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Smug Brothers

It Was a Busy 2019 For Dayton’s Smug Brothers!

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As we near the close of 2019 there are certain to be a plethora of “best of” and “hottest new” lists to commemorate the past year.  From a rock and roll perspective 2019 was a fine year, especially here in our own little Miami Valley.  Over the last few years there has been a uptick in the number of local artists publishing and producing excellent music, as well as a few reunions. 

Left to right: Kyle Melton, Kyle Sowash, Don Thrasher and Scott Tribble

The sheer quantity of releases this year has been staggering for a city this size, and the bands and artists represented in this year’s class is impressive in both number and diversity.  Within this veritable cornucopia of music, our own little embarrassment of riches, are a number of standouts.  Several new Miami Valley artists and bands released debut albums this year, with even more offering up sophomore efforts, which universally have been excellent.  A few veteran groups released full albums as well as a few releasing projects for local music day.  The tally is still climbing, but it is safe to say nobody is going to release more records in 2019 here in Dayton than the fellows in Smug Brothers.  Last month Smug Brothers released their third album of 2019.  You read that correctly, their THIRD album of 2019.  These are not singles or 3 song EPs.  Smug Brothers released three full-length albums this year, and they are ready to talk about it.

Kyle and Don with the vinyl version of “Attic Harvest”

Artistic process is part of the reason why Smug Brothers has been able to produce so much music this year.  Drummer Don Thrasher explains, “We have the choice of recording songs that are fun, and they sound like us, and they capture this idea.  We can spend a month on them or we can get that moment before it’s gone, and that’s what we did.  We are going to go that way every time.”  Don goes on to describe a bit of their methods for song writing.  “Kyle is so prolific, he will have dozens of ideas he will send us, and then we see what sticks.  He sent us 110 song ideas in one big drop.”  He expands on their process further stating that they absolutely love to record.  Kyle Melton, who is the principal songwriter and vocalist, did a lot of the recording himself this year which was a deviation from their previous work..  The pressures of recording three albums this quickly can add up and so can the financial impact of that much recording.  Recording technique wasn’t the only change for Smug Brothers in 2019 though.

Since their last release in 2017 the lineup has also changed with Scott Tribble and Kyle Sowash joining on lead guitar and bass respectively. The new members had no obvious difficulty finding their places, as the albums this year are cohesive and well voiced.  Perhaps the most impressive thing was that the Smug Brothers releases were only a part of the total output for the band members as they are very involved and active in their other projects as well.  Smug Brothers as of November actually has upwards of 30 more songs tracked and show no signs of slowing down.  Thrasher admits that it can get hard to mentally catalogue all that material, but they will keep producing records as long as the ideas are coming and fast is good.  Pedal to the floor, Gas-Daddy-Go as they say.  Or so I have been told.

“Attic Harvest“ was the first of their records this year and released in the late winter.  The record was a beautiful vinyl LP with abstract light-emanating Mickey Mouse head meets virus particles under a scanning electron microscope cover art  (you’ll get it once you see it) and punchy 2-minute hook and run songs typical of their craft. Their second album of 2019 was a surprise release in July, “All Blur and Spark.”  It was a short collection of odds and ends that the band decided to release and for most bands would have been a great addition to a big studio release.  Not to be outdone however, they marched onward. 

Their latest release “Serve a Thirst Moon” is a bit more evolved than the others, and that is no small feat when the average song is under 2 minutes.  The song order flows naturally, and the tones are less stark and more reminiscent of psychedelic and seventies rock while still frenetically introducing, expanding and then resolving the brief compositions.  For anyone new to the band’s work, this is a great album to whet your appetite.  For any music fans, it would make a great holiday gift.  For Smug Brothers it is a fine feather in their cap for a prolific and transformative 2019.  With over 30 songs ready who knows what 2020 looks like. 

