Dayton937

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

Yellow Cab

Yellow Cab Tavern To Host Virtual Concerts

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In hopes of raising some money and spirits 15 Dayton musicians will go LIVE this weekend on Facebook from the Yellow Cab Tavern.

Then follow the schedule below and click the link at the corresponding time to watch each performer LIVE from their page:

FRIDAY March 20th
7 – Kyleen Downes at Kyleen Downes
7:30 – Matt Terry + Samantha Rogers at Matt Terry
8 – Amber Hargett at Amber Hargett Music
8:30 – David Payne + Heather Redman at David Payne
9 – Brandon Berry (The Paint Splats) at Brandon Berry
9:30 -Rich Reuter at Rich Reuter
10 – Salvadore Ross at Salvadore Ross

SATURDAY March 21st
7 – Paul Monnin at Paul Justin
7:30 – Charlie + Amanda Jackson at Charlie & Amanda
8 – Harold Hensley at Harold Hensley
8:30 – Anna Baugham at Anna Marie Music
9 – Sisco Red at Sisco Red
9:30 – novena at Jennifer Taylor
10 – Sharon Lane at Sharon A. Lane
10:30 – MOIRA at MOIRA

Symbolically buy a drink and tip the amazing staff at Yellow Cab Tavern : https://www.paypal.me/yellowcabtavern
A LOT has happened this last week and we want to continue with music and community despite physical distancing. Please join us this weekend and have fun clapping with emojis, virtually clinking glasses and getting creative with us as we try something new!

CO-OP Fest brings Friday night fun, food and music to support Gem City Market!

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On Friday, October 25th, The Yellow Cab Tavern is excited to host CO-OP Dayton for their second annual CO-OP Fest, presented by IUE-CWA. With support from local labor unions and independent, cooperative, and employee-owned businesses, CO-OP Fest is a celebration of Dayton workers and cooperators. It is also a fundraiser for the Gem City Market incubator, Co-op Dayton. The event features some of Dayton’s finest food trucks, bands, poets, worker and cooperative initiatives, raffles, and games!

The musical acts include some seriously funky bands!

6:30pm – Deron Bell Band
8:00pm – Premium Blend Music
9:30pm – Freakquency

There will also be a tap takeover at the Yellow Cab’s bar with Fifth Street Brewpub, Dayton’s own Co-Op Brewery!

Founded in 2015, Co-op Dayton is committed to incubate cooperative businesses to bring sustainable jobs to Dayton and address Dayton’s food crisis through the Gem City Market co-op.

How to Go?

Friday, October 25th, 2019 at The Yellow Cab Tavern 

Cover starts at 5pm with food trucks and meet & greet

6pm the spoken word performances and live music begin.

$15 at the doors / $10 for Gem City Market co-op members.

Sound Valley Summer Music Festival at Yellow Cab Tavern

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The inaugural Sound Valley Summer Music Festival is being held over Labor Day weekend, at the Yellow Cab Tavern on Saturday, September 1st. This festival has a dual purpose: one, to showcase talented rock bands from across the Miami Valley, and to raise awareness and funds to help combat the heroin epidemic through the local non-profit, Brigid’s Path.

“Dayton has been considered the heroin capital of the United States. We want to shift the national perspective and reclaim our reputation as a place for innovation, creativity and artistic expression through music,” Zac Pitts, co-owner of Sound Valley said.

With a full day of live music, Sound Valley Summer Music Festival will feature local rock, indie, and alternative bands, including: Life In Idle, Knavery, Beesly, Yardboss, Weathervein, NOVAGOLD, Seth Canan And The Carriers, Crosley Court, Isicle, Flee The Valley, Dave Zup, ThunderTaker, and A Voice of Your Own.

“This event is meant to connect those who want to take Dayton’s music scene to the next level.” Pitts said. “There will be two stages, both indoor and outdoor, and some amazing local food trucks throughout the day to keep hungry fans happy!”

In addition to great music, half of Sound Valley Summer Music Festival’s proceeds will benefit the Dayton organization, Brigid’s Path. This local non-profit provides inpatient medical care for drug-exposed newborns, non-judgmental support for mothers and education services to improve family outcomes. “The heroin epidemic has hit our community hard,” Pitts said. “We want to work alongside those that are taking away the stigma and standing with our neighbors who are struggling.”

Life in Idle is one of the bands set to perform at Sound Valley Music Festival at Yellow Cab Tavern on September 1, 2018.

HOW TO GO?

Sound Valley Summer Music Festival

Saturday, September 1 at 4pm

Yellow Cab Tavern 700 E 4th Street Dayton, OH

$10 in advance / $13 at doors

 

 

 

Sideshow 13 – An Artistic Extravaganza

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The annual music and art extravaganza Sideshow is being held again at Yellow Cab Tavern  (700 E 4th St, Dayton Ohio) this weekend on May 25th from 5pm‐1am and May 26th from 3pm‐1am. Admission is free! All ages are welcome too.

