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Jazz Spotlight: Mike Wade + Upcoming Local Jazz Sept. 26 – Oct. 9

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Happy September 26th; the American composer George Gershwin was born on this day in 1898. More info on George Gershwin can be found here.

Who is Mike Wade?

Mike Wade is currently the Band Director at Withrow High School. He began his journey with the trumpet during his preteen years. While a student at The Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington DC, he received a National Symphony Scholarship to study with Symphony Trumpeters. Following a year at Howard University, he completed his musical education with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education at Central State University, he then went on to the University of Cincinnati, Conservatory of Music to complete graduate studies in classical trumpet performance.

Professionally, he is no stranger to the titles of producer, composer, arranger, and educator.  He is also the founder and leader of the Standard Time Quintet, Mike Wade & The Jazz Mafia, and the Mike Wade Reality Band. Mike Wade can blow his trumpet in hard bop style, hence his nickname “Shorty Bop”, and he can also play funky grooves that make you want to swing.  Wade has been prolific in performing, recording, composing, producing and arranging. He has recorded three CD’s under his name; “Standard Time”, “The Broach Approach”, and “Reality.”  A fourth CD is currently in the works, all of which features new arrangements of straight-ahead standards and original compositions.

Mike is no stranger to the Dayton scene having performed with the Sinclair College Jazz Ensemble at Blair Hall, and numerous times at The Dayton Art Institute and Gilly’s.
On Saturday, October 6 he is bringing a quartet to Jazz Central consisting of Mike Wade (trumpet), Dr. William Menefield (piano), Anthony “T” Lee (drums) and Brandon Meeks (bass), which will afford local Dayton fans to see a great group from Cincinnati.

Jazz Calendar

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

Tonight Wednesday, September 26 – Lizz & Rex Quartet are at The Dayton Event Connection in Dayton and John LaIacona is at Eddie Merlot’s in Cincinnati.
Thursday September 27 – the Mike Teckenbrock Trio is at Spinoza’s in Beavercreek and Marcus Miller is at Nighttown in Cleveland Heights.
Friday September 28 – Terry Murphy and Company Band performs at the De’lish Cafe in Dayton while Kathy Wade & Ed Moss are at Schwartz’s Point in Over-The-Rhine, Cincinnati.
Saturday September 29 – Jazzy 88.9 WCSU, is celebrating 50 years and will present the award winning contemporary jazz group The Jazz Patrol with Randy Villars at Gilly’s in Dayton. This Anniversary Benefit Concert is one night only- two shows beginning at 8:30 PM with all proceeds going to support their public radio station. Check it out at: http://www.wcsufm.org/
Sunday September 30 – Hoo Doo Soul Band performs at the Rumba Café in Columbus and Dayton’s longest jazz jam continues at Jazz Central in Dayton.
Monday October 1 – the John Taylor Trio is at the Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and a Jazz Jam hosted by Sandy Suskind is at the Blue Wisp Jazz Club in Cincinnati.
Tuesday October 2 – the UD Jazz Ensemble is at University of Dayton Boll Theatre in Dayton and the Tony Monaco Trio is at the Rumba Café in Columbus.
Wednesday October 3 – the Blue Wisp Big Band is at the Blue Wisp in Cincinnati and Dave Greer’s Classic Jazz Stompers performs at Neil’s Heritage House in Dayton.
Thursday October 4 – Math Games does the Dayton Art Institute Vectren Jazz & Beyond and “Jazz on an Autumn Day” concert by Jazz Spoken Here! is at the Union Hall Theater in Chesterhill, OH.
Friday October 5 – Doc Broadnax and the Thompson House in Newport, KY presents the Tessa Souter Quartet and Ricky Nye will be at Anna Ree’s Andouille in New Richmond, OH.
Saturday October 6 – the Mike Wade Quartet plays at Jazz Central in Dayton and Lavieena Campbell presents…MOCHA at The Greenwich in Cincinnati.
Sunday October 7 – Phil DeGreg Trio performs at Dee Felice in Covington, KY and Randy Reinhart & Bill Glemmer’s Small Band is at Gallagher Student Center Theater, Xavier University in Cincinnati.
Monday October 8 – Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at Clintonville Woman’s Club and Mark Flugge, Derek Dicenzo & Jimmy Castoe are at Due Amici in Columbus.
Tuesday October 9 – Phil DeGreg’s Samba Jazz Syndicate is at the Cactus Pear Southwest Bistro in Cincinnatil and the great jazz jam at the Park Street Tavern continues in Columbus.

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

Heavy Lies The Crown Pummels The Shrunken Head in Columbus

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Friday September 14 in an assuming cozy bar nesting on the West 5th Ave side of town, four bands played an intimate performance that shook the walls of the redrum, err red painted rooms. Though no blood was spilled there was plenty of gore and violence spewed/hollered/screamed/roared/screeched/squealed from the stage to accommodate the nights musical debauchery.

Columbus has an Esoteric Agenda or at least four long haired metal freaks do. Their name based on a documentary about symbolism and conspiracy in society and their agenda was to open up the Sinister Elixir and play the loudest, most evil sounding technical death metal this side of the northern state. When your singer looks like kin to Testaments Chuck Billy and George ‘Corpse Grinder’  Fisher from Cannibal Corpse there’s really only one kind of music you can get away with playing. Singer Nick Larry inhabited the ‘very’ tight claustrophobia friendly stage making good use of the self brought strobe light. Hurling out straight jacket excitement from the deepest darkest corner of the insane asylum contorting into all forms of menacing screeching facial beasts unleashing the chained up tortured soul within. His head bouncing and twisting as if awoken in a Jigsaw booby trap.  The surrounding music gave praise to all that could be used in a ‘Hostel’ environment. A dual guitar audio onslaught free for all of airborne torture utensils and resulting noise splatter.  Fourth of six decibel shredders was The Mechamortal Eradicator about bringing an Assassin back to life with robotic limbs, for those that like their robotic synthetic engineering with a few pounds of flying flesh. Illuminating the Dogmatic Index can be heard on their Facebook page along with video updates and a live performance presumably in someone’s hard-core basement.

Now for something completely different as Dayton’s power trio Ex Luna Ut Terra (From Moon to Earth) set up shop opening with Death Stumbles Drunk on Its Way (we’ve all been there on a weekend night or two). An audible tribute to the basement sound of early 90‘s black metal, fitting given the singer/guitarist resembles Dimmu Borgir’s Galder minus the corpse paint of course. Their music can be described as black metal fused with psychedelic experimentation. Black metal meets Opeth with groove, Black Sabbath breakdowns with some slow carefully placed tranquility edged with a trippy 60’s feel. Mikael Akerfeldt would be proud. The slow stirring growling candlelight vigil with a bite feel of Soaring Above Moonlit Clouds followed by Last Sunset Seen Through These Eyes finished a uniquely cerebral set.

