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Dayton Music

Guggenheim Grotto Comes to Canal Street Tavern

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The Guggenheim Grotto (Photo by Deborah Lopez)

Originally compared with Simon & Garfunkle, Dublin alt-folk duo The Guggenheim Grotto has been hard at work prepping a new album while touring in support of their third album, The Universe Is Laughing.  The album was largely written and recorded in hotel rooms and living rooms while the duo toured the United States.  They’ve been praised by NPR’s World Cafe and KCRW for their folk tunes mixed with a bit of electro-pop.

You can see Guggenheim Grotto tomorrow night (April 12th) at Canal Street Tavern along with Dayton’s own BJSR.  This will be BJSR’s last local show until August as Ben Rivet is heading out on the road in promotion of his Go W/The Flow project with local yoga instructor Tori Reynolds. 

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Music Video Monday: April 2, 2012

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This Friday (which also happens to be First Friday), the Dublin Pub is offering music fans a chance to check out some of the best in modern bluegrass with Bloomington, Indiana’s The New Old Cavalry.  They’ll give you plenty of opportunity to tap your feet along to some great arrangements that go from Bluegrass to Jazz to Psychedelia.  More info on this and other shows is available on our events calendar.

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19 Beers and The Perfect Burger: One Eyed Jacks

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The University Shopping Center across from Wright State’s Nutter Center is a unique place to eat. You have the normal options of Subway, McDonalds, Bob Evans, etc… but in the mix of the mediocre there are a few places like Jeet, The Flying Pizza, and Tiks Thai Express dishing out some really good food. But, my favorite is One Eyed Jacks. Founded April 14thof 2008, Jacks has been serving up cold beer and hot burgers straight to the mouths of Wright State Students for years.

Busy behind the bar shot at One Eyed Jacks.

Friday night crowd keeping the bar busy on a Friday.

The brilliance of One Eyed Jacks lies in its mix of quality atmosphere, food, and drinks. During the day, Jacks is perfect for winding down with a cold beer and a burger, but on a weekend night the mood changes. As people roll in, the band sets up, and the group conversations all merge into a wall of sound and you find yourself in a pure party setting.
There is no musical prejudice at Jacks.  The Rumpke Mountain Boys had several people trying their hand at a jig with others bumping, grinding, and yes hula-hooping to their wonderful bluegrass twang. Upcoming acts like Cappadonna from the Wu Tang Clan (Mach 30th) will undoubtedly have a lot of people bouncing around the stage trying some new moves that maybe they shouldn’t.  With smiles everywhere, band playing, the bar hostesses hard at work, and the kitchen buzzing, it is impossible to have a bad time at Jacks.

The 2am Burger at One Eyed Jacks

Egg, Burger, Bacon, Hashbrowns... That is all you need to know.

With all of that atmosphere, it would be a shame if there wasn’t substance to back it up. Jacks does not disappoint. The Veggie Zaffer (my regular choice) is the most amazing piece of late night satisfaction in Dayton. Two house sauces, siracha-kraut (a creative twist on kim-chi) and tatonka   (a mildly spicy cream sauce) sit on a huge spicy black bean burger with cheese, onion, and swiss. It is spicy, rich, and if you think you need meat to have a good burger, this will prove you wrong. While the Zaffer is fantastic on its own, it is served with a mound of hot, perfectly greasy, seasoned, and battered french fries. There are few words outside of addictive that I would use to describe these flawless fries. While I am prone to ramble on about the $7.99 Zaffer basket and how every order should be placed with extra tatonka and blue cheese on the side their other options are something too.

Like the “2am” burger. For $7.99 you get a large beef patty sitting atop a hash brown and covered with cheddar, ketchup, bacon, and an egg. Or, if you’re just a little peckish share some pizza nuggets ($7.99) stuffed with cheese and pepperoni served up with marinara for dipping. The whole menu from pizza to wings, from burgers to salads is consistently good, packed with flavor, and reasonably priced all under $10.

An appitizer platter at One Eyed Jacks

The pickle spears are fantastically crunchy.

