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Nightwish Enchants Columbus with Imaginaerum Tour

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Friday September 21st the Finnish symphonic power house known as Nightwish visited Newport Music Hall and from the mile long lines it looked like the whole city knew about it. To ever question their drawing power on these Yankee shores would be a grave underestimation of their style and reputation. Maybe it’s the mystery and mystique of singer Anette Olzen that brought out curiosity seekers. I’m sure some long time diehards wanted to compare/size her up to former, long time operatic lunged founding member/singer Tarja Turunen. But fans can rest assured that though their a worlds difference apart in style, Olzen’s own unique voice holds weight backing up the classics as well as her own. It was a night of majestic story telling by both bands.

Kamelot performing in Columbus

Tampa’s power metal conceptual kings Kamelot opened the show walking out to an absolute frenzy of screaming/shrieking voices. Although three members are American and one German, thanks to their new singer Tommy Karevik they were welcomed as Swedish royalty. A night of eternal/infernal majesty was to be had by all. They played choice cuts from several storyline records turning Newport into a medieval ballroom fit for a mad hatters masquerade party. They Rule the World with the first note starting with a double deceased dose of Ghost Opera with Euro-siren Amanda Somerville standing tall above. Karevik takes the crowd in his hand, a black and leather clad Maestro who from a fine ladies POV is ‘smokin’ hot, makes full use of the stage furniture. We then go to The Center of the Universe. We return to the opera and learn the value of life on earth as The Human Stain. He does a manual crowd sound check and When the Lights Are Down the eternal darkness and illusion of Mephisto awaits in the Dark Halo. Then it was time to celebrate this years new CD Silverthorn with Sacrimony, their third concept album, with deep lavender locked guest vocalist Alissa White-Gluz from The Agonist screeching out the voice of 19th Century main character Jolee and Elize Ryd providing the clean soothing delivery. Be careful what you do in this life because Forever’s a long time to deal with Karma.  Gluz reappears stepping into Shagrath’s dastardly evil boots and leaves us with the conniving March of Mephisto.   Silverthorn will be released October 30th.

Formed in 1996, Nightwish were one of the first operatic style metal bands to use a female lead singer. Earning a steadfast/loyal home country following they achieved worldwide success in the late 80’s/early 90’s when 2004’s Once brought them their biggest US single Wish I Had an Angel. In 2005 Tarja was dismissed by open band letter for reasons heavily disputed. A long search commenced searching for a new perfect voice. Over 2000 demos later they decided on Alyson Avenue singer Olzen. The band released two singles Eva and Amaranth, to satisfy/wet fans appetite/curiosity accompanied by videos for Amaranth and another track The Islander. There 6th record 2007’s Dark Passion Play was released. This tour brings us the new conceptual juggernaut Imaginaerum who’s narrative tells us about an aging composer on his deathbed taking a trip back to his youth. A same titled movie version with similar story and themes is being made by The Islander director Stobe Harju.

Nightwish performing in Columbus

They played a nice long theatrical showcase of crowd favorites, choice cuts from Dark Passion Play and a few new stories from Imaginaerum to captivate the mind and please the ear. The lights went out over the full moon, casting illumination over the old man’s childhood dream-scape. The bagpipes played as the crowd unleashed a deafening roar,  its night wish of incredible symphonic metal story telling mastery and macabre answered. It was indeed Storytime, a lyrical and visual journey back in time to Never Never Land inside a childlike dream imperium. The first of Tarja’s tunes Wish I Had an Angel was greeted with great applause and enthusiasm for anyone ear judging. Olzen cranked out her introduction to fans on Amaranth. Then delivered the nights next bedtime Scaretale with its icy witches cackle and vocal taunts, filled with fiendish monstrosities and creepy crawly nightmare creatures reaching out with a crooked old vultures hand inviting the kids into the dark carnival with a tick tock, tick tock, tick tock. Lyrically it’s been called Nightwish’s ‘Enter Sandman.’ Speaking of creatures of the night we return to The Dark Passion Play for 7 Days to the Wolves. We then cross time and space to a 1930’s era jazz club on the Twin Peaks side of town for a Slow Love Slow and sexy sit down sing along. Guest instrumentalist Troy Donockley comes out to play the pipes on the next five tunes. For every fan that’s been seduced,smitten or fallen for Olzen’s voice they all say the same thing. I WANT MY TEARS BACK!  The slower animalistic ballad The Crow The Owl and The Dove flies over the Imaginaerum then we sit/stand around the fire as The Islander tells us an old man’s salty sea’s story bathed in the tranquil glow of cell phones and a few bic flames. The crowd wished for soothing rain and to dream again and thus Nemo came. Olzen gets a break on Last of the Wilds while the flute holds its own against 3 guitars, drums and a keyboard. The final act begins as we take a trip ‘Once’ to the burning world of our dark mistress to worship on Planet Hell taking an escape flight down the deadly Ghostriver but while we’re there we’re tempted to open a Dark Chest of Wonders with really weird things in it. From there they take us Over the Hills and Far Away, skipping over prison we take a second to last ride with Walt Whitman singing a long written Song of Myself hitting you with an ending sledge hammer with bells bombast. Then with the midnight hour approaching, dark clouds loom over the last dim lights of the Imaginaerum,   it’s creaky doors slowly clank closed and the last of the evenings passengers strap in for The Last Ride of the Day on tracks that never end.

The nights collection of  innocent childhood memories, dark fantasy and musical ambiance fade away as the stage lights go out. Songwriter/keyboardist  Tuomas Holopainen brings out sonic sound, the songs of angels and the breathe of the gods through his fingers. Gandolf looking Marco Hietala brings out the devil in his bass playing the creepy comical sideshow ringmaster to perfection. Emppu Vuorinen brought out the heaviest sounds and driving guitar narrative carrying the weight of such huge conceptual ideas and melodies. Jukka Nevalainen kept the beats pounding at a storied pace never letting the fans eyes drift off the proverbial page. Nightwish is a moving musical tapestry. We’ve all heard the term deafening crowd but for a venue it’s size, and the bands playing, I’ve rarely heard a crowd that loud.

If your curious about the movie it’s Finnish release is slated for November and loosely follows the storyline of the record. The first single released Storytime is a lyrical representation of the whole record and a cinematic video previewing characters and plot ideas from both can be seen on Youtube.

Special thanks to Lauryn Campanell for set list information.

Heavy Lies The Crown Pummels The Shrunken Head in Columbus

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Friday September 14 in an assuming cozy bar nesting on the West 5th Ave side of town, four bands played an intimate performance that shook the walls of the redrum, err red painted rooms. Though no blood was spilled there was plenty of gore and violence spewed/hollered/screamed/roared/screeched/squealed from the stage to accommodate the nights musical debauchery.

Columbus has an Esoteric Agenda or at least four long haired metal freaks do. Their name based on a documentary about symbolism and conspiracy in society and their agenda was to open up the Sinister Elixir and play the loudest, most evil sounding technical death metal this side of the northern state. When your singer looks like kin to Testaments Chuck Billy and George ‘Corpse Grinder’  Fisher from Cannibal Corpse there’s really only one kind of music you can get away with playing. Singer Nick Larry inhabited the ‘very’ tight claustrophobia friendly stage making good use of the self brought strobe light. Hurling out straight jacket excitement from the deepest darkest corner of the insane asylum contorting into all forms of menacing screeching facial beasts unleashing the chained up tortured soul within. His head bouncing and twisting as if awoken in a Jigsaw booby trap.  The surrounding music gave praise to all that could be used in a ‘Hostel’ environment. A dual guitar audio onslaught free for all of airborne torture utensils and resulting noise splatter.  Fourth of six decibel shredders was The Mechamortal Eradicator about bringing an Assassin back to life with robotic limbs, for those that like their robotic synthetic engineering with a few pounds of flying flesh. Illuminating the Dogmatic Index can be heard on their Facebook page along with video updates and a live performance presumably in someone’s hard-core basement.

Now for something completely different as Dayton’s power trio Ex Luna Ut Terra (From Moon to Earth) set up shop opening with Death Stumbles Drunk on Its Way (we’ve all been there on a weekend night or two). An audible tribute to the basement sound of early 90‘s black metal, fitting given the singer/guitarist resembles Dimmu Borgir’s Galder minus the corpse paint of course. Their music can be described as black metal fused with psychedelic experimentation. Black metal meets Opeth with groove, Black Sabbath breakdowns with some slow carefully placed tranquility edged with a trippy 60’s feel. Mikael Akerfeldt would be proud. The slow stirring growling candlelight vigil with a bite feel of Soaring Above Moonlit Clouds followed by Last Sunset Seen Through These Eyes finished a uniquely cerebral set.

