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Elton John Comes to Dayton in April 2013!

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Tickets on sale: Jan 28, 2013 (Mon) 10:00 AM

Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, is one of the most highly acclaimed and successful solo artists of all time. With his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, Elton has written some of the greatest songs of our time including ‘Rocket Man’, ‘Your Song’, ‘Daniel’ and ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’. He has achieved 35 gold and 25 platinum albums, has sold more than 250-million records worldwide, and holds the record for the biggest selling single of all time.

Elton is the third most successful artist in the history of the American charts, behind Elvis Presley and The Beatles. He has had 56 top forty singles in the United States, a total second only to Elvis Presley. He achieved seven number one albums in a three-and-a-half-year period from 1972 to 1975, a period of concentrated success surpassed only by The Beatles.

Over the five decades since his career began in 1969, Elton has played more than 3,000 concerts worldwide. He continues to record and to tour the world, performing both solo and band concerts, and usually plays around 100 concerts each year. Currently he is on the ‘quest for 100 countries’ – aiming to play concerts in as many countries as possible.

Elton remains committed to his music and to touring, becoming more, rather than less, busy as time passes. Last year The Million Dollar Piano, Elton’s new production, opened at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. This production, which received fantastic reviews, is set to run for at least three years.

In 2012 Elton returned to the recording studio with producer T Bone Burnett, to record The Diving Board, an album scheduled for release in 2013. He then toured North, Central and South America, before heading to Europe, where his summer tour included an unforgettable appearance at The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace. 2012 also gave Elton a UK number album – his first in 22 years – with Good Morning To The Night, the remix project by Elton John versus Pnau. This album introduced Elton’s music to a new, young audience who sang along heartily to Your Song when Elton performed it at a summer festival in Ibiza.

Elton and his band will continue to tour throughout the coming year, and plans are now under way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1973 release of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road during 2013.

From http://www.eltonjohn.com

Help Save The Attic!

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THEATTICCOVER
For a little over a decade 2852 Wilmington Pike in Kettering has been a club unlike any other. Its 22,000 square foot spacious inner cavernous sanctum can hold 700+ kids, young adults, teenagers, and adults. Whether hitting the dance floor, jumping up and down screaming during a concert or hanging out/relaxing at a bible study the large epicenter of friendly fun and frolic for kids-late teens and on occasion adults has stood proud and unabashed in its mission to give local youth a place to hang, study the word, dance, chill and head-bang while Facebooking, texting or Tweeting when needed and…. it’s in danger of closing its doors after February 7th.This year The Attic finds itself in the worst financial bind in the ten years they’ve been open. A decrease in national tours and less local bands booking shows are contributing factors. Originally they were going to lose their insurance due to a lawsuit filed by parents whose teenage daughter was inadvertently hit in the crowd at a show. Staff and management have always gone out of their way to preach and stress safety and watching out for one another due to the aggressive nature of some shows, going as far as permanently banning the rowdiest of the rowdies and troublemakers. After talking to the parents, the father, a Christian decided to drop the suit as an act of grace, never intending to hurt the venue but was trying to recoup some of his losses. In turn The Attic will hold a huge benefit show on February 1st all proceeds going to the families medical costs. 

Finding affordable insurance is still a major issue as they are a non-profit organization and need to at least break even to continue operations. There will be an all-day music festival held on January 26th featuring over 15 bands performing to help raise funds. The venues last scheduled event will be a pre-closing booked show on February 7th featuring The Color Morale.

Closing the venue would mean area start up bands and those who have a following would have to find other places and there aren’t many all age options. The staff has kept eyes and ears on the Dayton scene and teens and their families are their heartbeat. Ideally, they would like to continue serving them in whatever way possible. Although they’re optimistic they’re not sure what the immediate future holds. Area kids would lose a place where they’re always welcome and invited to hang out. The staff has seen lots of teens comment and say that they will lose a “home” and those are the hardest comments to read and hear. They strive to provide a place where everyone feels welcome and loved and they’d hate to think that they would no longer have that sanctuary in their lives. Many kids say they have figured out who they were and where they were going because of the Attic. Their goal is to continue finding ways to serve the kids so hopefully this will only be a short blip in that mission and they will be able to continue serving them or find a way to once again give them a place to belong.

There’s been a huge outpouring of support from local teens and their families to help raise awareness since the January closing was announced. Facebook and YouTube videos and testimonies have been posted supporting the positive impact The Attic has had on area teens.

DSCF8829Since 2002 The Attic has served as a club/meeting spot for area youth. Though visitors have flocked from all parts of the state and some have crossed the border to see shows. The double doors have opened to all manner of social groups who come in and come together to enjoy the music of their generation performed loudly on stage, sometimes by friends, sometimes by national bands and they all want this grand tradition to continue.

Founder Pastor Jim Kilby and Co-manager Elizabeth Kilby Johnson have painstakingly worked to build a good reputation over the years with business neighbors and the community. The Attic hosts a staff of 20-25. Pastor Kilby is a retired Air Force officer. One day the simple word ‘go’ from Jesus’ ‘great commission’ moved him so much that he decided to move from ministering to teens within the walls of the local church and try to reach those outside. As a result, he founded Harvest Youth Ministries, the parent organization of The Attic.

Harvest Youth Ministries is a non-profit organization operating a unique ministry for local teens. Their hope and mission is summed up by “Some place to go!”  Since Harvest Youth was founded in 1998, they’ve worked hard to provide teens a place to have fun, hang out with friends and just be themselves.

The first Harvest Youth center, The Cellar, opened in Dayton in 1998.  Originally located in the back room of a church, The Cellar soon moved to a building of its own in Moraine where it was transformed into a neighborhood skate park. Through God’s grace and provision, their ministry at The Cellar led thousands of teens to accept Jesus Christ as savior and begin an authentic relationship with Him.  Due to economy changes and the popularity of free, outdoor skate parks, The Cellar closed in 2009.  However, many of the teens that attended The Cellar began to attend The Attic, the second Harvest Youth Ministry location.

Lots of big names have played the hallowed Attic Stage including Hawthorne Heights, Staple, Super Chick, Gwen Stacy, Haste the Day, Red, Skillet, Spoken, Between the Buried and Me, The Devil Wears Prada, Brian ‘Head’ Welch, most of the Scream the Prayer Tours, Becoming the Archetype and A Plea for Purging. There’s also a healthy dose of local acts to help polish the future rock stars of tomorrow. The venue has also catered to positive mainstream acts as well.

The club is alcohol, drug and smoke free. There’s a fully stocked drink/food/snack ‘bar’, a few video games, two stages, a family of pool tables and plenty of lounging spots to prop up or plop down on and a generous amount of space up front reserved for the most devoted fans.

The Attic also has available counseling for any alienation, vulnerability, depression, heartache, confusion or other issues today’s youth deal with. Additionally weekly bible studies have been offered for those interested in hearing/learning more about biblical history and The Almighty. The Harvest Christian Fellowship is a grassroots ministry that meets every Sunday in the building and is designed to help teens and families feel more comfortable communicating and participating in a spiritual/religious setting. Thanks to this movement and its fellowship The Attic has had two confirmed miracles within their walls. Two young lives were saved on two different occasions from near suicide just by being there and the staff/entertainment showing the troubled souls that people did care about them. One of which a former bad boy drinker and drug user had planned on OD’ing  after one of the Scream The Prayer Tours but was stopped and saved after the singer from one of the performing bands received a spiritual message and intervened and the young man was baptized at the club and has been a staff member since. His testimonial along with Save The Attic testimonials can be found on The Attic’s sister sites www.harvestdayton.com and www.harvestyouth.org

Other upcoming shows include 1/18-The Rose Hill, IATM and Witness, 1/19- The Paramedic, 1/24-The Almost, All Get Out and Makeshift Prodigy, 1/25-Misery Signals, Corelia.  Support for keeping The Attic open can be sent to Mailing Donations: C/o Harvest Youth Ministries 4004 Woodcliffe Ave Dayton, OH 45420.

Jazz Spotlight: DAI Jazz & Beyond + Upcoming Local Jazz Jan 16 – 29

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Happy January 16th; Irving Mills was born on this day in 1894, He and his brother Jack built a company that became the largest independent music publisher in the world. Check out Wikipeda for more information.

Miscellaneous Jazz Notes:

Latest word on the possible closing status of the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati: Click Here

More sad news for local jazz – Worthington Inn to Discontinue Regular Jazz Programming: Click Here

Here’s a note on the Cincinnati Winter Blues Fest: Click Here

Dayton Art Institute’s 2013 Vectren Jazz & Beyond

Centerville High School Jazz Ensemble

Centerville High School Jazz Ensemble

The Dayton Art Institute will present their 2013 Vectren Jazz & Beyond season on the second Thursday of the month this year. The schedule is as follows:

March 14 – The ShinSings Orchestra

April 11 – Jazz Central Jammers

May 9 – Centerville High School Jazz Night

June 13 – Ron Jones Quartet

August 8 – Generations Big Band

September 12 – Tribute to Louie Armstrong

October 10 – Greg Abate and the Lee McKinney Trio

November 14 – Puzzle of Light

Performances take place 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the intimate setting of the museum’s Shaw Gothic Cloister. Admission is FREE for museum members and $8 for non-members.

