Dayton Music

Fair Shakes and Parlour Tricks Afoot at South Park Tavern

June 16, 2011 By Juliet Fromholt Leave a Comment

The Fair Shakes

Saturday night South Park Tavern will be rocking with two great local bands, each with a stellar lineup. The Fair Shakes are fronted by Nick Kizirnis and features John Dubuc, Deni Wilson and Jim Macpherson. Their sound channels the fun, classic garage rock sounds of bands like The Replacements and the Ramones. Get a taste of what you’ll see on Saturday night from the band’s YouTube offerings.

If the Fair Shakes don’t get you on your feet, C. Wright’s Parlour Tricks will. The band features Marc Betts, Brian Hoeflich, Tim Flanagan, and occasionally Josh Gonazalez, Steve ‘Henhouse’ Hensley, Joe Prescott. Their guitar-driven instrumentals combine good old fashioned rock and roll with a bit of boogie and lots of showmanship that will make you want to move.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlFOEUla25c’]

Saturday’s show begins around 9pm and costs $5. Like most every show at South Park Tavern, it’s all ages.

Music Video Monday: June 13, 2011

June 13, 2011 By Juliet Fromholt Leave a Comment

Ah, Monday the 13th….day of…..looking forward to great music this weekend.

The weekend kicks off with a great lineup at Blind Bob’s. Cincinnati’s Great Young Hunters will join three great local bands onstage: Ape the Ghost, which features members of Sleepybird, We Were Animals, which features members of Ed Vs. Radio, and Oh Condor, the new name for 8-bit Revival. In honor of their re-naming and this weekend’s show, our music video 8-bit Revival performing at Blind Bob’s last spring courtesy of The Music Seen. Full details about this weekend’s show are available at the Dayton MostMetro Events Calendar. Don’t forget to post your events there as well!

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk7pTduIi3g’]

Local rocker returns to play First Friday show

May 31, 2011 By DowntownPartnership Leave a Comment

Although she has performed live shows in cities such as Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Alicia Grodecki says her favorite city to play is her hometown – Dayton.

Lucky for her, with two upcoming shows – First Friday @ 5 on June 3 and a slot at Canal Street Tavern June 18 – her band, Vanity Theft, will get to perform in the city she says is a great place for music.

This week, I talked to Grodecki about Vanity Theft’s new album, touring and the unbelievable experience she had in the recording studio.

“People call us a more badass version of The Killers, except girls,” she says of the band’s sound. “[When asked to describe it] I usually tell people to go listen to it.”

“Get What You Came For,” the latest from Vanity Theft, is a hybrid of dance and pop, with a little electronic feel and attitude. The songs cover a variety of topics ranging from relationships to growing up to just having a good time.

Earlier this year, the band piled in a van and played shows across the United States and Canada, promoting the new album.

“There are an infinite number of ‘best’ things about touring,” says Grodecki. “We see so many people and travel. The bottom line is we get to do what we love every night.”

She does admit being on the road has its downside. “It’s hard being away from home. You miss your family. Our longest van ride was 48 hours straight, but it’s always worth it when you get there.”

Vanity Theft will continue to tour during the summer, including a spot at the Summerfest music celebration in Milwaukee. Grodecki just found out the girls will be opening for Taking Back Sunday, one of their favorite bands.

“I freaked out,” she says. “It’s crazy.”

Playing alongside Taking Back Sunday is not Vanity Theft’s only brush with fame. Elton John was in the studio below them while they recorded their most recent album. The girls were not able to meet him because of his high level of security. But, Grodecki says, he cracked the door and they were permitted to sit outside the studio and listen to him sing.

Even after traveling the country, Grodecki says there is nothing like playing in Dayton. She notes the strong sense of community the city exudes. “It feels good to come home and show everybody what we’ve been doing.”

Kick-N-Flava Play DAI’s Just Jazz

May 29, 2011 By Juliet Fromholt Leave a Comment

Thursday, June 2nd marks the latest in the Dayton Art Institute’s Vectren Just Jazz series. The concert will feature contemporary jazz/R&B act, Kick-N-Flava. The six member band features Mike Allamby on saxophones, Jerry Hawes on keyboards, Claude Coatie on lead guitar, J.D. Williams on bass guitar, Brian Smiley on drums and percussionist David Matthews.