The second of a double dose of Dayton’s best, Lysura came on performing their debut set and show as a functioning band. Yet another musical project/incarnation of skins smashing madman Eric ‘Hammering Hobbit’ Barnes who has no less than five active bands going at any given time. Melodic Black/Death metal featuring former members of Acheron and Beneath Oblivion. Their set featured two Facebook tunes the underground echo bass line opening of Fusion Script and A Human Portrait not to be confused with King Diamonds Fatal Portrait complete with its monster crunching Sabbath tidal wave riff s accompanied by evil screeching vocals from hell’s underground. They brought out the darker side of what Opeth might sound like minus the slower parts if they were black metal inclined. Quite fitting in that screecher Max Otworth resembles a cross breed of a young Tony Iommi and Mr. Akerfeldt.

Now that we got all the nice family friendly metal out of the way its time to break out the animal decapitator and do some good ole fashion swine chasin’ as Indianapolis death metal flesh churners Heavy Lies The Crown break out a slaughter house wake up symphony that would put fear into any healthy livestock worldwide. Incorporating the very genre specific vocal style sounding like your hearing the last moments of Wilbur’s life. With 1000 beats a minute, carnivore munching guitars and a dinner bell clanging bass this is the kind of dirt road backwoods noise used to torture terrorists with.  Definitely not for light hearted folk but if your familiar and/or love bands like Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse or enjoy farmhouse documentaries this might be heaven on CD.

Scale The Summit At The Spitfire Lounge

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It’s been said that music is the universal language, transcending the spoken word and communication not just on an audible level but conveying emotion, unspoken thoughts, messages and conjuring images and pictures without a single utterance. Saturday night September 15th  at The Spitfire in Vandalia Winding Hollow Productions presented four bands that played the stage to an appreciative crowd with nary a word spoken and all performances were instrumental to the nights supreme musicianship.

Dayton’s very unique bass and drums two man band Shadows In The Hour Glass started the evening proving a great band doesn’t need shredding guitars or vocals to create a powerful sound. Illusions of Serenity opened with its creepy, eerie ambiance making you feel like your walking down a long dark tunnel and you suddenly feel like something’s behind you. Four string finger player Zack Ryan and skins striker Travis Abling display intricate knowledge and proficiency creating dark, deep malevolent musical stories with Ryan’s bass as the main character and Ablings beats as the surrounding plot. The frantic playing gives chase to images of feeling lost or being chased in trippy movie sequences. He creates suspense, melancholy, apprehension, fear and caution playing the strings at walking, running, sprinting speed with Chuck Schuldiner technical prowess. He can also make it gurgle as the atmospheric fog rolls in. When someone hears the term ‘band’ its widely assumed there are at least three instruments involved but Shadows prove that so much can be done with only a duo of sound. The hourglass of time runs waiting for no one while the shadows of people slowly start to fade as time runs away. Shadows was originally a side project by Covered in Scars bassist Ryan and C.I.S. drummer Abling but has become its own identity with elements of technical death metal, jazz and classical with a darker more sinister edge.

Dayton’s next experimentation into noise and sound I Died Trying was ironically the only group that did ‘have something to say’. Between the screaming hidden yells from the darkness of drummer Bret Newland and the frantic yelling/auctioneer-esque lyrics spitting of guitarist Tony Goff  I’m not sure what all was said but the music and pure performance of the show did all the talking. I.D.T. is a uniquely distinguished select taste of heavy music, constant tempo changes, audio samples and any and all types of guitar shredding, chopping, hammering, tweaking techniques. Kind of like watching a multiple car wreck in slow motion. Think Dillinger Escape Plan meets Cattle Decapitation with some Slipknot turn table effects. Imagine hearing all emotions and thoughts from the mind of a schizophrenic at P.A.volume. They attack your brain like a drug. Even though Goff took to the floor to sing a few number it’s not all in your face pandemonium.There’s tastes of Opeth and Godflesh to keep the variety factor interesting. The music is tough, angry, artistic and violent which is good considering Goff has a passing resemblance to MMA fighter Keith Jardine. I Died Trying is a musical hangover that keeps the ears ringing but keeps you out of the bathroom.

It’s a pretty universally regarded given that everyone likes great sax. Well Greensboro North Carolina’s Trioscapes are no different. In fact Walter Fancourt excels at it. Playing in the three man bass, drums, saxophone ‘trio’ they bring an incredibly different, catchy ‘rock’ feel to instruments usually regarded as in the background or more ‘laid back’. They Blast Off and for those who think of the slow, moody, sexy sound ,made popular in numerous mob movies Fancourt’s sound includes that, for a collective minute or two anyway. For the rest of the performance he treats the sleek brass piece like a lead guitar shredding the keys/pedals taking the instrument to its very physical limits. When Adophe Sax invented it in 1846 he wanted to create the most powerful single reed playing instrument there was. Fancourt has taken that vision to the literal pipe blowing edge with his own furious heavy style. With neck muscles bulging he summoned the air from the Woodwind Gods above and played a speed metal version of The Pink Panther theme…. for 30 minutes. Fancourts lip piercing pursuits speeds up, slows down, breathes out some sexy seduction, solos, bends notes, and makes it shriek, scream, wail, caress and cuss. This is classy ballroom/ smokey cocktail lounge music brought into the rock arena. He takes you on a mile a minute saxy conversation then puts you on a rainy street round midnight filled with smog and broken dreams. I’m pretty sure sax’s don’t have toggle switches but he’s found a way to create one. Bassist Dan Briggs thumped his way through the set creating deep Opeth on the Moore imagery. Drummer Matt Lynch kept the pace with perfect time and precession. Not every drummer has the challenge to ‘keep up’ with the sax player. Of the four songs played they closed with ‘their’ version of an Mahavishnu Orchestra song called Celestial Terrestria Commuters.

For those that remember the PBS show The Joy of Painting With Bob Ross know that with each painting it was just him, the paint and the story of what he creates. Houston’s Scale The Summit draw similar comparison. Their unique brand of instrumental rock leaves no room or need for words and they let the music tell the story and take us along for the ride. They deliver strong driving songs weaving long intricate stories. Chris Letchford and Travis Levrier play cascading chords creating lush, vast musical landscapes with scenic soloing. Bassist Mark Michell gives the moody depth and weight holding down the structure while Pat Skeffington pounds out the backbone keeping the story going. Many influences can be heard when it’s just the music. The prog sound of Opeth, unique catch of Tool, wizardry of Steve Vai with the technical style of Death all mixed in weaving and intertwined into their own musical novel style. They create atmosphere, space and time with narrative and hundreds of notes but each is part of the whole plot.

Tonight proved without a doubt that music is indeed the universal language no matter how light, heavy, complex or simple. When you have people in Iced Earth/Tool shirts rocking out to a guy playing saxophone you know you have an audience that’s open minded and appreciates great musicianship and delivery.     

2012 Downtown Dayton Revival Festival Recap

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Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk (Photo Credit: Tracy Malott/Blush Boudoir)

The music scene in Dayton has always been packed with great talent. From the new-age bluegrass and folk artist Todd the Fox, to the great indie rock band Me and Mountains, to the energy Orange Willard brings to each set-the Dayton music scene is impressive.

However, a lot of people outside Dayton don’t see that way.  Actually, they don’t see anything.  The popularity of the music scene in town has dropped some, to where only the people in the town are really the only ones that pay close attention to what’s going on.  And with the accessibility of local music (websites, Facebook, record shops), the scene isn’t what it once was.

Matt Luongo noticed this dilemma, and wanted to change it.  For eight years Matt crafted an event that would bring Dayton music back to the way it used to be, and also have major recording acts come to the party as well.  Thus, the Downtown Dayton Revival Festival became reality.  The festival just had their first weekend take place on September 8th and 9th.

The first performance to get the festival started was Dayton’s own, The Giant Steps.  Their slow, psychedelic sound made the early crowd slowly ease themselves into getting ready for a full day of music.  The Giant Steps blasted the stage with smooth guitar play that was well beyond their years of age (the oldest members are close to, if not already, 17 years old).

The Werks

Bronze Radio Return made their presence known early in the day.  The band’s soulful, indie rock provided the crowd to get into the music early and often. After their set, the lead singer, Chris Henderson, met up with me and just raved about how the festival was going.  “This is incredible”, Chris mentioned.  “The people here are amazing.  I can’t wait for us to come back.”

Griffin House talked about being a waiter when he was younger.  He mentioned that he was just awful at it.  He was so bad that he knew that it wasn’t going to make enough to pay rent.  So, he took his guitar with him after work one night, went to a corner, and just playing and singing.  People started dropping money down for him, and he soon realized that this was going to help him make money (and pay rent).  House’s alternative, very mainstream-friendly sound had the crowd singing and dancing to his music.

One of the most powerful performances on the first day of the festival was the one that Kristy Lee gave.  Kristy immediately engaged the crowd that brought her in with open arms.  She talked about having gone through bad breakups, seeing her friends go through rough times, etc.  Her music was very Adele meets Tracy Chapman-stripped down vocals with amazing acoustic guitar play.  It was truly a performance that a lot of people, including myself, left talking about.

