Dayton Music

The Mitchells: Coming Over To Visit Dayton

August 16, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro

Joseph William Mitchell, Marc Aiello, Carlos Mitchell, Nick Mavridoglou-who make up the Cincinnati band The Mitchells-have been in their share of bands. When the foursome joined together to make up the current group, they all vowed that they wanted to make this special. They grew tired and unhappy with making music that they weren’t happy with it. “You just always know where you missed…you were slow on the beat, you didn’t rushed it just to get it to a point that worked. At the end of the day, you have all these albums that you are genuinely are unhappy with,” guitarist and lead singer for The Mitchells’ Joseph Mitchell says. “As a musician, you start to think what I’m leaving behind a legacy. You want something to be proud of.”

The Mitchells released their first EP in November 2012. Earlier that year, the band formed when Joseph and Carlos started developing the desire to expand their sound. Playing around establishments like the classic Arnold’s in the summer, Joseph and Carlos enlisted Mavridoglou and Aiello to join them. Bird Feather was a fantastic introduction to the music scene for The Mitchells -highlighting gorgeous violin and cello play, rich harmonies, soft vocals. It was well- received to the point that the organizers of the annual Bunbury Music Festival and the MidPoint Music Festival added The Mitchells to the lineups in 2013, and the band had a successful Midwest tour.

When the band returned from their tour, there was some talk of rushing and getting another album out. After some discussion amongst the band, they all realized that by speeding up the process and getting something out, it wouldn’t be in the best interest for them. They felt that by releasing it quickly, it wouldn’t be as satisfying. “A lot of times you kind of want to record something to show people what you have. We already had the EP out there. We felt it would be better for the LP to really take our time with it,” Mitchell said.

The Mitchells went on to record the LP in Lebanon at All Nighter Studio, the album’s engineer’s Tommy Cappell and Aiello’s studios. The Mitchells also wanted to release the LP on vinyl, so they spent a significant amount of time doing research on how to have the sound of it be spot-on and perfect. Overall, the freshman LP took The Mitchells over a year to craft. In the end, the band was pleased with how everything came together. “I don’t know if it’s the right way, but for us it was worth it,” Mitchell says.

The Mitchells self-titled album is a beautiful, open piece of work that truly captures the spirit of alluring storytelling, along with irresistible composition. Throughout the album, a flawless weave between classical and indie rock comes alive in the album, and offers a little bit of everything. “Driving In Cars”, the album’s opener, blends pop and roots rock seamlessly with singer/songwriter Caroline Kingsbury offering a softness to it. The eight-plus minute dreamy “Absalom” slows everything down so effortlessly, and gets picked right back up with the rocker “Denmark”. Guitarist virtuoso Noah Wotherspoon adds some grit to “Willie Mays”.

In the meantime, The Mitchells have plans on releasing a book next summer containing the lyrics to the album. Mitchell explained that each song on the album has a specific little story that goes along with the lyrics. They crafted the stories after putting the music together. Once the book is released, the band plans to give it as a gift when someone buys an album. This fall, The Mitchells also plan to release some work with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.

To hear the self-titled album from The Mitchells, and even get a copy of it on the custom marbled vinyl they released it on, go to the band’s Bandcamp site: http://themitchells.bandcamp.com/album/the-mitchells.

The Mitchells will be performing at South Park Tavern on August 16 with Dayton’s own The 1984 Draft and Tender Mercy (Louisville). Doors open at 9pm.

REVIEW: The Big Four of Dayton Release Quadruple CD’s at Courtyard Lounge

August 14, 2014 By Mike Ritchie

(photo by Mike Ritchie)

It wasn’t a stadium or in Sofia, Bulgaria but any of the five bands that played Saturday July 5th could be considered in Dayton’s big thrash four debate. The crowd turned out in droves, jamming the cramped but cozy ‘by metal standards’ space of the Courtyard Lounge into a shroud of die hard, shoulder to shoulder black t-shirts sweating, screaming, yelling along, to Dayton’s ‘metal uniformed’ finest , spilling out into the outside lobby. It was a four band quadruple CD release party and birthday bash for a local guitar hero. Foul Stench’s Blood Orgy, Forces of Nature’s Dark Ages, Eooonmai’s The Witches Hammer and Engine of Chaos’ Uncover the Bones each had new tunes to indulge in while The Reefer Hut came to help kick ass and Horlet played a show off their The Keys of Life and Death release.

Reefer Hut (photo by Mike Ritchie)

The first collaborative-morphing/heavy mixing of Death Rot Productions and Zeently Productions brought a who’s who of the local scene, along with dedicated fans from afar and some from parts unknown in attendance including Shadows in the Hourglass, Killed By Art, Jebenezzer Law, local artist Sam Holliday who designed the cover art for Forces of Nature’s new CD, their reissues along with their new banner and Engine of Chaos’s new release. SITH’s Zack Ryan was also responsible for the blasphemous cover art on The Witches Hammer. Though his music wasn’t performed live, a few choice tracks between sets from TWH were hell spawned out in God defying black metal manor, giving all a loud satanic sample of the battle of inquisition between God, Satan and the witches. Enoonmai’s captured a dark, melodious feast of death, murder and sound torture fit for a midnight graveyard cult ceremony as the symphony of horror movie effects and the walking dead play.

The musical reefer was burning heavy as the thrashing began with Tomorrow is Calling. The personal/professional sacrifices one must make to the dedication and passion of music is a true tale of abuse as the military tank pummeling guitars shovel it out with Pantera sludge and blast beat breakdowns. Inner Pride’s an oldie, but goodie. No Turning Back was written when Adam Baumann was a bit skinnier with plenty of guitar hammer chugging and drum buildup. The Sepultura flavor of Moving Forward was about recovering from the bad times and getting on with it.

