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The Top 25 Soups of Dayton

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Homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup from Fresco – Click to Enlarge

As the weather turns colder, nothing warms the soul like a good bowl of soup.  Our DaytonMostMetro Food Adventures crew, Chef House, The King, Hungry Jax and The Big Ragu, have compiled our list  of  Dayton’s Best Soups.  From the first steaming spoonful, to that little bit of liquid left in the bottom, these are the best bowls of chow that the Miami Valley has to offer.  So, all you serious foodies sit back, get some crackers if need be, and check out our list of MUST EAT soups.

 

In no particular order, here they are…

DAYTON’S TOP 25 SOUPS

 

1) THE JUMBALAYA at BUCKIN’ DONKEY GRILLE:  For 15 years, owner Sean McKown has perfected his Jumbalaya recipe.  He tested it on friends and family, and the end product is a culmination of those efforts.  The result is a masterpiece in a cup.  Filled with sausage and seafood, it has just the right amount of tangy flavor and heat.  We squirt some hot sauce on this bad boy and go to town..

 

2) CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP from FRESCO: Homemade chicken broth from scratch.  Fall off the bone chicken pieces, vegetables tortilla strips and a dollop of sour cream on top.  This is one of those moments where you lose yourself in a heavenly bliss.  This is the best chicken tortilla soup we have ever eaten, made by the best chef in Dayton, Jenn DiSanto.  This soup is Chef House’s favorite !

 

“The Shrimp and Pork Soup” at Linh’s Bistro is Pho-nomenal !

3) SALMON BISQUE at SWEENEY’S SEAFOOD: Creamy, with fresh salmon chunks, this rich soup is a crowd pleaser.  We can’t think of a better soup on a crisp cold day.   The fresh thyme, dill and other spices, finish the flavor, making this soup one of our favorites.  We already are in love with many of Sweeney’s appetizers, now we have another gem added to the list.

 

4) THE LOBSTER BISQUE from DELI at WEBSTER ST. & TOP OF THE MARKET: Served piping hot in a generous bowl, we were blown away by the lobster flavor balance with the creaminess of the bisque.  The soup is absolutely delicious, and very filling.  Congrats to the Deli on Webster & Top of the Market for staying true to the elegance of this soup,yet putting a hearty, delicious spin on it.  This is one of The Big Ragu’s favorites !

 

5) THE SHRIMP and PORK SOUP at LINH’s BISTRO:  Welcome to the enormous bowl world of the “Pho Soups” offered at Linh’s Bistro.  This meal sized soup contains broth, shaved pork and pieces of shrimp.   Sure you can get it with clear rice noodles, but we prefer this Vietnamese soup with the egg noodle option (#34 on the menu). Vegetables and scallions also line the bowl, but that’s not all.  The soup is served with a side plate of jalapenos, bean sprouts cilantro and lime.  Hand pull some cilantro and dump the rest of the side items into the bowl.  This soup defines the words Food Adventure.

 

The Woodhouse Chili at Archer’s Tavern: A good story behind it

6)  THE CABBAGE ROLL SOUP from VOLTZY’s ROOT BEER STAND: The best soup in a root beer stand in the United States.  Voltzy homemakes this stuff with cabbage, tomatoes, rice and his signature burger meat.  In his words, it is so delicious, it will make you sing “Touch me in the Morning.”  Cabbage rolls not your style? Then try his almost equally delicious “Cream of Vandalia Onion Soup.”  Yes, Vandalia like the city.. Voltzy is nuts.

 

7) THE POTATO SOUP at DOUBLEDAY’S GRILL & TAVERN: In a restaurant known for their homemade soups, this one shines.  This soup has wowed Dayton crowds for decades, and has somewhat of a cult following.  Doubleday’s large menu makes this a perfect starter to a great meal.  The rich, creamy flavor is a great warm up, for a snowy day.

 

8) THE NEW ORLEANS STYLE GUMBO at JIMMIES LADDER 11:  Hearty, rich and just the right spiciness, this soup is one of those “OMG” moments when you take a bite.  Owner Jimmie Brandell is no stranger to soups, having cooked at one of the iconic “Upper Krust” locations for years.  He hones his craft, and has hit the mark on this one.  Order a bowl and wake up your taste buds.  Goes perfect with their craft beer selections !

 

 

The Warm Goodness of North China’s “Sizzling Rice Soup”

9) THE CHILI AT ARCHER’S TAVERN: Now here is a good story.  Every year, Archer’s holds a chili cookoff, and the winning chili goes on the menu for a year.  All proceeds from the contest go to the Centerville High School’s Culinary Arts Program!  The result is an amazing chili and a charitable donation!  The current “Woodhouse Chili” is made with fire roasted tomatoes and jalapenos.  It is topped with cheese and Fritos.  Probably the spiciest of the delicious soups on our list.  That’s why it is “The King’s” favorite on the list.

 

10) THE CLAM CHOWDER AT BULLWINKLE’S:  Clam Chowder at a rib place?  The answer is yes, young Jedi.  This soup is homemade and downright addicting.  Chunks of clams in a mix of potatoes and cream sauce make this one of our “Must Eats.”  Not many people know about this soup, but now you do.  We are not responsible for any addictions.  Make sure you start your meal here with this savory favorite.

 

11) THE SIZZLING RICE SOUP at NORTH CHINA:  This masterpiece is actually a meal sized bowl for 2 as listed on the menu.  But sometimes, we get a wild hair, and order this as a meal.  Sure you can get this soup as an appetizer, but who wants to share something this good?  The flavor is a perfect balance of vegetables and rice in a broth flavored with a hint of salt.  In a restaurant known for their homemade soups, this one can’t be ignored.  They have another mega soup that almost made our list, the “House Noodle Soup” is a must eat too!

 

The Lobster Bisque at the Deli at Webster Street is delicious

12) CHICKEN GUMBO from DISALVO’S DELI: Another homemade soup from scratch.  Perfectly carved, generous chicken pieces, line a delicately light broth.  The bowl is filled with a treasure trove of vegetables and tremendous flavor.  Chef Ronnie DiSalvo takes pride in his food, and this is another example of his incredible creations.  It is made with love from the heart, straight to your mouth!

 

13) THE MUSHROOM BISQUE at CHRISTOPHER’S RESTAURANT: Vegetarians  rejoice!  This Dayton soup is for you.  A fresh, home made delicious recipe means a warm feeling in every spoonful.  The taste of the fresh mushrooms is incredible.  Christopher’s thrives on making quality, homemade soups, and this choice is the star.  Check it out and pair it with one of their delicious sandwiches.

 

14) THE TURTLE SOUP at THE AMBER ROSE: This soup is exotic, thick and hearty.  We absolutely love Amber Rose’s spin on this old school favorite.  We aren’t sure how traditional it is, but it is beyond good.  This is one of those things that you eat and immediately want more.  Try it for yourself as an appetizer to an Eastern European meal.

 

15) THE WILD MUSHROOM SOUP FROM HAWTHORNE GRILL: It is pure comfort in a bowl.  The soup is creamy, bold and flavorful.  Hawthorne Grill puts out some great dishes, and this is one you need to get your hands on.  This weather is the perfect time to try this unique, homemade item.