One act treated us to a show that was very much like seeing Phish-a psychedelic rock band with instrumental play that is simply out of this world.  The band is Dayton’s own, The Werks.  The chilled out band ripped on their guitars as if they were gods standing on the clouds of the sky.  The play of the bass was impressive.  The drum play was off the charts.  The crowd danced throughout the whole set with freedom and joy, as if they channeled themselves to the days of Woodstock.  The Werks had everyone in the palm of their hands.  For the people that follow them, this set was just another fantastic show.  To the others that were seeing them for the first time-they will make it a point to make it to see them time and time again from this point on.

Guided By Voices (Photo Credit: Tracy Malott/Blush Boudoir)

Wheels brought a show that made everyone in the crowd completely stunned.  The 5 member band from Yellow Springs brought a show that was filled with folk rock and bluegrass. The band showed their musical range throughout their set, including a brilliant Dr. Dog cover.  Their dreamy play of the harmonica and banjo only enhanced the experience of watching Wheels perform.

Guster has always been known to always have a show that is different.  During a recent tour, they requested their fans to bring things to put on the stage.  For example, they ask their fans to bring matchbox cars to put on the stage during one of their sets.  It’s fun for the band and their fans to have that interaction.  At the Revival Festival, Guster made a young girl become a fan for life.  The lead singer, Ryan Miller, noticed a young girl that was holding up a sign mentioning that this was her first concert.  Miller asked the young girl to come up on stage, and they wrote a song together on the spot.  Everyone in the crowd loved it.  If anything, this was the top 5 moments that the weekend brought us.

Guided By Voices came home to Dayton to be part of the inaugural event.  They haven’t lost a step after all these years.  Robert Pollard and crew took the stage as if they were still in the teen years.  With their garage rock influenced sound blaring through the guitars, their trademark short songs, and their punk-like attitude; it was simply tremendous to see the boys back home.  They gave their old fans more reason to keep trucking along with them, and it gave the younger generation to true sense on what Dayton music is all about.

John Legend (Photo Credit: Tracy Malott/Blush Boudoir)

The headliner on Saturday was John Legend.  The hometown boy (Legend is from Springfield, Ohio) gave a performance that was simply one word-sexy.  The singer brought the crowd to frenzy with his smooth, signature sound and his lyrics about love.  ‘Slow Dance’ featured a young lady that came from the crowd and danced with Legend on stage.

On the second day of the festival, another hometown act came home.  Heartless Bastards came in town and absolutely brought everyone to their knees with Erika Wennerstone’s haunting, Janis Joplin-like vocals, and the bands incredible instrumental play.  ‘My face is melting with excitement’, screamed people from the crowd.  I have to admit-one of those people was me.

Andy Grammer brought the crowd a performance that didn’t almost happen.  Grammer had some issues getting to town that day, and it seemed like he wouldn’t be coming to town.  Luckily, he got into town and gave the crowd an acoustic set that didn’t disappoint.

The Ohio Players (Photo Credit: Tracy Malott/Blush Boudoir)

Some other highlights on the second day of the festival included The Ohio Players bringing their signature funk sound to the Dayton festival.  It was a true honor seeing the band play.  Much like the way Guided By Voices, some of the young people in the crowd got a chance to see a band that has influenced many after them.  Rusted Root gave their ‘Fortunate Freaks’ another suburb show.  Buffalo Killers brought their signature sound, and made a few people in the crowd become diehard fans going forward.  Robert Randolph and the Family Band had a dance party break out on stage during their set.  They promised to bring a party, and they delivered.  Train performed a fun, energetic set that closed the weekend off in style.

The two day festival brought a lot to the people that attended.  It brought music that included folk, soul, R&B, alternative, rock, and so much more.  What the festival brought most of all was the awareness that Dayton is still alive and well in the music scene.  Walking around the festival, you noticed the attendees of the festival enjoying every act that took to the three stages.  You saw people old and young joining together to hear music from the past and present.  People from all around the United States came to this festival.  People who never heard of some the local acts got to see the fantastic music being played here. You can say the festival gave Dayton music the revival it needed.

Kiss and Motley Crue Bring ‘The Tour’ To Cincinnati

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Friday August 31 two bands known for their legendary histories of indulgence and decadence brought what some have called this years Metal Hall of Fame tour to Riverbend for a night of blasting noise, theater, spectacle, bombast, showmanship and just plain kicking the audience’s ass. Say what you want about Motley Crue, The Sunset Strips favorite sons gave birth to the scene back in the day and besides after all the partying, car crashes, OD’s, arrests, scandals, a few educational films, personal issues and drama that has followed them since the early 80’s it’s a freaking miracle their still alive and in decent health. But after decades of access they’re proving they can still put on a breath taking show and bring it like no other. Some have questioned Vince Neil’s voice but tonight he was in fine form with a flawless high pitched, cat scratch howl. Mick Mars can still play like a madman soldiering on despite his Ankylosing Spondylitis, an uncomfortable and painful inflammatory condition that mainly affects the joints of the spine. Tonight proved that only Kiss can follow Motley Crue live in 2012.

Many things have been said about Kiss but from shear staying power they’ve earned their place in music history and the two original members continue to defy father time delivering a rock show for the ages.With due respect to Ace and Peter Kiss’s 2012 show still carries the impact, decibel levels and visual wallop with Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer on stage. People talk about Gene Simmons a lot. Musician, rock-star, actor, author, publisher, business man, father (of presumably more than 2), reality show star, and in his early 60’s a happy newlywed. ‘The Tour’ is the first time since 1982 when Motley were just young pups that both bands have shared the same stage together.

Making their first trip to the states from Cambridge England openers The Treatment came out with pomp and circumstance determined to get the crowd to c’mon and give it all they had. Vocalist Matt Jones swings himself around on stage like he’s already been on Tommy’s coaster ride once or twice. He delivers a bluesy high pitched wail of what it would sound like if Tesla’s Jeff Keith sang for The Black Crowes/Buck Cherry or Velvet Revolver. Playing hard edged tunes The Doctor, the slower future arena‘lighter’ ballad Nothing To Lose But Our Minds, Departed (with a bang bang bang) and Shake The Mountain.

Motley Crue’s curtain drop reveals a stage empty of band members but full of machinery, industrial ambiance, a big screen with a large cold steel wheel with drum kit, 4 large hydro fans, and a long cane like mic for Nikki. The show itself has enough lights, fire and pyro to make Rammstein envious. The clock starts ticking away slowly as a very apropos Ministry song plays that if you have any knowledge of their history you’ll appreciate the joke. The tick-tock slowly gains weight and deepens into a grandfather pendulum foreshadowing LA’s finest 80’s export. Two large red cloaked figures with bull horns appear on stage ushering the ‘thru the crowd’ arrival of the evenings Co-Headliners. Marching in amongst the people carrying medieval Motley Flags, lead by William Wallace… err, another red cloaked figure followed by a scantily clad hot chick the Motley Parade start up the war path. A unique rock-star entrance brushing past mingling with everyday common folk but it’s the beginning of the nights show of friendly competition/delivery as the head-liners are the forefathers of good theater.

They launch into the autobiographical Saints of Los Angeles as trapezist’s twirl on long satin sheets and puppets hammer on the drum rails. Second song in we take a trip to The Wild Side in multi colored light and some hot gyrating dancers Vince plays with.We go next door to the dark side and Shout At The Devil in a sea of floating blood clot’s, hellfire and spinning pentagrams. Out comes a young lady in a large Victorian dress, after asking if she’s single Vince asks the obvious question taking a peak as two more hot chicks emerge (it was a large outfit) one gives him a guitar while the other in S&M gear leads the properly dressed lady away. Yep, every night, Same Old Situation. You’ve seen the video. If you’ve followed them at all you know for 31 years it’s been all about the sex; so leave it to the Crue to put on a live Sex show with side stage spray gun shooters to relieve the crowd, ending in an on stage sex scene literally spelled out, and if you don’t like it Don’t Go Away Mad Just Go Away. The cascading white lights bounce off the silver tiled piano that magically appeared. After an emotional band fist bump, Tommy intro’s the monster laser light lit ballad Home Sweet Home.

Next up your average Tommy Lee drum solo with a 360 degree mini roller coaster chair, enough noise and music samples to give the hippest DJ a brain aneurysm. Plenty of split second fire visuals and…. oh yeah, Tommy Lee beating the crap out of his skins while an ego sized version of his hand pulls him up the hill. Luckiest fan of the night Roger got to ‘hookup’ and play sidekick behind Tommy on the roller coaster of love for a minute. Tommy asked if he came with his girlfriend, wife or a hooker. Next the song and video that started it all Live Wire. Followed by the Primal Scream of everyone in the pavilion ending with a cannon ball boom. It was finally time to Feelgood and call every junkie’s favorite unlicensed medical physician with straight jacket dancers dangling from the ceiling. Then the motorcycle engines roared and they played the national anthem for working girls across the country with Mick Mars Kickstarting a solo into  Niki’s tale of near death experience. The Motley Crue of members and performers bowed as the madness ended (for about 30minutes anyway). Next up, a little band from New York you might’ve heard of formally called Wicked Lester.

