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Assorted ramblings from the world of entertainment:
Left End wasn't the only local favorite to say farewell last weekend.
Donnie Iris announced on Friday that he is retiring from performing. Iris wrote that he reached the decision, "After much thought and in light of recent health issues," and that his concert Sept. 28 at Live at The Wylie in Pittsburgh, was his last.
Through a social media post, Iris said, "I have made the difficult decision to retire from future concert performances. Music has given me far more than I could ever put into words. From the earliest days to every chapter of my life, your support has been a constant source of joy and inspiration. I am deeply grateful to my daughters and my entire family, the musicians, crew members, promoters, venues and especially the fans who made this life possible."
The post concluded, "While I will no longer be performing live, the memories, the music and the connections we have built together will always remain close to my heart. Thank you for your loyalty, your energy and your love through all the years. It has been my great honor to make music for you."
Iris is a Beaver Falls, Pa., native, but he played enough gigs in the Mahoning Valley to be embraced as a local. The original name of his band, the Cruisers, was the Turnpike Cruisers because he spent so much time playing gigs between Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
He played so many ribs cook offs and similar events locally that some folks, when hearing "Ah! Leah!," may instinctively look down at their shirts to make sure they didn't drip any sauce on it.
I talked to him at least a half dozen times over the years. He always was a gracious interview and spoke fondly of his many gigs here.
I didn't catch any of his shows after his initial cancer diagnosis in 2023, but he was pushing 80 the last time I saw him live, and he sounded better and was more energetic than many of his contemporaries.
Here's hoping his life away from the stage is as joyful as he made audiences feel when he was on stage.
A bit of intestinal distress kept me from making it to Left End on Saturday. I think I've surpassed the age when fast food at midnight is a good idea (if it ever was).
But I did get to see a band I hadn't seen for more than 30 years at the Agora Theatre in Cleveland on Friday.
I went through the 1980s aware of, but not really listening to, Husker Du. My first real exposure to Bob Mould was his debut solo album "Workbook" in 1989. Despite a near miss, I didn't see him on his tours with that album or "Black Sheets of Rain."
My first time feeling the full wall of volume Mould can deliver live came at the old Empire Concert Club in downtown Cleveland with his band Sugar in 1992 and a year or two later at the Agora. The bottom end of the sound was so loud, it hit my chest like a blow from Mike Tyson ... or at least Jake Paul.
I've seen Mould many times since then, either solo electric or with his band, and even went to the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., to see him perform Sugar's "Copper Blue" album in its entirety a dozen or so years ago.
Sugar is touring together for the first time in 31 years with its original lineup -- Mould, guitar and vocals; David Barbe, bass and vocals; and Malcolm Travis, drums -- and played the Agora Friday and Pittsburgh's Stage AE the following night.
It was as wonderful -- and as loud -- as I expected. I think I reached for the earplugs by the third note. New songs "Long Live Love" and "House of Dead Memories" blended seamlessly with old favorites such as "Helpless," "Hoover Dam," "JC Auto," "Your Favorite Thing" and "If I Can't Change Your Mind."
I never was a fan when Barbe sang lead vocals, but even "Where Diamonds Are Halos" hit the mark on Friday ("Company Book" less so).
Since Sugar has released three singles this year, I don't know if the band will tour again in support of a new album, or if this reunion tour was a one-and-done. I suspect it's the latter, but either way it was a fun trip back in time with what may be my favorite '90s band.
Andy Gray is the entertainment editor of Ticket. Write to him at agray@tribtoday.com.