“The Pickle Soup” at Blind Bob’s is a Dayton Original

 

16) THE PICKLE SOUP from BLIND BOB’S: Don’t be fooled by the sound of it, this is one of the best soups in Dayton.  The flavor isn’t sharp, it is surprisingly level.  If you like cream of broccoli soup, this is an even better spin on it.  We congratulate Blind Bob’s for not only the uniqueness, but for the amazing taste.  This is a great warm up right before you try one of their burger selections!

 

17) DUBLIN PUB’S “WORLD FAMOUS POTATO SOUP”: It must be world famous, because it is downright incredible.  It is rich, filling and sinful.  We suggest getting it in the Sourdough bowl and add cheese and bacon on it.  We also recommend taking a nap after you eat it.  This soup is Hungry Jax’s top pick!

 

18) CREAMY CHICKEN SOUP at CHINA COTTAGE:  This is a house specialty, and we have never seen a creamy chicken soup offered at a Chinese restaurant other than here.  There is good reason.  No one else’s chicken soup could compare.  It is a deliciously light cream soup that cleanses the pallet and readies your taste buds for those spicy dishes made from Chef Tiger Wang.  This soup is definitely a Dayton Original.

 

19) THE GUINNESS ONION SOUP AT NICK’S RESTAURANT:  Always made from scratch buy their “soup nazi.”  This soup is served in a unique bowl, with a mound of cheese and few gigantic croutons.  But what hit us most is the rich flavor.   Hot broth dripping down your chin, as you swallow some of the gooey cheese.  Take a spoonful and you will see why this restaurant is the pride of Xenia.

 

“The Chicken Gumbo” at DiSalvo’s Deli. You wont see this online anywhere else, we got the scoop !

20)  THE HOT AND SOUR SOUP at YOUNG CHOW:  Yes , it made the list because it is that good.  And guess what else, the price is right.  We scald ourselves every time, because we cant wait to get into this soup’s shredded goodness.  A perfect balance of tofu, pepper and pork, this hot and sour soup is fantastic.  We looked at your fortune cookie, it says you need to go to Young Chow.

 

21) HOMEMADE CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP from ALL SOUPED UP:  The 2nd Street market has some tremendous food shops.  In the middle of the market, “All Souped Up” is impressing the masses with creations like their Chicken Noodle Soup.  Homemade noodles, pieces of delicate chicken, and a small balance of vegetables make this soup.  It tastes like something your mom or grandmother would make.   It is fun to take a seat at the market and enjoy this soup and get lost in the goodness.

 

 22) THE COCONUT SOUP at SIAM PAD THAI: Another exotic choice on this list.  Cherry tomatoes, lime juice and mushrooms highlight the ingredients in this soup.  The tangy, light flavor make this soup the most refreshing on our list.  If you have not been to Siam Pad Thai, we suggest you pair it with one of their pad thai dishes, or specialty sushi rolls. We promise you will be craving this soup in no time.

 

23) THE GUMBO at RUE DUMAINE:  This is a no brainer.  Hello, the owner/Chef Anne Kearney studied under Food Netwoork superstar, Emeril Lagasse.  Needless to say, when it comes to New Orleans’ flavors, she knows what she is doing.  This award winning chef has a menu unparalleled n Dayton.  We have found the perfect start to a meal at Rue Dumaine.

 

The Guinness Onion Soup at Nick’s Restaurant in Xenia is sinfully gooey

 

24) THE CLAM CHOWDER at JAY’S SEAFOOD:  When a soup is a Dayton icon and a Dayton staple for decades, it has to make the list.  Whether you are 8 years old, or 80, people love this soup and have fond memories associated with it.  The creamy broth, the chunks of fresh clams, and the perfect dash of pepper make this soup.  Cracker sor not, you are in for a treat when you sit down for a cup or bowl of this deliciousness… so go for the bowl.

 

25) TEQUILA CHILI at LUCKY’S TAPROOM:  Unique blast of flavor from the kitchen at Lucky’s.  Owner Andrew Trick has developed an underground mass following of his terrific food, and this chili is a highlight on the menu.  They offer a regular or vegetarian option.  Recommendation: There is no better pairing on this list than the Tequila Chili and one of Lucky’s numerous craft beers.  So go to Lucky’s, thumb through the beer booklet, pick one out, and thank us later.

 

That’s it, that’s our list !  What did we miss?  Do you agree or disagree with our choices ??  Please comment below and tell us your thoughts.

Meanwhile, check out our incredible photo gallery of Dayton’s best soups, below and “like” Food Adventures on Facebook by CLICKING HERE !

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Ugly Kids Club: Recruiting Dayton’s Own To Join

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One of Aliegh Shields’s older silbings was part of an emo/indie rock band from Nashville, Tennesse titled The Class of 98.  The  band, led by guitarist and vocalist Steve Wilson, saw some of success with some of their songs being played on some of the television  programming on the E! and the WB networks.  The band was short lived, only being together between years 2004-2007, and 2010-  2014.  During a tour across the Midwest, however, Wilson and the band stayed over at the Shields residence instead of getting a  hotel room.

During the duration of the band crashing at the house where the older Shields lived in Springfield, Illinois, Wilson overheard Aliegh  singing one night, and fell in love with her voice.  Being the youngest of four-Aliegh always had her dreams and aspirations set to  eventually become a singer.

“I was making everything a microphone,” Shields explained during a recent phone conversation.  “A lot of times I was in my room  singing to the wall (laughter).  I was constantly my way of playing-singing and playing like I was in concert.  I think I sang to our fish, which made a pretty fun.  They were a good audience.”

After moving to Nashville right after high school, Shields was a guitar playing songstress with a solo development deal and started working with one of the producers in town.  When they parted ways, Shields turned to Wilson to help and finish up the solo tracks.  She knew that Wilson was living in Nashville, and was producing music projects with group such as The Juliana Theory and Jonezetta, while writing, producing and playing in The Class of ‘98 and Hether, who got a development deal on their own with Interscope Records. Wilson also was Grammy nominated with his work with the band Leeland.

Already knowing each other, the two felt comfortable with working together.  They soon would uncover a mutual desire over their love for minimalist rock duos like Sleigh Bells, Crystal Castles and The Kills.  In 2011-the duo of began the group Ugly Kids Club.

“We worked so well together, and I wanted someone that was into a little more team effort,” Shields mentions.

In January 2012, Ugly Kids Club released their first self-titled EP.  They were able to grab ahold of their own sound with a mixture of grungy rock embedded with electronic beats that is not only dark but also catchy with pop undertones.  After releasing the self-titled EP and going on the road for a little bit, they decided to take a break.  The goal was to become more cohesive in their writing.

Their recent EP release, Head Games, is a more polished album that contains whimsical soundscapes to lush 80s synths.  The duo crafts electro-pop driven tunes, while still maintain that pop-grunge vibe that was so visible in their first EP.  The EP involves all the stages of a relationship that eventually doesn’t really work out.

With the duo continuing to work on building their sound, both Shields and Wilson both strive to push each other creatively.

“We’ve written a bunch of other songs, so we working towards another EP early in the next year,” Wilson stated.  For now, though, the duo plan on hitting the road-which includes making a stop in Dayton tonight at Blind Bob’s.

It was a little over seven years till both Shields and Wilson’s lives would interconnect again, and form Ugly Kids Club

And this time-the duo are planning to make it more long-lasting.