Open 11am-2:30am Monday through Saturday and 12pm-2:30am on Sunday, One Eyed Jacks is a fantastically assembled bar with great service, 19 beers on tap, fantastic food, and a variety of music that few rival. (Not to mention $3 shots of Jameson on the 14th of every month.) Head to Jacks if you are down for a fun night with good people.

 

 

Red Hot Rebellion Takes the Party to Cinci on St. Patrick’s Day

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Red Hot Rebellion (photo by MK Lapole)

There was an unusual calm as I stepped into the Mainstay Rock Bar in downtown Cincinnati on the evening of St. Patrick’s Day. Expecting a loud and rowdy crowd, I was greeted with relatively quiet groups of people hanging around the bar, with bands slowly moving their equipment up to the stage. If I may use a rather cliché phrase, it was the calm before the storm. I did arrive an hour early after all.  Within the next hour or so the bar was filled with college students and twenty-somethings, all clad in green and full of energy.

What brought me down to Cincinnati that evening wasn’t the bar (which is a blasphemy to some on this holiday), but the music. A trio of bands were to be putting on a show for the soon-to-be arriving crowd.  One of these bands came out from Dayton to help that crowd release their pent-up holiday energy: Red Hot Rebellion.

Taking the stage in kilts, Red Hot Rebellion played the music that bassist and lead vocalist Jim Tramontana described to me as “the soundtrack to a bar fight.” Thankfully none of those broke out, but it’s easy to see where they’re coming from with that description. The band’s whole style and persona is loud, crazy, and fun, which is just perfect for a night like that. A hard-edged, driving rock sound with numerous guitar solos, three-way vocals, and lyrics that cover such topics as drinking and fighting (which Tramontana said are popular subjects with the college crowd). If I had to put these guys into a genre, I would say that this is what the phrase “party rock” should refer to, rather than that electronic hip-hop LMFAO music that comes to most people’s minds with that phrase.

Another key with Red Hot Rebellion’s performance was humor and crowd interaction, which is something that I do not see often with local acts for some reason. These guys weren’t just here to play
their music; they wanted to have a good time and make sure the crowd was as well. Starting with jokes between sets and ending with guitarist Doug Spencer playing in his underwear, the band definitely accomplished that goal.

The band’s hour-long set finished a bit after midnight or so, leaving everyone’s ears ringing from the sound assault. The night wasn’t quite over yet, as Red Hot Rebellion was second on the bill of three.  Also playing on that evening were Rumble Club, a rockabilly band out of Covington, Kentucky, and Switchblade Syndicate, a rock/punk act right out of Cincinnati. All together, the bands created a diverse lineup perfect for the party atmosphere of St. Patrick’s Day. Red Hot Rebellion brought the party down from Dayton, though, and showed that even outside the big city, we know how to have a good time.

You can catch Red Hot Rebellion on Saturday, March 31st at One Eyed Jacks in Fairborn along with C. Wright’s Parlour Tricks.

Dynamite With A Laser Beam, DPO’S Rockin’ Orchestra Series Guaranteed To Blow Your Mind!

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Do you remember first time you heard the music of Beethoven, or stomped and clapped to “We Will Rock You” in a crowd? These shared experiences are so important and the arts are where we meet for such events. There’s a catch phrase I see around Dayton that I appreciate to the fullest, “Culture Creates Community.” This is being beautifully pulled off by the DPO with a series such as “Rockin’ Orchestra”

3 shows have come and gone in this seasons’ series, and the DPO has proven that music lovers of all ages are hungry to experience the soundtracks of their lives in a different way. I call this genre “Rockestra”. (I admit. I stole that word from an old “Wings” song title. It just seems to fit.) I’ve heard these called “jukebox musicals” but I don’t think that phrase captures the almost atom crushing power of what happens in the Schuster during these performances.

The current “Rockin’ Orchestra” season kicked off in Nov. of 2011with special guests, “Three Dog Night: Live with Orchestra”. In February the touring rockestra company “Windborne” brought “The Music of Pink Floyd”. I still have goose bumps from that show.

Last Saturday, “The Music of Queen. A Rock and Symphonic Spectacular”, rolled into town with a touring company from the UK led by guest conductor, Maestro Richard Sidwell.  This show, on the season calendar months in advance, was scheduled to run only one performance, 8:00. A sell out occurred quickly and the DPO added a second performance for 3:00 to fill the popular demand.

