Happy Birthday to The Summit FM's Maestro of Music and Afternoon Host Brad Savage! 

Again this year we're putting together "Brad's SAVAGE Birthday Bash," but this time, it's three nights at three different venues!

FRIDAY - 2/21/25 - at The Rialto Theatre, Akron's Kenmore Neighborhood (Get Tickets)

• Katy Robinson (solo)
• Megan Bee
• JD Eicher (trio)

SATURDAY 2/22/25 - at Westside Bowl, Youngstown (Get Tickets)

• Ohayo
• Demos Papadimas
• MUNNYCAT

SUNDAY 2/23/25 - at Music Box Supper Club, Cleveland (Get Tickets)

• Kristine Jackson
• Marc Lee Shannon & My Other Brothers

By Summit FM Contributor Marc Lee Shannon

A few years ago, I wrote a column for the Devil Strip, a monthly local arts and community magazine, about the New Year, which was right around the corner. I pondered what to write about and chose "New Year, New Frames." Little did I know that the next year would have so much dynamic and dramatic change. It was December 2019.  

Fast-forward to today, December 17, 2024. I am looking at the preview of another year through the new calendar pages in the shiny, glossy end-of-year "Thanks for your Business!" calendar that my insurance company sent me. So, as I stand on the threshold of 2025, a pivotal question echoes in my mind: what do I want?  

What. Do. I. Want? 

Let's have a look back at the highlights of my year: 

I released another LP recording of songs with a group of guys called My Other Brothers, and it's a good record. Still, like most locally produced independent records, it was well received but quickly forgotten to make room for someone else's local independent record, and then the next, and the next, and so on.  

Sigh.  

I got married, and my wife and I, Kimina, found a later-in-life love that has a warm, special glow. Just when I thought I would be happy spending the rest of my days in my tiny house in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, the universe or God or whatever is driving this blue and green orb-shaped bus surprised us with a kind of happiness that we thought was beyond reach. This unexpected love story is a testament to the fact that it's never too late to find happiness. Whenever I see her walk in the door, I am tempted to say: "Are you sure you have the right house?" She's tall, blonde, and definitely Italian. She laughs uniquely and frequently, smiling and shaking her head at me with her arms akimbo. I love her so much.  

It was also a year of loss. Some friendships moved on (and some were rocky but salvaged). My wife lost both of her senior dogs in quick succession. The house we live in seems too quiet some days, even with three adults in a tiny late 50 Heslop home intended for a post-war mom and dad with 2.5 kids as a starter home.  

My mom finally and mercifully was released from the grips of dementia two months after my older sister Marta fell asleep on her easy chair and did not wake up. The cancer in her lungs was no match for this tough ex-Youngstown native, and she fought a brave and good fight. It hurts, and I miss them both.  

Some days, I catch myself wishing for those five more minutes when we all want to say the things and ask the questions we remember when it's too late.  

Looking back on '24, other things were sudden and surprising. I broke the fourth Metacarpal bone in my left hand, a disaster for a right-handed guitar player, and had surgery. Not playing or working out, swinging a 60-lb kettlebell for two months, made me an entertaining guy to be around—just ask my wife. 

Still, I feel lucky after all the loss, injury, and ups and downs. I am, for the most part, able-bodied. I can walk when and where I want, see clearly, breathe deeply, and do what I please. It's not lost on me that these simple things are unavailable to some who would remind me to be grateful. I am mostly solvent, and like most semi-successful working artists these days, I made a little bit of money on a lot of different things. I got by just fine.  

I have food to eat, a car to get around, clean clothes to wear, and a warm house in the chill of the Ohio winter. I have friends to call when I need help. After celebrating 10 years of recovery from alcohol use disorder, I am now more able to say, "Please, help me."  I have the life I always wanted.  

So, what do I want for the new year of 2025? Well, this time of year, when we are drawn to traditions and memories of holidays in the past, I am filled with the memories of kitchen smells, holiday twinkle sights, and whispers and sounds of the people who are no longer walking this earth. Humans I loved and cherished. So, it's straightforward for me. What I want more than anything in the new year is: 

I want the people I love to stay.  

Stay with me on this earth; stay with me for another moment, month, or year so that I can wrap my arms around what matters more than anything this material world can offer: love, family, and friends.  

Just stay a little longer, please—five more minutes. I promise to remember to say how I feel and ask that question I might forget. 