Sideshow is celebrating its 13th anniversary of creating a free show of Art and Music that all ages can enjoy. Sideshow is run entirely by volunteers and uses fundraisers and donations to offset the cost of hosting a show featuring more than 100 local artists and musicians.

This event will be the biggest Sideshow yet with sculpture, painting, music, performers, wrestling, dancers, comedy, food trucks, local brews, photography and much more. It will also feature a special Kid’s Sideshow portion. Over the years this has become an event that draws creators from all backgrounds, all levels of skill and all media. Fostering an open creative environment that will grow talent of all kinds has been the organizer’s goal from the start.

Yellow Cab Tavern is a community art space and music venue in Dayton, Ohio in the Motor Car District near the Oregon District. Formerly, home to a taxi business for more than 40 years, they now host a variety of events – art shows, live music, food truck rallies and much more.

Music Schedule:

Friday Main Stage
7:00pm-7:40pm John Dubuc and the Guilty Pleasures
7:40pm-8:20pm NOVAGOLD
8:20pm-9:00pm The Repeating Arms
9:00pm-9:40pm The Zygotes
9:40pm-10:20pm Nasty Bingo
10:20pm-11:00pm The New Old Fashioned
11:00pm-11:40pm Bribing Senators
11:40pm-12:20am Todd the Fox
12:20am-1:00am Dip Spit vs. Duderus

Friday Acoustic Stage
7:00pm-7:40pm Max B Greene
7:40pm-8:20pm Mandy Jewell
8:20pm-9:00pm Doug Nichols
9:00pm-9:40pm Steve Makofka
9:40pm-10:20pm Sam Stone
10:20pm-11:00pm Rich Reuter
11:00pm-11:40pm McGuff and the Dumpster Fires
11:40pm-12:20am Ryan Jones
12:20am-1:00am The Typical Johnsons

Saturday Main Stage
5:00pm-5:40pm Evil Eye Gypsy
5:40pm-6:20pm The Vibe
6:20pm-7:00pm Lord Kimbo/Flam Feeva
7:00pm-7:40pm Enzo
7:40pm-8:20pm Thank The Maker
8:20pm-9:00pm Neo American Pioneers
9:00pm-9:40pm The 1984 Draft
9:40pm-10:00pm Scarecrow Sideshow
10:20pm-11:00pm Stella’s Demise
11:00pm-11:40pm Dark Backward
11:40pm-12:20am Burn the Dead
12:20am-1:00am Far From Eden

Saturday Acoustic Stage
5:00pm-5:40pm Achilles Tenderloin
5:40pm-6:20pm Debbie DeCasio
6:20pm-7:00pm Moringa Moon
7:00pm-7:40pm Chris Ball
7:40pm-8:20pm Boo Lee Crosser
8:20pm-9:00pm Vincent Holiday
9:00pm-9:40pm Dan Sebree
9:40pm-10:00pm XL247
10:20pm-11:00pm Sharon Lane
11:00pm-11:40pm Dayton Poetry Slam
11:40pm-12:20am Dayton Poetry Slam
12:20am-1:00am Kevin Milner

Visual Artists Featured:
Bradley the Dark
Cherry Fullam
Chris Corn
Christina Lewis
Christine Gaffney
Coco Birdi
David Kenworthy
Elysia Pritchett
Gary Mitchell
Grant Nikanowicz
Hannah Jones
Heather Lea Reid
Jackie Wagner
Jen Dyke
Jenny J. Ink
Jess Fecke
Jess Gilbert
Joe Augustin
Josh Arnold
Kara McCray
Lauren Wantz
Mal Thokey
Marishah Paddock
Matthew Reynolds
Megan Fiely
Melanie Dufresne
Michelle Carr
Mikee Huber
Nashonba Hostina
Phil Preston
Reilly Stasienko
Ron Rollins
Samantha Farkas
Sarah Mackenzie
Seth Ratliff
Summer Rose Fig
Tara Moore
Tiffany Hunter
Tom Gilliam
Travis Waller
Wendy Wagener-Harris
Whitney Marie

Local talent on display at the 5th Annual WinterFolk Festival

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Although it’s considered “off” season for music festivals, wintertime ones are some of my favorites! We’ve all got cabin fever, and just need to get out of the house and have fun! One of the most highly anticipated of those winter festivals is right around the corner: The 5th annual WinterFolk Festival at Yellow Cab Tavern on Sat, Jan 13th.

It’s a spectacular night of  music, art, food, & fun for all ages. This includes a non-stop line-up of best roots and folk musicians from the tri-state area, including beloved acts The Repeating Arms, Tod Weidner, David Payne, Starving in the Belly of the Whale, Kyleen Downes, The Goldberrys, OldNews, Bloody Tambourine, and several more!

