AMON AMARTH: “Heed our warning; we are gearing up for our biggest and most epic raid in North American history! We are bringing a massive show that will leave your cities in ashes. Scorching the Earth with us are our good friends Cannibal Corpse, Obituary, and Frozen Soul. Come out to the shows and party like Vikings and raise your horns with us. METAL CRUSHES ALL!”
Dayton Music
Levitt Pavilion Season Announced
Friends of Levitt Pavilion Dayton is thrilled to announce the 2024 Eichelberger Concert Season. Audiences from across the Miami Valley will enjoy 44 free concerts beginning on May 30 with psychedelic soul band, Monophonics.
This season boasts a diverse array of genres and artists with some new and exciting things in store! New on the 2024 Eichelberger concert season is the Henny Penny Indie Vibe series highlighting artists that embody the independent spirit of alternative and indie genres.
The Levitt Dayton has also added the Amplified Series sponsored by the City of Dayton (formerly known as the City of Dayton summer music festivals). Now the team at the Levitt has taken over the programming and curation of these events, adding them to their summer concert season. The three Amplified concerts will be held on three Saturdays and begin at 5:30 p.m. instead of the normal 7 p.m. concert start time and feature a DJ, two openers and a headliner, amplifying blues, funk and Reggae genres of music.
Along with these additions, the Levitt Dayton will work with the community to celebrate a Juneteenth concert, a Pride Concert, and two new features added this year; concerts celebrating our veterans and our Indigenous communities. The Indigenous concert will be held in celebration of World Indigenous Day featuring two Indigenous artists.
“We are all really excited about this season,” said Lisa Wagner, executive director. “We have many returning audience favorites and many new-to-us artists that we can’t wait to share with you! The team has also been working so hard with our community to craft this new season, I’m extremely proud of what we have accomplished together.”
All concerts in the 2024 Eichelberger Concert Season begin at 7 p.m. (with the exception of select dates) and are free and open to the public, thanks to the generosity of the community. Levitt Dayton is located in Dave Hall Plaza in downtown Dayton and features lawn seating. Audience members can bring in their own lawn chairs and food and beverage – including alcohol, although glass is prohibited. There are also food and beverage vendors on site and lawn chair rental is available for a $5 donation.
Levitt Dayton is a non-profit organization that fosters a sense of community by providing free outdoor concerts in the heart of downtown Dayton. The organization firmly believes that music can bridge cultural divides and bring people together, and their concerts are a testament to this belief. Levitt Dayton offers a unique and enriching experience that is accessible to all. Through their efforts, Levitt Dayton has succeeded in creating a vibrant and inclusive cultural scene in the city of Dayton.
Find more information about the concerts and the Levitt Pavilion at LevittDayton.org
2024 Eichelberger Concert Season at the Levitt Pavilion Dayton
- Monophonics | Thursday, May 30 | 7 p.m.
- McGuffey Lane (Gem Series Opener: Eleyet McConnell) | Friday, May 31 | 7 p.m.
- Lemon Bucket Orkestra | Saturday, June 1 | 7 p.m.
- Motherfolk (Gem Series Opener: Matt Rouch & the Noise Upstairs) | Thursday, June 6 | 7 p.m.
- Jordy Searcy | Friday, June 7 | 7 p.m.
- Pride Month Celebration ft. Pom Pom Squad (Gem Series Opener: Kyleen Downes) | Saturday, June 8 | 7 p.m.
- Huntertones | Thursday, June 13 | 7 p.m.
- Kazha (Gem Series Opener: Somersault) |Friday, June 14 | 7 p.m.
- Juneteenth Concert w/ E.U. featuring Sugar Bear | Saturday, June 15 | 5:30 p.m.
- Wildermiss (Gem Series Opener: Smug Brothers) | Thursday, June 20 | 7 p.m.
- Mike Wade & The Nasty NATI Brass Band | Friday, June 21 | 7 p.m.
- Reverend Horton Heat (Gem Series Opener: Kyle Eldridge & the Kentucky Cowhands) | Saturday, June 22 | 7 p.m.
- Chapel Hart | Thursday, June 27 | 7 p.m.
- The Vindys | Friday, June 28 | 7 p.m.