 

Paul Levy submitted this guest post on the Smug Brothers

No Troubles In ‘Paradise’: An Interview with Smug Brothers

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Smug Brothers left to right: Brian Baker, Kyle Melton, Don Thrasher, Larry Evans (photo by Jay Woessner)

The four members of Dayton’s own Smug Brothers are hanging around Kyle Melton’s kitchen on a cold February afternoon.  Inside  one of the small rooms that have been designated as the office, the Beatles come blaring out of the computer stereo speakers.  Deep,  raw cuts, along with some of their usual hits flooded over the entire house.  The group is awaiting local photographer Jay  Woessner as he will be updating the bands press photos today.  In only a few weeks away the Smug Brothers will be releasing their  latest album Woodpecker Paradise, and the band has their hands full.  After photos are taken, the band plans to practice some of  the new material.  Woodpecker Paradise reunites Smug Brothers with longtime producer, and former member, Darryl Robbins.

As I took off my coat, and placed it in the living room, Melton asks if I would be interested in having a beer.  “We have high brow  beer, and non-high brow to choose from.  Feel free to pick whatever,” he says to me.  I choose the non-fancy beer, which is  Genesee-one of bassist Larry Evans’ favorite selections.  Having known that Evans enjoys Genesse, I also have drunk the beer before and became a fan of it also.  I make mention to bassist Larry Evans that he is partially to blame for my appreciation of the  beverage.

“Really?” says Evans with a shocked look.  I explained to him that I took a case over to a get together over the past summer.  I received a mix reaction from the party goers when I arrived-ranging from some that were enthused to know that I knew what the beer was, to outright ribbing because of how cheap you can get it.

“Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise,” Evans, ever so kindly says to me with compassion written all his bearded face.

The conversation between everyone jumped around from topic to topic.  Baker begins talking about a recently purchasing an amp that now has been blown out.  Even though Baker claims it’s pretty old, Melton makes mention that he may know some people that could possibly repair to amp.  The discussion then shifts to how the popular 80’s television show Cheers opener has a longer version to it online, and it’s actually good.  Baker’s girlfriend declares that she wants to make a trip over to Ghostlight Coffee, and would like to know where it’s located.

Within a half hour or so at being at Melton’s house, Woessner comes to do the photo shoot.  The first location was inside the small kitchen.  Woessner flips and fluffs the curtains some to block some of the light reflected in.  After the photos were shot in the kitchen, everyone is directed outside.  The band stands in front of an old, decaying structure that closely resembles a barn.  After the shooting of the new pics was finished, we moved downstairs to where the band practices.

As you walk a little farther into the basement area, you stumble upon the recording equipment placed on a table, with a cushioned couch placed beyond it.  Stacks of cassettes are laying around behind the boards.  The few demo cassettes that sit on the table are just the tip of what Melton has.  He has archived most of the demos of  his early bands, including a jam band he was part of  in 1994-1996 titled Critical Mass.  “I have hundreds of tapes of every live show we did (laughter),” says Melton.  This space is also where most of the Smug Brothers are recorded.  In the beginning stages of recording, Melton and Thrasher will lay down the basic tracks with demos on a four-track cassette machine, then pull from the best songs.  With Woodpecker, Smug Brothers went to the studio to lay down the tracks with the whole band together for the first time as the new lineup.  While the end result is a more polished album, the band’s mid-fi sound that their fans have come to love stays the same.  Smug Brothers follow the Bob Pollard blueprint of quick songs but tight in structure.  Much like Pollard, the finished product is also a perfect blend of catchy guitar riffs and vocals, and Thrasher’s fantastic work on drums.

The members of the band take their spots within the second area of the basement.  Stone walls encase the practice vicinity, and colored LED lights hang loosely on the beams above us.  The space isn’t made for tall people like myself and Evans, as we had crouch down some while walking around.  Luckily for Evans, though, he has a spot where he can stand somewhat normally.  After mic checks from Melton and Evans are situated, the group begins to torch through songs of Woodpecker Paradise.

