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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.

 

Genitorturers Violate McGuffys House of Rock… Again

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Miss Gen of the the Genitorturers onstage at McGuffy’s House of Rock (photo by Mike Ritchie)

McGuffy’s known for a long storied history of bringing in the best local/national bands might also be considered one of the bravest. Saturday November 3rdthey brought back one of metals most ballsy and brazen acts both in performance, visuals and themes. The Genitorturers, Tampa’s answer to extreme Vaudeville meets sadistic role play meets simulated ‘physical activity’ brought the BlackHeart Revolution back to Dayton for another night of intense debauchery, naughty nemphoism, and general overall depravity. They’ve probably scared Alice Cooper once or twice too.

Not only did the crowd get a tour de force of tantalizing freak show tinsel town as the main event they got two more bands as different to each other as they were to their ‘dominating’ headliner. Tonight may have been one of the most musically diverse bills to play the Mcguffy’s stage.

The Campaign 1984 (photo by Mike Ritchie)

High energy openers The Campaign 1984 have been making dirty southern rock with a sexy cynical edge on the east coast since 2004. Namesake based on the George Orwell novel. Matt Anderson’s stage performance and presence is as much about the music as it his own facial delivery of lyrical themes and subject matter. You may not be quite sure what he’s saying here and there, though his vocals are clean you can tell from every comical/cartoonish expression, eye role, movement  that he’s having fun and feeling it whether it’s delivered in sarcasm or sincerity. They’ve opened for Slash, Buck Cherry, Jackal and Red among others. 2010’s Sessions marks their fourth CD showcasing an always evolving sound. Stand in line for this Black Country Communion whisky bottle in hand with some AC/DC style rock with a black magic edge and a bit of North Carolina BLS Pride and Glory.  The slobber nockered bluesy jam blasts off with Queen of the Damned about one of the nasties of the street lit evening underworld. We get some Hot Love from the Werewolves of the industrial revolution. Slingblade (not the movie) tells us about those special ‘scene girls’ who’ve probably earned their rep for being Dixie Dynamite. They leave us drinking from the triple X’d jug with a Kiss. The campaign’s a black top gravel in the face dose of full-tank high octane trucker road rock ready for the next all-nighter.

Close the Hatch (Photo by Mike Ritchie)

Dayton’s Close The Hatch is not as much a band as it’s a disturbing musical assault on the mind and the bizarre, noir images the mind conjures during their shows. Their music is almost instrumental except for the intense Crowbar like growls of Stephen Barton. They play music that dream weaves its way into your subconscious and mental lobes. They incorporate a slow heavy sound with a classical edge and effects giving off a weird, eerie melancholy ambiance. Feelings of trauma and trepidation seep off stage slowing finger crawling toward the audience like a misty apparition.  It’s a slow musical journey into insanity with straight jacket wall slamming and a little bit of blissful serenity added to the gloom. They’ve figured out what an acid trip during a suicide note would sound like. They create multiple moments playing serene surroundings putting the mind in places it’s not exactly familiar or ok with. Imagine being in the high of a high in the deep end of a pool, floating near the bottom looking up at the sun’s reflection through the murphy clear waves, under the induced tranquil state of peaceful serenity unaware of the fast approaching panic your body tries to warn you. That last moment of dreamlike calm when your eyes close, body shuts down and permanently drift away. They’ve captured it. This is music for serial killers with serious mood swings.  Musically they’re Meshuggah meets Tool mediated by Opeth with the Deftones hanging around.

The Genitorurers (Photo by Mike Ritchie)

Now ladies and gentleman, boys and girls it’s time to watch what would happen if Wendy O Willams was resurrected by The Great Kat and both joined the circus, the devilishly delightful hostess of dominatrix Miss Gen. Clad throughout the evening in leather and lace, cape and illuminating top hat she was always dressed to kill. Playing the devils concubine, she’s the femme fatale to Dani’s filth, the queen to King Diamond’s dark kingdom and the conductor of the traveling ritualistic Sodom and Gomorrah metal road show that is The Genitorturers. Where there’s no shame, no taboos, no act too shocking and no liquid or dessert topping too good not to indulge in. If you like your loud metal shows full of lewd acts, Gwar-like costumes champagne simulations and whip cream climaxes you’re in for a sweet treat. They emerge through a blood splattered entrance way opening with their smash hit Cum Junkie, mistress Gen plays with her toys including an incriminating shiny butcher knife, some cute altered baby dolls, a whip and a few humans with a fetish for perverse PDA’s willing to experiment and experience the genitorture. The cast of damnation includes cutters, pole riders, an adult sized baby fresh from the morgue, an overbearing/over ruling judge whose moral/Miranda authority’s quickly diminished by majority rule. It’s thematically an X rated show done with horror movie elements, plenty of depravity, industrial gothic sound, side show sizzle, Halloween hijinks and back room sex club perversity with a creative, artsy feel.  She pulls out the evil inside her with a Devil in a Bottle and some Jim Bean unleashing her inner demons into the mic. It’s time to do some evil things, play tempting seduction games with a lollipop and deflower some virgins. One scantily clad lady comes out and makes a religious statement. It’s a busy multi-tasking sex show, without the nudity. We’ll Take It anyway they wanna give it, no pain no gain. They’re Public Enemy Number 1 in Sin City and the moral justice police just gave up the chase. They finished up by vocally touching themselves and saying goodnight. Something wicked definitely came.