Jazz CentralJazz Central

Over the years many big bands have played at Jazz Central and back in the day they even had their own band. It’s my understanding their band was mostly made up of Air Force players and they always had a grate time playing the music they loved. Coming up on Thursday, January 17 that very same music is returning to Jazz Central. This is because club owner Charles Stone had saved the original charts and Mike Rinderle had the idea of getting a band together to fill in the spot of the vacationing Generations Big Band. Well Mike has assembled some of the very best players in our area:

Steve Shininger – drums

John Slate – keyboard

Leo Smith – bass

John Harner – trumpet       

Wade Baker – trumpet

Tom Shirley – trumpet        

Mike Rinderle – trumpet

Ronald Hartwell – alto saxophone

Luis Rosa – alto saxophone 

Grant Koeller – tenor saxophone

Carlos Serrano – tenor saxophone

Bill Burns – baritone saxophone

Linda Landis – trombone  

Dustin Malone – trombone
Jon Hoff – trombone

Their performance promises to be something very special, which you can check out at: http://www.jazzcentraldayton.com/#16

 

Jazz Calendar

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

Tonight Wednesday, January 16 – Jazz Central presents Blue Wednesday with Jack & Joe Waters and an the eleven piece Different Hats Band is at the Dayton Event Connection.

Thursday January 17 – The return of of the Jazz Central Big Band at Jazz Central in Dayton and Dottie Warner and Ricky Nye at Arnold’s Bar & Grill in Cincinnati.

Friday January 18 – Dave Greer’s Classic Jazz Stompers is at Jay’s Seafood Restaurant in Dayton and the Bobby Floyd Trio is at Boudin’s Bistro & Jazz Club in Columbus.

Saturday January 19 – Ed Clay’s Jazz Patrol featuring Randy Villars is at Gilly’s in Dayton and Ascension is at the The Greenwich in Cincinnati.

Sunday January 20 – the last night for the Slaughter Brothers at Jazz Central in Dayton this trip and there is a Sunday night Jazz Jam at Victory’s om Columbus.

Monday January 21 – the John Taylor Trio is at the Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and Mark Flugge, Derek Dicenzo & Jimmy Castoe is at Due Amici in Columbus.

Tuesday January 22 – Scott Belck Quartet featuring Alan Wyatt is at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati and the Part St. Tavern Jazz Jam is going on in Columbus.

Wednesday January 23 – John LaIacona is at Eddie Merlot’s in Cincinnati and Chuchito Valdesos is playing Nighttown in Cleveland Heights.

Thursday January 24 – the Rick Brunetto Big Band is at the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant in Columbus and Dave Powers is at Amano’s Sports Bar in Worthington, OH.

Friday January 25 – Shawn Stanley Trio is at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville, OH and the Eddie BrookshireQuintet is playing Nighttown in Cleveland Heights.

Saturday January 26 – James & Moore is at C’est Tout Bistro in Oakwood and Gilly’s presents Winter Blues Showcase in Dayton.

Sunday January 27 – the Jazz Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus is at Jazz Central in Dayton and Hoo Doo Soul Band is at the Rumba Café in Columbus.

Monday January 28 – Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club in Columbus and a Jazz Jam hosted by Sandy Suskind Quartet is at the Wisp in Cincinnati.

Tuesday January 29 – the Derek DiCenzo Trio is at Local Roots in Powell, OH and Tony Monaco is at the Rumba Café in Columbus.

 

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

Mushroomhead Play Doomsday in Dayton

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Well, if you’re reading this the ancient Mayans were wrong and life as we know it has continued into 2013. It was reported that a new calendar was discovered in a Mayan Temple in the rain forests at Xultun in Guatemala with a life sized mural of a Mayan King and astronomical/numerology calendar symbols showing moon phases in years preserved on walls proving that the much discussed/feared and apocalyptically claimed Dec 21, end of the world prophecy was indeed not the end of days rather the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. But as many bands had certainly taken advantage of the day with such a built in metal theme, why not play a metal show on the last day on earth. At least we’ll all be banging our heads as the sky falls and hell, fire and brimstone hit the earth.
Though nothing earth shattering actually occurred and no rain of blood or fires from the sky scorched the planet, the weather was cold but normal. Though there were reports of a mushroom shaped cloud hovering over McGuffys before dark. Four bands braved the years prophesized final hours playing their best and most brutal metal for the packed house of ‘mostly’ heaven bound souls if rapture did happen.
Killbox

Killbox

Then I saw an angel come down from Heaven holding a key to the Killbox and a huge chain in his hand (Revelations Chapter 20 Verse 1)

We begin the beginning of the end opening up the Killbox to play with Armageddon’s favorite tools of mass destruction. Northern Kentucky’s the home to one of the genre’s newest metal making sons. Formed in 2011 and though they’re still in their infernal infancy, had much to offer this year and the ear. Named in part after an Overkill album, the group incorporates a loud, rabid speed infection to their heavy drive and loud intensity. The ferocious angry assault of Coming Back borrows the best iron rimmed canine gnashers snarling in your face ready to shred flesh with a red eyed slobbering hunger. They sound proud to sound so damn pissed off and for good reason. If you knew for sure tomorrow wasn’t coming you’d sound off spitting out some life spanning venom too.  Weaponry speaking a Killbox is a three-dimensional target area, designed to facilitate the integration of coordinate joint weapons fire. It’s an open free fire zone and a chance to ‘Fire at will commander’ so to speak.  Together we all Embraced the Second Coming and the second Mayan calendar. The Mike Muir headband wearing, David Draiman looking Brad Brochers belts out a screeching Sully Erna tangled in chains range with a little bit of Bobby Blitz and Dez Fafara for the rasp. They dedicate a tune to all the fallen hero’s including Dimebag. They dare standing up against the end and say it’s not over Till I Say It’s Over.
Forces of Nature

Forces of Nature

The first horror is over, after this there are still two more horrors to come. (Revelation chapter 9 verse 12) Then the main event.

When the first angel blew his trumpet there came hail and then fire mixed with blood which was hurled down to the earth. A third of the land was scorched along with a third of the trees and every green plant. (Revelation chapter 8 verse 7) Hence the forces of nature are seen.
One of Dayton’s major forces to be reckoned with Forces of Nature brought all of nature’s preliminary fury supplying a veracious wall of sound echoing from the stage to the earthbound skies above. Saturday December 22 proved the D-Day calendar was just Deception. Rotten Tooth pounded the brain like a bad incisor dangling from the inner oral cavity. Following was a mob of screaming, frantic populous Throwing Fists on board the off track Midnight Meat Train locomotive trying to outrun fate toward the Holy Lights. It will happen again, Nevermore. If the prophecies had been true, the world would be nothing but a huge Forest of Corpses on a Black Earth. With a steel spiked boot up the ass goodbye.
I Died Trying

I Died Trying

Then I looked and I heard an eagle that was flying high in the air say in a loud voice, O horror! Horror! How horrible it will be for all who live on earth when the sound comes from the band that the other three bands and audience must hear. (Revelation chapter 9 verse 13, paraphrased) The sound of Armageddon is upon us.

Dayton’s answer to what a prison riot during a madman’s symphony would sound like took over the stage and sound waves playing an almost indescribable audio-ambivalent two song set of Opeth length tunes strung together by movie samples, screams, growls, instruments played and sounds put together in a cornucopias mismatch of sound that God and nature never intended. But since it was the end, it was time to take a long mental disconnect down the Lost Highway drawing First Blood. Time to bust open the padded cell for a train wreck in the brain. We’re all honored guests at this madman’s tea party of the damned. Sipping the best cup of earl grey with a touch of sugar cubed cyanide. Collective in cohesion done to perfection coming out of a soundbox/turntable possessed by the souls of a hundred departed musicians. Slow, quiet musical whispers in the mind to full blown psycho-pandemonium. Cold sweat down the back as blood stained eyes stare wide eyed into the stretching darkness, crystallized limbs reach out from fragments of memories grabbing, juggling, and spinning your mind into a paranoid schizophrenic war dance. Like Swallowing Swords with a grenade chaser. I tried to make sense of this beautiful insanity, but I Died Trying.
Then I saw a group of beasts coming up, out of the sea.  They had many instruments and seven heads each wearing a hideous mask.  (Revelation chapter 13 verse 1, paraphrased.)
Mushroomhead

Mushroomhead

One of Cleveland’s most bizarre and infamous exports, Mushroomhead, the seven man masked men traveling demented carnival nightmare came out dressed in their blood splattered dinner suit best. Comprised of a singing/rapping team of pain and pleasure divine, Waylon’s cast face looked like he’d had a few go arounds with Pinheads toy box while Jeffrey Nothing looks like he took a double sawed off shotgun blast to the face and lived to sing about it. Keyboard striker Shmotz sports another mashed up faceplate of the mushroom horde sporting a spiked army helmet of the marching dead. Bass was played by the human gargoyle Dr. F with guitars strummed by the human Collector known as Church. Backstage gets Skinny on the drums while front stage water drums bashing courtesy of a dread locked skeleton and a robotic HH Giger cyber holiday reindeer, respectively.

Every song sung played like a story from a book of twisted nursery rhymes, like Mother Goose but just the Grimm. Accompanied by a pleasant holiday array of strobe and Christmas stage lights, lasers, hand held spotlights and overall sick merry mayhem. The human horror movie performance artists lived up to their hallucinogenic ingested namesake.  It was indeed Jigsaws favorite torture music.
They started 12 Hundred with a Bwomp, Come On, the blood splattered MMA love song, Save Me from the next Brain Hemorrhage before I Kill Tomorrow so the Sun Doesn’t Shine. They play the dead man’s hand on Solitaire Unraveling and were Born of Desire to fill all the Empty Spaces in the wall.  The mad masked men have promised a new record this year so 2013 will be the year of the Mushroom.