….Anticipation builds. Then… the lights go out, the sky darken’s as the heavens open and the Gods and Deities of all things rock n roll and good taste look down upon the Southern Ohio congregation of ‘The Army’  smile, nod and wave a blessing over tonight’s show and thus another night of K(h)isstory begins.

We get a little peek at the nights horror movie hero’s walk the walk backstage. The large silver emblazed logo lights up on the big black curtain as the roar begins. CIN-CINN-ATI!!!!……. You wanted the best, you got the best. The hottest band in the world….. KISS!!! Curtain falls as the famous hydrolic platform descends with rocks living breathing comic book characters standing triumphant ready to play and annihilate with all the lights, flames and bombast you’d expect from a Kiss opening; and for the first five minutes Cincinnati becomes Detroit Rock City. For those who still had a voice left afterwards Paul told us to Shout It Out Loud. The crowd was definitely having a party but just to be sure he did a sound-check wanting to hear all the wild animals out there, because no other band gives it to you or Loves It Loud right between the eyes. Next, sirens go off, a raging inferno erupts and the whole place goes up in flames. It was already hot as hell but Kiss brought out the heat, frenzy and adrenaline of the Firehouse complete with Gene grabbing his sword spewing holy fireballs.  They intro a brand new one from the upcoming Monster album, and I’m sure it’ll be a monster album called Hell or Hallelujah. Accompanied by an on screen sinful seductive fire angel and the red flame licked gates of the netherworld. Lights go out.

Then…..a low, deep hellish crunching, clanking bass-line comes out of the darkness like the hammering and riveting of steel girders taking us on an uneven, jerky, curving roller coaster ride of twisting steel and rusting iron. ‘A moment or two’ of impending silence before the ominous Demon appears standing front stage center as the fog slowly creeps towards him surveying the dripping masses, listening to their praise. He leans forward peering at the closest of his disciples as green light illuminates his armor looking like the Emerald City’s favorite dark knight, his timeless black n white image on the screen resembles an old graveyard spirit. A group of dead pirates wander the stage behind looking for a lost gold cross….., not really, but I’m sure they could find a way to pull it off if they wanted to. The Rock God’s face quivers and shakes going into conniption’s of earned evil glee as a haunting church bell gongs releasing a river of red pouring from his sinister gape the performance turning his howling face into a possessed savaged soul. After the world famous ritual was done he stood silent and still, hands folded, showing off his stained ghostly visage to our enraptured eyes, but more importantly our camera’s and cell phones delight. He sneered, smiled, the worlds most infamous tongue making a licking appearance. He posed ascending to the Riverbend’s highest plateau. The God of Thunder, Rock n Roll and lord of the wastelands played to his minions as they worshiped. Tommy Thayer played the solo as the blood spewer returned to his earth bound position.

They pull out the Love Gun and The Starchild flies solo across the human sea  visiting the crowd on the other side for a few minutes returning to play a little bit of The Who as The crimson Demon points and sneers. It’s a well known fact that the Black Diamond is one of the most sacred jewels in all of metal and they want to keep it that way but they only want to hear from the leaders not the followers so don’t worry about who’s around you just keep your eyes on Mr. Stanley,  the Singer on the rising drums and the cat’s eyes.

The destructive merciless War Machine was unleashed soaring over legions of robotic armies with fire breathing menace and vengeance. If the crowd wasn’t Shocked yet, they were now with Thayer stretching the feeling into a searing solo from the stage to the rafters with Singer shooting a flare gun from his kit causing some ‘stage damage.’ Next Paul asks the number one fans to Lick It Up. Then checked on our condition before calling The Doctor.

Saving the best for last they encouraged the crowd to take a little time away from the negativity of the world with a white storm of Konfetti and Rock N Roll All Night. Then the tired, sweaty, partially-totally spent and dehydrated fans muddled together, some trying to grab the wet paper particles, some being ‘helped’ out awaiting their air-conditioned vehicles. Seeing both bands for the first time I can see by reputation alone why they’ve lasted so long but to see the respective shows they put on, especially with Motley being the ‘junior’ act it’s easy to see why they keep doing it and why the fans keep coming back for more every time. The bottom line is if you haven’t seen Motley Crue or Kiss yet you just F’n need to!

Urban Nights, Downtown’s Biggest Street Party, Returns This Friday

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Musicians perform on stage in the Wright-Dunbar Business Village. The area will have different performers on several stages from 5 to 10 p.m.

Fall Urban Nights will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. this Friday, Sept. 14, in downtown Dayton, the Oregon Arts District and Wright-Dunbar Business Village. An estimated 30,000 people attend Urban Nights, which is held in downtown Dayton, the Oregon Arts District and Wright-Dunbar Business Village, and there are more than 100 activities planned during the event — including live music on outdoor stages, art exhibit openings, tours of downtown housing, discounts at restaurants and retail shops, and much more. A full list of events is available online. Highlights include:

• Dancing in the Street: First Street will be closed between Ludlow and Main streets to make way for performances by DCDC, the South Dayton Dance Theater, Funk Lab, SMAG Dance Collective, ZumbAtomic and the McGovern Ceili Dancers.

• I Am City Folk: Cityfolk will launch this year-long project that is part of its Culture Builds Community initiative. It will feature mosaics, compiled by local photographer Andy Snow using photos of Daytonians taken by Nicole Christian, on display throughout downtown. Contact Jean Howat Berry, Cityfolk’s education and outreach/Culture Builds Community coordinator, at 937-223-3655, ext. 3008.

Customers eat at the Oregon Express during Urban Nights in May. Many downtown eateries will offer specials and discounts the evening of Urban Nights.

• Dayton, Ohio! You Are Here! This large-scale performance piece will transform the Old Courthouse on Third and Main streets into a work of art through video projection and architectural lighting on the building’s exterior, as well as visual art and performances of dance, music and spoken word inside the historical building. Contact Peter Benkendorf at 732-5123 for more information.

• Over the Edge: Returning to the fall Urban Nights will be this challenge that combines fundraising with adventure. Participants who raise at least $1,000 will rappel over the side of the 27-story KeyBank Tower, which visitors can watch from Courthouse Square. All proceeds will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Miami Valley. For more information, contact Matt McDowell at 937-220-6855.

•Taste of the Miami Valley: This weekend-long event will kick off during Urban Nights at RiverScape MetroPark. Guests can sample food from more than 30 area restaurants. Admission is free, and most tastes are $3 each.

• Downtown in Focus: Winning entries from this annual amateur and professional photography contest will be on display in the PNC Center lobby.

• Business grand openings: Three new downtown businesses will host grand openings during Urban Nights: OinkADoodleMoo in the lobby of the KeyBank Tower, 10 W. Second St.; Brim, a new hat shop at 464 E. Fifth St.; LIVV Interior Designs, a home and office interior design firm at 520 E. Third St. in the Cannery; and Sew Dayton, featuring fabric and patterns, at 16 Brown St.

• Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights: Cyclists will gather at 5:15 p.m. at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field for, a community ride through the Urban Nights action hosted by Bike Miami Valley and ending at Courthouse Square. While the ride will be in parade fashion with a police escort, it is not appropriate for small children on their own bikes.

A family participates in Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights, a biking group that will ride through the city, meeting at 5:15 p.m. near Fifth Third Field.

This is just a small sampling of the many activities that will be part of the Sept. 14 Urban Nights. The event also includes live music on five outdoor stages, art exhibit openings at galleries and other creative spaces, discounts and specials at downtown restaurants and retail shops, a chalk walk, roaming entertainers, and more. In addition, Greater Dayton RTA will provide free event buses to help visitors get around; bus routes are included in the event map.
Follow Urban Nights on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UrbanNightsDayton for regular updates and more information. Urban Nights is a program of the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from the City of Dayton, Montgomery County, Bud Light Lime, the Downtown Priority Board, Wright Dunbar Inc., DP&L, Mix 107.7-FM, Greater Dayton RTA, Kaplan College, Business Furniture, Bob Ross Auto Group and the Ohio Arts Council.

The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website, www.downtowndayton.org, has a complete list of downtown businesses, as well as a list of business resources, arts and cultural amenities, a dining guide, parking map, and much more.

Downtown Dayton Revival Festival Band Spotlight Volume 5: The Funky Worm Returns

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The Ohio Players: The Origins Of Ohio Funk

I have a big, yet not unsurprising, admission to make. I did not purchase and take home my first Ohio Players album for the music. I did not even know who the Ohio Players were nor what the term “funk” could possibly mean. I did know, however, that the woman depicted on the album Honey was extremely hot and I was even more…er…excited to find that the interior cover was just as or even exceedingly more titillating than the front cover. Big deal! I was like thirteen and was always on the look out to fill up the account in my spank bank for future transactions! That’s not the point here. The point is that eventually I actually placed the record on the turntable and experienced the raw rhythms of funk which broadened not only my musical horizons, but also allowed me to see that not all great entertainment came from the sunny climes of the West Coast, but could be created far closer to home.

