On September 8th and 9th, Dayton will be participating in the first annual Downtown Dayton Revival, a festival that will celebrate music of all kinds. With three stages planned to be set up, people that attend the festival will be enjoying chart-topping entertainers, up and coming talent, along with some artists and bands that have become classics over the years.
Buffalo Killers
Andy Gabbard, Joe Sabaali, Zach Gabbard
One of the bands that will be taking the stage is the boys from Cincinnati, Buffalo Killers. The trio consist of brothers Andrew (vocalist and guitarist) and Zachary Gabbard (bass guitarist), along with drummer Joseph Sebaali. In 1999, Zach formed a garage rock band Thee Shams. The band released four albums before disbanding. In early 2006, Sebaali joined the brothers to form what the band is today.
Buffalo Killers have released four albums since their inception. The first self-titled album was released in 2006. The album was originally set to be a five-song demo that was going to be released independently. However, the band received a call from Alive Records wanting the band sign with them. The band agreed, and went to the studio and recorded an additional five songs. The band quickly developed a following that included The Black Crowes lead singer, Chris Robinson. Robinson loved the band so much he had the band open up for the The Black Crowes fall tour in 2007. In 2008, Buffalo Killers released their second album, Let It Ride. The album was produced by Black Keys guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach. 3, the band’s third album, was released in 2011. And just recently, the band released Dig. Sow. Love. Grow.
Buffalo Killers’ undeniable sound is pouring with their influences from the music they grown up listening to-Neil Young, The Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones. With their garage rock roots still embedded, they also have a Southern psychedelic sound with them. Without question the minute you start to listen to the band’s music, you instantly become infatuated.
Burnt Sugar
Our second band that will be highlighted helms from the streets of New York. In 1999, guitarist and writer Greg Tate wanted to start a band and experiment with playing music outside of the boundaries. Burnt Sugar, as he named the band, started to dig into the libraries of great soul and funk legends Chaka Khan, Nina Simone, George Clinton and the P-funk All Stars, along with jazz musician Miles Davis, and big band great Duke Ellington. As the band improvises while playing, Tate will direct them by doing conducting them. The unusual 12 person mash-up themed band has seen over 40 musicians come and play.
Burnt Sugar has over 15 albums out, with their latest in 2011 All Ya Needs That Negrocity. Each album highlights the bands distinctive sound of soul, jazz, funk, blues, rock, and reggae. A perfect blend of styles soar through each album.
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Rusted Root
90’s music is still widely popular throughout the United States. Many consider the decade to be the best time for music ever. One band that is still seeing fans come in hordes for their live shows, and will see their share of fans at the Downtown Revival is the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania band, Rusted Root.
Rusted Root released their first major-label album in 1994, When I Woke. Now, in the 20th year as a band, the band have released 7 albums and sold over 3 million records worldwide. In the fall of this year, Rusted Root plans on releasing their new album, tentatively titled Fortunate Freaks. “Send Me On My Way” has become the band’s most popular song, both commercially and with fans. Rusted Root’s blend of acoustic and rock, mixed with influences from the many musical styles of the world have given the band a following that many compare them to the likes of the Grateful Dead and Dave Matthews Band. Having talked to some people that have seen Rusted Root perform live, I have been told that their jam sessions during their live shows is simply poetic.
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The Cliftones, Robert Randolph and the Family Band
The Cliftones
The Cliftones will be generating some dancing with the crowd at the Downtown Revival. The 10 piece Cincinnati-based band will be supplying the masses with rich reggae music. On the band’s website, they declare that ‘the crowd always leaves their show a sweaty mess every time’. If you are a fan of The Gladiators, The Congos, and of course the best reggae singer possibly of all time-Bob Marley, then you won’t be disappointed with The Cliftones performance.
If Rusted Root, and The Cliftones are not simply enough to satisfy your appetite for soul music, Robert Randolph and the Family Band are going to make sure that changes in a hurry.
Randolph was trained as a pedal steel guitarist in his church at the age of fifteen. By the age of nineteen, he started to get interested in listening and watching guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan. The influence of the way Vaughan played gave Randolph the fuel to evolve his way of playing the pedal steel. The change caused people to take notice quickly.
Randolph and the Family Band started playing together around 2000. They started like most bands do small venues and local watering holes. Rapidly, the band started to sell out clubs. The band has played with great musical talent. Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews, B.B. King are some of the people who have had the pleasure of performing with the band.
According to Randolph, the group’s sound is inspired by successful 70s funk bands such as Earth, Wind & Fire and Sly & the Family Stone. The live shows are legendary. Randolph is known to bust a moves while the band’s go into a jam session. Crowd involvement is greatly encouraged. Dayton-you have been put on notice. You better be ready to get down, and dance the day and night away as the smooth soul and vibrate funk come out of the band during their performance.
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Downtown Revival is without question going to be showcasing a lot of diverse music from all walks of life. And that is why this is going to be an amazing weekend. More highlights of the bands performing on the 8th and 9th of September headed your way…
See all of our Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival Band Spotlights
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