Dayton937

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

rock'n'roll

Bohemian Funk at Little York Tavern

By

Dayton’s own original rock n soul band, Bohemian Funk returns to Gem City after touring this spring! Their first local performance since Dayton’s Battle of the Band’s in February 2o22, they are planning to bring the heat to Little York Tavern on Friday, June 10.

 

Joining them will be Lexington Favorites, Trippin Roots. Nominated for album of the year by Applachian Arts & Entertainment Awards for their second album, Modern Man, Trippin Roots seemlessy blends americana, folk and rock for a sound that is uniquley their own.

This is a night of local music you wont want to miss!

 

Friday, June 10th
8pm-Midnight | $5 Cover

Little York Tavern | 4120 Little York Rd, Dayton, OH 45414

Dayton Battle of the Bands Announced for 2020

By

Dayton is well known for our impressive history of pushing musical boundaries, from the invention of Funk to the incalculable influence of early 90s alternative bands Guided by Voices and The Breeders. As a new decade launches, a group of Dayton music enthusiasts are joining forces to launch the next generation of local music. 

Local music promoter Libby Ballengee (of Venus Child Productions) recently partnered with The Brightside, a new mid-size, multi-purpose event venue located in downtown Dayton. “I was so excited when The Brightside opened because there was finally a place downtown that could hold 500 person concerts. It’s the perfect size for grassroots promoters like me.” 

The key assets of The Brightside are its enormous stage and top-notch sound engineers. It’s a quality experience for performers and the audience alike. However, for new bands, it’s a big leap in cost and attendance to get up on that big stage. Ballengee felt bad about having to turn away inquiries, and sought a way to support new bands looking for a break. 

In conversations with fellow promoter and ticketing agent Zac Pitts from Sound Valley Dayton, and The Brightside’s owner Carli Dixon, Ballengee realized that they shared a mutual vision for the future of Dayton’s music community. Given Dayton’s rich musical history and impressive talent pool, how could they support the next generation of Dayton musical innovators?

The idea for a Dayton Battle of the Bands rose to the surface. Many Daytonians remember Canal Street Tavern’s Dayton Band Playoffs, although some like Pitts, were a bit too young to attend himself. While inspired by the idea, the group wants to use the platform of a competition to be more of an incubator for new bands. Bands will receive feedback from music industry experts during the playoff rounds, and the winner will get a full promotional package to take them to the next level.

The winner of Dayton Battle of the Bands will perform on the ballroom stage at The Brightside, among other prizes. PHOTO BY LIBBY BALLENGEE.

On December 6th, 2019, a call for submissions will begin via daytonbattleofthebands.com. Bands or musical acts of any genre, that have been established 5 years or less and within a 35 mile radius of downtown Dayton are eligible to apply. There is no fee to apply or perform. Online registration opens December 6, 2019 and closes on December 22, 2019.

There is one more informational sessions for bands to get more information about the competition on Tuesday,  December 17th. A band representative MUST attend one of these sessions to show proof of residency and to review how competition will work. Bands have a few days after the December meeting to complete their online registration.

Twenty bands will be selected by a review process by local judges, which includes Dr. Samuel N. Dorf, Associate Professor of Music at the University of Dayton, Tiffany Johnson, CEO of GigMerge and former VP of A&R for a Sony affiliate, Don Thrasher, longtime musician and journalist at the Dayton Daily News, among many others. 

Once the 20 participating bands are selected, they will be scheduled to perform a 20 minute set in The Brightside’s listening room, over a 5 week period January 14th, 2020 – February 11th, 2020 on Tuesday evenings. Four bands will play their best originals each week, the winners moving onto the finale will take place on February 25, 2020. Bands proceeding to the finals are picked through an equal mix of audience and judge’s votes. The Final winner will be selected by audience votes only.

This is a wonderful promotional opportunity for all 20 bands that participate! The winner will receive a full promotional kit including their very own EP recording session with Reel Love Recording Studio, a music video by Sound Valley, a professional photo shoot, and a chance to play the BIG stage at The Brightside during the Sound Valley Winter Music Festival on Saturday March 7, 2020.

Exciting details and updates to come! For additional details follow: https://www.daytonbattleofthebands.com

NEXT EVENT:

Musician Open House and Dayton Battle of the Bands Sign Up

at The Brightside – 905 E 3rd St Dayton, OH

Tuesday December 17, 2019 from 6:30-8:30pm.

Free Admission!

 

Dayton Jam Band fans gather at The Werk Out!

By

If you are one of the many avid jam band fans in the Dayton area, no doubt you have heard of The Werk Out. In it’s 9th year, this major music and arts festival is one of the “don’t miss” events of the summer. It takes place on the historic grounds at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio, just east of Columbus, where the Grateful Dead, among others, took the stage many times. The venue’s storied past is why Dayton’s homegrown heroes, The Werks, chose to host their yearly musical extravaganza there.

