Toads & Mice CD Release Show w/The Reciever/Of Brothers and the Bear-Tonight @ The Pearl

...yeah, we know it's been a slow week in the 937. So, you're probably ready to get into some action, yes? Well, have we got a treat for you, kids....

...one of our most anticipated releases of the year will be celebrated tonight at The Pearl as Squids Eye Records proudly presents the debut album by Toads & Mice. Although they've laid low on the radar for quite some time, this is their big coming out party. With a batch of songs this good, they can't go unnoticed forever. Drawing on everything from post-punk to post-rock, these gentlemen could be one of the most promising bands to emerge out of the Gem City in quite some time...

...rounding out the bill this evening will be The Receiver from Columbus, sounding somewhere between Minus the Bear and Elliot Smith, and local up-and-comers Of Brothers and the Bear. Get out tonight and make up for a slow week...

Switchblade Serenade/Sitandance/Japser the Colossal-Tonight @ Jimmie's Cornerstone

...tonight it's happening over on Brown St. at Jimmie's Cornerstone. On tap, we have newer outfit, Jasper the Colossal,dishing out their brand of new-wave/punk, the mysterious Sitandance (we still haven't seen them and they have no web presence; if anyone has the lowdown on these guys let's hear it), and the inimitable gutter-garage of Switchblade Serenade. This will be their last show before the new disc, No One Cares, drops next week. See you there...

**CORRECTION** Switchblade Serenade WILL NOT be playing this evening. We apologize for the inaccuracy of our report.

L'Eighties Night-Tonight @ Pearl

If you need to get out tonight, you know where to go....

Join me, your Host, & DJ HEATHER for L'EIGHTIES NITE, FREE every TUESDAY at PEARL w/some kinda cool music from 9:00-11:00.

**This week- "80's Baby! (Wolf's wife) Cyn turns 27 on November 27th! Help her celebrate! Dress as your favorite 80's movie character. Special guest appearance at 11:27 PM by The Freakshow Deluxe. No Cover / 18+ / Doors at 9:00 PM / Drink Specials. After the Freakshow is NEW WAVE/80's until close w/ADAM & MARK serving YOU great drink specials- $2 PBR/HIGH LIFE & $3 LONG ISLANDS. PEARL 101 S. Saint Clair St. Dayton, OH

...you know Jay and Heather always have you covered on Tuesday nights, and you know Jay is always gonna dig up some song you forgot about or never even heard....

North by Northeast 2008

...while not as illustrious as it's southern cousin, the North by Northeast in Toronto is a more subdued, but no less prestigious, affair. According to our research, a handful of Dayton bands have participated in the festival in recent memory, the most recent being My Latex Brain a couple of years ago....

...so, check out the link and submit your band...deadline is January 31....don't wait...

Forecastle Festival 2008

If you're in a band and looking for an opportunity to get into one of the bigger music festivals, here's a good one to look into. The Forecastle Festival is held annually in Louisville and since its inception in 2002 has nearly doubled in attendance each subsequent year. Previous festival headliners include The Apples in Stereo, Sleater-Kinney, Girl Talk, and De La Soul. Local favorites Captain of Industry and Murder Your Darlings have also been selected to participate in the festival...

...submissions are being accepted now through March 15. If you need to know more about submitting, go here.

Marijuana Johnson/Kentucky Overflow-Tonight @ Ernie's

...at the unlikely venue of Ernie's (corner of Wayne and Arbor), Marijuana Johnson and Kentucky Overflow will both be making rare appearances tonight. Allegedly, this will be MJ's last show of the year as they prepare for a new batch of recordings. The show is free and starts at 10. See you there....

The High Strung/The Goody Two Shoes/The Teeth/Mascot @ Nite Owl 11.23.07

...despite the cold and a slow start to the evening, by the end of Mascot's set, the crowd had gathered and was primed for the second band of the evening, The Teeth. Out on tour from Philadelphia with Park the Van Records labelmates, The High Strung, The Teeth hit the stage with a sense of purpose to win over every audient in the room. From our perspective, mission accomplished. Their high-octane vintage-flavored indie rock seemed to find its way into every ear in the room and by the end of their set they had won over virtually every non-believer...