Foul Stench (photo by Mike Ritchie)

Dayton’s favorite Horlet’s of Nile meets King Diamond with Iron Maiden’s 666 foot flight above brought the keyboard ambiance along with tunes from their latest offering. From the Clouds started it off and Annabelle’s Curse was played in birthday dedication to one of the pillars of Dayton’s metal foundation Marc Godsey. Siren’s rang out, it’s still f’n hot but fall will soon bring the Signs of Winter and The Awakening followed by crowd pleaser Wings of Ariel, dedicated to a hardcore fan that made the trek from Pennsylvania to attend.

Foul Stench ripped open a set full of blasphemous odes to Dayton’s darker dwellers and places unspoken of, playing a diverse selection from their career catalogue featuring Orgy opener Razor Fist, a two minute slice and dice gusher splattering of serial killer friendly crimson to make Dexter smile with ‘more’ than a single drop of blood. We got a Fake rip and tear off The Bone, punk speed and style. The saw bone guitars of The Gash made way for the deep demon throated Blood Orgy as it slowly chugged, writhing along with a dirty, puritanical misanthropic motion and lust. They rung the five minute doorbell To Hell, recorded behind closed doors. We got Fukd by Eternal Rot and over ten tastes of blackened growled sonic thrash and death flavored assault. Along with the lung caterwauling and pig squealing growl of the King was the mobile and thrashing out Eric Nye with the crowd demanding an encore.

Forces of Nature are legendary in D-town, having played pretty much everywhere and continue to kick ass supporting the scene. They opened sending some love to the Dimebag-Nation with some Domination. Midnight came early with the evil witching sounds of Tate Moore’s unearthly screeching dark hole. A midsummer’s night tune came for those souls graveyard enchanted or so inclined. The Apocalypse came with twisting down the spine guitar riffs and just a generally beautiful uncomfortable feeling. The digging, devastating pummel of Magnus Lee played the picture of an evil hooded spell-caster’s hands hovering over the dark cauldron of mirk and mire. Rotten Tooth’s brutal, thudding pace proved a dentist’s drill is more bad-ass than a doctor’s scalpel. Mary Hates Herself but black metal clad Enoonmai hated her more with a brutal shredding.

A new banner debuted on Forest of Corpses. A.S.O.T’s a musical picture of the carnage and violence the old boob tube shows, while most of America watches the Kardashians and ‘reality’ shows. With high, hypnotizing flames illuminating some yummy looking icing Birthday Boy Marc was offered his ceremonial/sacrificial cake of sweet sin.

Engines of Chaos (photo by Mike Ritchie)

Engine Of Chaos came out with something a bit more or completely different. A set full of Black Sabbathy, rocky metal tunes with funky grooves from their new Uncover the Bones release along with some older stuff. Them ‘Bones’ got started with the CD title track as Scott Toops outshined on the opening of Change. The engine revs and roars as chaos ensued with Toops bringing out the holy rasping Halford. The slower, melodic Unknown slithered like a sweet serpentine alongside Scott’s snake leathered pipes. The guitar notes rippled the intrepid waters of the blues submerged with the Frogs in the Tug River as he blended the whisky-moonshine strong embrace of Dio, Udo and Dickinson. Nick Wheelers bass brought out the 7 Demons and told Lies of all-holy/hypocritical dictators and leaders. Toops and co finished with the Chris Cornel/Wylde wicked cry of the Deceiver.

It was a night of horns up plusses and gains for the local metal community showing the collective collaboration and unity of the scene. When everyone works together, we make s**t happen! The Dayton metal scene added another great stage to its list of venues that appreciate good, heavy, loud music along with the ews of Nielson Hixon reopening one of Dayton’s longtime signature staples, the newly renamed Oddbody’s.

Country Music Super Star Takes The Stage In Franklin

August 7, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro

The Multi-platinum CMA and ACM award winning recording artist has helped shape the sound of Country music for two decades, recently celebrating twenty-years in music. Few country artists have ever known the kind of success that Tracy Lawrence has earned and the influence his iconic voice has contributed to the Country music genre.

The Bacon Brothers To Rock The Greene

August 5, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro

Kevin and Michael Bacon have been writing songs and playing music together since about the same time they may have been fighting over Lincoln Logs or little green Army guys. When we first started, the people who attended our shows came strictly to see Kevin Bacon, the movie star,” says Michael. “Now people come to see and hear The Bacon Brothers.”

Greenfield Project: Elk Creek’s Official Welcoming To Dayton

August 2, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro

Elk Creek are on the final couple of songs of their two-hour stint outside Findlay Market, which is located at Over the Rhine in Cincinnati, Ohio. The cool, summer evening has attracted a fairly decent crowd for the event “Findlay After Five”. The sweet, enticing aromas that local food restaurants Eli’s BBQ and Pho Lang Thang are serving have begun swirling all around the area. Children are running around the vicinity, laughing and smiling from ear to ear. Local breweries Rhinegeist & Christian Moerlein have beers being poured for the adults, as they gather around the small tent that the band is performing under.

On July 1^st, Elk Creek released their first EP, titled Greenfield Project. Greenfield Project features a wide range of different musical compnents and multiple layers within each track. You truly get a little bit of everything when you are listening to Greenfield Project. This energetic EP brilliantly combines the best in blues, folk, and rock throughout the fast-paced seven songs.

During their high school days Aaron Price, Jeremy Brown, and Brad Smith made up the band Hector in their hometown of Trenton, Ohio. “We did alright, played in high school battle of the bands, and we thought we were cool,” Price recalls. Hector ended as soon as the trio all went off to college. Price went on to attend Ohio University and participated in some other bands that ended up fizzling out. Smith studied classical guitar at the University of Cincinnati’s College- Conservatory of Music. Brown got involved in education.