Moshpits & Lighters III Sells Out McGuffys

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December 17 McGuffy’s House of Rock cleared the seats and tables for a standing room only sell-out crowd of 500+ gathered to watch 8 bands play the one and only of its kind annual metal showcase spotlighting local talent and a few state bordering and elsewhere local friends. Seconds Fall, Nightbeast, Chambers of Chaos, Amongst Villains, The Action Blast, Avenue Sky, My Name in Vain and In The Cut played a nightlong showcase plowing through tunes and pummeling heads, brain cells and earlobes.

Seconds Fall

Seconds Fall

Seconds Fall/In The Cut singer Daniel DeDoncker was the mastermind behind the nights event. The goal was to sell out McGuffys with a local show and he accomplished it with lots of old school hard work dedication, heart and a true passion for music. He wanted to book a show with his favorite local/regional bands breaking the traditional 3-4 band bill with an entire evening of talent playing music across the spectrum. Bands both similar and completely different of each other are part of DeDonckers vision.  Another future goal is to organize 3-4 like events a year while opening for national bands. To sweeten the deal if DeDoncker and Co sold out Dayton’s House of Rock they’d earn a signed guitar on the coveted wall of fame. 2 ½ months of advertising went into the show using all social media outlets also employing  grassroots methods of word of mouth and multiple flier copies. The show focuses on all types of rock, and eventually he wants to do an outdoor event, a local X-Fest of sorts.

After three years apart DeDonckers first band Seconds Fall played an acoustic reunion set opening festivities. The band played the first two Moshpits & Lighters shows at Badda Bings in Kettering breaking bar attendance and sales records that night, and surpassing that number the year after. Past show alumni includes Fluwid, Occams Razor, Orange Williard, Chapter of Progress, Inept and Negative Process among others.

For the shows third year they enlisted the help of local ink masters Truth n Triumph Tattoo and model talents of Megyn, Jeni, Jenn, Courtney and Tonya the bewitching tattooed beauties of the Michigan Twisted Angels.

Local stand up Funny Bone regular laugh riot Bizcuit MC’d the show opening with his trademark tearful farewell to Twinkies and all out ariel assault of oatmeal crème cookies.
Seconds Fall started with the Lighter stuff, breaking out the electric acoustics for a stripped down performance that really brought out the emotion of all songs performed. Tesla did the five man acoustic jam, Seconds Fall did it with three. A lyrically passionate heavy set brought out by 12 electrically acoustic strings gave us Insignificant, End of Our Time, We All Need Hero’s, Don’t Give Up On Me and the first song they wrote Lipstick Revenge. DeDonker proves big hulking metal dudes can leave the beast growls and screaming in the dressing room (till later) and work the vocals a different way singing some beautiful tunes. They finished with Congulate concluding the Lighter side of things.
Avenue Sky

Avenue Sky

The cranium crunching began with Chambers of Chaos. Max Headroom yellow Mohawk sporting, slick sunglasses wearing Shaun Clark dared everyone to Enter My Ring growling out an aggressive pounding sound borrowing vox from Dez Fafara mixed with some dirty evil sounding Godsmack with a punk attack from somewhere beneath the earth. There’s definite chaos in the guitars bringing out a mass riot of a sound. They look like a nice friendly bunch of metal blokes, until they’re Pushed to Stand Against something with a deep rooted melody. We’re all Faceless in the crowd enjoying the heavy hype on stage. They leave us hungry for more with the darkly melodious long Kiss of Goodnight. Clark yells his lyrical agenda to the gathering with the fury of a dictator at the podium who wasn’t shy about flashing the bird, letting it soar for all to see. (Metal’s one of the very few genre’s where the middle finger can be used as a sign of camaraderie and respect).

Straight up north from the cold depths of Flint Michigan come Avenue Sky with a chilled string intro launching into Day of the Intruder. They Breathe one part metal, one part coffee house rock and one part indie aura. Formed in 2008, their influences are as diverse and unique as their onstage show. Dragonflies rings out with a jingling, jangling coffee house ballad feel, the strings almost having a piano like effect. According to Kevin Swisher, you ’can’ make babies to this song. A Storm That Burns is sung with an almost Michael Sweet (Stryper) delivery between the growling. There are some nice doses of sporadic /spastic fast footed dancing fury. Swisher and Co play homage to Killswitch Engage and King X’s Doug Pinnick.
Amongst Villains

Amongst Villains

McGuffy’s regulars Amongst Villains return hot off their set supporting Psychostick a few weeks back. Hardcore sweater wearer Josh Marshall rocked the holy living Huxtable out of his wholly holiday gear, sporting a killer ’stash. He can make any fabric look angry as he screams himself flannel red, throwing himself into everything he does. AV are a band that just can’t stop moving. They play their patented blend of hard, rough but southern strong proofed metal on Heavy is the Crown and a trip down the darkened bayou on Black River Ruin. They take us To The Grave Dragging Hell along the way.

Suddenly a fan took the stage grabbed the mic and unleashed a hypnotic fury of beats, blasts, human throat noises uttering danceable delicacies to the crowd while Nightbeast prepared to roar. Security and staff were too in awe watching him take his vocal chords to almost indescribable heights in a Bobby McFerrin on steroids performance to stop him.
Shaking in the cellar, scared out of your mind, breath fights for freedom as the beast lurks by. Fingers scratch the surface, as night air seeps in, blood red eyes pierce the darkness as your end comes….. crashing through the wall.  Well, maybe not as evil as that night beast but with no less a killer instinct for performance Dayton’s Nick Testa aka The Nightbeast, Lonn Friends unofficial twin brother plays a show unique in its presence and somewhat indescribable for the pen to translate. They show up with their own club mix, a band that must be seen to be properly heard and yes, they are a bit different. They bring out the shirtless inked aggression in true comedic form. Blending top 40, rap, hip hop, rock and ska, NightBeast ’could be’ best described as a schizophrenic natural ruthied dance club rock show tattooed male review remix on wheels. We start the pawty on a Fullride, no worries your future educations taken care of. Living Large is the on key Biz Markie version of Will Smith’s Summertime. They add Tenanious D, Weird Al Yankovic lyrics to a dizzying range of performance art and bizarre hijinks. But without PG-X rated humor there can be no Anger Phase. Those topless souls brave enough to perform with him include Sean Patton, Robbie Bauer, Jordan Elam, Ryan ’Asher’ Jones and John Lakes.
My Name in Vain

My Name in Vain

My Name in Vain

took the stage with towering skyscraper Josh ’slinky’ Miller at the helm celebrating their first year as a band playing heavy artillerist paced music with a thick shovel in steamy blacktop in maximum security grit feel. We took a trip back to the river bathhouse in all our shame because we’re all Poor People. Santa came out to spread some holiday cheer before he Departed.  (Writers note: MNIV was the first local and mainstream band I’ve reviewed for the website (Static X show) so seeing them again and being there was extra special for me)

Chicago’s Action Blast came out ready to prove all the Disbeliever’s wrong, performing with a solid serving of rock, hard melody, and infectious vocals combining the singing Skillet/Killswitch Engage style with God Forbid appearance and screaming. They tap the audiences reserve tank with some hard rock addictive octane. After they hit us with The Plague, they offer us some tail from the headless chick that’ll leave any man stone faced. By the end they’d Erased any doubt they came to deliver the Chi-Town goods.
In the Cut

In the Cut

The evenings local hero’s/headliners, In the Cut, hit the stage bringing the party to the people, honoring those who lasted all night with shots, hot chicks dancing, Santa Clause on guitar and giving the crowd plenty of loud face time. Also celebrating their first year as a band, the Onslaught started symbolically Crossing the Rubicon on stage. They didn’t wait Until the End to pull out a blistering blast of super 80’s power ballads. Tonight’s show had indeed been an incredible Journey of personal triumph and victory for DeDoncker and all performers proving that hard work and dedication does pay off and the local scene can and does carry  hardcore heavyweight drawing power. If Tomorrow Never Comes we’ll all feast and get Wasted on Hatred Divine. We finish M&L’s trio show with the voice of its creator from creation to damnation, from Eden to Exile. Their next show will be opening for religious icons P.O.D. on February 9th.

Open Mic Nights – A Musicians Beginning

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Photo Credit: Jennifer Taylor Clarke

Mandy Jewell (photo credit: Jennifer Taylor Clarke)

When I was in college, I thought that it would be cool to fool around, impress the ladies, and pick up the acoustic guitar. Sadly with classes, hanging with friends, and pretty much being lazy-I never learned how to play.  I would never give up the guitar, however.  I always kept it in its black travel bag and placed it in my closet.  Recently-I decided that it’s the right time to unpack the instrument and develop a plan.  I will learn how to play, and perform in front of an audience during an open mic night.  If you are someone that is like me, and what’s to follow through on an idea, or if you want to start their journey on becoming a musician, open mic nights are a great start.  Here in Dayton, there are a couple of great open mic events throughout the week that you can perfect your craft at, and even get your name started.