The second of a double dose of Dayton’s best, Lysura came on performing their debut set and show as a functioning band. Yet another musical project/incarnation of skins smashing madman Eric ‘Hammering Hobbit’ Barnes who has no less than five active bands going at any given time. Melodic Black/Death metal featuring former members of Acheron and Beneath Oblivion. Their set featured two Facebook tunes the underground echo bass line opening of Fusion Script and A Human Portrait not to be confused with King Diamonds Fatal Portrait complete with its monster crunching Sabbath tidal wave riff s accompanied by evil screeching vocals from hell’s underground. They brought out the darker side of what Opeth might sound like minus the slower parts if they were black metal inclined. Quite fitting in that screecher Max Otworth resembles a cross breed of a young Tony Iommi and Mr. Akerfeldt.

Now that we got all the nice family friendly metal out of the way its time to break out the animal decapitator and do some good ole fashion swine chasin’ as Indianapolis death metal flesh churners Heavy Lies The Crown break out a slaughter house wake up symphony that would put fear into any healthy livestock worldwide. Incorporating the very genre specific vocal style sounding like your hearing the last moments of Wilbur’s life. With 1000 beats a minute, carnivore munching guitars and a dinner bell clanging bass this is the kind of dirt road backwoods noise used to torture terrorists with.  Definitely not for light hearted folk but if your familiar and/or love bands like Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse or enjoy farmhouse documentaries this might be heaven on CD.

Thank God It’s Funky – Ruckus Roboticus

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The guy behind the Roboticus – Dan Haug

The technology age that we are living now is well beyond our wildest dreams.  Seriously-think about it.  Vinyl gave way to cassette tapes.  The cassettes then stepped aside to give CDs their day in the sun.  Now, downloading music from the internet is the current craze.  Music also experiences changes.  Elvis shake, rattled, and rolled to become the king of rock and roll.  The 70s paved John Travolta to become a mega superstar.  The 90s was the grunge era.  Currently, electronic dance music is starting to put its footprint on the music scene.

Deadmau5, and Skillrex have become extremely popular as the electronic dance movement has started picking up speed.  Top 40 artists and producers are including the up-tempo vibe, and drum beats DJs are creating.  Also, seeing an EDM show is simply stunning these days, with the light and sound shows being produced.  The quickness you can download it, and the amount of music you can get online just makes things easier for DJs to set up their sets.

Locally, we have a crop of DJs that have honed on the skill of dubbing music together and mixing drum sounds with it.  One DJ that is currently making some noise is Dan Haug.  In case you don’t recognize that name, you probably know him as Ruckus Roboticus.  Tonight (September 20, 2012), Roboticus is going to be releasing his newest single and video for the song ‘T.G.I.F. (Thank God It’s Funky) at One Eyed Jacks in Fairborn, Ohio.  With the release, Roboticus will also be performing all night with another local DJ Jay Madewell.  Both plan on bringing the dance jams all night for the patrons that visit the intimate establishment.

‘I started DJ-ing in 1998’, Haug told me during a phone conversation.  ‘I started to discover electronic music, rap music, and I wanted to make stuff.’  Haug saved up money to buy a turntable, and started to work on his craft.  By bringing in old school rap from the rap pioneers N.W.A. and Run DMC, he slowly started to bring his touch on DJ-ing.  He went to parties, dancehalls, and clubs to perform.  He would practice with friends hanging around.

The practice started to pay off as Haug started to get work outside of town.  Some of his work includes remixing with bands Bloc Party, and Vampire Weekend, game developer Rockstar Games, and car company Scion.  He’s done shows on stage with other acts like DJ Jazzy Jeff.  In 2008, he released his first album, Playing with Scratches.  All this praise and good fortune hasn’t got to Haug’s head, he says. ‘It’s great that I have gotten to where I am, but I know that I need to keep getting better.  I don’t want it to ever to get to my head.  It’s not me.’

Currently, Haug is working on his next album, Phantom of the Disco.  Disco will be a concept album, telling the story of a dark and mysterious man.  ‘The album will talk about the nightlife and clubs at night’, Haug explained.  ‘It talks about shady people.  Greedy people who are in these clubs just for the money.  The phantom steals from the show, brings the love of music to them.’  There isn’t a
release date yet for the album.  Haug will be doing a few shows around the area, and then pack up and move to Los Angeles in the middle of October.  ‘I have been thinking of moving to Los Angeles for the last couple of years’, explained Haug. ‘There’s a lot of great things happening there for DJs, and I feel that it would be great to move there, get some great experience, and network.’  Haug then told me that he still will have family here in town, and he will coming to visit.

One Eyed Jacks in Fairborn, Ohio will be generating a lot of people getting their dance on with old school rap and electronic dance beats and also celebrating the single release of Ruckus Roboticus new song, ‘T.G.I.F. (Thank God It’s Funky) at 9pm.  The video for the song is also being shown at the show, starting at 9:30pm.  Also, Roboticus will be performing at the Trolley Stop on October 6th, as he will be part of the 2012 Dayton Music Fest.

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Scale The Summit At The Spitfire Lounge

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It’s been said that music is the universal language, transcending the spoken word and communication not just on an audible level but conveying emotion, unspoken thoughts, messages and conjuring images and pictures without a single utterance. Saturday night September 15th  at The Spitfire in Vandalia Winding Hollow Productions presented four bands that played the stage to an appreciative crowd with nary a word spoken and all performances were instrumental to the nights supreme musicianship.

Dayton’s very unique bass and drums two man band Shadows In The Hour Glass started the evening proving a great band doesn’t need shredding guitars or vocals to create a powerful sound. Illusions of Serenity opened with its creepy, eerie ambiance making you feel like your walking down a long dark tunnel and you suddenly feel like something’s behind you. Four string finger player Zack Ryan and skins striker Travis Abling display intricate knowledge and proficiency creating dark, deep malevolent musical stories with Ryan’s bass as the main character and Ablings beats as the surrounding plot. The frantic playing gives chase to images of feeling lost or being chased in trippy movie sequences. He creates suspense, melancholy, apprehension, fear and caution playing the strings at walking, running, sprinting speed with Chuck Schuldiner technical prowess. He can also make it gurgle as the atmospheric fog rolls in. When someone hears the term ‘band’ its widely assumed there are at least three instruments involved but Shadows prove that so much can be done with only a duo of sound. The hourglass of time runs waiting for no one while the shadows of people slowly start to fade as time runs away. Shadows was originally a side project by Covered in Scars bassist Ryan and C.I.S. drummer Abling but has become its own identity with elements of technical death metal, jazz and classical with a darker more sinister edge.

Dayton’s next experimentation into noise and sound I Died Trying was ironically the only group that did ‘have something to say’. Between the screaming hidden yells from the darkness of drummer Bret Newland and the frantic yelling/auctioneer-esque lyrics spitting of guitarist Tony Goff  I’m not sure what all was said but the music and pure performance of the show did all the talking. I.D.T. is a uniquely distinguished select taste of heavy music, constant tempo changes, audio samples and any and all types of guitar shredding, chopping, hammering, tweaking techniques. Kind of like watching a multiple car wreck in slow motion. Think Dillinger Escape Plan meets Cattle Decapitation with some Slipknot turn table effects. Imagine hearing all emotions and thoughts from the mind of a schizophrenic at P.A.volume. They attack your brain like a drug. Even though Goff took to the floor to sing a few number it’s not all in your face pandemonium.There’s tastes of Opeth and Godflesh to keep the variety factor interesting. The music is tough, angry, artistic and violent which is good considering Goff has a passing resemblance to MMA fighter Keith Jardine. I Died Trying is a musical hangover that keeps the ears ringing but keeps you out of the bathroom.

