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It is Festival Weekend in the Dayton Region!

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Lots going on this weekend in and around Dayton, especially if you like festivals.  We have four big festivals to let you know about here…

Beavercreek Popcorn FestivalBeavercreek Popcorn Festival – this annual fest features over 200 booths serving festival food and lots of goodies made with, well – popcorn of course!  There is also a car show and “5k Popcorn Run”, not to mention lots of stuff for kids.  If you like popcorn then this festival is for you!

Italian Fall Festa – if ethnic is your thing – specifically Italiana – then head over to Kettering for this italianfestawesome annual fest.  Pizza, meatballs, cannolis, Italian breads – it will all be there!  Entertainment includes live music and on Sunday watch the Browns vs Bengals on their big screens!

Vandalia Oktoberfest – keeping with the ethnic theme, if you prefer German (and specifically BEER) then you’ll want to be in Vandalia for this festival.  Featuring German Potato Salad, Brats, Sauerkraut, and of course BEER, this is always a great time.

And finally, the 2009 Greek Festival – what many consider to be the fest of all fests!  Held at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church just behind the Dayton Art Institute, this festival has all of the awesome gyros, Greek cheeses and pastries to die for!  Get your Opa! on and come to this Dayton favorite!

Introducing The Buddha Den NTRO/XPO September Residency: Kuan

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…as The Buddha Den NTRO/XPO celebrates one full year at Oregon Express as a FREE weekly event, we are very pleased to kick off our September Residency this evening with Kuan. The band are currently putting the finishing touches on their soon-to-be-released double EP, which they plan to showcase throughout the month, and you can get a taste of that below. Kuan also have a slew of East Coast tour dates lined up for October…

…Having served in numerous local outfits over the years, the collective members of Kuan are anything but green. Certainly their sound falls in the post-rock realm, with its guitar-driven instrumental nature, but it’s also easy to hear much influence from the jazz, psychedelic, and classic rock realms as well. Over the course of September, we’re planning to hear one of the best unsung bands in Dayton stretch out and show an impressive musical range. Hope you can join us….

MP3: Kuan “G”

Welcome The Buddha Den to DaytonMostMetro.com!

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The Buddha DenI’m pleased to announce that we have our first official syndicated blog here on DMM, and we went big with this one!  Please welcome The Buddha Den – the BEST local music blog anywhere in the Dayton Region!  Kyle Melton is the man behind the blog, and as a lifelong Daytonian he knows the local music scene as well as anybody.  If you want to read more about him, just head over to the the articles about his two-year anniversary featured in this week’s Active Dayton and Dayton City Paper.

The Buddha Den covers the local music scene with a primary focus on indie rock.  In addition to very well written posts about local shows, bands and even national indie groups (that are usually playing a show in Dayton), The Buddha Den features many great mp3’s from Dayton’s best bands – with the stipulation that they are for sampling only, and he encourages folks to support the bands by buying their music and/or coming to shows.  So if you want to listen to a track or two before deciding to go check out a show then head over to the Buddha Den’s site and you’ll likely find it there.

So what is all this syndication all about?  It just means that you’ll be able to read Buddha Den posts here on DMM in their entirety shortly after they’re published.  If you’re a true local music junkie then you’ll likely just go straight to The Buddha Den’s site, but if you just want one site to get the overview then you can get it here.  Look for more syndications in the near future as we continue our quest to make DMM the most comprehensive online magazine in the region!

Buffalo Killers Issue Limited Edition 7″

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…with an appearance at the 2009 Dayton Music Fest slated for October 3, the announcement from Cincinnati’s Buffalo Killers of the release of the Huma Bird 7″ [and digital] release couldn’t have come at a better time. You can get the title track FREE HERE for a limited time, or you can catch the band live and get the vinyl from them. Grab this while you can and be sure to catch the band at DMF [or elsewhere on tour]…

TOUR DATES:

9.9 @ TT the Bear’s Place :: Cambridge MA*
9.10 @ Nectar’s :: Burlington VT*
9.11 @ Dover Brick House :: Dover NH*
9.12 @ Union Hall :: Brooklyn, New York*
9.25 @ The Union :: Athens, OH
9.26 @ MPMF @ Southgate House :: Newport, KY
10.2 @ Ravari Room :: Columbus, OH
10.3 @ Dayton Music Fest :: Dayton, OH
10.16 @ Peach’s :: Yellow Springs, OH
11.6 @ Southgate House :: Newport, KY w/ Backyard Tire Fire
11.7 @ Gerstle’s :: Louisville, KY w/ Backyard Tire Fire
11.13 @ 180 Main :: Dubuque, IA