Going into the tenth year of existence, it’s amazing to see how Smug Brothers have blossomed into what they are today.  The duo of Melton and Robbins were in the rock group Montgomery Greene at the time when they begin what would be Smug Brothers.  The plan was to be a recording band, and nothing more.  The duo released their first album under the Smug Brothers moniker Buzzmounter in 2005.  A couple of years later, Robbins and Melton went back to work on some new material.  They enlisted a local musician to do some of the drums for the new music who had runs with legendary local bands Swearing At Motorists and Guided By Voices.  Robbins and Melton loved the drummer’s style, and were eager to include him into the project.  That drummer turned out to be Thrasher.  With Thrasher getting involved, Smug Brothers started to take off.

Since then, the group has gone through various lineup changes, with departing members going to other projects and ventures.  Jason Short, who played with Melton in Montgomery Greene, played two songs on Fortune Rumors.  When the decision was made to start playing live, Marc Betts (also from Montgomery Greene) and Baker joined Smug Brothers in 2009.  In 2011, Betts left the band. The group had a small sabbatical for a short time, back in 2012.  Smug Brothers had recorded On The Way To The Punchline with Robbins, but the members got tied up in other things.  Melton and Thrasher were heavily involved in setting up another Dayton Music Fest.  Baker was playing in a couple of other bands around the area.  The band’s bassist Shaine Sullivan became heavily involved with the purchasing of what is now Canal Public House.  When Melton and Thrasher wanted to get the band rolling again, Sullivan bowed out.  Evans hopped onboard shortly after, and the rest is history.

The week of the album release party  I join Thrasher and Melton for drinks at one of our favorite meeting spots.  It’s always a pleasure to sit with two of the pioneers that will be engraved in the history books of the Dayton scene.  Much like the day of the photo shoot, our conversations bounce around with ease.  Melton and Thrasher talk about how with the latest lineup, they feel that it’s fresh.  “I feel like we are just at the tip at whatever this band is going to be able to do,” Melton says.  “The four of us are at a pretty good page.”

With everyone being excited with the release of Woodpecker Paradise, Smug Brothers have already been setting their sights on getting some new music rolling.  Melton and Thrasher have already laid down some tracks, while Baker and Evans are beginning to get their parts put together.  Smug Brothers would love to quickly release as much material as they can.  “I just want this songs out,” Melton says enthusiastically.  “We can sit here and work on them, pick the best ones…do a thousand different things.  At the end of the day, why?  Let’s go with our gut.  What sounds good?  Is that right?  Great.  If its not, say no.  Redo it.”

“We are still making up for lost time, too,” Thrasher added.  “And we love to make songs.  So it all feeds together.”

Like most of the times we get together, our conversation bounces around.  Melton mentions that he would love to take the trip around the United States and see the open land sometime.

“Got to do it at least once, man,” Melton says.

“Probably better when you’re younger (laughter),” Thrasher quips.

“True, but you see I would have perspective, be able to appreciate it more,” Melton responds back.

Smug Brothers celebrate their latest release Woodpecker Paradise tonight at Blind Bob’s Bar.  The release party will also include Human Cannonball and Forage.  Show time is 9pm.  21+.  Copies of the album will be available at the show.

‘On The Way To The Punchline’ Gives Smug Brothers Boost For 2014

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 When it comes to the Dayton music scene, Kyle Melton and Don Thrasher are in knee deep with their  involvement.  Along with their daily obligations, the two are currently in the middle of working on setting up this year’s forthcoming Dayton Music Fest.  For many, the Dayton Music Fest is a yearly welcome party of sorts, a chance to observe all  the bands that perform around town on a nightly and/or weekly basis.  For Melton and Thrasher, it’s an opportunity for  them to showcase the marvelous talent that continues to grow each and every year.  The duo also works closely  together on signing talent to Thrasher’s local record label Gas Daddy Go.

