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Davis Rogan Band Comes Marching in to Canal Street **Ticket Contest**

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6If you take the enthusiasm and playfulness of early New Orleans rhythm and blues, add to that the cynical wit of Randy Newman, the rock meets jazz sensibilities of early Steely Dan, and the mocking humor that runs through the works of Professor Longhair, Allen Toussaint, Frank Zappa, and Earl King, you begin to describe the music of “The Real Davis,” Davis Rogan.

Davis Rogan grew up in New Orleans, and even though he can cook a mean gumbo, he doesn’t sweat red beans and rice nor does he indulge in neon red drinks in glasses named for storms. He DJ’ed on both Tulane’s station WTUL and the New Orleans community radio WWOZ, and hustled for gigs in the early 1990s. In his head, he had an idea to start a band with “a blend of hip-hop sensibility and New Orleans brass band with some classic New Orleans funk,” as he said in an Offbeat article in 2002. “That, and a big ass horn section.” That band became the first and foremost funk/rap/New Orleans band, All That. The band was signed to roots music powerhouse Rounder Records and put out two great albums, Eponymous Debut and the Whop Boom Bam.

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Later he emerged with a bunch of songs that became his first solo record, The Once and Future D.J. The record was lost to the floodwaters of the Katrina levee failures, but another copy surfaced. And in the first issue that New Orleans music magazine Offbeat put out after the flood, critic John Swenson gave it a deservedly great review. Now here’s the twist in this story. Producer David Simon, head honcho of the rightly revered HBO series The Wire. reads the review and hears the record as he is researching a new series about post-Katrina New Orleans that he is going to pitch to HBO. He loves the record enough to base a character on Davis Rogan. That’s how we get to The Real Davis, in contrast to the “The Cable Davis” played by the great Steve Zahn on Treme.

Davis makes New Orleans tradition true to today, yesterday, and at least two weeks from today. But even if you don’t know that, you’ll still dig the record. It’s got that inimitable, indescribable thing that could be called heart. Or soul.

Davis Rogan  performs at Canal Street Tavern on  Friday, Aug 16th  at 8pm as  part of the “NOLA Summer in Dayton” Concert Series sponsored by Abita Brewing Company and presented by Yeah You Right Music Inc. Tickets can be purchased online or  by contacting [email protected].

MostMetro.com will be sending a lucky reader and a guest to the show.  To register just leave a comment on why you should win the tickets and  register below.  Winner will be randomly selected this Wed, Aug 1th.

Our contest has ended.

5 Bands To See At Miami Valley Music Fest 2013

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The Miami Valley Music Festival Association is hosting their annual event, Miami Valley Music Fest, this weekend at Eagle’s Campgrounds in Troy, Ohio.  The festival began in 2006 and has been growing ever since.  The weekend gives the attendees a weekend of camping, fantastic live music all day and night, food from local vendors, visual art displays by local artists, dance performances.  Also at the festival you will find informational booths hosted by local charities.  Throughout the weekend, the musical line-up will feature rock, blues, bluegrass, reggae, electronic artists and bands.  With so much great music being played, here are 5 acts to catch this weekend:

 

 

 

 

Such A Night

Jeff Opt’s version of the well-acclaimed documentary of The Band’s last live performance has taken the area by storm.  The first show at Gilly’s electrified the crowd.  The second show at Southgate House Revival at Newport, Kentucky gave folks outside of town an extraordinary view of what local music in Dayton is all about.  This next stop shouldn’t be any different.  There have been a few changes in the lineup, but the show is still top-notch.  The level of play that each musician brings continues to show the appreciation of the original.  For people who haven’t had the chance to see the show, this weekend’s act will be one to not miss.  For those who have seen the performance, expect the same excellence.

 

Lost on Iddings

All around the world, there are so many great jam bands.  The Grateful Dead and Phish are two that have seen their popularity continue to soar.  Dayton has their share of jam bands, as well.  One band in particular, Lost on Iddings, are starting to place their name into the jam bands to not miss when they perform.  The band comprises of individuals who according to their website allow each member to ‘express themselves fully through their own style of play’.  The festival location’s hometown band will give the festival patrons an infectious blend of ska and rock in some of their music.  The guitar play from the band is open and airy, very free-flowing.  Some of their music also incorporates some country influence.  Jam band fans will be craving for more once Lost on Iddings finish their set.

 

https://soundcloud.com/lost-on-iddings/greater-understanding

 

 

 

Stillwater River Band

For the folks who enjoy bluegrass, Stillwater River Band will give the audience what they are looking for.  To the folks that haven’t really immersed themselves in the genre, give these fellas a look while at the weekend festival.  SRB plays the classic American root sound beautifully while also giving it a present day feel.   The play of the strings and the vocals possess a wide range of emotion.  Festival goers will be watching a band that is heavily influenced from the music that is played in the mountains.  Grab a dance partner while watching SRB play, because their music will get you moving.

 

 

 

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Gin-Soaked Angels

Yellow Springs is a special place for those who know it well.  The town hangs it hat on being heavily centered on the arts.  Gin-Soaked Angels stem from the town, and are a great representation.  They consider their music genre ‘soul-rock/electric gypsy-punk’.  To the listener, they will hear a heavy dosage of electro-acoustic guitar play, hypnotic percussions with moody vocals.  Gin-Soaked Angels have a laid-back vibe to them to will suit the late night crowd perfectly.  The band has just started getting their feet with being a band, and playing at the Miami Valley Music Fest is just a great way to get some exposure.

 

The Repeating Arms

A set from The Repeating Arms cannot be missed.  The group has a sleepy folk sound that will undoubtedly leave people feeling as good as they will ever feel.  Each song maintains a simply assortment of rock that is has a Southern twist to it.  One of their best songs to date, the psychedelic-driven ‘Pigeon’, only bulks up their range.  The Repeating Arms, like the Gin-Soaked Angels, are still fresh in the music scene in town.  Be expecting this band to be a band that everyone will be talking about after the weekend is over.  They should be the show that will be one of the best of the event. To hear music from the band, click here.

 

 

 

The 2013 Miami Valley Music Fest will be taking place today and tomorrow at the Eagle’s Campgrounds in Troy, Ohio.  Tickets are on sale for $45/weekend, $35/Saturday only, and $25/Friday only.  For more on who is will be performing, click here.

REVIEW: Geoff Tate Brings Mindcrime to Columbus

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Wednesday June 19 the original voice of Queensryche, Geoff Tate brought the 25th Anniversary of the epic 1988 concept record Operation Mindcrime tour to Newport Music Hall for a night of Queensryche classics and the Operation Mindcrime experience start to finish.

Something Unto Nothing opened the show.

Something Unto Nothing opened the show.

For his version of the Ryche, Tate enlisted former Ozzy, Quiet Riot, Whitesnake and Dio bassist Rudy Sarzo, AC/DC, Something Unto Nothing skinsman Brian Tichy on drums, guitarist Kelly Gray of Queensryche/Myth fame, Hurricane’s Robert Sarzo, and keyboardist Randy Gane of Myth to help spread the Mindcrime to thousands of adorning fans across the country. LA’s Something Unto Nothing and Ireland’s The Voodoos warmed up the crowd.

S.U.N. opened the show proving that loud sound and intense musical power can come from two people with only a few instruments. The blond dancing swaying bayou queen Miss Sass Jordan came out to the beat of a Cajun groove, pouring her whisky strong voice into the mic over the crowd, like a mystic enchanting spell carried by silent swamp water. If Janis Joplin got in a cat fight with Grace Slick, Miss Jordan’s voice would be the winner. By the time they’re done, she’s Burned her image and performance into our minds and ears. She takes us on a trip down to Uncle Tom’s cabin to be Razed voodoo style with a little help from Zeppelin. Drummer Tichy can make thunder come out of one large kick-drum as the two person band make incredible music come out of a drum, cymbal, acoustic guitar, tambourine and Jordan’s voice. An electric acoustic never sounded so heavy. Jordan’s a tambourine shaking flower child as she foot stomps through tales of the mighty backwater river and the mysteries buried deep in the swamp muck. Once they go down that one way road over sacred, burial ground there’s No Way Home for these traveling Nomads. Tichy’s first show was Kiss’s Dynasty tour at age 10 inspiring him to hit the drums. Making a surprise early appearance the Ryche’s Kelly Gray came out to play Maybe I’m Amazed.

The Voodoos

The Voodoos

From Ireland comes a special kind of electric voodoo played by the five-some from Cork known as The Voodoos. Mark Daly brings a Dave Grohl/Chris Cornell look to his stage presence as they sprinkle some old fashioned rock n roll dust on the audience blending bluesy angst ridden rock with a jam band experience. The band opens with those sinister Black Walls, telling the audience there’s two sides to every story but there’s Nowhere to Run. Daly pulls out the Cobain anger and sorrow as his hearts Torn Apart. They finish with Don’t Listen.

Queensryche’s third record, considered both a concept album and a rock opera, follows the story of a drug addict who becomes disillusioned with the Reagan led society of his time and reluctantly becomes involved in a revolutionary group as an assassin of political leaders. In January 1989, it reached No. 34 on Kerrang magazine’s 100 greatest heavy metal albums of all time, certified platinum in 1991. I Don’t Believe in Love was nominated for a Grammy in 1990. During the Empire tour, Mindcrime was performed in its entirety with video footage, animation and a guest singer as Sister Mary and was released as Operation LIVEcrime. The story was also explored in a series of video clips that aired on MTV and in the 1989 VHS, Video: Mindcrime. It was re-released with bonus tracks in 2003 and as a box set in 2006.

Operation Mindcrime underway on the Newport stage

Operation Mindcrime underway on the Newport stage

The album begins with main character Nikki laying catatonic in the mental ward unable to remember anything from his past but snippets. In a moment of complete realization, everything floods back as he remembers being a heroin addict and political radical in the making manipulated into joining a secret new world order organization dedicated to starting revolution and used as a pawn for political assassination. Lead by the devious Dr. X, Nikki was manipulated by his addiction and brainwashed by the ‘good’ Dr., becoming his murderous puppet whenever he spoke the word ‘mindcrime’. Through one of the doctor’s associates, Father William, Nikki’s offered the services of Sister Mary, a prostitute turned nun. Through their association Nikki begins questioning the true nature of what he’s doing. Dr X notices, seeing the threat of clarity Mary represents he orders Nikki to kill her and the priest. Nikki kills the priest, and confronts Mary but doesn’t kill her after they both decide to leave the organization. He tells the doctor they’re done but is reminded that only he can provide Nikki with his fix. Nikki leaves to find Mary dead. Unable to cope with the loss or the unknown possibility that he might have done it under ‘mindcrime,’ insanity creeps in. He runs through the streets screaming until subdued by the police. A gun is found and he’s taken in under suspicion of the Dr. X murders. Suffering complete memory loss he’s placed in a bed until seeing a news report of the spree jogs his memory.