- Shamarr Allen (Gem Series Opener: The OG Players) | Saturday, June 29 | 7 p.m.
- OKAN | Friday, July 5 | 7 p.m.
- Ron Artis II | Saturday, July 6 | 7 p.m.
- Lauren Anderson | Thursday, July 11 | 7 p.m.
- Nikki Hill (Gem Series Opener: The Café Unit) | Friday, July 12 | 7 p.m.
- Alexander Star & the Golden People (Gem Series Opener: Signature Levitt Summer Camp Showcase) | Saturday, July 13 | 7 p.m.
- Buffalo Nichols | Thursday, July 18 | 7 p.m.
- Terrence Simien & the Zydeco Experience | Friday, July 19 | 7 p.m.
- Blues Amplified ft. Anthony Rosano and the Conqueroos (Gem Series Openers: DJ Oscar | Eric Jerardi | Westside Players) | Saturday, July 20 | 5:30 p.m.
- J2B2 (John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band) | Thursday, August 1 | 7 p.m.
- Jesse “JT Jazz” Thompson | Friday, August 2 | 7 p.m.
- Scythian | Saturday, August 3 | 7 p.m. (Art in the City)
- Ruthie Foster | Thursday, August 8 | 7 p.m.
- Blair Crimmins & the Hookers | Friday, August 9 | 7 p.m.
- World Indigenous Day Celebration ft. Digging Roots (Opener: Topknot) | Saturday, August 10 | 7 p.m.
- Alanna Royale | Thursday, August 15 | 7 p.m.
- Toubab Krewe | Friday, August 16 | 7 p.m.
- Funk Amplified ft. Slapbak (Gem Series Openers: DJ SKNO | Freakquency | MojoFlo) | Saturday, August 17 | 5:30 p.m.
- Cool, Cool, Cool | Thursday, August 22 | 7 p.m.
- Cole Chaney (Gem Series Opener: Josh Webb & the Home Sown Band) | Friday, August 23 | 7 p.m.
- Levitt National Tour presents: The War and Treaty | Saturday, August 24 | 7 p.m.
- Tonya Baker | Thursday, August 29 | 7 p.m.
- Jennifer Hartswick | Friday, August 30 | 7 p.m.
- Reggae Amplified ft. Wailing Souls (Gem Series Openers: DJ SKNO | Seefari | Jah Soul) | Saturday, August 31 | 5:30 p.m.
- Light in the City ft. Building 429 (Gem Series Opener: Melody Baccus) | Thursday, September 5 | 7 p.m.
- Sweet Lizzy Project (Gem Series Opener: Yuppie) | Friday, September 6 | 7 p.m.
- Hot Toddies Jazz Band | Saturday, September 7 | 7 p.m.
- Sierra Green & the Giants (Gem Series Opener: Joe Waters & The Back Porch Band) | Thursday, September 12 | 7 p.m.
- Kick off to Hispanic Heritage Month ft. The Iguanas | Friday, September 13 | 7 p.m.
- Honoring Our Veterans concert: Headliner TBD (Gem Series Opener: Guitars4Heroes) | Saturday, September 14 | 7 p.m.
‘Klash of the Titans’ Tour Stops In Huber Heights
This Fall, the ‘Klash of the Titans‘ makes its triumphant return to North America! Fans will enjoy an epic night of metal with thrash royalty TESTAMENT and KREATOR co-headlining the run. The 33-date trek will make its way across the US and Canadian, stopping in Huber Heights, OH for a performance at Rose Music Center at The Heights on Saturday, September 28. Joining the night are special guest Bay Area death metal pioneers and labelmates POSSESSED.
TESTAMENT states. “Get ready North America. We are looking forward to a co-headline tour with our Thrash master friends Kreator. This is gonna be a madhouse of a show with our Bay Area homies Possessed opening the show so get there early. Testament will be performing an old-school set celebrating the re-release of The Legacy & The New Order.”
KREATOR comments, ‘We’re very proud to bring a second edition of the Klash Of The Titans to North America! This time with the Bay area beasts, Testament and one of my favorite bands in the world, Possessed. From start to finish, this is metal madness and we can’t wait to deliver our biggest shows to date over there!’
With each band titans of their sub-genre, this tour will be action-packed from start to finish. Don’t miss your chance to witness this epic line-up!
Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning at 10AM on Friday May 3 at Ticketmaster.comand the Rose Music Center Box Office.
TESTAMENT, formed in 1983 in California, is renowned for their influential contributions to the thrash metal scene. With a career spanning over three decades, TESTAMENT continues to deliver powerful and compelling music that resonates with fans worldwide.
KREATOR is a German thrash metal band formed in Essen in 1982. With a career spanning several decades, the band has consistently pushed the boundaries of the genre, earning them a dedicated global fanbase.
POSSESSED heralded as the first official death metal band was formed in 1982 and established the face of the genre permanently. There was a time in which genuine power was felt erupting from the sonic landscape that is now referred to as “old school” death metal. As with most newly developed forms of art, at its genesis, it was filled with fresh and vibrant energy and was virtually unsaturated by musicians.
Doug Hart Live at Crooked Handle
Doug Hart is a long-time favorite local musician. He’s known for his blues and classic rock genres with his full band. Seeing Doug solo is just as expectantly outstanding! His talent behind the guitar and microphone is virtually unmatched!
DPO Principal String Quartet: Chamber Music
Join the DPO Principal String Quartet for an afternoon of chamber music at the Dayton Art Institute on April 28. DPAA’s second chamber concert explores musical and philosophical depth. The afternoon launches with Jessie Montgomery’s Strum. The journey deepens with Jessica Meyer’s Of Being. The concert reaches its heartfelt finale with Bedřich Smetana’s String Quartet No. 2. This concert promises an immersive experience, inviting the audience into a shared exploration of the communal spirit of music.
WYSO Presents snarls, Jess Lamb and the Factory with Siri Imani, and Dos.Grandiose
WYSO 91.3 FM and The Brightside are teaming up to celebrate the southern hemisphere of Ohio music — Dayton, Columbus, and Cincinnati representing — with a benefit show to support WYSO on Friday, May 3, 2024.
Indie rock’s snarls (Columbus), soul’s Jess Lamb and the Factory with Siri Imani (Cincinnati), and hip-hop’s Dos.Grandiose are set to perform, blending an eclectic and electric night of live music.
The show coincides with the release of snarls’ second LP, With Love; a two-fer-one in an already three-fer-one show! See the music video for snarls’ single “Heavy Drinker” for the VHS-era fun video-pop vibes they’ll surely bring to Dayton. They were also deemed Five Guys’ Artist of the Month for April 2024. (Yes, the burger restaurant.)
snarls is Chlo White, Riley Hall, and Mick Martinez, who are all worthy of capital letters, even if their collective name is spelled otherwise. (Though the sources on that capitalization do vary.)
Jess Lamb can simultaneously harness a quivering, devastating voice like Tracy Chapman and command a room like Janis. (Yes, that one.) Lamb received worldwide recognition with an appearance on American Idol, though the Over-the-Rhine dream pop-soul tunes Jess Lamb and the Factory make would’ve caught our attention regardless of J-Lo’s input.
Alongside Lamb at the Brightside show is Siri Imani who can spit out the perfect amount of words within the ideal amount of syllables, stamping exclamation marks on everything she’s featured on.
Dayton’s performer/songwriter — and self-proclaimed cannabis connoisseur — Dos.Grandiose toys with trap and lo-fi beats while sprinkling in his brand of synth-based funk. To prep, check out the Bad Genes presents: Star Platinum EP with Dos.Grandiose and Zola182.
The three-act night is so mixed it’ll be like you’re listening to the radio — but in person. And what better way to do that than at The Brightside, for WYSO by WYSO?
**How to Go?**
Friday, May 3, 2024
The Brightside at 905 E 3rd St, Dayton
Doors 7 pm / Show 8 pm
All ages welcome!
Tickets $20 advance: https://www.venuepilot.co/events/99957/orders/new#/
There are limited VIP tickets available with reserved seating (includes 4 tickets)
Tickets available at the door: $25 day of show
Special thanks to our sponsors Yellow Springs Brewery and Emporium Wines and Underdog Cafe
Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band Coming To The Rose
Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, the world’s finest tribute to Fleetwood Mac, returns in 2024 with a brand-new show celebrating the very best of Fleetwood Mac. Hear all the legendary hits performed live at Rose Music Center at The Heights on Friday, August 2.