It’s also about this time of year, I’m missing food trucks. Come hungry and catch the Drunken Waffle serving food on-site, along with Yellow Cab Tavern’s craft brews and cocktails. This year’s event has expanded, with even more artisans and vendors selling handmade goods. It’s an all around perfect night out!

How did this event come about? Well, it was inspired by a love of music, of course, and also the venue itself, Yellow Cab Tavern. In its infancy, WinterFolk organizers could see the potential in YCT, starting the festival as a fundraiser, which led to the venue’s recent upgrades. This type of collaboration is sign of a true music community! Make sure you stop on out to support these wonderful folks!

 

How to Go?

Where: The ‘Old’ Yellow Cab Building (700 E Fourth St. Dayton, Ohio 45402) is located at the corner of Fourth St and Walnut just outside Dayton’s historic Oregon District. Plenty of FREE parking is available on and off street at the event.

Time / Cost: Doors will open at 7pm and the first performance will start promptly at 8pm. Tickets available exclusively at the door for $10, children 12 & under are free.

Graffiti Camp for Girls

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Christine Brunner is heading  up a very unique project in Dayton and is bringing Graffiti Camp to Dayton.  She says she ” got the idea when my love for Graffiti and my life as a mom of a young artist overtook me via social media one day, and I stumbled upon some articles about a classically trained painter from Ohio who has since moved to the San Francisco area, and she is becoming FAMOUS for her “Graffiti Camp for Girls” concept.”

She sent a blind invitation to Nina Wright, also known as GirlMobb, to someday come bring her camp to Dayton, who wrote back and said she coming to Cincinnati!  In December!  She then  worked really hard and pounded the pavement and got a local University program  to say yes, started making plans, only to be nixed by facilities management as they turn the heat OFF in the buildings during the winter break.  So the thought was reschedule camp for next summer. But then the owners of Yellow Cab Tavern,  art supporters and hosts of such diverse activities as a regular Poetry Slam, Tai Chi, the Day of the Dead Parade, and many classes, concerts and activities, have agreed to host the camp this December 26-28, 2017!

Graffiti Camp gives girls a creative opportunity to enhance their public art skills. Over the course of a week the participants, who range in age from 12 to 17, learn the basics of using spray paint and then work together to collaboratively conceive of, and paint, their own mural.  The teaching  artists provide creative counsel, image planning, an understanding of tools and application, and safety precautions necessary to use these tools and materials. The sessions have already been a hit, with girls flying in from across the country to participate and Girl Mobb being asked to bring the lessons to other cities.  Participants will be nominated by local middle/high schools, must be Dayton residents, team players, and into ART.

So now the race is on to raise the needed funding for the camp:  transportation for Ms. Wright, lunches and snacks for the group, tarps and materials, 40-50 cans of paint, drawing supplies, water and beverages, a little nosh for the Unveiling, and some printing of flyers.  A Go Fund Me campaign is now live with the goal to raise $1500.  This project  will live in perpetuity, open to the public, in the 2 restrooms at Yellow Cab Tavern.

Yellow Cab Tavern has also offered an outside wall of their building for Graffiti Camp 2.0 when the weather turns, and Nina Wright has agreed to return…any funds collected over the amount will be banked towards the NEXT session.

Worth The Wait

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A few weeks ago I met a couple girlfriends at the Yellow Cab Building for the Brunch Food Truck Rally.   Since brunch is my favorite meal of the week, I was geared up to go.  I was properly caffeinated, had cash in my pocket, and my pants had a little stretch to make way for all the yummy food ahead of me.  When I got there I was shocked by the amount of people who had the same plan in mind.  Everywhere I turned the lines were long.  I thought to myself that surely no food that came out of a truck could possibly be worth waiting for, but wait I did.

We landed on the always fresh and delightful Shakery Juice Bar since my friends and I were looking for something light and healthy to eat…but smells of waffle batter and maple syrup kept wafting in my direction.  Where was this heavenly scent coming from…? Of course the truck with the longest line of the day: The Drunken Waffle.

As I practically licked the last of my acai berry bowl, I made a mental note to wait for some waffles the next time.  Fortunately the next time came around much sooner than I had expected.  The Drunken Waffle was parked out back of the Cannery Loft Apartments the very next weekend, so my husband and I decided to give some waffles a whirl.

We ordered two meals and decided to split them.  I went relatively traditional with the “50 Shades of Swine,” a bacon wrapped breakfast sausage cooked into the waffle batter.  It was accompanied by a jalapeno maple syrup that wasn’t overly spicy, but left a nice lingering tickle on the tip of my tongue.  My husband took a left at classic and went with a dish that was full of twists and delicious turns:  The War Pig.  This dish had ham, bacon, Monterey Jack cheese, and a scrumptious herbed mayo sandwiched in between a spicy, 3 pepper waffle.  He also got a side of asparagus that were perfectly seasoned and cooked.  