“We’re a high energy band. We’re feeling it, and we let you know we’re feeling it. Our music is like a breath of fresh air coming through an old cracked window on a lovely summer day,” says the group.

The Just Jazz series will take a break in July, but resumes on August 4th. The second half of the 2011 series includes:

August 4: Mark Lomax II
September 1: The Kathy Wade Quartet
October 6: Ed Clay & The Patrol
November 3: Khalid Moss & Michael Bashaw

All performances begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Shaw Gothic Cloister at The Dayton Art Institute. Admission is free for museum members and $8 for non-members. General admission tickets may be purchased at The Dayton Art Institute the night of each performance

Dayton Band Playoffs Begin in June – Signups Now Open

May 26, 2011 By Juliet Fromholt Leave a Comment

To me, the start of the Dayton Band Playoffs signal the start of the summer in the Dayton music scene. This year marks the 29th year for the Canal Street Tavern series of concerts that are part friendly competition and part amazing opportunity to hear and be heard by audiences and other musical acts from the area. Past winners include Magic Jackson, Shrug, Brainiac, The Method, just to name a few.

Signups for performers are now open via a downloadable form from Canal Street’s website – you can also pick one up at the club or call 927-228-2450 for more information. Round 1 of the Playoffs will begin later in June – we’ll bring you those dates and all of the standings as the Playoffs unfold here on Dayton MostMetro.com.

Here’s last year’s winners, the Connoisseurs, performing the timely Apocalypse Waltz.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1aVZJtAz7s’]

Buffalo Killers To Unveil New Songs on Kaleidoscope, Perform at Peach’s Grill

May 25, 2011 By Juliet Fromholt Leave a Comment

The Buffalo Killers

Tonight you can catch the Buffalo Killers live on the air on WYSO during Kaleidoscope. They’re performing at Peach’s Grill in Yellow Springs on Friday, May 27th beginning at 10pm. On tonight’s radio show, which begins at 8pm, the band will unveil some new songs from the album they’re releasing later this summer. The local release party for “3,” is scheduled for Friday, July 15th at Canal Street Tavern. The Buffalo Killers will be joined onstage by R.Ring, a collaboration between Kelley Deal and Mike Montgomery that recently did a month long residency at South Park Tavern. You can hear a preview track from “3” by clicking here.

Kaleidoscope airs every Wednesday night on 91.3FM WYSO and stream live on www.wyso.org.

Dayton natives kick off First Friday concert series

May 25, 2011 By DowntownPartnership Leave a Comment

I hesitate to discuss the “edginess” of all-girl bands because I find myself stumbling along the fine line of making clichéd gender comments and completely disregarding the abnormality of an all-female group in the music industry.

After listening to Vanity Theft, however, I am convinced to make an exception. Want to hear it for yourself? Check out Vanity Theft when they return to Dayton to perform at the RiverScape MetroPark Pavilion as the first band in the First Friday @ 5 concert series.

According to their website, the Dayton natives spent five years booking their own tours and propelling themselves into the Midwestern music scene. Their loyal fan base reflects their hard work; in 2009, a grassroots effort won them the local-band slot in Cincinnati’s Warped Tour lineup.

Vanity Theft’s sound is a descendent of The Donnas’ legacy — assertive, sassy, girl rock. While the band was the only all-female outfit of the 227 selected to play in Cincinnati’s 2009 MidPoint Music Festival, they held their own and ended up filling the room. The girls haven’t relented yet — the New York Post described its live shows as being “eardrum-slobbering.” Yes, that’s a compliment.

While recording its October 2010 EP, “Anatomy,” the trio met former Disney child star Lalaine. (You might remember her from her the tween show “Lizzie McGuire.”) When the band needed a new bassist, members auditioned Lalaine and the four instantly clicked.

This February, Vanity Theft released their new album, “Get What You Came For.” The songs I sampled from the album (you can stream a few tracks here) definitely lived up to the band’s no-holds-barred reputation. With lyrics like, “Maybe I don’t want you for your mind; Can’t decide,” Vanity Theft makes it clear they are in control. And maybe, based upon its success already, that’s how it should be.