Happy New Year to one and all.  Stay Standing and Steady On.  

By Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor

Throughout the years, contemporary artists of whatever genre have tossed their Santa hat in the ring, trying to create a classic Christmas album. Countless takes of holiday standards mixed with self-penned songs of the season would become standard, while at other times, artists would issue special 'fan club only' releases featuring a special Christmas jam for the most die-hard fans.

From the classic Elvis Christmas songs to the legendary Beatles fan club messages to chart-topping pop acts, it's always a seasonal go-to. The Ventures Christmas Album, issued in 1965, is one of the most perfectly executed holiday albums, while albums by James Brown, Booker T & the MGs, and others also hold a special place. We can throw another one on the pile, courtesy of Americana/roots rocker J.D. McPherson, with his album Socks.

Issued in 2018 on the New West label, it is, in some ways, a Christmas 'concept' album, with songs dealing with some of the more trivial aspects of the holiday while maintaining a warmth and heart bursting at the seams with holiday cheer and goodness! Over the platter of 11 songs, we get such modern-day classics as “Ugly Sweater Blues,” “Bad Kid,” “Santa's Got A Mean Machine,” “Hey Skinny Santa’” and the classic title track about the dreaded gift of socks. There are no renditions of traditional material, but rather, all McPherson originals, each with a seasonal vibe not only in the lyrics but in the arrangement as well.

The other thing at play here is that you really have no idea what year this album sprang from. It is so authentic in its vintage vibe that you wouldn't be alone in questioning the 2018 release date, as it could have just as arguably been born 60 years earlier! That doesn't mean it sounds like a novelty or kitsch offering, but it rings so true with performances and a sonic blast that transcends time. Whether it is a long-lost artifact from the early years of rock and roll or a 21st-century adaptation of hip, it totally works. Unsurprisingly, he has spent time in the backing band for Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.

McPherson delivers in full throughout, while his cracker-jack band gives it an edge that saves it from cliché and parody. It’s full of smiles and the humor surrounding the season, guaranteed to set a festive mood. It's a modern-day Christmas classic, without question!

By Summit Music Director Chad Miller

One of the more nerdy and, I suppose, intense things about me when it comes to attending concerts has always been going for the setlist after the show. We've all been to concerts that leave lasting memories for us in the moment and in the time that follows, but as the years go by, some of those memories certainly fade. Having the setlist can really take you back instantly to remember quite literally exactly what songs were played that night. Plus, it's a real tangible memory of that specific moment in time and the music you heard. It's almost sort of a living, breathing history in a sense.

Thanks to all the venues near and far that host such important and outstanding musicians every night around the area. These are the setlists I was able to acquire throughout my concert-going experiences in 2024.

Torres
January 17, 2024
Grog Shop
Cleveland Heights, OH

Joseph
January 27, 2024
House of Blues
Cleveland, OH

The Record Company
February 3, 2024
Grog Shop
Cleveland Heights, OH

Band of Horses
February 12, 2024
Roxian Theater
Pittsburgh, PA

The Kills
February 18
Newport Music Hall
Columbus, OH

Sleater-Kinney
March 20, 2024
Newport Music Hall
Columbus, OH

Nation of Language
April 1, 2024
Cambridge Room at House of Blues
Cleveland, OH

Real Estate
April 12, 2024
The Roxy at Mahall's
Lakewood, OH

Alvvays
April 18, 2024
Agora Theater
Cleveland, OH

Bully
April 27, 2024
Federal Frenzy Music Festival 2024
Youngstown, OH

Gary Clark Jr.
May 24, 2024
Jacobs Pavilion
Cleveland, OH

Noah Kahan
May 28, 2024
Blossom Music Center
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Maggie Rose
May 30, 2024
Beachland Ballroom
Cleveland, OH

Band of Horses
June 17, 2024
House of Blues
Cleveland, OH

Jamie Wyatt
June 27, 2024
Beachland Ballroom
Cleveland, OH

Detention / Off-Leash
June 29, 2024
Musica
Akron, OH

Lake Street Dive
July 9, 2024
TempleLive Masonic
Cleveland, OH

Norah Jones
July 11, 2024
Blossom Music Center
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Maggie Rose
July 25, 2024
Musica
Akron, OH

All setlists from the above photo are from the Nelsonville Music Festival, in Nelsonville, OH