Visit Ugly Kids Club here: http://www.uglykidsclub.com, or check them out at Blind Bob’s tonight with Dear Fawn, Skurt, and A Shade of Red.

REVIEW: The Architects of Ohio Metal at Blind Bob’s

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On Saturday April 26th, four Ohio bred metal bands came to Blind Bob’s to make noise, scream, yell and thrown down in a small deadly space, where the moshers really danced and the pit was much more friendly than the ones outside.

Columbus’ Northern Widows  opened with a short set of six songs, just long enough to keep the hardcore fans’ attention, because Sargent D was coming, and you’re all on his list. Playing a nice blend of thrash, groove and speed with some old school punk attitude and delivery, they opened with the aggressively fast Boundaries & Vices and then got moody, muddy with some boot stomping drums and guitar on The Blessing Way. The Ghosts Of My Sins Are Consuming Me had a slower, dirtier beginning with guitar groove a minute in. Standing On The Shoulders of Omega was an ode to a lost family member, standing at their gravesite wishing them well in the afterlife. Three Storms was the slow mosh tune while A Clock Without A Craftsman finished with an old school punk feel.

 

Imbroglio (photo by Mike Ritchie)

Imbroglio (photo by Mike Ritchie)

Red Moth Inc, Dayton’s home of players and producers of anything and everything extremely not mainstream brought us Imbroglio, born in 2007, with six releases to date including this year’s The Struggle In Pursuit EP. Experimenting with grind, sludge, doom and whatever they want to hear and are influenced by, the band pushes their dark creations through the speakers for you to hear like the noise of an army made by three men, questioning comfort zones and what is ‘safe’ to play.  After the drum smashing, uneasy guitar interplay of the Full Speed face smasher, we get bit from 2012’s Declared Self Hatred with Sharp Teeth. Then, The Drought comes slow and damaging, with Sabbath sludge, leaving throats dry from yelling. When all hope’s gone and the end comes what have you done to leave a mark? Daybreak delivers melancholy with an eye opening hard bitch slap to your morning wake or keeps insomniacs going with its wall scratching charm, Meshuggah tempo’s and Dillinger Escape Plan breakdowns.  Desolation ends with a slower, trippy sounding ode to atmospheric isolation, with a slow trudge in the end of hopelessness.

Enabler (photo by Mike Ritchie)

Enabler (photo by Mike Ritchie)

Ohio’s Enabler owned the stage, getting the crowd pit ready with some wall blaster tunes including several new songs from the upcoming La Fin Absolue De Monde LP out May 27th from Earsplit Compound. Metal, hardcore, punk crossovers open a can with the passion in the veins of Speechless, the ultra-fast not quite a minute and a half fury of Mercenary yells the tale of someone who just needs to be taken out, in a low rent blaze of glory. Unconditional Surrender plays with weird chords before the speed slams in, playing frenetic breakdowns while building speed. They played several songs from the upcoming CD including Prey; run, run, run with the speed of a punk song, they’re after you and New Life with its guitar buzzing beginning and very danceable, body ramming beat and pace, with a little Death mixed in for technical flavor. To end the show, a former band member came up and jammed for a very loud and fast reunion. 

Dayton’s Mouth of the Architect took us past the witching hour with sounds and songs that would scare a witch’s Sabbath into casting protection spells. Going strong for a decade, playing most of the songs from the new Dawning EP, they open with the almost ten minute Lullaby starting soft and soothing while the bedtime story yells you to sleep. Sharpen Your Axes got the crowd in a killer mood starting slow, but with menacingly subtle stalking guitar strings before the invading high squealing notes come from behind. The Other Son could be the sludge/prog/doom version of Dream On with Irish drinking song vocals at the five minute mark before going into the dark side of Tool territory ending with unexpected calm and quiet twisting attack of the keyboard/ sound manipulator.

Sleep Fleet Celebrates Release of New EP

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Sleep Fleet shows

So far the new year in Dayton has brought great music around town for us all to enjoy!  This weekend is no exception!

On Saturday, February 1st, Sleep Fleet returns to Dayton after six months – a time far too long for music fans.  The Sleep Fleeters are releasing their brand shiny and new EP, Hudson & High, at a show at Blind Bob’s in our fine city.  The album courtesy of the fine folks at Brain Candy Records is available at the band’s bandcamp page and is not to be missed.

Brat CurseSleep Fleet is joined by the dynamic new trio Brat Curse! Their new self-titled record is another great new release for 2014!  These ex-Pharohs musicians play a pop-tinged punk that is a reminder of the excitement of the D-I-Y and post-punk movements before alternative became commercial!

 

Dear fawn LogoDayton’s own Dear Fawn will be playing their first set with their all new five-person line up!   You can hear some of Dear Fawn’s fine songs from their terrific CD, I Played the Queen on the band’s Soundcloud page!  This is another new band that promises to be another great addition to our music scene.

 

Track List for Hudson & High

Sleep Fleet Hudson and High

1.  02:04
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Cross-posted at Your Tuesday Afternoon Alternative

REVIEW: Red Moth Records Swarm of Talent Infest Oregon District

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I Died Trying (photo by Mike Ritchie)

I Died Trying (photo by Mike Ritchie)

On Friday, September 20 Red Moth Records took over Blind Bob’s for an evening of nightmarish stylistic mental flossed loud metal, some heavily metaled influenced hard rock and some unique 70’s rock throwback instrumentals. Red Moth mates I Died Trying, Mangrenade, Bearer of Bad News and head honcho Close the Hatch played an entertaining bill of uniquely diversified sound along with Kentucky’s Bad People.

Dayton’s answer to the sound of a mental ward’s subconscious I Died Trying opened the rainy night with two songs, rapturous in sound and nearly impossible for the brain to decipher on first listen. Eerie guitar suspense sends us traveling down an old west road as the sun sets as the strings fight each other to the death and the weather beaten outlaw stands in the dirt ready to kill. Hell’s intercom opens for a three way conference call electric screamfest. Tony Goff’s guitar proves instruments can have souls, playing music to satisfy every personality a person could have. Napalm Death meets Nile with NIN and Godflesh in a barroom brawl adding moments of unnerving tranquility to pleasant insanity. The music’s a challenge for the mind’s ear to interpret but less difficult than trying to make sense of the mind in Goff’s bald, bandana wrapped head. These are The Things We Think and Do Not Say.

Swallowing Swords has a jazzy beginning with Goff playing violin, opening with those creepy insomniac eyelid chords as the mind walks a tight rope between skyscrapers with no balance beam, finishing with some bizarre hooks of 80’s guitar solos. IDT is like punching someone in the face full force with your brain, putting it back in and closing with a bad sewing job.

Bad People (photo by Mike Ritchie)

Bad People (photo by Mike Ritchie)

From Lexington comes the multigenerational influenced loose morals of Bad People, who almost didn’t make it due to mother’s nature’s pissy mood, but nothing stops a dedicated band from a gig. The instrumental foursome took turns giving audience face time playing high energy, solid blues, modern progressive rock with a jam band feel and solid song structure. HQ 1 has a happy jump up and down good hearted feel. Tool meets Sabbath then Soundgarden in the classic 70’s rock arena, keeping the pedals busy with a hard snarled note swagger. They play the majority of their upcoming CD (to be released in October), finishing with HQ 2 blending elements of 60’s psychedelica with Rush and a more technical take on Opeth with some space age rocket ship trip blasting effects from the machines.