The company that brought us the “Queen” show this past weekend was comprised of theatrical performers who have been cast in various productions throughout London’s West End including, but not limited to, the musical, “We Will Rock You.”

“We Will Rock You” was written by British comedian and author Ben Elton in collaboration with “Queen” members Brian May and Roger Taylor and opened in London’s West End “Dominion Theatre” in 2002. The story is the classic tale of a misguided prophet as the central character, sent to warn the world about something and there’s doom against a dystopian back drop, all set to a heart pounding soundtrack. This musical was immediately panned by critics and lost the interest of Robert De Niro’s production company, “Tribeca”. That did not stop the show from going on. The musical has not only survived its critics, but continues to play to packed houses around the world and is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary this year.

Various cast members from this musical comprise a spinoff company specific to the London based show. Unlike other rockestra’s, they only do music as arranged for “We Will Rock You.” On tour they present the musical, without the story or the costumes. Included in this production touring company are 4 vocalists, a 6 piece rock band, (keys, guitars, bass, drums), and the original arranger of “We Will Rock You”, Maestro Richard Sidwell at the helm as conductor.

Including the DPO, over 70 musicians were on the stage for this spectacular; four vocalists, (Jenna Lee James, Rachael Wooding, Sean Jenness & Justin Sargent), lead the audience through 2 acts of the 27 song set list. They more than do Sidwell’s arrangements justice. Vocally stellar, they keep the energy in high gear from the first belted note to the encore.  The band was tight and in top form. Impeccable and talented, this ensemble cast really gave every sold out seat it’s money’s worth.

That said, I was disappointed in the “brand” of this show. The arrangements, although worthy of the high praise, were not the experience of the music of “Queen” and a live orchestra that I was ramped up for.  I was ready for eerie layered vocals and hypodermic guitars. The energy was there, the talent was there but the edge was not. Knowing Brian May has been loosely involved in the “We Will Rock You” production and reading about his hand picking “American Idol” star Adam Lambert to lead in a newly formed “Queen”, I understood where this vision might have come from.

I felt like amazing guitar players were almost hidden and didn’t surface accept for key moments such as the intro to “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Killer Queen” and “We Are the Champions”. Missing from the set list was “Best Friend” which features one of my all time favorite “Queen” guitar licks and vocal harmony tracks. Also missing, the backing vocal harmonies on “Somebody to Love”. This was a missed opportunity to redeem what was missing from the trademark “Queen” sound but was redirected to the big gigantic, (although perfectly delivered), ending. “Queen” is the only band in history to marry opera and rock, not just classical music and rock. As a fan, seeing any such performance that falls short of celebrating that core is not acceptable. Being a “feeler” it’s always more about the experience than the show. I wanted more goose bumps and expected more of an edge, but I respect the amount of hard work and skill that goes into a production like this.

Personal Highlights:

~ The intro piece,”Flash”. (my one goose bump moment)
~ The beautifully arranged and delivered “Who Wants to Live Forever”.
~ A very long haired guitar player head banging on stage with a full orchestra.
~The woodwind section laying down their instruments in their laps as Richard Sidwell turned to conduct the audience in the clapping on “Another One Bites the Dust” and stomping on “We Will Rock You”.
~ People of all ages raising their arms and swaying together during “We Are the Champions”.
~ The audience singing the entire second chorus of “Bohemian Rhapsody” without any vocals from the stage.

The Dayton Philharmonic is definitely right on track with bringing in a different demographic to discover what they do. The very pleasant surprise I got was the sight of elderly members of the crowd getting just as excited and animated during the songs as the younger folks. Community!

In a nutshell:
A heartfelt “2 stomps and a clap” for the touring company!  Dayton Philharmonic, You are the champions!

Check out the Dayton Philharmonic’s “Rockin’ Orchestra” series and all the other fine programs they offer! You’ll be glad you did!