Although, to be honest, the whole album Honey was not a complete funkfest, as “Sugarfoot” Bonner’s heartfelt ballad Alone Again can attest to. This fact was overshadowed by the monster jam Love Rollercoaster, which has become the most identifiable legacy of the Ohio Players, being the most covered and sampled song from their extensive repertoire. Love Rollercoaster even became overshadowed by it’s own quirkiness, as rumors surrounded the origin of the scream heard in the first few seconds of the song. Whispers of death, murder and mayhem abounded as fans and DJs fanned the flames of intrigue. Was it a murder that occurred next door to the studio and was accidentally picked up by the sensitive mics? Was it the model who was so lusciously covered in honey, which was reportedly not honey at all, but a solution of melted plastic that horrifically burned her sensitive skin and she was murdered by a member of the band when she threatened to sue? According to James “Diamond” Williams, drummer for the Ohio Players, the truth was far more mundane than the rumors…yet the rumors served as purpose.

“There is a part in the song where there’s a breakdown. It’s guitars and it’s right before the second verse and Billy Beck does one of those inhaling-type screeches like Minnie Ripperton did to reach her high note or Mariah Carey does to go octaves above.” Williams then reveals how the rumor was born by saying, “The DJ made this crack and it swept the country. People were asking us, ‘Did you kill this chick in the studio?’ The band took a vow of silence because that makes you sell more records.”

During an interview with James “Diamond” Williams, I related my original interest in the cover art and how it introduced me to their music. He laughed, bemused, yet not at all surprised.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. That’s what you gotta watch out for (laughs) but other than that, it’s just that we were very blessed to be able to write some music that has been able to stand the test of time and even to be around today to still play the music  and, as a matter of fact, to be quite well doing it. We wrote some music at that time…you know, everybody wants to write a White Christmas kind of song. It’s just a song that when you think about Christmas, White Christmas comes to your mind. But, to write a song called Fire was almost the same or to write a song called Love Rollercoaster.” Williams went on to explain his analogy. “When you think about a roller coaster, you immediately think of our song. If you think about fire and you think of a song that would illustrate that, you know, that visual type thing, you immediately think of our song in most cases. It’s just like, and I don’t want to be so picky, picky…there are a number of others. Like, if you think about happy times, you think of Celebration with Kool and the Gang. These are just songs that, during that period of time, you can relate to it. So, it transcends time. It transcends time. Rollercoaster transcends time; it’s not a period piece. People are still riding roller coasters. Of course they’ve changed. Sometimes now they’re on some doggone rollers or whatever, but nonetheless a roller coaster it is. And we were talking a little bit heavier than rides there, you know, so that kind of transcends things too. We’re talking love and romance and things like that.”

Even today’s youth are more familiar with the Ohio Players than they may even consciously know. Funky Worm, Fire and Love Rollercoaster are probably some of the most sampled songs in existence and the groups music is featured in everything from movie soundtracks to video games to television shows.

Love Roller Coaster and Fire, both of which have been very good songs for us. “Fire’” being used for the TV show Hell’s Kitchen with Chef Ramsey and it’s been used in various other movies and all that stuff and whatever, whatever.” Williams went on to say, “Like Rollercoaster has been covered by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Snoop and other people have done our songs. So we’ve been very blessed in the TV and the movie media. We’ve done quite well in our songs being placed.”

It is amazing that after all these years, the Ohio Players are still performing a rigorous touring schedule to appreciative audiences. It’s not surprising…just amazing and inspiring.

“We’ve played at the Apollo several times. We did the Jazz festival in New Orleans, you know, just different places. In Memphis we were there at the Beale Street Festival for like, I don’t know, 200,000 people. It was a ridiculous number of people out there. So, you know, we do big festival dates.” As far as playing back in their hometown, Williams said, “It pleases us that we’re able to come home now and do a venue that’s real nice. We hope to do them proud by us coming there.”

Just to rile him up a bit, I asked Williams if the crowds that they encounter on the road are still receptive and energetic when they hear the funky slap bass and rhythmic groove of the Ohio Players.

“Yeah! Are you kidding me? I mean, we play a lot of casinos and all that stuff like Foxwood and all the big casinos. Yeah, we get a great response.” Williams ended by speaking towards the genre of funk itself, saying, “You know, this music, thank God, hasn’t died and there are radio stations that are still playing seventies music and that interim of music everyday and we’re just blessed to be around to play it.”

[yframe url=’https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y47G-Wa4qfs’]

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Downtown Dayton Revival Festival Band Spotlight Volume 4

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Wheels

As the Downtown Dayton Revival Festival approaches, we here at Dayton Most Metro are highlighting all the bands that will be bringing music to the masses.  Here are four more acts that will be performing.

Wheels

From the pleasant city of Yellow Springs, Wheels are ready to give the crowd an incredible show.  Recently, the band released their second album, Big Feeling.  To help fund the equipment needed to self-record all of their own albums, including their newest one, Wheels decided to call upon the help of their fans and others and set up a Kickstarter account.   The band set a goal of $3,000 to help pay for several studio equipment, which included microphones, software, and computers.

Their seasoned sound is a collection of different styles-classic rock and roll, with folk and bluegrass influences.  Their love for Ohio comes alive in some of their songs.  The most common thing you hear about this quintet is that the fact they are so young.  Don’t let this fool you.  Wheels bring a style and sound that is well beyond their years.

Red Wanting Blue

Columbus, Ohio brings us the alternative rock band Red Wanting Blue.  The band has been touring for over a decade now, gaining fans one by one throughout the United States.  Red Wanting Blue take pride in letting it be known that will do what it takes to make fans in every stop.  In return, Red Wanting Blue is emerging as one of the top indie bands in the county.
The bands lyrics tell stories of being on the road, the people that meet while remembering where they have come from.  The band’s sound bursts at the seams with passion, which gives theirstage show one that keeps people engrossed from start to finish.

Early this year, Red Wanting Blue released their 9th album, From The Vanishing Point.  According to the band’s website, the album ‘sheds some of Red Wanting Blue’s small-town sensibilities as it evolves into the world-class rock n’ roll outfit that audiences have believed in for years and marks an official move to the national stage for a band that will always remember where it’s from’.

Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers

Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers

In the western parts of Massachusetts in 2003, Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers were formed.  Kellogg and the Sixers have an unashamed way about them and their music has given them a rabid fan base.  With a roaring sound of rock, coupled with folk and country flavor, the band’s lyrics are about their lives, and the world around them.  They sing about their relationships, past and present.  They sing about wisdom given to from family.  It gives you a very intimate feel, and just connects you with the group even more.

Gift Horse is the latest work from Kellogg and the Sixers, and it will be the last album for a while.  The band posted on their website back in July that at the end of the year, they will be going on hiatus.  The reason for the planned break, according to the band, is that band needs to ‘explore other facets of life’.  In the meantime, the band plans on bringing their wild stage show to the Dayton festival.

Kristy Lee

 

Kristy Lee is one of the few female acts taking the stage during the two day festival.  From her home in Alabama, Lee will be bringing a rawness that will no doubt leave people with their mouths wide open.  Her vocals are rich with that trademark Southern soul sound.  Lee’s lyrics are filled with heartbreak and anger.  However, with the pain of losing love, the healing is the bond that forms with the crowd, singing along with her.  Raise The Dead, Lee’s recent album, talks about starting all over again, and finding your way.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZormhcdhCg’]

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Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival Spotlight – Volume 3: Shake! Shake! Shake! with Bronze Radio Return

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The Downtown Dayton Revival Festival will be highlighting over 30 bands that are from all over the United States, including some from the great city of Dayton.  On September 8th and 9th, most of the festival goers will be given the first chance to see and hear a lot of the bands for the first time.  One band in particular is ready to make an imprint here in town.

Bronze Radio Return

The band’s name is Bronze Radio Return.  The band consists of vocalist and guitarist Chris Henderson, Bob Tanen on bass, Rob Griffith on drums, guitarist Patrick Fetkowitz, Matt Warner on keys, and guitarist Craig Struble.  The band helms from the city of Hartford, Connecticut.  The band got their name from Henderson.  When he was growing up in the picturesque state of Maine, Henderson would spend time in his father’s art studio, and music could be heard blaring through an old bronze radio.  The music played through the radio inspired Henderson to dig more into music. During a recent phone conversation, Henderson explained more in detail.  “I love listening to an album all the way through, over and over again.  I love finding all the different things that you discover with each listen.”

The band’s beginnings trace back to when Henderson, along with Griffith, Tanen, and Warner all attended the Hartt School of Music, which is located in Hartford.  “We studied all kinds of music, including the backgrounds of jazz, and blues players”, Henderson mentioned to me.  With the knowledge of the greats before them, the band wanted to incorporate those styles and influences it into their own music. So, the three guys recruited Fetkowitz and Struble, and headed to the studio.