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

The concerts are part of the First Friday events and will feature additional bands on August 5 and September 2. The concession will be open and beer will be sold from 5-7 p.m. The concerts will wrap up in plenty of time to head to the galleries and other arts venues taking part in the First Friday art hop. The First Friday @ 5 summer concert series is presented with additional support from Heidelberg Distributing, the Oregon District Business Association, Clear Channel Dayton Radio and Culture Works.

Dayton Music Fest Moves to September, Opens Band Submissions

May 19, 2011 By Juliet Fromholt 1 Comment

DMF 2011 logo by Ryan France

As summer (hopefully) approaches, many of us are already looking ahead to one of our favorite music events of the fall: Dayton Music Fest. 2011 marks the seventh of the festival, and we’re very excited to see what organizers Kyle Melton and Don Thrasher have in store after taking over the helm of the event last year. One big change this year that’s already been revealed is that the festival is moving to September 9 & 10 from the first weekend of October. So take a moment, and mark your calendars.

For the musically inclined among you, now is the time to submit to perform at this year’s festival. Visit the Dayton Music Fest website’s submission page to learn more. Submissions are open now through June 30th.

Historical, musical, inspiring: Bernstein’s Mass

May 13, 2011 By Marsha Pippenger Leave a Comment

Just a quick note. I had the privilege of attending the dress rehearsal Thursday of Bernstein’s Mass, a theatre piece of musicians, singers, dancers. I have just one word: GO. If you possibly can, and you can get a ticket, GO.

From Dayton Philharmonic’s Website:

Using orchestra, chorus, children’s chorus, rock and blues bands, marching band, singers, dancers, and actors, Bernstein tells the powerful story of a group of disillusioned street people who join a visionary leader for a moving voyage of discovery and faith. This groundbreaking creative collaboration between the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Wright State University Theatre, Dance and Music Departments promises to be the regional performance event of the season, if not the decade.

…Go In Peace – Bernstein’s Mass Graces the Schuster Stage

May 12, 2011 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

Leonard Bernstein’s MASS: A Theatre Piece for Singers, Players, and Dancers

Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra

Wright State University Departments of Music, Theatre, and Dance

A famous reclusive American novelist once mused that “art and controversy seem to be joined at birth”. Indeed every generation has its authors, songwriters, painters, sculptors, dancers, and creators exploring the darker side of human nature and in so doing, challenging the moral center of American life. Whether its a ‘Catcher In The Rye’ – style uproar or a team of protestors on a mission to take down a certain boy wizard, controversy has been at the center of some of the greatest artistic achievements of our time. Why? Well, often its because the best art challenges us to look at ourselves differently and with a critical eye – and let’s face it, Americans don’t like that! This weekend, a once deeply controversial work opens in Dayton in a new, glorious production sure to inspire a new following of fans (and protestors) alike.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Leonard Bernstein entering the Kennedy Center Opera House for a performance of Mass in 1972 (photo from the Library of Congress)

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis & Leonard Bernstein at Kennedy Center, Sept. 8, 1971

Forty years ago, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis selected the famed Leonard Bernstein to compose a monumental work to memorialize her late husband and 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. The piece was to premiere on September 8, 1971 at the official opening of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The piece follows the structure of a Roman Catholic Mass, but includes elements of many styles typical of the contemporary American musical landscape of the period: Blues, Rock, Showtunes and Opera. While the liturgical text of Mass is in Latin, Bernstein and collaborators Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Children of Eden) and Paul Simon (as in Simon & Garfunkel) contributed additional English texts.

The piece examines faith, specifically crisis in faith. Considering the political landscape, Vietnam war, and the assassinations of the 1960’s, including that of JFK, the concept of addressing a personal crisis of faith through art was not necessarily anomalous, yet Bernstein’s Mass was not without controversy. With it’s anti-war themes, it is no wonder this piece was received with both joyful acclaim and turbulent disdain in the fall of 1971.

This collaborative production between the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and Wright State’s Music, Theatre and Dance departments is likely to be awe-inspiring. The piece itself is complex. It is symphonic & theatrical. The musical elements will surely be accompanied by the most amazing visual imagery possible- breathtaking choreography, costuming and scenery. The creative forces behind this production will surely give you something thrilling to discuss over coffee after the performance, and in the days to follow.