The first open mic night we will discuss takes us to a small shopping center that is across Wright State University.  On Sunday nights at One Eyed Jacks in Fairborn,   the RnR Playdate, hosted by Jay Madewell and Todd the Fox is held.  Their concept of the open mic is very different than most.  For a 25 minute set, you can play with a drummer (Madewell), guitartist (Todd), bassist (Chris Barnett from the local band Mayliner).  If you choose to play solo, that’s fine.  Between sets, there are five minute comedy sets.  My first experience with this open mic night featured seeing what seemed like a reserved, coy woman named Mandy Jewell.  She walked up to the podium, and plugged in her guitar.  She sat down, took a deep breath, and waited to be introduced.  Todd grabbed the microphone and explained to the crowd that Jewell was in the process of having a largely successful Kickstarter campaign that would give the funds to travel to Nashville to record her first professional demo.  After hearing this, I couldn’t help but be intrigued to hear her play.  What took place for the next 25 minutes was something that I didn’t think I would expect.  This tiny framed young lady that seemed to be the person that would be considered a perfect example of being a wallflower proved me and everyone in the crowd otherwise.  Her guitar play and singing revealed a woman that has had sadness in her life, and that she is now rising from the wreckage.  She is stronger than most would give her.  Her voice was like if Mazzy Star decided to morph into someone else’s body.  Jewell spoke softly, which only built her charm level up more and more.  I can’t wait to see where Mandy takes her music.  She is truly a gem that Dayton better be ready for.  The whole concept, the performers, the location-RnR Playdate is a great start for anyone that wants to get started in their musical journey.  The crowd is very loyal, and will follow you wherever you go.

Kim Deal

Kim Deal

Our next stop is the South Park Tavern.  Every Wednesday night, the fantastic bar that offers some of the best pizza and beer in town also presents their open mic night.  This establishment is actually the birthplace of an idea.  On a chilled October night in 2011, a young man was sitting at one of the tables with some friends.  The group was sitting around catching up on what has been happening with one another. The young man has enjoyed the music that was being played in Dayton, and wanted to show his appreciation by starting a page people could go to and read about his adventures and his accounts of seeing the local shows.  He explained this vision to his friends, telling them that we would write reviews on the shows he attended, and hopefully meet some great people along the way.  That young man was me.  Over a year later, and continuing to move forward with Dayton Most Metro, I can’t begin to express my love to this open mic night.

Starting at 9, each act has 25 minutes to set up and perform.  At 11, the stage opens up for any upcoming rock band to come up and perform till the doors close.  The tavern on Wednesdays nights also offers up some acts that you would never think would happen.  Just a couple of weeks ago, an artist was penciled in to play.  The performer was labeled on the schedule as ‘K.D’.  What the people who were in attendance didn’t expect was that ‘K.D.’ was no other than The Breeders lead singer and bassist for the Pixies Kim Deal.  She performed a solo electric version of “Cannonball” but also another Breeders fan favorite “Fortunately Gone” from 1990’s Pod among others.

Travel over to the great Oregon District, and you will notice that some of the great establishments to run up and down the area also host fantastic open mic nights.  On Thursday nights, the Trolley Stop and Blind Bob’s each will give you the forum to come and sing your heart out.  Both venues also give you a great intimate crowd that will be looking forward to hearing good music played by you.

So, if you are ready to start embarking on a journey that you have been thinking of going on from some time, you always have to start somewhere.  If music is in your blood, and you want to become part of the great group of artists and musicians that call Dayton home, then go to one (or all) of the open mic nights the town offers you.  Maybe, just maybe, you will fulfill a lifelong dream of yours.  Or if you are like me-you will knock something off the bucket list.  Either way-have fun doing it.  If you don’t play any instruments, just sing only in the shower, or you just love seeing music, then go and support the people playing at the open mic nights.  Show them your appreciation.  Who knows-you just may see the next big star to come out of town…

Jazz Spotlight: Jazz Jam + Upcoming Local Jazz Jan 2 – 15

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Happy January 2nd!  American jazz singer Arthur Prysock, best known for his live shows and his baritone influenced by Billy Eckstine was born on this day in 1929.

JazzJamWhat is a Jazz Jam?

In simple terms a jam session is a musical act where musicians play by improvising without extensive preparation or predefined arrangements. A regular jazz jam is usually sponsored by a venue where this is a predefined core group of paid regulars and any and all musicians who care to come and join in are welcome. The guest musicians or vocalist would need to check or sign in with the event MC to maintain a good performing balance.

There are regular ongoing jams in Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus, which are known well enough to draw guest performers both local and many times from out of town. Like I tell everyone, every chance I get, “Many times, depending upon who shows up, you get some of the very best jazz at jams!” Last Sunday at Jazz Central proved to be the case when the Slaughter Brothers, Clarence (saxophone) and William (trumpet) showed up to jam. Over the years many young jazz players have cut their teeth on Jazz Central’s stage, which has been home to Dayton’s longest running jazz jam.

The Slaughter brothers, who have been doing big things in South Carolina and New Orleans, are home for the holidays and we were treated to a rare performance. In addition to the Slaughters we had Kenny Baccus on organ, John Hampton Wagner as MC as well as trumpet and vocals and Greg Webster on drums, Clifford Darrett and Ahmed Abdullah on congas, and Ron Appleberry on bass as the basic jam core group. Additional guest performers included David Jenkins on saxophone and Darren Witherspoon on drums, two young Stivers School of the Arts students who were new to the jam sessions. Rounding out the evening were vocalist Jeff Ward and Always Triple, trombonist Mushandi Pillow, saxophonist Grant Koeller and drummers Henry Preston and Ismail Muhammad as well as Jack Hart on organ and Jerry Cox on flute. If I haven’t missed anyone (hopefully I’m correct on the spellings) there were eighteen on stage during the evening; what entertainment for a mere $2.00 cover charge.

Clarence started playing on the Jazz Central stage at age 12, was one of the Serious Young Musicians that played Showtime at the Apollo and has performed with some of today’s biggest names in New Orleans. Younger brother William Patrick who also grew up at the club is currently based in the South and comes back to us as a professional player of unbelievable skill. It’s my understanding that the brothers will be with us trough next Sunday’s jam and Clarence is scheduled to be part to Saturday’s “Secret! Kept?” show at the club, which you can check out at: http://www.jazzcentraldayton.com/#15

Jazz Calendar

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

Tonight Wednesday, January 2 – Jazz Central opens a new Blue Wednesday series with Jack & Joe Waters and Swing Dance with Lizz & Rex Review is at the Dayton Event Connection.

Thursday January 3 – Tony Monaco is at Giammarco’s Pizza in Westerville, OH.

Friday January 4 – the Marc Fields Quintet is at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati and the Eddie Brookshire Quintet is at the Thompson House in Newport, Ky.

Saturday January 5 – James and Moore are performing at the C’est Tout Bistro in Oakwood and an allstar cast is doing Secret! Kept? at Jazz Central.

Sunday January 6 – the Slaughter Brothers return for the Jazz Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus at Jazz Central in Dayton and a Live Jazz Party produced by Gene Walker is at the Hunan Gourmet Restaurant in Whitehall, OH.

Monday January 7 – the John Taylor Trio is at the Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and a Jazz Jam hosted by Sandy Suskind at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati.

Tuesday January 8 – Matt Ellis and “Standard Time” is at the McConnell Arts Center in Worthington, OH.

Wednesday January 9 – the Blue Wisp Big Band performs at the Wisp in Cincinnati and Jack & Joe Waters is at Jazz Central in Dayton.

Thursday January 10 – the Rick Brunetto Big Band is at the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant in Columbus.

Friday January 11 – Shawn Stanley Trio is at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville, OH and Deep Blue Organ Trio is at the Thompson House in Newport, Ky

Saturday January 12 – Richard Lopez is at Hyde Park in Arlington in Columbus and the Rachel Sepulveda Trio is at the Worthington Inn both in Worthington, OH.

Sunday January 13 – the Jazz Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus is at Jazz Central in Dayton  and Hoo Doo Soul Band is at the Rumba Café in Columbus.

Monday January 14 – Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club in Columbus.

Tuesday January 15 – Trumpeter Scott Belck and CCM Jazz Orchestras is at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati.

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

Jazz Spotlight: Cameron Voorhees + Upcoming Local Jazz Dec 19 – Jan 3

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Happy December 19th; Bob Brookmeyer was an American jazz valve trombonist, pianist, arranger, and composer born on this day in 1929. Check out Wikipeda for more information.

Cameron VoorheesWho is Cameron Voorhees?

Master Sergeant Cameron R. Voorhees is a Guitarist with the United States Air Force Band of Flight’s Concert Band, Night Flight, and Prism Brass, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Cameron is one of many Band of Flight members both past and present who make a tremendous impact in our local jazz scene.

Sergeant Voorhees was born and raised in Leavenworth, KS, where he began studying guitar in the fourth grade. He graduated from LeavenworthSenior High School in 1976 and continued his studies at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Sergeant Voorhees graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Composition.

Sergeant Voorhees enlisted in the United States Air Force in August of 1992 and completed tours with Air Force Bands at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, and Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. He began his current assignment with the USAF Band of Flight in August 2004. In addition to his performance duties, he serves as Unit Security Manager and Operations Representative.

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.

I just recently receive an email announcement: Cameron will be retiring from 21 years in the USAF in January of 2013. Cameron has had a great career over the past 21 years and has done some amazing things.  We are very proud of him and wish to celebrate his career. His official ceremony will be on Friday, January 25, 2013 here in Ohio at the base. He will be missed and we wish him the best in the next chapter of his life. If you have any stories or photos you would like to share, please send to: [email protected]

In his spare time, Sergeant Voorhees is active in his local church and enjoys spending time with his family, studying the Bible and playing jazz in the local community.

Jazz Calendar

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

Tonight Wednesday, December 19 – Tonight, for you dancers The Dayton Event Connection is featuring a ten piece swing band and The Steve Schmidt Organ Trio Christmas Spectacular w/Eugene Goss & Mandy Gaines is at the Comet Bar in Cincinnati.

Thursday December 20 – The Generations Big Band invites you to their “End of the World Concert “ at Jazz Central.

Friday December 21 – James and Moore are performing at the C’est Tout Bistro in Oakwood and the Dan Karlsberg Quartet is at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati.