It’s no small task to tackle what these two take on, but they wouldn’t have any other way.  Melton and Thrasher also make up  half of the group Smug Brothers.  The band, which got its name from Motel Beds guitarist Darryl Robbins during a recording session, will be releasing On the Way to the Punchline February 25th.  Since the inception of the group 10 years ago, On the Way to the Punchline will mark Smug Brothers first time they are physically releasing a full-length album.

On the Way to the Punchline has been in development for over two years now.  Starting in the friendly confines of Melton’s basement, Smug Brothers started going to work on the album in the Spring of 2012.  Melton, Thrasher, bassist Shaine Sullivan, and guitarist Brian Baker teamed up with Darryl Robbins to record a session.  The album was finished and was ready to be released in June/July of 2012.

“We hit a rough patch”, Melton explains when asked about the delay of releasing Punchline.  “[Don and I] got tied down with the Music Fest stuff…it just kinda fizzled.”  Sullivan at the time had his hands full  with his involvement with South Park Tavern and working on purchasing what would become Canal Public House.  “In early 2013, we wanted to regroup and let’s get back together.  Shaine said that he was going to bow out,” Melton added.

With an opening for a bassist, Thrasher spoke to Larry Evans, who most people would recognize for his contribution to the dazzling local rendition of The Band’s ‘The Last Waltz’.  Thrasher learned the Evans was very attracted to the idea of joining up with a band somewhere around town.

“I really wanted to get back into playing while I was between bands, and I really loved Smug Brothers’ previous work”, Evans said during a recent interview.  At around the time Sullivan exited the band, Thrasher mentioned to Melton that Evans was interested in joining a band.  “I saw Larry at a show in South Park Tavern, and I said that I heard was interested.  I asked him if he wanted to be in Smug, and he said yes.”

With the void of Sullivan filled and Evans eager to get rolling, Smug Brothers went back to work and released the EP Strictly Triggers.  “Larry brings a lot of enthusiasm, and he is a great fit”, Thrasher explained.  One thing you will notice when you listen to Strictly Triggers is the EP’s single ‘We Are Fluid’ is Sullivan’s fuzzed-out play.  “It just wouldn’t be the same song without Sullivan playing it”, Melton said.

When you dive into On the Way to the Punchline, you immediately catch the band’s signature sound.  For those who haven’t had the pleasure of hearing the band, expect to catch on to Smug Brother’s dreamy mid-fi rock sound.  For those who have followed Dayton legends, and indie rock darlings Guided By Voices much, you will quickly catch onto Smug Brothers.  The opening track, ‘A Guest Not A Passenger’, starts off with Thrasher getting the drums to move onward to a nice, steady march into the brass guitar riffs.  Other gems like the acoustic guitar-driven, breezy ‘Over and Outside’ to the indie rocker ‘A Thing For English’ highlight the bands’ expansion of its sound, much like an artist continues to bring various paints and tools to their palette.  Melton’s vocals are soft and welcoming, while Thrasher’s drumming in enthralling and exciting.  Don’t sleep on Baker and Evans.  Their work on bass and guitar throughout the album and EP Strictly Triggers are attention-grabbing as well.  On the Way to the Punchline presents listeners to ability to take a glimpse into the gratifying times of 90s indie rock.  And with the album’s songs being tight and short, it keeps the clarity and focus that the band strives for.

The band will be taking part of the inaugural event Cabin Fever, and they be performing at South Park Tavern this Saturday night with The 1984 Draft, Human Cannonball, and The Turkish Delights.  Show time is 9pm, with the doors opening at 8pm.  $5 cover gets you in the show.

Motel Beds ‘These are Days Gone By’ Vinyl Pre-Release show

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Motel Beds 'These are Days Gone By' Vinyl Pre-Release show

The fantastic Motel Beds are presenting a rare opportunity for Dayton and Miami Valley music fans on January 18th (doors open at 7pm and show starts at 8pm sharp — so get there early)!

