Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More
My favorite modern bluesman” – Joe Satriani
“Davy Knowles has immersed himself in the styles of many great players, emerging with his own brand, and playing with a smile on his face. ” – Bernie Marsden
The Outsider – “A long awaited album full of gems “– Bluesdoodles.
“#6 Davy Knowles. Knowles plays the blues with the sincerity of someone twice his age” – Daniel Eriksson, Gibson Top 10 Modern Blues Guitarists:
We are having our very own Christmas Extravaganza. Yeah, it’s an extravaganza.
We’re cordially inviting you to Canal Public House on December 18th, 2015 in Dayton, OH to join in the festivities.
Joining us will be our friends in:
Come Wind
Jetty Bones
Weathervein
25% of all pre-sale ticket sales will be donated to Toys For Tots. The extravaganza is open to all ages. See you soon ? [|]
From smoking slide guitar boogies to raw-boned Chicago shuffles to the deepest slow blues, guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Lil’ Ed Williams is an awe-inspiring master bluesman. He and his blistering, road-tested band, The Blues Imperials—guitarist Mike Garrett, bassist James “Pookie” Young, drummer Kelly Littleton—are celebrating 20 amazing years together. Live, Lil’ Ed And The Blues Imperials simply can’t be beat as Ed breaks out the deepest back-bends, the highest toe-walks, and the most authentic electric slide-guitar blues being played today. Not since the heyday of Hound Dog Taylor & The HouseRockers has a Chicago blues band made such a consistently joyous, rollicking noise.
For almost twenty years now, Tim Anderl has written some of the most compelling stories and informative interviews for several outlets. He has been in contact with artists/bands that span all over the world. From cutting his teeth in the business as an intern at Alternative Press magazine to now being frequently featured in publications like Ghettoblaster Magazine and New Noise Magazine-Anderl has spent a large portion of his life involved in the world of music. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone then when you are made aware that Anderl is also in a band-right here in the heart of Dayton, Ohio. The band is called Arms Race. This past fall, the foursome released their debut EP (and one of the best releases in 2014) Brought a Hug to a Gunfight.
The other members of Arms Race; bassist Cole Bohanon, drummer Justin Satinover, guitarist Kris Neises began the work on music together back in 2013 with another guitarist at the time, Seth Ratliff. The lineup consists of members from other local bands such as The Black Hearts of Men, Kris N, Giant Defiant and The 1984 Draft. Satinover’s basement became the setting to where most of the music started to be written. As soon as some demos were recorded, Satinover presented them to his 1984 Draft band mate Joe Anderl, who is also Tim’s brother. Satinover’s intention was to optimistically recruit him to come onboard and sing lead vocals. Unfortunately due to timing not being ideal to join at that time, Joe respectfully declined the offer. He did listen to the demos though and immediately knew who should be contacted-Tim.
“I get this email from Kris saying that him and some buddies of his were playing in this band and were wondering if it would be something I would be interested in,” Anderl explained during a recent sit down.
It wasn’t going to be the first time Tim was possibly going to be involved in a band. In college, Anderl performed in another 90s-era emo band titled Low Pan. The 5-piece set went on a 10 day tour at one point and also played all over Ohio. When Anderl graduated from Ohio University, Low Pan parted ways. After spending some time in Cleveland working and returning back to Dayton, Anderl performed in a few other bands that lasted briefly.
When Anderl started listening to the instrumental demos, the sound coming out echoed the classic definitive sound that the 90s emo scene provided. The songs reminded him of the days when while he was growing up in Beavercreek as he would attend D.I.Y. basement/hall shows around the surrounding area. Memories of listening to bands like Texas Is The Reason and Braid began to resurface when the demos rolled on. It has been ten years since he last performed in a band. However-Anderl was hooked and agreed to join. Shortly after Anderl integrating himself within Arms Race and they began playing a little, Ratliff exited from being in the band due to becoming busier in another band was in and also getting married. With Ratliff’s departure, Arms Race made the decision to keep things were they were.