The lights go out as the crowd roars and the sounds of the disinfected, sterile, bland mental hospital room blend with the anticipation and tension of the crowd awaiting anarchy, revolution and mindcrime. Nikki is sufficiently sedated by the disgusted nurse leaving him to his tidal wave recall. His memories come through the speakers through Tate’s voice as he remembers how it started…

Master of Mindcrime ceremonies, Geoff Tate

Master of Mindcrime ceremonies, Geoff Tate

Gray and the Sarzo brothers start the soaring guitars as Gane hits the keyboard background, and Tichy marches the drumbeat bringing out the music of Anarchy-X as the doctor yells impassioned propaganda at the Columbus crowd from his loud audio podium. The guitars slowly build toward the entrance/appearance of Mr. Tate as Revolution’s Calling. The bald, goateed voice of the Ryche since ‘82 comes out eyes mysteriously hidden by trademark shades, decked in leather to speak the truth the media won’t tell us. For a price he’ll tell us the story, and we give him a pretty good cause. The years/decades may change but the cynicism and corporate/government greed stay the same, who do you trust when everyone’s a crook? The phone rings, Dr. X starts Nikki’s Operation:Mindcrime telling the drug riddled puppet it’s time to change the system and kill for the underground revolution with the sinister sounding guitars playing an early painting of the dramatic violence to come closing with Tate’s sorrow filled wail and the mob growing restless. Several months in, Nikki’s become the doctor’s most valuable colleague; his missions of murder/assassination have given him a godlike ego and he believes himself to be a one man trigger happy messiah of world change, disparaging the old system, completely submerged in Dr. X’s new global empire. The guitars speak of Nikki’s new life mindset/determination to ‘make a difference’ in his own way with their fast paced speed and heaviness while the bass underlines his new found power.  Speak the word: the word is revolution, it’s all of us. Speak! After Wright’s killer drum solo, they introduce former working girl Sister Mary into the story. She was pulled from the dead end nightly street walks by Father William who saves her and ordains her as a nun, seemingly freeing her from Spreading the Disease but soon after his true colors emerge, taking favors from her in payment for giving her ‘salvation’. The music has a treacherous feel as it’s played over dirty lyrics of sex and greed used to infect the masses. The pattern of love, sex and betrayal continues as it’s revealed that the good father is a close friend and supporter of Dr. X who offers Mary as a fringe benefit for Nikki’s loyalty. The Mission begins months later with Nikki sitting in his room, watching TV in the darkness, the evil of his deeds and guilt in his conscience catching up as the adrenaline and high of the kill have dissipated.  Moving illumination flickers from the victims’ candle light shrines he’s made in despair. Father William preaches as a bullet shatters the TV, starting a beautiful guitar melody as Tate’s vocals pour out pain and sorrow like rain shadowing the voices of Nikki’s victims then turning into the voice of his psyche. The guitars sear solos of his hopeless anguish. His humanity is slipping away, the only thing keeping his emotions alive is time spent with Mary. He is slowly falling in love with her. Doctor X decides that Suite Sister Mary and the priest are weak links in his plans and instructs Nikki to do the deed. More haunting melody as the Latin chants of judgment sound off in the background. New found clarity and morality conflict with obedience/obligation to his father figure. Tate’s voice serenades high telling Mary’s story. He confronts her and realizes he cannot kill the only happy thing in his life. He confesses why he came. Sass Jordan returns to the stage singing as Mary telling Tate/Nikki she wants to die for her sins yet he still can’t pull the trigger proving his true love and they share themselves on the altar as the thunder and rain pour outside.  The Needle Lies to every addict, and Nikki’s no exception as he goes to assassinate his final victim, Doctor X and start a new life with Mary. Unfortunately their experience left Mary struggling with the memories of Father William’s sins and she falsely sees Nikki as just another man who used her. The doctor holds the power of Nikki’s addiction over him and he leaves defeated, returning to the church to find Mary dead in her room.

The story never tells the specifics of Mary’s demise and remained an intentional mystery, with fans surmising their own theories, until the secret was revealed on 2004’s An Evening with Queensryche tour.  A quick Google search will yield both the “official” story and lots of fun fan theories.

Sass Jordan joins Geoff Tate onstage to sing the part of Sister Mary

Sass Jordan joins Geoff Tate onstage to sing the part of Sister Mary

Her Electric Requiem begins as he stares down at her body, the keyboard pouring dark waves of panic, shock and anger. High pitched guitar notes crack in his brain, slowly crumbling his sanity into the gutters. As madness seeps in, he runs through the streets screaming her name, his mind a flood.  With his frantic mind Breaking the Silence and psyche crumbling, he makes one last trip back to the church to try and find answers only to be swarmed by police. He’s connected to the political assassination they don’t know he’s guilty of yet and Mary’s murder which he’s presumably innocent of, his belief in love gone. He’s booked and convicted as the haunting guitars play a beautifully simplistic duet of Waiting for 22. He sits in his Empty Room, his mind weaving in and out of rational sanity trying to figure out what happened to Mary, his last moments of clarity and what used to be his life. He looks up at his reflection in the TV staring into the Eyes of a Stranger, his fate, repeating these memories over and over.

The band finishes the performance, leaving the stage in darkness and the crowd screaming for more.

They reappear after the livecrime to comfort with some Silent Lucidity, the best they can. They pull out a surprise new song from Frequency Unknown bringing the Cold. I’m American from Operation Mindcrime II ending with the Jet City Woman flying over the Empire Tate helped build since ’82.

REVIEW: Rock On The Range Weekend Sells Out Crew Stadium

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May 17th, 18th and 19th 2013’s Rock on the Range lineup played Columbus’s Crew Stadium to a jammed packed house each night. On three consecutive days the weekend music festival known for bringing in rock, metal and other diverse acts and talent jammed 20,145 hot, sweaty, sunburnt fans into its bleachers and floor for an all-day festival with bands performing on three stages.

Starting as a one day show in 2007 headlined by ZZ Top, Evanescence and Velvet Revolver, Rock on the Range’s success brought a two day show in 2008 featuring the return of Stone Temple Pilots with co-headliners Disturbed on Saturday and Kid Rock/Three Doors Down on Sunday. Since then it has delivered global headliners Slipknot, Alice in Chains, Korn, Motley Crue, Godsmack, Limp Bizkit, Rob Zombie, A Perfect Circle, Marilyn Manson and Megadeth. This year the event expanded to three days to include 50 bands on the Monster Energy Main Stage and the Jagermeister and Pabst Blue Ribbon Stages.

Friday’s first ever opening day included In Flames, Oleander, Mindset Revolution, American Fangs and Xfactor1 on the Jager Stage, with Love and Death, Hollywood Undead, Buck Cherry, Cheap Trick and Korn headlining. Saturday’s Jager Stage had Scorpion Child, Gemini Syndrome. Heavens Basement, Red Line Chemistry and Clutch while the Pabst Stage gave us Young Guns, Otherwise, Motionless in White, Black Veil Brides, Asking Alexandria and a Day to Remember. The Monster Stage played Pop Evil, All That Remains, Grammy Award winning Halestorm, Bullet For My Valentine, Papa Roach, Three Days Grace, Stone Sour and Smashing Pumpkins.

As an added bonus for fans who wanted to piss themselves laughing, the Old Milwaukee Comedy tent hosted stand up from 6pm-8pm featuring Bill Squire, Bob Cook, Big Jay Aokerson, That Metal Show’s Jim Florentine and Ari Shafir on Saturday and Bill Arrundale, Dan Swartwout, Rod Pauletta, Big Jay Oakerson and Jim Florentine on Sunday.

Error 504 (courtesy of Chris A Photography)

Error 504 (courtesy of Chris A Photography)

Sunday brought the weekend’s finale to a crowded, smoldering, loud close. The diversity that ROTR is built on was displayed in full force. Opening the morning’s festivities on the Jager stage was the 2013 Battle for Rock on the Range winners Error 504, who bested 6 other Columbus finalists and 36 other bands collectively to be there. They opened with Give it Away with vocal help from the lovely Miss Kelsey Mayer busting into The Reckoning then delivering the Lil’ Red devil when bassist Jon Banks got temporarily possessed by Satan on the mic. Alex Mayer takes a quick sight-seeing trip on the hot pavement playing the loud welcoming committee everyone came to see.

Atlanta’s O’Brother played a set from their Garden Window and new Disillusion CDs, noise heavy in ambience, effects and delivery. Lo is the opening rocker with hints of The Cure. O’Brother must be heard in the proper Context to be truly appreciated, such as the heavy grinding growling guitars and atmospheric tint of high vocals. Lay Down begins in a tricky sea of guitar sound submergence echoing sounds of whale notes from Johnny Dang’s guitar playing along an eerily calm Robert Smith sounding Tanner Merritt. They get spastically heavy for a few seconds then creepy composure’s restored until the heavy downpour hits and never stops. The next song is full of Perilous Love from a dangerous obsessed mind rocking in a dark corner somewhere. In conclusion, welcome my friends… welcome to The Machines Part I & II, two loud heavy breathing noise mashers. Stormy guitar sounds with a surrealistic melancholy Deftones feel and high pitch cooing to Bush like vocals. They’ll be touring with Native and Daylight through August and September.

Thousand Foot Krutch brought the icy chills from Ontario Toronto to the Columbus stage, letting the sparks fly. They get wicked with the crowd as the human body parts fly, bash around and run into each other. Next, the title track for their new release The End Is Where We Begin. They broke out the War of Change then it was time for the crowd and pit to Move and get a little sweaty kicking a hole in the sky. They have a bad case/habit of turning it up (too loud) so it was time to Fire it Up and excuse them while they Light Up The Sky.

Sacramento’s Middle Class Rut played some multi- dimensional tunes for fans unaccustomed to what a duo should be able to pull off, so they brought the band too. Zack Lopez poured out some Perry Farrell throated vocals singing about dear Aunt Betty then took things to a New Low. They’re busy touring and Busy Being Born into the scene. Then started the road race playing Alive or Dead from the Need for Speed: The Run soundtrack.

Ghost (courtesy of Chris A Photography)

Ghost (courtesy of Chris A Photography)

Deuce finished the day’s Jager fueled lineup playing a combination of rock, rap and Linkin Park meets Iggy Pop.  The former voice of Hollywood Undead opened with the Undead, then got the crowd Crackin, just like Mr. Cooper, Nobody Likes him either. He plays theater putting on the masked face revealing two sides to his ultra-ego, finishing with his tribute to America.

Popping open the Pabst Stage was Ontario’s Big Wreck playing some imported Northern hard rock starting with Inhale.  Ian Thornly brings out the Chris Cornel vox on Albatross.  Fans go oh yeah it’s That Song,  Thornly brings out the fast note swinging blues on Come Again, and a space aged solo from The Oaf.

Next straight from the dirty south of Nashville comes Red. They already spray painted and tagged the stage red, white and every other color, later on the whole f’n town. They Feed The moshing Machine with a speed limit of no less than 40 as everyone bounces to the Perfect Life. Fists pound on Let Go and Die For You, many Rangers used the mosh pits as a great way to Release The Panic of a large crowd environment. And the song that started it all was playing through the flames of Breathe Into Me.