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Music Video Monday: March 12, 2012

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A few weeks ago, we told you about Oh Condor’s new cassette EP, Reflector, out now on Gas Daddy Go Records.  What we didn’t tell you is that the band also has a new music video.  You can catch them live on March 24 at South Park Tavern with the Lab Partners and The Flesh Pets.

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Music Video Monday: February 27, 2012

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First Friday is once again upon us, and there are tons of great options for live music this month.  There are also tons of great food options downtown so why not combine the two and head over to Jay’s Restaurant on 6th Street.  Puzzle of Light will be performing at 9pm so you can do a late dinner (reservations recommended) or just enjoy desert or something from the bar and some tunes.  Puzzle of Light will be joined by guest artist Laylia, a local dancer.

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Celebrate Spring at March First Friday

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Complementary chocolate is served to visitors during December 2011's First Friday at Peace on Fifth. The shop will offer fair trade chocolates to visitors again March 2.

Explore downtown Dayton during the next free First Friday art hop, held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, March 2, with activities for all to enjoy.

This month’s First Friday will feature a variety of live music, shopping opportunities and gallery openings.  As the weather warms up, many downtown shops will feature sales on winter items. Roving musicians and entertainers will perform in downtown’s public spaces for visitors to watch and enjoy, and many businesses will offer specials to First Friday visitors.

Explore your artistic side

First Friday gives downtown visitors an opportunity to explore numerous art exhibit openings. Check out the Dayton Visual Arts Center’s opening at 118 N. Jefferson St. from 5 to 8 p.m. “The Cline Show: An All-Area University Exhibit,” will feature works in all types of media and showcase art by more than 20 local students from Wright State University, the University of Dayton and Sinclair Community College. Mike Elsass will premiere new works of art at his gallery, Color of Energy, 16 Brown St., and works of art by students from St. Luke’s Elementary will be displayed at K12 Gallery for Young People, 510 E. Third St.

Making their First Friday debut, the Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors, 48 High St., will highlight artists from the Dayton Printmakers Cooperative for the DSPS’ seventh annual Printmakers Show. Featuring printmaking demos and refreshments, the DSPS will be open from 5 to 8 p.m.

The Cannery Art and Design Center, 434 E. Third St., will show work by Springboro calligrapher Ann Bain in celebration of her 80th birthday. The exhibit, “Exuberance,” will showcase a variety of 2D and 3D pieces. Press, 257 Wayne Ave., will feature work by local artists Glen Clark, Craig Tirey, Erich Reith and Amanda Barb

osa. Stop by H. David Clay Studio, 33 S. St. Clair St., to check out functional and decorative pottery made on site. Gallery 510 Fine Art, 510 E. Fifth St., will showcase a variety of work created by local artists for sale, including jewelry, quilts, scarves and ceramics.

The Record Gallery will broadcast Rev. Cool's show, "Around the Fringe," on 91.3 WYSO-FM during this month's First Friday.

Get your groove on

First Friday offers a variety of ways to get your live music fix, whether you’re in the mood to rock out or kick back to some lighter tunes. Canal Street Tavern, 308 E. First St., will host a CD release party for local band BJSR featuring Ape the Ghost, Young Heirlooms and Lauren Eylise. The Ohio Coffee Company, 46 W. Fifth St., will feature Sara and Mic Riley playing “A Sweet Sound” beginning at 7 p.m. This event has no cover and the coffee bar and kitchen will be open. At De’Lish Café, 139 N. Main St., “Feel Good Fridays” will be in full swing from 6 to 8 p.m., with top-shelf drink specials in the De’Lish lounge, and live jazz by the Wade Baker Quartet from 9 p.m. to midnight.

If you prefer something more classical, the Dayton Philharmonic will perform “Bartók’s Musical Tapestry,” inspired by the work of Hungarian pianist and composer Béla Bartók at the Schuster Center, 1 W. Second St.

Oregon Arts District venues will a variety of musical opportunities. Blind Bob’s, 430 E. Fifth St., will have live music beginning at 9:30 p.m., featuring New Vega, Grenades!? and other artists. Puzzle of Light will play beginning at 9 p.m. at Jay’s Seafood, 225 E. Sixth St.  Omega Music, 318 E. Fifth St., will feature Moon High and M. Ross Perkins beginning at 6 p.m. At Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth St., Sarah Beck and Jessica Campbell will take the stage at 9:30 p.m.