In 2012, Brown, Price, and Smith reconvened back in Cincinnati, and started talking about making music again. This time was different. “The three of us found each other out of a desire to build something better,” Price says. The band, now under the moniker Elk Creek (the name comes from when the band Hector were together and practiced in a house on Elk Creek Road) started to pen songs that they say were more mature. More seasoned. During the writing process, Price recruited drummer Travis Estell. The addition of Estell came with some resistance, however. “We all grew up together and the three of us just feel comfortable with each other”, explained Price.

“We just didn’t want some jerk to join the band (laughter),” Brown jokingly added.

Soon after Estell joined, the band added guitarist Nick Whittenburg. Whittenburg went to the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music at the same time as Estell and they became friends (Smith wasn’t enrolled at that time). When Whittenburg was added to the lineup, the band was going to have him play bass. “Aaron was pretty vocal about it and positive that Nick can play bass,” Brown says. “He said ‘Nick is going to come in, he’s going to bass, and it’s going to be fine.” The band was behind the decision, and felt great about it. One slight problem did present itself-Whittenburg didn’t know how to play bass. “I never picked up or owned a bass before showing up to my first practice,” Whittenburg stated. “We practiced three or four times before we played our first gig.”

At the beginning of this year, Elk Creek had constructed enough songs that they have practiced thoroughly each week. The group spent a large amount of time to not find their sound, but also to help everyone become more acquainted. The period of time doing this allowed them to nail down the songs perfectly.

In the beginning of February, Elk Creek went in and started Greenfield Project at Ultrasuede Studio in Cincinnati. The band worked with engineer Brian Niesz, who resume includes working with hometown darlings Heartless Bastards and Wussy. “The unsung hero of the album is Brian Niesz,” Price says. Whittenburg, who has worked with Niesz before and have become good friends, sold the other members of Elk Creek that the best option was to record the album at Ultrasuede. “It was a little bit of a hard sell at first,” Whittenburg explains. “I was still the new guy in the band, but I really made a push…I don’t know how I sold them on it, but I sold them on it.” Throughout the recording of Greenfield Project, Niesz not only engineered the EP, but he also helped produce it.

After the show at Findlay Market, the group traveled over to MOTR Pub, located still at Over the Rhine. The area surrounding MOTR Pub is celebrating “Final Friday”-the monthly event that celebrates artwork from established artists as well as younger artists from both Cincinnati and out-of-town.

The establishment holds a special place in the Elk Creek’s world. It was the place they all played as a band for the first time earlier this year. It marked the band’s turning point also. No longer did the original three feel the new direction wasn’t going to work. No longer did Whittenburg and Estell feel like the new guys. The show at MOTR Pub officially solidified Elk Creek as a whole.

And Elk Creek will be around for a long time to come.

Elk Creek will be playing at Oregon Express on August 2^nd, along with The New Old-Fashioned and Starving in the Belly of the Whale. Doors open at 9pm.

For more info on the band, and to hear/purchase the EP Greenfield Project, click on the bands website www.elkcreekmusic.com.

“Silent” and Loud: The Gunshy Comes To Dayton

July 23, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro

The open road.

Miles and miles of paved cement that stretches and bends at every turn and direction of the United States. When you are driving on the open road, you take in the sweeping land that is untouched. You take in the wide-ranging view of countryside that surrounds all around you. You roll down the windows and move one of your hands outside. You allow the blowing wind to sway your hand all around. You turn up the radio to the highest volume, proceed to blare your favorite song. The people that accompany you on this journey more important to you than you will ever know.

For Matt Arbogast, the open road is therapeutic. It allows him to escape. Being on the open road helps take care of those voids that are needing to be filled. “I have told my wife every couple of months, I need to get out and get on the road,” Arbogast mentions during a recent phone conversation. “She understands (laughter).”

Arbogast too many is known to be part of the moniker The Gunshy, and he will be stopping by Dayton to play Wednesday night at the Canal Public House alongside Mean Mug, The Florals, Meridian, and Joe Anderl.

The Gunshy released their latest album, Silent Songs, back in September 2013. The album highlights some of Arborgast’s best work to date. His tone when singing is coarse and gritty. “The Independent” is a bombastic opener that sets the tone with roaring strings. The heavy-toned “Getting High In Denver” features some of remarkable and compelling storytelling. Silent Songs emphasizes throughout the album that you need to keep living your life to the fullest and love every moment.

Arbogast grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania-right in the heart of Amish Country. 10 years ago, Arbogast started to notice that his music playing in town has fast approaching an expiration date, and decided to move to Chicago. “Lancaster was a great city,” he explains. “I just wanted to go somewhere else and tryout my music there. Have a chance at least. I figured Chicago would be a great place to do so.” Chicago has treated him well since then. For starters, he met his wife at a show in town. He has made close friends that tour and also live in the city. He also has built a recording studio in Logan Square three years ago called 8AM.

8AM not only has the recording studio, but also the attic is used for acoustic shows and yoga classes. “I wanted to create a space that people could record and feel relaxed,” Arborgast mentions. “I wanted the studio to be a fun place.” Arborgast quickly mentioned afterwards that the title of the studio is 8AM for one main reason. “I want you to come in and get to work. No screwing around. We start early around here.” Establishing 8AM in some ways even helped Arborgast become passionate about music again. At one point-the touring became a hassle for Arborgast. “I got a little burnt out on touring. While tours were slowly starting to get better, it can be tough playing to empty rooms most nights,” Arborgast explained. The mentality of touring has changed now. As mentioned earlier, Arborgast has developed the need and drive to hit the road with the band, and at times-solo.

The future is bright for Arborgast. He plans to start recording other artists in his studio, and releasing records for other people/bands next year. As far as new music from The Gunshy-“I want to make a simple record next,” Arborgast reveals. “Silent Songs has so much happening. I just threw a ton of different instruments into the album that I had laying around. For the next album, I just want to strip it down and get back to basics. Just make it simple.”