Saturday December 22 – Schwartz’s Point in Over-The-Rhine has The NEW Ed Moss Trio in Cincinnati and Steinhaus Restaurant has the Phil DeGreg Trio in Florence, KY.

Sunday December 23 – Wade Baker & Friends Christmas Party from 5 to 9 pm and  the Jazz Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus continues at Jazz Central in Dayton from 9 pm to midnight.

Monday December 24 – the John Taylor Trio is at the Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and James and Moore are at the C’est Tout Bistro in Oakwood.

Tuesday December 25 – Christmas Day – Happy Holiday!

Wednesday December 26 – John LaIacona is at Eddie Merlot’s in Cincinnati and Ricky Nye & Bekah Williams is at Chez Nora in Covington,KY.

Thursday December 27 – Songwriter showcase with Lisa Biales is at Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza in Worthington, OH and Ricky Nye & Dottie Warner is at Arnold’s Bar & Grill in Cincinnati.

Friday December 28 – Shawn Stanley Trio is at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville, OH and April Aloisio sings at Bella Luna Café inCincinnati.

Saturday December 29 – There is a tribute to Ray Charles at Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza and the Erik Augis Trio is at the Worthington Inn both in Worthington, OH.

Sunday December 30 – the Jazz Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus is at Jazz Central in Dayton  and Hoo Doo Soul Band is at the Rumba Café in Columbus.

Monday December 31 – Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club and the Worthington Inn has the Rachel Sepulveda Trio in Worthington, OH.

Tuesday January 1 – New Year’s Day – Happy Holiday!

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

Psychostick Brings Humorous Holiday Hate to McGuffy’s

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Saturday November 24th humor core pioneers Psychostick brought their unique brand of side splitting heavy metal harmonious bedlam to the Dayton stage bringing their hits, misses and their version of some holiday tunes that to the uninitiated ear would probably sound best roasting on an open fire. They proved however you can have some fun with a few old time Christmas jingles and still sound like you’re pouring out poisonous eggnog to the holly jolly spirited sing along metal carolers.
Adding to the nights serious side were New York’s Xombie, Cincinnati’s The Fallen and Dayton’s Amongst Villains.
Hardcore New York based street kings Xombie opened with a very serious set performing with a Mad Ball/Primus feel and a Rage Against the Machine lyrical delivery. Their sound a self-described Hood Metal mixing hip hop/rap and metal into their own version of heavy street cred. Adam Cruz spits out lyrical novels every five minutes with a Henry Rollins/Mike Muir spoken word rapid fire pace. They soar high above the city smog in the metal heavens with the mighty Terrordactayl, work their game on the ladies G style on Excuse Me Miss and finish up with a PowerSmash giving the crowd something to remember them by.  There are plenty of Biohazard signs in New York but there’s a few more Beware of Xombies too.
The Fallen

The Fallen

Next are two hot chicks from Cincinnasty and the three guys that play music with them. The Fallen, a multi meaning moniker, most important definition being ‘Those that have fallen, will rise up from their knees with a new self-identity and fight another day.’ The band, a metal-core outfit, most members formally in alt metal band Chaotic Existence, they purged forward with a heavier sound and the sweet, harmonic, soothing  feminine growls and sexy screams of Tosha Montgomery. She spent the set sharing her Wicked Wisdom with the crowd with a Straight Line Stitch to the ear. They opened with the mysterious supernatural Ghost of the Unknown playing under the Blood Red Skies to the Last One Standing. They slow it down taking a seat on the speakers as Montgomery gives the throat demoness’s a break for a few minutes bringing out the inner diva for the first half of Dying, their monster 80’s power metal ballad tribute. Proving they’re a band not all about serious stuff they lighten the mood playing an instant crowd favorite about the nation’s love of ‘motorboating’.  The Fallen incorporate a unique blend of metal, mixing an early Slayer sound with Slipknot guitar grooves adding the vocal elements of Angela Gossow and Morgan Lander.

Amongst Villains

Amongst Villains

Just so everyone knows it takes a real badass to sport a white sweater/pink shirt ensemble at a metal show. It takes ever more guts to do it singing with a band onstage. Never the less Josh Marshall from Dayton’s southern metal outfit Amongst Villains looks ‘fabulous’ no matter who he’s wearing. To his credit the sweater came off and gave apologies for both. They’re a band of everyman, spit and shine with a bloody finger scratching the floor working man’s metal with a heavy loaded guitar sound with some Zakk Wylde southern comfort. We went on an intoxicated downstream trip on the Black River Ruin. They brought out a special guest from In the Cut to help out on Heavy is the Crown. They will be returning to the stage on December 15 for the Moshpits and Lighters III local metal showcase.

Psychostick

Psychostick

Psychostick could be considered a modern day version of Scatterbrain. They brought in the holidays early with the Santa’s an A—–e Tour, some pretty red wreaths and a giftwrapped drum kit for all. A huge inflatable jolly Chris Cringle rocks and bobbles on stage just like the big fat cholesterol filled bastard himself. The band thanked everyone for sacrificing their World of Warcraft Saturday to come out and hear some brutal Christmas metal. They welcome you to the show with Welcome to the Show a song sung as the opening song sung letting everyone know they’re at an f’n concert hearing the opening song sung. Concerts are badass, concerts are cool. Show us your middle fingers, you guys are dicks. Take out your car keys… hey don’t leave yet! Now jingle them to make a nice Christmassy sound! Now put them away and give your neighbor a hug (any metal band that can make metal dudes hug each other (some of which didn’t know each other) in public surrounded by hot chicks is well, a unique form of crowd control I guess). Concerts are bad ass, YEAH! Singer Rawrb sports a weird shiny foam spiked pointed hat thingy. Presumably a homemade version of Doc’s mind reading Back to the Future head helmet, pimped out for the occasion. Bassist Matty brings out his cartoonish nature with a head trip tribute to Bullwinkle and friends.  Now it’s time to break out the demonic ho’s, err holiday songs. The double bass pedal kickin yellow snow makin fun loving fury of Jingle Bell Metal. The double extended 24 second remix version of Silent Night followed by a sugary green and red light show filling all with angst and Christmas cheer, along with some curiously strong Jell-O shots. It was washed down with a delicious Sandwich for Santa. Psychostick is where hell and the North Pole collide in a huge pile of red snow. Switching gears we learn how to count to four with Drowning Pool, sort of. It’s an educational mathematically challenging show, elementary. Now that your brain hurts, Psychostick makes your body hurt with the most ingenious original invention every created with built in safety features, the slow motion mosh pit. In other words, the sssloooooww mootiooon moooosh piiiiit….  Old school circle pit! Ok, slower, everyone slower, slower, SLOWER! Stop moving, ok go! Next was a song dedicated to all the boobs in the house, you know… those blessed with less than average intellectually intelligent individual thought patterns. Returning to the holiday theme they sing about sh—y sweaters spreading some holiday Hate Times 8. They sure do hate all the haters who hate the other hating haters who hate the most. They don’t like Bing Crosby or people that hate eggnog either. Now it’s time for some Girl Directions, some girl directions, which way do I go woman? Uhm, like um, you go like uhm, that way, uhm….I guess. Speaking of bad directions this is the true story of Rudolf who killed people Dexter style, and was a blood red nosed freak of nature. System of a put the f’n pudding down! It’s time for the yogurt and eggnog lover’s song. Now, slow dance… by yourself! No clingy girlfriends. They wish you a Merry Christmas, they wish you a Merry Christmas, they wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy taco. A roll of large industrial size gift wrap crowd surfed on this one, along with a huge stuffed oversized taco. Now grab the guy with the sombrero! Next up is a song about the night Santa died fighting off the aliens. (live, on stage intermission brought to you by Hoagy Carmichael) And you know what goes great with Hoagies? Beer, that’s right beer, we all love beer, beer is good, let’s go drink beer with a girl named Ruthie. Time for the Wii, err WEE, worst encore ever. After all the hoopla, jokes, serious social commentary, yelling, screaming, wassailing it was time to send the crowd home happy or at least distracted with a song about hope, faith, high social morals and world peace about all the new year’s resolutions you won’t keep so, Happy F’n New Year from….. wait for it, PSYCHOSTICK!!!!

Psychostick

Psychostick

Tonight Psychostick proved to the dozens of hundreds of fans, including die hard super fan Rob Bowling, they’re one of the greatest, fastest, most brutal, melodic, jazzy, loudest, instrumental bands with loud vocals that perform comedy and Christmas metal songs from Phoenix on a tour called Santa’s an A—–e on the McGuffy’s stage in Dayton Ohio in late November of 2012 around 11 in the evening on a Saturday night at McGuffy’s House of Rock amongst other bands that do the exact same thing.

Meghna’s ‘Kind of Friend’ Set To Put Singer On The Radar

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Lyrics to songs tell stories.  To most songwriters, their songs tell the story of relationships in their lives.  When I spoke with the lead singer of the band Heartless Bastards Erika Wennerstrom this past summer, she told me that she would write about past relationships and how they molded her to be what she is today.  Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam’s earlier work dealt with his relationship with his family.  During a sit down with local artist Meghna, she made perfect sense when she described what relationships are in her eyes, “They aren’t black and white.  There is a lot of gray.” On Saturday night the Oregon Express Bar and Restaurant, located in the Oregon District, will be presenting Meghna.  Meghna and her band, The Majority, will be releasing her third album, Kind of Friend.  Playing on the same bill is The Charlie Tipton Band.