The band released their first EP in 2008, followed by their full-length debut album ‘Old Time Speaker’, which they recorded in Nashville.  In 2011, the band released their sophomore album, ‘SHAKE!SHAKE!SHAKE!’.  The album, recorded in Oklahoma, shows the band’s evolving sound with the continue fusion of rock and soul.  Currently, the band is working on their third album.  The band recently spent 5 weeks on a farm in Virginia to record most of the album. “It’s good to go to different places to work on an album,” Henderson explained. “It keeps you focused on the music.”  The album is slated to be released sometime between January and February.

Listening to the band’s albums, you are instantly conscious of the band’s different elements.  Each member of the group brings their own flare to the band.  Whatever it’s the banjo being strummed passionately to the sweet sounds of the harmonica, Bronze Radio Return bring a sound that makes them stand apart from the rest.  And their live shows are no different.  The band makes it a point to make sure that their audience is having as much as fun as they are. Henderson added, “We will make sure that people are moving in the audience.  We want to see people swinging around.”

Bronze Radio Return will be embarking on a tour starting on September 5th.  “We are ready to get our stage legs going again”, Henderson says.  “We are excited about the atmosphere we are about to witness.”  The tour will take the band throughout most of the eastern seaboard, along with a few stops in the Midwest, including Cleveland.  The tour will end on October 27th at the Mercury Lounge in New York.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GsorW2-uF8′]

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A Plea For Purging/As Hell Retreats Say Farewell To Dayton

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It’s sad saying goodbye to bands that play that special kind of soothing metal that inspires sweaty, stinky freaks to jump, dive or prance into a pit and cause gleeful self-immolation. It is both the sounds they make on stage from the furious roar into the microphone to the metal thrashing mad guitar playing that drives the kids nuts to the giant footstep thud of the bass and drums that sound like your right underneath a medieval war dance.

The Quit Your Band and Get a Real Job tour is the found farewell of Tennesse’s A Plea for Purging and As Hell Retreats. They played their last Ohio show Friday August 24 at The Attic with a Haemolacria tear in the eye,  a heavy metal heart and a Chelsea Grin from ear to ear. Though they loved touring and seeing the fans across the nation the rigors of road life had got to them and were ready to settle down and be normal/respectable folk again. But not before they gave the crowd a thoroughly severe kiss goodbye dose of noise corruption.

Kettering’s happy groove metal Ignite the Empires were the first of the surrounding areas finest young up-starts to help say goodbye. Screaming Soprano Nick Moshos and band gave a truly uniformed performance proudly sporting work shirts, name-tags, bow ties and aprons that pay the bills. Alongside some unison metal hopping Moshos let out a Pepperidge Farm collection of crying, banshee yells and pig destroying vocals. They indulged in some government cheese with their Cheap Wine and opinions on the state of the union. Mild mannered Moshos pulled an unexpected cartoonish gesture Superman style, minus the phone booth, breaking out/thrashing out in a presumably alter ego Sponge Bob outfit (possible second job at Nickelodeon). Proving that even animated yellow cleaning accessories that soak can be hard-core. Next up was a nice little loud twanger ’bout Them Trailer Park Boys.

Dayton’s own local living legends Gnashing of Teeth sporting a veteran band history rivaling both headliner’s combined have definitely put the time in earning their spiked fist in the face reputation for onstage sound mangling. Formed in 1993 originally called Enslaved (not the Norwegian progressive metal band) with a different sound. Taking a break in December 1995, they chose their known biblical bicuspid biting moniker and their piece of local history was born. Several members changes later their coming back stronger, fiercer, and louder than ever. Founding member guitarist/vocalist Duane White has kept the gritting/grinding sound alive releasing Walking The Appian Way in 2010 on Sancrosanct Records and is working on new material for future release.

Their harmonious artillery range of sound bludgeoning began with Death of Beauty. They played disk opener Separate with its Burton C. Bell yells and technical string prowess and old school Arch Enemy sound/Meshuggah delivery of Death By Design. Singer Chris McKinney, a Daniel Bryan fan, threw the stage into himself resembling a young Buzz Osborne screaming like he could and would swallow your soul showing off sparkling dental work. Playing their own unique conveyor belt metal with the mechanized fury of Fear Factory and brutality of Slayer conjuring up hell fire and brimstone through their instruments. Their harmonies and ‘softer’ parts are like riding an acid death tidal wave onto sands of sulfur from the eternal sea of madness while their spiked mallet to the noggin chugs n riffs and earthquake inducing delivery could bring the house down, literally.

Hamiltons female fronted The Rose Hill was next. Originally named the Epidemic in 2007 they’ve survived through several member changes releasing their first CD With All That I Am in 2010 and will release their second effort Powerless on Sancrosanct in September. Don’t be fooled by a female voice leading the worship. If Rebecca St. James/Natalie Grant is your pleasant cup of tea then the loud but sweet metal screeching croaks of Bethany akin to Morgan Lander, The Agonist’s Alissa White-Gluzz with a little Angela Gossow sprinkled in will hardly be the comfortable shut-eye lullaby you’ll wanna plug into before bedtime.

If vocals that could make birds fall out of the sky wasn’t enough The Rose Hill employs a keytar player. That’s a guitar shaped keyboard for anyone born after the 80’s, Google it. An impressive antiquity to have considering production ceased in the mid 2000‘s. They’re on their second edition and if this one breaks maybe they can borrow Lady Gaga’s. It definitely added a unique ambiance and effect to the metal ripping around it.  They broke out all new goodies for the crowd playing five songs from the upcoming CD. A Sinners Plea and Reaching can be previewed on their Facebook page and you can look forward to hearing Oh Wayward Girl, Forsaken and New Life when you get the CD. Bethany spent the whole set throwing all of her petite frame into every heavyweight word and in a few years could be a contender for Revolvers Hottest Chicks in Metal.

The first half of the nights Facedown alumni bidding a loud final farewell As Hell Retreats played like their namesake throwing out a menagerie of twin guitar biblical progressive death wraith math metal that would send the most evil dark hearted of the devil’s dark dominions howling away in surrender . They hit hard with a nine course set with all the hard thumping metal fixin’s and you didn’t even need a bent salad fork.  They played with machine gun fire fret fingering, blasting out Young Heretic, Inferior (can be heard on Facebook), Shun, Misanthropist, A Beggar, Transgress, Raze and Matriarch. The unique technical, slow chug of some tunes made for unique free-styling pit activity breaking out and an unconfirmed report of an Irish jig was spotted. The building block metal sadly had to end at some point but not before they raised hands to the crowd and God Almighty with a blaze of glory thank you for a journey and career well spent.

A Plea for Purging answered a plea for more with a gnarled good mess of fun. Zakk Wylde’s doppelganger guitarist Blake Martin spun some true metal hair shredding for an hour presumably when he’s not stunt doubling for Halloween’s Tyler Bates. The no weight limit crowd surfing began on a sea of human bones. With fists and fury the fans threw their passion at the band and a fistful of metal was returned. Singer Andy Atkins walked the stage screaming with a red-faced pallete taking the space as his own for the evening belting out 7 years of old and new tunes that could easily be used for any respectable underground fight club.  The crowd used what they had left creating an all out adrenaline bomb set to go off at Atkins calculated repeated command. The forces of human nature re-opened the pit with toxic human windmills and an old school circular tornado style pattern. They slowly slowed it down to 110 MPH so the kids could regroup. Near the end Atkins said that it was time to give up the ‘rockstar’ life and become mere mortals again getting real job s and spend cherished time with friends and family. Through all the hardships and annoyances of the road the fans made every negative worth it, thanks for listening. He also advised for any of the musically motivated to form a band, play one show and quit.

Atkins roared out a band ending bucket list of favorite tunes including ‘The Life’ the video of which was filmed during their last stop at The Attic. Shiver that has a very moving religious parody video on Youtube, Malevolence giving a how to guide for rock stardom and riches beyond imagination. Along with nine other loud face pounders hitting you like a fist wrapped in granite headache. Two bands, two breakups, one tour and a final tear down the wall curtain call.

Note: originally published at citizenusa.net

 

Dayton Music Fest Announces 2012 Lineup

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We’re a little over a month away from one of my favorite local events: Dayton Music Fest (October 5th and 6th).  Yesterday the organizers announced a really exciting lineup that includes the addition of a stage at the Midwest Outdoor Experience (formerly Gearfest), two appearances from Southeast Engine and a live performance from Captain of Industry who we haven’t seen perform live since their series of reunion shows in 2011.  Of course with a great lineup, comes some tough choices.  Here’s the full lineup so you start mapping out your weekend.

Note:  Each venue links to the listing on Dayton Most Metro’s events calendar where you can hear samples of most of the bands performing in that particular place.