*w/ Nate Wilson Group

This post courtesy of The Buddha Den – http://buddhaden.blogspot.com/

Dayton Daily News Local Music Blog Canceled

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…as one of the key influences on the start of this blog you’re reading, we were very saddened to hear today that the Dayton Daily News has canceled their Dayton Local Music blog written by Kris Neises due to “budget cuts” at the DDN. While we’ve done all that we can to keep you up to date on what’s happening in Dayton music, Neises’s work definitely kept us on our toes. Let’s hear it for a fallen comrade…

This post courtesy of The Buddha Den – http://buddhaden.blogspot.com/

Updayton Candidate’s Forum

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updayton Candidates ForumAs part of their ongoing efforts to engage the local “young creatives” in the growth and transformation of our city and region, Updayton is holding its first Candidates Forum on Oct. 1 at c{space.  All of the individuals running for office in the City of Dayton have been invited to this forum which will be moderated by the League of Women Voters, including:

City Commissioners Joey Williams & Nan Whaley, challenger David Esrati (top two vote getters get elected)

City Mayor Rhine McLin, challenger Gary Leitzell

Also, information will be provided on the levy that is up for renewal this November for Five Rivers MetroParks.

Get involved in helping to shape the future of our city by attending and asking the candidates how they feel about the issues most important to you.  Please RSVP to Scott Murphy at scottmurphy1@gmail.com or 937-643-0691.

Check out this event on our DMM Event Calendar!

EDIT – I mistakenly included the Dayton Metro Library as a levy to be discussed but in fact only the Five Rivers MetroParks levy will be discussed.

DD/MM/YYYY Issue “Black Square” Cassette/Digital for US

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…although Toronto outfit DD/MM/YYYY [allegedly there is no correct pronunciation of this moniker] issued their third album, Black Square, in their homeland last Spring to critical acclaim, it’s not until September 15 that the album will get a proper US release. Teaming with Brooklyn imprint Impose Records, the band will make this a cassette/digital only release. Cool with us. You can get in on that here. Additionally, the band will be hitting the road this fall with These Arms are Snakes. Tune in now…

MP3: DD/MM/YYYY “Digital Haircut”

TOUR DATES:

09/08 Hamilton, ONT Rokbar %
09/10 Brooklyn, NY Don Pedro’s – Cassette Release Party %*
09/17 Quebec City, QC Le Cercle
09/20 Minneapolis, MN 7th St. Entry #
09/21 East Moline, IL Mixtapes
09/22 Chicago, IL Subterranean #
09/23 Pontiac, MI The Pike Room #
09/24 Rochester, NY Bug Jar #
09/25 Brooklyn, NY Shea Stadium #
09/26 New York, NY Mercury Lounge #
09/27 Cambridge, MA TT the Bear’s #
09/28 Philadelphia, PA Kung Fu Necktie #
09/29 Washington, DC DC9 #
09/30 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506 #
10/01 Atlanta, GA Star Community Bar #
10/02 Tallahassee, FL Club Downunder #
10/03 Orlando, FL Will’s Pub #
10/05 Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon #
10/06 Austin, TX Red 7 #
10/07 Denton, TX Rubbergloves Rehearsal #
10/09 Tuscon, AZ Plush #
10/10 Los Angeles, CA Knitting Factory #
10/11 San Diego, CA Casbah #
10/13 Visalia, CA Cellar Door #
10/14 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill #
10/16 Portland, OR Rotture #
10/17 Seattle, WA The Vera Project #

* = w/ Anamanaguchi, Graffiti Monsters
% = w/ Spiral Beach
# = w/ These Arms Are Snakes

This post courtesy of The Buddha Den – http://buddhaden.blogspot.com/

Tape Deck Mountain

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…we can’t exactly be sure why every Labor Day in Dayton seems to be visited by grey skies and intermittent rain, making certain that no plans made will see fruition. Alas, it is our fate again this year…

…in keeping with the overcast conditions, we offer up new music from San Diego outfit Tape Deck Mountain. While the band’s name caught our eye, their mid-fi aesthetic certainly caught our ear. It doesn’t hurt either that the band’s lucid guitars swirling in and out in sheets of sublime and searing sonic assault sound perfectly at home alongside some of our shoegaze/slacker favorites from late 80s/early 90s…

…The band’s debut, Ghost [Lefse Records], is due out November 17…

MP3: Tape Deck Mountain “Ghost Colony”

This post courtesy of The Buddha Den – http://buddhaden.blogspot.com/

Carmen’s Deli – Good food and Amazing Personality

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If you work or live in Downtown Dayton and you’re looking for a new lunch place to try, do yourself a favor and check out Carmen’s Deli at the former Fifth Third Center (across the street from the Kettering Tower on Second Street).  Formerly Swishers II Cafe (whose original location is still open), this newest lunch eatery to open downtown is already a hit with customers!  They’ve got a simple yet full lunch menu that is quite inexpensive – price range is between $4.29 for a Hamburger to $4.99 for a Wrap Sandwich – wow!  Get a Hero Sub and a drink for only $5.59!