It’s a pretty universally regarded given that everyone likes great sax. Well Greensboro North Carolina’s Trioscapes are no different. In fact Walter Fancourt excels at it. Playing in the three man bass, drums, saxophone ‘trio’ they bring an incredibly different, catchy ‘rock’ feel to instruments usually regarded as in the background or more ‘laid back’. They Blast Off and for those who think of the slow, moody, sexy sound ,made popular in numerous mob movies Fancourt’s sound includes that, for a collective minute or two anyway. For the rest of the performance he treats the sleek brass piece like a lead guitar shredding the keys/pedals taking the instrument to its very physical limits. When Adophe Sax invented it in 1846 he wanted to create the most powerful single reed playing instrument there was. Fancourt has taken that vision to the literal pipe blowing edge with his own furious heavy style. With neck muscles bulging he summoned the air from the Woodwind Gods above and played a speed metal version of The Pink Panther theme…. for 30 minutes. Fancourts lip piercing pursuits speeds up, slows down, breathes out some sexy seduction, solos, bends notes, and makes it shriek, scream, wail, caress and cuss. This is classy ballroom/ smokey cocktail lounge music brought into the rock arena. He takes you on a mile a minute saxy conversation then puts you on a rainy street round midnight filled with smog and broken dreams. I’m pretty sure sax’s don’t have toggle switches but he’s found a way to create one. Bassist Dan Briggs thumped his way through the set creating deep Opeth on the Moore imagery. Drummer Matt Lynch kept the pace with perfect time and precession. Not every drummer has the challenge to ‘keep up’ with the sax player. Of the four songs played they closed with ‘their’ version of an Mahavishnu Orchestra song called Celestial Terrestria Commuters.

For those that remember the PBS show The Joy of Painting With Bob Ross know that with each painting it was just him, the paint and the story of what he creates. Houston’s Scale The Summit draw similar comparison. Their unique brand of instrumental rock leaves no room or need for words and they let the music tell the story and take us along for the ride. They deliver strong driving songs weaving long intricate stories. Chris Letchford and Travis Levrier play cascading chords creating lush, vast musical landscapes with scenic soloing. Bassist Mark Michell gives the moody depth and weight holding down the structure while Pat Skeffington pounds out the backbone keeping the story going. Many influences can be heard when it’s just the music. The prog sound of Opeth, unique catch of Tool, wizardry of Steve Vai with the technical style of Death all mixed in weaving and intertwined into their own musical novel style. They create atmosphere, space and time with narrative and hundreds of notes but each is part of the whole plot.

Tonight proved without a doubt that music is indeed the universal language no matter how light, heavy, complex or simple. When you have people in Iced Earth/Tool shirts rocking out to a guy playing saxophone you know you have an audience that’s open minded and appreciates great musicianship and delivery.     

Playing for Change Day 2012

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Playing for Change is an international music education movement that works to break down barriers between people through the universal language of music! Shortened: peace through music! YES! What an incredible initiative! People all over the world follow this movement through videos, concerts and social media. Communities are transformed by shared music, fund drives and ultimately music schools built in their regions to grow the skills and passions of young people through music!

After an inspiration visit with PFC Founder, Mark Johnson, last spring, Cityfolk became engaged in learning more about Playing for Change. The parallels between missions were revealed.  As a traditional arts presenter, much of which has been music, Cityfolk has been driven by the universal language of music in a highly diverse community. Our partnership with the Welcome Dayton initiative has put us in a unique position to explore the breadth of culture in Dayton through our Culture Builds Community program. In a given year, we share a myriad of musical styles and performers. As we talked through the Playing for Change goals, we felt drawn to the tasks. It felt like a call to answer.

Culture Builds Community works in multiples: multiple art forms, multiple ethnicities, multiple schools, neighborhoods and age groups. This outreach arm of the Cityfolk mission was just the place to introduce a year-long commitment to an international movement. In fact, maybe it wouldn’t be just a year. Perhaps this collaboration could really take off! Again, the multiples: multiple staff members, volunteers, musicians and administrators came together and determined that Playing for Change Dayton was going to happen!!!

It all began during the Cityfolk Festival when our street team of musicians, The People’s Music, went out to share music with the gathered crowd. They had lots of interaction with folks there! During our Sunday rain delay, the street team got folks together in the parking garage, spurring a creative experience that motivated all involved: drums, vocals, dancing, over a hundred folks, joining energies to transform disappointment into possibility. PFC Dayton was officially in gear. The spontaneous jam was caught on videotape. Participants shared contact info. Culture was building community, right there, in the eye of the storm. That brings us to current day. Now with a structured Dayton team, a new partnership with Wright State University and lots of interested musicians, PFC Dayton is ready to roll.

This Saturday, September 22nd, is Playing for Change Day! It is celebrated all around the world. Cityfolk has registered an event with Playing for Change Day International here in our Dayton Community. We will be raising money for the local realization of music education across cultures! Our short goal is to share PFC programs in Dayton all year. The long goal: establishing a Playing for Change music school in Dayton. We begin with supporting CBC music programs for the coming year!

PFC Day at the Trolley Stop begins at 6:30 Saturday evening in the beautiful, historic Oregon District! Bring your friends and enjoy the sounds of local musicians with global flare: Son del Caribe, The Odyssey, Eric Jerardi Band, Jay Martinez and Puzzle of Light. This is a fundraiser. These artists are donating their time to support the cause. The event is hosted by Sandy & Michael Bashaw from Puzzle of Light!

(Click here for our event calendar listing where you can listen to the performers)

The Trolley Stop is a local treasure: good drinks, good food, good friends, a lovely intimate music venue and the best patio around! We are grateful for their involvement in Cityfolk projects. (You will notice a giant mosaic banner on the side of the bar when you stop by on Saturday!) We are all cityfolks! Come enjoy the fun! We hope you will give generously!

 

 

2012 Downtown Dayton Revival Festival Recap

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Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk (Photo Credit: Tracy Malott/Blush Boudoir)

The music scene in Dayton has always been packed with great talent. From the new-age bluegrass and folk artist Todd the Fox, to the great indie rock band Me and Mountains, to the energy Orange Willard brings to each set-the Dayton music scene is impressive.

However, a lot of people outside Dayton don’t see that way.  Actually, they don’t see anything.  The popularity of the music scene in town has dropped some, to where only the people in the town are really the only ones that pay close attention to what’s going on.  And with the accessibility of local music (websites, Facebook, record shops), the scene isn’t what it once was.

Matt Luongo noticed this dilemma, and wanted to change it.  For eight years Matt crafted an event that would bring Dayton music back to the way it used to be, and also have major recording acts come to the party as well.  Thus, the Downtown Dayton Revival Festival became reality.  The festival just had their first weekend take place on September 8th and 9th.

The first performance to get the festival started was Dayton’s own, The Giant Steps.  Their slow, psychedelic sound made the early crowd slowly ease themselves into getting ready for a full day of music.  The Giant Steps blasted the stage with smooth guitar play that was well beyond their years of age (the oldest members are close to, if not already, 17 years old).