Bernstein's Mass - Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra & Wright State Music, Theatre & Dance - May 13-14, 2011

Bernstein's Mass - in rehearsal on the Schuster Center's Mead Theatre Stage

Official Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra Press Release:

The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2010-2011 Miami Valley & Good Samaritan Hospitals Classical Series will conclude in spectacular fashion with performances of Leonard Bernstein’s MASS: A Theatre Piece for Singers, Players, and Dancers on Friday and Saturday, May 13 & 14, 2011, both performances at 8 p.m. at the Schuster Center.

This production will fuse the talents of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra with faculty and students from Wright State University in an unprecedented way. Neal Gittleman, Music Director of the DPO, will conduct. Greg Hellems of the WSU Department of Theatre is stage director and Gina Walther, of WSU’s Dance Department, is choreographer. Staging has been designed by WSU’s Pam Knauert Lavarnway and choral forces are being prepared by WSU’s Hank Dahlman. The production is under the overall artistic supervision of WSU’s W. Stuart McDowell, chair of the WSU Department of Theatre, Dance, and Motion Pictures.

All instrumental musicians – on stage and in the pit, and including rock and blues bands as well as traditional orchestral configurations – will come from the ranks of the DPO, while all actors, singers, and dancers – more than 100 in total – will be WSU students. The production will also include the Kettering Children’s Choir under the direction of Natalie DeHorn and noted tenor John Wesley Wright in the crucial role of The Celebrant.

Leonard Bernstein’s MASS: A Theatre Piece for Singers, Players, and Dancers was commissioned by former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy for the opening of the national arts center named in honor of her late husband, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. The work premiered as part of the Kennedy Center’s opening festivities on September 8, 1971.

Bernstein’s MASS is based on the Tridentine Mass of the Roman Catholic Church, but is not at all a traditional concert setting. Although there are liturgical passages that are sung in Latin, MASS also includes additional texts in English written by Bernstein, Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz (of Wicked fame), and pop/folk singer Paul Simon.

According to the composer’s daughter, Nina Bernstein: “The piece follows the liturgy exactly, but it is juxtaposed against frequent interruptions and commentaries by the Celebrant and the congregation, much like a running debate. There is stylistic juxtaposition as well, with the Latin text heard electronically through speakers or sung by the chorus, and the interruptions sung in various popular styles including blues and rock-and-roll. On the narrative level, the piece relates the drama of a Celebrant whose faith is simple and pure at first, but gradually becomes unsustainable under the weight of human misery, corruption, and the trappings of his own power.”

“MASS is an enormous piece. It calls for a large pit orchestra, two choruses plus a children’s choir, a Broadway-sized cast (with ballet company), and a rock band. It may seem ironic that such multitudes are marshaled for a work that celebrates a man’s “Simple Song”: his love and faith in God. But in the end, that simplicity is shown to be all the more powerful because of it.”

Bernstein's MASS - Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and Wright State University Music, Theatre & Dance - May 13-14, 2011

Bernstein's Mass - in rehearsal at Wright State University

Two years after its premiere, MASS was first performed in Europe (Vienna) by the Yale Symphony Orchestra. In the orchestra pit was young violinist and Yale student, Neal Gittleman.

This groundbreaking collaboration between the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and Wright State University promises to be the regional performance event of the season, if not the decade.

-SA/DB/DPO Press Release

We encourage local theatre companies to submit calendar items HERE, and official press releases to [email protected].

Tickets & Performance Information:

Leonard Bernstein’s MASS – May 13-14 – (8pm)

Location: The Mead Theatre inside The Schuster Center

Tickets Prices: Range from $9 to $59

Tickets are on sale now through TicketCenterStage.com, or via phone at (888) 228-3630

For more information visit www.DaytonPhilharmonic.com

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The Billy With The Golden Willy

May 12, 2011 By J.T. Ryder 3 Comments

An Interview (Of Sorts) With Movie Star, Billy Willy

Billy Willy's "Professional" Headshot

The whole day began oddly. I received a phone call at around 3:00am and a quiet, muffled voice asked if I would like to meet with and interview a world famous comedian/actor/musician/bon vivant. After wiping the sleep from my eyes, I managed to mumble, “Sure.” After a few moments, another voice was transmitted through the phone which introduced itself as Billy Willy. In retrospect, I have to admit that the first voice sounded exactly like the second voice…just without a hand covering it’s mouth. Anyway, Billy Willy said that he loved my work and he was an avid reader of Rolling Stone Magazine. I was unsure of what the connection between myself and Rolling Stone was, but I was far too tired to care. We quickly set up an interview for the next day at Carmen’s on Second St. After hanging up, I rolled over and went back to sleep, quickly forgetting the conversation until I woke up the next morning and looked through my notes.