In conjunction with We Care Arts and Misra Records, The Motel Beds invite you to join them as they review their musical career with friends and musical allies Smug Brothers and Good English at an All Ages show at the Yellow Cab building on Saturday, January 18!

The ‘Beds are doing what we call a soft, limited release of a retrospective that they are titling after one of their best songs, “These are the Days Gone By.”  500 hand-painted LP covers will be available at the show.  The artists at We Care Arts who will receive a portion of the proceeds — created the unique and distinctive covers (some of which you can see on the poster to the right).  This is a soft, pre-release — meaning you cannot get this anywhere else — for the first 500 LPs and only the first 5oo; they’ve all been hand-painted by the artists at We Care Arts (“changing disabilities into possibilities”) you can learn more about WCA at their website – http://www.wecarearts.org/.  The album will be released internationally later in 2014 on Misra Records.

According to the band, “These are the Days Gone By” is a collection of Motel Beds singles, outtakes, and live favorites that represent the history and development of the band. The songs have been remastered by Carl Saff (Dinosaur Jr, GBV, etc) and include added bass parts by local Dayton music legend, Tod Weidner.  This is a musical experience not to be missed!

BIO FOR MOTEL BEDS “THESE ARE THE DAYS GONE BY” (courtesy of The Motel Beds)

MOTEL BEDS are a rock & roll band from Dayton, Ohio – a delightfully detached underdog city nestled in the heart of The Heartland. Seasoned veterans, Beds have worked alongside local music advocates Kelley Deal (Deal duets on the lusciously hushed “Tropics of the Sand”) and Robert Pollard (guitarist Derl Robbins has recorded Guided By Voices). Allies aside, when it comes to rock & roll, The Motel Beds speak for themselves.

“These Are the Days Gone By” reveals the fruits of Beds’ labor these latter years. The album is an electrifying collection of “hits,” remastered by Carl Saff (GBV, Dinosaur Jr., etc.) and featuring added bass parts by new(est) member and local ace Tod Weidner. Over a 12-song cycle, the proficiency with which Tommy Cooper and P.J. Paslosky (Motel Beds’ core songwriting duo) augment a solid hook is clearly set on display.

While “Days” largely finds Ian Kaplan at work as one of the finest rock drummers around today (not an embellishment), Beds demonstrate their versatility with two never-before-released tracks: a poppier version of 2011’s “Sunfried Dreams” and a beautiful acoustic cover of Matthew Sweet’s “I’ve Been Waiting”; the latter proving Paslosky to be much more than a rock vocalist. In addition to recording Motel Beds in a visionary manner, guitarist Derl Robbins adds his own unmistakable style and sound.

True to Dayton (see GBV’s “Propeller”), the first 500 LPs are all one-of-a-kind. Each cover was individually hand-painted by the artists at We Care Arts: a non-profit dedicated to “changing disabilities into possibilities.” A portion of the proceeds from these first 500 will go to benefit WCA.

In his glowing review of “Dumb Gold” (2012), AllMusic Senior Editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted, “[This] is an album that deserves to break them out of the Rust Belt and onto the larger stage; it’s one of the best straight-ahead indie rock records of 2012.” “Days” takes all of “Dumb Gold’s” assets – song writing, hooks, musicianship, energy and ups them ad infinitum. It’s a remarkable rock record and one that finds Motel Beds carrying the torch for Dayton, Ohio’s independent music scene.