MeghnaMeghna Mahambrey began singing when she took the stage in her elementary school musical.  In middle and high school, she participated in talent shows, where would sing songs from Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and the great Etta James.  With her love for singing, she decided to record her first EP in 2005 with the help of production team Music Without Borders.  Then she released her first LP, My Little Tape Recorder.  The album, released in 2007, was a creative fusion of R&B, mixed with the influences of music from around the world.  In 2010, Meghna teamed up with an old high school friend and released the album, Home.  The album, which she co-wrote most of the songs, ranged from folk to rock.

However, Kind of Friend is Meghna’s pride and joy to date.  In 2011, Meghna started to write songs about her recent relationships and friendships.  “I have some good relationships and some bad relationships”, Meghna explained.  “They have dramatically shaped me as a person, and that is what the new album is about.”  With the album, Meghna wrote all the songs, and worked with producer/owner of In The Red Studios Chris Suttle, guitarist Ken Walker, pianoist Jamie Preston, bassist Nathan Warden, and drummer Aaron Farrier.  The group helped Meghna start to play the keyboard again, an instrument that she hasn’t played in some time.  “The album is very heavily influenced of music from Norah Jones and The Civil Wars”, Meghna said to me during our sit down.  So, be expecting some great jazz influence, along with hints of country and folk.

 

The Charlie Tipton Band is another fantastic band that will be performing on Saturday night.  The band provides great Americana music, with the influences of Ryan Adams and Willie Nelson that leaves the crowd breathless.  The band also combines rock and roll into their live performance, adding a level of angst that keeps you on your toes.  If you haven’t had the chance to see The Charlie Tipton Band, this will be one of the best times to see them.  Both acts Saturday night will be telling great stories about love, friendships, and life through their music.  Show starts at 9pm at the Oregon Express Bar.  

 

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All Good Festival Announces 2013 Dates, Nominated as ‘Music Festival of the Year’

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The 2012 All Good Festival

Returning to Legend Valley in Central Ohio for the second year in a row, the All Good Festival announced dates for the 17th annual event taking place July 18 – 21, 2013.

Following 16 years of putting on the All Good Festival, the event was recently nominated by leading live music industry trade magazine, Pollstar, for 2012 ‘Music Festival of the Year.  Festival co-founder Tim Walther stated, “We are thrilled to be recognized by our peers in the industry – this Pollstar nomination is a huge honor. We would not be where we are today without the support of the thousands of fans nationwide and our world-class crew, all who converge for a fantastic summer weekend of music and community. We thank everyone for their support.”

Following 10 years in West Virginia, the All Good Festival debuted in Ohio in 2012, at the site of the former Buckeye Lake Music Center where the Grateful Dead did some of their largest outdoor performances in the 1980s and 90s. A lineup announcement is forthcoming later this winter with festival tickets slated to go on sale in conjunction with the unveiling of the lineup.

Upcoming Local Jazz Dec 5-18

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Happy December 5th; Art Davis who pioneered the use of two basses in a jazz combo setting and played with likes of Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, and Max Roach was born on this day in 1934. Check out Wikipeda at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Davis for more information. 

 

Roderick Wilson, Eddie Brookshire and Jack Novotny at Jazz Central

What do Johnny Lytle, Lady Day, Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Dizzy Gillespie have in common?

These are names of some of the great jazz legends who contributed music that formed much of the backbone of jazz in our nation. This is also the list of artists who have had tribute concerts held in their honor at Jazz Central over the last sixteen months. All as part of the resurgence of jazz in Dayton, Ohio by our local talented jazz performers.

The latest example was last Saturday, December 1st. when Roderick Wilson and Friends: Roderick – trumpet, Jack Novotny – saxophone, Archie McPherson – keyboard, Eddie Brookshire – base, Fenton Sparks – drums and Cliff Darrett – congas paid tribute to Dizzy Gillespie one of the greatest jazz trumpeters of all time. September a year ago Mark Smarelli paid tribute to Springfield, Ohio native vibraphonist Johnny Lytle, then Teresa Moneé Gill did a Gabriel Foundation benefit tribute to Lady Day (Billie Holiday) in October of 2011. Next came Grant Koeller doing Charlie Part justice on his saxophone December a year ago and then came trumpeter Wade Baker paying homage to Clifford Brown in January, 2012. In March, 2012 Dean Simms brought Louis Armstrong to life for an entire evening and last October Ronald Hartwell played Benny Goodman while Mark Smarelli played Lionel Hampton.

Each of these events was not only very entertaining but educational and each had a story to tell us about the wonderful history of America’s great art form called Jazz! In addition to tribute concerts Jazz Central has offered many benefit, memorial and face-off concerts; all designed to expose the public to jazz and help keep the art alive. I was told years ago, by one a club owner, when I was writing for another paper that I shouldn’t write about what has happened but only about upcoming events. I disagree; I believe if people read about the fun and great times others had at an event, they will be encouraged to attend some of the great future events coming up:

 

Jazz Calendar

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

 

Tonight Wednesday, December 5 – Tonight, for you dancers The Dayton Event Connection is featuring the Lizz & Rex Quartet and the Blue Wisp Big Band is at the Wisp in Cincinnati.

Thursday December 6 – Jeremy Pinell & The 55s w/Ricky Nye is at Japps in Cincinnati.

Friday December 7 – the Bob Niederriter Trio is at The Stone Tavern in Kent, Ohio and Kathy Wade & Ed Moss are at Schwartz’s Point in Over-The-Rhine in Cincinnati.

Saturday December 8 – Jazz Explosion w/Kenny Baccus & J. Webster Smith as Dr. Feel Good is doing a benefit for the Blind at Jazz Central in Dayton.

Sunday December 9 – Phil DeGreg Trio plays Dee Felice in Covington, KY and  the Jazz Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus continues at Jazz Central in Dayton.

Monday December 10 – the John Taylor Trio is at the Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and the Blue Wisp Jazz Club offers a Jazz Jam hosted by Sandy Suskind inCincinnati.

Tuesday December 11 – Park Street Tavern continues their Jazz Jam and the Tony Monaco Trio performs at The Rumba Café both in Columbus.

Wednesday December 12 – the Blue Wisp Big Band performs at the Wisp in Cincinnati and Ricky Nye & Bekah Williams is at Chez Nora in Covington, KY.

Thursday December 13 – Lisa Biales and Doug Hamilton plays the O’Pub in Oxford, OH and Ricky Nye & Dottie Warner is at Arnold’s Bar & Grill in Cincinnati.

Friday December 14 – Shawn Stanley Trio is at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville, OH and the Thompson House presents Bashiri Asad & Xenobia Green in Newport,Ky.

Saturday December 15 – The final Gabriel Foundation Benefit of the season features The ShinSings Orchestra at Jazz Central in Dayton.

Sunday December 16 – the Blue Wisp Jazz Club has BLUESBENT with Lawrence Bloomfield in Cincinnati and Bill Rudman’s “A Christmas Cabaret” is at Nighttown inCleveland Heights.

Monday December 17 – Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club and Mark Flugge, Derek Dicenzo & Jimmy Castoe plays the Due Amici both in Columbus.

Tuesday December 18 – the Derek DiCenzo Trio performs at Local Roots in Powell, OH and the Jazz Cab is at The Greenwich in Cincinnati.