Amyl & the Sniffers
July 26, 2024

The Nude Party
July 27, 2024

Indigo De Souza
July 27, 2024

Courtney Barnett
July 27, 2024

The Heavy Heavy
July 28, 2024

John Vincent III
July 28, 2024

Thee Sacred Souls
July 28, 2024

Hozier
August 6, 2024
Blossom Musci Center
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Stephen Sanchez
August 7, 2024
Jacobs Pavilion
Cleveland, OH

Iron & Wine
August 20, 2024
Agora Theater
Cleveland, OH

Waxahatchee
August 26, 2024
Carnegie Music Hall
Pittsburgh, PA

Stephen Wilson Jr.
September 5, 2024
Grog Shop
Cleveland Heights, OH

Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit
September 10, 2024
Jacobs Pavilion
Cleveland, OH

The Hives
September 17, 2024
House of Blues
Cleveland, OH

Vampire Weekend
September 19, 2024
Blossom Music Center
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Joe P
September 20, 2024
Grog Shop
Cleveland Heights, OH

The War on Drugs
September 21, 2024
Blossom Music Center
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

The National
September 21, 2024
Blossom Music Center
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Lake Street Dive
September 30, 2024
Kemba Live
Columbus, OH

Yard Act
October 5, 2024
Grog Shop
Cleveland Heights, OH

Hinds
October 22, 2024
Grog Shop
Cleveland Heights, OH

Bully (opening for Suki Waterhouse)
December 6, 2024
Agora Theater
Cleveland, OH

I've been going to concerts for over two decades now, and one of the aspects of the concert-going experience that's always struck me is getting to the merch table upon arriving to see what's available to purchase. I'll usually buy myself a band t-shirt with the actual tour dates on the back as a way of supporting the artists and also to show off a bit via my wardrobe of these bands I like. But the one thing I always look out for and get excited about is the super cool artwork of the concert posters some bands have available with even some of them in limited numbered quantities. The culture of concert posters goes way back to the late '60s, and while it diminished for a bit in the '80s, there was quite a resurgence that took place in the late '90s going forward. There's some truly amazing art being created by these extremely talented poster artists. With the rare amount of some of these that get produced, they go VERY fast at the venue, making them highly collectible. Many bands are even known for having a reputation as having unique concert posters available for each date on their respective tours as well. I have many of my own professionally framed and displayed in my home and office where they really stand out as the pop art pieces that they are but also proudly tell a story of a moment in time of that concert I was at, documenting all those memories along the way.

Thanks to all the many concert poster artists who create such vibrant, mind expanding, and just flat out really cool designs with their work.. These are the concert posters I was able to acquire throughout my concert-going experiences in 2024…

1.) Band of Horses
February 12, 2024 (tour poster)
Roxian Theater
Pittsburgh, PA
ARTIST: unknown

2.) 330 Day concert
March, 30, 2024
Kent Stage
Kent, OH
ARTIST: Ryan Humbert

3.) Federal Frenzy Music Festival 2024
April 27, 2024
Penguin City Brewing
Youngstown, OH
ARTIST: YSU Penguin Productions

4.) Khruangbin
May 29, 2024
Jacobs Pavilion
Cleveland, OH
ARTIST: Bjorn Lie

5.) Khruangbin
June 5, 2024
Kemba Live
Columbus, OH
ARTIST: Nadeesha Godamunne

6.) Band of Horses
June 17, 2024 (tour poster)
House of Blues
Cleveland, OH
ARTIST: unknown

7.) Nelsonville Music Festival 2024
July 26-28, 2024
Snow Fork Event Center
Nelsonville, OH
ARTIST: Logan Schmitt

8.) Nelsonville Music Festival 2024
July 26-28, 2024
Snow Fork Event Center
Nelsonville, OH
ARTIST: Just a Jar Design Press

9.) Hozier
August 6, 2024
Blossom Music Center
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
ARTIST: unknown

10.) Iron & Wine
August 20, 2024 (tour poster)
Agora Theater
Cleveland, OH
ARTIST: Ambient Inks

11.) King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
August 24, 2024
Jacobs Pavilion
Cleveland, OH
ARTIST: Jason Galea

12.) Waxahatchee
August 26, 2024
Carnegie Music Hall
Pittsburgh, PA
ARTIST: unknown

13.) Jack White
August 29, 2024
Mr. Smalls Theater
Pittsburgh, PA
ARTIST: Silent Giants