...taking the stage next was local garage practitioners, The Goody Two Shoes. Although we had not been entirely impressed with previous outings, the band seems to be gelling and getting their sound together. This was definitely the best we'd seen them, as guitarist/vocalist C.J. brought her trademark stage presence in spades...




...closing out the evening was one of the hardest working bands out right now, The High Strung. Coming down from Detroit, the band seemed to have a stronger flirtation with the British Isles than the Motor City. As one chiming chorus after another whizzed by under attack from an endless stream of virtuostic bass runs and rollicking drum fills, the band made a strong case for why they could be one of the best bands in the modern cannon....(we apologize for the lack of visuals accompanying the High Strung set. Technical difficulties...)


All photos of The Goody Two Shoes by Marla Bremer

Shrug/Joe Anderl/Wil Cope-Tonight @ Canal St. Tavern

...over at Canal Street Tavern tonight, we have on tap some of the finest songwriters currently working in Dayton. Opening the night will be The Homeless Romantic, Wil Cope, who will be making his last appearance in Dayton before his relocation to Nashville this weekend. Next up is the relentless juggernaut that is Joe Anderl. Allegedly, there will be an all-star cast backing Joe up on this evening. Closing the show will be Dayton mainstays, Shrug, chock full of rock n' roll goodness. You can't miss on this one...

...to whet your appetite, here's a recent video of Wil Cope in promotion of his new album, Borrowed Light...


photo of Joe Anderl courtesy of Kim at Picture the Sound

The High Strung/The Teeth/The Goody Two Shoes/Mascot-Tonight @ Nite Owl

...the kids over at Do Tell Records are working their magic again tonight, bringing in two great touring bands to the Nite Owl: The Teeth and The High Strung, along with locals The Goody Two Shoes and Mascot. Touring together as Park The Van Records labelmates, The Teeth and The High Strung traffic in the sounds of The Kinks, Cheap Trick, Elvis Costello, Television, The Libertines, and whatever else you wanna think of. Local support act The Goody Two Shoes will deliver their raw garage goodness, while Mascot will open the evening with a solo acoustic set. Should be a good one....

Andrew & the Pretty Punchers/Wild & Free @ J-Alan's-11.22.07

...after gorging ourselves on the proverbial Thanksgiving feast, we regrouped and headed downtown for our first visit to J-Alan's in order to catch Wild & Free and Andrew & the Pretty Punchers. Man, were we in for a perfect dessert to the day....

...opening the evening, somewhat unexpectedly, was Wild & Free. At this point, the band is building such an incredible momentum that they have willed themselves into being one of the best bands in this town within a matter of months. As guitarist/vocalist Jake Geisege continues to unveil one remarkable tune after another we can only say that Wild & Free is writing some of the most infectious and memorable songs in Dayton at the moment...



...without allowing any of the evening's momentum slip, youngsters Andrew & the Pretty Punchers stepped right onto the stage like a well-seasoned band and delivered their own brand of high-intensity, earthy pop tunes. Enduring technical difficulties, the band soldiered on and whipped the crowd into a frenzy. With Josh Wickersham pulling double duty on bass this evening and Cry Baby Genius dropping in on drums, the lineup continues to expand and fluctuate. Eh, who cares? The songs are great. Truly, it was a great evening of great songs with two of the best young bands in Dayton....



...as it was our first time venturing into J-Alan's for a show, we should say that we saw a lot of potential for this venue. With a sizeable stage, plenty of floor space, a pool table in back, and tables off to the side, both band and audience could be satisfied with the environs. Not to mention, there was no cover charge....so, who's next?

For more photos from the evening, go here.

Wild & Free/Andrew & the Pretty Punchers-Tonight @ J-Alan's

If you've been paying attention, you may have noticed that we've provided extensive coverage on Andrew & the Pretty Punchers and Wild & Free over the last few months. You may have also noticed that these two bands really like playing together. Really. By our count, this is the fourth time in three months they've done so. Quite frankly, they're an amazing pairing. The two bands have a genuine admiration for one another and their sets are so complimentary that it makes for a near-perfect event every time....well, we hope you don't think they're going to play every show together forever. You know that isn't true....so, eat yr turkey (or Tofurkey, as the case may be), let it all digest, and get on over to J-Alan's (on Ludlow near the Schuster Center, in the Talbot Towers) tonight to catch two of the best younger bands in this town on their respective ways on up...