Alrosa Villa Celebrates 38 Years with the Voice of Queensryche.

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Since August 1974 Alrosa Villa has been a Columbus tour stop mecca for the world of music to come to entertain, perform and generally kick ass. The Villa’s been a staple of the northern Ohio music scene for almost four decades and continues to bring the best bands on all levels through its historic doors.   Besides hundreds of the best local and regional bands; a who’s who of rock n roll fame and infamy has come to ransack the place and play its hallowed stage. The royalty includes Ace Frehley, Peter Criss, Brian Johnson, 80’s legends/ hair metal kings David Lee Roth, Ratt, Bret Michaels, 90’s goth pioneers Type O Negative, one of metal’s Godfather’s Dio, the legendary Motorhead, masked men Slipknot, the southern charm of Jackal, White Zombie, Suicidal Tendencies, Devil Driver, Mushroomhead, Pantera, Korn, Overkill, Inflames, Lamb of God and countless more.
It’s fitting that Queensryche played a show here in the early 80’s as they’ve brought back the voice that helped propel the band to global success with eleven records, a collection of DVD’s and 20 million records sold worldwide. A man whose voice is one of the most listenable, identified, soothing yet haunting to hear and is responsible for verbal warnings, operating mind-crime, building empires, singing about the Promise Land then another frontier, calling out the tribes for Moore mind-crime and singing for the American soldiers dealing with the chaos. The voice, known as Geoff Tate joined the band, formally The Mob in 1982 after the success of the name changing EP’s title Queen of the Reich. The Metal umlaut aka rock dots above the Y is a Greek punctuation inferring unique pronunciation as they didn’t want a connection with certain parts of Euro history.

No Reverse Gear

His solo work includes the 2002 self-titled disc, guest vocals on Lucy In The Sky with Diamonds on Butchering The Beatles: A Headbashing Tribute, Summerwind on 2011’s Sin-atra and this year’s Kings&Thieves. Alrosa, Columbus and all those who attended had a blast hearing the man whose voice is synonymous with some of the all-time great metal songs/concept records and is Hit Parader’s #14 greatest voice of all time and recently voted That Metal Show’s #2.

The best of the local’s tradition continued as Columbus’s No Reverse Gear started the celebration playing some down n dirty southern jailhouse rock and catchin’ the Southbound railroad train to freedom blues. Backup singer Allix sings the soulful, heartbreaking blues behind lead singer/guitarist/patriarch Rod Knapp, who plays sly with the steel fingered guitar and harmonica. He does his time on stage with a smirk and smile telling us about all of life’s experiences, women and past and present hardships.  It’s time to go Home though the Dinal Festination isn’t clear. Life has No Reserve Gear so speed it up and live it up the best you can. A philosophy spoken by a man who’s band is definitely a family affair.

Roxy Mae

Straight from the most hair spray soaked, back streets punked out parts of Columbus come the three man band Roxy Mae. Named after a special working lady they’re as red blooded as any American male from Ohio’s capital. Playing a nostalgic aqua gel throwback mix of dirty garage rock, hard hair metal and pissed of punk they’d make anyone from LA Guns to Michael Monroe to Jetboy proud. Too bad they weren’t around in the mid-late 80’s they could’ve given Roxy Blue, Tuff and Britney Fox among countless others a sleazy run for Sunset superiority. The KMFDM wearing bassist Joe Estes is apparently the ‘punk’ of the group while black leather pants/bandanna wearing guitarist Matt Starr sported a gypsy/biker look complete with a time warp hair tease. Somewhere Phil Lewis and Faster Pussycat are smiling. Drummer JJ Kilimchuk has a lot of Joey Kramer in him. Playing their namesake tune, Dirty Girl and a tribute to Poison minus the makeup they showed what the new nostalgia sound of 2012 sounds like.

Louie Owings

Next up, one of the nights special attractions, guitar prodigy in the making, rockstar and future headliner in the making 11 year old Louie Owings took over the stage playing a crowd roaring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner showing knowledge beyond his years adding in a bit of Hendrix style. He would’ve done the tricks too but the guitar was almost bigger than him. After the crowd yelled for more, he encored showing off his chops and metal muscle with Highway to Hell. Raising hands for reaction, throwing up the thorns he sported genuine rock n roll prowess, letting out a rebel yell before taking a bow saying thank you and goodnight. Having a built in rock n roll family heritage the kids gonna be a star. Future appearances/autograph signing s and gigs can be booked through the Alrosa staff.