But that isn’t even the best part… Haitham is the owner (he named the restaurant after his wife) and this guy has a magical ability to put a smile on just about anybody’s face!  His electric personality is infectious – something that is unfortunately quite lacking in most places these days.  I’ve been in about half a dozen times and everytime Haitham acknowledges me by name and always tries to strike up conversation with me.  He sincerely appreciates every customer and goes out of his way to make everybody happy.  Yes, Haitham at Carmen’s Deli truly gets the meaning of the word “Hospitality”!

Check out their Facebook Page, and next time you’re downtown looking for an inexpensive but delicious lunch be sure to give Carmen’s Deli a try.

Trainwreck Mice

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…if you’re reading this in d8n, we encourage you to stop and go outside. Now. It’s so nice out. Get away from yr computer and come back and read this after the sun goes down…

…moving on, you’ve got a couple of fun bills tonight in town. Over at Canal Street Tavern, Jesse Remnant & the Trainwrecks [pictured] headline a bill that also includes Jesse’s brother, Adam Remnant [of Southeast Engine] and newbies Yazoo Street Scandal…

…over at Blind Bob’s, local stoner rock provocateurs Marijuana Johnson headline a bill that includes local faves Toads and Mice and Suckerpunch Thompson [Pittsburgh]. See you out…

MP3: Jesse Remnant “Same Sun” [from the Squids Eye Records compilation Hi, We’re From Dayton]
MP3: Toads and Mice “Skull”

…oh, and just in case you needed a reminder, Toads and Mice and Jesse Remnant & the Trainwrecks will both be part of this next Sunday night…

This post courtesy of The Buddha Den – http://buddhaden.blogspot.com/

20something – Dayton’s First Rooftop Musical Theater Production

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20something Poster“20something:  The Songs of Kerrigan & Lowdermilk,” a new experiment in musical theater by Dayton, Ohio’s Encore Theater Company will make it’s American premiere on the roof of The Firefly Building in downtown Dayton, Ohio, September 10-12, 2009.

Facebook. Blogs. YouTube. Text Messages. This is the language of a new generation and no one captures what it means to be twenty-something in 2009 quite like exciting songwriters Kait Kerrigan & Brian Lowdermilk. In 20something, Kait and Brian’s powerful, edgy, funny, and honest songs are performed raw and uncut by some of the Dayton area’s most talented twenty-somethings.

The show is personal and dynamic.  Don’t expect to see the same show twice if you catch multiple performances.  The cast has no script to memorize, each performance is their own, and each performer has their own story, centered on insightful songs such as “Run Away With Me,” “Pretty Girl Blues,” and “How to Return Home.”

“It’s fascinating to me,” says director Corinne Derusha, “the cast has figured out a way to relate to everyone…whether you’re in your twenty-somethings, or just remembering them.”

Beth Ann Wipprecht, who portrays “27” (cast members refer to themselves by the age of their on-stage alter-ego) has described the creative process of 20something as “…one of the most artistically gratifying productions I’ve been a part of.”  Brandon Michael Fleming, “28”, states “I’ve been a fan of Kerrigan and Lowdermilk for four years and getting the opportunity to perform their work is very rewarding.  I hope the audience appreciates this new form of musical theater that’s being produced.”

Don’t miss this “reality” musical experience where every performance tells a whole new story and every song explores a new truth.

“20something” is directed by Corinne Derusha, with assistance by David Brush.  Musical direction is by Alex Horton. Cast members include Beth Ann Wipprecht, Brandon Michael Fleming, Katelyn Yeager, Madeline Casto, Tim Singleton, Valerie Reaper & Zachary Justus. The production opens September 10th for four performances on the rooftop terrace atop The Firefly Building at 123 Webster Street in downtown Dayton, Ohio. Tickets ($15, $10 & $5) are available through www.encoretheatercompany.com or by calling 1 (866) 967-8167.  Adult Content.  In conjunction with Dayton’s Urban Night’s event, Friday night’s 10pm performance will feature special $5 pricing for all guests aged 20-29.

Check it out on the DaytonMostMetro.com Event Calendar!