For now, the open road is calling. And The Gunshy have responded.

The Gunshy, alongside Mean Mug, The Florals, Meridian, and Joe Anderl will be performing at Canal Public House Wednesday night. 8:30pm. $5 cover.

To hear more from The Gunshy, click onto http://thegunshy.bandcamp.com/.

Local Bands To Reload The 90s Friday Night At Gilly’s

July 23, 2014 By Juliet Fromholt

Friday, July 25th marks the fourth annual 90s Reloaded tribute show, the first time for this particular event, at Gilly’s in downtown Dayton. The show will feature seven local bands performing sets that include both 90s favorites and their own original material, as well as five acoustic performers doing an “in the round” style set, belly dancing, DJ sets and more.

“The 90s is my second favorite musical decade,” says presenter Louie Wood Jr.. “I grew up on five albums: Emf Schubert’s Dip, Jesus Jones’ Doubt, Primitive Radio Gods’ Rocket, Kristen Barry’s The Beginning Is The Middle Is The End and U2’s Achtung Baby. I am a big fan of post punk, electronica, techno, alternative and EDM.”

90s Reloaded is one of several signature shows Wood produces throughout the year including 80s Rewind, which is heading into its sixth year, and Dayton Does Dayton, which will see its fifth Gem City outing in January.

“I think one of the very good things about these shows is that they sometimes present a challenge to musicians. And a very worthy challenge,” Wood says. “I saw this happen from the very start at the 2009 Dayton Dirt Collective Smiths/Morrissey tribute we threw, my very first tribute show. Just a month after that it was a tribute to the Cure, which was just as interesting and fun as the Smiths/Morrissey tribute. Bands get to succeed out of their element at these shows in front of new people. This is a good thing for Dayton.”

The seven bands on Friday night’s bill are all original and will combine their own material with the 90s songs they’ve chosen to cover.

“I let all the bands/musicians choose their cover songs and then ask them to perform their best originals. This of course is so that the bands get the most out of performing at the shows, and so they connect to the audience better.”

This year’s lineup features both new-to-the-scene and well-established acts with a range of styles and ages represented.

“Having lots of styles of music at these tribute show makes them special and a lot of fun, I think it really helps them succeed,” says Wood. “The younger bands that participate in the shows are always very enthusiastic about performing and always put on a good presentation. They are also always very talented; it always creates a cool energy at the beginning of the show to get the party started.”

In addition to the live music, Bronwen Dancer and her regional belly dancing troupe will perform a set as part of the evening’s festivities and Wood will DJ 90s music between sets.

“I like to do fun things while people are waiting for the bands to perform like play TV movie these songs and jingles from that era. People really get a kick out of it.”

HOW TO GO:

Meghna Mahambrey will perform as part of 90s Reloaded

90s Reloaded
Friday, July 25th at 7:30PM
at Gilly’s, 132 S. Jefferson St.
$7 at the door

Lineup includes:
Crazy Damn Good
Cinder Home
Plush
Able Danger
Queen of Hearts
Moroni Lane
Reyna Spears
Meghna Mahambrey
Katherine Mullins
Lost Cause
John Mullen
Daniel White aka Barefoot Dan
a 30 minute belly dance presentation by: Bronwen Dancer and her regional belly dancing troupe

Get the Blues at the 29th Annual Dayton Blues Festival

July 17, 2014 By Juliet Fromholt

Free summer entertainment returns to downtown Dayton’s Dave Hall Plaza (Fourth and Jefferson Streets) on Sunday, July 20, as Recreation and Youth Services presents the 29th annual Dayton Blues Festival, with the finest in local and regional blues from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.The line-up includes:

Joe & Jack Waters – Dayton
The Wright Brothers Band – Dayton
Back Talk Blues Band, featuring Gary ‘Guitar’ Williams – Dayton
The Mojo Kings – Columbus
Mark May Band, with the Soul Horns – Columbus
Cheryl Renee Project – Cincinnati
Joey Gilmore ‘The Blues Legend’ – Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Emcee – Earl “South Side” Hayes

In addition to great blues, there will be food and merchandise vendors, and Heidelberg will offer premium beers. Concertgoers are welcome to bring lawn chairs or blankets. However, shade tents, coolers, pets, outside food and drinks are not permitted. The City of Dayton’s Take Back the Tap Trailer will offer free water (guests are encouraged to bring their own water cup or bottles).

The Dayton Blues Festival is the second of a three-festival Downtown Summer Music Series presented by the Dayton Department of Recreation and Youth Services, and is supported by Heidelberg Distributing, the Downtown Dayton Partnership, the Crowne Plaza Hotel, WROU Radio, and Martin Romie Talent. The Downtown Summer Music Series will continue with the Dayton Reggae Festival on August 31, also at Dave Hall Plaza and with free admission.

Zydeco Master Terrance Simien Returns To Oregon District Music Club

July 5, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro

Two time Grammy winner Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience will make a return to The Trolley Stop on Sun, July 13th at 5pm. Armed with an accordion, an infectious smile, and a voice straight out of a sixties soul hit, Simien has been sharing his innovative approach to zydeco for more than 30 years. Singled out as an “alluring” performer by the Village Voice, he and his band have been in numerous commercials and films, made a memorable appearance in the classic film The Big Easy, and are regulars at the New Orleans Jazz Festival. Ever changing, their sound hearkens back to Creole traditions, and their deep harmonies plus infusions of funk, reggae, and blues evoke a global musical language.