Level 7

Next up is quite possibly the most original cover band…ever. Level 7 play everything from the classics to the most recent and everything in between. They perform with such an addictive/bombastic energy if you didn’t know better you’d think the songs were theirs. In fact, they’re one of the only bands apparently brave, brazen and good enough through performance to play songs by Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Black Crowes, AC/DC and Kiss making them their own. With over 140 years of collective industry experience they are a force in the Columbus scene rivaling any national touring band. While there’s a unique dichotomy within the band as half look like real bonified rockstars fresh from Cali and other half look like the guy next door mowing his lawn on Sunday giving them as a whole, the perfect look. Singer Doug Savage IS a rockstar starting at an early age with a storied local history and major LA and touring cred, rubbing elbows with Ted Nugent, Zakk Wylde and many others. He brings the attitude and over the top rebellious attitude of Sebastian Bach, the flamboyance of David Lee Roth and the look of Bret Michaels. Opening with some serious rock n roll thunder they slam into a bigger than life show and their version of Toys, it was a time travel transplant back to the west coast. They played a Remedy for our ears then made us feel 18 again. Their mega-popularity showed in the crowd though they’d only formed in 2009. If a cover band ever looked like they’d lived a few Behind the Music stories, Level 7 is that band. Though we were nothing close to Cumbersome, they played it anyway the band temporary becoming Level Seven Mary Three. We got some Sweet Emotion; very apropos being it was Savage’s first Alrosa appearance since 1987. I’m sure over the years some serious dirty deeds were done on that stage but for now we get a Jailbreak. They turned Columbus into Detroit Rock City then rocked out a finale like a Crazy Bitch. Guitarist Sean ‘Riff’ Green, a 20 year local hero plays with the intensity and skill of a tour seasoned pro. Guitarist Daryl Wolford brought part of his guitar arsenal, merging sound and solos with Green. Lennard James bassist stood an intimidating sight, resembling a giant metal beast giving fans the heaviest sound possible. Called “a walking definition of versatility” by Modern Drummer Magazine Marty Brasington lived up to the billing in spades.

Geoff Tate

Many things have been said about Mr. Tate’s voice and four octave range. Though the voice is only one part of the performance, using his hypnotic eyes, body language and motion to convey the deepest emotions in his songs whether, pain, sorrow, happiness, humor or satisfaction emerge. He tells a story with one intense look or stare, one quick motion or convulsion, radiating a unique aura of mystery, sensuality and class, showing off sexuality for the ladies while staying macho for the guys. He encompasses the world renowned global front man he is but also comes across like a regular guy at times. Wearing heart on sleeve he sings the songs he’s known for along with solo material old and new, sipping only the best fine Insania red wine during the show. He smiles along sharing interesting road stories, particular one about being in the heat of New Orleans walking into a large voodoo ritual and ending up discussing taboo subjects with a 70’ish year old lady. He also advised what to do when you get the ‘silent treatment’.  He walks the stage casually playing the every-day kinda guy talking to people having some good natured fun with the ladies. One fortunate lady’s hair got a personally applied douse of authentic Geoff sweat; it may never see shampoo again. Tate reminds us that no matter how high you fly, always keep one foot in the dirt.

Joined by long time collaborator Donny Evola on guitars he appeared onstage dancing to the tribal drum beat persuading us into the murky depths of Forever. We revisit Q2K on Sacred Ground then he leaves us Disconnected in the Promised Land sax in hand. This is real, this is now, and this is the first new Kings & Thieves tune delivering the sexy sax playing, cathedral mix of The Way I Roll. Tonight’s a reminder there are no rules, just open your heart and let it Flood. We’re all Helpless, drawn into the performance. We go back to The Real World from the Last Action Hero Soundtrack dedicated to composer Michael Kamen who Tate met in 1984 and worked on Suite Sister Mary and Silent Lucidity. There’s a few thing’s Seattle’s famous for, coffee, caffeine addictions and lots and lots of rain.  It’s just Another Rainy Night in Columbus. We go old-school on The Killing Words then new school and Take a Bullet for the Dark Money, In The Dirt. Yep, we Got It Bad but we already knew so Say U Love It. We all Walk the Thin Line with A Grain of Faith. He finished up telling a story about an emotional fan telling him about the best song he ever wrote that saved his life. You know, Silent in Tennessee. The night ended on a long trip with the Jet City Woman. Kings&Thieves, other merch, tour info and fine wine is available at www.geofftate.com.
The evening’s celebration was over and another packed house of sweaty, tired, hoarse fans leave the Villa adding their names to the long, ever growing list of satisfied concert goers to the Alrosa guest book. Whether you’ve been there once, twice or you’re an area regular, Alrosa Villa continues to be an intimate alternative to the huge rock arenas where you can actually almost touch your favorite Rock God and despite one tragic night, their reputation’s been solidified on its autographed walls and the streets of Columbus. In other words, they’re here for another 38years… and counting.

Jazz Spotlight: Taylor Moore + Upcoming Local Jazz Nov. 7-20

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Happy November 7th; The American trumpeter and bandleader Al Hirt was born on this day in 1922.

Because many people in our area may not know some of the better local jazz artists who perform regularly in our area I’ve been doing a “Who Is” opening in each of my recent articles. I’m deviating slightly in this article with a performer from Chicago:

Who is Taylor Moore?

I have seen this young lady perform twice recently at Jazz Central and was so impressed I decided to showcase her in this month’s Gabriel Foundation benefit concert this Saturday, November 10th.

While in kindergarten, she entered an Afro-centric after school program that offered the rhythms that had always been a part of her. Over the years, Taylor honed her skills playing classical music pieces as a member of the Kenwood Academy H. S. Concert and Marching bands. Her classical music training also included playing with the Protégé Philharmonic and the All-City Concert Band in Chicago, Illinois.