In July 2014, Arms Race went to work on recording Brought a Hug to a Gunfight at Popside Recordings Studio in Troy with ex-Hawthorne Heights’ guitarist Micah Carli. While recording, Carli stepped in a little to play some guitar to add some layers. The end result is an EP that influences include mid-90s alt-rock, grunge and emo. With Neises recording Thankful Parade with his other band Kris N in 2013, along with Joe Anderl and Satinover’s The 1984 Draft recording the EP Bo Jackson Up The Middle in 2014, the choice to work with Carli was a simple decision.
“He’s so easy to work with and was just a nice person,” Anderl said. “He also has such amazing equipment.”
Among Columbus and Dayton already under their belts, Arms Race plan to play more shows hopefully in 2015. An LP being recorded with Carli has also been discussed, but for now Arms Race plans on staying focused on writing new songs and having their performances stay as strong as possible. If Arms Race were to never have gone to the studio, play live, or simply do anything but just jam with really no intention of doing anything-Anderl would have been okay with that also.
“It felt like the kind of band that could be really fun to practice with and never play a show live,” Anderl says. “Once we graduated to actually doing things in public-that was icing on the cake.”
Arms Race will perform during the APUNKolypse Now! event on Saturday, April 4 at Canal Public House, 308 E. First St. The Loveless, Kill City, Red Hot Rebellion, Bribing Senators, Movehome and Daymare are also on the bill. Show begins at 7 p.m.
For more information and to hear the band’s EP, Brought a Hug to a Gunfight, visit soundcloud.com/arms-race-dayton-ohio.
The Cincinnati-based rockers Buffalo Killers have been busy since the beginning of this year.
First, they helped kick off this year’s Dayton Music Festival 10th year anniversary with a special show featuring a church choir in the Christ Episcopal Church in downtown Dayton back in April. They followed that with a coast to coast summer tour, which was in support of the release of Heavy Reverie, which was released in May. During their time on the road, the made their annual stop in Austin, Texas and performed at South by Southwest “This past year was probably the wildest one,” bassist and vocalist Zachary Gabbard says during our phone conversation. “A lot more people, taking every band from everywhere, bunch of people think that they are rock stars, and throw them into one city. It was nuts.”
Whatever they will admit or not-Zachary, along with his brother and guitarist/vocalist Andy, and drummer Joseph Sealy-they are fast approaching their own unique rock star status through their growing library of hook heavy, homegrown rock. The music encompasses the rawness of blues and psychedelic basics. Buffalo Killers play loud and unrestrained, free with a beauty and ease. The trio recently added lap steel/guitarist Sven Kahn’s into the band this year. The guys of the band knew Kahn’s for some time, with him filling in from time to time during shows, and playing in some during the recordings of their album, 3.
Music was always around when Zachary and Andy Gabbard were growing up in their home. Along with hearing the classic records spin from Neil Young, Grateful Dead, and CSNY-their father would play some strung the guitar with friends, and co-workers after work. When Zachary decided that he wanted to pick up playing on his own, he was given a bass because his father said that “guitar players are a dime a dozen.” Andy started to play guitar at a young age as well, playing with a small Fender with a small neck. Along with being taught by their father, Andy particularly would play along AC/DC records.
The Gabbard brothers formed their garage rock band Thee Shams in 1999, along with Sebaali, Max Bender, and Keith Fox. Thee Shams released four albums on four record labels, and toured extensively. The toll of the touring and recording took a toll on the band, and the band broke up in 2005. “It became where we were obviously the three guys (Zachary, Andy, and Sebaali) that were committed to this project,” Gabbard explained. “Us three were ready to go-that’s all we wanted to do. So when it started to slow down, we just say let’s start over.”