The Werks

Bronze Radio Return made their presence known early in the day.  The band’s soulful, indie rock provided the crowd to get into the music early and often. After their set, the lead singer, Chris Henderson, met up with me and just raved about how the festival was going.  “This is incredible”, Chris mentioned.  “The people here are amazing.  I can’t wait for us to come back.”

Griffin House talked about being a waiter when he was younger.  He mentioned that he was just awful at it.  He was so bad that he knew that it wasn’t going to make enough to pay rent.  So, he took his guitar with him after work one night, went to a corner, and just playing and singing.  People started dropping money down for him, and he soon realized that this was going to help him make money (and pay rent).  House’s alternative, very mainstream-friendly sound had the crowd singing and dancing to his music.

One of the most powerful performances on the first day of the festival was the one that Kristy Lee gave.  Kristy immediately engaged the crowd that brought her in with open arms.  She talked about having gone through bad breakups, seeing her friends go through rough times, etc.  Her music was very Adele meets Tracy Chapman-stripped down vocals with amazing acoustic guitar play.  It was truly a performance that a lot of people, including myself, left talking about.

One act treated us to a show that was very much like seeing Phish-a psychedelic rock band with instrumental play that is simply out of this world.  The band is Dayton’s own, The Werks.  The chilled out band ripped on their guitars as if they were gods standing on the clouds of the sky.  The play of the bass was impressive.  The drum play was off the charts.  The crowd danced throughout the whole set with freedom and joy, as if they channeled themselves to the days of Woodstock.  The Werks had everyone in the palm of their hands.  For the people that follow them, this set was just another fantastic show.  To the others that were seeing them for the first time-they will make it a point to make it to see them time and time again from this point on.

Guided By Voices (Photo Credit: Tracy Malott/Blush Boudoir)

Wheels brought a show that made everyone in the crowd completely stunned.  The 5 member band from Yellow Springs brought a show that was filled with folk rock and bluegrass. The band showed their musical range throughout their set, including a brilliant Dr. Dog cover.  Their dreamy play of the harmonica and banjo only enhanced the experience of watching Wheels perform.

Guster has always been known to always have a show that is different.  During a recent tour, they requested their fans to bring things to put on the stage.  For example, they ask their fans to bring matchbox cars to put on the stage during one of their sets.  It’s fun for the band and their fans to have that interaction.  At the Revival Festival, Guster made a young girl become a fan for life.  The lead singer, Ryan Miller, noticed a young girl that was holding up a sign mentioning that this was her first concert.  Miller asked the young girl to come up on stage, and they wrote a song together on the spot.  Everyone in the crowd loved it.  If anything, this was the top 5 moments that the weekend brought us.

Guided By Voices came home to Dayton to be part of the inaugural event.  They haven’t lost a step after all these years.  Robert Pollard and crew took the stage as if they were still in the teen years.  With their garage rock influenced sound blaring through the guitars, their trademark short songs, and their punk-like attitude; it was simply tremendous to see the boys back home.  They gave their old fans more reason to keep trucking along with them, and it gave the younger generation to true sense on what Dayton music is all about.

John Legend (Photo Credit: Tracy Malott/Blush Boudoir)

The headliner on Saturday was John Legend.  The hometown boy (Legend is from Springfield, Ohio) gave a performance that was simply one word-sexy.  The singer brought the crowd to frenzy with his smooth, signature sound and his lyrics about love.  ‘Slow Dance’ featured a young lady that came from the crowd and danced with Legend on stage.

On the second day of the festival, another hometown act came home.  Heartless Bastards came in town and absolutely brought everyone to their knees with Erika Wennerstone’s haunting, Janis Joplin-like vocals, and the bands incredible instrumental play.  ‘My face is melting with excitement’, screamed people from the crowd.  I have to admit-one of those people was me.

Andy Grammer brought the crowd a performance that didn’t almost happen.  Grammer had some issues getting to town that day, and it seemed like he wouldn’t be coming to town.  Luckily, he got into town and gave the crowd an acoustic set that didn’t disappoint.

The Ohio Players (Photo Credit: Tracy Malott/Blush Boudoir)

Some other highlights on the second day of the festival included The Ohio Players bringing their signature funk sound to the Dayton festival.  It was a true honor seeing the band play.  Much like the way Guided By Voices, some of the young people in the crowd got a chance to see a band that has influenced many after them.  Rusted Root gave their ‘Fortunate Freaks’ another suburb show.  Buffalo Killers brought their signature sound, and made a few people in the crowd become diehard fans going forward.  Robert Randolph and the Family Band had a dance party break out on stage during their set.  They promised to bring a party, and they delivered.  Train performed a fun, energetic set that closed the weekend off in style.

The two day festival brought a lot to the people that attended.  It brought music that included folk, soul, R&B, alternative, rock, and so much more.  What the festival brought most of all was the awareness that Dayton is still alive and well in the music scene.  Walking around the festival, you noticed the attendees of the festival enjoying every act that took to the three stages.  You saw people old and young joining together to hear music from the past and present.  People from all around the United States came to this festival.  People who never heard of some the local acts got to see the fantastic music being played here. You can say the festival gave Dayton music the revival it needed.

Cityfolk World Music Series Presents Fatoumata Diawara at UD

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Photo Credit: Phil Sharp

Malian singer, songwriter and guitarist Fatoumata Diawara, a resident of France since the late 1990s, has gained considerable momentum in world music circles over the past two years. She released her debut recording, an EP, Kanou, in Europe in May 2011, and followed that in September with Fatou, which won the prestigious 2012 Songlines Music Award for Newcomer of the Year.

Fatou was greeted with universal acclaim; the Telegraph says “this stylish debut doesn’t put a foot wrong,” the Times of London says “the air of wistful, understated beauty draws you in, and Mojo calls her a “spell-weaving new voice.” The album, which held the top spot on European world music charts for six months, was released in the U.S. last month by Nonesuch.

Born in 1982 in the Ivory Coast to Malian parents, Diawara joined her father’s dance troupe as a child and soon achieved local fame for her prowess in the didadi, an energetic dance from the Wassoulou region in southwestern Mali. She left her family at age 12 to move to Bamako to live with an aunt, an actress. This led to an acting career for the young girl; as an actress, Diawara has toured the world with the French theater company Royale de Luxe and appeared in such films as Taafe Fangan, La Genèse and Sia: The Dream of the Python.

During her travels with Royale de Luxe, Diawara began singing for her own enjoyment. She was overheard by the company’s director, who encouraged Diawara to begin singing in the ensemble’s shows. Encouraged by the audience reaction, she started singing in Paris clubs when she wasn’t touring. She also started playing guitar and writing songs.  Diawara met the famous Malian musician Cheikh Tidiane Seck at one of these Paris shows, and he hired the young singer to provide backing vocals on albums he was producing back in Mali by Dee Dee Bridgewater (the Grammy-winning Red Earth: A Malian Journey) and Oumou Sangare.