A lover of all kinds of music, this talented young lady branched out into jazz in her sophomore year, playing with the Kenwood Jazz Band and the Jazz Links Ensemble. Taylor was identified as a gifted percussionist and was a scholar in the Ravinia Jazz Scholars program in the Chicago Public School system.
This percussion phenomenon recently made her debut at The Jazz Showcase in Chicago, a premier venue which has featured such jazz luminaries as Art Blakey, James Moody and Charlie Parker, among many. Taylor one of the youngest headliners ever at the club and one of the city’s most sought-after musicians also performed at this year’s Hyde Park Jazz Festival.

Taylor Moore has played with a multitude of great musicians like percussionist Shelia E., singer Patrice Rushen, world-class drummer Ndugu Chancler, jazz pianists Willie Pickens, Ken Chaney and Robert “Baabe” Irving III, gospel greats Andrae Crouch and Sandra Crouch, jazz singers Kurt Elling and Maggie Brown, legendary jazz organist Rueben Wilson, and blues guitarist Clarence Spadey. She has also been mentored by music legends such as world renowned percussionist/drummer, Steve Berrios and Grammy Award-Winning vocalist, Cassandra Wilson, just to name a few.

A college graduate, Taylor received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance (Jazz Drumset) and Production from theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on May 15, 2011.

The rhythm that attracted Taylor Moore from infancy has become an integral part of her life. Her drumming has been called “crisp, passion-filled, expressive and all consuming.”

Jazz Calendar

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


Tonight Wednesday, November 7 – Tonight, for you dancers, the Lizz & Rex Quartet is at The Dayton Event Connection and Rich Lopez performs at Rigsby’s in Columbus.
Thursday November 8 – Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra is at The Blue Wisp Jazz Club in Cincinnati and Puzzle of Light closes the Vectren Jazz & Beyond series at the Dayton Art Institute. Stay tuned for when their next season begins in March of 2013.
Friday November 9 – Roderick Wilson & Friends perform at Al’s Smokehouse & Café  while Terry Murphy and Company Band is playing The De’lish Café both in Dayton.
Saturday November 10 – Taylor Moore & Friends are doing a benefit concert for the  Gabriel Foundation at Jazz Central and Bob Baldwin with Songstress Toni Redd is doing a benefit concert for WCSU-FM at Gilly’s both in Dayton.
Sunday November 11 – Byron Stripling Band plays Blues and Gospel at Gallagher Student Center Theater, XavierUniversity in Cincinnati and Dayton’s longest jazz jam continues at Jazz Central.
Monday November 12 – the John Taylor Trio is at the Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and the Clintonville Woman’s Club is hosting Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra in Columbus.
Tuesday November 13 – Park Street Tavern continues their Jazz Jam and the Tony Monaco Trio performs at The Rumba Café both in Columbus.
Wednesday November 14 – the Dave Cousino Trio performs at the Wright State’s Student Union Hearth Lounge inFairborn and Cuban Connections is at Sears Hall, Humanities Center University of Dayton.
Thursday November 15 – the Generations Big Band is back at Jazz Central in Dayton and Thompson House in Newport,Ky host Jane Bunnett & Hilario Duran w/ special Guest Candido.
Friday November 16 – Shawn Stanley Trio is at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville, OH and the Thompson House presents the Mike Wade Quintet in Newport, Ky.
Saturday November 17– the Jazz of the Month Clubpresents the Jamey Aebersold Quartet at the Cincinnati Public Library Atrium and the New Ed Moss Trio  performs at Schwartz’s Point in Over-The-Rhine both in Cincinnati.
Sunday November 18 – Roderick Wilson will play at Huffies BBQ and John Hampton Wagner will host the regular Jazz Central regular Jazz Jam both in Dayton.
Monday November 19 – Tia Roseboro & Vernon Hairston is at the Old Bag of Nails in Columbus and Jazz Cab plays at The Greenwich in Cincinnati.

Tuesday November 20 – Sinclair Community College Jazz Ensemble performs at Blair Hall in Building 2 in Dayton and Tony Monaco Trio is at the Rumba Café in Columbus.

 

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

 

University Of Dayton Presents Heavy Metal Symposium

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It’s in Brazil, Israel, China, Morocco, the United States, Norway, and beyond.

It’s passionate, expressive, and can be used as a force for change.

Its fans are among some of the most devoted in the world, flying from all over to attend concerts of up to 100,000 people.

Listening to it is a punishable offense in Iran.

It’s heavy metal music, and contrary to what one might expect, it’s sweeping the globe, influencing young and old alike, and helping to form its own subcultures on nearly every continent.

Join scholars Dr. Mark Levine, Dr. Jeremy Wallach, Dr. Deena Weinstein, and Dr. Esther Clinton at the University of Dayton’s Heavy Metal and Globalization: A Symposium as they speak from personal experience and research, breaking down stereotypes about this style of music and explaining how heavy metal music has spread and impacted cultures around the world.

“When most people think about heavy metal music, they just think that it’s a bunch of guys with long hair and spandex… but research shows they’re a lot of good musicians and looking to affect change,” said Dr. Bryan Bardine, associate professor at UD and the organizer of the symposium.