...to seal the deal, here's some video of A&TPP doing "Helluva Lot Colder" over at Goloka Gallery a while back...

Turn of a Knob

...local heroes Captain of Industry are at it again. Their relentless work ethic leads them out of Dayton on Thanskgiving on a trek to NYC to begin work on a new album, tentatively titled Strange Furr, with ex-Team Evil Records guru Noel Benford. Allegedly, members of The Slackers will also be contributing to the effort. According to the band, there are 25 songs on their plate, 12 of which they plan to release on the new record and the remainder to be put up elsewhere at a later date. From what we've heard of the new material, the band is poised to make their best record to date. We simply can't wait...

...until then we'll be treated to a number of live performances over the next month, several of which will feature COI serving as backing band for Happy Chichester. Upon their return to the Gem City, the band will share a few dates with rising indie band Baby Teeth from Chicago, culminating with the band ringing in 2008 with a big NYE show at Gilly's. Get your plans made now....

11.23.07 Arlene’s Grocery NYC Captain plays at 9:00
12.01.07 The Knitting Factory old office w. Spit Hot Fire, Can’t Hang, Ippazzi NYC
12.07.07 The Night Owl w. Buffalo Killers and Switch blade Serenade Dayton,OH
12.19.07 The Beat Kitchen w. Happy Chichester and The Receiver Chicago IL
12.20.07 Smalls Bar w. Happy Chichester and The receiver Detroit MI
12.21.07 Rumba Cafe w. Happy Chichester and the Receiver Columbus OH
12.22.07 Casa Nueva w. Happy Chichester and The Receiver Athens OH
12.29.07 Southgate House (Parlour) w. Baby Teeth +2 tba Newport KY
12.30.07 The Dame w. Baby Teeth, and Nana and the Boy Noise Lexington KY
12.31.07 Gilly's w. Baby Teeth, Male Models Dayton OH

...in the meantime, contact the boys and see if you can get yr paws on a copy of their latest release, the Gold Teeth EP. We've had in it heavy rotation here for the last month or so and highly recommend you avail yourself of this as soon as humanly possible. While not an official release and indulging various experimentations by different amalgamations of the band, the tracks are nothing less than indicative of why COI is one of Dayton's finest outfits. Get there....

Where everybody knew your name.....

A random encounter today made us think about something that is on everyone's mind in the local music scene. While we try our best to avoid scene politics and unnecessary commentary here at The Buddha Den, this issue is simply to pervasive to ignore...

..yes, we all miss it. Yes, we all know what it meant. For a few years, the Dayton music scene had a venue that was big enough to have great national headliners roll through, yet was small enough to still feel intimate. It was a great place to catch everyone at their best. What's more, it was driven by the music and not bar sales. Lots of bands came and went through Elbos and its subsequent closure has left an inescapable void in the Dayton music scene. Let's hear what you have to say about the club and what you might think is a solution to the problem...

So...you wanna be a rock n' roll star?

...after an extended hiatus, the Local Lixx program is back on the air on one of the greatest stations in America, 97X...well, on the interweb, anyway. For those of you unfamiliar with the program, it's on weekly and features the best local offerings from Cincinnati and Dayton bands. We here at the Buddha Den encourage all Dayton bands worth their salt to follow the directions below:

Send a CD, band bio and contact information to:

WOXY.com
ATTN: Local Lixx
700 W Pete Rose Way
Cincinnati OH 45203

Please note: Local Lixx is distributed as a podcast in addition to being broadcast on WOXY.com.

Any questions? Hit up Joe at joe@woxy.com.

We all know that 97X is still one of the most influential radio stations in the country, terrestrial or not. Their Lounge Acts program has featured some great local and national bands, including local faves, Captain of Industry. You wanna make a splash, start here....