I arrived at Carmen’s several minutes before the appointed interview time and, after purchasing my lunch and walking into the back dining room, I found myself in the Twilight Zone. Well, the Twilight Zone if it had been written by William S. Burroughs and directed by David Lynch while they were both flying high on massive doses of mescaline. There, towards the back of the room, sat a lone figure, replete in a monstrously huge ten gallon Stetson, a powder blue sequined Western shirt, pegged slacks and cowboy boots…with spurs that jingled and caught the light every time the lone figure fidgeted. Assuming that the figure had to be the World Famous Comedian/Actor/Musician/Bon Vivant Billy Willy, I strode up and introduced myself…the first of many mistakes I would make within the next hour. The second would be asking him any questions, which was the next mistake that I made…

J.T.: How are you today? I’m J.T.
Billy: This doesn’t look like a French Restaurant.

J.T.: Well, I don’t think that it is…
Billy: Oh. Isn’t L’Auberge the best restaurant in town?

J.T.: Yes, but…
Billy: Well, this is a croissant, which is French, so this must be L’Auberge. I would have thought that they would have had a better wine list though…

J.T.: Well, this is…
Billy: Where’s Annie?

J.T.: Who?
Billy: Annie Leibovitz.

J.T.: Annie Leibovitz from Rolling Stone?
Billy: Yes. I thought you guys shot all your celebrity interviews.

J.T.: I don’t…this isn’t…I write for DaytonMostMetro.com…
Billy: I’m not familiar with that column. This isn’t the first time I was in Rolling Stone you know…

J.T.: Really?
Billy: Well, it wasn’t a cover story like this…

J.T.: This isn’t…
Billy: It wasn’t even really a feature article. It was more like an ad I placed to sell a guitar actually. It’s just as well that she wasn’t here. Now I don’t feel so bad about all the money I spent for professional headshots. (Hands me an envelope full of blurry Polaroid pictures)

J.T. : The only bio I could find of you, which was an old MySpace account, said that you were living in California, but that you were moving back to West Virginia. Why is that?
Billy: Well, my movie The Billy With The Dragon Willy in 3D tanked, so I’m back on the road. I don’t understand why it tanked because it was so well received on the festival circuit.

J.T.: Do you mean like at Sundance or the Tribeca Film Festival?
Billy: No. Like Clapper Gap, California’s Yam Festival and Possum Grape, Arkansas’ Jumping Toad Festival. I’m not sure where else it was shown. I think that it was actually a direct to YouTube release. Maybe the film will have a life. I thought that this film would be my big breakthrough.

J.T.: Well, speaking of your movies, it said in your bio that Billy With The Dragon Willy is kind of a sequel to your music CD Crouching Billy, Hidden Willy. I tried to locate a copy, but oddly enough, it was only released in the Shanxi Province of China.
Billy: Yes, that was my Chinese import. My single from that ranked 386 with a bullet on the Mandarin Hot 400.

J.T: Well, The Billy With The Dragon Willy isn’t your first brush with filmmaking, was it?
Billy: No. I read for the lead role in Brokeback Mountain, but Heath Ledger got it…and look what happened to him! I ended up as an extra and was also a technical adviser for the film. You know that thing where he spit in his hand? That was my idea.

J.T.: Being in the industry in California, you must have been able to meet up and network with a lot of celebrities.
Billy: I’ve met lots of people and met lots of celebrities, but now I’m heading back, across the country on my new tour which I’m going to be launching at the Dayton Funnybone…I’m not sure why I would have crossed half the country to start a national tour, but who knows what these booking agents are thinking. I’m in Dayton now and happy to be here.