All in all,  the meal was as whimsical as the names of the dishes, the flavor combinations were spot on, and the portions were not overwhelming.  Most importantly, the waffles tasted good, they were fluffy and flavorful.  I always appreciate when a restaurant (or in this case a food truck) can introduce some creativity into their food without losing focus of the basics.  The Drunken Waffle’s food is fun and exciting while still keeping the flavors at the forefront.

So the next time you find yourself in a long line at a food truck rally asking “How good can food from a truck really be?”  

Trust that it can be really, really good, and yes, it may even be worth the wait!

Where you can find the Drunken Waffle this week:

Wednesday | Air National Guard Base in Springfield (Military access required) from 11am-2pm
Thursday | WHIO (1611 S Main Street in Dayton) from 11am-2pm
Saturday | Home Depot Rally in Centerville from 11am-6pm

Brunch! Food Truck Rallies at the Yellow Cab are held on the first Sunday of every month, through September.

Food Truck Brunch This Sunday

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brunchEveryone loves doing weekend brunch. Everyone loves going to a food truck rally. Now, Drunken Waffle presents Dayton’s first best-of-both-worlds with Brunch! A Food Truck Rally on Sunday, September 25 from 10am-2pm at the Yellow Cab.

“Serving sweet and savory waffle sandwiches, brunch is second nature for us,” Beth Sparks, Drunken Waffle owner said. “We’ve discovered that a bunch of other food trucks in Dayton do it really well too, so we thought, ‘Hey, let’s host a brunch food truck rally!’”

Serving up brunch options alongside Drunken Waffle will be local favorites Smokin Bee-Bee-Q, Greek Street Food Truck, Harvest, El Meson and Son of a Biscuit in addition to special guests Lily’s Bistro serving Beignets and Boston Stoker serving coffee.

“Bloody Marys and Mimosa are a very important part of brunch and we’ll have them available at the bar during the brunch food truck rally,” Sparks said. “Brunch is always more fun with AM cocktails.”

In addition to food and drink, live entertainment is also being planned.

Dayton’s Craft Convention-CraftyCon

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imageThe Yellow Cab Creative Arts Building will present its annual Craft Convention, CraftyCon, from 5 pm to 10 pm on  Friday, April 1, in conjunction with Downtown Dayton’s First Friday festivities. The event will be held at the Yellow Cab building, 700 E. Fourth Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402. The fifth annual CraftyCon will feature wares from 28 local artisan vendors, craft displays, a food truck, and more. This event is a benefit to raise funds for 11th annual Sideshow. Food and refreshment will be available on site. Admission is free and open to the public.

Sideshow is an arts experience featuring work by 40+ local artists and more than 50+ Dayton bands and performers. Sideshow 11 will be held May 13th and 14th at the Yellow Cab building. Focused on local participants, Sideshow is a celebration of the art and culture found in the  Dayton region. Admission is free.

Yellow Cab is a community art space in Dayton, Ohio in the Motor Car District near the Oregon District. Formerly, home to a taxi business for more than 40 year, we now host a variety of events – art shows, live music, classes, movie night, food truck rallies and much more.

For more information about CraftyCon or on Dayton Crafty-Con’s Facebook fan page. For more information on Sideshow please visit www.daytonsideshow.org.

Hawthorne Heights puts on a Gem City Music Festival!

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Hawthorne Heights presents “Dayton Is For Lovers“, an all ages Gem City music festival tonight.12184009_10153715973573827_891302303246894601_o

Presale tickets available, and are $15: http://hawthorneheights.limitedrun.com/tickets/13123

The band states, “We very rarely get to play a true hometown show, and are super excited to be able to make this happen. Dayton has a lot of very special and talented musicians, so choosing the line up was a difficult process. We tried to choose old friends, new friends, and total strangers that are both talented and working hard within the scene. What we came up with was an eclectic group of acts from a variety of genres. It is important for us to have the show be all ages, and at a venue in the downtown area of the city we love and call home.The Yellow Cab building is a great location downtown with it’s own private parking lot. It’s located just a block behind the post office in downtown Dayton.”

ALL AGES. The venue also has a bar area with a great selection of local beer for those of age and with I.D.

Food trucks on site for the show:
The Wicked ‘Wich of Dayton
Hunger Paynes Food Truck

Schedule:

6pm Doors.
Music starts at 6:30pm.
Hawthorne Heights will be on around 10:15pm.
Come early. Stay late. Watch all the artists perform original Dayton music across two stages throughout the night!

Hawthorne Heights headlines this showcase of Dayton original bands

Hawthorne Heights headlines this showcase of Dayton original bands

Performing (not in this order):
Hawthorne Heights
Good English
Crosley Court
Second Story Anthem
ViFolly
You vs Yesterday
Jasper the Colossal
Bribing Senators
Goodnight Goodnight

Local Food Vendors Return To Yellow Cab For Monthly Night Market

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Night Market PhotoIn November 2014, The Yellow Cab Building hosted their first “Night Market,” a market spotlighting local farmers, small boutique vendors such as sauce and salsa makers, juice and soda makers and all sorts of delicious goodies.  Folks at The Yellow Cab have decided to make this event a permanent fixture in Downtown Dayton. On Saturday March 21st, The Yellow Cab Building will begin hosting this Night Market on a monthly basis.