Southeast Engine

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5 

OMEGA MUSIC
5- Goodbye
6-The 1984 Draft
7- Shrug
8- Southeast Engine

CANAL STREET TAVERN
9- Grendaes?!
10- Roley Yuma
11- Vanity Theft
12- Astro Fang

 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6

Me & Mountains

MIDWEST OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE (at Eastwood MetroPark)

NOON- Starving in the Belly of the Whale
1- Duke of Owls
2- Tim Pritchard & the Boxcar Suite
3- BJSR

SOUTH PARK TAVERN
5- Al Holbrook
6- City of Kings
7- Sleep Fleet

TROLLEY STOP
9- Stillwater River Band
10-The Turkish Delights
11-Me & Mountains
12- Ruckus Roboticus

TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION
9:30- Feathered Serpent
10:30- Abertooth Lincoln
11:30- Grand Mammoth
12:30- Dumbell

Gretta Smack of the Dirty Socialites

BLIND BOB’S
9- Shut Up
10- Robthebank
11- Motel Beds
12- Captain of Industry

OREGON EXPRESS
9:30- Bonneville
10:30- Electric Banana
11:30- Dirty Socialites
12:30- Jasper the Colossal

CANAL STREET TAVERN
9:30- Amnesia
10:30- Good English
11:30- Frontier Folk Nebraska
12:30- Southeast Engine

In Memory of Jeremy Frederick (1972-2012)

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Jeremy Frederick 1972-2012

On August 16th, the Dayton music community lost a friend, a fellow musician and a fan with the passing of Jeremy Frederick who performed with Sunken Giraffe, Tribal Nation, Cigarhead, Lazy, Dirty Walk, Let’s Crash, and Human Reunion.  Tonight at Blind Bob’s, friends and family will celebrate his life from 6 to 10pm, and late that night the Motel Beds and Astro Fang will continue the tribute as part of Blind Bob’s 4th anniversary.

I can’t recall the first time I met Jeremy because for as long as I can remember going to shows in Dayton, he’s been there – either onstage or in front of it dancing and voicing his support for whoever was performing. As a musician Jeremy helped create songs that were both incredibly ahead of their time and yet very accessible (when I helped my mom set up iTunes on her iPad two Christmases ago, Human Reunion’s Arc de Square was one of the albums we transferred from her computer). As a fan, Jeremy was a source of unbridled, infectious enthusiasm. He was never shy with his praise for the bands he enjoyed and would always be quick to tell me who would sound great as a guest on Kaleidoscope. When it came time for Human Reunion’s performance on Kaleidoscope, I wondered how their big yet intricate sound would do in WYSO’s then-tiny studios, but listening back to that performance over the past week, it sounded great. What’s stuck with me most about that interview was just how proud Jeremy was of Arc de Square. You could hear it in his voice.

Although music was the context in which I knew Jeremy best, there was much more to him than that. I’ve invited a few friends and bandmates to share their memories below, and I invite you to do the same in the comments.

Jeremy with Santa at HoliDayton 2007

Gladgirl Shelly

The last time I saw Jeremy Frederick was about 2 weeks ago. He was crossing Wyoming at Brown and I was at the stop light. I honked my horn at him and without missing a beat he turned around, raised his big goofy hand in the air and at the top of his lungs sang “HEYHEY GLAAAADGIRL!” and blew me a kiss. I cannot get that image out of my head today.

Dave Doughman (Swearing at Motorists)

For many, you were more than a friend, you were family. Like the crazy cousin that you could never see enough of, telling the best jokes at the worst times, and the worst jokes at the best times. Somehow, your timing was perfect. Sure, you were a pain in the ass at times, but we know it’s only because your ass was in pain. You were the unlikely glue that held our sanity together during the worst moments. You lived life to the fullest, and we are lucky to have known you. You made us laugh, you made us dance, and our memories of you will give us many smiles for years to come.

Thanks for everything J. Ferrari

Mariah Gahagan

A couple months ago, I was having a bad night at Sidebar. I stepped out for a smoke, and Jeremy appeared.  He gave me a big hug,and told me of his dreams, in vivid detail. Then he did a little soft shoe shuffle, and completely changed my mood. He was always good for that.

Jeremy performing with Human Reunion in 2012

Jay Madewell

Jeremy sang, played guitar, synthesizers & wrote songs but was also a drummer & played bass in Dirty Walk. He really could do it all & was in consistently great bands. He was one of the world’s best storytellers, but I never understood his constant need to embellish; the truth was plenty interesting on its own- I think that’s why we always forgave him. Violently clumsy. Spilled beer more beer than he drank. He was the guy that you had to get a beer for on the way to getting him beer.

The best thing is this; when I now think of Jeremy- I think of at least 40 other people. People that I may’ve never met otherwise. In his prime- he made you feel important, like you were joining a club by simply knowing him, “all admitted”.

Tim Krug (Human Reunion, Oh Condor)

I can’t remember if it was 2005 or 2006, but I think it was Halloween weekend, and someone had organized a Misfits tribute show or something comparable at Elbos over on Jefferson. A bunch of different guys in face paint were taking turns playing Misfits tunes, rotating out members like a cage match of leather vests, devil-locks and dark mayhem. Jeremy decided that what this particular night really needed was some stand-up comedy. You know, to round out the entertainment. I don’t know how, but he convinced someone that if he could run up between songs and do a few jokes, it’d be win-win for everyone. I felt like this was going to end beyond terribly, and I was already secretly plotting out an escape route.

Jeremy at Human Reunion's last show at Gilly's

Just as the band finished the next song, Jeremy saw his opening, jumped up on stage, and grabbed a microphone. He told some jokes I can’t quite remember. One about Coretta Scott King and Hostess Ding Dongs and maybe the one about fingering, but I think a lot of his “time” was spent telling people to shut up so he could tell them the jokes.. which was kind of the joke in itself. The few people that really knew Jeremy and especially those of us privy to his love for Tony Clifton / Andy Kaufman were cracking up in the back. He was making people uncomfortable, and it was kind of great. Everyone else though, including the band, were not as pleased with how this unannounced comedy ambush was going. They started another song, and Jeremy came off-stage with a big grin on his face.

This happened a few more times between songs, each time the band and the crowd getting angrier and booing him offstage quicker until I was asking Jeremy to let it rest for the night; that maybe we should just move on to another bar or go spend some time on the patio at least. He seemed to be almost agreeing with me when suddenly his eyes lit up and he was off again. The whole room had turned against him, and he was absolutely determined to win them back over.

As the next song ended, he quickly grabbed up this white wooden corn-hole game, and ran up to the stage. People were already booing. The singer was on the mic explaining in no uncertain (and quite vulgar) terms that there was no way this was happening again. He wasn’t going to have any more of this decidedly not funny “comedian” taking up his valuable set time, but it was too late. Mid-protest Jeremy was already there next to him, holding the corn hole game in front of him with his face showing through the hole at the top and yelling out to the crowd “REMEMBER KIDS, DON’T FORGET TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH!”

He’d found the nerve and struck gold. Everyone was back on his team, laughing, and he came lumbering back down to the bar triumphant. Class Clown at any cost.

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Music Video Monday: August 20, 2012

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Nightbeast has been writing and performing for about 10 years, but earlier this year he teamed up with a band to give his already awesome live shows an extra punch.  Nightbeast also released an EP earlier this month called You’re Welcome, which is available on iTunes.  The video below made its debut during the release party for You’re Welcome, and word has it that a follow up video is already in the works.  You can catch Nightbeast at the 90s Reloaded show on August 31st at Canal Street Tavern.

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Dayton Gives Back-Sidebar Benefit Show

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When you walk around the Oregon District, you take in some of the great places that people frequently visit.  You have Omega Music and The Record Gallery for all of your music needs.  If you are looking for an establishment to have dinner at, Thai 9 has become one of the premiere places to partake in.  If you are looking for a night involving drinks, you certainly have your fill of the many options, with Lucky’s to Trolley Stop to Oregon Express and more.

The former Sidebar (photo by Tommy Johnson)

One establishment that you couldn’t help and check out when you were in the Oregon District was the sophisticated and trendy Sidebar.  The lounge was very distinctive as opposed to other nearby bars with their exposed steel beams, old brick walls and hardwood pine floors that creak with every step.  Sidebar’s sleek layout with a very stylish vibe gave the bar its own staple in the area.

Sadly, the crowds that flocked to the business each and every night will no longer be coming.  The dim lighting that gave the bar an intimate vibe will no longer be turned on.  The building that gave the neighborhood a suave, New York/Chicago vibe will become a building that will sit empty, collecting a colony of dust in the inside.

On July 30th, Sidebar owner Brian Higgins decided to close the doors of the bar for good after unpaid rent and taxes.  Employees were not only told about the closing, but they also weren’t paid for weeks.  If they received a paycheck, former employees would only see that check bounce.  The men and women who gave their life to the bar, who sacrificed everything, now were left with nothing.

With the people of the now-obsolete hotspot becoming a thing in the past, and the folks of the Sidebar now having to find jobs, they still needed to figure out how they were going to make ends meet in their everyday life.  With rent, utilities, insurance, children, and other things piling up, times are sadly going to be tough till they can get on their feet.  In spite of all this, light streaked through the clouds.