Ghost (courtesy of Jessica Rhoades)

Ghost (courtesy of Jessica Rhoads)

Next the dark, unholy byproduct of a satanic blood orgy of black magic and carnal knowledge between King Diamond, Skeletor, Lilith and Anton LaVey. Now ladies and gentleman straight from the church burning chapels of Norway comes the new black pope incarnate. Papa Emeritus II emerged fully robed in his favorite Sunday papal blasphemy, his evil face painted skeletal worship blessed the crowd as Ghost took the stage with the Nameless Ghouls/Darth Vader Monks playing in black with eyes wide shut as the masked ball began. The church of the undead came to order as his disgrace Emeritus lead the congregation in a damned celebration spreading the foul stenched musical incense starting with sophomore set title track Infestissumam continuing into Per Aspera Ad Inferi. The biggest question when seeing Ghost isn’t particularly what’s under the robe or even WTF? The greatest corpse painted mystery of the proud Papa may be who’s under the robe, and despite speculation it’s not King Diamond or Mikael Akerfeldt. We join the Con Clavi Con Dio under the sign of the burning hot sun sealing our own Merciful Fate. We are witnesses of the lords of the dark arts proclaiming 2013 as Year Zero as Papa sings the praises of his evil eternal inflamed patriarch. Emeritus’s vocals are in the style of a blood coven sacrifice between Akerfeldt, Diamond, BOC’s Donald Roeser and Weird Al, slow, soft, soothing, calm with an unassuming serpents tongue delivery. The Ritual continues as rotting, wrenched bodies are stacked up neatly in the pit. The Monstrance Clock ticks down to the end of today’s show.

In This Moment (courtesy of Chris A Photography)

In This Moment (courtesy of Chris A Photography)

Now time for one of the day’s most anticipated moments. Blonde tantalizing temptress Maria Brink standing tall above her baby-dolled mount grabs her skull headed polls, offers us a healthy dose of first aid after tasting the half eaten apple of temptation rising with her as she brings us In This Moment. We’re instantly adrenalized and addicted to this by her seductive wail hitting us with a Blazin hot-shot stream of her refreshing cool steam. The sirens roar as she mounts her disciplined stool, the hottest dunce in school. Ready to dish out wanted punishment to every hot sweaty Whore in the audience desperately crowd surfing their way to earn a few whacks. Afterwards it was time to Burn as our lovely angelic nurse spreads her white satin wings to the heavens offering up her tortured embrace as she unleashes the Beast Within with the help of a curious silly rabbit. Then it was time for the Blood to flow through our veins, we love her for all the things she does to us.

It was time to pay a heavy Penance with the very disturbing David Draiman’s new other worldly Device. You Think You Know what reality is, think again as the thunderous guitar hits. Draiman, Evanascence’s Will Hunt and Dope’s guitarist Virus have brought the hard-rock, industrial, electronica cyber vision to life on stage, where they’re immersed in the live performance Haze. They create another incredible moment bringing Maria Brink back out to duet on monster 80’s ballad Close My Eyes Forever. Though there’s only one Ozzy and Lita, Draiman’s high pitch and Brink’s husky exhales put a unique spin and twist on the classic tune. They have vilified themselves through life, music and moving forward. They close with a wishful homage to one of the forefathers of the industrial scene.

Sick Puppies (courtesy of Chris A Photography)

Sick Puppies (courtesy of Chris A Photography)

The holy Lamb of God is offered up as freedom loving citizen Randy Blythe brings the Desolation to Columbus and the pit begins. L.O.G. encourages everyone to Walk With them In Hell and with the heat, sweat and perpetual performance pits, the Crew Stadium bares a hellish resemblance to the dark underground lair. Now that we’re all Set to Fail Now we’ve Got Something To Die For. Blythe’s gravel throated luciferian shriek hammers the crowd into high physical praise. Before orchestrating the circle pit Blythe announces ‘You are at Rock on the Range, you are watching Lamb of God, obviously you’re just a bunch of Rednecks.’ The final song brings the infamous wall of death where sweaty, nasty flesh and bone collide face to face.

Opening the Monster Energy Main Stage was the Aussie www.facebook.com/sickpuppies via LA and they came ready to bring a War and start the anatomical stadium body Riptide. Our ears are blessed by Emma Anzai’s voice on Die To Save You. The next one’s for all the hard drinking Odd Ones in the crowd, namely everyone, including the off duty Spiderman. Shimon Moore brought thousands together with hands on shoulders rocking the stadium floor with Nothing Really Matters. They finish with crowd pleaser You’re Going Down.

Atlanta’s Sevendust emerged with Lajon Witherspoon live, ripe and ready for Decay. They get the party going as the steam poured from the stage giving the audience high Praise. Witherspoon intro’s a new song from Black Out The Sun called Till Death but makes sure the crowd really wants to hear it. Next they get their pound of flesh turning the audience into Pieces. Sevendust has definitely arrived in Columbus and they weren’t leaving until they gave Crew Stadium the ultimate Face To Face experience. Just don’t be f’n with his head and leavin.

Steel Panther (photo by Chris A Photography)

Steel Panther (photo by Chris A Photography)

Next up the recent 80’s throwback to when spandex, hairspray and macho makeup ruled the sunset strip with a tight spandex, leppard skinned rocker/power ballad power-punch. Steel Dragons distant cousins and Motley Crue’s illegitimate children from the Ratt infested streets of Hollywood, Steel Panther. The pseudo autobiographical comically parody laced foursome dipped in Poison and Aquanet are indeed a true Cinderella story. The Panther comes out to prowl eyes hungry stalking its prey. Today was Rock on the Range for the 2013 80’s rockers but they’re going to an X-rated party Tomorrow Night. Now for the most important question of the day from Michael Starr, are you ready to f’n rock? Are you ready to do….. unspeakable, unprintable, unmentionable, indigestible things to cute furry cats? What other band can freely open up to an audience of twenty thousand people about their sex life and smile doing it? He also behaved himself within reason for the most part never unleashing the Whitesnake. Guitarist Satchel shows off his prowess playing almost as fast as Eddie Van Halen and he can almost play the beginning of Jessie’s Girl too. While Satchel sacks the crowd with his between song monologue bassist Lexxi Foxx busies himself at the front house/front stage hand held makeup cabinet before mugging for the audience making sweet sweet rhythm of love to the camera. He looks great…. from a distance. Stix Zadinia is so fast on drums his hand is half Asian and Asian Hookers make the best working girls in today’s rough, global cash strapped, multi-corporate, consumerist, digital, online, information is money, up to the minute, high def, Youtube, Tweeting, marketing society. Next up, the fun high energy sing along, synchronized head-banging of Just Like Tiger Woods. For those who haven’t seen Steel Panther before, for those that like going to the zoo and those planning on never seeing Steel Panther again this next song went triple platinum, in Guam where they’re treated as home coming hero’s and mobbed in the streets. It was their first video in Tahiti as well. This is their love song because their hearts belong to you but their (text omitted) are Community Property. Historically this was the lighter ballad but since it was 2:30 in the afternoon in an open air stadium nobody bothered. But we still sang along, arm in arm in the sweet emotion of the moment. Next song is dedicated to everyone that loves strip-joints and copulating with dancers in the bathroom. He’ll say one thing; Starr loves heavy metal more than he loves eating freakin….p-pizza. Rockstar prowess goes back for decades but only one band can claim 17 Girls in a Row. In closing f- Britney Spears, f-Mariah Carey cause it’s Death To All But Metal! Steel Panther thanks you for coming but they gotta go, 1988 called and they want their band back.

Skillet (photo by Chris A Photography)

Skillet (photo by Chris A Photography)

Those gospel defending/sharing mainstream rockers from the Tennessee Bible Belt open their show greeting the crowd and whatever Alien Youth happen to be surfing in the sun with some Whispers in the Dark. Including two drenched in white masked men masquerading as violinists. The world needs a Hero and with steam bellowing from everywhere Skillet delivers one. A war for your soul is being waged everyday by people who try and tell you what to think and do but Skillet believes in the gospel and are very much Awake and Alive and willing to play on top of long towering moving pillars stretching toward the heavens to prove it because here right now, they’ll do what they wanna do. Next is the title track to their upcoming release Rise. Then they appease all the crazies in the psycho circus crowd with something even better for the slightly twisted, insane makeup loving clown sideshow freak, a Circus For A Psycho. With all the crazies wandering around it was time to unleash the Monster. They finish with a beautifully loud Rebirth and hopefully saved a few souls in the process.

Ladies and gentleman Elvis has left the building, but there’s some good news, uh-huh, the kings of Danish Graceland where Elvis and Johnny Cash meet Metallica and Slayer, Volbeat just got here. They open today’s show with A Warriors Call, roaring down 1-70 with Guitar Gangsters and Cadillac Blood dripping on the concrete. Hallelujah Goat answers what a collaboration between a sped up in shape Elvis and Black Sabbath would sound like. They pay tribute to the man in black playing Ring of Fire spitting from the Sadman’s Tongue jazzing it up with some rockabilly fast metal playin’.  This one’s for all the Johnny ‘Walkers’ out there Dead But Rising. Miss Lola Montez the shady lady herself makes an appearance.  Slayer’s Jeff Hanneman was honored with a short summer rain of blood before The Hangman’s Body Count began. We’re 11 songs into the set and we’re Still Counting floating bodies and spontaneously opening pits. By the time Volbeat was done and the Rock on the Range weekend concluded there’d be a Pool of Booze and more booze, sweat, tears and many other internal liquids swirling in a Molotov Cocktail cesspool rainbow for some unlucky souls to clean up.

Bush (courtesy of Chris A Photography)

Bush (courtesy of Chris A Photography)

Gavin Rossdale and the boys of Bush stopped by making sure all were nice and zen as the sun slowly descended starting the Machinehead fueled on Testosterone, not that there was any shortage at all. Though it was officially evening in mid- May and still pretty damn hot they brought us The Sound of Winter so Everything’s Zen. New track Loneliness is a Killer was greeted with enthusiasm. It was time to break out the Beatles and Come Together…. with the crowd, literary. A minute in Rossdale jumped stage running for the stands and brought the music to the people, in droves, covering almost half the bleachers on the crowds left side. Luckily he didn’t get the Beatlemania mob experience or he wouldn’t have made it back for the Little Things that kill. The opening riff to Glycerine got the shows biggest pop finishing with the Come Down.

It was time for the co-headliners and the evening’s first dose of Seattle grunge minus the rain. As if the pit hadn’t done enough damage to thousands of limbs Alice in Chains came out to rattle Them Bones. Cantrell and Co did their best to playfully Dam That River of humanity slowly moving towards them. Their set was a complete, comprehensive collection of classics, hits and new stuff. They kept the crowd happy Again and again and again. Though there weren’t any angry chairs around a wheelchair or two got some crowd surf time. They play the evening’s first two tracks from the William Duvall era Check My Brain and Your Decision from 2009’s comeback after 14 years Black Gives Way to Blue. Opening track from their newest The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here, Hollow got good reaction. It was time to go old-school and get on old fashion deadly Facelift and Die Young, then slow it down, get nice, cool, calm and mellow Down In A Hole trapped like a Nutshell. The Dinosaurs make another post historic appearance on Stone, there’s No Excuses not to know they saved the best for last. If I could Would you? Man in the Box got a stadium sing along and rightfully so, besides they’ve all come to stuff the Rooster.