Entertainment from shows to skating

Local musicians Moon High and M. Ross Perkins will take the stage at Omega Music in the Oregon Arts Distrct starting at 6 p.m. on First Friday.

If you’d like to explore downtown on your bicycle, check out Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field, 220 N. Patterson Blvd., where the monthly Courteous Mass Ride will meet at 5:15 p.m. for a ride through the city. For athletic enthusiasts, the climbing gym Urban Krag, 125 Clay St., will be open until 11 p.m. The RiverScape MetroParks Ice Rink, , 111 E. Monument Ave, will host a Wild West Skate from 7 to 10 p.m., featuring a DJ playing a variety of country and western music. Admission is $5, which includes skate rental.

First Friday is a way to discover some of the theater and performance options downtown. The Human Race Theatre Company presents the world premiere of “Tenderly,” a musical about the life of renowned singer and actress Rosemary Clooney, at the Victoria Theatre, 138 N. Main St. If you’re in the mood for a laugh, John Evens will perform at Wiley’s Comedy Niteclub, 101 Pine St., at 9 p.m.; tickets are $12. The Neon, 130 E. Fifth St., shows a variety of new releases and independent movies. Call 222-SHOW (7469) for films and show times.

Shop the winter sales

Getting a fashion fix is easy to do downtown. Amore!, 16 Brown St., will premiere new spring items and offer 50 percent off select winter fashions. Munch on Japanese snacks at the sushi and sake shopping party Clash Consignments, 113 E. Third St., with sushi provided by Fusian. The party will feature local DJ The Snark and a storewide sale on winter items until 10 p.m. Basho Apparel, 521 E. Fifth St., will have a featured print design on baby clothes by local artist Janell Barker of Press.

The Oregon Arts District features several stores that offer unique gifts, art and furniture. Shop for vintage and one-of-a-kind furniture, housewares, art and more at Jimmy Modern, 605 E. Fifth St. Peace on Fifth, 519 E. Fifth St., a slave-free and eco-friendly gift shop, will be serving free fair-trade chocolate. The Record Gallery, 16 Brown St., will broadcast Rev. Cool’s “Around the Fringe” show on 91.3 WYSO-FM for visitors shopping their vast record selection. ReCreate, 438 E. Fifth St., has new and used instruments, other music-related items and original artwork.

In addition, staff from the day spa Beaute Box, located at 116 W. Fifth St., will be on the go on the streets of the Oregon Arts District raffling prizes.

Work up an appetite

In addition to its art gallery space, Gallery 510 Fine Art also will showcase a collection of jewelry, scarves, ceramics and other art created by local artists for sale.

After wandering the streets of downtown, check out the dinner and drink specials offered on First Friday. Boulevard Haus, 328 E. Fifth St., features $1 off tap beer for those who mention First Friday. At Deaf Monty’s Wine, 22 Brown St., it’s only $5 for a 6-ounce glass of red or white wine. Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave., has no cover and 20 percent off all food during First Friday. Lucky’s Taproom and Eatery, 520 E. Fifth St., will feature dinner specials, along with the special tapping of a firkin of New Holland Poet, an oatmeal stout. Olive, an urban dive, 416 E. Third St., will have several dinner specials until 11 p.m., in addition to broadcasting Rev. Cool’s “Around the Fringe” show on 91.3 WYSO-FM. Oregon Express, 336 E. Fifth St., has half-price pizza from 4 to 8 p.m. and live music at 9:30 p.m.

First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership with support from the Oregon District Business Association and WYSO-FM 91.3. The Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website has a complete list of downtown’s arts and cultural amenities, as well as a dining guide, parking map and much more.

Vinyl Party Tonight at UD ArtStreet

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If you haven’t already found that perfect thing to do tonight, grab your favorite record and head over to UD’s Artstreet Cafe for Vinyl Party Vol 2.  The free event is hosted by The Jaywalkers’ Sean Kaschak and sponsored by Omega Music on 5th Street.  It’s an opportunity to share your favorite music and meet new musically-minded people.  It runs from 7-9pm so if you do have other plans, you can make this your first stop.