In addition to her work with Sangare and Bridgewater, Diawara has recorded with Damon Albarn, Herbie Hancock, AfroCubism, Bobby Womack and the Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou. She has toured with her own band, with Sangare and Bridgewater and with Damon Albarn in both his Africa Express project and the band Rocket Juice and the Moon with Tony Allen and Flea.

Photo Credit: Ellen Doherty

Diawara’s music blends funk, rock and world music touches with Wassoulou traditions, and like many Wassoulou women artists, Diawara writes and sings songs that forcefully advocate for women’s rights, an issue of fundamental importance for the young singer. And for an actress trained in a collaborative, scripted medium, writing and singing her own songs—and playing the guitar, too—represents the ultimate freedom. “To me it was a wonderful and daring thing,” Diawara says, of her decision to follow her musical instincts, “a Malian girl with an acoustic guitar. Why should the guitar be only for men?”

Fatoumata Diawara will be begin her U.S. tour at the University of Dayton on Thursday, September 20. The concert, sponsored by Cityfolk and the University of Dayton Arts Series, will take place at the Kennedy Union Boll Theatre at 8 pm. Tickets are $20;  $18 for seniors, military, UD faculty and staff; and $10 for students. For tickets, visit Cityfolk.org or call 937-496-3863.

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(thanks to UD senior Lauren Glass for input on this article)

 

Kiss and Motley Crue Bring ‘The Tour’ To Cincinnati

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Friday August 31 two bands known for their legendary histories of indulgence and decadence brought what some have called this years Metal Hall of Fame tour to Riverbend for a night of blasting noise, theater, spectacle, bombast, showmanship and just plain kicking the audience’s ass. Say what you want about Motley Crue, The Sunset Strips favorite sons gave birth to the scene back in the day and besides after all the partying, car crashes, OD’s, arrests, scandals, a few educational films, personal issues and drama that has followed them since the early 80’s it’s a freaking miracle their still alive and in decent health. But after decades of access they’re proving they can still put on a breath taking show and bring it like no other. Some have questioned Vince Neil’s voice but tonight he was in fine form with a flawless high pitched, cat scratch howl. Mick Mars can still play like a madman soldiering on despite his Ankylosing Spondylitis, an uncomfortable and painful inflammatory condition that mainly affects the joints of the spine. Tonight proved that only Kiss can follow Motley Crue live in 2012.

Many things have been said about Kiss but from shear staying power they’ve earned their place in music history and the two original members continue to defy father time delivering a rock show for the ages.With due respect to Ace and Peter Kiss’s 2012 show still carries the impact, decibel levels and visual wallop with Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer on stage. People talk about Gene Simmons a lot. Musician, rock-star, actor, author, publisher, business man, father (of presumably more than 2), reality show star, and in his early 60’s a happy newlywed. ‘The Tour’ is the first time since 1982 when Motley were just young pups that both bands have shared the same stage together.

Making their first trip to the states from Cambridge England openers The Treatment came out with pomp and circumstance determined to get the crowd to c’mon and give it all they had. Vocalist Matt Jones swings himself around on stage like he’s already been on Tommy’s coaster ride once or twice. He delivers a bluesy high pitched wail of what it would sound like if Tesla’s Jeff Keith sang for The Black Crowes/Buck Cherry or Velvet Revolver. Playing hard edged tunes The Doctor, the slower future arena‘lighter’ ballad Nothing To Lose But Our Minds, Departed (with a bang bang bang) and Shake The Mountain.

Motley Crue’s curtain drop reveals a stage empty of band members but full of machinery, industrial ambiance, a big screen with a large cold steel wheel with drum kit, 4 large hydro fans, and a long cane like mic for Nikki. The show itself has enough lights, fire and pyro to make Rammstein envious. The clock starts ticking away slowly as a very apropos Ministry song plays that if you have any knowledge of their history you’ll appreciate the joke. The tick-tock slowly gains weight and deepens into a grandfather pendulum foreshadowing LA’s finest 80’s export. Two large red cloaked figures with bull horns appear on stage ushering the ‘thru the crowd’ arrival of the evenings Co-Headliners. Marching in amongst the people carrying medieval Motley Flags, lead by William Wallace… err, another red cloaked figure followed by a scantily clad hot chick the Motley Parade start up the war path. A unique rock-star entrance brushing past mingling with everyday common folk but it’s the beginning of the nights show of friendly competition/delivery as the head-liners are the forefathers of good theater.

They launch into the autobiographical Saints of Los Angeles as trapezist’s twirl on long satin sheets and puppets hammer on the drum rails. Second song in we take a trip to The Wild Side in multi colored light and some hot gyrating dancers Vince plays with.We go next door to the dark side and Shout At The Devil in a sea of floating blood clot’s, hellfire and spinning pentagrams. Out comes a young lady in a large Victorian dress, after asking if she’s single Vince asks the obvious question taking a peak as two more hot chicks emerge (it was a large outfit) one gives him a guitar while the other in S&M gear leads the properly dressed lady away. Yep, every night, Same Old Situation. You’ve seen the video. If you’ve followed them at all you know for 31 years it’s been all about the sex; so leave it to the Crue to put on a live Sex show with side stage spray gun shooters to relieve the crowd, ending in an on stage sex scene literally spelled out, and if you don’t like it Don’t Go Away Mad Just Go Away. The cascading white lights bounce off the silver tiled piano that magically appeared. After an emotional band fist bump, Tommy intro’s the monster laser light lit ballad Home Sweet Home.

Next up your average Tommy Lee drum solo with a 360 degree mini roller coaster chair, enough noise and music samples to give the hippest DJ a brain aneurysm. Plenty of split second fire visuals and…. oh yeah, Tommy Lee beating the crap out of his skins while an ego sized version of his hand pulls him up the hill. Luckiest fan of the night Roger got to ‘hookup’ and play sidekick behind Tommy on the roller coaster of love for a minute. Tommy asked if he came with his girlfriend, wife or a hooker. Next the song and video that started it all Live Wire. Followed by the Primal Scream of everyone in the pavilion ending with a cannon ball boom. It was finally time to Feelgood and call every junkie’s favorite unlicensed medical physician with straight jacket dancers dangling from the ceiling. Then the motorcycle engines roared and they played the national anthem for working girls across the country with Mick Mars Kickstarting a solo into  Niki’s tale of near death experience. The Motley Crue of members and performers bowed as the madness ended (for about 30minutes anyway). Next up, a little band from New York you might’ve heard of formally called Wicked Lester.

….Anticipation builds. Then… the lights go out, the sky darken’s as the heavens open and the Gods and Deities of all things rock n roll and good taste look down upon the Southern Ohio congregation of ‘The Army’  smile, nod and wave a blessing over tonight’s show and thus another night of K(h)isstory begins.