“Night Market in November was great for attendees and vendors, and many people asked if we would hold the event weekly.  We’ve decided that a monthly event is the right fit for our space,” Brian Johnson, organizer said. In partnership with local chef and sriracha maker, LeeAnne House, Johnson plans to create this alternative farmers market that he says is like “a Saturday morning farmer’s market combined with an evening at your favorite local brewery.” He says that “By hosting this market at night, we are reaching a new demographic of consumers that might not always get up early on Saturday; additionally, by offering local, craft beer at the event we are encouraging them to stick around a little longer and chat with the unique community of farmers and boutique food vendors.”
There will be a variety of vendors in attendance including;

1. Homefull (daytons homeless advocacy group with a farm!)
2. The Shakery Juice Bar
3. A Bit of a Bite Salsa
4. Chef JC’s (vanilla extracts)
5. Ashley’s Pastry Shop
6. Wheezy’s garlic, spices and more
7. Oakley Urban Farm
8. FOND of Life Food Organically Nutritious and Delicious
9. Caramel Cravings
10. Simple Man Foods, LLC
11. Grub Stop
12. Fronana
13. Ludic Soap
14. Miami Valley Spice Traders
15. Kara Baker (baker and farmer)
16. HouseMade sriracha, hot honey and spices & rubs


And  beers from Toxic Brew Company, Warped Wing Brewing Company & Yellow Springs Brewery.

Food Truck Rally Season Kicks Off Friday

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206922_392272914225975_1303744355_n-21Nothing says spring like dining outside! And this year, the first day of spring is being ushered in by the return of  two Food Truck Rallies in the region.

On Friday March 20th  Town and Country Shopping Center in Kettering will host the Dayton Food Truck Association‘s rally from 11am until 8pm.  Street eats will be available from Hunger Paynes, Horseless Buggy, PA’s Pork, Lilia’s Outdoor Cafe, Mohawk Freestyle Grill, Alien Infusions, Hunger Paynes, Mobile Cold Stone Creamery.

These wandering restaurants full of delicious and diverse chef-made wonders are  also converging at The Yellow Cab Building on March 20th, and every third Friday throughout the summer and fall from 5-10pm  Scheduled to be on site Friday are Harvest Mobile Cuisine, Voodoo Taco Company, Ramen Rickshaw, The Shakery Juice Bar, Smokin BeeBeeq, “Eat” food truck and Fronana!.

“It’s a unique way for customers to support independent small business. Across the country, there is a trend for potential restaurateurs to test a concept in a food truck before investing in a stand alone building. Food trucks are a first step for many people to realize their dream of owning a restaurant,” organizer Brian Johnson said.

In addition to being able to support local food trucks, attendees will be supporting a community of businesses. “The Yellow Cab has always collaborated with small businesses, and the food truck rallies allow us to go beyond just serving food. We’ll have everything from cupcake bakers, to bottled HouseMade Sriracha, to local craft breweries such as Yellow Springs Brewery, Toxic and Warped Wing.

New this year at the Yellow Cab Truck  will be the addition of a movie to the food truck rally.  “We’ll be hosting a screening of ‘Chef’ at 7:30pm. It’s a great film that highlights the struggles and rewards of owning a small business through the lens of a Food Truck operator. It’s very inspiring and relevant to what we are trying to accomplish at The Yellow Cab,” continued Johnson.

To keep track of where to find food trucks in the Miami Valley, be sure and check the DMM Food Truck Listings.

The Yellow Cab Introduces New Monthly Event: Movie Night

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The-GooniesOver the course of 2014, The Yellow Cab building has introduced a number of creative events. Now they are starting off the new year with a new monthly feature they are calling Movie Night at the Yellow Cab. The first movie will be the 1985 adventure-comedy The Goonies. “The first time I remember seeing the Goonies was when I was 5 years old and I loved it. But it was just as much fun watching it with my friend’s kids a few weeks ago,” said Organizer Brian Johnson. Movie Nights at The Yellow Cab will consist of either a cult classic or a new releases.

Organizers say that Movie Night at the Yellow Cab is a chance to go out with friends or to bring the whole family, depending on the movie, and that there will be a focus on collaboration with other local businesses. “For our first movie night, Lily’s Bistro will be serving bacon popcorn and we’ll be hosting a few food trucks. We’re also working with local breweries to serve craft beer during the movies,” said Johnson. Because Goonies has an expansive cult following, the event will also host  a costume contest, so organizers encourage you to come dressed in your best Goonies gear.

