Adrian Belew is not only one of the most accomplished musicians to come out of Greater Cincinnati -- his place in the history of 20th Century music is huge and often under-noticed. The Covington-born Belew is a visionary and true guitar original, constantly experimenting with sounds, tones, textures, rhythms, playing styles and technology.
The projects for which he plays "frontman" (from solo albums to King Crimson to The Bears) might cause head-scratches from the uninitiated, but his "sideman" gigs have often been crucial to the sonic evolution of some hugely influential artists. It's a safe bet that without Belew, pivotal projects from Talking Heads, Laurie Anderson, Tom Tom Club and Frank Zappa would have sounded vastly different -- and that's not counting all of the varied recording projects he's participated in, including albums by Nine Inch Nails, Tori Amos and William Shatner.
Belew swings through his native Northern Kentucky for a show with his Power Trio, which consists of two stunning young musicians, sibling rhythm section Eric and Julie Slick.