The newly formed trio of Buffalo Killers quickly picked up where their previous band left off. They started to gain followers everywhere they went, and even caught the eye of the folks over at Alive Records. The record label received the five-song demo that Zachary sent out to several other labels. It took less than a week for Alive to call the band to sign them. The first album under the label helped Buffalo Killers obtain the opportunity to go play a string of shows with The Black Crowes in 2007. When they returned from touring with The Black Crowes, the band went to work on their second album, Let It Ride, with Black Keys guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach serving as producer. With their time being under the Alive Records name, Buffalo Killers would go on to release three more albums: 3 (2011), Dig. Sow. Love. Grow. (2012), and the 2013 Record Store Day only release of Ohio Grass.
This past year, Buffalo Killers made the move over to Sun Pedal Records, and subdivision of Warner Bros. The goal wasn’t to move on from Alive, because the band were happy being
with them. The people from Sun Pedal started showing up at the shows more. Conversations began to become more and more frequent, to which the decision was made to make the move. “Alive was super good to us,” Gabbard says. “It just worked out. They were into doing the record, and making it come out fast. With them having distribution through Warner Bros., we all knew that the records could get out there more. Alive were supportive, and helped us get the deal done with Sun Pedal. It was good for everyone.”
While working on the direction and vision of producer Jim Wirt (Fiona Apple, Incubus), Heavy Reverie and their second release this year Fireball of Sulk have given Buffalo Killers a more cleaner sound while maintain their hard rocking ways and reducing the overdubs being used. While both Gabbard brothers would rely on each other with the vocals, and self-produce most of the albums, working with Wirt also helped the band get out of their comfort zone. “We were open to anything,” Gabbard says. “Jim captured it well.” The making of Fireball of Sulk was documented with a camera crew and photographers to release in relation with the record. The filming included learning the songs to recording them, which allows their fans and others to take a peek into the process of making the album.
When it’s all said and done, 2014 will be remembered to being some kind of year for Buffalo Killers. Under the Sun Pedal name, they have been getting more exposure, including being in a segment on Last Call with Carson Daly this summer when they on the West Coast. “Ah man, that was a big deal for us,” Gabbard gleefully mentions. “My kids think it’s the biggest thing in the world.”
The band also have a new place to practice, Zachary’s home in the country outside of Dayton and Cincinnati. “We can get as loud as we want out there,” Gabbard says.
Something that bearded fellas of Buffalo Killers have no problem doing.
Buffalo Killers will be performing at Canal Public House in support of their latest album Fireball of Sulk with Good English and Tombstone Tremblers. Friday November 28th. Doors open at 7. Show is at 10. $10.00 Day of Show.
The open road.
Miles and miles of paved cement that stretches and bends at every turn and direction of the United States. When you are driving on the open road, you take in the sweeping land that is untouched. You take in the wide-ranging view of countryside that surrounds all around you. You roll down the windows and move one of your hands outside. You allow the blowing wind to sway your hand all around. You turn up the radio to the highest volume, proceed to blare your favorite song. The people that accompany you on this journey more important to you than you will ever know.
For Matt Arbogast, the open road is therapeutic. It allows him to escape. Being on the open road helps take care of those voids that are needing to be filled. “I have told my wife every couple of months, I need to get out and get on the road,” Arbogast mentions during a recent phone conversation. “She understands (laughter).”
Arbogast too many is known to be part of the moniker The Gunshy, and he will be stopping by Dayton to play Wednesday night at the Canal Public House alongside Mean Mug, The Florals, Meridian, and Joe Anderl.
The Gunshy released their latest album, Silent Songs, back in September 2013. The album highlights some of Arborgast’s best work to date. His tone when singing is coarse and gritty. “The Independent” is a bombastic opener that sets the tone with roaring strings. The heavy-toned “Getting High In Denver” features some of remarkable and compelling storytelling. Silent Songs emphasizes throughout the album that you need to keep living your life to the fullest and love every moment.