Local Lixx on Myspace

Switchblade Serenade/Counterpunch/Ryan's Hope/He Laughs He Learns He Loves-Tonight @ Nite Owl

You want yr rock n' roll? Get it tonight down at the Nite Owl....

...fresh out of the studio and out onto the streets are grungy garage heroes Switchblade Serenade dishing out their patented sleazy psychedelia...

...out on tour from Chicago comes the savage speedpunk of Counterpunch...

...coming in from Joliet, IL, Ryan's Hope carries with them the legacy of pop-punk and monstrous riffage...

...youngsters He Laughs He Learns He Loves will open the evening with their blistering powerpunk sounds...

...get there and get bent...

Afternoon Delight

What? Don't like football? Not ready to head to the mall for Christmas shopping yet? Try this on for size....Gem City Records is hosting a songwriter's showcase in-store today between 2 and 4 pm. We can't say for certain who will be playing, but hey, it's free, it's live music, and it's at the best record store in town. You tell us how you can go wrong...

The Casualties/Luxury Pushers/Legbone/The Adversaries-Tonight @ Celebrity's

If you dare venture south to the outpost of Centerville, you're in for a real punk rock treat tonight kids. Out at Celebrity's, Do Tell Records is hosting NYC punk rock legends The Casualties. These guys are the real deal, throwing way back to the early 80s-style punk/hardcore sound. As if that weren't enough, local legends Luxury Pushers are bringing their no-hold-barred punk rock n' roll sound along with local punk mainstays Legbone. Just for good measure, ska-punk newbies The Adversaries? will kick off the evening....

...the show is all ages, so bring your little brother or sister. They'll need to see this one....if you're trying to find Celebrity's, it's on 725 right behind Blockbuster.....

Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band/Umbrella Men-Tonight @ Canal Street Tavern

...if it's genuine ol' timey music you need this evening, look no further than Canal Street Tavern. Tonight will see the return of Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band and some genuine Piedmont via Delta blues. Armed with acoustic guitars rather than Strats, the big stomp of this band is sure to get the crowd up and moving. Also on the bill will be one of our favorites, Umbrella Men, with their purist folk sound. It's sure to be an evening of pure music...

Sarasvati Productions Presents: Creature Art Show-Tonight @ Pearl

Thanks to the ongoing efforts of the good kids at Sarasvati Productions, tonight will see the Creature Art Show at Pearl Niteclub. In addition to all the art & poetry that will be on display, you have two great bands to tune into. Opening the night will be local newbies, Chow Pow Socialite, dishing out their stylized brand of 90s alternapunk dashed with a dose of arty post-punk. Up from Cincinnati and hot off the release of their Scrape the Summer disc, Caterpillar Tracks bring an infectious art-punk angled reminiscent of Fugazi and their acolytes....

...as if that weren't enough, Jay Madewell of Fab Gear will be doing his DJ thing before, between, and after the bands....get there!

The Sailing/Happy Birthday Amy @ Nite Owl 11.14.07

As the temperature dropped last night, so did some great music at the Nite Owl. While the Squids Eyes artists were out en masse, it looked as if the rest of Dayton had better things to do....

...opening the night was Happy Birthday Amy from Nashville. With their Joanna Newsom-goes-to-the-circus feel, they proceeded to draw in every last audient. Their command over dynamics and delicate application of cornet and trombone only heightened the carnivalesque appeal of the songs....



...closing out the evening were locals, The Sailing. Despite their presence in the Dayton music scene over the last several years, this outfit tends to be mistakenly overlooked. Simply put, no one in this town exhibits musical ambition and bravado on this level; their ability to channel the finer points of 70s prog and 90s Britpop into a cohesive and singular sound places them in a position to make a dramatic impact in the coming months...