Simien and his business partner/wife, Cynthia, are active in Creole music education and advocacy. They created the “Creole for Kidz & The History of Zydeco” performing arts program, which provides informational performances to K-12 students, teachers and parents. Since it was created in 2001, Creole for Kidz has reached nearly 500,000 students, parents and teachers in more than 20 states, Mali, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Paraguay, Canada and Australia. The Simiens understand the importance of mentoring emerging artists and created MusicMatters, Inc., a non-profit for education and advocacy.

Advance tickets are $13 and we highly recommend you grab these in advance, because based on previous experience the Trolley Stop will be packed for this show. Of course you’ll want to get there early as doors will open up at 1pm for a pre-show picnic where you can order up some gumbo, red beans and rice, or other NOLA favorites!

Ultrasphinx: Bringing The Party From Akron To Dayton

July 2, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro

(Photo courtesy: Ultrasphinx)

Before the band’s gig at Strange Matter in Richmond, Virginia, Ultrasphinx’s bassist Aaron Rogers is coming back from taking some down time and collected some vinyl albums at a nearby record store-Steady Sounds. One of the albums that Rogers tells me he was really interested in diving into a vinyl album of the great Leonard Bernstein conducting rejected works from legendary mind of Beethoven. During our conversation, Rogers had to cut it short temporary and explains that we will have to call me back. It wasn’t him just being bored with our talk, or that he became completely offended with the topics I was bringing up. No-Rogers had to move the band’s van and trailer away from the meter that they had parked by earlier in the afternoon. In Richmond, the law requires you to move your vehicle at least 500 feet after being parked at a meter no more than two hours. After you move at least 500 feet, you can park at a meter again. You can’t just feed the meter that you are parked by. A rather simple solution, you may think. Nope- you just have to move your vehicle. It’s right up there in the ranks of one of the stranger laws to obey, no question.

Ultrasphinx, from the northeast city of Akron, are currently on the final leg of a two week tour. The band consist of Rogers on bass, Ian Cummins on drums, and Joe Dennis on guitar/vocals. They started their tour in Pittsburgh on June 20^th, and it will be ending in Cleveland on July 5^th. The tour will be making a stop here in Dayton at Canal Public House this Wednesday where the band will be joined onstage by Arms Race, Oh Condor and Dinosaurus. Ultrasphinx just released their first self-titled LP this past April.

A little over two years ago Rogers was in a band with a friend that he called a “one-off”, Blockades. The singer of Blockades was formerly from Akron and moved to Los Angeles and would fly in before the few shows that the band played. During his flights, the singers would write lyrics. When he arrived into town, the band would then configure the music to go along. Rogers was in charge of drums for the first couple of shows while the singer played guitar. A couple of shows in, Rogers wanted to try something different. “For the third show, I said that I wanted to play bass, and I knew a guy that will play drums,” Rogers says. He recruited Cummins to come and play drums for Blockades. Rogers knew Cummins through the music scene and had worked with him on other projects. Right from the start, the duo had astonishing chemistry. “We locked in immediately. We needed to find something full time. We need to do something in a real band,” Rogers added.

For Joe Dennis, Ultrasphinx is yet another incredible chapter in his musical lifecycle. For many that were immersed into the grunge movement that took over the collective world, there were the indie bands that were also making some noise on their own terms. Dennis was the lead vocals in the 90s band The Party of Helicopters. The Party of Helicopters developed a regionally cult following after their release of Abracadaver in 1997. The Party of Helicopters would release a couple EPs and another LP Please Believe It before calling it quits in 2004. The band would reunite in 2007, 2009, and 2010. After that, The Party of Helicopters were finished. Dennis since then has been in a few other bands around the Kent/Akron area (The Man I Fell In Love With, Teen Tighteners, Company Picnic).

Two years ago, Rogers received a call from Cummins saying that Dennis wanted to three of them to start up a band. The trio knew each other through the Akron music scene circuit. Rogers would do sound for the bands that Dennis and Cummins would be in, and they all had a mutual respect for another’s music taste. With Cummins and Rogers seeing their dynamic chemistry when playing with Blockades-teaming up with Dennis was going to be what they were looking for. “Ian called me and said that Joe wanted to start a band, and practice was Tuesday,” Rogers recounted when he got the call from Cummins. “And either showed up (laughter). Ian called me an hour later saying that something came up, and let’s shoot for next Tuesday.” The next Tuesday came, and everyone showed up. Ultrasphinx released two songs-the first songs that they worked on as a band, “Left Objects” and “Stoned Hearts” on a split 7” vinyl record with Bad Trouble in February 2013.

In March 2013, Ultrasphinx begun writing for their first LP. The band already had flushed out most of the songs that would be incorporated in the album through playing them during the tour throughout the first year of inception. They booked the recording sessions in Akron at STUDIO TIME with Jason M. Tarulli. Tarulli, who has worked with bands such as Cage the Elephant and Akron’s own The Black Keys, was Ultrasphinx’s first and only choice to help record the album. The trio knew Tarulli pretty well. Rogers assisted Tarulli on some recordings in the past at STUDIO TIME. “We trusted Jason’s ears more than anybody else in the world,” Rogers said. The recording of the songs didn’t long due to the band to lay down, but the vocals were recorded twice. The mixing of the album took a little longer because Tarulli couldn’t finish it due to his schedule. Rogers ended up taking over the mixing soon after.

Throughout the self-titled LP of Ultrasphinx, dazzling blend of overdubs, puncturing riffs, and the Joe Dennis signature dreamy vocals that captured fans of The Party of Helicopters from years past are splashed all over. The songs that accompany this LP will leave you scrambling-trying to keep up with the frenetic pace on most of the songs (most of the songs end before the three minute mark). The album should be well-received by fans from all musical enthusiasts-from metal heads to the underground music followers.

Rogers mentioned that the band will take some time after the current to shift through the hundreds of hours of audio from practices, demos that may be used for new material. The new material has become more of a collective collaboration, Rogers added.