Arbogast grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania-right in the heart of Amish Country. 10 years ago, Arbogast started to notice that his music playing in town has fast approaching an expiration date, and decided to move to Chicago. “Lancaster was a great city,” he explains. “I just wanted to go somewhere else and tryout my music there. Have a chance at least. I figured Chicago would be a great place to do so.” Chicago has treated him well since then. For starters, he met his wife at a show in town. He has made close friends that tour and also live in the city. He also has built a recording studio in Logan Square three years ago called 8AM.
8AM not only has the recording studio, but also the attic is used for acoustic shows and yoga classes. “I wanted to create a space that people could record and feel relaxed,” Arborgast mentions. “I wanted the studio to be a fun place.” Arborgast quickly mentioned afterwards that the title of the studio is 8AM for one main reason. “I want you to come in and get to work. No screwing around. We start early around here.” Establishing 8AM in some ways even helped Arborgast become passionate about music again. At one point-the touring became a hassle for Arborgast. “I got a little burnt out on touring. While tours were slowly starting to get better, it can be tough playing to empty rooms most nights,” Arborgast explained. The mentality of touring has changed now. As mentioned earlier, Arborgast has developed the need and drive to hit the road with the band, and at times-solo.
The future is bright for Arborgast. He plans to start recording other artists in his studio, and releasing records for other people/bands next year. As far as new music from The Gunshy-“I want to make a simple record next,” Arborgast reveals. “Silent Songs has so much happening. I just threw a ton of different instruments into the album that I had laying around. For the next album, I just want to strip it down and get back to basics. Just make it simple.”
For now, the open road is calling. And The Gunshy have responded.
The Gunshy, alongside Mean Mug, The Florals, Meridian, and Joe Anderl will be performing at Canal Public House Wednesday night. 8:30pm. $5 cover.
To hear more from The Gunshy, click onto http://thegunshy.bandcamp.com/.
(Photo courtesy: Ultrasphinx)
Before the band’s gig at Strange Matter in Richmond, Virginia, Ultrasphinx’s bassist Aaron Rogers is coming back from taking some down time and collected some vinyl albums at a nearby record store-Steady Sounds. One of the albums that Rogers tells me he was really interested in diving into a vinyl album of the great Leonard Bernstein conducting rejected works from legendary mind of Beethoven. During our conversation, Rogers had to cut it short temporary and explains that we will have to call me back. It wasn’t him just being bored with our talk, or that he became completely offended with the topics I was bringing up. No-Rogers had to move the band’s van and trailer away from the meter that they had parked by earlier in the afternoon. In Richmond, the law requires you to move your vehicle at least 500 feet after being parked at a meter no more than two hours. After you move at least 500 feet, you can park at a meter again. You can’t just feed the meter that you are parked by. A rather simple solution, you may think. Nope- you just have to move your vehicle. It’s right up there in the ranks of one of the stranger laws to obey, no question.
Ultrasphinx, from the northeast city of Akron, are currently on the final leg of a two week tour. The band consist of Rogers on bass, Ian Cummins on drums, and Joe Dennis on guitar/vocals. They started their tour in Pittsburgh on June 20th, and it will be ending in Cleveland on July 5th. The tour will be making a stop here in Dayton at Canal Public House this Wednesday where the band will be joined onstage by Arms Race, Oh Condor and Dinosaurus. Ultrasphinx just released their first self-titled LP this past April.
A little over two years ago Rogers was in a band with a friend that he called a “one-off”, Blockades. The singer of Blockades was formerly from Akron and moved to Los Angeles and would fly in before the few shows that the band played. During his flights, the singers would write lyrics. When he arrived into town, the band would then configure the music to go along. Rogers was in charge of drums for the first couple of shows while the singer played guitar. A couple of shows in, Rogers wanted to try something different. “For the third show, I said that I wanted to play bass, and I knew a guy that will play drums,” Rogers says. He recruited Cummins to come and play drums for Blockades. Rogers knew Cummins through the music scene and had worked with him on other projects. Right from the start, the duo had astonishing chemistry. “We locked in immediately. We needed to find something full time. We need to do something in a real band,” Rogers added.