It’s Here: 2 of 3 from Sean Kaschak on Vimeo.

Dayton Art Institute Announces 2012 Vectren Jazz & Beyond Series

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Fareed Haque

The Dayton Art Institute has long been a home for jazz in the Miami Valley with the Vectren Just Jazz series performances taking place on the first Thursday of March – November (save for July when they take a month off).  This year the series is being renamed the Vectren Jazz & Beyond Series and will feature performances from some established favorites as well as some newer artists.  All performances are 5:30-830pm in the Dayton Art Institute’s Shaw Gothic Cloister. Admission is free for museum members or $8 for non-members.

The 2012 Vectren Jazz & Beyond Season Lineup:

March 1: Fareed Haque Trio
April 5: Kick-N-Flava
May 3: Chicago Afrobeat Project
June 7: Soul Express
August 2: Dayton Jazz Orchestra
September 6: Rob Dixon Quartet
October 4: MathGames!
November 8: Puzzle of Light

Gas Daddy Go! Records Celebrates Releases from Motel Beds, Oh Condor

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Founded in 1989, Gas Daddy Go! Records had been mostly inactive for the past 10 years.  However, after the label’s relaunch in late 2011, the label has wasted no time in putting out some great local music.  Their first release was the Smug Brothers’ Treasure Virgins EP, which coincided with the label’s relaunch.  Treasure Virgins was the first in what will be a series of EPs released on cassette and accompanied by download codes.

“I’m excited to have the label up and running again,” said Don Thrasher, found of Gas Daddy Go! Records, upon the label’s relaunch. “I’m even more stoked that we’ve returned to our roots and are once again releasing new projects on cassette. Of course, now we have added the modern twist of being able to include a free download with each tape we release so we can offer the perfect balance of analog and digital.”

Oh Condor on stage at Blind Bob's (Photo by Carly Short)

Thrasher has teamed up with Smug Brothers bandmate and Dayton Music Fest co-organizer, Kyle Melton for this incarnation of the label.

Saturday, February 25th, will mark two more releases from Gas Daddy Go!: new EPs from The Motel Beds and Oh Condor, both on the cassette/download format.  Both EPs are currently available for pre-order at the official Gas Daddy Go! website.  There will be a release party for the “Low Noise” and “Reflector” on February 25th at South Park Tavern featuring performances by the Motel Beds, Oh Condor, Roley Yuma and Pretty & Nice (Boston).

Look for more local releases from Gas Daddy Go! later this year including music from King Elk, Astro Fang, Me and Mountains, Roley Yuma, and The Esther Caulfield Orchestra.

Music Video Monday: February 20, 2012

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It’s funny when things work out.  I spent all morning trying to find the perfect Presidents’ Day music video to no avail, but luckily, our friends at The Music Seen tipped me off to a great show happening this week with a slight presidential or rather First Lady connection.  Hailing from Louisville, KY, The Ladybirds will perform Thursday night at South Park Tavern with local openers, Army of Infants.  Check out our events calendar for more info.

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A Quick Taste of Dayton Does Dayton

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Canal Street Tavern is well known in the Dayton music scene for its great sound, up-close atmosphere, and excellent shows. Nearly every night, one can find all kinds of local acts putting on a show on the Tavern’s stage. Outside of regular shows, Canal Street also enjoys putting on different kinds of specialty shows, such as the well-known Dayton Band Playoffs. One of these shows took to the stage this past weekend, stretching over two evenings: Dayton Does Dayton.

Wheels performing at Dayton Does Dayton (photo by Jay Madewell)

Only in its second year, Dayton Does Dayton invites a number of local bands from many different genres to take to the stage and, alongside their own songs, cover tracks from other local bands. None of the bands that play the show are “cover bands” per se, they’re just there to put their own spin on other local acts that they enjoy, that have influenced them, or any other reason at all.