From research on how the genre has bred an underground resistant counter culture in the Middle East, to why the music appeals to people of different cultures around the globe, these four speakers will explore an array of topics concerning the global spread of heavy metal music.

One international appeal to heavy metal music is in the messages found in its songs, which are often a call to end oppression and to embrace social justice.  For example, the members of Iraqi band Acrassicauda, having survived both the Gulf War and Iraqi War, focus on messages imbued with the struggle of living in an area rife with conflict, losing family and friends to war, and even having to flee from bombings during their own musical performances.

Bardine suggests that heavy metal music is a logical medium for conveying these messages.

“It’s a music that motivates them, it’s more intense, it’s more aggressive,” he said.

It is these messages and passion which pervade the genre of heavy metal music and render it so fluid across cultures, drawing its fans together to experience a bond that is rarely matched by any other genre of music.

Come to the symposium to explore the spread of heavy metal music as an example of grass-roots globalization while this genre is growing and becoming more diverse throughout the world.

As Bardine suggests, there’s good reason to set aside any preconceived notions about heavy metal music and take the time to better understand the genre and its broadening global influence:

“There’s more to it than just loud music, there’s more depth, and it’s not going anywhere.  It’s getting more diverse.”

The symposium will be held on Friday, Nov. 9, from 3-6 p.m. at the University of Dayton’s Sears Recital Hall in the Jesse Philips Humanities Center.  This event is free and open to the public.  The event is presented by the University of Dayton’s Department of English and Arts Series in conjunction with other campus partners.

For those who are interested, there will also be a pre-symposium film screening of the documentary, Global Metal, at 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, held in ArtStreet Studio B screening room.

For more information about arts events at UD, visit www.udayton.edu/arts.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9vVZ6Zxrho’]

(submitted by Lauren Glass – a senior at the University of Dayton, where she is studying journalism and working as a social media assistant for ArtStreet)

Dan Raridan and the Calientes Won’t ‘Give It Up’ With New Album

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I have been writing about Dayton and the music being played here since April, and one of the majestic things I have discovered is the people that I have met.  At the beginning of my journey, I couldn’t imagine where I would be headed, but I know that the road was going to be paved with excitement.  This past Thursday, another story was added to my book.  I arrived at the local establishment Tank’s, and I met up with local music artist Dan Raridan.  Dan is the lead singer of the band Dan Raridan and the Calientes.

I have previously met Dan recently at a show his band played at Canal Street.  Our exchange was brief, but the kindness he displayed to me was long lasting.  He came up to me as I was sitting at the bar, talking to another patrons that just was passing through town.  The patron heard from someone in town that they needed to check out Dan’s band, along with the other bands performing that night (Tim Pritchard and the Boxcar Suite, and Kyle Byrum).  Dan thanked each and every person that was at the show.  We sat down for a minute and he talked about how he was working on a new album, and it was near completion.  It was cool that he sat down with me, and we kept in touch thru social media.  So, when we met again at Tank’s, the night promised to be even better than that first meeting.

Pitchers of Guinness later, Dan (along with his friend, amazing photographer Gary Mitchell) and me dove into all kinds of topics.  We talked about the country of Costa Rica, and the wonder of how they don’t have an army.  We talked about surfing, as Dan is an avid surfer.  We talked about Mitchell’s photography, and the great places to do photo-shoots.  Dan gave me a CD that includes a lot of solo work from 2008. The night felt as if the three of us were friends for a long period of time.

Dan Raridan and the Calientes have recently released their newest work, Give It Up.  The album is longer than the band’s previous work, 2008’s Bus.  The album dives into a list of topics, with the garage rock influenced ‘Would You Liked To?’ which talks the beginnings of asking a girl out.  The moody ‘Sunshine In The Rain/Be My Love’ discusses losing the one that you love, and wanting them back.  ‘Dream With Me’ has Buddy Holly influences in Dan’s guitar play.  ‘Take This Ship To Shore’ has a Cali feel to it, with its laid back sound.

The band’s inception began back in 2008.  Raridan worked on many projects, diving into electronic music, performing at art shows, and was even DJing at one point.  It got to a point when Raridan wanted to do something different.  So, he picked up his guitar and started writing shows, and started going to open mic nights around town.  During this time, he met bassist Alessandro Cortez and drummer/percussionist Erich Reith.  The three met at South Park Tavern.  The trio played together briefly, as Reith was part of another local band, Puzzle of Light.  With the opening, Raridan met drummer Larry Smith.   Smith was part of a successful Clash tribute show.  Raridan fell in love with the drumming style of Smith.  He enjoyed it so much that he invited Smith to a rehearsal.  Immediately, the energy and the connection with the three men was there.  “I loved the moment that we started playing”, Raridan explained to me during our sit down conversation.  “Alessandro is such an amazing bassist, and have Smith playing with us, it was just so incredible.  The chemistry was there right off the bat.”  When I asked if that happens to most bands, Dan replied simply, “No.”  In 2010, Dan Raridan and the Calientes released their first album, Bus.  The album is heavily charged, with influences Smith’s time with The Clash tribute band, along with influences of Bruce Springsteen.   The end result is a passionate blend of rock, punk, and blues.  Here’s a video from the band during a set in 2011.  Song is called ‘Hold On’

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLeaKSHhujc&feature=youtu.be’]

Raridan has been working on this album for some time.  When we were at Tank’s, I noticed that Raridan had a notepad with him.  He explained to me that he writes at all times.  He gave me the example of him walking back to his place recently.  He noticed that there was a group of kids playing in the middle of his neighborhood’s road.  The joy and carefree attitude that were spilling all over the children paved way to a part of the notebook.  Raridan also writes a lot of poetry.  He showed me all of his writings in his little notebook, which also included one of the songs that are part of the new album, ‘Goodbye Terry’.