Soundgarden (courtesy of Chris A Photography)

Soundgarden (courtesy of Chris A Photography)

As night fell the day’s headliners and final closing performance of the weekend Seattle’s Soundgarden opened with the blossoming soft petals of the vain, soon to be fading Flower. It was time to Outshine the crowd with some California looks and Minnesota feelings. Then whip out their best Jesus Christ Pose backhanding the pomposity of certain religious types trying to rule over the moral majority in their fashion. They played the song that got them signed, ironically called Hunted Down. Not to be outdone by a stadium full of Rangers they loudly start their own wave on stage. Next the opening track from last year’s King Animal, Been Away Too Long, most fans would agree. We visit the Superunknown with the Mailman on a journey stretching like a rubber-band getting tighter and tighter and tighter…. They Blow Up The Outside World because nothing else mattered besides what was happening in Crew Stadium that night, bring on the black days. Giving the crowd the Badmotorfinger they pulled out the Rusty Cage then introduced the Spoonman from Seattle. It was time for the Black Hole Sun scorched crowd to break out the Chelsea grins and contorted smiles. They finish the night with the Ultramega OK Incessant Mace.

Rock on the Range 2013 delivered. Now the wait begins to see what’s in store for next summer.

Ghost setlist and photo without scepter courtesy of Jessica Rhoades and www.facebook.com/JrPhotographyInc.  All other photos courtesy of www.facebook.com/ChrisAPhotography and http://www.chrisaphotography.com.

Coming Up in Local Jazz – July 31 through August 13

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Tony Monaco

   As a rule, I don’t dwell on past jazz performances but sometimes they’re so good you want to let your readers know what they missed in hopes some small spark of memory may entice them to come to see the artists who performed on a particular occasion the next time they’re available. So to all the fans that missed this great show remember the artist names for future events.

     What a night; the place was packed and the joint was jumppin! This was another outstanding show at Jazz Central showcasing the Mighty Hammond Organ. In this case three organs manned by three of the best in the business – Tony Monaco, Lincoln Berry and John Slate accompanied by Rob Pad dock on drums and Cameron Voorhees on guitar. That’s right folks; just five players on stage and the walls were vibrating like they couldn’t hold anymore sound! Last night wasn’t a show; it was an experience of what Jazz is

John Slate

John Slate

supposed to be in what a Jazz Club is supposed to be.

     The show started with a set of all players on the stage trading fours, switched over to a set for each organ player accompanied by drums and guitar and then back to all five players for the finale. The final song Back to the Chicken Shack by Jimmie Smith was the longtime favorite of Miss Freddie, who managed the club for many years before her passing. At Jazz Central, because of its longevity, you can feel the spirit of many people and their associated music living on.

     There is no way to give justice to what came off at this event with words; you just had to be there. In addition to their weekly Sunday Night Jazz Jam events, Jazz Central offers many special jazz events in the $5 to $10 range, which can’t be beat for entertainment value. Man, it’s great in Dayton!

Jazz Calendar

Here are some (not all) of the upcoming jazz events for the next couple of weeks:


Today Wednesday, July 31 – Tuxedo Junction Big Band is at The Dayton Event Connection in Dayton and NYOH’S Buckeye Bar & Grill has Swing Dancing & Music in Columbus.

Thursday August 1 – The Jazz Central Big Band is holding Jazz Ed night calling students up to sit in and play with their awesome professionals at Jazz Central in Dayton.

Friday August 2 – The Shawn Stanley Trio is at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville and the John Von Ohlen Trio at Dee Felice in Covington, KY.

Saturday August 3 – The Eddie Brookshire Quintet is at the DeLish Café in Dayton and James & Moore will be at the C’est Tout Bistro in Oakwood.

Sunday August 4 – There will be a new Sunday Night Jam w/ Deron Bell at the top of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dayton.

Monday August 5 – The John Taylor Trio is at Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club in Columbus.

Tuesday August 6 – Dave Greer’s Classic Jazz Stompers holds fort at Jimmie’s Ladder 11 in Dayton and the Part St. Tavern Jazz Jam continues in Columbus.

Wednesday August 7 – The Blue Wisp Big Band continues their long running series at the Wisp in Cincinnati and Rich Lopez is at Rigsby’s in Columbus.

Thursday August 8 – The Dayton Art Institute will offer the Generations Big Band for your pleasure in Dayton and the Glen Miller Band is at Coney Island’s Moonlight Pavilion in Cincinnati.

Friday August 9 – Elizabeth Hayes is at Jack Binion’s Steak at the Horseshoe Casino and a Friday Night Jazz Show is at Washington Platform Saloon & Restaurant both in Cincinnati.

Saturday August 10 – The Eddie Brookshire Quintet is at the Fraze Pavilion in Kettering for the Festival of the Vine and the Bobby Floyd Trio is at Boudin’s Bistro in Columbus.

Sunday August 11 – Dayton’s longest running Jazz Jam Session with Kenny Baccus and John Hampton Wagner continues every Sunday at Jazz Central in Dayton.

Monday August 12 – Local jazz artists who performed with Rick Evans will be hosting a Celebration of Life Memorial at Jazz Central in Dayton.

Tuesday August 13 – Jazz Cab is at the Greenwich in Cincinnati and Tony Monaco is at the Rumba Café in Columbus.

 

More info and jazz listings can be found at JazzAdvocate.com

Cityfolk to Focus on Jazz – Cancels Season, Festival and other Programs

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Ruthie Foster at the 2010 Cityfolk Festival.©2010 Andy Snow

Ruthie Foster at the 2010 Cityfolk Festival.©2010 Andy Snow

After several years of financial challenges, including a rained out festival in 2012, a festival in 2013 that didn’t meet its attendance goals, along with declining ticket sales and sponsorships, Cityfolk has announced it will focus on jazz, while canceling its 2013-14 season and its plans for a 2014 festival. It will also discontinue its residency program, Culture Builds Community, and has withdrawn from its anticipated partnership with The Dayton Art Institute.  Ohio’s only full-time traditional arts presenter was founded in 1980, and was committed to presenting ethnic and traditional folk arts. Through the years Cityfolk presented Celtic music, jazz, blues, world music, American roots, and more. In 1996, the National Folk Festival chose Dayton as its location for a three-year run. After the third year, Cityfolk kept the tradition going. Early festivals were at Courthouse Square and surrounding streets. Recent festivals have been at Riverscape.

According to Matt Dunn, Cityfolk Board President, Cityfolk knew it had to change its business model. “Even prior to last year’s festival, we were realizing declining ticket sales, sponsorships, and government support,” said Dunn. “The rain that devastated last year’s festival put us in a deeper hole and sped up our process for making changes, including having a fundraising campaign, while also letting go of some staff.”

The change, according to Dunn, included the staff reductions, a post-festival campaign following the 2012 festival, seeking potential partners, and making the decision to charge admission for the 2013 festival. “Many festival-goers,” Dunn said, “didn’t realize we were a non-profit organization with a full-time staff and year-round programming. The festival costs money to produce and we couldn’t continue to offer it for free.” The other change involved a pending partnership with The Dayton Art Institute.  That change was to take place after the festival. According to Dunn, Cityfolk had planned to let its remaining staff go, and responsibilities for the programming and management of Cityfolk would have been contracted with The Dayton Art Institute, under a management agreement. Likely because of a combination of rain and the paid admission, the festival didn’t meet its attendance goals. “Money raised at the festival is used to support the organization’s year-round programming,” Dunn said. “And this year’s festival came up short.”

“It’s disappointing,” said Michael Roediger, Executive Director at The Dayton Art Institute, “We were looking forward to a relationship that would have been beneficial to both organizations.” Dunn and Roediger both acknowledge that a lot of work went into defining the partnership with the hope that new and creative opportunities would evolve to capitalize on, and integrate, the mission and strengths of both organizations.

In recent years, other arts organizations realized they needed to change in order to realize economies of scale. The most prominent and recent change was the merger between the Dayton Opera, Dayton Ballet, and Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra to form the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance. Before that, Carillon Park and the Montgomery County Historical Society merged to become Dayton History. While the partnership between Cityfolk and The Dayton Art Institute wasn’t a merger, each organization was hoping its structure would have impacted their bottom lines in a favorable way. However, citing the desire to enter into the partnership with cash on hand, and no debt, Dunn said “in the end, we just couldn’t make the numbers work.” He continued, “It would have been irresponsible to enter into a partnership knowing that we wouldn’t be able to meet our commitment or live up to our end of the agreement.” Taking it a step further, Dunn continued, “The only responsible thing to do is to discontinue programs that lost money.”

While the 2013-14 concert season was announced at the 2013 Festival, no tickets have been sold, according to Dunn. Shows, in partnership with the University of Dayton’s Arts Series, will continue. The other shows will be canceled. Knowing the power of the arts, and referring to Culture Builds Community and the Welcome Dayton initiative, in which Cityfolk was involved, Dunn said, “hopefully the community will continue to use the arts to affect social change and to bring people together using the arts as a bridge between cultures.”

“Cityfolk has 33 years of history under its belt,” said Dunn, “We have had great relationships with major institutions, including the City of Dayton, Five Rivers Metroparks, Dayton Public Schools, the University of Dayton, WYSO, The Dayton Art Institute, The Masonic Center, Gilly’s, Canal Street Tavern, and more. We’re grateful to the county, the city, the Ohio Arts Council, Culture Works, the National Endowment for the Arts, and our many volunteers, sponsors, foundations, members, and other supporters. We’re proud of the diverse artistic experiences we’ve brought to Dayton. That will be our legacy.”

While suspending normal operations will allow the organization to down-size, Dunn hopes Cityfolk will not go away completely.  An all-volunteer-led Cityfolk will use the coming weeks to assess its options to continue presenting jazz, for which it has an endowment to help cover the costs. The endowment, specifically for presenting and preserving jazz, was raised locally and matched by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Said Dunn, “Cityfolk is committed to keeping this money in the community and using it for the purpose for which it was intended.”

Motel Beds Gives Dayton More ‘Sunfried Dreams’

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Living in Dayton, Ohio throughout the summertime is pretty standard.  You have the ability to enjoy the sun longer than the other seasons.  Kids are outdoors longer.  People take their much needed vacations more often during this period of time.  The local and private pools are visited frequently.  Cookouts replace cooking indoors.  We celebrate the nation’s birthday by gathering around and watching fireworks litter the night’s sky.  There is a sense of freedom when it comes to the season.