The natural valley serves as an ideal spot for viewing multiple stages and comfortably camping all weekend long. You pull in right off of I-70, get parked, put your tent set up, then wander down the tree lined path, which is peppered with hammocks, vendors, food on your way to the massive stage set up. There you’ll get to see some of the most exciting national jam and rock bands touring today, including: Umphrey’s McGee (2 sets), Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (2 sets), Lettuce, Papadosio, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong (2 nights), Twiddle, Turkuaz, Spafford, The Marcus King Band, KNOWER (full band), Zach Deputy, Steady Flow, ekoostik hookah, TWERKAPOD: A Tribute to the 90s,, Rumpke Mountain Boys, Octave Cat, Ghost Light featuring Holly Bowling, Tom Hamilton, Steve Lyons, Raina Mullen, Scotty Zwang Music, Mungion, Mom and Dad (featuring Chuck Jones & Neal Evans of Dopapod), Mike Perkins, Electric Orange Peel, and Conscious Pilot. 

When I think of seeing all that great music individually, it would be so expensive. That’s what makes this festival a real value for music fans like me! Plus, it’s not just music that you can take part in, as there are tons of cool classes and “Werkshops” happening as well. From yoga and classes on tarot reading, to ecological leadership classes (yeah!) and kids activities, there is something for everyone. Or just kick it at your camp site with all the new friends you are bound to make!

How to Go?

Legend Valley Music Center and Campground: 7585 Kindle Rd, Thornville, OH 43076

Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at 6:00 PM –Sunday, August 5, 2018 at 12:00 PM (EDT)

NOTE: Wednesday “early bird” admission is an extra fee.

Click here for ticketing information.

 

Dayton Musicians Remember Music Fan With Special Benefit Show

By

Live music has a special way of bringing people together. Some refer to it as a scene, community, tribe, family, or simply “my people.” It’s a genuine form of self and group identity, that has a unique place in music lover’s hearts. When one of our people is tragically taken from us, it’s a ripple effect of sadness throughout the scene.

Sarah Vesey was a bright spot in the Dayton jam band family. She was a dedicated fan and friend to many in the area. This summer, Sarah died tragically, at the young age of 29, leaving behind a grieving family, parter and young son. Friends rallied together to pull together Stay Strong for Sarah Benefit Show to both remember Sarah, and help her family.

Sami Love, one of Sarah’s friends, and the organizer of this benefit described how the show came together. “Sarah’s passing has deeply affected us all. I wanted to put together this event in memory of Sarah. For all of us near and far to get together and show love for her, and for one another.”

The evening starts early, with music starting at 6:30pm, during the dinner hour with acoustic jams from Sway. A portion of dinner sales this evening will be donated to the family to help offset medical costs, and set up a college fund for Sarah’s son. What a great reason to stop in for food and fun with friends!

Music will be running on all evening, till 2:30am, with awesome local jam bands including Cheezcake starting at 9:30pm, followed by Subterranean and The Ohio All Stars. What an incredible line-up! This is certainly a don’t miss evening! Everyone will be feeling the love at this show!

While you’re there, check out the awesome raffle items they have gathered from various restaurants, tattoo parlours, music festival passes, art work, and surprise baskets donated from national to regional bands. Seriously, cool stuff they’ve gathered!

How to Go?

  • Stay Strong for Sarah benefit show at Jimmie’s Ladder 11
  • Thursday July 7th, 2017. Music from 7pm – 2:30am
  • Donations graciously accepted any time. Cover charge of $5 after 10pm.

 

Subterranean’s April 22nd album release is getting national attention

By

Subterranean, a band who got it’s start downtown at the old J-Alan’s club, has evolved into one of the hottest bands in the region. Their debut album, Loom, which releases on Saturday April 22nd, is already garnering attention from multiple national music publications, as one of the emerging acts to check out.

The members of Subterranean describe their music as “improv with intent.” There is no succinct way to describe them, as they genre-bend not just from song to song, but within songs themselves. I asked guitarist Chris Coalt how they manage to pull that off so seamlessly.

Subterranean. Photo by Libby Ballengee

 

“I think it starts with consuming music without boundaries. I’ve never liked titles or categories. Why can’t things just be what they are? So as a songwriter, I’ve always naturally blended different genres together, because it felt natural to me. As a band, we’ve wanted the freedom to do anything, so we have never let ourselves get pigeon-holed into one style.”

As an avid fan of their live music, I wondered how that improve sound would translate into recorded music. Would it alter or evolve once they got into the studio? Chris further explained that for the most part, the nuts and bolts of the songs remained. “Gary King (Refraze Recording Studio) is a great engineer, so he was able to give us some nice ideas on harmonies and vocal arrangements, but the majority of the songs were already in place. Although I will say, one song got created spontaneously in the studio!”