Bear Colony/The Sailing/Happy Birthday Amy-Tonight @ Nite Owl

Tonight at the Nite Owl, you're getting a rare treat. Dabbling in everything from prog to Britpop, local faves The Sailing will be making an all-too-rare appearance. Opening the evening will be Happy Birthday Amy, out on tour from Nashville. Combining the vaudeville aspects of Dresden Dolls with Joanna Newsom's fluttery vocals and the straighter indie flavors of The Decembrists. Rounding out the evening will be Bear Colony from Little Rock. Trafficking in loop-heavy indie pop, their light, dreamy melodies and soothing synths should serve as a perfect ending to the evening...

Viva Hate/Marijuana Johnson/Accidentally on Purpose Tonight @ Nite Owl

Oh, so you wanted a big crazy loud rock show huh? Well then, tonight's the night...

...the Nite Owl has yr back tonight with three serious rock bands. Opening the night will be Accidentally on Purpose with their female fronted alternpunk sound. Then it's the sludge and grind of Marijuana Johnson. Headlining the show will be Viva Hate, featuring Geoff Kresge (ex-Horrorpops, Tiger Army & AFI). You know what to do...

photo of Viva Hate by Kamilla Vanilla

Twin Towers Treat Tonight!

Tonight is the grand opening celebration of The Stone Soup Cafe in the Twin Towers neighborhood. To celebrate the occasion, there will be performances by several musicians, including Tod Weidner of Shrug, Brandon Hawk, Mascot, and many others. In addition, several local artists and photographers will be displaying their work throughout the evening. The shindig goes down between 6 PM and midnight. The Stone Soup Cafe is located at 625 Xenia Ave. off of Keowee. Oh, did we mention that it's totally FREE?!?!? Looks as if there isn't a real schedule, so roll on down when you feel it and see what you see....

Wild & Free @ Jimmie's Cornerstone 11.10.07

...so, we got a late start on the evening and completely missed Andrew & the Pretty Punchers. We also completely missed all the goings on at Oregon Express. For this, dear readers, apologize...however, we did roll into Jimmie's Cornerstone just as Wild & Free were taking the stage and the hordes were amassing around the stage area...



...hot on the heels of the release of their debut album, Andiamo, Wild & Free commanded the stage on this evening with a confidence and charm that radiated out through every singalong chorus and into the audience. With the venue packed nearly to capacity, the energy in the room was palpable and the band just seemed to feed off it more as the night wore on. With each successive number, the band and audience truly achieved that X-factor where each side drives the other to greater heights. Delivering some of the most infectious songs in Dayton at the moment, Wild & Free stands to become a major force in this town in the months to come....

The Celebrity Pilots/Barn Burning/Joe Anderl/Caverns Tonight @ Oregon Express

...yes kids, you have options tonight. We here at the Buddha Den urge you to take full advantage of them....

...over at Oregon Express, you have a wonderful smorgasboard of indie flavors on tap. Ranging from the noise rock explorations of Caverns, to earnest acoustic flavors of local favorite, Joe Anderl, to the early-REM inflections of Providence, RI's Barn Burning, to the driving indie pop shimmer of The Celebrity Pilots from Cleveland, you've got all your bases covered. This one is a can't miss kids....

...as a special treat, here's a live video of Joe Anderl doing "Moons Over Miller Lite"...

Wild & Free/Andrew & the Pretty Punchers Tonight @ Jimmie's Cornerstone

Although it's a rare Saturday night show at Jimmie's, that's no excuse for you to miss this one. Two of our favorite younger Dayton bands will be on tap and you should make the effort....

...Andrew & the Pretty Punchers may still be trying to find their footing, but they have a number of songs that totally defy their youth. Catch them now and say you saw them when they were still wet behind the ears...

...Wild & Free are coming off the release of their wonderful new album, Andiamo (which will presumably be on sale this evening), and songwriter Jake Geisege hashes out some of the most memorable melodies and direct lyrics in all of Dayton...

...if you need to know where to go, Jimmie's is located at the corner of Brown and Wyoming, across the street from Miami Valley Hospital. It's a $3 show, so you know what to do....

Echos Dayton: Tonight @ Jasper Wall Cafe

...every so often, you want your weekend to start a little earlier. And maybe have something free to do. Well, do we have an option for you tonight...