As soon as Rogers was able to get back to the band’s van, and moved it the required 500 feet, he called me back. “We are now parked safely three blocks down,” says Rogers. Enough space so that the police won’t ticket them. The van will still have to be moved one more time. Thankfully for Rogers, Dennis, Cummins, the never-ending venture of moving the van every two hours will be coming to an end at six. After that time, they can park somewhere and won’t have to worry about it anymore.

Oh the joys of being on the road. Especially being in a band.

Ultrasphinx will perform on Wednesday, July 2 at Canal Public House, which is located at 308 E. First St. Dinosaurus, Oh Condor and Arms Race are also on the lineup that night as well. Doors at 9 p.m., $5 cover for patrons 18 and up.

To hear and purchase the album, or more info, click onto the band’s Bandcamp site www.ultrasphinx.bandcamp.com.

Springboro FREE Tues Concerts Kickoff Tonight

July 1, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro

It’s that time of year again for the Amphitheater at North Park to be rockin’ with the sounds of Summer! The City will host a FREE concert every Tuesday night from July 1 to July 29 at 7:00pm.

New this year is the addition of 3 concerts on Friday nights! The Park Board has been discussing ways to offer more concerts with a slightly different genre of music and to attract a more diverse crowd to the performances and Friday night concerts seemed to be a great way to do that! In addition, beer sales will be occurring at the Friday night concerts (only), with the Wee Panthers Football Organization volunteering their time to dispense the beverages, and using the time as a fundraiser. (Please note the Friday night concerts have a 7:30pm start time and may run a little longer than our Tuesday night concerts.) Anyone and everyone are welcome to all the concerts.

The following is the musical line-up that is brought to you by the City of Springboro and the Springboro Park Board. Enjoy!

July 1 – 122nd Army Band: Come out and help support our troops! The 122nd Army Band is a unit in the Ohio Army National Guard. Each year, the band travels throughout the state, performing traditional military band concerts, rock concerts, ceremonies, parades, and other public functions.

July 8 – The Danger Brothers: Thirty plus years of rocking the Midwest, The Danger Brothers vow to continue their long tradition of spine-tingling, eye-boggling, and ear-ringing Rock & Roll! Drawing from a 300 song playlist, each show is a musical journey from the 50’s through the 90’s that gets the crowd involved in every note.

Friday, July 11 (7:30-10:30) – Robin Lacy & DeZydeco: Add a little spice to your life! Come and enjoy New Orleans R & B, Creole Funk, Blues & Zydeco, and Louisiana Style Rock n’ Roll.

July 15 – Ashley Martin: Country rocker Ashley Martin was born and raised in the heart of it all, Ohio! Her country sound and rock n’ roll attitude, set her apart.

Friday, July 18 (7:30-10:30pm) – McGuffey Lane with opening act Jonalee White: McGuffey Lane is a country rock band from central Ohio. One of our biggest acts to date!

July 22 – The Rusty Griswolds: All music from the 1980’s…..enough said!!!!

Friday, July 25 (7:30-9:30pm) – Phil Dirt & The Dozers: America’s premier “Rock ‘N R’oldies” review (and the most popular vintage rock and roll show in the nation) will help you recapture those wonderful days! With their musical talent, high energy and contagious sense of humor, Phil Dirt & The Dozers will transport you to another time and place . . . namely, the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s of Rock and Roll!

July 29 – Kettering Civic Band: The Kettering Civic Band originated in 1959 as a 12-member ensemble.

Cityfolk Festival Reunion: Celebrating Dayton’s Past Concert Event One Last Time

June 20, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

To many around the Dayton area, the three-day Cityfolk Festival was one of the high points of the summertime. Alongside the extraordinary events that are sprinkled throughout the year, one of the most anticipated to attend was the Cityfolk Festival. The event was created after the National Folk Festival ended its three-year stay here in town. The festival brought artists from around the world and would share their diverse artistic traditions. The performances stressed the importance of building partnerships and engaged collaborations of all ages. From the early days of being in downtown to setting up at Riverscape-Cityfolk Festival was one of the many bright spots that shined on the Dayton community.

Unfortunately the funding for the festival and other programs that Cityfolk put together suffered due to the low attendances. One contributing factor was the weather conditions the past couple years. Some major companies that contributed and sponsored the music stages during the occasion left town. These factors all came into play when the committee decided to pull the plug on this year’s festival. It devastated and disappointed a great deal of festival goers.

For Sunni Russo, the Cityfolk Festival was special to her. Coming from New Jersey and moving here 20-plus years ago, Russo started volunteering at the information booth, and then moved to the musical side of the show. “They used to record the performances for archiving. So, my volunteer job was to sit with the sound guy, make sure the tape recorder was going and try to record the name of the songs,” says Russo. Russo got the position of running the music stages in 2003, a position she would run for the next 11 years. Russo, like the many that had the opportunity to volunteer and/or be in a higher role, were devastated that Cityfolk folded.

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Coordinator Sunni Russo pictured on the right

When Russo got word that Cityfolk was finished, she was talking to one of the other volunteers that she worked closely with made a comment
that would spark an idea. “One of the guys-Charlie Parker, he worked stage tech over the years, said would it be cool if we just showed up the third week of June on Courthouse Square and wear our favorite t-shirts and talk about good times. A little light bulb went off in my head.” The suggestion of Parker will now become reality on June 22^nd. At the Courthouse Square in downtown Dayton, the Cityfolk Festival Reunion will be taking place from 1-7pm.