14.) Jack White
August 31, 2024
Newport Music Hall
Columbus, OH
ARTIST: Silent Giants

15.) Mitski
September 3, 2024
Jacobs Pavilion
Cleveland, OH
ARTIST: Bradley Amorosino

16.) Stephen Wilson Jr.
September 5, 2024
Grog Shop
Cleveland Heights, OH
ARTIST: unknown

17.) Pearl Jam
September 9, 2024
Wells Fargo Center
Philadelphia, PA
ARTIST: Ames Bros

18.) Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit
September 10, 2024
Jacobs Pavilion
Cleveland, OH
ARTIST: Camp Nevernice

19.) The Hives
September 17, 2024
House of Blues
Cleveland, OH
ARTIST: We Three Club

20.) The War on Drugs
September 21, 2024
Blossom Music Center
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
ARTIST: George Manta

21.) The National
September 21, 2024
Blossom Music Center
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
ARTIST: Robert Beatty

By Chad Miller - Summit FM Music Director

Anyone who knows me well knows that I absolutely love going to concerts. It's my favorite thing to do. If we're being honest, it's also about the overall experience. Everything from getting excited about seeing an artist or band you're a big fan of or even casually curious about. Being inside the venue as the anticipation builds, with all the sights, sounds, senses, and history. Hanging out with a friend or several friends all evening while being surrounded by hundreds of other people, all there for the same reason: purely soaking in the atmosphere as lifetime memories of a singular moment in time are formed. Really, even just being entertained for the evening! 

So, with that, I'm sharing with you my list of the 25 best concerts I've seen this year to close out 2024. Trust me when I tell you that it was HARD narrowing this down, but these live music highlights were certainly the best I was lucky enough to see throughout the year:

What were the best and most memorable concerts YOU attended in 2024? Email me at chad@thesummit.fm, and let me know who you were able to see LIVE!

By Sarah Swirsky - Summit FM Wellness Coordinator

The holiday season is a time of celebration, but it can also bring stress, overwhelm, and emotional exhaustion. Between endless to-do lists, financial pressures, and complex family dynamics, it’s easy to feel like the joy of the season is slipping away. 

One often-overlooked tool for managing holiday stress is music. The power of music goes beyond entertainment—it can be a grounding force that soothes the mind and uplifts the spirit. 

Here’s how you can use music to navigate holiday stress: 

1. Create a Calm Playlist 
   Set aside time to create a playlist of songs that help you relax. Slow tempos, soft melodies, or instrumental tracks can calm your mind and help you feel more centered. When holiday chaos strikes, press play and let the music guide you back to balance. 

2. Turn Stress into Movement 
   Dance it out! Whether it’s to a holiday classic or your favorite pop anthem, moving your body to music is a great way to release pent-up stress. It’s a mood booster that requires no special equipment—just a willingness to let go and enjoy the moment. 

3. Sing Your Heart Out 
   Singing isn’t just fun—it’s a natural stress reliever that activates the vagus nerve, a key player in calming your nervous system. The vagus nerve helps regulate your body’s stress response, and singing stimulates it through controlled breathing and vocal vibration. This can lower your heart rate, reduce anxiety, and create a sense of calm. Whether you're caroling with friends, humming a holiday tune, or belting out songs in the shower, singing can help you feel more relaxed and grounded. Plus, it’s an easy way to tap into joy and connect with others during the holidays. 

Music is more than just sound—it's a way to express emotions, release tension, and build connection. Whether you’re unwinding with a serene melody or coming together with loved ones for a sing-along, let music be your companion during the holidays. 

This season, take a break from the hustle and bustle, tune into The Summit FM, or find other ways to listen, including our new mindful music streaming channel, Wavelengths, available on our free app. 

Summit Wellness wishes you a harmonious holiday season filled with health, connection, and music. 

By Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor

The Blind Boys of Alabama are an American institution, keepers of the flame of a musical tradition and cornerstone. Founded in 1939 in Talladega, Alabama, the ensemble has, obviously, changed members several times over the decades, all the while maintaining the legacy established way back when. Over those years, they were always there, if mainly in the shadows of the larger music world. At some point in the early 1980s, it was like a light switch went on, and suddenly, the praises of these legends were being sung. Established rock and rollers and blues acts like Lou Reed, Prince, Peter Gabriel, Bonnie Raitt, and Bon Iver collaborated with the group, and mainstream success was calling.