Another summer staple is the rising temperatures.  A recent Tuesday evening provided uncomfortable conditions.  The sweltering heat wave that Dayton was experiencing didn’t let loose of its grip.  In town, six individuals gathered together in a small locale that didn’t provide any escape.  The meeting spot had two air conditioners.  One was in a small area where a beaten down, black leather couch sat.  In the same space was a computer and soundboard for recording.  As you walk out of the small area and into the larger section of the room, another air conditioner sits atop the wall farther down at the end.  There are three fans that are scattered about.  Two of them are your typical pedestal fans.  Sadly, they have become decorations because they no longer work.  The other fan is a box version and its down at the other side of the room.  The lime green color makes it look like it’s been rocking and rolling since the early 70s.  The heat inside the space was unreal.  The ice cold cans of Miller Lite helped some, but it wasn’t going to solve the problem.  The heat wave had taken over the room.  However, the group that consisted of six individuals couldn’t care less.  The collection of people was myself and the Dayton rock band, Motel Beds.

Photo by Chris Corn)

Photo by Chris Corn)

Guitarists Tommy Cooper and Darryl Robbins, drummer Ian Kaplan, singer PJ Paslosky, and bassist Tod Weidner make up Motel Beds.  This Saturday, the band will be releasing their 2011 album Sunfried Dreams.  The reissue will be released on CD and for the first time on vinyl.  The LP will include a bonus track.  The band will be having a show at Blind Bob’s in the Oregon District.  Joining Motel Beds will be The Harlequins, Speaking Suns, and Holy Smokes.  Label and design studio Brain Candy will helping with the release of the special release.  “The guys over there love the album and wanted to do something special”, Kaplan explained when asked why this album was choose above the others.

Motel Beds was formed in 2003, with the Kaplan, Paslosky, Cooper, and bassist John Lakes.  The band released their first EP, Hasta Mañana.  Hasta Mañana features dreamy, surf rock songs that are driven with acoustic guitar play.  The band would dissolve in 2005, and remerged in 2009, with Robbins joining the group.  That same year, the band released a much different sounding EP, the rock heavy Go For A Dive.  Shortly after that, Moondazed was released.  The 29 song, lo-fi album ranges from rough demos to polished rock gems that show the band’s range bouncing all over. In 2011, Weidner joined the band and the group marched forward by releasing Feelings, an fantastic collection of indie rock songs that continue to highlight the band’s continuing growth at that time.

Immediately following Feelings is the album that will be celebrated this Saturday night at Blind Bob’s.  Sunrise Dreams is the band’s most solid and most different to this point in their musical journey.  “It was one of the fastest and most fun albums we have done”, Robbins mentions.  “Everything just came together smoothly with this album”.  The album’s sound shows the band reaching back to their first EP, and expanding it.  The songs on the album each have a blend of influence from 60s rock to garage rock. ‘Western Son’ is a slow moody song that will creep up on you without notice with Paslosky’s vocals.  ‘Bat Naps’ has a British punk rock feel to it.  The influence of The Clash roars through the song with the resounding drum play of Kaplan and the thrashing guitar play of Robbins and Cooper.  To continue with the British rock theme, ‘Obey Your Lunch’ really highlights that.  The Who-influenced track really shows off Weidner’s bass playing skills.   Sunrise Dreams is truly a beautifully made album that is destined to be a staple for vinyl lovers.

Motel Beds didn’t stop working on perfecting their craft with Sunfried Dreams, which started to see some critical acclaim throughout the US.  In the same year, the band released another marvel Tango Boys.  Tango Boys is a quick, 34-minute album that resembles what you come to expect with another band that Dayton calls their own.  Some of you may have heard them-Guided By Voices.  Once again, Tango Boys is filled with British punk, but an added element of lo-fi and hi-fi presents the album with a different spin.  The album also features local Daytonian/guitarist for the alternative rock band The Breeders Kelley Deal on the song ‘Tropics Of The Sand’.  The song with Deal got spun extensively on Sirius XM, nationwide on terrestrial radio stations, and gave the band a chance to perform at 2011’s CMJ Music Marathon, 2012’s SXSW, and the 2012 Downtown Dayton Revival Festival.  Dumb Gold is their recent album, having been released last year.  Dumb Gold continues to showcase the band’s growth.  Staying true to their British indie influences, Dumb Gold keeps pushing the envelope.  ‘Smoke Your Homework’ is an exemplary garage rock song.  Dumb Gold just proves that the band continues to strive to be a better band with each album.

The band strives to make sure that their music is as accessible as possible. “You can easily find most of our music all over the internet”, Weidner says.  “YouTube is amazing.  It truly is one of the best search engines to find music”, added Kaplan.  “If you have someone tell you about a band, you can easily go to the website and find all this music on that band.  It’s so easy to have your music on there.”  The band stands by that statement by doing what most local bands don’t do-present music videos.  One of the recent music videos the band released was for ‘Smoke Your Homework’.  The video shows the band visiting a neighborhood, and looking into purchasing some equipment from a creepy man.  The humorous video is one of many videos that are easily accessible videos that you can find from the band.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3Vt8yucJXE’]

Another exciting event will be coming up soon for Motel Beds other than the reissue of Sunfried Dreams this Saturday.  On August 27th, the band will perform at the Fraze Pavilion in Kettering, Ohio.  The outdoor amphitheater will be one of the greatest accomplishments that the band has experienced.  The venue will also give folks from all walks to come and witness a local band taking the stage at larger scale.  “It’s going to be a true honor to be playing there”, Kaplan said.

Motel Beds are one of the many bands in Dayton to continue to be another reason for music to be noticed in town.  Saturday night, the reissue release party of Sunfried Dreams will be happening at Blind Bob’s Bar.  Showtime is 9pm.  For more details, click on the Dayton Most Metro event calendar link here.

Coming Up in Local Jazz – July 17 through July 31

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Who was Rick Evans?

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A wonderful jazz singer, winner of 2010-11 Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District Lifetime Achievement Award and dear friend of mine passed away on Tuesday, July 9th.

Excerpt of an article by Adam Alonzo contributing writer for the Dayton Daily News:

The Montgomery County Arts and Cultural District gave significant recognition to jazz vocalist Rick Evans, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award of $10,000 for his outstanding musical accomplishments and community contributions. “(He) has touched so many lives through music, his commitment to the preservation of jazz, and his outreach to seniors and people in need,” said County Commissioner Debbie Lieberman.

“I’ve never read a note of music in my life,” Evans remarked at the award ceremony. “I’ve never had a voice lesson or anything like that, yet still I love music.” He took to the stage himself during his career in the Air Force, singing in USO shows and base entertainment programs in the U.S. and overseas. After retiring from the military, Evans settled in Dayton and began to work for the postal service. While he delivered the mail, he was given the nickname “The Singing Postman,” Evans remained active as an entertainer in the area, performing with the Masters of Jazz combo and the Dayton Jazz Orchestra. He sang regularly for the residents of more than 150 nursing homes, traveling to many remote locations throughout seven counties. “Thank God for the GPS,” he said. “I think I’m the only one in the world who has a wheelchair brigade,” Evans said of his elderly listeners. “It warms the heart to see them smile, to laugh, to sing, even get up and dance and have a good time remembering what I call the good old days,”
It is was with great pride that I had submitted the name of Richard Lee Evans for Montgomery County Arts & Cultural District’s 2009-2010 Lifetime Achievement Award. Rick had so many fans and friends that I felt extremely lucky to have been in the right place at the right time to be his nominator.RIP Rick Evans

A memorial service will be held 6:00 P.M., WEDNESDAY, July 17, 2013 at Thomas Funeral Home, 4520 Salem Ave. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service. A committal service will be held at the Dayton National Cemetery (date & time TBA) In lieu of flowers please make donations at any W.P.C.U. to The Rick Evans Music Scholarship Fund. In addition some of his musician friends and I are planning a celebration of Rick’s life memorial to be on Monday, August 12th.

Jazz Calendar

Here are some (not all) of the upcoming jazz events for the next couple of weeks:

Today Wednesday, July 17 – The Eleven piece Different Hats Band is at The Dayton Event Connection in Dayton and the Buddy Rich Big Band is at Nighttown in Cleveland Heights.

Thursday July 18 – The Bluebirds Big Band is at Behringer-Crawford Museum in Covington, KY and the Generations Big Band is at Jazz Central in Dayton.

Friday July 19 – Dave Greer’s Classic Jazz Stompers is at Jay’s Seafood Restaurant in Dayton and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band is on the Columbus Rib Fest, North Bank Park Stage.

Saturday July 20 – Miss Lissa & Company is at Gilly’s and Randy Fankell’s Jazz Militia is at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dayton and James & Moore will be at the C’est Tout Bistro in Oakwood.
Sunday July 21 – A Benefit for Cardell Williams will take place at Gilly’s and The Gospel According to Jazz & Buffet is at Jazz Central both in Dayton.

Monday July 22 – The John Taylor Trio is at Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club in Columbus.

Tuesday July 23 – The North Side Jazz Band performs at The Florentine Restaurant and the Part St. Tavern Jazz Jam continues both in Columbus.

Wednesday July 24 – Ricky Nye is at Chez Nora and Mike Darrah is at Dee Felice both in Covington, KY

Thursday July 25 – There will be a B3 Organ Summit w/Tony Monaco, Lincoln Berry & John Slate at Jazz Central in Dayton.

Friday July 26 – Triple’s All White Party will take place at Jazz Central and the Shawn Stanley Trio plays every Friday at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville.

Saturday July 27 -The NEW Ed Moss Trio w/special guests, is at The Schwartz Point Jazz Club in Cincinnati and The Sleepcat Band is at Dee Felice in Covington, KY.

Sunday July 28 – Dayton’s longest running Jazz Jam Session with Kenny Baccus and

Monday July 29 – Mark Flugge, Derek Dicenzo & Jimmy Castoe are at Due Amici and Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club in Columbus.

Tuesday July 30 – Jazz Cab is at The Greenwich in Cincinnati and Tony Monaco is at the Rumba Café in Columbus

More info and jazz listings can be found atJazzAdvocate.com

 

Learning How To Play Vol. 2

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At the beginning of February, I decided that I would start to begin my musical voyage and try to learn how to play the guitar (see Learning How To Play Vol. 1).  For years, I thought of absorbing the ways of playing a musical instrument appealed to me.  It would be one of the coolest accomplishments I would ever achieve in my lifetime.  I would become a rock star, taking over the streets of our fair town and make everyone just fall in love with me.  The people will just crowd the area bars and just break all the fire codes without thinking that their lives could be in danger just to hear me play.  Women would lose their voices from shouting from the top of lungs when they saw me hit the stage, and flash them a wink their way.  The guys would tip their bottles of beer to show their respect and admiration.  The lights would shine as bright as the sun on me.  The chanting of the spectators would be heard miles away.  The stage would violently shake as if there was an earthquake.

Alright, alright-that’s not exactly what I’m going for.  Sorry I got carried away there.  I couldn’t even begin to comprehend the thought of someone wanting to do that for me.  If anything, I would get yelled at to get off the stage, or have a beer thrown at me.

Nonetheless, I do want to gain a better understanding on the science of learning how to play, and hopefully be lucky enough in the near future to be part of a set with musicians that want to play live.

