Grizzzzy Bear/Toads and Mice @ Pearl 2.12.08

...despite the unsavory weather, and despite the inability of the club to open its doors on time, for everyone who made the trip out to Pearl last evening, we were treated to incredibly powerful sets by two of Dayton's finest young bands...

...opening the evening (albeit well past schedule), Toads and Mice launched into their set with steely precision tempered with earnest and unbridled passion. Yet again, Toads and Mice proved to us why they are truly one of the most captivating bands in Dayton at the moment. With unfailing accuracy, Toads and Mice navigated their way through gentle passages, grinding guitar work, and bouncy rhythms, engaging the audience at every turn...



...after The Buddha Den awarded our winners from our CD giveaway yesterday, Grizzzzy Bear veered their ship into a grueling metal introduction that left us somewhat baffled. Throughout their set on this evening, the band continued to intimate at a more muscular approach to the material, all but abandoning much of the pop sensibilities that initially endeared us to their debut disc. In some cases, the heavier sound solidified the material. However, in some of the extended interludes, we caught several audience members losing interest. Perhaps as the band continues to refine their sound with the new lineup (yes, it appears as if they have a full-time keyboardists once again) the promise we hear on their album may finally come to fruition in the live setting. Regardless, the capacity crowd loved Grizzzzy Bear and throughout the set pressed closer and closer to the band, hoping to catch a glimpse....



....as the bands gave way to L'Eighties Night's 2 Year Anniversary Party, DJs Jay and Heather took the tables and threw out the 80s jams and kept the people dancing...


...we'd like to thank Jay and Heather at L'Eighties Night for letting us host the bands. We'd like to thank Toads and Mice & Grizzzzy Bear for playing. We'd like to thank Squids Eye Records for providing the giveaway CDs. Finally, we'd like to thank all of you for coming out, braving the horrendous weather, and making our first show a huge success. THANK YOU!!!

additional photography by Ryan France and Marla Bremer
To see all photos from the show, go here.