Representatives from The Yellow Cab said they plan to make this a monthly event, saying that the first few movie nights will be held inside, but that they are hoping to move the viewing outside once the weather warms up, with a goal of creating a “movie in the park” or urban drive in feel.
Web Poster
Movie Night at the Yellow Cab:
700 E. 4th St.
Friday, January 16
early showing: 6:00pm
late showing: 8:30pm

Tickets are $2 per person.

Motel Beds Celebrate New Album, New Record Deal With A Special Twist

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Ian Kaplan, drummer for the Dayton rock band Motel Beds, is sitting at one of the tables near the bar area at South Park Tavern with myself and the band’s manager, Dave Obenour.  The establishment has a pretty decent crowd on this night, even with snow blanketing the city.  The mix of classic rock along with some other genres is blaring through the speakers.  The superior collection of beers and their fantastic pizza once again gives the patrons the feeling of ecstasy and fulfillment.  To those who come here frequently, it’s just another night.  While sitting at our table, Kaplan leans his back on the column that is positioned right behind him. While I was drinking one of the assortments of MadTree Brewery that South Park Tavern has on tap and Obenour was taking in his beer of choice, Kaplan slips on a glass of water with a lemon floating around with the ice cubes.  It seems that he is savoring this evening at the tavern.

In all actuality, this evening at the tavern is probably a nice break from the chaotic road that Kaplan and his other band mates (Tommy Cooper, Darryl Robbins, PJ Paslosky, Tod Weidner) have been traveling on.  For starters, the group re-released their 2011 album Sunfried Dreams on vinyl for the first time in July from Brian Candy Creative and threw a vinyl release party at Blind Bobs.  In August, two huge events took place: the band signed a deal with Misra Records and played at the Fraze Pavilion located in Kettering, Ohio.  This Saturday, Motel Beds will be releasing their first album under the Misra Records label These are the Days Gone By and will be playing a show at Yellow Cab.

The signing of Motel Beds to Misra Records is one of the recent big splashes for the label.  Leo DeLuca, who is part of the folk rock band Southeast Engine, took over the company in 2010 from Cory Brown.  Brown, who is owner of Absolutely Kosher Records located in Emeryville, California, signed Southeast Engine while he was running Misra.  When DeLuca took over, he operated the label in Durham, North Carolina till 2012.  At the time he decided that it was time to pack it up and move back to his hometown, Dayton.  DeLuca has signed R. Ring, which features The Breeders’ Kelley Deal and Ampline’s Mike Montgomery, and also has released the debut album from Crooks on Tape (which includes Brainiac’s John Schmersal).

“I have talked to Leo a couple of times over the past couple of years”, Kaplan said on the beginning of Motel Beds being signed on to the label.  “I think he saw the momentum building and he said let’s try this out.  We were very flattered.”

These are the Days Gone By will consist of 10 songs that the band has previously released over the years, along with two never-before-released tracks.

“With us getting signed with Misra and us being together for 10 years, Leo wanted to put out a ‘retrospective’ of sorts”, explained Kaplan.  “We thought that this would be a good introduction for people who don’t know us yet.”  These are the Days Gone By has been remastered by Carl Saff,  who has helped master albums by Guided by Voices, Dinosaur Jr. just to name a few.  Another new wrinkle to the album, Weidner went back and added bass parts to the songs.  For fans that have come to know and love the band, they will be thrilled to have this as part of the already impressive catalog that the band has released.  For folks that will be hearing the band for the first time, they will be experiencing the band’s eclectic blend of surf rock to the hypnotic lo-fi play.  The songs are quick in time with most not going longer than 3 minutes, but leave a long-lasting impression that make you continue coming back for more.  To most around the Dayton area, Motel Beds is one of the premiere bands that give outsiders an inside look at just how good our scene is here.

The first 500 LP’s released will have a little something distinctive.  Each of the album covers has been individually hand-painted by the artists at We Care Arts, which is located locally in Kettering, Ohio.  We Care Arts is a non-profit organization that helps emotionally, mentally and physically disabled adults and youth achieve greater personal independence. To do so, We Care Arts provides a variety of art classes and experiences.  They also promote the artist’s individuality, self-esteem, community skills, and ability to focus, life skills, responsibility, confidence and job skills.  Extensive training is provided for each artist in a creative area appropriate for his/her interests including painting, pottery, computer art/design, jewelry making and sewing.  Through the creation and sale of their individually crafted items, artists are able to affirm their self-worth, take steps back into the mainstream of society and receive a supplemental income. We Care Arts provide all training and materials to artists and a portion of the proceeds of all sales is returned to the artist. The remainder goes back to program funding.

Portions of the sales from These are the Days Gone By will be donated to We Care Arts.  The band posted on their Facebook page recently some of the covers that will be gracing the cover, and the response was incredible.  “We are getting interest from all over the United States and we even had someone from Europe wondering how they could get their hands on one of them”, Kaplan revealed.  This past Sunday, the band, along with Obenour, went to We Care Arts to check out the album covers and filled the sleeves.