Introducing Pacchia Groove

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pacchia_logoDuring downtown’s Urban Nights event on Friday, September 11, at 9 p.m., Pacchia (410 E. Fifth St.) will launch groove., a regular weekend concert series which will host bands of multiple genres and styles each Friday and Saturday night, geared toward transforming the Oregon District restaurant and bar into Dayton’s destination hotspot for weekend fun.

groove. will feature bands of all styles and genres from both Dayton and beyond, a move designed to draw fresh audiences each night in addition to establishing a loyal customer base.

For over a decade, the downtown location was a popular venue for live jazz until eliminating regular music at the end of 2008 to focus on the dining aspect of the business. However, owners Steve Ramsey and Carla Carnahan have recently begun staging regular events after dinner hours in an effort to reach out to a younger demographic and maximize the potential of the space; Pacchia’s “Secret Sunday” rock shows and “Modern Mondays” with DJ Adam Sabin, both launched earlier this summer, have generated both interest and profit. With those results, Ramsey and Carnahan decided it was time to reinstate Pacchia as a cornerstone of the Oregon Arts District’s weekend nightlife scene and a vital element of the city’s heartbeat.

“We wanted to provide a venue for a broader range of age groups that can be both something a little more laid-back and upscale for young people, and something fresh and vital for people who are a bit older but still hip,” said Carnahan. “Through encouragement and assistance from Dr. Mike Ervin, a music lover himself, we’ve been able to take that first step.”

“We’re very excited to re-introduce live music,” Ramsey said. “For years, the name Pacchia was synonymous with quality live music in the Oregon District, and we look forward to presenting a spectrum of variety that can’t be found anywhere else in Dayton while continuing to offer delicious and affordable menu options and, of course, our signature cocktails.”

Dozens of music acts have already been booked for groove. through the end of 2009. The first month will host acoustic rock, slick neo-soul, straight-ahead jazz, high-energy R&B, and driving funk fusion, and future months will splash reggae, blues, punk, flamenco, bluegrass, and bossa nova onto the canvas.

Beloved Dayton institution Puzzle of Light will open the series at the Urban Nights afterparty with free admission all night, and Pacchia will stage an special three-day groove. kickoff party weekend from Thursday, September 24 through Saturday, September 26.

September’s full schedule:

Friday, 9/11: Puzzle of Light (world beat/eclectic)

Saturday, 9/12: Bobby Streng Quartet, formerly Groove District (fusion funk)

Friday, 9/18: Abi Cook & Crew (soul-pop)

Saturday, 9/19: Ohio Jazz Coalition (straight-ahead jazz sextet led by Bill Burns, plus vocalist Pam Mallory)

**Three-day kickoff weekend party**

Thursday, 9/24: David Story (pop-rock)

Friday, 9/25: Trump Tight (R&B/funk)

Saturday, 9/26: Jared Mahone Band (acoustic pop)

groove. will run from 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. every Friday and Saturday night at Pacchia beginning Friday, September 11, with the bar remaining open until 2 a.m. After 10:30 p.m. beginning Saturday, September 12, there will be a $3 cover charge at the door for ages 21 and up, and $7 for 20 and under.

Pacchia was opened in 1995 by Glen Brailey. Former Thai 9 investors Steve Ramsey and Carla Carnahan purchased the establishment in March 2008, and have continued the restaurant’s established tradition of providing high-quality food and beverages in the heart of the Oregon District.

For more information about groove. visit facebook.com/pacchiagroove.

Downtown Dayton LGBT Film Festival

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lgbt_filmfestThe Downtown Dayton LGBT Film Festival (presented by the Downtown Priority Board) provides a space for voices to be heard that aren’t often represented in mainstream media.  The subjects range from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.  Generally, the festival highlights films that are made with smaller budgets.  These movies go relatively unnoticed beyond the LGBT community, but they’re strong pieces of work that merit being seen.

The Edge of Heaven, a selection from last year’s festival, went on to be named one of the “Top 10” films of the year by many critics.  Were The World Mine, last year’s opening night film, garnered a large following and won multiple awards around the world.  In 2007’s festival, the short film Freeheld went on to win an Academy Award.  This film was not screened anywhere else in the Dayton Region.

This year’s films include:

Friday September 25

Saturday September 26

Sunday September 27

This has become an annual tradition for both the Downtown Priority Board AND The Neon, and it brings people in from other cities like Cincinnati and Columbus.  As a priority board member I’m proud of our continued support for this film festival.

Check out this event on the DaytonMostMetro.com Event Calendar!

Want to present an idea? Welcome to Pecha-Kucha Night in Dayton!

