicide-awareness-education-and-prevention-89327453819/

It's getting very merry on the CoolCLE Show this week as we are joined by Michael McFarland, the creator and curator of a series of ListenCLE mix tapes on Spotify. McFarland is a very active local musician and artist in Cleveland and surrounding areas.  2019 has been a big year for him, with the release of new music, the launch of an underground music venue in his home and now curating a series of mood-based playlists featuring nothing but local Cleveland and Northeast Ohio bands & songwriters - both old and new.  The latest of these playlists is called "Holiday Vibes" and it features 11 Christmas and wintery tunes. We're talking to him about how and why he embarked on this new task and where he sees it going in the future.  We also are featuring four of the songs on the playlist. First up is Meg and the Magnetosphere, an ethereal alt-rock band inspired by the lyrics & melodies of front-woman Meganne Stepka, with its 2019 remix of "Glow". Then, The Modern Electric with its very popular, local holiday release, "Northcoast Christmas".  They say they play "Cinematic Rock to soundtrack your cinematic life". The Fair Dowells' "Christmas for Two" is the penultimate track. This Cleveland duo was recently featured on NPR's Applause Performances and features beautiful harmonies, acoustic guitar & ukulele, and powerful, heartfelt songwriting. And finally, a track from Shawn and Shelby - Shawn Brewster on acoustic guitar and vocals and Shelby Sangdahl on cello - with "Christmas and Whiskey". http://listencle.com/ http://michaelmcfarlandmusic.com/ https://www.facebook.com/megnetosphere/ https://www.facebook.com/thefairdowells/ https://www.themodernelectric.com https://shawnandshelbymusic.bandcamp.com/

Quire Cleveland returns to its holiday tradition of offering Christmas carols of the season, showcasing Renaissance arrangements of the seven “O” Antiphons of Advent, contrasted with traditional carols. We’re joined by its Artistic Director, Jay White, to learn about the choir, the inspiration and process of creating this year’s holiday repertoire and what carols you’ll need to learn for the audience participation bit. You can catch this year’s Quire Cleveland performances at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church on Friday the 20th, Our Lady of Peace Church on Saturday the 21st or St. Peter Catholic Church on Sunday the 22nd. Admission to all concerts is free. Seating is open, and no tickets or reservations are required. A freewill offering will be taken with a suggested donation $25 per person. Plus music from The Chesterton's and Liberty Light Machine. https://www.quirecleveland.org/ https://www.thechestertonsmusic.com/home/blog/new-single-is-this-real-enough-yet https://libertylightmachine.bandcamp.com/album/the-inevitable-is-now

This week, we're speaking to local writer, Don Billie, about his recently published graphic novel, "Hey You Punks!" - a coming of age memoir about his true, wild teen antics growing up in Cleveland's West Side in the 1970s. Set in Cleveland's gritty past, bullying was a rite of passage, fun and hooliganism was synonymous and getting swatted at school was a badge of honor. Billie's graphic novel narrates his true experience of growing up as a young punk. On this episode, he talks us through some of the capers he got up to, why the graphic novel format was perfect for telling his story and how he's seen Cleveland change over the years. Also music from Kim Kennedy and Diana Chittester. https://www.visiblevoicebooks.com/events/hey-you-punks-don-billie-book-signing/ https://www.facebook.com/events/400264003981133/ https://www.allyouneediskim.com/ https://www.dianachittester.com/ https://www.themusicsettlement.org/calendar/2019/11/15/travelin-troubadours-featuring-diana-chittester-eric-gnezda-and-ryan-humbert-bop-stop

This week, we have local author Jill Grunenwald with us to talk about her latest book “Reading Behind Bars”, which is an insider’s story of being a Prison Librarian. The book is out now and available at all reputable booksellers and you can catch her locally at book readings and signings including August 28th at Westlake Porter Public Library and September 14th at Learned Owl in Hudson. Also new music from Uptight Sugar with “Crawl” off its new EP. you can see them live next on September 19th when they are supporting another Cleveland band, Bad Hooks with its album release at the Music Box. And Daniel Rylander, just one of the 76 acts announced the other week for the Heights Music Hop being held September 12-15th. https://www.jillgrunenwald.com/ https://www.uptightsugar.com http://www.danielrylander.com http://www.heightsmusichop.com/

This week, we’re joined by Gretchen Dupps, President & Executive Director, of Cleveland Angels - a charity operating in the Cleveland region that supports foster parents and children. Tickets are available for two of its fundraising events. Don't Stop Believing on October 4th and a performance from thrillusionist, David Davinci on November 16th. We also have new music from Rick Ray Band and an archive track from Blue Radio. https://www.cleangels.org http://www.rickray.net/ https://www.facebook.com/blueradio14/

Do you DIY in the CLE? Doing it yourself can take many forms...from tackling a little home renovation to maintaining your own vehicle. On this episode, we’re talking to a couple of organizations that are helping citizens be empowered to do it themselves. Steve Knoble of Knoble Moto - with Motorcycle Maintenance Classes out of Skidmark Garage, a 10,000 sq. ft. community motorcycle garage. And David Brock of the Home Repair Resource Center, a charity operating out of Cleveland Heights that holds regular home maintenance, buying classes and a tool library. Plus we have music from Meg and the Magnetosphere and Librarians with Hickeys. http://skidmarkgarage.com/ https://knoblemoto.com/ https://hrrc-ch.org/ https://www.facebook.com/megnetosphere/ https://lwh1962.wixsite.com/librarians

On this episode, we have Erin O’Brien, co-author of a new book chronicling burlesque entertainment in Cleveland called, “Rust Belt Burlesque - The Softer Side of a Heavy Metal Town” which is out now. It traces the history of burlesque in Cleveland from the mid-1800s to the present day, while also telling the story of Bella Sin, a Mexican immigrant who largely drove Northeast Ohio’s neo-burlesque comeback. The historical center of Cleveland burlesque was the iconic Roxy Theater on East Ninth Street. Here, in its twentieth-century heyday, famed dancers like Blaze Starr and comics like Red Skelton and Abbott and Costello entertained both regulars and celebrity guests. Erin O'Brien’s lively storytelling and Bob Perkoski’s color photos give readers a peek into the raucous Ohio Burlesque Festival that packs the house at the Beachland Ballroom every year. Today’s burlies come in all shapes, ethnicities, and orientations, drawing a legion of adoring fans. We also have music from Kevin Conaway and a brand new track from Canton's The Scenic Route. http://erinobrien.us/upcoming-events/ https://www.kevinconaway.com https://www.facebook.com/TSROUTE/