Channeling the spirit of Fleetwood Mac at their very best, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac offers a unique opportunity for fans, both old and new, to rediscover the songs and performances that have ensured Fleetwood Mac’s place as one of the most loved groups of all time.
Personally endorsed by Fleetwood Mac founding member, Mick Fleetwood, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac is the ultimate tribute to one of rock and roll’s most remarkable groups.
“An extraordinary emotive performance of Fleetwood Mac” MICK FLEETWOOD
“A stunning and incredibly accurate snapshot of the World’s first Super Group” SUNDAY TIMES
“They do Fleetwood Mac better than Fleetwood Mac.” MAIL ON SUNDAY
Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning at 10AM on Friday, April 26 at Ticketmaster.com and the Rose Music Center Box Office.
Onyx Black Artist Showcase
Onyx Black Artist Showcase presents the GROW Premiere Party, starring RENA1SSANCE, formerly known as Mariah J, debuting the first song under her new artist name. This song, GROW, speaks to anyone seeking better ways to grow.
This is an international collaboration and creative experiment that seeks to exemplify the 4 core elements of sustainable plant growth – seed, soil, sunlight, water – in a simple song that serves as a catalyst for growth, both in physical garden settings while also transcending to a diverse array of other life applications.
If GROW is a seed, our community is the soil, programs like this provide warm sunshine, and our intentional collaborative effort is the water that we need to grow.
Tis the SZN! Join us!
Tickets free with registration
The Greatest Piano Men
Spend an evening with the music and magic of The Greatest Piano Men! This electrifying production (from Jeff Davis, Executive Producer of Broadway’s “Rock of Ages”) debuted to rave reviews at the Flamingo in Las Vegas, and celebrates the world’s greatest pianists and showmen, from Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and Ray Charles to Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Liberace, and Billy Joel… all in one fabulous show!
The Greatest Piano Men features great storytelling, video, a rockin’ band, three pianos, and 25 mega-hit songs including “Good Golly Miss Molly,” “Superstition,” “Rocket Man,” “Tiny Dancer,” “New York State of Mind,” and many more!
Alice Cooper’s Too Close For Comfort Tour at The Rose
Get ready for a night of shock and rock that will haunt your dreams. Legendary rocker Alice Cooper has announced additional dates for the Too Close For Comfort Tour, including a highly anticipated return to Rose Music Center at The Heights on Tuesday, August 6.
Alice Cooper pioneered a grandly theatrical brand of hard rock that was designed to shock. Drawing equally from horror movies, vaudeville, and garage rock, the group created a stage show that featured electric chairs, guillotines, fake blood and boa constrictors. He continues to tour regularly, performing shows worldwide with the dark and horror-themed theatrics that he’s best known for.
With a schedule that includes six months each year on the road, Alice Cooper brings his own brand of rock psycho-drama to fans both old and new, enjoying it as much as the audience does. Known as the architect of shock-rock, Cooper (in both the original Alice Cooper band and as a solo artist) has rattled the cages and undermined the authority of generations of guardians of the status quo, continuing to surprise fans and exude danger at every turn, like a great horror movie, even in an era where CNN can present real life shocking images.
Cooper was born in Detroit Michigan and moved to Phoenix with his family. The Alice Cooper band formed while they were all in high school in Phoenix, and was discovered in 1969 by Frank Zappa in Los Angeles, where he signed them to his record label. Their collaboration with young record producer Bob Ezrin led to the break-through third album “Love It to Death” which hit the charts in 1971, followed by “Killer,” “School’s Out,” ”Billion Dollar Babies,” and “Muscle of Love.” Each new album release was accompanied by a bigger and more elaborate touring stage show. 1974 saw the release of a “Greatest Hits” album, and then Cooper, in 1975, released his first solo album, “Welcome to My Nightmare” in 1975, accompanied by the legendary groundbreaking theatrical Welcome to My Nightmare concert tour.
Associated with that album and tour was the ground-breaking network TV special Alice Cooper: The Nightmare. Other film and television appearances include The Muppet Show, Mae West’s last film Sextette, Roadie, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearst Club Band and appearances on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson and Tom Snyder’s Tomorrow Show. The original band also made an appearance in the movie Diary of a Mad Housewife in 1979, filmed the full-length feature film Good To See You Again Alice Cooper, and Alice appeared in a 1972 episode of The Snoop Sisters.