Dan Raridan has coyness to him that throws you off.  When performing with the band, Raridan brings everything to the table.  Every single emotional is thrown into the set.  When you sit down with him, he comes off a little shy.  However, when you get more into the conversation with him, you take notice that it’s just his style.  He is so laid back, and he is an emotional person.  When he talked about his band mates, he talked about the love and admiration he had for them.  “I love those guys (Alessandro and Larry).  They are my family”, Raridan said.  “They have given me the gift of their talent and time and love.” After our night at Tanks, I posted a photo of the album of his solo work he gave me onto my Instagram and Facebook profile.  I mentioned that it was very kind for him to give me this CD of music he did solo in 2008.  Raridan posted this comment:

It brings back great memories. 2008 was a pivotal year for me. I’m still floating from the love and hope and inspiration I received that year. I met Alessandro in 2008. And soon after, Larry… Meeting you has reminded me of that time, that spark. Thank you for that.

 I didn’t want that evening to end, as I wanted to hear more about Raridan’s thoughts.  His insightfulness was refreshing.  His appreciation about   everything, from me doing this article, the people that buy his music and see his band live (“The people that come to the shows are so important to me.  They give me the reason to keep rolling”), the love of Costa Rica (“I hope to eventually move there I love it so much”) to Gary Mitchell explaining that Detroit is one of the great cities to do photography gives you that comfort that he cares about you more than you think he should.  The next time Raridan and I met up, Guinness will be poured in our glasses again, and I am positive that night will be also added to my book.

To download the new album Dan Raridan and the Calientes, go to danraridan.bandcamp.com.  While you there, download the band’s  first album, Bus.

 

Signs of Life Fill The Floyd Void at Gilly’s

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The music of Pink Floyd has been described by many as timeless, emotional, epic, classic, genre defying, transcending and most important, immortal. They have an almost hypnotic mass appeal to so many generations separated by years and often decades. They’re one of the few bands mom, dad and the kids can all agree on, whether they’ll admit it or not. They’ve walked the line of being rock but not loud enough to hurt the ears but catchy, bluesy and soulful enough to appeal to almost everyone. No matter what level of fandom you’re at, you know a Pink Floyd song when you hear it.

By concept, visuals and most important outstanding, groundbreaking and pioneering musical precession they’ve stood the test of time and will continue influencing bands for years to come. You don’t see Pink Floyd, you experience them, you don’t listen to them, you feel them, playing right into your inner most senses.  Signs of Life: The Essence of Pink Floyd brings their stadium show into the theater/club environment. Creating the intense sonic audio bombast, intense eye popping visuals and space age, atmospheric trippy lighting that made Pink Floyd one of the greatest bands to watch, and hear, ever. Lead vocalist, guitarist Jon Stankorb plays a mean David Gilmour, putting his own vocals on par with one of music’s most iconic voices. Bass and backing vocals John Hoerr puts the same galloping, haunting sound on the four strings as Roger Waters. Rich Biondo creates the extra guitar sound and ambiance. Atmosphere master Tom Bartel effortlessly takes the legendary sounds surrounding Gilmour, Barrett, Waters and Mason created by Richard Wright adding his own intuitive interpretation making all the moods happen on keys and effects. Tony Sager fills the drum kit nicely for the one original Floyd member that appeared on every album, Nick Mason. Saxist, percussion and vocalist Dan Barger makes Floyd sound just as saxy as the original boys did. Reyna Spears and Akilah Ruiz sing out the majestic heart and soul of the band.

Their third visit to the Gilly’s stage, they emerge to a packed house In The Flesh, ready and welcome to the show. Pink couldn’t make it tonight but you definitely get the next best thing. Helicopter effects fill the room. We don’t need no education, no thoughts controlled or dark sarcasm in the nightclub. Hey teacher, leave those fans alone. The acoustics debut, Mother do you think they’ll like this song? Mother can Pigs fly? There’s one on the Wing. Yes son, they accompany the Dogs of war….welcome my son, Welcome to the Machine! So… you think you can tell, heaven from hell? (For everyone that wasn’t there) Wish You Were Here. Next up is 14 minutes of audio bliss, Shine On. The show’s first half ends with the guitar grinding roar of Sorrow.