J.T.: Well, has your celebrity connections helped you out career-wise?
Billy: Well, I was recently in New York City to try out for the new Folger’s Coffee jingle contest

J.T.: Well, you must have some interesting stories about your travels. Did you make any stop offs on your way to Dayton?
Billy: I did stop off in Las Vegas and did a show there.

J.T.: I thought that Dayton was the first stop on your national tour.
Billy: Well, it was a private party. It was a children’s birthday party.

J.T.: Oh…
Billy: I did get to see some of my friends while I was there though. I know Siegfried and Roy…well, Roy. It turns out that Roy loves traditional mountain music, but Siegfried likes trance. I met them years ago when I was playing a hot Vegas club called The Rusty Trombone.

J.T.: Well, you grew up in this part of the country didn’t you?
Billy: Yes. I grew up in a Pizza Hut in Friendly West Virginia. When my parents moved there, a vacant Pizza Hut was all they could afford because they were doing God’s work. It’s not a bad thing. Like I tell people, we had a big kitchen, lots of parking and a huge dining room. I’m looking forward to moving back to Friendly, West Virginia with my son Woody. The only thing that I am not looking forward to are the UFOs.

J.T.: UFOs?
Billy: Yeah, we’re the Mountain State and that makes us easy targets for UFO abduction.

J.T.: How so?
Billy: Well, we are a little closer to the sky then you all are. I’ve never been abducted myself, which I don’t take personally because, being famous, if the aliens want to know anything about me, they can just Google me. I have had friends that have been abducted and sometimes they’re returned if they are not good enough for the aliens, and that’s sad. They become sad sacks and they feel sort of rejected.

At that point, I excused myself to go to the bathroom and, in the back of my mind, waited for Ashton Kucher to leap out so all of this would make sense. I scooted past the door to the men’s room, stepping up my pace as I reached the sweet relief of the back door that led to the alleyway. If you want to witness for yourself why Billy Willy is billed as “West Virginia’s least favorite country and Western musician, go to the Funnybone on May 12^th at 7:30pm. It will only cost you $10 to see one of the most singularly bizarre acts this side of Friendly, West Virginia. Joining Billy on stage will be Michelle Metzner and Lady Jae Je. You may also be able to pick up one of Billy’s first recordings, Je m’appelle Billy Willy. Call (937) 429-5233 or go online at www.daytonfunnybone.com to make reservations.

Urban Nights: Proving Downtown Dayton Is Alive and Kicking

May 11, 2011 By Dayton937 1 Comment

It’s no marketing scheme: Urban Nights really is one of the best nights to be downtown.

Downtown Dayton’s biggest street party returns from 5 to 10 p.m. this Friday, May 13. More than 100 venues in downtown Dayton, the Oregon Arts District and Wright-Dunbar Business Village will host special events, offer discounts and open their doors for an insider’s look. A variety of performers will entertain crowds on stages throughout downtown, and roaming performers also will liven up the event.

Below are some highlights of the May 13 Urban Nights, but there’s more going on than can ever be featured in one article ― and nearly everything is free. Click here to download a map of participating venues and a complete performance schedule, including a listing of all participating locations’ events and specials, a schedule for all the stages, and parking deals. Follow Urban Nights on Facebook for regular updates and more information.

Urban Nights gives people a chance to get artsy. Second Street will become a huge canvas when students from Stivers School for the Arts’ painting department create a paint-by-numbers style template on the street. The public then will be able to help Stivers students complete the mural, located in front of the Schuster Performing Arts Center between Main and Ludlow streets. The Paint the Street mural is sponsored by KeyBank and will be created with environmentally friendly liquid chalk that washes away with rainfall.

Juggling duo The Dropbacks will toss and catch with the crowd during Urban Nights.

Also on Second Street, visitors also can create a piece of whimsical public art using jelly beans and have their pictures taken in a free photo booth. At the popular Community Stage, located at the corner of Third and Jefferson streets, an eclectic mix of 10-minute performances will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., then anyone can take the mic for open karaoke from 7 to 10 p.m. The Dropbacks, a comedic juggling duo, will toss and catch with the crowd throughout Urban Nights locations. Other hands-on activities will be available at participating venues. For example, the Dayton Metro Library will offer arts-and-crafts activities for children and adults.