We get a little peek at the nights horror movie hero’s walk the walk backstage. The large silver emblazed logo lights up on the big black curtain as the roar begins. CIN-CINN-ATI!!!!……. You wanted the best, you got the best. The hottest band in the world….. KISS!!! Curtain falls as the famous hydrolic platform descends with rocks living breathing comic book characters standing triumphant ready to play and annihilate with all the lights, flames and bombast you’d expect from a Kiss opening; and for the first five minutes Cincinnati becomes Detroit Rock City. For those who still had a voice left afterwards Paul told us to Shout It Out Loud. The crowd was definitely having a party but just to be sure he did a sound-check wanting to hear all the wild animals out there, because no other band gives it to you or Loves It Loud right between the eyes. Next, sirens go off, a raging inferno erupts and the whole place goes up in flames. It was already hot as hell but Kiss brought out the heat, frenzy and adrenaline of the Firehouse complete with Gene grabbing his sword spewing holy fireballs.  They intro a brand new one from the upcoming Monster album, and I’m sure it’ll be a monster album called Hell or Hallelujah. Accompanied by an on screen sinful seductive fire angel and the red flame licked gates of the netherworld. Lights go out.

Then…..a low, deep hellish crunching, clanking bass-line comes out of the darkness like the hammering and riveting of steel girders taking us on an uneven, jerky, curving roller coaster ride of twisting steel and rusting iron. ‘A moment or two’ of impending silence before the ominous Demon appears standing front stage center as the fog slowly creeps towards him surveying the dripping masses, listening to their praise. He leans forward peering at the closest of his disciples as green light illuminates his armor looking like the Emerald City’s favorite dark knight, his timeless black n white image on the screen resembles an old graveyard spirit. A group of dead pirates wander the stage behind looking for a lost gold cross….., not really, but I’m sure they could find a way to pull it off if they wanted to. The Rock God’s face quivers and shakes going into conniption’s of earned evil glee as a haunting church bell gongs releasing a river of red pouring from his sinister gape the performance turning his howling face into a possessed savaged soul. After the world famous ritual was done he stood silent and still, hands folded, showing off his stained ghostly visage to our enraptured eyes, but more importantly our camera’s and cell phones delight. He sneered, smiled, the worlds most infamous tongue making a licking appearance. He posed ascending to the Riverbend’s highest plateau. The God of Thunder, Rock n Roll and lord of the wastelands played to his minions as they worshiped. Tommy Thayer played the solo as the blood spewer returned to his earth bound position.

They pull out the Love Gun and The Starchild flies solo across the human sea  visiting the crowd on the other side for a few minutes returning to play a little bit of The Who as The crimson Demon points and sneers. It’s a well known fact that the Black Diamond is one of the most sacred jewels in all of metal and they want to keep it that way but they only want to hear from the leaders not the followers so don’t worry about who’s around you just keep your eyes on Mr. Stanley,  the Singer on the rising drums and the cat’s eyes.

The destructive merciless War Machine was unleashed soaring over legions of robotic armies with fire breathing menace and vengeance. If the crowd wasn’t Shocked yet, they were now with Thayer stretching the feeling into a searing solo from the stage to the rafters with Singer shooting a flare gun from his kit causing some ‘stage damage.’ Next Paul asks the number one fans to Lick It Up. Then checked on our condition before calling The Doctor.

Saving the best for last they encouraged the crowd to take a little time away from the negativity of the world with a white storm of Konfetti and Rock N Roll All Night. Then the tired, sweaty, partially-totally spent and dehydrated fans muddled together, some trying to grab the wet paper particles, some being ‘helped’ out awaiting their air-conditioned vehicles. Seeing both bands for the first time I can see by reputation alone why they’ve lasted so long but to see the respective shows they put on, especially with Motley being the ‘junior’ act it’s easy to see why they keep doing it and why the fans keep coming back for more every time. The bottom line is if you haven’t seen Motley Crue or Kiss yet you just F’n need to!

Cityfolk presents the Prince Edward Island trio Vishten

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Twin sisters Pastelle and Emmanuelle LeBlanc formed Vishten a decade ago to play the traditional French Canadian tunes and songs of Prince Edward Island (PEI), a Canadian maritime province consisting of the main island and 231 minor islands. The smallest of the Canadian provinces, Prince Edward Island is home to some 140,000 people and is located north of Nova Scotia and west of Cape Breton Island, with which PEI shares many musical traditions, especially those of Scottish and Irish fiddling and French song.

Emmanuelle (bodhrán, piano, whistles, dance and vocals) and Pastelle LeBlanc (accordion, piano, dance and vocals) grew up in a musical family and a house filled with fiddle music and dancing. The sisters started step dancing at a young age and soon began playing piano. They grew up listening to the fiddlers and accompanying musicians of their parents’ generation, soaking up tunes from such respected local fiddlers as Louise Arsenault and Bertrand Deraspe, from the nearby Magdalen Islands.

The third member of Vishten, Pascal Miousse (fiddle, mandolin, guitar and vocals), grew up on the Magdelen Islands, a small archipelago located southwest of Prince Edward Island and part of the province of Quebec. Miousse also grew up in a very musical environment and began playing the fiddle at age five, eventually adding guitar, bass, mandolin and other instruments. He played traditional fiddle music during his teens, but spent the decade of his twenties touring eastern Canada with a rock band. He met the LeBlanc sisters at a festival in 2002 and quickly returned to his roots by joining Vishten.

Vishten has recorded four accomplished and acclaimed albums since making its debut in 2004: Vishten (2004), 11:11(2007), Live (2008) and Mosaik (2012). In its review of Live, Dirty Linen lavished praise on the trio, hailing the music as “a lively, upbeat dance-hall fusion sound that’s frequently punctuated by foot percussion and step dancing…The material is a mix of traditional and group compositions, the playing is perfect, and the energy level is high.”

Vishten, which last visited Dayton for the 2010 Cityfolk Festival, has performed at countless music festivals in Canada, the U.S., Scotland, France and elsewhere, captivating international audiences and earning such critical raves as “a near perfect ensemble” (La Petit Douchynois, France) with its unique mix of vocals sung in French, traditional fiddle and accordion tunes, driving foot percussion and multi-instrumental flexibility. Vishten has won many musical honors and awards, including several East Coast Music Awards in Canada.

Cityfolk is proud to present Vishten in concert at Gilly’s on Saturday, September 15 at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here or by calling the Cityfolk box office at 496-3863.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp1z4HIiM-c’]

Jazz Spotlight: Ron Jones + Upcoming Local Jazz Sept 12-25

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Coming Up in Local Jazz – September 12 through September 25

Happy September 12th; the  jazz saxophonist Scott Hamilton was born on this day in 1954.

Who is Ron Jones?

Ron Jones, leader of the Ron Jones Quartet, graduated Cum Laude in 1980 from Florida A & M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education. Jones was a member of the world famous FAMU Marching 100 and Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity.  Along with teaching 50 private saxophone students per week, Jones and his quartet are in high demand to perform many events in Louisville as well as the surrounding Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Illinois area.

Jones is very involved in the world of jazz education. For 10 years Jones taught at the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Camps, as well as other camps and Festivals in Ohio and Indiana. He has given jazz improvisation workshops and has been a guest soloist at Ohio State University, Austin Peay State University, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Indiana State University, Bradley University, Ball State University, Purdue University, The University of Dayton, St. Louis University, Central Michigan University, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, The University of Kentucky, The University of Evansville, Eastern Kentucky University, Jefferson Community College, and many others.