More info and jazz listings can be found at http://www,JazzAdvocate.com

University of Dayton Presents Heavy Metal for the Sophisticated Educated Ear

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Friday November 9, the hallowed halls of finer Dayton based education held a symposium on a subject of great interest, historical value, global impact and social significance. Four renowned highly educated intellectual professionals came to discuss a subject many of the student body loved and many around the word live as a lifestyle. Dr. Esther Clinton and Dr. Jeremy Wallach of Bowling Green State University, Dr. Deena Weinstein of Depaul University and Dr. Mark LeVine of California-Irvine all brought their esteemed, world traveled knowledge to enlighten us on the finer spoken points and high society standards of the world’s greatest musical contribution… Heavy Metal.  Sponsored by The UD Arts Series, Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Departments of Communications, English, History, Music, Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work.  Also the Roesch Library, Ryan C. Harris Learning Teaching Center, Alumni Chair of Humanities and Social Justice LLC and Service Club.
Each gave a different and unique presentation to a packed room in the Sears Recital Hall at the Jesse Phillips Humanities Center on the effects, sounds, culture, emotional impact, history and understanding of the genre as a whole and fascinating insight into its distinctive subgenres.
Dr. Clinton a professor of popular culture and teacher/writer of Folklore, Popular/Material Culture began her lecture, “Who has Access?- Comparing  the Moral Panic About Gothic Literature in the Late 18th Century and Heavy Metal Music in the 1980’s.” She made several comparisons to the themes of gothic literature and Metal such as the often used dark and stormy night verbiage used in novels which was present in metals earliest form, the first Black Sabbath record with its eerie downpour and looming church bell. The music sounds dark, using minor keys, reverb and the dreaded tritone. The theme of human/personal/supernatural evil widely used by Sabbath, historically becoming one of the genre’s biggest lyrical go to subjects was often symbolized by the dark characters within the gothic works. Moral panics were brought on by both forms of expressionism. The PMRC gave us the 15 worst song list questioning their lyrical content on the young minds of the time. Gothic literature gave woman a great sense of empowerment as they could control or influence men using their powers of persuasion. They were given strong roles, standing up to men and allowed to enjoy the more physical side of life in these stories which helped the female literacy rate go up. In 1870 a law was passed which gave women access to these ‘fun’ books which were passed around and shared much like the underground tape trading scene of the early 80’s. So if you lived back in the day and were luckily enough to get a presumably well- read, well-worn ‘early’ copy of Frankenstein, Dracula or the era’s first novel The Castle of Otranto it would be similar to a friend giving you a re-re-re-re-copied underwater sounding cassette of Metallica’s No Life Till Leather demo. Also the advent of cassettes along with malls, Walkman’s, Boomboxes and Ghettoblasters made the ‘then’ music media portable and easier to share and play. It also opened a huge market for the younger crowd as before records were more for adults.
Dr. Wallach, is the Associate Professor in the Department of Popular Culture and author of Modern Noise, Fluid Genres: Popular Music in Indonesia, 1997-2001 and Metal Rules the Globe: Heavy Metal Music Around The World.  He brought along some very unique sounds to his presentation, giving us a listen to some extremely rare demo tapes and bands from the farthest reaches of the earth showing that the sound of metal can incorporate almost any kind of instrument and will still sound ‘metal’. His topic of “Diversification and the Duality of Domination in Global Heavy Metal” was an eye opening look into just how far heavy music has spread to several parts of the world that the average headbanger probably hadn’t heard of.  Not your every-day types of metal included Celtic and non-English and with the bagpipes and accordion’s blaring there’s even a Metal Polka. Other unique instruments used were an Erhu (a Chinese two stringed bowed instrument) used in solo performances and orchestras, known as a Chinese Violin or Fiddle in the Western World. A Gamelan, an Indonesian group of non-interchangeable instruments meant to be played and tuned together from the islands of Java and Bali incorporating drums, gongs, flutes and plucked strings. The instruments are all built together on a decorative rack and are played as its own separate entity and are an integral part of Indonesian culture. Other multi-string music makers include the 13 string koto, Japans national instrument and a shamisen, a fretless 3 string plucked instrument similar but designed simpler then a guitar or banjo. Both have recently been used by Taiwanese Black Metal group Chthonic (pronounced thonic). A group formed in 1995 incorporating ghost paint instead of corpse paint and are still going strong today regularly playing festivals, arenas and stadiums. That’s right, a stadium level black metal band. When’s football’s over, Chthonic will come. While each of these instruments by itself would seem worlds apart and almost alien to the world of loud extreme music, each bands incorporates the sound and different playing styles into the loud sound in a way that doesn’t get drown out by screaming guitars. The instruments use itself is a statement of each bands distinct culture, mythology and history.
Next up the very well-backed up metal spoken word of professor of sociology Dr. Weinstein (she’s posing with Dio in the event booklet). Her body of work covers books, chapters and articles in professional journals ranging from sociology of rock to postmodern theory. She also writes music reviews and features for a range of publications and has authored Heavy Metal: The Music and It’s Culture. “Metal’s Malleability and Its Cultural Globalization” Metal has a name, image, brand just as Starbucks, Harry Potter and McDonalds. Metal music literary speaking shape shifts and can be twisted, torn, bent and reshaped into various forms of product and art just as actual metal can. All shapes though break from their original form. Visually metal bands are seen as strong, often using visuals of power whether in their artwork, lyrics or presentation, as real metal is physically strong. A Manowar album cover can be seen as artistically strong, showcasing its members as built and musically, physically appealing, while black metal bands like Gorgoroth and Mayhem use shocking images in personal appearance and stage presentation.  Though there are underground death metal scenes all over the US, where it’s more accepted, there is also a huge scene in Columbia and Mexico. The music’s sound like actual metal can be bent incorporating different sounds, agenda’s, personal messages, lifestyle commentary from different parts of the world. Take Overthrust from Ghanzi in Botswana a death metal band whose appearance reflects an old school biker look. Different cultures have used music as the only voice they might have to vocalize injustice, prejudice, and discrimination.
Dr. Levine is a professor of Middle Eastern history, holding a doctorate in Middle Eastern History and Islamic studies and musician recording/touring with Mick Jagger, Dr. John Ozomatli, and Hassan Hakmoun. He’s also authored Heavy Metal Islam and presented “Behind the Sun: Metal and the Roots of Revolution in the Arab World.” He showed a funny clip of MTV Arbia and talked about nations that just started to open their doors to metal music. In some countries playing metal either recorded or live and wearing t-shirts and having long hair is an arrest-able offense. In extreme cases some societies are so sheltered that the penalty for being a metal head is death so the music in underground in the most literal sense. Many fans embrace heavy music here because of its rare and sometimes almost inaccessible availability. In 1997, there were Satanic scares in Israel the government thinking the music made metal heads torture cats. They also thought the music made kids mentally ill due to the perceived and uneducated viewing of headbanging and moshing. Of several Youtube metal clips shown was a musician discussing that he’d only recently been able to wear his shirts in public and that he once feared for his life and that playing metal could cost him his life. One of the most telling and powerful stories was in 2007 Iron Maiden were the first major metal band to come to Bangelor India, ever, playing for 30,000 fans. There are Youtube clips showing fans openly weeping for joy that a metal show this big had finally come to their country. One funny but telling story was from a fan who sold his father’s shoes for ticket money.
As a historical preview Anthropologist Sam Dunn’s 2008 Global Metal Documentary was shown the previous week. The film follows Dunn’s whirlwind journey through Asia, South America and the Middle East as he explores the underground underbelly of the world’s emerging extreme music scenes. Genres explored include Indonesian death metal, Chinese black metal and Iranian thrash metal. Highlights include an entire mall in Brazil (home of Sepultura) dedicated to metal music. Former Megadeth guitarists Marty Friedman talking about Japanese fans giving western bands toothbrushes, which has nothing to do with oral hygiene rather the fans just want the bands to have something from their country. He also talks about Visual kei, a movement characterized by make-up, wild hairstyles and flamboyant costumes, resembling a mix of glam and punk. Pioneered in the early 80’s by Japan X and recently to a point incorporated by Dir En Grey, a more familiar to the Western world Japanese band. The musical style is unique as it shifts between shredding metal blasters to tender somewhat cheesy ballads. Imagine a Visual kei band playing Raining Blood, Don’t Know What You Got Till Its gone, Master of Puppets and More Than Words in that order and you’ll have an idea. After being closed off from the Western World, Tang Dynasty became the first Chinese metal band. In 1993 Metallica played in Jakarta Indonesia and due to the kids going into frenzy (releasing pent up anger from the government oppression and dismal living standards) inside and outside of the stadium all rock and metal shows were banned for years. The Desert Rock Festival in Dubai is the only metal festival in the Middle East and the only place where fans can come and safely show their devotion. It’s an epic monumental event bringing people from Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Aman, Saudi Arabia, Duheas among others. Another example of how metal starved this region was, is that there’d never been metal cd’s allowed and there’d also never been a metal show in Iran until 2004 when SDS (Seven Deadly Sins) played in Tehran and even then the audience had to sit down with the band playing covers including Morbid Angel and Slayer couldn’t have vocals due to metal’s perceived harsh and aggressive lyrics.  Dunn’s other films include Metal: A Headbangers Journey, Iron Maiden Flight 666 and the TV documentary series Metal:Evolution among others.

SITH, Forces of Nature, King Stench Cross Streams with Zuel at Hanks Pub

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Shadows in the Hourglass

Friday night November 16th  one of Dayton‘s long standing staples and supporters of local music Hank’s Pub hosted a noisy evening showcasing some of Dayton’s finest metal minions. Shadows in the Hourglass, Forces of Nature, King Stench and Zuel played like true metal masters, banging the heads of the cozy crowd. Offering a bullet belted buffet of heavy elements and styles. Not one head bang or evil growl was the same.

Bassist Zack Ryan and Travis Abling play passing away the sands of time delivering their two instrument musical torso. They’re missing the guitars and singer and they’re damn proud of it too. Carrying a show on four strings and some drums is a beautiful thing to hear when SITH happens. Nicknamed Showers in The Hourglass for the evening they bathed the crowd in deep bass patterns backed by fast intricate drum conversations. Ryans fingers played us into the dark caverns of the brain, the strings putting mental tip toeing, footsteps and running in the mind. There’s some funk with the shadows too. He shows off some skill fluctuating styles bringing Flea, Cliff Burton and Geezer Butler into the room. Abling lays the groundwork for Ryan to play with beating the crap out of his kit, in the nicest possible way. Sadly this was their last show of the year but as long as the Mayans don’t get their way they’ll be back next ‘13.

Forces of Nature

Next is the bloody reign of Slayer, Mudvayne and Pantera giftwrapped in barbed wire just in time for the holidays.  Only these Forces of Nature can control the Seasons in the Abyss. They break out the heavy artillery, pile-driving your head into a bulldozer. Singer Tate Moore screams and screeches sound like he’s trapped in a sewer drain lungs filled with septic fluid, spewing all kinds of nasty vermin. Guitarists Marc Godsey and Jimmy Rose trade crunchy, munchy guitar riffs torn off rusty chains of gristle. Johnnie Wallace plays the bass like it’s the deep voice of hell coming for you. Of course behind every four good big, bad, creepy metal dudes is always a better woman, who could probably beats the skin off of any drum head, the lovely Mrs. Shannon Godsey. The bigger Godsey plays with Kerry King goliath sound harnessing the bands dark live power. Playing with speed and Dimebag thrash he brings all the necessary demons howling out of his electric twanger. They opened with Magnus Lee, Nevermore (not the band), the feet stomping chug and Chromatic Death breakdowns of Mary Hates Herself.  Formed in 1999 and revamped in 2009, they’re a few years into their second decade of aggression. They play us the sound twisting, weaving tune with the twisted smiling face of the Dark Carnival. They play nice Throwing Fists just close enough to pleasantly assault the ear but not cause serious damage. They go from the stage to the mystery machine and deal out some serious shredding Scooby Snacks on EX-6-DEZMO. Forces of Nature bring all the elements and can play it all from breakneck guitar speed, seismic solos and slower melodic The Legacy type ballads and bringing down the lightning of the gods with instrumental material.