The Motel Beds plans for 2014 as of now include performing at their second South By Southwest Music Festival between March 11-16 in Austin, Texas.  They will be also performing at the Nelsonville Music Festival in Nelsonville, Ohio on the weekend of May 29-June 1.  Motel Beds also plan on playing some other shows on top of those two festivals.  Most importantly, their second album under the Misra label will be started.  “We have been writing for over a year already”, Kaplan stated.  “We really want to keep our hand close on this next one and really knock it out of the park.”

Before the shows start to come, before the chaotic rush begins again, Kaplan was able to take a deep breath and relax for a second on this cold and snowy evening at South Park Tavern.

And that was plenty good for him.

Motel Beds will be releasing a soft, limited release of These are the Days Gone By and will be playing alongside Good English and Smug Brothers at Yellow Cab this Saturday night.  Doors open at 7pm, with the show starting at 8pm.  To purchase your tickets early, click on this website:  http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/546766.

Here is the track listing for These are the Days Gone By:

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

Dayton Sideshow 8: The Art and Music Lovers Weekend Celebration Welcomes Another Year

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The definition of art is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination.  A person’s imagination can come to life in a variety of different styles.  A single swipe of paint onto a canvas could be the start of an elegant painting.  A photographer snaps a picture of a moment in time.  A block of clay is the start of amazing, with the finished product being able to have unlimited possibilities in the end.  Art is everywhere around us, whatever or realize it or not.  Every year around this time, Dayton’s artists have a two day event that gives them the platform to present their work to the public.  The event is the 8th annual Dayton Sideshow.

The Sideshow began with the idea from Laurana Wong.  Wong had a vision to organize an evening that brought people together to celebrate the local art being made and the artists that created it.  The show as free for the participants to submit their work, the organizers that would set it up, and for the guests that appeared.  Wong believed that by having this show take place, it would bring attention to the arts and give everyone a chance to connect to their similar interest.

The event took place on June 24th, 2006 at what is now the Cannery.  60 artists from all around the area had work showcased throughout the evening.  Everyone that attended and also volunteered loved what the night brought everyone, except one thing:  the heat.  “It was horrible (laughter)”, Vice-Chairperson for Dayton Circus Creative Collective Erin Vasconcelos mentioned to me.  Vasconcelos was one of the many individuals that helped with the show.  “There was no air, so it just made the room feel horrible.  It didn’t care, though.  We all had an amazing night.”

With the first show being a huge success, the organizers and volunteers continued to make the Sideshow a staple in the Dayton community.  With each year passing, the show remained staying true to its core principals-give the local artists in town the spotlight.  And with every year, the show has become larger and better than the previous one.  The show has in the past few years found a home that can be able to have the space that can hold the massive show-the Yellow Cab Building.  The show has also found the perfect time to hold their event-the weekend of the spring Urban Nights.

Sideshow organizer and current Dayton Circus Creative Collective Chairman Jeff Opt also enlisted live music to the event each year.  “Music is a form of art.  We are lucky to have a great music scene, and it deserves to be celebrated”, Opt says.  Due to the fact that the show is now placed at the Yellow Cab, the show can showcase up to 40 bands with having two stages.

This year’s showcase will be drawing attention to well over 60 local visual artists, and over 20 local music acts. Some of the work that folks will expect will absolutely give people more reason to fall in love with the work being done in town.  They will be live interactions of many of the artists finished products that will give the people that attend an experience they thought that they would have never expected.  Also something new this year came from the minds of a younger generation.  Two young children noticed that something was missing from this year’s event and it felt like it needed to be added.  “There will be a section for kids!”, Vasconcelos said.  The developers of this idea-the children of Opt and Vasconcelos.  In the area for children, there will be photos of artwork and a chance for the youth to make some of their own.

For people who don’t have the chance to help out with the Sideshow, there’s many ways to contribute.  One thing that the committee is doing this year is by setting up a donation section on the fundraising website, Indiegogo.com.  For the next couple of days, everyone is able to give to the show.  By donating certain amounts, donators will be given perks, including photography sessions from photographers Gary Mitchell or Jennifer Clarke.  To donate, click here.

This weekend will once again be shining bright on the town by putting the focus on the Sideshow.  The mind-blowing experiences you will have by seeing the marvelous work of the artists will leave you glad you came.  If that doesn’t do it, stay for the music from great bands like Smug Brothers, Nasty Bingo, Tim Pritchard & The Boxcar Suite, WolfCryer among others.  Dayton Sideshow is a staple of the community.  It’s a weekend where art truly does come alive.  Come see for youself.

Dayton Sideshow 8 takes place May 10th and 11th at the Yellow Cab Building on East Fourth Street in downtown Dayton.  The event starts at 5, with live music starting at 6.