Art is the heart of Urban Nights, and all of downtown’s numerous galleries will host exhibit openings and an array of more unusual offerings, such as a 7 to 8:30 p.m. performance by the Dayton Mandolin Orchestra at the Dayton Visual Arts Center. Some Urban Nights newbies are the Dayton Art Institute, which will offer a mixed bag of activities ranging from guided tours of its current exhibition to eye makeovers; Real Art Design Group, featuring jousting with shopping carts as part of “Urban Knights at Urban Nights;” and Atta Girl Art and Gardens Complex, where artists will open their studios for the public to have a look-see. At K12 Gallery for Young People’s new TEJAS studio, art by Rebecca Sargent will be featured.

Vote for your fave Activated Spaces window display during Urban Nights.

Art also happens in unusual places during Urban Nights. Activated Spaces has worked with local artists to display their work in previously vacant storefronts throughout downtown, and the public can vote for a People’s Choice award during Urban Nights. Practice Yoga will host live music by BJSR, the Dayton International Peace Museum will host an opening reception for an exhibit of Chinese brush painting, and artists will take over the Southern Belle’s second floor, where local crafters will sell their handmade wares. And the Blue Sky Project is hosting an exhibition of Mequitta Ahuja’s works on paper in the lobby of the KeyBank Tower and an exhibit of photography by Sa Schloff, as well as work by Blue Sky participants, in the former Roly Poly space on Courthouse Square. Several downtown housing options will be open for tours, and many of them will feature artists’ work, too.

Downtown retailers also get into the Urban Nights spirit. At Derailed: A Hair Salon, co-owner Austin Burkhart will try to break his record for giving free Mohawks, and Omega Music will host live music throughout the night. Pantorium Cleaners will host a party with special entertainment, and Valeria’s Beauty Center and Day Spa will offer special discounts to celebrate the launch of its new retail store, Bonito.

Scan this QR code with your smart phone to start the SCANvenger Hunt.

A fun way to get around Urban Nights is by playing Comtactics’ SCANvenger Hunt. Smart phone users are encouraged to visit participating businesses and search for two-dimensional QR codes. Players scan the codes, answer a trivia question about that business and are entered into drawings for giveaways.

A weekend-long event also will open during Urban Nights. The Dayton Circus Creative Collective will host its sixth annual multimedia arts event, Sideshow VI, at Garden Station, 509 E. Fourth St., and in the nearby Yellow Cab building, 700 E. Fourth St. This two-block arts experience will feature work by more than 32 artists and performances by 25 musical groups.

Urban Nights guests also will get a sneak peek of another weekend-long event, the FilmDayton Festival, held downtown May 20-22. Multidisciplinary artist and Springfield native Rod Hatfield has mixed a montage of silent films starring Lillian Gish, also a Springfield native. The Show will provide a live soundtrack to the projection on the east side of the Convention Center, which can be viewed from the Jefferson and Fifth street area.

In addition to the arts, cycling has become an important part of Urban Nights. The Life Enrichment Center will roll out its new Yellow Bike program, a free bike sharing program downtown, during Urban Nights. The center is providing brightly painted yellow bikes available free of charge for anyone to ride between downtown destinations. People simply grab a yellow bike, ride it to their

Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights meets at 5:30 p.m. in front of Fifth Third Field for a ride through the action.

destination and park it in a bike rack for the next person to use. The center also is asking for donations of helmets in all sizes, which can be dropped off at Courthouse Square. In addition, Urban Bikes @ Urban Nights returns: Cyclists should bring their own bike and meet at Don Crawford Plaza in front of Fifth Third Field at 5:30 p.m. for this ride through the Urban Nights action.

The best way to see as much as possible during Urban Nights is to walk, and many of the destinations are just a short distance from each other. Greater Dayton RTA also will provide free event trolleys to help visitors get around.

Urban Nights takes place rain or shine. The event is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership, Culture Works, Montgomery County and the City of Dayton, with additional support from WDTN-TV2, DP&L, Greater Dayton RTA, Budweiser Select, the Downtown Priority Board, Sinclair Community College, Clear Channel and Mix 107.7-FM, KeyBank, and the Ohio Arts Council.