In 2003, their Christmas collaborative effort, Go Tell it on the Mountain, was released to much fanfare and success. Among those making appearances on the album were soul legends Solomon Burke, Mavis Staples, and Aaron Neville, who, alongside rockers Chrissie Hynde, Tom Waits, and Richard Thompson, brought the spotlight to the project. Toss in the jazz artistry of Les McCann and the contemporary styles of Me'Shell Ndegeocello and Shelby Lynne, and it is no wonder why the album became a touchstone of modern gospel, blues, and soul. It won a Grammy that year for best contemporary gospel recording while charting at number one on the gospel charts.

The core band on the recordings was equally a powerhouse: Duke Robillard on guitar, John Medeski on organ, Danny Thompson on bass, and Michael Jerome on drums, all A-list players. Their take on Christmas classics like “Oh Come All Ye Faithful,” “White Christmas,” “Little Drummer Boy,” and “Joy to the World” presented those standards in a new light, while the collaboration with Tom Waits on the title track was nothing short of brilliant.

Since their acceptance in the mainstream, they have had their music used in countless films and television shows, performed for two US presidents, won more Grammy awards, and kept a connection to rock and soul artists via more collaborations. They even recorded their own versions of rock and roll/soul classics from the Rolling Stones, Funkadelic, Curtis Mayfield, and Stevie Wonder, to name a few.

The album in discussion here, Go Tell it on the Mountain, is a joyful soundtrack to any given Christmas. It rings out with joy, hope, and love and seems to gain ground with each passing year.

Join us for a meaningful, sober-friendly New Year's Eve afternoon celebration at House 330 at 532 W. Market St. in Akron. The day will kick off with music from The Summit FM and delicious offerings from House 330 vendors, including Secret Pizza and Taco Tuesday specials.

At 2:30 p.m., Marc Lee Shannon will host a recovery-focused meeting to help you kickstart your intentions for 2025. Then, enjoy an uplifting Music and Message performance by local musician and advocate Chrissy Strong, who brings her unique perspective as an artist in recovery.

Throughout the event, Art+ Wellness activities, hosted by Amber Keaton Art, will provide opportunities for creativity and mindfulness. This is the perfect chance to reflect, recharge, and celebrate the new year with intention.

Schedule (subject to change):

1:00-2:00 p.m. Enjoy music by The Summit FM and delicious food from House 330 vendors, including Secret Pizza and Taco Tuesday specials.

2:30-3:00 p.m. Recovery-Focused Meeting: Kickstarting Intentions for 2025, hosted by Marc Lee Shannon.

3:00 p.m. Music and Message performance by local musician in recovery, Chrissy Strong.

4:00 to 4:45 p.m. Berhane Okantah, local multi-instrumentalist, will lead a casual drum circle to enhance wellness and kick off the New Year right! All ages welcome and no experience necessary.

Art+ Wellness activities will be ongoing throughout the event, hosted by Amber Keaton Art

"Crank It Up" is a new feature on Summit Now spotlighting five favorite songs as chosen by a different Summit listener or member. Get ready to crank it up!

Guest Contributor: Noelle B.

1. "Surfin' Bird" by the Trashmen This song brings back memories of not only hearing it on the radio when I was a kid, but I think the Ghoul or Big Chuck used to play this on their late-night shows.
   
2. "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow" by Frank Zappa My older sisters used to have Zappa albums, and I always thought this song was so funny. (Don't go where the huskies go...)
   
3. "Coming to Take Me Away" by Napolean XIV An epic song! I loved it as a kid; as a nurse, we sang this during "appropriate" moments. I recorded this on my cell phone the last time The Summit FM played it so that I can use it as a ringtone.
   
4. "Happy Boy" by the Beat Farmers I love the singer's baritone voice, and it really is a happy song. A coworker saw the Beat Farmers play on a cruise ship last year in Cabo and said they were really good! I think the kazoo and the gargling really do it for me on that song! (Hubba, hubba...)
   
5. "Peaches" by the Presidents of the United States When this song was released in 1996, we were moving to Texas, and on that God-awful long drive, I heard this song play like a million times. So, we were moving to the country and actually did eat a lot of peaches, but this song will always bring back memories of the trip. I just bought the CD at The Exchange recently, and I love that the young folks working there never give me the side eye when I ask them to retrieve older music from the locked case.  Some of them will ask me to give them some history of music they've never heard before!