Throughout the Cityfolk Festival Reunion, the event will feature musical acts from past and present. Paige Beller and Danny Voris will be performing while past Cityfolk acts Corndrinkers, Son del Caribe will be returning. Also joining the musical acts is the Stivers Jazz Combo. Food vendors Hunger Paynes, Brock Mastersons Catering-Events, El Meson Express, and for dessert Ritters Frozen Custard will be at the festival. The Zoot Theatre Company will be having a station set up for the children. The kids will be able to construct finger puppets or get their faces painted. Also set up for the children will be the “Community Canvas”-canvases will be set up for them to paint whatever strikes them at that moment. If you want to bring your own cooler, Russo mentioned that they will be permitted. For the attendees, it’s encouraged to bring your own seating.

Cityfolk Festival Reunion is shaping up to be an extraordinary day for people to celebrate and embrace the good times that the original Cityfolk Festival brought so many years. Russo mentioned that there are some talk of possible having the reunion return next year, but for now she just wants folks to enjoy this year’s occasion. “The whole goal is for everyone to come and have a good time.”

Cityfolk Festival Reunion music schedule:

1:00 – Paige Beller

1:45 – Danny Voris

3:00 – Stivers Jazz Combo

4:00 – Corndrinkers

5:30 – Son del Caribe

Where: Courthouse Square, Main and Third St., Dayton

When: 1 to 7 p.m. June 22 (Sunday)

Cost: Free

More info: [email protected]

Steve Makofka: Life/Music Getting ‘Back To Normal’ In Revealing EP

June 18, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

(Photo Courtesy: Jennifer Clarke)

Walking up to Fifth Third Field, you will notice the usual fanfare of Dragons shirts, jerseys, hats that people will be proudly displaying as they enter the ballpark. There will be the folks walking up and down the sidewalks. Some with large groups of other individuals. Some simply walking solo. The area around Fifth Third Field is starting to really come back to life. For a period of time, the area surrounding the minor league stadium was dormant. What were empty, decaying buildings are now becoming and/or transitioning to restaurants and shopping centers. What was the old Buckeye Brass & Iron Foundry in the 30s is now residence to Warped Wing Brewery, one of the fastest growing breweries around the area. New luxury apartments are starting to pop up-giving more of an excuse for people to continue to move closer into the city. Also seeing some new life being up into it is the formally known Canal Street Tavern. Currently under the name Canal Public House, the music venue is merely steps away from the ballpark. When you come down on weekends this summer before the first pitch, you will find singer/songwriter Steve Makofka playing the piano.

For the past couple of years, Makofka has been also going through some changes within his life. During this time, he has become more involved in the music scene and has released his debut EP Back To Normal. Makofka went in to record Back To Normal in December of 2013 at F.M. Records in Dayton, Ohio. The recording of the EP only took an all-day session, Makofka mentioned. Makofka was able to record the EP so quickly was mostly in part with the band that he assembled. Local Dayton musicians guitarist Todd theFox, bassist Chris Barnett, drummer Jay Madewell have all backed Makofka throughout the open mics around Dayton, including the now departed RnR Playdate. The group played the songs that are on the EP during the allotted times during the events. The familiarity is also the reason that the band was chosen. “I had to use those musicians is because I felt like the songs themselves would have suffered without the chemistry…the songs, the music, the style-all grew up together with those people,” Makofka said.

Makofka officially moved to the Dayton area in 2000. Originally residing in the outskirts of Atlanta, Makofka took a minister position at a church in Centerville. For 25 years, Makofka followed his passion for ministry after attending Grace College. For 25 years, Makofka taught and guided others through his instruction and faith. He would prepare couples for marriage as being their counselor. He would be involved with events within the congregation. Over time, however, Makofka decided to step down. Makofka’s enjoyment of teaching and helping while being in the ministry life led him to go into substitute teaching for a period of time. Nevertheless, playing music and performing became Makofka’s love.

To some, they view Makofka’s music as his way to continue being able to preach. To Makofka, he sees it at a different vision. To him-the simple pleasures of playing and the connecting with people are what really drives his music.

The concept of Makofka’s introspective EP Back To Normal explores and summarizes the past four years of his life. From working small stints at Kings Island to the housewares department at a retail store during a holiday season to working in a music store influenced the old school country, honky tonk opener “Something Else”. “Back To Normal Blues” has Makofka coming to the realization that the way life was will not be coming back (I can’t get what I want/And I guess that’s just too bad/If I can’t get what I want I’ve got to learn to want what I have). “February In Dayton”, the acoustic tune which highlights Makofka’s stellar play on the accordion, talks of the feelings we all experience during the winter season. Shaun O’Shaugnessy, who was the engineer of the EP, allows Makofka and company the freedom to be raw and unpolished. Just the way the band played these songs at the open mics around Dayton. “I wanted to capture that on this album”, Makofka explained.

The road of life hasn’t been the straight and narrow that Steve Makofka thought it would be. The year’s post-ministry life have thrown him more curveballs than a Major League baseball pitcher tosses at an opposing batter. However, Makofka has found happiness and joy through his love of making music and performing them to live audiences.

Performing especially to those that will be walking up to the ballpark on those gorgeous summer nights this year.

C. Wright’s Parlour Tricks, The June Jazz featured on Sound Check Chat podcast

June 16, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

The Sound Check Chat podcasts with Andrew Low of The Jazz June and Christopher Wright of C. Wright’s Parlour Tricks went live on Friday, June 13 via iTunes and Stitcher.

While magazines and blog interviews often provide a peek behind the curtain and into the minds of music’s best musicians, every interviewer knows that there are nuances of humor, sarcasm, honesty, and even sadness that are left on the tape. Even the best journalist, one who gets close to translating the experience of hearing someone’s thoughts and words in their own voice, could never quite share 100 percent of that experience.

Appreciating this phenomenon, Dayton-based music journalist Tim Anderl (of YouIndie.com, Ghettoblaster Magazine, New Noise Magazine, etc.) teamed with Frank Steele, a professional media and video producer (Frame Jump Music Videos), to create the Sound Check Chat podcast. The podcast shares the experience of dialing up a musician or talking to them one-on-one, face to face. The podcast will typically drop on the first and 15^th of every month.