Bob and Lisa Mendenhall, owners of the Oregon District’s popular watering hole Blind Bob’s hosted a benefit concert for the former employees of Sidebar that took place on August 7th.  Also that night, a raffle took place of prizes that were donated from companies located throughout the Dayton area.  Some of the prizes were a certificate for a $50 payment to any utility company, pieces of art from local talent, t-shirts, 2 bottles of Grateful Dead vino, ton of CDs, steel tipped darts and a schnapps branded dartboard just name a few.

M Ross Perkins onstage at Blind Bob's (photo by Tommy Johnson)

The turnout was simply astonishing.  The weeks leading up to the event, people went to  the Facebook event page to not only voice their frustrations about the undoing of the establishment, but also show support.  The closer the event came closer, the number of people going increased.  As the night of the benefit show went on, Blind Bob’s became jam-packed.

The live music from all the bands was filled with a little bit of everything.  The first band that came out to perform was Orange Willard.  The five member band that is known for the grunge/prog rock sound stripped down and performed acoustic.  The set was raw, intense, and emotional.  M. Ross Perkins sang songs of businesses corruption and being hurt by phony people.  Roley Yuma changed the pace of the show with their brass, unapologetic set of punk blaring thru the bar.  Me & Mountains finished the show with their smooth indie rock sounds, giving the crowd a little bit of everything.

The night raised over $3300, giving some of the former employees of Sidebar a little help.  The night also raised awareness of  the depth of love that Dayton residents have for one another.  Strangers coming together at a moment’s notice to help others in the time of need.  Giving back to others who they have never met.  It didn’t matter.  The former employees of Sidebar will always remember this generosity.

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Editor’s Note: video footage courtesy of the great Gem City Diamond YouTube channel.  We’ll be featuring more of their videos in the coming months here on Dayton Most Metro.

Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival Band Spotlight – Volume 2: Werking Hard On The Duck Farm

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Catch The Werks At The Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival

Music. It has always been with us. It has been our healer, our voice, our stories as well as our histories. It has been an invitation to dance, a call of the community spirit and a spark to inflame one’s temperament. The ambiguous moniker of “jam band,” while conjuring up images of searing light shows, the untroubled writhing of bodies and feverishly hypnotic rhythms held together by intensely introspective melodies, it is also a signal for a shamanistic release. In the final analysis, it is an uncompromising unity of spirit that not only surpasses, but supersedes and envelopes the music itself.

The Werks, a Dayton original if there ever was one, have found themselves in possession of the perfect potion to create the perfect storm of music, ambience and spectacle that has skyrocketed them into the pantheon of progressive musical groups. Formed in 2007 by Dave Bartoletti, Rob Chafin, Chris Houser and Chuck Love the group has run through various permutations, ending up with their current line-up of Chris Houser (guitar and vocals), Dino Dimitrouleas (bass and vocals), Norman Dimitrouleas (keyboards and vocals) and Rob Chafin (drums, vocals, samples and percussion). Through their melding of various styles of rock, funk, psychedelia, jamtronica and other musical elements, The Werks has created what they have coined “psychedelic dance rock.”

Recently, I was able to speak with  Rob Chafin, the band’s drummer, to ask him about the band’s role in the upcoming Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival, how they have dealt with the band’s dramatic rise in popularity as well as the role the fans play in creating an exceptional show.

DMM: With the audience being just as much part of the show as the band, do you feel that it more about a communal event rather than just being about the band?

Rob: Oh, absolutely! We feel that the audience and that connection that we have between the audience and ourselves is great. We feed off the energy that they throw at us and the more people that are getting into it, the harder we play. It’s a cycle. That’s what makes the improvisation at our shows so unique every time. The crowds and the energy of the room has a lot to do with that.

DMM: Do you think that the audience being a very active member in the band keeps everyone’s egos in check?

Rob: Yes. We’re all very humble guys and we’re all really down to earth. We like to talk to everyone after the show, just to say hi and to thank everyone for supporting us.

DMM: I don’t know if you can speak for the band on this, but what would one of your ‘dream collaborations’ be for a jam session?

Rob: Ones that have already happened?

DMM: No. One that you would love to have happen. It can even be one that you know could never really happen.

Rob: Is this with living musicians today?

DMM: Yeah…well, hell…let’s throw in the dead ones too.

Rob: (Laughs) Well, that would be broadening the list quite a bit. I think I’ll stick with the live ones. I think it would be pretty cliché to say Phish. I’d really love to jam with David Grohl.

DMM: Now that was more of a personal one, right?

Rob: Yeah, definitely. Oh, it would also be great to jam with Santana.

DMM: What do you think is one of the more oddball covers that you guys have done?

Rob: The Power Ranger’s theme song.

DMM: That would be cool! I’d actually like a recording of that.

Rob: Trust me…no you don’t (laughing). We like to have fun onstage and for everyone to have a good time, so sometimes we’ll throw in something weird. We do a version of Killing In The Name by Rage Against The Machine, so that’s kind of an oddball cover for us. We’re kind of all over the place, so you never really know what to expect.

DMM: Aside from the musical aspects of the band, are there other elements that you guys want to incorporate into the live performances that you haven’t gotten to yet?

Rob: I’d like to get even crazier with the lights. That’s my goal: to get the light to where we’re even wearing LED suits. It would be fun. We feel that the visual aspect is very important to the show as well. When you go to a concert, you’re not just listening to a CD, but you’re going to see a show. Sometimes, you have to rely a lot on the showmanship and the visual aspect of the show just as much as the music, but we have been very successful because of that. There is something to be said for that, that’s for sure.

DMM: With the Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival, are you guys going to be able to do a full set or is it going to be shortened?

Rob: Oh, it’s definitely going to be a shortened version of our usual shows. In a perfect situation, we would try and go for two or three sets, but I think that we are only going to be playing for an hour or an hour and fifteen minutes. It will be a quick little taste of what we do, as it is with any festival.

DMM: Is the band being recognized more readily outside of Dayton?

Rob: Dayton is definitely our home base, as is Columbus for me. I guess Columbus would be our biggest draw as of right now, but Dayton is where everyone else in the band is from, so there will always be strong roots in Dayton. Ohio in general is just great for us.

DMM: Now, you guys shot up in popularity incredibly quick. Are you all taking it in stride or are you still standing around trying to make heads or tails of it?

Rob: Everything in your life is relative. Every once in a while, you have to step back and take a look at the big picture. Sometimes, it’s funny. There are things that happen now that, if they had happened two or even three years ago, we would have just absolutely flipped out. Now, it’s like, ‘Oh! Cool!’ We’ve definitely been blessed with a lot of amazing opportunities and have met a ton of wonderful people who have helped us throughout the years.

After getting a “quick little taste” of The Werks at the Downtown Dayton Music Revival, make sure to catch them September 20th through the 22nd at the Werk Out Music And Art Festival being held at the Legend Valley Music Center in Thornville, Ohio. For more details about this and other upcoming acts appearing at the Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival, go to http://www.downtownrevival.com. To learn more about the Werk Out Music And Art Festival, as well as The Werks other upcoming shows, go to http://thewerksmusic.com .

 

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See all of our Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival Band Spotlights

Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Todd the Fox and Daniel Dye and the Miller Road Band to Perform at WYSO Community Concert

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Holy Ghost Tent Revival

On Sunday, August 19th, WYSO 91.3FM will present a free summer concert at RiverScape MetroPark featuring Holy Ghost Tent Revival. Local musicians Todd the Fox and Daniel Dye and the Miller Road band will also perform.

“We’re looking forward to another great gathering of the WYSO community,” says WYSO Music Director Niki Dakota. “It’s a great treat to bring live music to the Miami Valley.”

Hailing from Greensboro, NC, Holy Ghost Tent Revival has built a reputation for highly energetic live performances. The six-piece band blends Dixieland and ragtime inspired folk with rock and roll and a horn section for a memorable sound. Since 2009, Holy Ghost Tent Revival has played 300 live shows a year including several previous stops in the Miami Valley. Their third studio album, Sweat Like the Old Days, will be released later this year.

Todd the Fox and Lisa Bunny (Photo by Frank Coleman Jr.)

Dayton-based singer/songwriter Todd the Fox mixes blues, folk, bluegrass and rock and roll influences to create what he calls “Hyper Delta Blues.” Performing with a resonator guitar and homemade suitcase drum and accompanied by a washboard, Todd the Fox delivers a fun, engaging live show.

Openers Daniel Dye and the Miller Road Band are a Springfield family band made up of front-man Daniel Dye and his nieces and nephews. This all-acoustic group is making a name for itself with a softly powerful Americana sound.

“Bring the whole family as we celebrate WYSO music and its ability to bring us together,” says Dakota.

The concert begins at 6pm. Food will be sold at RiverScape’s Cafe Velo, and craft beer will also be for sale. Families are encouraged to attend and bring chairs or blankets for seating. Free admission is made possible by support from Wagner Subaru, Freund Freeze and Arnold, and the University of Dayton Department of Continuing Education.

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