...from the girls at NC, in conjunction with our friend Matt Estvanic, we bring you Echos Dayton. Starting at 8 over at Jasper Wall Cafe, you will find a host of regional and local poets doing their thing, as well as the acoustic stylings of Mascot and Dayton Band Playoffs Runners-Up, Umbrella Men. For free, you can't go wrong....

Dirty White Ponies/East Hundred/Tarfuti Tonight @ Nite Owl

Ladies and gentlemen, we have an interesting bill on hand tonight at Nite Owl. This thing could go in any direction...

...opening the night will be Tartufi from San Francisco. Recently voted Best Indie Band in a recent SF Bay Guardian Reader's Poll, these lads run a range between Built to Spill, Pixies, and Modest Mouse quite nicely...

...from the City of Brotherly Love comes the lush indie pop of East Hundred. Out on their first Midwest jaunt in support of the EP, Copper Street Performer, these kids deliver radio-friendly tuneage landing somewhere between Broken Social Scene and Mazzy Star...

...closing out the night will be local up-and-comers Dirty White Ponies....see you there....

ADDENDUM: For photos of the East Hundred set, go here.

Okay, I'll Admit That I Don't Really Understand

...for the 10th Anniversary of their artistic coup de grace, the Flaming Lips prepared a special 10-channel version of the epic Zaireeka album, complete with a virtual Wayne Coyne serving as MC to the event, cueing the CD operators when to start each of the album's eight tracks. In addition, Coyne provided additional insight into the making of the album in between tracks. While brevity may not be his strong suit, it was enlightening and gave the album additional perspective, both historically and musically....

...while I could imagine at least a dozen places, situations, and levels of consciousness in which this album might be better appreciated, the fact that it was in public, in record store, and during operational hours made for a rather unique experience. Moving in between the speakers was confined to the rows of CDs. As you passed through the G-H section, you found yourself at a rather optimal position between the speakers that, in our opinion, provided one of the most balanced positions in the room. However, you had to constantly navigate through other people. As opposed to headphones, in which you might feel in between music moving between two poles two-dimensionally, the Zaireeka experience was truly 3-dimensional, as you could move inside the music in some kind of spherical container. Truly an experience....

...Thanks again to Eric Cassidy and Gem City Records for making this happen. On a Monday night, no les...

Return of Hip-Hop Night feat. Scratchmatik-Tonight @ Nite Owl

After a short absence, Scratchmatik will re-institute their weekly hip-hop night on Mondays at Nite Owl, beginning tonight. For all you aspiring MCs, there will be an open mic hosted by Monstarz Ink's own MC Doc Frank aka Akil. The collective of DJs promise to host some of the biggest and best regional DJs and graffiti art shows in the coming weeks, so get down there tonight and get this weekly fired up the right way....

Get Born/Romance of the Young Tigers/Realcide/Evolve @ Goloka Gallery Tonight

If you're looking for some really underground action tonight, head out to Goloka Gallery in the Front Street warehouses tonight (on E. 2nd Street, off of Dutoit, off of E. 3rd St.) You can check out a detailed description by our good friend Jenn over here. She has a big hand in the ongoings tonight, so trust her assessments. We do....the show starts at 8 pm, is free (donations appreciated), and is ALL AGES....

Zaireeka listening party tonight @ Gem City Records

Few records in the history of rock n' roll come with such mystique and have been so difficult to digest. The sheer audacity of Zaireeka at that particular moment in the journey of The Flaming Lips speaks not only to their unbounded daring, but also to the scope of their vision. An album that is only fully appreciated with the aid of 4, yes 4, CD players?!?!? Who has that technology laying around??? Well, perhaps it was an attempt to bring people together to enjoy the experience, like it is happening tonight. Seems like something Wayne Coyne would think up....

...so, tonight. 7 PM. Gem City Records. Curated by Eric Cassidy of Shrug. Virtual Wayne Coyne. We can't imagine this being anything less than bizarre.....

Smarty Pants

After several weeks of anticipation, the first issue of Smarty Pants has hit the streets. Filled with various rants, interviews, poetry, and art (with a contribution from yours truly), you should head down to your favorite Oregon District haunts and pick one up. 250 copies. Better hurry kids....