Track List:

1. These are the Days Gone By
2. Ocean Flows
3. Skymade Suit
4. Cactus Kiss
5. Surfjerk
6. Valentimes
7. Lights On
8. Western Son
9. Tropics Of The Sand
10. Sunfried Dreams (alternate version)
11. I’ve Been Waiting
12. Smoke Your Homework

Cross posted at Your Tuesday Afternoon Alternative

Explosion in Local Music

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Vanity Theft playing First Friday at Riverscape

Vanity Theft playing First Friday at Riverscape

It is often assumed that there is no local music scene in Dayton. Dear music fans, nothing could be further from the truth! We have a literal explosion of new music from bands of numerous musical genres, approaches, and styles happening right now. Once the Gem City was considered the post-punk haven for groups such as Guided by Voices, Branniac, and The Breeders. Dayton has a long and significant music history of which the post-punk wave was but one trend in local music.

Today, we have bands playing in almost too many genres and styles to count. We have new music from The Fair Shakes, Bonneville, We Were Animals (from the previously power-pop dream of Ed vs. Radio), Vanity Theft, The Rebel Set, The Story Changes, the horror-rock of Splattertude, Hawthorne Heights, Me & Mountains, Night Beast, Toads and Mice, Smug Brothers, and so much more.

We have many places to see bands and musicians are plying their trade in the Oregon District or throughout the city. If the assumption is that there is no growing and evolving music scene in Dayton, that is simply not correct. As someone who has conducted research on music scenes for several years (do not ask how many, I am just a little touchy about the age thing), I can honestly tell you that Dayton musicians have much to offer you. All you have to do is go listen.

You can go to several fine establishments to see bands play most nights of the week in the Gem City. And you should. Come on what do you have to lose except your preconceptions about the limitations of Dayton music.

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Check out our Local Music Calendar on the right of this page for shows in the upcoming week, or go to our full Online Event Calendar for more…

Turkish Delights Return to the Stage with South Park Tavern Show

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We haven’t heard much from the Turkish Delights since early this spring, but we’re very happy to report that the band is back in action with a show on Saturday at South Park Tavern.  The Turkish Delights will perform with the Smug Brothers, who are putting the final touching on their forthcoming EP, Treasure Virgins.  Cincinnati’s Minor Leagues will round out a great evening of music.  The music starts around 9pm, and this show, like most every show at South Park Tavern, is all ages.


This Week on Kaleidoscope: The Fervor

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The Fervor / Photo by Frankie Steele

Louisville’s The Fervor have been making a name for themselves here in Dayton having performed at Canal Street Tavern and more recently, South Park Tavern. The band will return to SPT tonight to celebrate the release of their new album, Arise, Great Warrior on Karate Body Records. They’ll share the bill with the Smug Brothers and the Motel Beds, who recently finished their new album, Sunfried Dreams and are currently streaming it on their bandcamp site.  You can find show details at the DMM events calendar.

Before heading over to South Park Tavern, The Fervor will swing into Yellow Springs for an interview on tonight’s Kaleidoscope on WYSO.  The show runs 8-11pm and will also include ticket giveaways to several local shows.  In the Miami Valley, you can tune in at 91.3FM or you can listen online anywhere in the world at www.wyso.org.

Thursday Night: Smug Brothers and Turkish Delights

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Another great weekend of music in Dayton kicks off Thursday at South Park Tavern.  Local favorites the Smug Brothers will will join the Turkish Delights in welcoming Columbus’ Kyle Sowashes to town.  This all-ages show gets started around 9pm – perfect for grabbing a later dinner at South Park Tavern.

Smug Brothers, Motel Beds, and John Gassett Unveil New Albums at Blind Bob’s

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It’s certainly a cause for celebration whenever a local artist releases a new album, but on Saturday, February 6th, the excitement will be tripled.  The Smug Brothers, the Motel Beds and John Gassett will each be releasing a new album that night at Blind Bob’s in the Oregon District.  Toads and Mice will round out what’s sure to be a great night of live music.

20537_243124511706_117612601706_3725853_794707_nWhether you’re a longtime fan of Dayton’s music scene or this will be your first show downtown, Saturday is going to be a great opportunity to add 3 local albums to your music collection.  I’ve mentioned before that I think 2010 is going to be a big year for music in Dayton, and this seems like a really solid start.