Alice’s solo career skyrocketed in the late 1970’s, with a succession of hit singles, including “You & Me,” and classic albums, including “Lace And Whiskey” and “From The Inside,” and bigger and even more elaborate concert tours.
In the ‘80’s Cooper explored different sounds, highlighted by the new wavish album “Flush The Fashion,” the heavy metal “Constrictor” and “Raise Your Fist And Yell,” and then 1989’s melodic hard rock album “Trash,” which featured the massive hit single “Poison” and became his biggest selling album and single worldwide. During this period Alice also appeared in the horror films Monster Dog and John Carpenter’s Prince of Darkness, and recorded songs for the soundtracks to Roadie, Class of 1984, Friday the 13 Part VI: Jason Lives and Wes Craven’s Shocker.
Cooper’s most memorable movie appearance was as himself in Wayne’s World in 1991. He also played (fittingly) Freddy Krueger’s wicked step-father in Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare, and appeared on Gene Wilder’s TV series Something Wilder as well as on That ‘70’s Show. The 90’s also saw the release of the albums “Hey Stoopid,” “The Last Temptation,” and “Fistful of Alice,” a live album.
Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning at 10AM on Friday, April 19 at Ticketmaster.com and the Rose Music Center Box Office. Tickets will run from $53 – $83 for this show.
Sam King + The Suspects and Strange Ranger at The Brightside
Strange Ranger is pairing up with Sam King + The Suspects for a night of jazz, funk, rock, soul, and folk for a double-header show at the Brightside.
With an expansive repertoire like that, there’s gonna be a little something for everyone and a little of everything for someone — it’s like a three-day music fest packed into one night for the price of a couple of PBRs.
Dayton’s Strange Ranger — not to be confused with the Portland indie rock band of the same name — is, to borrow a word from the Romans, a badass triumvirate: Rob Brockman holds down the fort (the thumping backbeat); Rob Thaxton licks up his basslines; and Chris Coat commands the fretboard like a stoic.
Again, three for the price of one.
Sam King has a powerhouse voice further cemented by The Suspects she plays alongside. King wailed on the vocal solo in “The Great Gig in the Sky” in Black Jacket Symphony’s tribute to Pink Floyd and carved out a folky act back home, à la Joni Mitchell. Plus, opening up for Tommy Stinson’s Cowboys in the Campfire last year ain’t too shabby to have on a resume either.
Sam King + The Suspects have an acoustic set prepared as their drummer heals from an injury; Strange Ranger is the same as it ever was.
We’ve got a supportive music community here in Dayton; no band seems to step on another band’s toes to get ahead, and they often go the extra mile to say nice things about each other.
So, with that said, here is Strange Ranger on Sam King, and Sam King on Strange Ranger:
Strange Ranger: “Sam is an incredible musician supported by a group of other incredible musicians! They have such a great blend of soul, rock, and folk. We think it’s going to be an awesome mix that will highlight the similarities in our sounds but also showcase the diverse influences.”
Sam King: “It’s an honor to share an evening and stage with Strange Ranger. Their resumes are beyond impressive but beyond that, they’re incredible people who always put the music first. You can tell that they just dig every second of playing together and that’s a gift to witness. The Brightside has always done a sensational job of showcasing bands like that. I think the sets will be complimentary as some of our similar influences come through.”
There you have it, with a Brightside compliment to boot: nothin’ but good vibes, and nothin’ but a good time. How can you resist?
Sam King + The Suspects and Strange Ranger are playing The Brightside (905 E 3rd St, Dayton, Ohio 45402) on Thursday, April 18. Doors are at 7:30 p.m. Show is at 8 p.m. All ages are welcome. Presale tickets are $10 at VenuePilot, $15 at the door.
Strange Ranger + Sam King & The Suspects
Join us for a very special evening of local live music featuring Strange Ranger with special guests Sam King & The Suspects at The Brightside!
How to Go?
The Brightside, 905 E 3rd St, Dayton
Thur, April 18, 2024
Doors 7:30pm
Show 8pm
All ages welcome
$10 advance – https://www.venuepilot.co/events/99957/orders/new
$15 at the door
‘My, Oh My!’ Tina is a Powerhouse!