Cincinnati drunk rock Mangrenade is as metal as it sounds…for a band that doesn’t play it. They’re a selective punk pastry with influences from Lenny Kravitz to Sabbath with some Rage Against the Machine/Alice in Chains experimentation. Playing three cuts off their newest EP Lions in the Parking Lot and two from January’s More Than A Handful EP. Godless Heathen has the guitar driven Kravitz rock groove. Where Swagger Turns to Stagger is an inebriated dirty street chugger played to collapse with an early Sabbath guitar sound all over the pile of discarded bottles. There’s some peppered C.O.C. in Deep Cut’s Soundgarden of 70’s sound. I’m the One carries some Cobain like shrieking with its rockabilly punk Henry Rollins angry rebellion attitude, taking a breather half through to calm down. Lions in the Parking Lot roar with a Misfits charm, bass groove and whisky wailed vocals. Bassist Ben Morgan is a short haired Steve Vai with glasses. They also might be the first band to inspire an interpretive dance pit on hardwood as select patrons performed gymnastics, ballet moves, summer salts and breakdancing during the set.

Bearer of Bad News (photo by Mike Ritchie)

Bearer of Bad News (photo by Mike Ritchie)

From the spawn left from the urban decay and industrial rot inhabiting downtown Dayton cometh Bearer of Bad News. Covered in diesel, dust and blood red tattoo ink they create raw, abrasive, angry and loud sounds because this is the life they live and the music that’s inspired them. Their sound mutated from the likes of Motorhead and Biohazard with some Chrome Division exhaust inhaled a bit later. On video Brian Brenner’s rasping deep tirades take the form of a muffled straightforward Glen Danzig, live Evan Seinfeld, Cronos, Udo Dirkschneider and Dez Fafara take ripping hold of his vocal chords.

The basement door closes as the muffed sounds of what’s never talked about is heard from the basement as Black Top Blues starts shoveling basement backroom dirt in your ear and some hard gravel embedded guitar chords down your throat. Don’t look in the corner.

Like the Priest’s slowly deliberate bass pace gives the pit brethren a pit break. The Blame Game blends the Cavalera Conspiracy with some railroad power chords and chain-gang riffs.  Bearer of Bad News carries a hard glove studded wallop and strong underground sound (some of their videos are shot in claustrophobic unfriendly basements). 2012’s Triple Homicide and Involuntary Manslaughter EP’s are available on iTunes or at shows.

 

Close the Hatch (photo by Mike Ritchie)

Close the Hatch (photo by Mike Ritchie)

Red Moth Records artists and founders Close The Hatch came on to deliver the evening’s final abrasive set of cathartic musical misanthropy. Guitars, keyboards, drums and a keytar (yep) bring this moody, broken glass menagerie of concocted sound and abysmal bliss to fruition. Their sound carries that feeling of dark trapped ecstasy right before your face gets ripped off by Cenobite hooks.

A sadists pleasure of growled vocals and face stretching sound of metaphorical noise. Songs about dark dreamscapes in the mind and the last remaining fragments right before waking. Kali starts, going back and forth with its brain erasing sound erosion quickly changing to kinder more gentle chords before repeating a few times. Beyond the Wolves starts with a creepy dripping cave dance along dark buried walls. Right before the stalking intruder meets the fire red narrowed eyes of his demise. Stephen Barton growls out the beast’s fury as he plays chase on guitar.  People have been known to slam-dance into walls at their shows, and themselves. There’s also some surprise classical music played against hell’s roaring guitar choir. The closing 11 minute Wolves plays some clanking off notes reminding you of the sound the wind makes when hitting old strung bottles and cans outside that forgotten cabin no one should go to. We get into sludgier sound as the warned visitor opens the rotted cellar door descending into the bad, dark memories that wait around the corner.  Close the Hatch resembles a chainsaw turning on in the brain.

Barstools & Brushstrokes Combines Cocktails and Creativity

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barstools-and-brushstrokesBarstools and Brushstrokes is the newest twist for your happy hour!  Explore your creative side while recreating the featured nights painting with step-by-step guidance from the instructor.  Classes are for both the artistic and the not-so-artistic… the main objective is to have fun!!!

Instructors will guide you, step by step, recreating the featured nights painting. We provide all materials needed (canvases, easels, paints, aprons, etc…) just bring yourself and your creativity! It’s fun, easy, and totally stress free! You’ll go home with a 16X20 masterpiece that is “uniquely yours” and hopefully a new found talent that you’ll want to explore! All materials are provided (canvases, easels, paints, aprons, etc…) just bring your own personal style and we do the rest!

Upcoming classes:

 Oregon Express 7-9pm Wed, Sept 25th

Blind Bob’s 1-3pm, Sun, Sept 29th

 

**Events have food and/or drinks available for purchase.  
Check schedule to see specific event details and happy hour specials!**

Because of limited seating, signing up in advance is always recommended. Register online to confirm your spot in a class . If a class is sold out,  you can be  put on a waiting list or just show up at the scheduled event…though they don’t promise anything, due to last minute cancellations, they can almost always get you in!

– All supplies are provided, including aprons, but it is still recommended that you wear something you don’t mind getting dirty or possibly stained.  Barstools and brushstrokes cannot be responsible for any paint damage.

REVIEW: SITH, Horlet, King Stench, Zuel Bang Heads on Friday the 13th

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Horlet (photo by Mike Ritchie)

Horlet (photo by Mike Ritchie)

Friday the 13th has been associated with many bad things for a long time. Historically, theories suggest the combination of two superstitions claiming 13 as an unlucky number and Friday as an unlucky day are partially responsible for its original bad reputation. In numerology 12 stands for divine organized arrangements and completion (12 months, 12 hours of the clock). 13 is thought of as irregular, offsetting the pattern. There’s also a superstition possibly derived from the Last Supper that having 13 guests at the table meant the death of one, and Friday was the day of the crucifixion. Historical references are almost non-existent before the 1907 novel Friday, the Thirteenth where a shady broker takes advantage of the superstition creating a panic on Wall Street. There’s also a fear of Friday the 13th called friggatriskaidekaphobia, if you can pronounce it.

The most popular version of Friday the 13th aka ‘Jason Day’ began at the dawn of the early 80’s slasher era, introducing the world to one of the longest running film franchises in history, the creepy effect of two whispered one syllable sounds and the craziest mother since Norma Bates. According to some die hard horror fans, Friday the 13thshould be a national holiday worldwide and with a proven track record that nothing goes better with horror than heavy metal, a metal show on Friday the 13th is a machete to the head no-brainer.

SITH, Horlet, King Stench and Zuel fit the blood soaked bill delivering loud, killer performances providing the music for any screaming chase scene.

Shadows in the Hourglass take the stage at Blind Bobs opening with the eerie ambient trance of bass and drums. Zack Ryan plays bass like a lead guitar with effects pedals making it the center of attention and conversation, his fingers spelling out the intelligent intricacies of the strings.  Cliff Burton would be proud.  The Lovecraft-inspired Behind the Veil of Sleep is a high neck, frantic sounding interpretation of an MMA fighters walk to the cage.  Illusions of Serenity pour schizophrenic sweat down the face of a deep dark jagged cliff starring into the dark mirror of water below. Ryan turns his bass into a dark voiced reverberation of a tortured soul’s inner turmoil as drummer Travis Abling hits the skins providing the musical canvas for the two man tapestry of sound. They finish with namesake SITH, as Ryan plays the dark lord on bass.

