Jay Madewell | Dayton937

Friday March 8 Gilly’s Jazz club hosted an evening of extreme musical diversity. Hardcore humored adult rated acoustic singing, a human mix master, sound-machine and beat boxer, a screaming electric Ukulele playing misfit, a trippy rock n roll splattering of horror fed haunted charm and the southern Grand Ole Opry, brought to you by Bloodline Video. The show was in honor and celebration of the evening’s host and performer, legendary local TV personality, actor and Horror Host A Ghastlee Ghoul, who toyed with the crowd played naughty games, told jokes, made rude comments and headlines as only he can.

The ever charming, cussing, swearing gentleman Felix Wussington started the evening strapped with acoustic guitar and a wide array of lyrical poetry making beautiful prose out of STD’s, lesbians, killing your significant other, the reaper and amusing domestic violence. This tattooed R-XXX rated country punk talked the sh- about backyard body burial, a romantic interlude in the Y’s swimming pool and a tribute to Herbert West and his love of playing with dead things. It’s a good thing Wussington’s someone everyone wants to hang out with and Lives Across the Street from Heaven. It might save his songwriting soul from the reaper and eternal damnation, good thing All Dudes go to Heaven. Hmmm… he could’ve beat the devil, if only he played the fiddle. Mr. Wussington also has select tunes from his debut My Cthulu’s Showing on Soundcloud.

Splattertude

The power and talent of the human voice and throat is put on display as human beat box master Thomas Gardner hits the mic, spins the turntable, scratches some vinyl, plays with some techno grooves all with his voice. He’s a walking sub wolfer, PA, night club sound-system, in one shades/hoodie wearing bass heavy package.

Next up Dayton’s answer to a loud live horror movie, emanating trippy sounds of the 60’s drug scene Splattertude. Like a bad stain, they don’t come out. Fronted by the howling leather and laced demoness Susperia, MC himself bassist A Ghastlee Ghoul, the ghost faced guitarist Tony Tone and the skins destroying chrome faced Christmas Devil Louu Stahl. The House of 1000 Corpses opened and your Darkest Hour begins. You won’t carry a cross but you’ll have a handful of Black Roses swirling in a pool of dark dreams and persecution. War, murder it’s just a shot away Down the Rabbit Hole. They take us on a train-wreck voyage to the cinema wastelands of Cleveland.

The always handsome Uke playing tallywacker himself Henrique Couto brought his unique brand of showmanship once again to the Gilly’s stage partnered with his friend bass player multi-talent Jay Madewell. Often accused or assumed as being a walking wardrobe malfunction Couto’s flashy appearance may clash with itself but overall adds to his undeniable talent for drawing a reaction whether by song lyrics or personalized humor and mastery of an instrument few have dared to unlock the mysteries of. Miley Cyrus is Pregnant with his two headed love child, and Couto doesn’t even have a love mullet. He plays Better than Nothing of his new CD That’s Loud and UPS’s his heart to a stalking admirer. He believes ‘educational films’ are bullsh- and gives everyone the lyrical finger with a laugh and smile playing his most popular iTunes song. He finishes, with a tribute to the man of his dreams saying he’d do Anything Anything to be The Dream Master.

Queen Victoria and Todd the Fox

The sovereign Queen Victoria and the Reverbnation voted best blues player in Ohio the exalted Todd the Fox take the stage and swing, swagger and silhouette the sounds of the south and old-school/classic rock with a hillbilly twang that was sweet backwater honkey-tonk strong. Welcome to Detroit and the Hotel Yorba, such a lovely place. We party with Mr. John Fogerty and the Old Man Down the Road. Spin the Stealers Wheel and worship Mr. Clapton then jam to some old-time country road blues with The Carters. There’s a Little Ghost under the Blue Moon of Kentucky, so Sleep On a beautiful haunting lullaby from Alison Krauss. Oh Boy, I see a reflection of a Bad Moon Rising in the Clearwater, I see trouble on the way in the form of big bad Imelda May and the devil divine her Handsome Man. Miss Victoria can swing an acoustic just fine and hold her own on a mandolin with the sexy grace of a rockin country queen.

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

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…

A Ghastlee Night at Gilly’s….The Sequel

Open Mic Nights – A Musicians Beginning