The Smug Brothers and the Motel Beds will also be playing an acoustic set live on Kaleidoscope on Wednesday, Feb 3rd beginning at 8pm and talking about their new albums.  You can catch Kaleidoscope every Wednesday night (8-11pm) on WYSO 91.3FM or online at wyso.org.

Swearing at Motorists: WYSO on Wednesday, Canal Street on Thursday

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SMPoster

Back in mid-September there were whispers that Swearing at Motorists would be returning to Dayton after a 3 year hiatus and performing a single US show at Canal Street Tavern.  Those whispers have turned into shouts of joy as the show date rapidly approaches.  Tomorrow night (Thursday, Oct 29) Dave Doughman will be joined onstage at Canal Street Tavern by original Swearing at Motorists drummer (and current Smug Brother) Don Thrasher.  They’ll be playing 2000 release Number Seven Uptown in its entirety.  Completing an amazing evening of local music, the Smug Brothers will also perform along with Rev. Davis Kettering and Fab Gear DJs.  The doors at Canal Street will open at 8pm, and music is set to start at 9pm.

Dave Doughman will also be a guest on Kaleidoscope tonight (Wednesday) on WYSO.  The show is from 8-11pm, and Dave will be dropping by during the second half of the show, sometime after the open house at the Dayton Dirt Collective.

Idle Hands and the Devil’s Plaything

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davedonjosh

…by this point, we’re fairly certain most of you are aware of the pending arrival of one Dave Doughman to the Gem City next Thursday, October 29 for a single performance of Swearing at Motorists at Canal Street Tavern. Along with original drummer Don Thrasher, S@M will perform, in its entirety, the acclaimed 2000 album, Number Seven Uptown. We recently spoke with Doughman about his hiatus, the pending show, and what it all means…

The Buddha Den: It’s been quite a while since we’ve heard anything from Swearing at Motorists. What has kept you silent for the past three years? What drove you out of the US? Do you miss us?

Dave Doughman: well, i’d say Swearing At Motorists kept quiet, but not exactly silent…
there were a couple of tracks on compilations, a few shows in Berlin, but yeah nothing major has happened in the “World of ‘Motorists” since the release of “Last Night Becomes This Morning” and “Exile On Gipsstraße” in 2006.

December 7, 2004, in the middle of a European tour, i fell in love with Berlin. During our set, i asked from the stage if anyone knew of empty flat or room for rent… after the show i ended up with a decent list of names and addresses! so i went to my favorite Berlin after-show drinking spot, 8mm, and asked the bartender which of the addresses was closest to the bar…
the next day i went to that address and gave the landlord a deposit.
finished the tour, went back to Philly to tidy some loose ends, and moved into my flat at Gipsstraße 23 on February 02, 2005.
i needed a change.
of scenery,
of lifestyle,
i needed a new muse(geographically speaking of course, not romantic… )
and to concentrate on just making music…

but in January 2007, my son was born,
my new focus was on being a great father,
i found caring for and playing with my son more enjoyable than creating new music…

now he is almost 3, and in the last year has shown a real interest in music, so i started writing again,
first with him, just for laughs,
then more seriously on my own when he is asleep…

TBD: With all this down time, what projects have kept you busy? Anything new in the works? A new album perhaps?

DD: lately i have been recording demos for a new album, i’ve trimmed my list to about 22 songs. i think a sequence of 14-16 of those will make a great album. hopefully we can finish the proper recording before winter is over…

TBD: After a 3-year absence, it seems peculiar that you would return to Dayton for a one-off show. On a Thursday, no less. Care to elaborate on the motivation behind such a bizarre phenomenon?