They return with the sole intention of Learning to Fly…. One of These days. After the edgy guitar work and audio aura they calm things down and get nice and mellow. The performance is a shared experience of everything that made Pink Floyd, Pink Floyd, just Us & Them.  The somber tranquility is broken by the sensory shattering sounds of alarms, chimes and grandfather clocks followed by the slow dramatic guitar crunching buildup in Time.  The beginning plucked acoustic almost whispering strings and moody bass of Hey You followed. Then cash registers clanged, receipts were made and coins poured as the Money flowed. Next we took a trip back to the early 90’s and hear the Division Bell. It’s been said that Pink Floyd’s music is the closest thing to hearing the voices and sounds of heaven, this could be true but for now we’re happy to take a trip into space with the lunatic in our head for some Brain Damage and an Eclipse on the Dark Side of the Moon. Signs of Life makes you Comfortably Numb in a good way. They end with the guitar echoing stadium encore pleaser Run Like Hell.

Formed in 2009, they authentically capture the Pink Floyd live experience. They don’t just play the songs, they’ve engineered a concert going experience paying tribute, showing respect and adding their own spin, touch and take on the classics. For two sets the audience is bathed in the shimmering glow of stage lights and stimulated by Floyd’esk screen visuals and symbolism. They’ve played to packed houses and won over the most die-hard and hard to impress fans to the most casual radio fan. Their accuracy to the material is near pin-point while making it just different enough keeping their own identity. For the most part they play different sets every show, sometimes playing big hits early, doing lesser known material from the early years at different times but keeping an even balance and respect of each era and what a Pink Floyd set-list would look like. There’s little talking besides band introduction. The performance is complete delivery and respect of the music. If any band deserved a tribute it’s definitely Pink Floyd. Stankorb says hearing the sounds Gilmour made come out of a guitar inspired him to do the same. They’re not just up there playing the songs with guitars, drums and keyboards. They have multiple instruments changes, bongo drums, sax, chimes and other odd instruments that make the show uniquely their own. They’re also working on idea’s for bigger props like the physical brick wall and inflatable characters to bring an even bigger show to the fans. Indeed this is The Essence of Pink Floyd.

Jazz Spotlight: Phil DeGreg + Upcoming Local Jazz Oct. 24 – Nov. 6

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Happy October 24th; Well You Needn’t – First recorded for Blue Note (549) on October 24, 1947, it is one of Thelonious Monk’s most recorded and most popular tunes, and a very good example of Monk’s penchant for chromatic harmonic motion.

Who is Phil DeGreg?

Phil DeGreg began playing the piano in his childhood and now performs as a jazz pianist internationally. His earliest jazz influences were Bud Powell and Bill Evans, but he is accomplished and comfortable in a wide range of jazz styles, ranging from mainstream to bebop to Brazilian jazz. His versatility has led to professional performances with dozens of internationally recognized jazz artists, as well as leading and recording with his own groups. Phil DeGreg has released nine recordings as a leader and has been recorded as a sideman on many other jazz projects.

A native of Cincinnati, Phil completed a degree in psychology from Yale University before becoming a professional musician. After three years working and studying music in Kansas City, he finished a masters degree atUniversity of North Texas, and subsequently toured the world for a year with Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd. Later he was the recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts grants. He was named one of the 10 finalists in Jazziz Magazine’s 1995 “Keyboardists on Fire” competition, and was a 1996 finalist in the Great American Jazz Piano Competition. Phil has performed in clubs and concerts throughout the United States, and in the United Kingdom,France, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Brazil.

Phil considers music to be a gift and is dedicated to sharing his love of jazz through teaching. Phil was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to lecture about jazz in Brazil, which he did for three months in the spring of 2008. He is currently Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, where he teaches jazz theory, arranging, piano, and ensembles. He has taught for the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops (since 1982), the UK Jazzwise Jazz Camps (since 1996) and has served on the faculty of the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, the Miami Valley Summer Jazz Workshops, and the Jim Widner Jazz Camps.

You can catch Phil at Dee Felice in Covington, KY every Sunday at 4:00pm as well as many other places in our area; check the Jazz Advocate calendar.

Jazz Calendar

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

Tonight Wednesday, October 24 – Tonight, for you dancers, the Lizz & Rex Quartet is at The Dayton Event Connection and Dave Greer’s Classic Jazz Stompers performs at Neil’s Heritage House both in Dayton.
Thursday October 25 – Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra is at The Blue Wisp Jazz Club in Cincinnati and Backstage w/TCarpe Diem & Speak Williams is at The Lincoln Theatre in Columbus.
Friday October 26 – Shawn Stanley Trio performs at Carvers Steaks & Chops in Centerville while Terry Murphy and Company Band is playing The De’lish Café in Dayton.
Saturday October 27 – Chez Norain in Covington, KY has Halloween! with Ricky Nye Inc. and Nighttown in Cleveland Heights presents the Greg Abate Quintet Featuring Phil Woods.
Sunday October 28 – Dayton’s longest jazz jam continues at Jazz Central in Dayton and the Phil DeGreg Trio is at Dee Felice in Covington, KY.
Monday October 29 – the John Taylor Trio is at the Brio Tuscan Grille in Beavercreek and the Clintonville Woman’s Club is hosting Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra.
Tuesday October 30 – Park Street Tavern continues their Jazz Jam and the Tony Monaco Trio performs at The Rumba Café both in Columbus.
Wednesday October 31 – the Tuxedo Junction Big Band is at The The Dayton Event Connection and the James Elliott Project Featuring Roger Baccus is performing at Zanzibar Brews in Columbus.
Thursday November 1 – The Dayton Art Institute Vectren Jazz & Beyond series concludes with on of their most popular offerings when Puzzle of Light returns. Stay tuned for when their next season begins in March of 2013.
Friday November 2 – Jazz Alive presents The Cohesion Jazz Ensemble at The Fairfield Community Arts Center in Fairfield, OH and the Thompson House presents the Eddie Brookshire Quintet in Newport, Ky.
Saturday November 3– Schwartz’s Point in Over-The-Rhine presents The NEW Ed Moss Trio in Cincinnati and The Jazz Kitchen offers Corey Christiansen in Indianapolis, IN.
Sunday November 4 – PAT KELLY’s PsychoAcoustic Orchestra will play at The Blue Wisp Jazz Club in Cincinnati and John Hampton Wagner returns to Jazz Central for their regular Jazz Jam in Dayton.
Monday November 5 – the Derek DiCenzo Trio is at Local Roots in Powell, OH and the Ed Moss & The Society Jazz Orchestra plays Schwartz’s Point in Over-The-Rhine in Cincinnati.