Jazz Advocate with help from WDPS Radio, Park-N-Go Airport Parking, Kroger, Jazz Central and the Dayton Pizza Factory will produce their sixth benefit concert for the Gabriel Foundation to attain funds for musical instruments for area youth. On Saturday, September 22nd the Ron Jones Quartet from Louisville will perform from 8pm to midnight at Jazz Central 2931 E, 3rd St. in Dayton, Ohio. Tickets, some of which will be given away on WDPS 89.5-FM Radio, are $7.50 advanced and $10 at the door. There will be door prizes and pizza during the event, so come out, be entertained and help us in this worthy cause! Find more details at:
http://www.jazzcentraldayton.com/#BB

Jazz Calendar

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

Tonight Wednesday, September 12 – Dave Greer’s Classic Jazz Stompers is at Neil’s Heritage House in Dayton and the Blue Wisp will feature their Big Band in Cincinnati.
Thursday September 13 – the Retrospect Jazz Quartet featuring Elisabeth Hayes is at Jazz Central in Dayton and Greg Abate with Lee McKinney Trio is at Spinoza’s in Beavercreek.
Friday September 14 – Dayton’s Fall edition of Urban Nights takes place all over downtown and in the Wright-Dunbar neighborhood while the Shawn Stanley Trio plays at Carvers in Centerville.
Saturday September 15 – the Main Downtown Library will present Mike Wade & BOSEDE as part of their Jazz of the Month Club and the NEW Ed Moss Trio is at Schwartz’s Point both in Cincinnati.
Sunday September 16 – Phil DeGreg Trio performs at Dee Felice in Covington, KY and Jazz Central’s Jazz Jam continues in Dayton.
Monday September 17 – the John Taylor Trio is at the Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra is at Clintonville Woman’s Club in Columbus.
Tuesday September 18 – the Derek DiCenzo Trio is at Local Roots in Powell, OH and the Tony Monaco Trio is at the Rumba Café in Columbus.
Wednesday September 19 – Backstage at the Lincoln Theatre host the Bobby Floyd Trio in Columbus and a 11 piece “Pocket Big Band” will play the Dayton Event Connection.
Thursday September 20 – the Generations Big Band returns to Jazz Central in Dayton and the  Lisa Biales Trio is at the Midland Theater in Newark, OH.
Friday September 21 – Doc Broadnax and the Thompson House in Newport presents the Bobby Broom Trio in Newport, Ky, and Trio Pi Plus One will be at Washington Patform Saloon & Restaurant in Cincinnati.
Saturday September 22 – the Ron Jones Quartet plays a benefit concert at Jazz Central for the Gabriel Foundation and the Mark Flugge Trio plays the The Worthington Inn in Worthington.
Sunday September 23 – Branford Marsalis performs at the Schuster Center in Dayton and Chip Stephens/Glenn Wilson Quartet is at Nighttown in Cleveland Heights, OH.
Monday September 24 – John Scofield w/Steve Swallow & Bill Stewart will be at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis.
Tuesday September 25 – the Tony Monaco Trio is at the Rumba Café and the great jazz jam at the Park Street Tavern continues in Columbus.

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

 

Downtown Dayton Revival Festival Spotlight Volume 7: Heartless Bastards

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As you have been reading, the Downtown Dayton Revival Festival will be showing music from bands and artists that are from all walks of life.  Some of the bands that are performing arefrom the great city of Dayton.  Also, there are a few bands that started their journey here in town.  Heartless Bastards are one of these bands that I speak of.

Heartless Bastards lead singer, Erika Wennerstrom was born and raised here in Dayton.  Throughout her teenage years, Erika dove into music and songwriting.  With the influences of great local acts Guided By Voices and The Breeders, Wennerstrom wanted to add her name to the mix.  So, she continued to write, started to play guitar, and played in open mic nights.  In 2002, she decided to set up the band.  Heartless Bastards, which gets it’s from an incorrect answer to a trivia game that Erika was playing, toured regionally and signed with a record company.  In 2005, the band released their debut LP, Stairs and Elevators, immediately grabbed people’s attention with Erika’s haunting vocals, Kevin Vaughn’s thrashing on the drums, and Mike Lamping helping create hooks on the guitars that you just don’t hear.

All This Time, Heartless Bastards second album, was released in 2006.  The album continued to show Erika’s deep range, and the bands ability to continue stretches the boundaries.  The album helped the band gain more exposure, and more fans.  The band also saw the lineup come to an end.  Wennerstrom and Lamping dated for a period of time, and sadly the relationship came to an end.  “It was hard.  We were together for over 10 years”, explained Wennerstrom to me over a phone conversation.  The breakup made the band members move on.  Erika moved to Austin, Texas to separate herself from the situation. “We had a lot of same friends.  It wasn’t going to work.  So, I decided to move to Austin.  I had some friends and family there.  I knew that I would be around people that would love and support me”, Erika mentioned.

Erika Wennerstrom

With the move to Austin, Wennerstrom took some time to settle in and begun work on the third album under the Heartless Bastards name.  She called upon a group of artists around Austin, and recorded The Mountain.  The album went into a different path than the previous albums.  The Mountain featured country music, employing violin, banjo, mandolin and steel guitar.  Because the band she had were just hired to help with the album, Erika called up some friends to go and tour with her to support the album.  “I called Jesse Ebaugh who was part of the first lineup and asked him if he wanted to move to Austin.  I also ran into Dave Colvin.  He played in the original lineup as well.  It was very cool to have them back”, stated Wennerstrom.  The trio enjoyed the experience so much that Erika made it a point to keep the band intact.  “I just got to the point where I only want to play music with good friends”, explained Erika.  “There’s a comfortable feeling in that.”

When the tour for The Mountain ended, Erika took some time off, and when she started the new album, she developed some writers block.  So, she decided to take to open road.  “I decided to go and take a road trip.  I went and saw friends and family on the East Coast, went to the mountains, stayed in a friends cabin, and I went and saw some friends in the Texas area”, Erika told me.  She didn’t write much during her trip, but when she returned the writing process came very easy.

The band spent a month in the studio recording the new album.   They would experiment with different drum sounds, and try out chords on their guitars.  Wennerstrom wrote about her experiences of being on the road trip, and about relationships.  What the finish became is their best album to date, Arrow.  “We feel that this is our best album”, Wennerstorm said. She couldn’t be more right.  With Erika’s haunting, raspy vocals still intact, there is a peace to it now.  Each song is individually crafted to perfection.  ‘Marathon’ talks about being on the road.  ‘Only For You’ is a blues-inspired ode to falling in love with someone.  With the addition of guitarist Mark Nathan, the band has finally solidified a lineup that will be making great music for years to come.

The band is currently on tour that will take them all around the United States till the end of the year.  They will take some time off, and possibly do a West Coast trip, do some shows in Canada, and do a tour in Europe in the beginning of 2013.  The Downtown Dayton Revival festival is going to be special for the band as Erika has some family and friends still living in Dayton.  “They are coming to the show, so this is going to be so fun.  And I’m coming home, which is even better”, Erika told me.  Heartless Bastards-welcome home for the day!

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvAA36bbr4Q’]

Downtown Dayton Revival Festival Spotlight Volume 6

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With the Downtown Dayton Revival Festival just days away, these three bands will be giving the crowd that will be attending the event.