(Recreate Shop)

To get the ball rolling, I decided to go and check out some of the local guitar shops.  Walking into the establishments, you immediately hark back to being a kid in a candy store.  Replacing all the sugary sweets one could gorge on is a considerable amount of instruments at every corner and every angle of the buildings.  A person that loved music really could get lost in these shops.  Each shop brings its own unique styles.  Hauer Music presents an historic sense when you walk in.  The old canal building provided the presence that makes Dayton a true gem of a city.  Recreate Shop gives guitar enthusiasts a euphoric environment to come to in the Oregon District.  The business provides customers first rate service with prices on instruments that will slap the big businesses straight across the face.  These are both staples in town, and for beginning guitar players-check them out.

Lucky for me, I had two good friends that allowed me to borrow some of their equipment.  One friend, trumpet and guitar player Nick Dever let me borrow a black, electric guitar he had lying around and singer/songwriter Tim Gebard loaned an amp.  Gebard also mentioned that I could come over and learn how to play a couple of songs that contain a few simple chords.  I wanted to see if I could learn how to play on my own first.

The beginning of each guitar player starts with one simple step-sit down and learns the chord structure.  What I didn’t realize is the amount of chords there is.  I think that there is a chord for each letter in the alphabet and then some.  This revelation made me go and see what the internet had to offer.  I clicked on various videos on YouTube, thinking that this could be a fast and effortless way to gain the knowledge needed.  Simply put-watching the videos were a complete disaster for me.  I would see what the instructor on the video would say to do, and I would try to replicate.  As I tried to strum the chord, nothing would happen.  I thought that I was doing the correct procedures.  Place the fingers on the strings.  Pluck the strings with the pick straight down.  Hear the note played perfectly.  Nope.  Nothing.  Nada.  As all this was happening, the video would move on.  I would rewind and try again.  Same thing.  No correct note sound.  Repeat the process over a dozen times.  I would watch the video and then try to play.  I would yell at the instructor as if they could hear me through the computer.  This route clearly wasn’t working for me.

With the video learning failing horribly, I called up Gebard to see if he could help.  He mentioned that if I ever wanted some help, he would be kind enough to take some time and help me some. We sat down one afternoon in February and he gave me a couple of printed sheets of songs to dive that had the chords on top of the lyrics.  The finger placement when playing the guitar is like trying to learn a foreign language.  I remembered the years of learning Spanish when I was high school, and wanting to scream because it wasn’t as easy as I wanted it to.  This feeling of frustration showed itself when playing with Gebard.  He would show me the positioning of the fingers for each of the chords that were needed when playing Helpless by Neil Young.  At times I thought that I would start to figure out the fluid flow that makes the song sound amazing.  However, my fingers would let me down.  The holding of the strings is a complex strategy.  If you hold down on the strings a certain way, the sound played is muffled.  There isn’t much of anything.  So, you have to learn how to play with the tips of the fingers.  It’s difficult.  This isn’t a process that comes overnight.

I knew that at the end of this day playing, I had to practice.  And I mean practice.

Well…that hasn’t happened much.

I admit it.  I wish that at this point I would be playing a couple of songs with ease and grace.  Life doesn’t work that way.  I have become so much more amazed at how you go to watch bands and artists perform live.  The time that each performer has put in makes me feel beyond guilty about not playing.  They have dedicated their lives to achieving the professional style that we as observers come to expect.  They have locked themselves in their bedrooms when they were younger and wouldn’t come out for hours.  They would have their fingers gush with blood due to amount of time elapsed while playing.

I have made every single excuse in the world.  I have been busy.  I work long hours and haven’t had the time.  I live in an apartment and don’t want to be too loud. I can only imagine that I am not the only one who thinks the same thoughts each and every second.  Playing an instrument isn’t going to be an overnight thing.  It takes time.  It takes patience.  The days in college have crept back in to my life.   The excuses need to stop I recently told myself.  I had a goal and I plan on sticking to it.  I want to learn how to play the guitar.

So the next step is now finding the time.  I have been told by several musicians when they have been told about my journey is to find a half-hour to an hour every night.  Sit down, put on a television show or go to Netflix and click on something.  The musicians say that by doing this it will help time fly by.  So, I plan on doing this along with getting guitar lessons.

The development of becoming a guitar player is not easy.  There is still so much to learn.  I know this now more than ever.  In the next installment, I hope to bring some better news.  Now, please excuse me. I have to go and practice…

REVIEW: Paws Benefit Show At JD Legends

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The 725 Band (photo by Mike Ritchie)

The 725 Band (photo by Mike Ritchie)

On Saturday May 18 the Paws benefit was held at JD Legends in Franklin featuring Jadis, 725 Band and Clockwork Soul. The benefit organized by Jadis’ Dawn Rose was to help raise funds for PAWS, a no-kill non-profit animal adoption center serving the community for 32 years. Don’t shop, adopt! All donations are tax deductible. The Progressive Animal Welfare Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization which, through community help, finds good loving homes for shelter animals. Funds to help support PAWS can be donated through Network For Good; you can set up PAWs as your Kroger Plus card chosen charity, join Dorothy Lane Markets Good Neighbor Program or Gordon Food Services on the PAWS website.  Over 20 contributors and sponsors donated for the cause raffling off $150 worth of Monster Ink, an evening at the Funny Bone, 100 minutes of free tanning at Simply Brown, Grease Monkey, Options Hair Design, Patricia Rose Art and Quick Fix PC repair among others.  By the sunny volleyball beaches and the sun drenched cantina, the show begins.

The 725 Band started the evening with a collection of cool covers fronted by the powerhouse 4 octave voice of Ashley Watson who appears to have inherited the vocal talent of Janis Joplin and Nancy Wilson among others. She starts out showing she’s a little Runaway, singing from the heart on Barracuda and only a certain amount of voices can truly do that song justice. Paws doesn’t adopt out leopards, but they break out one of the 80’s hard rock giants songs of the ages adding a little bit of gunter glieben glauten globen.  Armegeddon It, are you? Some early Van Halen gets some love tonight, then Jackyl brings the sun shining down on us. In a unique medley of rock and metal riffs, Metallica’s Sandman becomes a Believer in Boston.  As the drinks, daiquiris and pina coladas, flow the crowds gets Lit, booze are often one’s Own Worst Enemy.  Watson lets out a rebel yell as band shirts are handed out for best fan yell. The sun gets Outshined by 725 as they finish with a Whole Lotta Love for Sabbath and the War Pigs.

Jadis (photo by Mike Ritchie)

Jadis (photo by Mike Ritchie)

Next up Dayton’s blonde debutant Mystie Rose and Clockwork Soul announced it was time to rock out with your clock out. Opening with the Pretenders and some Brass in her Pocket using her arms, legs, senses, fingers to get your attention, she’ll wink at you to make you use your imagination. They cranked out originals Until the End and the Masquerade portrayed in abusive relationships. They break out the chains with Would then sing about Lady Ga Ga. They bring back the 80’s nostalgia with an all skate Summer of 69. The dance floor opened for Count the Ways then everyone toked up Smoken with Charlie Sheen, then finished with some Straight Jacket Love.

Event organizers Jadis took center stage and you really can’t go wrong when half your group is comprised of hot chicks with instruments. They start out with a favorite because all their friends like a Low Rider. Let the Train Blow the Whistle the Man in Black says, causing a crowd dance off/hoe down. The Roadhouse Blues took over with some hardcore harmonica playing, hard living tales of yesteryear. The Zeppelin returns with a whole lot more love. Miss Tracy Chapman makes an appearance for One Reason while the screaming soul banshee wail of Miss Joplin wreaks havoc on Bobby Mcgee. They finish up with Sweet Mary rolling down the river and their own group Rebel Yell.

A special thanks to everyone who donated, sponsored, played and showed up to help support the PAWS.

REVIEW: Battle For Rock On The Range 2013 Finale at Alrosa Villa

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Saturday May 11th, the regional music community came out in full force supporting the Columbus rock scene and the 7 bands that made it to the battle of the bands finale for the coveted opening spot on the hallowed ground of Crew Stadium for Rock on the Range 2013. The winning band would perform on the same stage as Thousand Foot Krutch and Beware of Darkness among others. They’d also be performing on the same collective bill as In This Moment, Ghost, Lamb of God, Skillet, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden…no pressure.

The showcase was sponsored by Columbus’ Fox 28 News, 99.7 The Blitz, Zombie Tapdance Productions, Columbus Recording Studios, Music To Go, Local Rock Showcase, Stover Photography, Chris A Photography and X13 Sound Services.

Starting on March 22 with Auntiem, Devil By Design, Ironhead and The Last Rise, 37 bands played their best to earn the holy grail of local gigs. Other participants included 3rd Degree Burden, Autumn Burning, Blanch Devereaux, Despiragon, Exist Beyond Ruin, Overtheory, Trabue, Murnane Tribe, Error 504, Downsick, Liecus, Dressed in Electric, 8lb Pressure, A Nameless Tragedy, Hollywood Red, Black Dragon, Citizens Brigade, Viper, Liquid Ghandi, Antaean, Mason Made of Scars, Grit n Steel, Detrimental, Echoes of Empathy, Enemy By Mourning, Infidel, Mari Jayn, Second Sight, Imperium, Roxy Mae, Strikken, Country Club Commandos and Cross Solder.

The seven finalists would all play in one night, the winner to be determined by 2 anonymous judges and crowd voting. Cross Solder, Devil By Design, OverTheory, Error 504, 8lb Pressure, Hollywood Red and Infidel all earned their spot in the night’s grand finale to go play ‘Where Rock Lives’ the following weekend. Each band put on a spectacular performance giving their very best to the crowd, playing like they were already at ROTR. Whether you were a die-hard local, casual club goer or from elsewhere stopping by, you could tell by the crowd’s energy and the excitement, electricity, adrenaline and vibe pumping through the place that tonight would be epic. Tonight Columbus was united, jamming the house in support of the local scene.  Regardless of whoever you followed or liked, everyone wanted and got a great musical showcase.

Cross Soldier (Photo by Ike Ritchie)

Devil by Design (Photo by Mike Ritchie)

The Alrosa Villa staff was very impressed with the promotion by bands, sponsors and the local community, making the finale a victory in and of itself. The competition started 4 years ago with club founder Rick Cautela sending one local winner to the big show. Assistant Director of Entertainment Tara Cautela has taken it to new heights in recent years.

The first of the finalists Lancaster’s Cross Solder opened the show with What I’ve Become impressing with some down and dirty southern raunch rock and blues. Chadd Lunn’s raspy vocals paid tribute to Bobby Ellsworth and borrowed the ‘Blitz’s’ intense wide eyed glare. The boys played like they were hungry for their next meal whether it was up from the gutter or down from the penthouse. If Dave Mustaine was in a hard rock blues band and looked like Tom Cruise, we’d have Mr. Lunn. Soldering their own sound, they Light Up the Sky playing All I Need and the brand new dark sing along ballad If I Die. Another new one, Shameless, changed between slow melody and fast hard chug with butterfly knife quickness. They finish, playing the pied pipers with a private symphony for Mr. Mustaine. Look for their first record coming soon.