Death metal lovers of Egypt, Horlet play next, promoting their new CD The Keys of Life and Death. Starting with the musical pile-driver Wings of Ariel, we walk through the hallowed Halls of Amenti. We’re Taken to a place where Iron Maiden and Amon Amarth coexist on the same stage at the same time. Next is the potential ‘CD single’ and hit Annabelle’s Curse, which might conjure up visions of evil but has nothing to do with raggedy dolls. We get a warning From the Clouds then they finish with their own special heretic anthem Children of the Light.  The band played as loud as Allen D. McCowan’s neon green bass strings.

Zuel (photo by Mike Ritchie)

Zuel (photo by Mike Ritchie)

The stench has arrived, worse than any bottom of the lake drowned body or stalking masked corpse. King Stench has come with their working class black/death metal legions. Hell Gates open with the hellacious blast beats of the hammering Eric Barnes with Slayer solos bringing the crowd up front and necks rapidly mobile. They deliver the electro shocks, shrieking notes of False Prophets and the down in the dirt on the knees riffs of Fight. They unleash the army of hungry, fanged mongrels on Hell Hounds. Visions of Death bring the violence of the battlefield to the stage. They finish with a Behemoth sized cover of Ov Fire in the Void.

Intelligent, instrumental thrash and pound masters Zuel headline starting with the neck power-bombing Facemelter giving out fast secondary beatings with the grunting, thudding concrete wallop of the S—thammer. Rapture’s heavy mechanic, destructive, industrial sound captures the human panic of a world without mobile technology, texting and computers for a few days. There’s a nice guttural mixture of Godflesh, Meshuggah and Morbid Angel without evil/violent vocal intentions. Though, lyrically silent Zuel showcased a healthy experimentation with the elements of the periodic metal table, finishing with the five minute chug juggernaut Johnny.

Good English: Trio Riding The ‘Wire’ With New LP

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(Photo Courtesy-Brian Glass)

You know the expression-blood is thicker than water.  It’s a statement that is no truer when it comes to family.  Family is unbreakable.  Sure, you can get annoyed with them when they do something stupid.  Its family-you can’t be annoyed for long.  They are always going to be there for you.  Part of being in a band, you are in a family.  You have each and every one of the members of the group’s best interest far more than most.  You can have a disagreement, and minutes later hug it out.  The band Good English is no exception.  Good English comprises of sisters Elizabeth, Celia, and Leslie Rasmussen.  Elizabeth is the lead vocalist, and plays guitar, Celia is on bass and Leslie on drums.  The band is set to drop their first full-length album Radio Wires on Tuesday, August 27.  This Saturday, Good English will be throwing a CD release party at Blind Bob’s fifth anniversary weekend.

Good English got their start when the ladies were still children.  Elizabeth began to start getting interested in learning how to play the guitar and singing while she was in the eighth grade.  Celia had to choose between being in choir and being in the orchestra in elementary school.  She decided that she would be in the orchestra and started playing the cello.  The other sibling, Leslie, was banging away on the snare drum.  Their parents would soon after give them newer instruments.  Leslie replaced her snare with a drum kit, while Celia obtained the bass.  “The cello and the bass are pretty similar as most people know”, Celia explained.  “So my folks said give the bass a try.  If I didn’t like it-no biggie.”  The ladies began work on learning their new instruments and started playing.  “Our first song we wanted to learn was ‘Warning’ from Green Day”, added Elizabeth.  “We were big fans of Green Day and we wanted to learn their songs.”

To help gain a little more knowledge on playing their guitars and drums, the girls signed themselves up for Hauer’s Music Band Camp around 2008.  At the camp, they learned how to polish up their play and also had the experience to perform live at the legendary local music venue Canal Street Tavern.  The chance to play at Canal Street would be beneficial to the group as they started embarking on playing more and more live after the camp.  Good English added another member to their group and would start to perform at other local venues, with doing shows that were for all ages.  Still very young, the adolescents played as if they have been playing for many, many years.

In 2011, Good English felt they had enough good material and wanted to record their first songs.  The band packed their instruments and drove down to Nashville.  There, they recorded at Reel Love Recording Company.  The owner of the recording company is Dayton’s own Patrick Himes.  Himes produced an outstanding six track EP titled Take Control.  The opening track ‘Hollow Sound’ starts off with twang piano play and then takes a backseat while the guitar riffs.  The title song of the album ‘Take Control’ features a slick indie sound, with Celia’s bass line popping out.  Himes clearly saw what the band’s individuals bring to the table, and highlighted them all in each song.  The music leaps round from all different sounds.  You can hear the indie rock in one song, followed by some blues in another.  The band takes pride in the fact that they don’t have a specific style.  They love exploring all the different styles, and putting their own spins to it.  The result is a stylish rocking opus.

With Take Control released for the masses, Good English proceeded to play local gigs at the local taverns, and festivals.   One of the big breaks that the band has received to date was being part of the local acts that were able to play at last year’s Downtown Dayton Revival Festival.

Earlier this year, Good English went back to Nashville to work Himes again to work on the follow-up of Take Control.  They went down on back to back weekends, with the first weekend setting down the drums and the next weekend laying the vocals and guitar.  “I was really great to get away and work with Patrick again”, Elizabeth said.  “We know that wouldn’t have too many distractions and we could keep our focus on the music.”  The band would work throughout the weekend, bunkering down in the studio for 12 hour days.  Still, the experience of working with Himes, and laying down new music helped the band continue to march on.

Radio Wires promises to show Good English’s growth since the first EP was released.  The instrumental play is powerful and gritty, and is the main focal point in the trio’s mind.  The lyrics are open to interpretation for the listener, which always gives each song freshness.  “We want to have our songs to be like a story that involves characters”, Elizabeth says.  One thing is for sure-audiences and their fans will not be putting down their story anytime in the near future.

Radio Wires will be released on Tuesday, August 27th.  This Saturday, come celebrate the band’s album with their CD release party at Blind Bob’s.  Showtime is around 9pm.  For more info, click on the band’s website goodenglishband.com.

For those who want a taste of the band, click out the video below.  The song is off their EP, Take Control.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoYiMn_oGZU’]

Motel Beds Gives Dayton More ‘Sunfried Dreams’

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Living in Dayton, Ohio throughout the summertime is pretty standard.  You have the ability to enjoy the sun longer than the other seasons.  Kids are outdoors longer.  People take their much needed vacations more often during this period of time.  The local and private pools are visited frequently.  Cookouts replace cooking indoors.  We celebrate the nation’s birthday by gathering around and watching fireworks litter the night’s sky.  There is a sense of freedom when it comes to the season.