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pechakuchanight1“The sound of conversation” – that is the translation for the Japanese phrase Pecha-Kucha, which is also the name for a creative way of presenting creative ideas to an audience of – well, other creative people.  This new concept has taken the planet by storm, happening in over 100 global cities since 2003 when it was first thought up by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Tokyo’s Klein-Dytham Architecture (KDa), who sought to give young designers a venue to meet, network, and show their work and to attract people to their experimental event space in Roppongi.

Hmm, experimental event space – sounds familiar.  Ah yes, we have one of those here in Dayton: c{space!  Located at 20 N. Jefferson, this space was opened last year by a group of Dayton Create catalysts in conjunction with the Dayton Circus who set out to find an empty yet interesting urban space to hold independent street-level art & music events and other creative gatherings.  Its first event was the successful Ladyfest Dayton, and since then the space has hosted several interesting events as well as small groups working on all kinds of things from film festival planning to urban bicycle events.  And yes – your’s truly was part of that original group that made c{space possible.

Back to Pecha-Kucha… this presentation/networking event is unique in that it restricts presenters to 20 powerpoint slides at 20 seconds each, for a toal of 6 minute 40 seconds per presentation.  In other words, no long drawn-out boring presentations.  Personally I’d like to see EVERY committee meeting, board meeting, and business meeting follow this format!  But until that happens, I encourage you to check out Dayton’s version of Pecha-Kucha Night on August 27,  2009 at 6:30pm (more details at the link).  And there is already a second night scheduled for November 6 – this one is for Dayton AIA architects to quickly present their creative thoughts.  And if you think you have the goods to present at one of these, contact Jill Davis (5455davis@gmail.com or 937-225-9307).

Drive Less, Bike More

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Bicycle in PortlandPortland, Boulder, Madison, San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, Chicago – these are cities known to be magnets to young college graduates and the “creative class” that so many cities including Dayton are trying to retain and attract.  But what else do these cities have in common?  They are all known as some of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the country according to a city ranking by the League of American Bicyclists – the standard for cities looking to capitalize on the growing popularity of the bicycle culture.  While Dayton must continue to work hard at attracting businesses that provide good jobs, we must at the same time be doing everything we can to make our city attractive for living – and bicycles can play a major role in that.

Columbus is the only Ohio city that ranks on the Bicycle Friendly Community list (bronze level), but Dayton has the potential to join and even surpass Columbus as a bicycle-friendly community.  Our region already enjoys one of the best recreational trail networks in the country, with main trails converging at Riverscape in Downtown Dayton where the region’s first bike hub is now being built.  We also have the new MetroParks Mountain Biking Area that is growing in popularity.  Imagine if we capitalized on these unique recreational assets by integrating them with a city and region-wide transportation network that encourages more people to use bicycles for short trips and even commutes to work.

There are few things as versatile and that transcend race, gender, socio-economics, age or even physical fitness level more than a bicycle – whether being used recreationally or for basic transportation.  By transforming our streets to be more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly, we can:

  • Provide low-cost transportation options to those unable to afford automobiles as well as those that simply want to drive less
  • Decrease traffic congestion and pollution
  • Lower obesity levels by increasing physical activity
  • Add vibrancy and safety to our downtown streets
  • Allow people to spend less on gas and perhaps spend more in our local economy

The City of Dayton is taking initial steps by implementing the region’s first dedicated bike lanes and sharrows (shared lanes that are marked) when it completes the downtown two-way street conversions over the next several months.  It is a nice nod to the Wright Brothers that St. Clair Street will have one of these dedicated bike lanes, since it shares its name with a line of bicycles that the Wrights built and sold.  Added to groups like Courteous Mass (a grassroots urban bicycle awareness movement) and the Drive Less Live More campaign, we are moving in the right direction toward a comprehensive plan that aims to put Dayton on the map for bicycle-friendly communities.  This includes efforts as simple as expanding driver/bicycle education and awareness, and as complex as implementing bike share programs and “Complete Streets” plans that truly transform our streets from being designed predominantly for the automobile to being equally accessible to autos, bicycles and pedestrians alike.

We all know about the Wright Brothers and how their invention of flight has helped shape Dayton over the past several decades, though few would suggest that it is their prior work with bicycles that may represent the future for Dayton.  However, in this age of rising transportation costs, traffic congestion, growing obesity, climate change and culture shifts, cities across the country are discovering that the bicycle can play a pivotal role in the quest for economic prosperity.  It is time for Dayton to join this trend.

Join the first Miami Valley Cycling Summit this Friday at UD, where government officials, experts, community leaders and bicycle advocates from across the region AND the country will be presenting plans already implemented in other cities and ideas for us here in Dayton.  As of the time of this post there are over 275 registrants.

Photo Credit: kworth30 – Flickr.com