Playing the night’s sophomore set from the depths of hell with a sound straight from the narrow Harley riding rockslide looping roads under the LA sun were Devil by Design.  Though some of them might be too young to remember the beer soaked, hairspray drenched metal heyday of the sunset scene, they play with a healthy appetite and appreciation for their musical forefathers. Think if LA Guns, Motley Crue and GNR had a chance to defend their stripped turf from the Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden Seattle invasion.  The seeds of DBD would’ve been spewed out on the pavement, pushed to the curb and left to spawn. They open going hog-wild turning the keys on their EP title track Let the Devil Drive, and why not, there’s no need to sell their souls… yet, but having the devil at the wheel can give them rock n roll immortality. It’s better to Burn out than fade away as the song goes. They play their music like the hard drinking road gypsies they emulate with a little bit of hair, punk and Ramons thrown in to balance the octane with heavy sedation. Travis Halley has channeled the presence of Jim Morrison, Danzig and Layne Staley with a rosy swagger minus the suspenders. They break out the state plated ballads singing about the west coast wonderland bringing the 1980’s to 2013 without roses or thorns. Revolver video-single What if I Die cranks out the praises and hard luck perishes of the lifestyle accompanied by a little shelter from the Stones. You never know when it’ll be your time to go to paradise city. Can’t get the new album tune Outta My Head and for good reason. They finish blowing their set to Pieces taking the tour bus to home sweet home. Their 6 song EP Let the Devil Drive from BFX records is available on iTunes.

And now for the thinking man’s metal mind, Battle for Rock on the Range gives you Columbus’s Overtheory. The band’s philosophy is to keep it simple but sounding damn good doing it. They’ve already accomplished quite a bit in their 2 year history playing Newport Music Hall and Screamin Willies among others, performing live on 99.7 The Blitz, and earning a Fishtank Audio contract by winning first place at Captain Jacks’ battle of the bands. Singer Dorian Gray was definitely the night’s unsilent Bob singing with a distinctly disturbed tone belting out Fatal Flaw for the fans. Bassist James Guest spent the set hauling his self-catapulting massive frame around stage, his body anxiously awaiting his head to fly off and crowd surf. Resembling a bald Vinnie Jones, it’s no wonder he plays like a meat train madman. They break out the toys tossing out the killer red balloons and the glow stix for trippy illumination. They’ve developed a sound bending the Alter Bridge between Chevelle, Breaking Benjamin and their own combination of technically complex, strong heavy rock.

 

Error 504 (Photo by Mike Ritchie)

Error 504 (Photo by Mike Ritchie)

Error 504 is the last thing you want to see on your computer screen but definitely worth the drive to hear if you’re in the area. The band is an amped up mix of mashed up hard rock and metal that’s shared stages with Bobaflex and Mushroomhead among others. Led by Dayne Sauder, the crew played a set heavy in sound and loud on performance with fans and followers yelling loud and proud for the 504. Opening with Give it Away, new tune Devil’s Angel and growling riff chugger Lil Red, Alex Mayer, part Eddie part Dimebag, shreds his way through their future early classics flailing his blonde terror mop, shredded mesh and well worked guitar strings through the evening set.Kin of Infidels Larry Coak, lil Evan was brought out on stage for the first of a few early rockstar of the future training sessions. They were all playing for a spot at Rock on the Range but also for their love, passion and dedication for the art, crowd and scene. Even if it meant piling $5000 worth of gear into a $500 dollar vehicle and driving the miles for the price of a tank back home. The crowd showed gratitude opening a nightmarish pit as they unleashed the evening’s ending tune The Reckoning. Check out new CD Vol 1 The Awakening on Amazon.

How many pressure points does the human body have? How many pounds of pressure does it take to break bones, crack joints and skulls or choke someone out? 8lb of Pressure was Columbus’ best sounding answer to Korn meets Metallica and Godsmack. Singer Brandon Sin spent 8 years with Tainted 13, bringing a Mike Muir/Evan Seinfeld resemblance and his angry, snarling attitude with him. No amount of pressure can Break them down. Cranking out loud solid metal peppered with some COC playing Sick of It, special guest star Mark from Sever made an appearance on War and Lil Evan came back up to adrenalize the crowd with a frenzied air guitar solo helping out the heavy Machine Head chug on Lies.

Hollywood Red (Photo by MIke Ritchie)

Hollywood Red (Photo by Mike Ritchie)

Now for the evening’s second helping of Hollywood and Vine, hair metal with a touch of Aerosmith and some harder spiked rock and roll punch, Hollywood Red. All the thrills are there as guitarist Jonathan Suh rips the notes out of his guitar with Van Halen speed playing Back for More and Burned Out sung with a soft smooth Mark Slaughter delivery by the young Harry Connick Jr looking Dominic Frissora. Don’t call him a pretty boy… or Floyd. Their sound incorporates the back canyon road tales of Wasp, LA Guns and GNR. They get a little weezy on Save Me, guys… say it ain’t so! They may be too young to remember most of the 80’s, but they’ve taken the classic sound bringing back memories for all the ‘older’ kids to remember the good times. They play their own semi-autobiographical Misfit Anthem aided by the visual lyrical dance interpretation of some lovely young lust. The young guns have been around since late 2011 and have a self-titled EP out.

Rounding out the evening with a crowd full of vocal supporters, tonight’s blasphemous heathens Infidel hit the stage. Music is their life, metal is their passion, mosh pits are their calling and they just kinda sorta happen when they play. Are you ready for some metal?! Larry Coake yells out calling for the opposite of murder with a shining gleam in his eye. With the inflamed skull Obituary’esque logo banner backing their deadly sound, they all get on their soapbox performing their best. There was no need to Beg for crowd participation.  Though all bands were asked not to encourage pits being an all-ages show, sometimes the power of music just compels you. Coake’s spoken word screechy screaming delivery left his vocals Hangin by a Thread but didn’t stop him from touring the club spreading the word asking all patrons to follow him to Rock on the Range.

The excitement and tension built as the bands waited for the announcement of who would be playing Crew Stadium. The vocal majority was split between Infidel and Error 504. As the votes were tallied, the staff thanked all bands for playing a great show and welcomed them all to come back anytime. Regardless of who shared the Jagermeister stage next Sunday morning, the Columbus music scene was the winner tonight. Each band played like they belonged on stage holding nothing back and were destined for greatness. Then the announcement was made. The winner of the Battle for Rock on the Range was….. Error 504!

Congrats to Error 504 who played a great set at Rock on the Range, to the final 7 for making such a memorable night happen and all the bands that played and rocked The Villa over the past several months and to all the fans that make the scene happen.

Participants in Battle for Rock on the Range (Photo by Mike Ritchie)

Participants in Battle for Rock on the Range
(Photo by Mike Ritchie)

 

New Orleans Musicians Invade Canal Street **Ticket Contest**

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PaulSanchezThis Wed night at Canal Street Tavern it’s gonna sound a whole lot like being in New Orleans.  Singer, songwriter, producer and actor Paul Sanchez will be in town for a one night stand.  Joining him on stage will be special guest Davis Rogan, from HBO’s Treme.

Paul has released 16 CDs as a solo artist and 11 CDs as a founding member of the New Orleans rock band Cowboy Mouth. For the last few years Paul has been writing, recording and performing a musical
adaptation of a New York Times Best Seller by Dan Baum, Nine Lives.

Primarily a songwriter, Sanchez has written over 200 songs, and has collaborated with Darius Rucker, Hootie and The Blowfish, John Boutte, Galactic, Irma Thomas, Vance DeGeneres, Kevin Griffin of Better Then Ezra, John Thomas Griffith of Cowboy Mouth, Tony Award winning actor Michael Cerveris and Bryan Batt of AMC’s hit television show Mad Men.

Paul Sanchez is part of the “NOLA Summer in Dayton” Concert Series sponsored by Abita Brewing Company and presented by Yeah You Right Music Inc.  The 2nd show in the series, on Thurs, July 18th features the funk and blues of  Soul Project NOLA and on Fri, Aug 16th Davis Rogan and his band will appear. Tickets to all three Summer Series Concerts may be purchased  online or by contacting [email protected]

DaytonMostMetro wants to send a lucky reader and friend to see this show.  Just like and share this article and fill out the form below for your chance to win.  Winner will be announced Monday night. Good Luck!

Our ticket contest is over.  Congratulations to our winner:  Stephanie Miller of Vandalia.

Coming Up in Local Jazz – July 3 through July 16

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image001 (1)What is the USAF Band of Flight?

 

Some of the following may not be 100% accurate but are based on conversations, web surfing and observations that formed my impressions, I apologize for any inaccuracies.

 

The USAF Band of Flight is comprised of active duty Air Force members and is based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio and one of the oldest bands in the Air Force. It is one of the oldest bands in the Air Force; The Band of Flight has an unbroken record of service since its formation and shares with only The United States Air Force Band, Bolling AFB DC, the distinction of having remained at its original location for its entire history.

 

The band was activated on 24 September 1942 at Patterson Field (later Wright-Patterson AFB), Ohio as the 361st Army Air Force Band. Between 1942 and 1948 the Band was redesignated three times: as the 661st Army Band, then as the 661st Army Air Force Band, and finally as the 661st Air Force Band on 2 January 1948, not quite four months after the Air Force became a separate branch of service. The band was redesignated as The Air Force Band of Flight in 1991 with the mission of delivering world-class music that inspires emotions, creates positive impressions and communicates information according to Air Force objectives.

 

Recently I had heard the Band of Flight would be leaving our area due to cut-backs in the military budget but fortunately for us, this is not true. They have downsized into what I have been told is a leaner, meaner group along with a couple of very versatile combos, which are now all led by non-commissioned officers. The New “Band of Flight” under the direction of Chief Master Sergeant Eric M. Strohecker is a 14-member ensemble that provides top-notch, high-energy entertainment for the whole family. The “Wright Brass” led by Master Sergeant Michael Richter is a brass quintet with a percussionist. “Systems Go” is a popular music combo led by MSgt Tom Shriver performing many genres of music.

 

Many Band of Flight members both past and present have made a tremendous impact on our local jazz scene. A couple of years ago I met Cameron at Jazz Central where he was a regular part of their jazz jams for a period of time. One thing led to another and he helped me book the Band of Flight Nighthawk Jazz Combo (one of the groups of which he was a member), for Jazz Advocate’s 2011 Jazz & Peace Festival that we held in Centerville at Stubbs Park. Many of the jazz events that I attend are enhanced and enriched by these wonderful artists.

Jazz Calendar

Here are some (not all) of the upcoming jazz events for the next couple of weeks:
Today Wednesday, July 3 – The USAF Band of Flight has a Summer Concert at Kings Island Amusement Park and Todd Hepburn is at Arnold’s Bar & Grill in Cincinnati.

Thursday July 4 – There’s a Jam Session hosted by Chay Buddah & Hott2def at Bankshots Sports Bar & Grill in Trotwood and a image001-2Band of Flight Summer Concert in Rotary Park in Beavercreek.

Friday July 5 – Teresa Hunt with The  Jazz Patrol will be at De’Lish in Dayton and the Shawn Stanley Trio performs every Friday at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville, Ohio.