Tina, the Musical, packs so much energy, you’ll be exhausted just watching it. And it’s not all upbeat and bouncy. The show takes us through Tina’s life and times. Nothing is left to the imagination, and at times, you will feel the heartache and heartbreak that Tina Turner endured. From the time the curtain rises, we get a sense that there’s a lot to Tina….and from her early life as Anna Mae Bullock, to her brilliant rise to stardom as a single act, we get to cheer her on.
The perseverance, the passion and the push forward that she models is a good lesson for everyone. For most of us. we know the story…we saw the incredible movie that opened the door on Tina’s struggles and successes. But, as is always the. case, the stage brings an intimacy. You are there. At no other time in the musical is that more apparent then the scene right before intermission. ‘I Don’t Wanna Fight’ plays as Tina sees her way out. So Satisfying.
The musical features all the songs you know and love from Tina’s anthology and Ike’s as well. Most of the songs fit perfectly with the story’s progression (although ‘We Don’t Need Another Hero’ pops in at a strange time.) 
It’s really in the final moments of the actual show that you feel the audience sit-up as if to say, ‘There’s Tina!’ Do yourself a favor and hang in there after that curtain falls…you’ll thank me. You will be on your feet!
The cast is superb. Big, bellowing voices, high kicking dancers and acting that is more than run of the mill convincing. You feel it.
There are some magic moments, like ‘Let’s Stay Together’ and how it was fits in the script, and I really loved ‘River Deep, Mountain High,’ because it was pure, and poppy! OH, and of. course ‘Proud Mary!’ need I say anything about that quintessential favorite.
Faced with an unloving mother, a pompous husband and a world that wasn’t exactly ready for the star that was Tina Turner, the show is so incredibly redeeming, and, for the record, Tina will remain an inspiration to us all!
For More Information….log-on to: https://www.daytonlive.org/venues/schuster-center/
Crowed House “Teenage Summer” Tour Coming to The Rosse
Multi-platinum selling rock band Crowded House have released their new single “Teenage Summer” off the eighth studio album Gravity Stairs which will be released May 31 via BMG. The band also announced a 2024 North American headline tour – Gravity Stairs Tour – in support of the new album. The tour will include a stop in Huber Heights, OH for a performance at Rose Music Center at The Heights on Tuesday, September 10.
Produced by the band with Steven Schram (Paul Kelly, San Cisco), Gravity Stairs shows Crowded House’s current incarnation featuring Neil Finn, Nick Seymour, Mitchell Froom, Elroy Finn and Liam Finn.
The new single, played on stage in recent shows and formerly known as “Life’s Imitation” is now curiously renamed “Teenage Summer.” As Neil explains “My grandson Manaia told me “Teenage Summer” was one of his favorite songs. He’d identified the peak moment in the song and a light went on. It’s that simple, the children must be heard.”
Speaking about the album title Gravity Stairs, Neil says the name was inspired by an unnaturally heavy stone staircase near where Finn vacations. “The Gravity Stairs are symbolic of the struggle to ascend, acknowledging the opposing forces of weight on the mechanics of living. It’s an act of will every day.”
Crowded House have sold over 15 million records worldwide as well as earning a Brit Award, 13 Australian ARIA Awards and an MTV VMA, the band have generated billions of streams, consistently sold-out tours on multiple continents and have been captivating audiences for nearly four decades. Originally founded by Neil Finn, Nick Seymour, and the late Paul Hester, the group’s self-titled debut in 1986 went platinum, uplifted by worldwide smashes “Something So Strong” and “Don’t Dream It’s Over” which has been covered by everyone from Miley Cyrus and Ariana Grande to U2, among others.
In 1996, the group delivered a legendary performance to an audience of over 150,000 on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, beginning a hiatus that finished in the wake of Paul’s passing in 2005. This led to albums Time on Earth (2007) and Intriguer (2010) and a return to the Sydney Opera House for three unforgettable nights. 2018 saw Neil join Fleetwood Mac as a full-time member, canvasing the globe on a massive world tour. Two years later, he and Nick led another era of Crowded House, forming the band’s current line-up. They issued their first full-length offering in eleven years, the unanimously acclaimed Dreamers Are Waiting (2021) and the band leapt into a rapturous world tour in support. From joining his brother Tim in the New Wave favorites Split Enz to leading Crowded House to his numerous solo efforts, Neil’s varied body of work is connected by his knack for penning meticulous, indelible melodies and impressionistic lyrics that demand multiple listens. It’s earned him devoted fans all over the globe.
Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning at 10AM on Friday, April 19 at Ticketmaster.com and the Rose Music Center Box Office.
A Tribute to ABBA Returns To The Rose Music Center
ATC The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA will bring one of the greatest pop phenomena back to life at Rose Music Center on August 20!The Concert: A Tribute To ABBA continues to be the top ABBA tribute group in the world, dazzling all who see with their fantastic performance while playing the most iconic hits from ABBA, including “Mamma Mia,” “S.O.S,” “Money, Money, Money,” “The Winner Takes All,” “Waterloo,” “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme,” and “Dancing Queen.”
Many critics agree, The Concert: A Tribute To ABBA is the most amazing and authentic ABBA tribute show in the world. Come dance, come sing, having the time of your life at THE ULTIMATE TRIBUTE CELEBRATION!
Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning at 10AM on Friday, April 12 at Ticketmaster.com and the Rose Music Center Box Office.
*The Concert: A Tribute To ABBA is not affiliated with the original ABBA group or Mamma Mia.
An Interview with Arland’s Greg Bowers
Greg Bowers is the vocalist and composer for the Dayton project, Arland. I sat down to chat with him in his Belmont home about the band, ballads, Black Sabbath, and his upcoming single, “The Day My Dream Comes True” (out April 8, 2024).
_______________________
Arland is your middle name?
GREG BOWERS: Yep, exactly. Exactly.
So with this project being mostly you, why not call it “Greg Bowers?”
BOWERS: I don’t know if you’ve ever searched Greg Bowers online but there is a jazz pianist who will come up. That’s my uncle. He releases music under that moniker, so I had to do something else. But, [Arland is] a very interesting name. It’s the single-name thing.
With building a band in the studio — without exactly having one — what does playing music ideally look like for you?
BOWERS: At this current stage, it’s not so much about playing music as it is the composing and writing of it, and eventually releasing it. I do need that band so I can actually start to go out and play music more consistently.
I think the beauty of what is happening with music right now is that bands can just exist on record. The live music aspect, as a form of getting the music out there, expands reach, but bands can exist without performing.
BOWERS: Yeah.
I know from the way you just said yeah that you wouldn’t want it that way.
BOWERS: It’s not so much that I wouldn’t want it that way, but I haven’t experienced it [as a band yet].
If you were able to make it work solely in the studio, would you do that?
BOWERS: I think I might. I consider myself a writer — a musician. So from that perspective, being able to focus on writing songs, composing songs — that’s what really appeals to me. Playing music is cool. But for me, the focus is really on telling these stories and getting them out there.
What kind of music were you influenced by?
BOWERS: I grew up in this very religious environment. And so we had a lot of your more traditional [Contemporary Christian music]-type stuff. Eventually, I started to move toward the crossovers. There were a few metalcore bands. Have you heard of August Burns Red? They’re metalcore.
No, but you can throw “-core” after anything and I generally understand what you’re saying.
BOWERS: So metalcore, from my understanding, tends to be very heavy: lots of uncleans, but also lots of cleans. High soaring vocals, and very melodic guitars, as well. I was, and still am, very focused on the vocal side of things. I used to listen to Josh Groban, as well. Very vocally-focused.
I know how [Reel Love Recording Company Producer] Pat [Himes] works in the studio; he likes to double a lot of things. And when I’m listening to your vocals, I believe that’s what’s going on. There are points when I think you sound a little like Ozzy [Osbourne].
BOWERS: Ozzy. Interesting.
Have you ever gotten that comparison?
BOWERS: I have never listened to Ozzy Osbourne or Black Sabbath.
Ever?
BOWERS: Ever. So that’s interesting.
That blows my mind.
BOWERS: I have a really weird musical background.
We’ve gotta listen to some before I leave.
BOWERS: Sounds good.