For Joe Dennis, Ultrasphinx is yet another incredible chapter in his musical lifecycle. For many that were immersed into the grunge movement that took over the collective world, there were the indie bands that were also making some noise on their own terms. Dennis was the lead vocals in the 90s band The Party of Helicopters. The Party of Helicopters developed a regionally cult following after their release of Abracadaver in 1997. The Party of Helicopters would release a couple EPs and another LP Please Believe It before calling it quits in 2004. The band would reunite in 2007, 2009, and 2010. After that, The Party of Helicopters were finished. Dennis since then has been in a few other bands around the Kent/Akron area (The Man I Fell In Love With, Teen Tighteners, Company Picnic).
Two years ago, Rogers received a call from Cummins saying that Dennis wanted to three of them to start up a band. The trio knew each other through the Akron music scene circuit. Rogers would do sound for the bands that Dennis and Cummins would be in, and they all had a mutual respect for another’s music taste. With Cummins and Rogers seeing their dynamic chemistry when playing with Blockades-teaming up with Dennis was going to be what they were looking for. “Ian called me and said that Joe wanted to start a band, and practice was Tuesday,” Rogers recounted when he got the call from Cummins. “And either showed up (laughter). Ian called me an hour later saying that something came up, and let’s shoot for next Tuesday.” The next Tuesday came, and everyone showed up. Ultrasphinx released two songs-the first songs that they worked on as a band, “Left Objects” and “Stoned Hearts” on a split 7” vinyl record with Bad Trouble in February 2013.
In March 2013, Ultrasphinx begun writing for their first LP. The band already had flushed out most of the songs that would be incorporated in the album through playing
them during the tour throughout the first year of inception. They booked the recording sessions in Akron at STUDIO TIME with Jason M. Tarulli. Tarulli, who has worked with bands such as Cage the Elephant and Akron’s own The Black Keys, was Ultrasphinx’s first and only choice to help record the album. The trio knew Tarulli pretty well. Rogers assisted Tarulli on some recordings in the past at STUDIO TIME. “We trusted Jason’s ears more than anybody else in the world,” Rogers said. The recording of the songs didn’t long due to the band to lay down, but the vocals were recorded twice. The mixing of the album took a little longer because Tarulli couldn’t finish it due to his schedule. Rogers ended up taking over the mixing soon after.
Throughout the self-titled LP of Ultrasphinx, dazzling blend of overdubs, puncturing riffs, and the Joe Dennis signature dreamy vocals that captured fans of The Party of Helicopters from years past are splashed all over. The songs that accompany this LP will leave you scrambling-trying to keep up with the frenetic pace on most of the songs (most of the songs end before the three minute mark). The album should be well-received by fans from all musical enthusiasts-from metal heads to the underground music followers.
Rogers mentioned that the band will take some time after the current to shift through the hundreds of hours of audio from practices, demos that may be used for new material. The new material has become more of a collective collaboration, Rogers added.
As soon as Rogers was able to get back to the band’s van, and moved it the required 500 feet, he called me back. “We are now parked safely three blocks down,” says Rogers. Enough space so that the police won’t ticket them. The van will still have to be moved one more time. Thankfully for Rogers, Dennis, Cummins, the never-ending venture of moving the van every two hours will be coming to an end at six. After that time, they can park somewhere and won’t have to worry about it anymore.
Oh the joys of being on the road. Especially being in a band.
Ultrasphinx will perform on Wednesday, July 2 at Canal Public House, which is located at 308 E. First St. Dinosaurus, Oh Condor and Arms Race are also on the lineup that night as well. Doors at 9 p.m., $5 cover for patrons 18 and up.
To hear and purchase the album, or more info, click onto the band’s Bandcamp site www.ultrasphinx.bandcamp.com.