Good English

With music being able to be accessed in so many different ways, with iTunes, Spotify, and Pandora among others, the younger generation is able to be influenced by such
great music.  This also gives people the ability to form bands, and play incredible music.  Good English is a great example of this trend.

The group from Dayton got their start into music by joining together and playing the Green Day song ‘Warning’.  Good English took to road in 2011 and went to Nashville to record their first EP, Take Control.  Take Control is an impeccable blend of indie-rock and punk that is mature and polished.  Its truly amazing to think that this band hasn’t even scratched the surface on the potential they have.  At the Downtown Revival festival, people will see for themselves this up and coming band.

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

The Right Now

Chicago offers a lot to people.  From the fierce rivalry of the Cubs and White Sox, to their fantastic beer Old Style, Chicago is without question one of the best cities in the United States.  This town also brings us the band The Right Now.  The band recently released the album, Gets Over You, an album that deals with regrets, but overcoming them and becoming stronger.

Fans of Amy Winehouse will without question latch onto The Right Now.  The band’s soulful, club-like sound brings a fresh feel to the festival.  Stefanie Berecz, the lead singer of the band, has a gritty voice that is powerful and untouchable.  The band delivers during their live shows.  With horns and saxophones arrangements being put into play during their sets, The Right Now are emerging as band not to be missed live.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuMZPDG1ftk’]

Green Light Morning

Cincinnati, Ohio band Green Light Morning is poised and ready to tell the audience at the festival their stories from their life on the road.  The band formed when lead singer Aaron Bright and guitarist Aaron Patrick met while they were touring in other bands.  When their bands split, they thought it would be a great idea to form their own band.  Thus Green Light Morning was formed.

With their self-titled EP out, the band are poised to take the show on the road in the near future.  With their smooth rock that could be easily be dropped in the mainstream radio, the band also brings soul and melodic hooks.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_q30DkEM8M’]

See all of our Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival Band Spotlights

Downtown Dayton Revival Festival Band Spotlight Volume 5: The Funky Worm Returns

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The Ohio Players: The Origins Of Ohio Funk

I have a big, yet not unsurprising, admission to make. I did not purchase and take home my first Ohio Players album for the music. I did not even know who the Ohio Players were nor what the term “funk” could possibly mean. I did know, however, that the woman depicted on the album Honey was extremely hot and I was even more…er…excited to find that the interior cover was just as or even exceedingly more titillating than the front cover. Big deal! I was like thirteen and was always on the look out to fill up the account in my spank bank for future transactions! That’s not the point here. The point is that eventually I actually placed the record on the turntable and experienced the raw rhythms of funk which broadened not only my musical horizons, but also allowed me to see that not all great entertainment came from the sunny climes of the West Coast, but could be created far closer to home.

Although, to be honest, the whole album Honey was not a complete funkfest, as “Sugarfoot” Bonner’s heartfelt ballad Alone Again can attest to. This fact was overshadowed by the monster jam Love Rollercoaster, which has become the most identifiable legacy of the Ohio Players, being the most covered and sampled song from their extensive repertoire. Love Rollercoaster even became overshadowed by it’s own quirkiness, as rumors surrounded the origin of the scream heard in the first few seconds of the song. Whispers of death, murder and mayhem abounded as fans and DJs fanned the flames of intrigue. Was it a murder that occurred next door to the studio and was accidentally picked up by the sensitive mics? Was it the model who was so lusciously covered in honey, which was reportedly not honey at all, but a solution of melted plastic that horrifically burned her sensitive skin and she was murdered by a member of the band when she threatened to sue? According to James “Diamond” Williams, drummer for the Ohio Players, the truth was far more mundane than the rumors…yet the rumors served as purpose.

“There is a part in the song where there’s a breakdown. It’s guitars and it’s right before the second verse and Billy Beck does one of those inhaling-type screeches like Minnie Ripperton did to reach her high note or Mariah Carey does to go octaves above.” Williams then reveals how the rumor was born by saying, “The DJ made this crack and it swept the country. People were asking us, ‘Did you kill this chick in the studio?’ The band took a vow of silence because that makes you sell more records.”

During an interview with James “Diamond” Williams, I related my original interest in the cover art and how it introduced me to their music. He laughed, bemused, yet not at all surprised.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. That’s what you gotta watch out for (laughs) but other than that, it’s just that we were very blessed to be able to write some music that has been able to stand the test of time and even to be around today to still play the music  and, as a matter of fact, to be quite well doing it. We wrote some music at that time…you know, everybody wants to write a White Christmas kind of song. It’s just a song that when you think about Christmas, White Christmas comes to your mind. But, to write a song called Fire was almost the same or to write a song called Love Rollercoaster.” Williams went on to explain his analogy. “When you think about a roller coaster, you immediately think of our song. If you think about fire and you think of a song that would illustrate that, you know, that visual type thing, you immediately think of our song in most cases. It’s just like, and I don’t want to be so picky, picky…there are a number of others. Like, if you think about happy times, you think of Celebration with Kool and the Gang. These are just songs that, during that period of time, you can relate to it. So, it transcends time. It transcends time. Rollercoaster transcends time; it’s not a period piece. People are still riding roller coasters. Of course they’ve changed. Sometimes now they’re on some doggone rollers or whatever, but nonetheless a roller coaster it is. And we were talking a little bit heavier than rides there, you know, so that kind of transcends things too. We’re talking love and romance and things like that.”

Even today’s youth are more familiar with the Ohio Players than they may even consciously know. Funky Worm, Fire and Love Rollercoaster are probably some of the most sampled songs in existence and the groups music is featured in everything from movie soundtracks to video games to television shows.

Love Roller Coaster and Fire, both of which have been very good songs for us. “Fire’” being used for the TV show Hell’s Kitchen with Chef Ramsey and it’s been used in various other movies and all that stuff and whatever, whatever.” Williams went on to say, “Like Rollercoaster has been covered by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Snoop and other people have done our songs. So we’ve been very blessed in the TV and the movie media. We’ve done quite well in our songs being placed.”

It is amazing that after all these years, the Ohio Players are still performing a rigorous touring schedule to appreciative audiences. It’s not surprising…just amazing and inspiring.

“We’ve played at the Apollo several times. We did the Jazz festival in New Orleans, you know, just different places. In Memphis we were there at the Beale Street Festival for like, I don’t know, 200,000 people. It was a ridiculous number of people out there. So, you know, we do big festival dates.” As far as playing back in their hometown, Williams said, “It pleases us that we’re able to come home now and do a venue that’s real nice. We hope to do them proud by us coming there.”

Just to rile him up a bit, I asked Williams if the crowds that they encounter on the road are still receptive and energetic when they hear the funky slap bass and rhythmic groove of the Ohio Players.

“Yeah! Are you kidding me? I mean, we play a lot of casinos and all that stuff like Foxwood and all the big casinos. Yeah, we get a great response.” Williams ended by speaking towards the genre of funk itself, saying, “You know, this music, thank God, hasn’t died and there are radio stations that are still playing seventies music and that interim of music everyday and we’re just blessed to be around to play it.”

[yframe url=’https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y47G-Wa4qfs’]

See all of our Downtown Dayton Revival Music Festival Band Spotlights