The sheer number of bands interested in the show this year caused the event to be spread out across a full weekend…or rather, the important part of the weekend (Friday and Saturday). The great thing is that this much time allows more bands to come out and play. The difficult thing is that it causes busy people (such as myself) to only be able to catch a part of the entire show. As excited as I was for the show, it landed on a terrible weekend for me, so I was only able to see the first few bands on Saturday night. So, rather than a whole review, here is just a taste of what you may have missed this past weekend.

I arrived much too early for the show on Saturday night, so I was one of the first ones in the door. This gave me a chance to chat quickly with one of the staff at Canal Street, who told me that nearly 280 people came in for the show the night before. Considering the size of the venue, this is a rather fantastic number, and soon enough, people began flooding through the door and filling the floor.  By the time the first band went on, Canal Street was nearly standing room only.

The first to play this evening, out of Yellow Springs, was the band Wheels. A five-piece mostly-acoustic act, Wheels decided to focus on covering one specific band this evening alongside their own songs. Their band of choice, also out of Yellow Springs, was Sport Fishing USA, whose tracks they stripped down to fit the style they were playing: acoustic guitars, light percussion, mandolin, and upright bass. The instruments, though, played as more of background noise to the vocals, the focus of the band. The four-part harmonies were the star of the show, filling out the sound left behind by the sparse instrumentation.

Good English performing at Dayton Does Dayton (photo by Jay Madewell)

The second band of the evening, straight out of Dayton itself, was Charge Scenic. This band’s sound was a complete turn-around from Wheels’ acoustic style: alternative rock with some electronic and synth elements. That, though, can only describe their original songs. The covers that Charge Scenic chose ran through a number of other genres, touching on pop rock and a bit of funk. They chose to cover a number of different bands: Guided by Voices, Zapp and Roger, and The Pure Plastic Tree.  Throughout their set, Charge Scenic seemed to have a strong focus on the rhythm section, with the bass holding much of the band together, and the drummer getting a few solos between songs.

Up next, and unfortunately the last band I got to see, was Good English. This all-female, mostly-siblings band out of Oakwood has a chord- and riff-driven rock sound, with a feel similar to Foo Fighters.  Good English chose to cover tracks close to their own sound by two bands: The Breeders and Southeast Engine. Almost every member of the band played multiple instruments, which each song prompting a stage switch. All around, these girls pulled together a number of basic melodies into some supremely catchy tracks.

The rest of the evening, and the night before, had sets from both well-known and less-well-known acts, including Gathering Mercury, Red Hot Rebellion, Dark Backward, and My Latex Brain. This is one of those times where I’m kicking myself for missing out on so many acts, but sometimes there’s not much that can be done! To those that went out to the show for one or both nights, I’m sure you could fill in some blanks for us! Feel free to leave opinions of the show and/or bands in the comments section.  To those that didn’t make it out, hopefully this shows you what you missed and you’ll be able to catch Dayton Does Dayton the next time it comes to town!

Moon Shines Near Hometown to Promote Spring Album

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They get your toes tapping, your fingers snapping and soon they’ve got you hooked on a brave, fun sound heard pulsating throughout the tri-state area. Cincinnati-based band Walk the Moon has impressed indie-rock aficionados with songs like “Anna Sun” and “Lisa Baby” since their first full-length 2010 album “i want! i want!” Now they’re quenching fans’ thirsts for more Moon. In three weeks, they plan to drop a landing near their hometown to promote a new album, set to release sometime in spring.

Walk the Moon

The four-piece band features Eli Maiman’s groovy guitar sounds, Nicholas Petricca’s sweet and heady vocals, Kevin Ray’s seizing bass lines, while Sean Waugaman’s drums punctuate the poppy sound beat by beat. Pounding on keyboards and keytars, the Ohioans have got it down. Walk the Moon has received recognition in mags such as SPIN, Esquire and Nylon, and they’ve filled venues with bands such as Local Natives, GROUPLOVE and Kaiser Chiefs.

Walk the Moon paid a humble but electric visit to The Madison Theater in Covington, Ky., this past Thanksgiving with bands Young Heirlooms and Shadowraptr. At the show — themed “Homecoming Dance” — “Anna Sun Punch” was offered to ticket holders, and colorful cheeks were seen smudged with war paint in reference to the tribal markings in their “Anna Sun” music video.