Another summer staple is the rising temperatures.  A recent Tuesday evening provided uncomfortable conditions.  The sweltering heat wave that Dayton was experiencing didn’t let loose of its grip.  In town, six individuals gathered together in a small locale that didn’t provide any escape.  The meeting spot had two air conditioners.  One was in a small area where a beaten down, black leather couch sat.  In the same space was a computer and soundboard for recording.  As you walk out of the small area and into the larger section of the room, another air conditioner sits atop the wall farther down at the end.  There are three fans that are scattered about.  Two of them are your typical pedestal fans.  Sadly, they have become decorations because they no longer work.  The other fan is a box version and its down at the other side of the room.  The lime green color makes it look like it’s been rocking and rolling since the early 70s.  The heat inside the space was unreal.  The ice cold cans of Miller Lite helped some, but it wasn’t going to solve the problem.  The heat wave had taken over the room.  However, the group that consisted of six individuals couldn’t care less.  The collection of people was myself and the Dayton rock band, Motel Beds.

Photo by Chris Corn)

Photo by Chris Corn)

Guitarists Tommy Cooper and Darryl Robbins, drummer Ian Kaplan, singer PJ Paslosky, and bassist Tod Weidner make up Motel Beds.  This Saturday, the band will be releasing their 2011 album Sunfried Dreams.  The reissue will be released on CD and for the first time on vinyl.  The LP will include a bonus track.  The band will be having a show at Blind Bob’s in the Oregon District.  Joining Motel Beds will be The Harlequins, Speaking Suns, and Holy Smokes.  Label and design studio Brain Candy will helping with the release of the special release.  “The guys over there love the album and wanted to do something special”, Kaplan explained when asked why this album was choose above the others.

Motel Beds was formed in 2003, with the Kaplan, Paslosky, Cooper, and bassist John Lakes.  The band released their first EP, Hasta Mañana.  Hasta Mañana features dreamy, surf rock songs that are driven with acoustic guitar play.  The band would dissolve in 2005, and remerged in 2009, with Robbins joining the group.  That same year, the band released a much different sounding EP, the rock heavy Go For A Dive.  Shortly after that, Moondazed was released.  The 29 song, lo-fi album ranges from rough demos to polished rock gems that show the band’s range bouncing all over. In 2011, Weidner joined the band and the group marched forward by releasing Feelings, an fantastic collection of indie rock songs that continue to highlight the band’s continuing growth at that time.

Immediately following Feelings is the album that will be celebrated this Saturday night at Blind Bob’s.  Sunrise Dreams is the band’s most solid and most different to this point in their musical journey.  “It was one of the fastest and most fun albums we have done”, Robbins mentions.  “Everything just came together smoothly with this album”.  The album’s sound shows the band reaching back to their first EP, and expanding it.  The songs on the album each have a blend of influence from 60s rock to garage rock. ‘Western Son’ is a slow moody song that will creep up on you without notice with Paslosky’s vocals.  ‘Bat Naps’ has a British punk rock feel to it.  The influence of The Clash roars through the song with the resounding drum play of Kaplan and the thrashing guitar play of Robbins and Cooper.  To continue with the British rock theme, ‘Obey Your Lunch’ really highlights that.  The Who-influenced track really shows off Weidner’s bass playing skills.   Sunrise Dreams is truly a beautifully made album that is destined to be a staple for vinyl lovers.

Motel Beds didn’t stop working on perfecting their craft with Sunfried Dreams, which started to see some critical acclaim throughout the US.  In the same year, the band released another marvel Tango Boys.  Tango Boys is a quick, 34-minute album that resembles what you come to expect with another band that Dayton calls their own.  Some of you may have heard them-Guided By Voices.  Once again, Tango Boys is filled with British punk, but an added element of lo-fi and hi-fi presents the album with a different spin.  The album also features local Daytonian/guitarist for the alternative rock band The Breeders Kelley Deal on the song ‘Tropics Of The Sand’.  The song with Deal got spun extensively on Sirius XM, nationwide on terrestrial radio stations, and gave the band a chance to perform at 2011’s CMJ Music Marathon, 2012’s SXSW, and the 2012 Downtown Dayton Revival Festival.  Dumb Gold is their recent album, having been released last year.  Dumb Gold continues to showcase the band’s growth.  Staying true to their British indie influences, Dumb Gold keeps pushing the envelope.  ‘Smoke Your Homework’ is an exemplary garage rock song.  Dumb Gold just proves that the band continues to strive to be a better band with each album.

The band strives to make sure that their music is as accessible as possible. “You can easily find most of our music all over the internet”, Weidner says.  “YouTube is amazing.  It truly is one of the best search engines to find music”, added Kaplan.  “If you have someone tell you about a band, you can easily go to the website and find all this music on that band.  It’s so easy to have your music on there.”  The band stands by that statement by doing what most local bands don’t do-present music videos.  One of the recent music videos the band released was for ‘Smoke Your Homework’.  The video shows the band visiting a neighborhood, and looking into purchasing some equipment from a creepy man.  The humorous video is one of many videos that are easily accessible videos that you can find from the band.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3Vt8yucJXE’]

Another exciting event will be coming up soon for Motel Beds other than the reissue of Sunfried Dreams this Saturday.  On August 27th, the band will perform at the Fraze Pavilion in Kettering, Ohio.  The outdoor amphitheater will be one of the greatest accomplishments that the band has experienced.  The venue will also give folks from all walks to come and witness a local band taking the stage at larger scale.  “It’s going to be a true honor to be playing there”, Kaplan said.

Motel Beds are one of the many bands in Dayton to continue to be another reason for music to be noticed in town.  Saturday night, the reissue release party of Sunfried Dreams will be happening at Blind Bob’s Bar.  Showtime is 9pm.  For more details, click on the Dayton Most Metro event calendar link here.

3rd Annual Mad Hatter Bar Crawl This Saturday

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943417_10200982482466195_2045711571_n-1Don’t miss out on an epic pub crawl in the Oregon District this Saturday featuring beers from New Holland Brewing.   In an Alice in Wonderland inspired theme, attendees are encouraged to come in costume or at least hats, and there will be prizes and treats along the stops for participants.    It all begins at 2pm at Thai 9 where the featured beer will be Michigan Hatter, a beer that celebrates local agriculture with its Michigan-grown Cascade hops from the Itelanau Peninsula. Bright and aromatic, with delicious malt notes underneath a citrusy showcase of hops.

Around 3pm the groups heads to Blind Bob’s for a light  and refreshing Beligan style pale ale, Farmhouse Hatter,  is the featured pour.  By 4pm the group will meander on down to Lucky’s  for some Oak Aged Hatter, and  I.P.A. aged in Kentucky Barrels. which gives the beer a  smooth wood character brining a new dimension to dry-hopped, aromatic hoppiness.  Sometime around 5ish the crawl will arrive at Trolley Stop to try the Black Hatter,  a version of Mad Hatter brewed with black malt for a dark, roasty sweetness that finishes with a strong Centennial hop character from dry hopping.

Wrapping up the pub crawl at South Park Tavern, around 6ish, guests can experience the Rye Hatter.  This beer showcases it’s grain-bill, made up of rye and barley malt. The rye adds a slight spiciness to the caramel-malt base, while also creating a creamy texture. with dry-hopping creating a fresh citrus finish.

Guests are welcome to join the crawl at any stop along the way, but the first 106 guests will get an official New Holland Beer T-shirt and there will be a prize awarded for best costume somewhere along the trail.