Call 937-224-1518 or visit www.downtowndayton.org for more information.

Music Video Monday: May 9, 2011

May 9, 2011 By Juliet Fromholt 1 Comment

It’s big week in Dayton for music and entertainment. With Urban Nights, Side Show 6, and the Captain of Industry reunion show at Gilly’s to name just a few, there’s going to be a lot to do and to hear. At least one band is giving you multiple chances to check them out this week. You can catch the luchador surf rock stylings of Team Void this Wednesday night during the latest Dirty Little Secret at Wiley’s Comedy Club. If you want to learn more about Dirty Little Secrets, check out J.T. Ryder’s recent article about the series here on Dayton MostMetro.

You can also catch Team Void on Friday Night at Garden Station as part of Side Show 6. Full band lineup and details for that event are available here.

Here’s a video of one of the band’s previous Garden Station performances.

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Side Show 6 Lineup Announced, Preview Party Friday Night

May 4, 2011 By Juliet Fromholt 1 Comment

As Urban Nights draws closer, the excitement for Side Show 6 is mounting. The two free evenings of art and music (May 13th and 14th) presented by the Dayton Circus Creative Collective have become a staple of spring in Dayton. One of the many things that makes this event great is the location; each Side Show transforms an unused space downtown into a colorful arena for art, music and community. Side Show 6 will actually take place in two locations: the former Yellow Cab building on 4th and Walnut and across the street, Garden Station, the community garden and arts space maintained by the Dayton Circus.

Visual art will include drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, fashion, mixed media and installation pieces all housed in the Yellow Cab building.

Music will mostly alternate between two stages (on in the Yellow Cab building and one at Garden Station) both nights. Here’s a tentative lineup:

Friday, May 13th
6:00 C. Wright’s Parlour Tricks (Yellow Cab)
6:45 Dan Raridan & The Calientes (Garden Station)
7:30 The Al Holbrook Band (YC)
8:15 Team Void (GS)
8:15 Todd the Fox (YC)
9:00 Sleep Fleet (YC)
9:45 Floods (GS)
10:30 The Fair Shakes (YC)
11:15 Wetnight (GS)
11:15 Tranquility Kingdom (YC)
12:00 Skratchmatic (YC)

Saturday May 14th
6:00 Jonathan Hamilton (GS)
6:45 Lurchbox (YC)
7:30 Side Show! (GS)
7:30 Two Suns (YC)
8:15 Heart of the Whore, Mandible, and California Girls (YC)
8:15 A Shade of Red (GS)
9:00 Northwest Ordinance (GS)
9:00 Emevol (YC)
9:45 The White Soots (YC)
10:30 Oxymoronatron (GS)
11:15 The Professors (YC)
12:00 Outside Residential (YC)

If you want to learn more while dancing to some great tunes, the Dayton Circus will be hosting a preview party this week as part of First Friday events at the Yellow Cab building following the free music Garden Station provided by local lucha rockers, Team Void (who will also appear at Side Show 6) and White Powder. ComeSee is both a preview and fundraiser for Side Show 6 and will feature a sneak peak of some of the visual art that will appear in the full show and music and dancing provided by DJ Jay Madewell of Fab Gear. The party gets started at 10pm and admission is $5.

This Week on Kaleidoscope: Dan Raridan and the Calientes

April 26, 2011 By Juliet Fromholt Leave a Comment

Dan Raridan and the Calientes recently completed a new album, Bus, which is available for free download at their website. They’re gearing up for a fun summer of live music and are slated to perform at Garden Station on May 13th as part of Side Show 6. The band will join me on this week’s Kaleidoscope for a live set and interview. Kaleidoscope airs on 91.3FM WYSO, Wednesday nights 8-11pm.

Music Video Monday: April 25, 2011

April 25, 2011 By Juliet Fromholt Leave a Comment

As you feast on leftover Peeps, enjoy this week’s video from Bonneville. This young band has been going strong since 1999. Last year they released Drawing Maps, and the bands is already writing new songs for an upcoming album. You can see them live this week at Wright State University as part of a free local music showcase hosted by the campus radio station, WWSU 106.9FM.

Full details on the WWSU Local Music showcase are available at the Dayton MostMetro events calendar.

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