The trendy, energetic video was filmed in 2010 at The Mockbee, a historic building and stomping ground for Cincinnati natives to see local artists perform in Over the Rhine. The first half of the video is a single shot that follows Petricca as he weaves between dancers throughout the building, until he encounters a free-spirited gang in warrior face paint charging through a field.

In an interview with Carson Daly on his late night talk show “Last Call” last spring, Petricca indicated that the song was “about college, about maintaining that little bit of being a kid.” Well, Walk the Moon followers certainly embrace that philosophy as they’re full of adrenaline, pumping fists, jumping around and proudly calling out lyrics at shows.

The Madison Theater’s doors will open in just a few weeks to welcome eager fans to preview selected songs from Walk the Moon’s currently untitled album.

But if you can’t make the show and need more, don’t worry about the wait — spring is right around the corner. Until then, pick up Walk the Moon’s “Anna Sun EP,” available Feb. 7, on the band’s official website at http://www.walkthemoonband.com or purchase through iTunes.

Walk the Moon and Young the Giant make their stop at The Madison Theater in Covington on Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. It’s an all-ages show, and tickets are $15, available online or when doors open at 7 p.m.

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Dayton Musicians Celebrate Community, Each Other This Weekend at Canal Street Tavern

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Particpants in the 2nd Annual Dayton Does Dayton Music Festival (Photo by Amanda Barbosa, courtesy of MidWest Promo)

The name Dayton Does Dayton may make your thoughts go all sorts of places, but it actually is the most accurate description of what’s happening this weekend at Canal Street Tavern.  This is the second year for the two music festival that kicks off Friday (February 3rd) and continues on Saturday night.  The concept came from Rich Reuter of Nine False Suns: an event that celebrates Dayton Music by having local bands perform both their own work and unique renditions of other Dayton musicians’ songs, past or present.  Local promoter Louie Wood Jr decided to run with the idea, and last year’s debut Dayton Does Dayton festival was performed in front of a packed house at Canal Street Tavern.

20 bands are poised to take the stage this weekend for the festival’s second outing.  You’ll hear the expected Guided by Voices covers alongside tunes by the Breeders and Brianiac, but then you’ll hear some groups reach back further and cross genres to cover the Ohio Players, Slave and Lakeside. The Fair Shakes will be joined onstage by Real Lulu’s Kattie Dougherty for a rendition of “Chief,” while Me & Mountains will perform songs by the Motel Beds and Roley Yuma.  Additionally, all of the bands performing will play some of their own material to give you a taste of what you can hear right now in Dayton.

The music starts each night at 8:30pm sharp so get to Canal Street early for a good spot and the full bill.  The cost each night is $5.

Lineup:

FRIDAY
Wild Forrest Blackberrri
A Shade of Red
Gathering Mercury
Dan Raridan and the Calientes
Akillis Green
Me & Mountains
Niki Dakota, Rick Good, Ben Cooper, and Israel Parker
The Fair Shakes
The Dirty Socialites
Wade Baker

SATURDAY:
Wheels
Charge Scenic
Good English
Al Holbrook Band
Nine False Suns
Red Hot Rebellion
Dark Backward
Ed Pittman and Jay Madewell
My Latex Brain

Dayton Circus Seeks Artists and Musicians for Side Show 7

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The crowd at Side Show 5

Urban Nights seems like a long way off, but it’s not too early to get involved with one of the many events that kick off May 11th.  The Dayton Circus has begun preparations for Side Show 7, which will take place May 11th and 12th at the Circus’ space, the Yellow Cab Building on 4th Street.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Side Show, it’s more than an art show.  Each year the Circus celebrates creativity in our community by encouraging participating artists and musicians to think outside the box, take risks and try something new.  So, you ask, how do I get involved?  Interested artists and musicians can download information, sign up for email updates and learn how to submit their work here.   The call for entries is open until March 23rd.

If you want to get involved in other ways, the Circus has also begun organizing several fundraisers to help cover the cost of Side Show 7.  The first one is Dayton Crafty-Con on March 10th.

Check back to Dayton Most Metro in the coming months.  We’ll have more updates on Side Show 7 as the event develops.