DD: the truth is,
i realized my license was about to expire and since i needed to fly from Berlin to Chicago for work Oct 30, i thought i would fly to Dayton a day early, renew my license, then drive to Chicago. so i was looking online, to see what i could do on my one night in Dayton, and noticed, there was nothing i wanted to do, no bands were playing that i wanted to see. so i decided it would be cool to book a show and invite a band i really wanted to see to play with me…

i am really excited about the show, not only because it’s been 3 years since i’ve played in North America,
but because we are going to do something we have never done before.
the idea to play Number Seven Uptown in sequence came from being a fan of the All Tomorrow’s Parties “Don’t Look Back Concerts” , where ATP commission artists to perform their “critically acclaimed” or “classic” albums live in sequence…
i was joking with a friend that the 10 year anniversary of Number Seven Uptown was next year,
so i’d better start rehearsing it in sequence,
you know, just in case ATP wanted us to play it as a Don’t Look Back Concert…
and then i thought, hey why not do this in Dayton?
to make it different than just playing Canal Street Tavern again…

so we will play the album, ATP style as i like to call it,
then if people want, we will play some more songs.

i think it’s going to be a great night in Dayton,
a bunch of old friends getting together for some good music.
it’s going to be a Dayton Rock-n-Roll Family Reunion, ‘Motorists’ style!
i mean cmon, Jay Madewell spinning Fab Gear before between and after!?!
DANCE PARTY!
i’m pretty excited to see Smug Brothers play,
as i am a big fan of the Fortune Rumors Ep series…
and of course anyone too cool to show up early and see the Rev. Davis Kettering open the show at 9pm,
will be missing out on a performance i guarantee will be talked about for ages…
oh, for those of you who will be there, you should be quiet, as he is prone to violence against talking audience members…

yep, it’s going to be a great night

SWEARING AT MOTORISTS 11pm
Smug Brothers 10pm
Rev. Davis Kettering 9pm

Fab Gear 8-9pm
between bands
and after S@M ’til Mick kicks us out…

TBD: What inspires you to continue to create these days? What keeps you motivated? What is your current working method like, now that you’re essentially on your own? Still home recording?

DD: i can’t help myself… i hear this stuff in my head, and i just try to get it to come out of the speakers… i’m very lucky to be on such a great label as Secretly Canadian, but if i wasn’t, i would still be making songs and records, burning cdrs for my friends. i mean this whole “band” started as a cassette i made for a friend… and my son motivates me, because i want him to respect me as an artist, to realize when he is older, that making music is not what i do, it’s who i am. and he has changed my “working habits”…
now i can’t stay up all night drinking red wine and smoking,
waking up the next afternoon in bed next to a guitar and a notebook full of words…
i can’t just wait until inspiration hits…
so i spend a few hours each morning Mon-Fri in my home studio,
trying to write, or at least play guitar, while he is at preschool…

TBD: Having put down roots [at least tentatively] in a number of locations, what keeps you tied to Dayton? What essence do you feel Dayton possesses that keeps those that leave calling it home?

DD: Dayton is where i began making music, it’s where the 2nd phase of my musical education took place. long before i lived here, when i would visit my mother, i would buy records at Trader Vic’s. Mike Justice is responsible for getting me hooked on all the local Dayton bands.
He’s the one who insisted i buy Brainiac’s Smack Bunny Baby Lp, instead of some Pavement import 7″…
i moved to Dayton at an important time musically, and was very fortunate to end up in a supportive circle of friends that made some pretty amazing music. and lucky that some people were interested in hearing my bedroom recordings…

TBD: Will it ever be as good as it was? Was it ever that good? Is now better than what some would say?

DD: it can be as good or even better for someone else, for someone who wasn’t there maybe…

…as a special treat, Doughman has been kind enough to provide an exclusive download via The Buddha Den of the S@M side of a split 7″ with ex-touring partners, Spoon. Grab that goodie while you can, since it’s previously unavailable digitally…

MP3: Swearing at Motorists “Bitch(Idle Hands and the Devil’s Plaything)/Bad Drawing of the Worst Photograph”
Download audio file (Bitch.mp3)