So you released “Islands” in January 2022, which, for lack of a better word, is a ballad. There are movements, but…
BOWERS: One thing I have trouble with is music genres. What is a ballad? What is a ballad to you?
When I think of ballads, I think of hair metal that goes soft. Guns N’ Roses doing “Patience” or “November Rain.” Softer songs, but whoever’s pushing it has a heavier oeuvre. It doesn’t always have to be like that. There are just sweet people… are you confused by the ballad label?
BOWERS: I am, yeah. It’s not like I mind it at all. To my extremely limited and miniscule understanding, I’ve always kind of perceived a ballad as a “piano ballad,” or it’s a literal piano song.
You say you have an extremely limited understanding, but it sounds like you have a firm grasp of music in general.
BOWERS: I guess my term is “rock opera.” Movements, stories you’re telling somewhat through the lyrics, through the sections of music, sometimes through the music itself, to introduce a different feel — those types of things. Structurally, I’m definitely doing things but I don’t have great terms for them.
It’s interesting that you say it like this because I thought your second release “Day Breaks” also felt like a ballad. Your new song, “The Day My Dream Comes True,” isn’t necessarily a ballad but it has elements of one. But when I first heard your music a couple of years ago [via a Google Drive link], I heard screamo. And maybe that’s another term you don’t agree with, but there was something on the verge of screaming happening. So with these three releases being so much softer than the other stuff, what’s the choice to frontload those softer sounds?
BOWERS: At this point, there’s no guarantee there’s actual metal coming out, but there might be. The idea of frontloading, I guess, is hinged upon that.
You don’t disagree with the metal label?
BOWERS: No. I guess I don’t understand the metal side of things for the piano ballad. I’ve talked about a lot of this artsy-fartsy stuff, but I view “Islands” in a sort of quantum superposition, of being chronologically placed after my first two albums. But if you listen to the story or the message, it works well as a debut song.
So you’re saying that what you’re doing right now is George Lucas making the first Star Wars movie.
BOWERS: I don’t know if this will be anywhere near as successful, but I guess.
But that’s the idea behind it: “Islands” could be a stand on its own, but to give context there is also a prequel series in the form of those first two albums.
BOWERS: So when I was thinking about my debut single, something that really gets out there, I was thinking about these first two albums and the story they tell and where it all leads. And so it does all tie together in that sense, narratively.
If you had to boil down that narrative thread, what is that narrative thread?
BOWERS: It’s just a general person’s philosophy changing as they go through things, eventually sort of culminating in “Islands.” So that’s the trick: The answer is out there, but it’s not going to be obvious what it actually means until you’ve heard those first two albums.
When are we getting the first two albums?
BOWERS: The plan is [to release] “The Day My Dream Comes True” on April 8. Hopefully then, within the next few months or so, I’ll get the album out. It’s all written, basically all the music is recorded. We’re trying to get some strings in. And then do the final mix, mastering, that sort of stuff. Second album, obviously the lyrics are all written. [I’m] in the midst of writing the music. So, two or three years. Something like that.
To have it all.
BOWERS: Or at least this stage of it all.
This new song [“The Day My Dream Comes True”] feels like a breakup — with someone or something. And that’s not definitive, of course; that’s just my interpretation. But do you think you’ll ever come out with the true meaning, or will you always keep things vague? Not just for this song, but for everything.
BOWERS: It’s hard to say whether that’d be a good idea or fits where I want things to be in five years when this story is done. There are other songs that are more explicit. Other singles, other album ideas. This one in particular is much more open-ended.
In a world where everything is quick and constant, does it concern you that this long-term plan will be lost on people?
BOWERS: I don’t really worry about it, but I recognize that it’s absolutely a possibility. People are going to consume things at their own rate, to their own interests, and that’s fine. I still think in this perspective of telling a grander story across songs, across an album. Ultimately, all I can do is put out what I feel like I need to put out. And if people like it, they like it.
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After the interview, I gave Greg Bowers a tour of Black Sabbath’s catalog — from “Paranoid” to “Iron Man” to “War Pigs” but nothing seemed to catch on. I think he might’ve been confused by the whole comparison, and I suppose I was a little confused, as well.
Arland’s third single, “The Day My Dream Comes True,” along with its music video, will be released on the day of the Solar Eclipse, April 8, 2024. The significance of that is up for interpretation.