The Last Waltz: Bringing The Movie To Life

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The Last Waltz

A still image from The Last Waltz

“You never know what to expect when they came on stage.  However you know that it was going to be great.”  This is what Jeff Opt said to me while the two of us sat around inside the Yellow Cab building.  What he was referring to in his statement about of the iconic groups of the 60s, The Band.  Jeff Opt is truly special.  He is one of the main coordinators of the yearly event Dayton Sideshow, an annual two day event that highlights the unique art that is being done in town.  Each year, the Sideshow will have a theme to the exhibition that will include a variety of work, which includes video, sculptures, paintings, photography, and live music from local bands.  What the Sideshow aims to do is to help individuals obtain a platform to show off their creations, and also to celebrate the local art scene.  If you haven’t been to one of the previous shows, do yourself a favor and check it out this year during the spring Urban Nights event, which will be taking place in May.  While sitting at the Yellow Cab building, Opt talked about the joys of helping others achieve their dreams.  “It’s a passion of mine.  I love being able to help others.”

For a couple of years, Opt had been dreaming of doing a show that recreated The Last Waltz, the final concert that The Band would perform as a group on November 25, 1976 at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco (the same venue the group made its debut in 1969).  The Band comprised of Rick Danko (vocals, trombone, bass, fiddle), Levon Helm (drums, mandolin, guitar, vocals), Garth Hudson (keyboard, trumpet, saxophone), Richard Manuel (piano, drums, saxophone) and Robbie Robertson (guitar vocals).  The Band was a hybrid of many musical influences, with the Americana folk sound blending in with the psychedelic traits that bands from Cream to Led Zeppelin were built on.  The statement mentioned earlier by Opt was true.  The Band wasn’t the most polished group to come to the stage, but you always were in awe of the way they played music.  It was beautiful how they would bring all these different components into their music.

Sadly, with Robertson wanting to have the group become strictly a studio-only band due to the exhaustion of always being on the road, along with Manuel suffering a severe neck injury after a boating accident, the group decided their to disband and have a farewell concert that will have some of the artists and bands that influenced them along the way, with a large horn section backing them. During the concert, artists from Eric Clapton, to Neil Young, to Bob Dylan performed as well.  The show was filmed by director Martin Scorsese.  In 1978, Scorsese released the documentary of the same name as the show, The Last Waltz.  The movie featured concert performances, and interviews with the band.  The Last Waltz is hailed as one of the greatest concert films ever made in many circles you talk to.  On February 24th, Opt’s vision of bringing the show to town will become reality.  “It is one of my favorite movies.  I just think that it’s cool watching this great band play one last time.  I thought it would be cool to recreate that movie.”

 

An all-star lineup of Dayton musicians rehearses for Such A Night in the Old Yellow Cab Building

An all-star lineup of Dayton musicians rehearses for Such A Night in the Old Yellow Cab Building

Such A Night: A Celebration of The Band’s Last Waltz will be taking place at the legendary jazz club Gilly’s Niteclub, located on 132 S. Jefferson Street, in Dayton, Ohio.  Close to thirty local musicians along with an eight piece horn section will bring the awe-inspiring film to life.  “All these musicians are excited about being part of this project”, explained Opt.  “Most of these guys have never played together.  So, to see this coming together is really cool.” Opt has been working on this project since last October/November, calling up people that he knew would be great for the show.  Each member will tell you one thing when it comes to the show, including Opt, “This show is going to blow some minds.”

The evening will not only be producing excellent live music, but it’s also going to be helping a cause that is going to help a great deal of people.  All the proceeds from people walking in will go to one of the Miami Valley’s great nonprofit organizations, The Foodbank.  Since 1976, The Foodbank has been helping a network of food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, and backpack programs among others.  Being the largest hunger relief agency in the Dayton area, a single dollar will be able to provide eight meals to the hungry.  Nearly 5,000,000 meals a year are provided to children, adults, and the elderly.  It’s just another gesture of gratitude that Opt gives of himself.  “I am firm believer in helping others.  I want to be a good role model for my kids.”

The buzz of Such A Night: A Celebration of The Band’s Last Waltz has been astonishing.  The show was kept under wraps until the past couple of weeks.  It’s now gotten to the point where a small amount of advanced tickets are able to be purchased.  “I didn’t want to have a lot of people not be able to get to see the show.  So by doing just a limited number of advanced tickets, it just gives people a chance to come and watch, and not be turned down”, Opt said.  Opt believes strongly that the show will be something that people will be talking about for days after.  He hopes that maybe if all goes well, maybe we will do something like this again next year and beyond. “I was asked about doing The Who’s Tommy.  I think that would be cool, but let’s get Such A Night out of the way first (laughs)”, Opt mentioned.  Something tells me that Such A Night is truly just the beginning.

Such A Night: A Celebration of The Band’s Last Waltz  once again is on February 24th.  Show time is 7:30pm, and admission is $5.  Donations will be accepted at the door.

Video from the original “The Waltz”

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_csn7KtVeOU’]