Saturday July 6 – You can spend an intimate evening of jazz and coffee at Ghostlight in Dayton and James & Moore will be at the C’est Tout Bistro in Oakwood.

Sunday July 7 – A Funk Tribute to Mark Adams & Mark Drac Hicks of Slave will take place at Gilly’s in Dayton.
Monday July 8 – The John Taylor Trio is at Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club in Columbus.

Tuesday July 9 – The Ron Purdon Orchestra performs at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club in Cincinnati and  the Part St. Tavern Jazz Jam continues in Columbus.

Wednesday July 10 –The US Air Force Band of Flight performs at the Fraze Pavilion and Ricky Nye is at Chez Nora in Covington, KY.

Thursday July 11 – Cameron Voorhees and the Generations Big Band will perform at Hope Community Arts Center located inside Hope Church in the South Park Neighborhood in Dayton.

Friday July 12 – The Different Hats Jazz Jam is at the Earl Heck Community Center in Englewood and the John Von Ohlen Trio is at Dee Felice in Covington, KY.

Saturday July 13 – The Bobby Floyd Trio is at Boudin’s Bistro & Jazz Club and Andrew Waters is at the Eastern Palace Restaurant both in Columbus.

OH.Sunday July 14 – Dayton’s longest running Jazz Jam Session with Kenny Baccus and John Hampton Wagner continues every Sunday at Jazz Central in Dayton.

Monday July 15 – Mark Flugge, Derek Dicenzo & Jimmy Castoe are at Due Amici and Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club in Columbus.
Tuesday July 16 – The Ed Moss & the Society Jazz Orchestra performs at the Schwartz Point Jazz Club and The Greenwich has Green Street Jam Session both in Cincinnati.

More info and jazz listings can be found at JazzAdvocate.com

 

 

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Will Have Cityfolk Swinging Saturday Night

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desktopCelebrating their 20th anniversary on the music scene, famed neo-swing outfit Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will hit Dayton this weekend to headline the Cityfolk Festival from 9:30 – 11 p.m. on Saturday, June 29.

Founded by lead singer/guitarist Scotty Morris and drummer Kurt Sodergren in 1993 Ventura, California, the band was at the forefront of the ‘90s swing revival. Much of the credit for that craze—which suddenly found horn-heavy bands like the Brian Setzer Orchestra, the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, Royal Crown Revue, and the Squirrel Nut Zippers selling millions of albums—can be traced back to the indie cult film Swingers, Jon Favreau’s 1996 character study of throwback lounge lizards in modern-day Los Angeles. For years, BBVD played every Wednesday night at Hollywood’s Brown Derby, and Favreau tapped the band to lend some tunes to the soundtrack and cameo in the film. The band shot to nationwide fame, and their songs from the film, “You & Me and the Bottle Makes Three” and “Go Daddy-O,” were being blasted by teens, seniors, and every age group between.

The band never looked back and maintains a busy schedule, releasing numerous albums since (including the platinum selling Americana Deluxe and their most recent, 2012’s Rattle Them Bones), making television appearances, and touring constantly, playing more than 150 dates a year. They’ve played for three of the last four presidents and at both Democratic and Republican National Conventions. Other highlights include halftime at Super Bowl XXIII with Stevie Wonder and Gloria Estefan in 1999, sellout shows at Lincoln Center and the Hollywood Bowl, stints with symphony orchestras all over the country, and, since 2008, an annual performance at Walt Disney World’s Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. The band is currently working on its second full length Christmas album, a follow up to 2004’s terrific Everything You Want For Christmas to be released later this year.

l

Glen “The Kid” Marhevka

“Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is a great live show band,” said trumpeter Marhevka. “The tunes are great all by themselves, but the band live onstage takes it to a whole new level. Every member of the band is a great performer with lots of energy. We’re not just bunch of cats behind music stands. We’ve got wireless mikes and we’re all over the stage. It’s a really fun, uplifting, high-energy show.”

California native Marhevka picked up the trumpet in fifth grade, playing in marching and concert bands and majoring in classical trumpet in college (“Because they didn’t really have jazz majors yet,” he said) and landing in Big Bad Voodoo Daddy soon after.

“Our original trombonist, Jeff Harris, is the only member who’s not still with us,” Marhevka began. “We played together when we were in school, in a Jamaican band and a ska band, actually. When this band was getting started, they needed a trumpet player, and he mentioned my name. I met the guys and we hit it off. It was 19 years ago, and I was in my early 20s but I looked about 19 myself. I went on a road trip with the guys and we headed up to Northern California. We stopped before the gig at a pretty nice restaurant, and everyone else got fancy food and I ordered a hot dog and fries, and Scotty looked at me and said, ‘Wow, you really are the kid, man.’ I started calling myself that onstage and people would yell it out, and the audiences loved it, so it kind of stuck.”

Of the newly formed swing bands that went big during the 1990s, only BBVD and the Brian Setzer Orchestra remain prominent in exposure. Marhevka attributes the band’s staying power to the integrity of the musicians.

“I think you can imagine it’s pretty hard,” he said, “to keep any group together, and to do it for this long with a band this large feels pretty amazing. We have a group of guys who wanted to play a certain style of music and kept playing it, but even when we were super popular and selling big and playing movie premiere parties and on all the late-night shows, it was never about wanting to become the ‘next big thing’ or even get as popular as we were during that period. We’ve dedicated ourselves to honoring the music from the ‘30s, ‘40s, and ‘50s, that great, rich period in American music. It turns out we have something cool and maybe even special, and we just want to get better and better at what we do—keep touring and creating new music and having fun without rehashing the same thing over and over.

“I don’t think we’ve really thought about it any more than that,” he said. “We just finished 20 years with the same guys that started together, and we want to do 20 more.”

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy plays the Main Stage Cityfolk Festival from 9:30 – 11 p.m. on Saturday, June 29. The Cityfolk Festival takes place at RiverScape Metropark (111 E. Monument Ave., Dayton) from Friday, June 28 – Sunday, June 30. Daily admission is $7 for adults, $3 for children 2-12, and free for children under 2. Discounted weekend passes are available for $17 per adult and $6 per child. Purchase at the gate or at cityfolk.tix.com. For more information and complete festival lineup, visit cityfolk.org.

The first Sunday of Summer means Women In Jazz Festival

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f625pw30h0xy6v9t0czfnw89waakuuygA day of soul and swing returns to downtown Dayton on Sunday, June 23, as the 31st annual Women in Jazz Festival kicks off the City of Dayton’s Downtown Summer Music Series. The free-admission event takes place at Dave Hall Plaza (Fourth and Jefferson Streets), from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The line-up includes Chicago-based headliner the Petra van Nuis Quartet, featuring guitarist Andy Brown. Also appearing will be: Hott Number, Valeria Lark, Tony’s Hotel, Heidi Reynolds & Jazz Karma, a special guest band to be announced and the Jazz Central Band featuring the Ladies of Jazz Central.

A variety of food and merchandise vendors will be present. Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome. Alcoholic beverages and pets are not permitted. Free valet parking for bicycles will be available.

Women in Jazz is presented by the City of Dayton Department of Recreation and Youth Services and Michelob, 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 on Sunday, July 21, and the Dayton Reggae Festival on Sunday, September 1, also at Dave Hall Plaza and with free admission.

Coming Up in Local Jazz – June 19 through July 2

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image002What’s happening at the Schuster?

As a rule, I try to cover the local Jazz scene in the Dayton, Cincinnati area but this article is another one of my deviations because of an upcoming Jazz event too significant to ignore. G.A.B. Productions is presenting their second Summer Breeze Jazz Tour concert featuring Joe Sample, Peter White and Alex Bugnon at the Schuster Center on Friday, June 28 at 7:30pm. Their first presentation was on April 28 at the Schuster featuring Will Downing, Gerald Albright and Pieces of a Dream and was sold out. It’s my understanding that G.A.B. is working on their next production for sometime next September.

Joseph Leslie “Joe” Sample (born February 1, 1939) is an American pianist, keyboard player and is one of the foremost composers and artists in the country. He is one of the founding members of the legendary “Jazz Crusaders,” the band which became simply “The Crusaders” in 1971, and remained a part of the group until its final album in 1991 – Peter White and Alex Bugnon are well known in our area and are national contemporary Jazz artists who have performed individually and with some of the world’s Jazz Greats.

This G.A.B Production is in conjunction with the Victoria Theatre Association and tickets can be purchased at ticketcenterstage.com or at their box office, which you can call at (937) 228-3630 for additional information.

We in Dayton are so fortunate to have a venue like the Schuster Center and we in the local Jazz community are equally fortunate to have shows of this caliber come to Dayton. Having said that, I would like to emphasize the fact of the many World Class Jazz Artists right here at home and stress they deserve our support as well. Good jazz is all around us and you can certainly find if you look!

 

Jazz Calendar

Here are some (not all) of the upcoming jazz events for the next couple of weeks:

 

Today Wednesday, June 19 – The Eleven piece Different Hats Band is at The Dayton Event Connection – great music and dance floor and the attendance continues to build in Dayton.

Thursday June 20 – The Generations Big Band is at Jazz Central in Dayton and Lee Stolar Trio is at Dee Felice in Covington, KY.

Friday June 21 – There’s a  Friday Night Jazz Show at the Washington Platform Saloon & Restaurant in Cincinnati and The Shawn Stanley Trio performs every Friday at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville, Ohio.

Saturday June 22 – Jack Hart and Michael Kotur are going to heat up Jazz Central with a special night on the B3 organ and guitar and Stanley Gorden is at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati.

Sunday June 23 – The Jazz Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus and John Hampton Wagner continues at Jazz Central in Dayton.
Sunday, June 23 –

Monday June 24 – The John Taylor Trio is at Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club in Columbus.

Tuesday June 25 – Ed Moss & the Society Jazz Orchestra is at Schwartz Point Jazz Club in Cincinnati and the Part St. Tavern Jazz Jam is going on in Columbus.

Wednesday June 26 –The Blue Wisp Big Band is at the Blue Wisp and Todd Hepburn is at Arnold’s Bar & Grill in Cincinnati.

Thursday June 27 – The 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant presents the Rick Brunetto Big Band in Columbus.

Friday June 28 – Joe Sample, Peter White and Alex Bugnon are at the Schuster Center and Dave Greer’s Classic Jazz Stompers are at Jay’s Seafood Restaurant in Dayton.

Saturday June 29 – James & Moore are at the C’est Tout Bistro in Oakwood, OH and the John Von Ohlen Trio is at Dee Felice in Covington, KY.

OH.Sunday June 30 – Dayton’s longest running Jazz Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus and John Hampton Wagner continues at Jazz Central in Dayton.

Monday July 1 – Mark Flugge, Derek Dicenzo & Jimmy Castoe are at Due Amici and Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club in Columbus.
Tuesday July 2 – Dave Greer’s Classic Jazz Stompers is at Jimmie’s Ladder 11 in Dayton every first Tuesday.

More info and jazz listings can be found at JazzAdvocate.com