King Stench

There’s something rotten in Denmark, or Dayton which means there’s a foul stench in the air created by King Stench. His Dan Lilker looking highness summons the mighty forces of evil dark black metal unleashing an old school sound down from the deepest, darkest, backwoods used crawlspace. With possessed grizzly bear growling and a naturally dark aura they play homage to the forefathers of the macabre musical genre including Venom, Mayhem, Immortal and a horde of other corpse painters.  Mr. Godsey plays double duty on bass and the newlywed Hammering Hobbit plays the blast beat, deep forest outhouse bowels out of his drums. Yes, under Ohio law it is legal for hobbits to marry. Cess Pool on guitar rounds out this stinking pile of Hellish Odorous Local Royalty.  Hells Gate opens revealing the Putrid Remains of False Prophets. The Ungod would be proud of new tune Eternal Flame. Visions of the Goat Lord are next then we Fight for out Last Breath against the Hell Hounds, finishing with a Premonition of Devastation.  They’re single handedly playing out the demons from hell and bringing them to Dayton. Thanks guys.

There is no Dana, only Zuel. It’d seem like a no brainer to name your metal band after the feminine Gatekeeping minion of Gozer and sometimes drooling devilish canine worshipped by the Sumerians and Hittites in 6000 BC and subsequently overthrown by the Babylonian goddess Tiamat and banished to another dimension.  But the guys from Zuel decided to be even cooler, changing the spelling and name it after the red eyed devil dog that lived in Sigourney Weaver’s refrigerator in the mid-eighties. In Ghostbusting terms they very well could be the 35 foot long, 600 LB, Twinkie of local instrumental metal, “IF” you can find one. Born in the summer of 2009, they’re a band with no gimmicks, no trends and no scene hair, which’ve recently gone voiceless so now only the music matters. They come right out and hit us with a prog, Helmet style guitar prodding taste of Morbid Angel with a S—t Hammer in the b—s. They prove they truly are Bill’s Gate Keeper on Microsoft Rapture. They slowly build up with solid steel spiked steps, jerking and jarring with sudden starts, stops, jolts and snaps. They show off some easy going groovy jazz then speed up the sound race sending you sprinting down the stairs as a building collapse’s above you. They add a little Zep to their dazed and confused set of intricate instrumentalism.

Jazz Spotlight: Sinclair Community College + Upcoming Local Jazz Nov 21 – Dec 4

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Happy November 21st; the great saxophonist Coleman Hawkins was born on this day in 1904.  Check out Wikipeda at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coleman_Hawkins for more information. 

What is Sinclair Community College?

This could easily be one of those “man bites off more than he can chew” items so lets keep it simple and say what is Sinclair in regards to jazz music. This season Sinclair is offering four Jazz Ensemble concerts with Bruce Jordan conducting and one Jazz Combo concert with Eddie Brookshire directing all in Blair Hall Theatre. Blair Hall is the College’s premiere theatre facility. The facility is an elegant 459-seat proscenium style auditorium that serves the entire community. Located in Building 2 alongWest Fourth Street, Blair Hall Theatre is the home of Sinclair’s Theatre department productions and Music department concerts. Check my local jazz calendar for the dates and times.

Sinclair College is yet another great asset to the Dayton Community that my wife and I, living downtown, like to take advantage of. I’d like to share one of their events that we attended last Saturday.  During their Community Wind Symphony as listed in the program “Concerto for Winds and Piano Right Hand (2012) – Stranger in Paradox with Jeff Hufnagle on piano and Christian Berg on Bass. A little over a year ago I received word that local jazz artist Jeff Hufnagle had a bad stroke, which left him without the use of his entire left side. Imagine how happy I was to have received the following: “Folks, This Is Great News! Jeff will premier Chris Berg’s Piano Concerto with the outstanding Sinclair College Wind Symphony.” An amazing performance with Jeff playing better with one hand than many with both. I also want to share Jeff’s email message: Even though playing the Christian Berg piano concerto is a miraculous milestone on my road to recovery, full recovery; playing with both hands, walking unassisted, driving a car, are still probably years down the road for me. Working with Chris and the Sinclair wind symphony has made me feel like a musician again and has certainly had a beneficial effect on me. Repairing the severe damage that was done to my brain is a slow and painful process that can’t be rushed I expect no miracles. The love and support of the local music community has kept me from sinking into the abyss. Peace, Jeff.         

Jazz Calendar

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

Tonight Wednesday, November 21 – Tonight, for you dancers the The Dayton Event Connection offers an eleven piece “Pocket Big Band” and James Elliott Project Featuring Roger Baccus is at Zanzibar Brews in Columbus

Thursday November 22 – Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday November 23 – the Mike Wade Quartet featuring Khalid Moss will perform at Jazz Central  while Terry Murphy and Company Band is playing The De’lish Café both in Dayton.

Saturday November 24 – Jazz of the Month Club – Holiday Jazz Concert Chris Comer Trio is at the Cincinnati Public Library Atrium and the The NEW Ed Moss Trio is at Schwartz’s Point in Over-The-Rhine in Cincinnati.

Sunday November 25 – Roderick Wilson is at Huffies BBQ in Dayton and the Phil DeGreg Trio is at Dee Felice in Covington, KY.

Monday November 26 – the John Taylor Trio is at the Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and the Blue Wisp Jazz Club offers a Jazz Jam hosted by Sandy Suskind inCincinnati.

Tuesday November 27 – Park Street Tavern continues their Jazz Jam and the Tony Monaco Trio performs at The Rumba Café both in Columbus.

Wednesday November 28 – the Blue Wisp Big Band performs at the Wisp and John LaIacona is at Eddie Merlot’s both in Cincinnati.

Thursday November 29 – Tony Monaco is at Giammarco’s Pizza in Westerville, OH and the Rick Brunetto Big Band is at the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant inColumbus.

Friday November 30 – Shawn Stanley Trio is at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville, OH and the Thompson House presents Mandy Gaines in Newport, Ky.

Saturday December 1 – Roderick Wilson, Eddie Brookshire, Archie McPherson, Jack Novotny, Fenton Sparks & Clifford Darrett join to tribute the great Dizzy Gillespie at Dayton’s Jazz Central.

Sunday December 2 – a Live Jazz Party produced by Gene Walker is at the Hunan Gourmet Restaurant in Whitehall, OH and the Jazz Central Jam Session w/ Kenny Baccus is in Dayton.

Monday December 3 – Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at the Clintonville Woman’s Club in Columbus and the Jazz Cab is at The Greenwich in Cincinnati.

Tuesday December 4 – UD Jazz Ensemble & University Jazz Band performs at University of Dayton Boll Theatre in Dayton and the Park St. Tavern Jazz Jam is inColumbus.

 

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

PsychoStick Will Rock You Stupid or Die Trying

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Psychostick

So, Gwar, Tenacious D, Chimaira and System of a Down walk into a bar to watch a Weird Al Yankovic show and he’s doing a signature parody about food, let’s say tacos.  Then all of a sudden he changes career long lyrical content to STD’s and weird sexual acts and starts screaming and cussing. Let’s say you’re at an S.O.D show and Billy Milano’s screaming his poetry of anger, hate, politics, speaking English and killing yourself, except this time, it’s funny. Imagine moshing in a circle pit to ‘lighter’ almost acoustic ballads laughing at the same time. If your presumably drunk feeble mind can harness the brain cell’s to merge the above descriptions together you’ll get an idea of what a PsychoStick show’s like.

The self-proclaimed humor-core comedy metal band from Phoenix take all the angst, anger, depression, gloom, evil, sadness and other nasty stuff in metal and make it funny with wink-face smiley emoticons. BTW (by the way), they’re coming to McGuffy’s Saturday November 24th, so deal with it…., and Toledo the day after.  Even though their big hit’s called Beer don’t drink too much at their show you might piss yourself laughing.  Lyrically they bravely tackle taboo subjects like singing about songs, food, Facebook deletions, Hollywood BS, number counting, caffeine, groceries, orange’s and other subjects most other bands don’t have the balls too touch… (yes, pun intended). They play an unforgettable show (no matter how hard you try as you cry yourself to sleep) with goofy props, lyrical parodies, loud metal and sometimes stop mid-song for band discussions, bathroom breaks and texting.

They’re celebrating the holidays the only way they can by bringing out the jolly old man’s dark side and inner evil on the Santa’s an Assh-… tour. So far, they’ve earned success, disgust and a devoted loyal following their own way self-recording, producing, and marketing themselves anyway they can, short of selling out or the world’s oldest profession. They have 3 full length CD’s out. Their first, 2003’s We Couldn’t Think of a Title, 2009’s Sandwich and 2011’s similar titled Space Vampires VS Zombie Dinosaurs In 3D. They also have a festive Christmas record out honoring the season in the spirit of Bing Crosby and Perry Como called The Flesh Eating Rollerskate Holiday Joyride featuring Jolly Old Sadist and Red Snow.

They’ve played and shared festival bills with an impressive list including Green Jelly, Mushroomhead, Slipknot, Slayer, Anthrax, Motorhead, Disturbed, As I Lay Dying, Godsmack and Megadeth among others. They’ve even played a show with the equally humorous Venom, Pig Destroyer and NunSlaughter. They’ve played 21 national tours in 47 states and were probably banned in the others. They have a few videos out including Political Bum which could be seen as a comical comparison to Suicidal Tendencies’ Institutionalized and there’s a video about feminize pectoral major’s too. If they take themselves seriously, they don’t show it but they are definitely serious about being dumb.  Dayton’s Amongst Villains, Cincinnati’s Sleeping Tigers and The Fallen join the bill.