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

Vandalia Vixens Ignite Spitfire Lounge

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A Clockwork Soul

Saturday October 13 three female powerhouse voices played the Spitfire stage. Some growled, some sang, some yelled but all carried and delivered one hell of a vocal wallop. Windowing Hollow productions once again books another kick ass show, this time showcasing the ladies. The evening also celebrated one brand new special lady in the form of W.H. promoter John’s new granddaughter Jalyn Michelle born at 1pm at 7lbs 1 ounce.

Up first A ClockWork Soul featuring blonde Amazonian bombshell Mystie Rose sporting steel coated vocal chords that growl, screech, yell and sooth the most gentle or jaded of ears. Dressed in black, sporting handcuffs, chains, biker attire and who knows what else, Rose has a ‘slightly’ commanding, dominating presence earning her femme fatale status. She looks like she belongs on any stage she chooses to stand on. A modern day Janis Joplin with attitude and a little Otep too, with a voice carrying the husky sexiness of Nina Blackwood that will growl you into submission and claw its way gently into your heart. She’s not the kind of girl who has to act tough, she legitimately looks like she could step into a cage and maim someone then sing a song about it.
Until The End carries a living on the mean streets, fight for survival desolation. Rose growls into the mic shaking with violent rage, eyes wide with killer instinct and a lioness’s fury. Tonight she lays claim to queen of the jungle. The soft synth waved intro of Out There is treated with her softer voice picking up fever as she goes. She sings with the voice of experience, carrying, delivering the emotions and living the stories within the songs. Count The Ways is all about that special someone we meet and think the search is over then find out she’s a complete psycho bitch. They do a very unexpected tribute to Don Henley with The Boys of Summer. I doubt any Henley song will ever be played that heavy or loud again. In conclusion, Out on the road today, I saw a ClockWork Soul sticker on a Cadillac, a little voice inside my head said ‘Don’t look back you can never look back.’

Gathering Mercury

Named after a song by Men at Work’s Colin Hay, Dayton’s Gathering Mercury play with a rock, metal, punk attitude all of which are reflected in singer/guitarist Ashley Stacey’s hot hairdo. The young runaway sports a remarkable resemble to Kelly Osbourne and Jane Wiedlin playing with the same rebellious heart and youth. Her vocals carry the attitude and cat like scratch of Joan Jett. While her influences range from Avril Lavigne to Pat Benatar to Pink, she’s been performing since age 9 which now would make her 18th year sound like a veteran age. Her style doesn’t carry the in your face soulful wailing of Janis Joplin but instead packages it in a more subtle but attractive manor.  She sings the songs with a mix of innocent breathy delivery, edgy feminine punk aggression and inherent cuteness with the seeds of success firmly planted. They play originals I Give, Not Too Late and Nothing To Me with a catchy indie rock flavor while the laid back bluesy Where The Others Go flirts with ballad territory every few minutes but sticks with its loud sound. They also showed respect to the music culture of the early 70’s playing some Rock n Roll Hoochie Koo perhaps louder than Johnny Winter or Rick Derringer ever intended. Bassist Quique Bucio even dressed up for the occasion.  They also decide to Paint It Black with The Rolling Stones and the wild frantic playing, soloing of guitarist Max Mobarry flipping his red mane around like his head was on fire.

Killed by Art

Today’s a good day to be Killed By Art. Though they play with a certain murderous skill their sound is nothing but life affirming to the ears. Singer Kimberly Weiss’s soulful gritty voice takes a page from 4 Non Blondes Linda Perry. They break out the best grit and grime of the good grunge. Roots plays with a down n dirty guitar dragging the water straight from the Louisiana bayou.  She pulls Joplin’s spirit from the other side incorporating it into her own tribute to the lost voices of history. CD opener Stolen starts out smooth as silk loaded with bass emotion slowly building up a few catchy up and downward spiral hills tag teaming with heavy guitar crescendos.   New tunes Down and Dark Hero were tried out and met with loud reaction.

The bands sound resembles a mosh pit mixture of Alice In Chains, Down, Fight and BLS. Weiss’s voice has an Eurythmic charm with lots of Heart and maybe a hint of GA GA. Their CD Habeas Corpus can be downloaded at www.facebook.com/KilledByArt.