 

The Rebel Set/Sam at Eleven/Mavis Pearly Are Going to ‘Kick Cancer’ with Benefit Show

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When cells in a part of the body start to grow out of control, they grow and form new, irregular cells.  These cells can also grow onto other tissues.  There is DNA in every cell and it directs all the cell’s actions. In a normal cell, when DNA gets damaged the cell either repairs the damage or the cell dies. In the irregular cells, the damaged DNA is not repaired, and the cell doesn’t die like it should. Instead, the cell goes on making new cells that the body doesn’t need. These cells all have the same abnormal DNA as the first cell does.  This is what is considered cancer.  The American Cancer Society also has released these staggering facts:

  • About 1,660,290 new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2013.
  • The National Cancer Institute estimates that approximately 13.7 million Americans with a history of cancer were alive on January 1, 2012.
  • 580,350 Americans are expected to die of cancer this year, with almost 1,600 people per day.

Cancer is a crippling disease.  It’s a disease that has affected most of us in a many ways.  Friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, and many others.  Luckily many cancer researchers and organizations like Livestrong continue to work day and night, looking to help eliminate the deadly illness.  Lead singer of the local band The Rebel Set, Tom Gilliam, is also on the crusade to defeat cancer.  And he has a team behind him along the way.

Gilliam is the Online Chairman and also does publicity for his team in the group Relay For Life of Greene County.  This Saturday night at Blind Bob’s Bar in the Oregon District, Gilliam’s band, along with bands Sam at Eleven and Mavis Pearly will taking part in the Kick Cancer’s Ass Benefit Show.  Last year’s show raised $1057, which helped with cancer research, helped patients get to their treatments, etc.  This year the proceeds will go to help enroll people into CPS-3, a long-term study that will help researchers better identify the lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer. And you can be a part of this historic research effort by enrolling and encouraging others to enroll.

For those who still haven’t had the pleasure of seeing Gilliam and his merry group, this Saturday will be one of the best nights to see them.  The band got their start in early 2006.  Gilliam and his dear friend Gavin Spencer (vocals/bass/harmonica/accordion) realized that after years of playing in numerous bands that they needed to join together and develop their own group.  They enlisted Jason Johantges (rhythm guitar), Adam Kempf (drums/trumpet) and Ken Hall (keyboards/trombone).

(The Rebel Set)

In September of 2007, the band released their first album Ghost Town Silence.  The engineer/producer Patrick Himes helped the band record the album.  Ghost Town Silence offers listeners a look at how the band’s live shows go-a raucous, loose vibe with a strong emphasis on guitar play; with the lyrics talk speak about life in the Midwest.  Almost a hybrid of rockabilly and roots.  The follow-up to the group’s 2007 debut, Across The Relentless Sea was released in 2009.  With Steve Falearos producing the album from Babblefish Recording Studios in Franklin, Across The Relentless Sea shows the band going into a different direction.  The band brought in additional instruments, including organs and horns.  The band also had overdubs that added more kick to the band’s sound.  Listening to both albums, you notice that band’s influences.  “We are heavily influenced by The Black Crowes and Rolling Stones”, Gilliam says.  “Those bands have always been favorites of ours.”  The Rebel Set is now in the starting stages of a follow-up to Across The Relentless Sea.  However, due to scheduling conflicts and growing families, the band hasn’t been able to have the time to really the ball rolling like they want.  “It’s frustrating for sure”, Gilliam mentions.  “However, family comes first.  We will get in the studio soon.  I’m ready.”

This year will be the second outing for the Kick Cancer’s Ass Benefit show.  With the success of the show that was held last year, Gilliam realized that it was a no-brainer to set up again.  “We noticed how well the show went last year, and the amount that we raised.  So we know that having the show again had to happen.  We get to play live and raise some money.  It’s a win-win for everybody”.

(Sam at Eleven)

As stated earlier, Sam at Eleven will also be taking the stage at Blind Bob’s during the benefit show.  Sam at Eleven is comprised of lead singer and guitarist Jeff Rudolf, bassist Adam Bryant, and drummer Brad Gilbert.  The band, who got their name from the classic 80s show ‘Cheers’, released their album The Year We Won in 2011, and now are currently working on the follow-up.  Sam at Eleven offers catchy hooks to their songs, with punk-infused riffs.  They have imprinted their name in the lists of top bands to check out when they perform.  The energy is electrifying and frenetic.  The band has some of the catchiest choruses to their songs.  You will catch yourself singing parts of the bands songs days after their show.  “They are so supportive of us and I am excited to have them back for another year”, Gilliam says about the band.  The other band, Mavis Pearly will be bringing their unique blend of all different genres.  From rock to alternative to party music to some originals, Mavis Pearly are sure to give the people at the tavern just another reason to sit back, relax, and have a good night.

To most, the Kick Cancer’s Ass Benefit Show is nothing more than a fantastic evening with great live music lined up.  To the people that are going to be inheritors of the proceeds that will be come from the show will give them more than we could ever imagine-a chance to beat a disease that some don’t get a chance to.  The evening is truly for a great cause, and it will be another night that will undoubtedly show people that the folks in Dayton care about their neighbors.  The show starts at 10.  Cover charge is $5.  Come out and help kick cancer’s ass once and for all…

Open Mic Nights – A Musicians Beginning

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Photo Credit: Jennifer Taylor Clarke

Mandy Jewell (photo credit: Jennifer Taylor Clarke)

When I was in college, I thought that it would be cool to fool around, impress the ladies, and pick up the acoustic guitar. Sadly with classes, hanging with friends, and pretty much being lazy-I never learned how to play.  I would never give up the guitar, however.  I always kept it in its black travel bag and placed it in my closet.  Recently-I decided that it’s the right time to unpack the instrument and develop a plan.  I will learn how to play, and perform in front of an audience during an open mic night.  If you are someone that is like me, and what’s to follow through on an idea, or if you want to start their journey on becoming a musician, open mic nights are a great start.  Here in Dayton, there are a couple of great open mic events throughout the week that you can perfect your craft at, and even get your name started.

The first open mic night we will discuss takes us to a small shopping center that is across Wright State University.  On Sunday nights at One Eyed Jacks in Fairborn,   the RnR Playdate, hosted by Jay Madewell and Todd the Fox is held.  Their concept of the open mic is very different than most.  For a 25 minute set, you can play with a drummer (Madewell), guitartist (Todd), bassist (Chris Barnett from the local band Mayliner).  If you choose to play solo, that’s fine.  Between sets, there are five minute comedy sets.  My first experience with this open mic night featured seeing what seemed like a reserved, coy woman named Mandy Jewell.  She walked up to the podium, and plugged in her guitar.  She sat down, took a deep breath, and waited to be introduced.  Todd grabbed the microphone and explained to the crowd that Jewell was in the process of having a largely successful Kickstarter campaign that would give the funds to travel to Nashville to record her first professional demo.  After hearing this, I couldn’t help but be intrigued to hear her play.  What took place for the next 25 minutes was something that I didn’t think I would expect.  This tiny framed young lady that seemed to be the person that would be considered a perfect example of being a wallflower proved me and everyone in the crowd otherwise.  Her guitar play and singing revealed a woman that has had sadness in her life, and that she is now rising from the wreckage.  She is stronger than most would give her.  Her voice was like if Mazzy Star decided to morph into someone else’s body.  Jewell spoke softly, which only built her charm level up more and more.  I can’t wait to see where Mandy takes her music.  She is truly a gem that Dayton better be ready for.  The whole concept, the performers, the location-RnR Playdate is a great start for anyone that wants to get started in their musical journey.  The crowd is very loyal, and will follow you wherever you go.