On March 15, 2014, the podcast launched via iTunes, as well as at the Sound Check Chat website. Previous podcasts included interviews with one-half of Insane Clown Posse, Violent J, JT of Hawthorne Heights, Grieves, Drew of Circle Takes The Square, Joe and Justin of The 1984 Draft, and Andy of Buffalo Killers.

Download the podcast at iTunes here: http://goo.gl/cIF7G0 or  https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-check-chat-music-lovers/id841331756

In addition to the podcast, Sound Check Chat provides a show notes page providing background behind the podcast and artists covered, as well as links to topics discussed on the show.

Additional details about future podcasts, including those already in progress with Those Mockingbirds, Beebs and Her Moneymakers, Tiger Flowers, and more are forthcoming. The podcasts are sponsored by Topshelf Records.

‘On The Inside’ Is Quite Special-Just Ask Colleen Badenhop

June 13, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro Leave a Comment

(Photo courtesy: Jennifer Taylor Clarke)

It was a chilly, mid-morning day when I met up with singer/songwriter Colleen Badenhop. When she walked up to our meeting location, I noticed that she was wearing a thin hooded zip-up sweater. The sweater couldn’t barely keep anyone warm on this day. However, Badenhop had a good reason for the clothing choice. “We are in the process of moving,” explains Badenhop. “All of my warm clothes are in boxes [laughter].” For Badenhop moving into a new home is just one of many things happening as of late. She recently finished her eleventh year of teaching music in the Kettering City Schools, and she will be releasing her debut album On the Inside today.

Badenhop grew up in the little town of Wauseon, Ohio, about 45 minutes away from Dayton. Her mother would play the piano and the organ while her father would sing in the church choir. Badenhop picked up playing the piano when she was young through reading music and watching her mother, and once she started attending Bowling Green, she started to get a better understanding of chord structure. As soon as she started to write songs, Badenhop started to become more serious about playing the piano. She started to dive deeper into learning and practicing. Following college, Badenhop married her high school sweetheart, and they migrated to the Dayton area.

Around 2012, Badenhop started to throw around the idea of exploring going further with her music. “I didn’t know how get from point A to point B at all”, said she. “I wasn’t sure what I do, who to talk to, how much it was going to cost.” She started off small-going to establishments and performing karaoke every week. “I would learn the songs that I wanted to sing that night. I would get on YouTube and learn the song really well,” Badenshop explained. Attending each week started to give the crowd a sense that Badenhop was destined to be doing more than already released music. “Someone told me that I should write my own songs. I would say to them that I should, but I don’t have anything to write about [laughs].”

Over time, those doubts of not having anything to write about washed away. Badenhop mentioned that she had some emotional moments that fueled some of her writing. Although she didn’t specifically mention what happened, Badenhop talked about how she starting forming moments into music. She sang the newly formed songs in her mind and would play them on the piano. Badenhop reached out and messaged another local singer/songwriter Jayne Sachs, who she was a fan of. Sachs became a mentor of sorts for Badenhop and explained that she needed to go out to places like Canal Public House and perform.

On the Inside was recorded at Babblefish Studios in Franklin, Ohio. The album, which was part of a successful Kickstarter campaign, was started in September of 2013 and ended in January. The recording was spread out, with Badenhop and her band recording mostly on weekends. During the recording process, Badenhop really wanted to have her hands in every part of the process down to the design of the album artwork. “I found out I was a little bit of a control freak [laughter],” Badenhop jokingly said.

The lyrics throughout On the Inside spotlight the full spectrum of human emotional experiences. Songs like the soft, gentle “Home Again” (When I lay down with you/I am home again/Enclosed in your arms/I am free again) to “Story” (If you were a boat/I’d be your river) highlight love and hope. Alongside are tales of loss and frustration-“A Comfortable Veil” and “The Last One to Know”. For fans of singer/songwriters like Ben Folds and Sara Bareilles, Badenhop’s On the Inside will be right on.

Colleen Badenhop will be releasing her debut On the Inside today, and we will be one half of the CD release show at Yellow Cab. Badenhop will be sharing the stage with local musician Steve Makofka tonight. Showtime is 8pm. $5 admission. To hear more from Colleen Badenhop, click onto her Reverbnation website here.

Jazz Up Father’s Day with “Women in Jazz”

June 10, 2014 By Dayton Most Metro 1 Comment

The Downtown Dayton Summer Music Series kicks off on Father’s Day (Sunday, June 15) with the 32^nd Annual Women in Jazz Festival, from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Dave Hall Plaza (Fourth at Jefferson). Admission is free.

The line-up includes Chicago-based headliner the Petra van Nuis Quartet, featuring guitarist Andy Brown. Other performers include: Donna & Friends; Audrey Whitaker; Kate Ross; Sabrina Tutstone & Friends; The Jazz Central Band featuring The Ladies of Jazz Central; and April Aloisio with the Phillip Burkhead Trio.

A variety of food and merchandise vendors will be present, with free water provided by the Dayton Water Department. Lawn chairs, blankets, empty water bottles and individual umbrellas are welcome. Outside food or beverages, coolers and tents are not permitted.

The Women in Jazz Festival is presented by the City of Dayton Department of Recreation and Youth Services, with support from the Downtown Dayton Partnership, Heidelberg Distributing, Crowne Plaza Dayton, WROU Radio and Martin Romie Talent.

The City of Dayton’s Downtown Summer Music Series will continue with the Dayton Blues Festival (Sunday, July 20) and the Dayton Reggae Festival (Sunday, August 31). Both events will be held at Dave Hall Plaza, with free admission.

For more information, call 333-8400.