Subterranean’s debut album “Loom”

A song developing naturally and unexpectedly in the studio doesn’t surprise me. These veterans of the Dayton music scene schooled themselves on improv during tireless jam sessions all over the city. Replacing a rhythm guitarist or keyboardist with sax, proved to be their winning combination. Breaking the rules of the traditional 4-piece rock arrangement helped this band find their voice: a sound is extraordinarily dynamic, bouncing from moody jazz to funky jams to what borders on heavy metal.

Check out what all the buzz is about, and celebrate the release of the debut album Saturday April 22nd at Gilly’s Jazz. Cover $5. Parking is validated. Doors 8pm. Show starts at 9pm. Electric Orange Peel opens the show, followed by Subterranean.

Get to know Oddbody’s Music Room

By

12545390_968398669894547_77413996_nIn my early years of going to see live music in Dayton, I went to many memorable shows at McGuffy’s House of Rock in east Dayton, off Burkhardt Ave. It’s always been a great general admission venue, which is so much more fun than seated shows. In the last few years, the line-ups just weren’t calling to me, and it fell off my radar.

In 2014, the venue was sold to new owners. Now named Oddbody’s Music Room, I was cautiously optimistic about the venue’s future. When I first met with the new owners, Neilson Hixson, Skip Murray and Richard Eckhardt, I knew this historic space was in good hands. I was so impressed by their professionalism and dedication to bringing not only great sounding shows, but a more diverse offering of musical acts.

In the last couple years I can attest that have done a simply fantastic job bringing our former stomping grounds to new heights. What’s new? Well other than a fresh coat of paint, the sound and light system has been revamped and cranking! It’s definitely one of the best indoor venues in the regional area.

I got a chance to catch up with Neilson about his thoughts on taking a chance on the venue, the local music scene, and how to keep up with this exciting spot:

1. What inspired you to open a music venue? What an exciting venture!
It’s really simple. I think we’re crazy. This is a tough business, make no doubt about that. So many highs and lows. I’ve been promoting shows for well over 20 years and we had an opportunity to maintain this iconic Dayton stage. We took a leap of faith and did it.

2. Let’s say someone hasn’t heard of Oddbody’s Music Venue. How would you describe it? What differs it from other venues in town?
We look like a classic mid cap rock club that you’ll find scattered around the country. The room might not be fancy but what we really have going for us is our stage and production capabilities. And that’s really what matters doing what we do. The stage and the team we have running it. We put it on a pedestal to honor it. The production of a concert is hands down the single most important part in all of this. And I think the patrons, the fans, who come and see these artists really feel that.

12573762_460781210798601_4565642789232666291_n

Upcoming shows at Oddbody’s Music Room

3. You have been involved in the Dayton music scene for a long time. How has the scene changed over the years? Thoughts about it’s current state?
When I got started doing all this stuff I was primarily booking and promoting metal. That’s always where my heart has been. And the metal scene is still pretty solid around here. Great local artists and when we bring in these larger touring bands generally the attendance at the shows remains good. In the last two years I’ve learned a lot about other music scenes in Dayton. Some are extremely strong, others hit and miss. But there remains a lot of extremely talented local talent. Bottom line is the bands and the people actively attending shows will change over time. Change is constant in the music business. But if you book the right bands at the right time people will come out to see them. You absolutely can’t take anything for granted though. Just simply booking a band and expecting people to buy tickets will run you out of business as quickly as you started it. Getting butts in the seats remains hard work. And if you are not willing to do the work this business is not for you. That sure hasn’t changed much.

4. What advice would you give to musicians? Regarding promotion and/or professionalism?
Decide who you are. Are you doing it for fun or is this a business? Are you just happy being a local band playing some gigs here and there or are you going to try to “make it”. Are you willing to put in the work? Look it’s just as crazy being a young touring band as it is a venue owner. But it’s what we do. It’s in our blood. Practice your instrument, develop a sellable product, invest in your product, and fully commit to your product. Build a team to help you sell your product. It’s like running any other business. It’s not easy, you have to take some leaps of faith. You will still probably fail. But you only live once. And who wants to go through life thinking you never tried to do anything. In a matter of minutes venue owners and stage managers can see what choice you’ve made. Think about that too.

5. You have some amazing shows coming up. What’s the best way for way for people to keep up with the schedule?
www.oddbdoys.com or www.facebook.com/oddbodys would be the best two places to check out the always changing musical calendar! (Editor’s Note:  You can always check the DMM Calendar for upcoming shows as well.)

How to go? Located at 5418 Burkhardt Ave, Dayton OH 45431 

An easy 10 min drive from downtown Dayton, via US-35 East

Get out and support the Dayton music scene!!