Kim Deal

Kim Deal

Our next stop is the South Park Tavern.  Every Wednesday night, the fantastic bar that offers some of the best pizza and beer in town also presents their open mic night.  This establishment is actually the birthplace of an idea.  On a chilled October night in 2011, a young man was sitting at one of the tables with some friends.  The group was sitting around catching up on what has been happening with one another. The young man has enjoyed the music that was being played in Dayton, and wanted to show his appreciation by starting a page people could go to and read about his adventures and his accounts of seeing the local shows.  He explained this vision to his friends, telling them that we would write reviews on the shows he attended, and hopefully meet some great people along the way.  That young man was me.  Over a year later, and continuing to move forward with Dayton Most Metro, I can’t begin to express my love to this open mic night.

Starting at 9, each act has 25 minutes to set up and perform.  At 11, the stage opens up for any upcoming rock band to come up and perform till the doors close.  The tavern on Wednesdays nights also offers up some acts that you would never think would happen.  Just a couple of weeks ago, an artist was penciled in to play.  The performer was labeled on the schedule as ‘K.D’.  What the people who were in attendance didn’t expect was that ‘K.D.’ was no other than The Breeders lead singer and bassist for the Pixies Kim Deal.  She performed a solo electric version of “Cannonball” but also another Breeders fan favorite “Fortunately Gone” from 1990’s Pod among others.

Travel over to the great Oregon District, and you will notice that some of the great establishments to run up and down the area also host fantastic open mic nights.  On Thursday nights, the Trolley Stop and Blind Bob’s each will give you the forum to come and sing your heart out.  Both venues also give you a great intimate crowd that will be looking forward to hearing good music played by you.

So, if you are ready to start embarking on a journey that you have been thinking of going on from some time, you always have to start somewhere.  If music is in your blood, and you want to become part of the great group of artists and musicians that call Dayton home, then go to one (or all) of the open mic nights the town offers you.  Maybe, just maybe, you will fulfill a lifelong dream of yours.  Or if you are like me-you will knock something off the bucket list.  Either way-have fun doing it.  If you don’t play any instruments, just sing only in the shower, or you just love seeing music, then go and support the people playing at the open mic nights.  Show them your appreciation.  Who knows-you just may see the next big star to come out of town…

Tapping In!

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Like a beer lover’s Christmas…for a week!

You may not be aware of it, but we live in a Golden Age of beer. Outside of the major players in the beer game, there are just fewer than 2,000 craft breweries in the United States. It is estimated that majority of Americans live within ten miles of one of them. In the not too distant future, that will be true of Dayton as well, with the opening of the Toxic Brew Company. That number has come a long way since the 1970’s, when there were around forty breweries in the United States, and the dominant beer was the German style lager in the tradition of Budweiser. If you were looking for anything outside of that, you would have to find an expensive import. That is why the week of 14th to the 20th of May has been declared American Craft Beer Week by the Brewer’s Association. It is a time to celebrate craft brewing in all of its small batch glory.

There are three major criteria for what the Brewer’s Association considers a craft beer brewery.  The brewery in question has to be small, producing six million barrels of beer or less. To give you some idea of that size, Anheuser-Busch InBev sold 17.7 million barrels of Budweiser in 2011. Almost 18 million barrels of just one beer. Sam Adams, in comparison, sold 2.5 million barrels of all their fifty four beers released in 2011 combined.  The brewery has to be independent, meaning that less than 25% of the brewery can be owned by a member of the alcohol industry. Goose Island ceased to be a craft brewer when it became part of the Anheuser-Busch InBev Empire. Even if the holding company does nothing to the beer, it is not independent. It should also be traditional, having its flagship beer be all malt, or at least half of all its beers being malt-based. They also look for innovation, making sure that brewers are always pushing the edges of the styles to improve the product. And most craft brewers, since they depend on locaholics to spread the word of their product, tend to be very heavily involved in their community. This blend of distinct characteristics (small, independent, traditional, and passionate) creates a blueprint for a typical craft brewery.

The craft beer movement really did not begin until the 1980’s. In colonial times and up to the late 19th century, all breweries were local. They may have spread a little further than their own county, but with the limited technology of the day, they did not keep well and they did not travel quickly. It was not until the birth of the railroad and the advent of the refrigerated car that a beer was able to jump up and take over the country. Adolphus Busch was the man that made this leap (as well as a few others), and created a beer that was the same from New York to San Francisco. The big breweries, like Miller, Coors, Pabst, and others, grew from this point, crowding out all of the smaller competition. This downward spiral, aided by Prohibition, killed small breweries until 1965, when Fritz Maytag revived the Anchor Steam Brewing Company. Ken Grossman started to cobble together (literally) the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, using his passion for brewing and his knowledge of chemistry and engineering to create his beer. It was not until 1980 that the world saw its first drinkable batch of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Six years after that, the Boston Brewing Company was born, and Samuel Adams became part of a wave of breweries that swept the nation. That wave has been building over the last fifteen years, and does not show any sign of stopping. It has grown so  big there are even social sites where people can share the beers they love, one of the bigger ones being Untappd, where you can check in to each beer, rate it, tweet it, and even include where you are enjoying it so others may try it.

Can you pick the most delicious beer from this line up?

Of course, you are going to want to celebrate this week. Before you start celebrating, you should write down that Ohio Brew Week is June 22-30 in Athens, OH and our own Dayton Beer Week is August 18-25. For this coming week, there are plenty of great places to check out craft brews in Dayton. Downtown, the Trolley Stop has a wonderful selection of craft beers, as well as a beer tasting on the first Wednesday of every month. If they seem a little full, you can walk down the street a little and check out Lucky’s  Tap Room. They have eighteen beers on tap, and a hand book they give you to make sure you have an idea of what each one tastes like. Blind Bob’s also has a marvelous selection of craft beers  and food, and is also within stumbling distance in the Oregon District. If you are looking for something a little further afield, the South Park Tavern has an amazing selection of craft beers on tap and by the bottle, as well as a fairly extensive selection in bottles and live music most days of the week. Traveling further south and closer to the Dayton Mall brings you to Chappy’s Tap Room and Grille. While Lucky’s has a good sized book of beers, Chappy’s has a novel. They also have some beer clubs you can join, so you can benefit from trying their rotating beer taps and work your way onto their Beer Wall of Fame. If you are looking to travel a little north of the city, there is Boston’s Bistro, “where bier tasting is an art.” They have an extensive and always rotating list of bottle and draught beers, as well as food specials every night of the week. If you are looking to just bring some beers home to try, Belmont Party Supply is the place to go. They offer a wide variety of six packs and single bottles of beer, and they are the ones that run the beer tasting for the Trolley Stop. So they really know their brews.

You can even go out next week and have fine craft beers for a good cause!  The Big Brews and Blues Festival will be going on Friday, May 18th to benefit Dayton Diabetes.  There will be over thirty craft beers for you to sample, as well as good food and live blues music to listen to. It is a great way to end the work week and support local charity. You can even get the heads of this esteemed website serving beer to you! Celebrity bartending at its finest.  With all of these options for the week of the American Craft Beer week, what is going to stop you from broadening your beer palate? And if you have a beer you think people should be trying next week, leave a note in the comments. Cheers!