The Buddha Den Showcase Presents: The Northwest Ordinance @ South Park Tavern 2.28.09

...every month we host The Buddha Den Showcase, we're just so stoked to bring in our favorite bands for what amounts to a glorified basement party. The best part is, we know we'll never run out of beer at South Park Tavern. Really, this format was made for The Northwest Ordinance. With severed mannequin heads and Mexican wrestling masks dotting the stage, NWO invited a number of friends from other Dayton bands to kick up the mayhem. With contributions from members of Mountain Screamer, The Goody Two Shoes, and local radio DJ, Spex, NWO served up a night of great rock n' roll fun...

Heartless Bastards/The Goody Two Shoes-Tonight @ Canal Street Tavern

...you've got a huge holiday homecoming show tonight over at Canal Street Tavern. On her first return to Dayton since her move to Austin and subsequent lineup change, Erika Wennerstrom will bring Heartless Bastards back to town in advance of the band's new album, The Mountain (due out on Fat Possum Records February 3). Along for the ride are local garage faves, The Goody Two Shoes. Should be a great kickoff to a weekend of great Dayton music....

The Buddha Den Showcase Presents: The Goody Two Shoes-Tonight @ South Park Tavern

...after taking September off, we are very pleased about the return of The Buddha Den Showcase Presents tonight at South Park Tavern. This month, we bring you the vintage garage/punk sounds of one of Dayton's favorites, The Goody Two Shoes. If you haven't caught this band yet, you should really make the effort to swing on out tonight. As always, tonight is a FREE/ALL AGES show. Music starts promptly at 9, with a second set later in the evening. See you there...

The Buddha Den Presents/LadyFest-Tonight @ Urban Nights

...hey kids! Tonight is the big biannual celebration in downtown Dayton known as Urban Nights. This time around, the city is trying to prove that we are not a city in decline, as Forbes magazine so kindly put it....

...The Buddha Den is trying to do our part to dispel these rumors tonight by doing what we do best: presenting some of the best Dayton music. We'll be hosting bands at a couple of stages tonight. At 6 pm, head over to Kettering Tower on 2nd Street to catch a short set by Towhee. Then, head over to the St. Clair Lofts where we will be hosting a stage in their courtyard (in the back of the building). Starting at 7 pm and running until 9 pm, we will have The Goody Two Shoes, Andrew & the Pretty Punchers, and Grizzzzy Bear (we're not sure which name they're going with these days...). You know it's gonna be a party...


...also starting tonight and running through Sunday night, the first LadyFest Dayton kicks off over at 20 N. Jefferson St. in the Dayton Arts Incubator. All weekend long there will be plenty of female-driven bands, artists, and workshops. Here's what's on tap for tonight:

G-​Miche​lle Bullo​ck 5:30
M- Hot Kiss – 6pm
G- Audre​y Isabe​lle 6:15
M- Bette​r than Sax - 6:45
G- Julie​ Roth 7:45
M-​Dawn Cooks​ey and 68 South​ 8:15
G- Kelly​ Campb​ell 8:45
G-​Jayne​ Sachs​ 9:30
M-​Paige​ & Trace​y 10pm
G-​Miran​da Penni​ngton​ 10:​30
M-​Fairm​ount Girls​ 11:​00
G-​Audre​y Ryan 11:​30
M-​Vanit​y Theft​ 12:​15

Be sure to head over and check out what the ladies in Dayton are doing...

Closing Summer Down

...although we officially have another three weeks of summer left, we all know that Labor Day weekend is really the end. Well, you have a couple of good options to help you say goodbye...

...over at Oregon Express, the rarely-seen Lab Partners will debut their new lineup with ex-Heartless Bastards drummer Kevin Vaughn tonight. Also along for the ride you've got the blues-infused raunch Pearlene and the always-fun garage of The Goody Two Shoes...


...you could also head over to Canal Street Tavern tonight to check out the unbridled rock n' roll of The Whathaveya. Also on the bill are Tin Can Telephone and Alert the Press...


...if you're in the mood for an artier affair, head over to the C2 Gallery for the Found Art Show. In addition to numerous visual artists, a number of musical acts are slated to play including Hospital Garden and Outside Residential. Should be a good one...

Dirty Birds & Vampires

...for once we have a couple of good options for you on a Friday night. Check it out...

...we've got a live one over at the Dayton Dirt Collective tonight. The Goody Two Shoes have been hitting a stride lately and are headlining the bill this evening that also includes noise-poppers The Gluons, the garage-psyche of Scott Deadelus, and the provocative, yet elusive, Revampire...


...over at Gilly's, Sleepybird will join forces with The Zoot Theatre Company to present The Flight of Wigglebird. Also on the bill is Toads and Mice. Should be an interesting evening. Make yr plans, chart a course, and head on out...

beaches and bye-bye....

...if you're ready to kick off summer the right way, head down to Oregon Express tonight where the kids will be having a Beach Party and bands. Headlining the night is The Goody Two Shoes, who have really hit a stride as of late. Up from Cincinnati, you've got the consummate songwriting/musicianship of The Turnbull ACs. Opening the night will be the surf rock stylings of Brian and the All-Nighters...



...over at South Park Tavern tonight, The Story Changes kicks off an extended tour that will take them deep into the west over the next few weeks. Take a look at their dates and let anyone you know out there to go check them out. Also on the bill tonight are After the Accident and Models. Big rock party...

Urban Nights-Tonight

...there are so many musical options tonight for Urban Nights, we hardly know where to begin. First off, the Dayton Dirt Collective will host their official opening with performances by The Goody Two Shoes and more. Over at The Merc, The Circus will host Sideshow III, featuring numerous performance artists and bands, most notably Sleepybird among them. In other various locales around the city, there will be many more bands performing on smaller stages at different times. We highly recommend you just get out and walk around downtown and make a night of it...

Human Reunion/Yea Big + Kid Static/The Goody Two Shoes @ Pearl 5.15.08

...as the brutally cold rain fell down on this Thursday night, those who were undeterred received a very special treat this night at the Pearl in the form of one incredible show. Opening the evening, the always-splendidly-dressed The Goody Two Shoes hit the ground running, sounding the best we've ever heard them. Truly, the band has put in some very hard work and it is really beginning to pay off. The sparkle of their choruses that were once buried under murky guitars and shaky rhythms were delivered on this night with a confidence and sense of purpose. We understand the band is currently in the studio working on some new tracks. We're most certainly looking forward to more from The Goody Two Shoes...




...next up were the dynamic duo of Yea Big + Kid Static from Chicago. Their ability to bring fun and a sense of humor back into hip-hop effortlessly won over the audience on this night. As the pair winded and weaved through the crowd, jumping on every surface they could find, and even inciting many in the audience to break loose and just dance, we could not have been more grateful that Yea Big + Kid Static continue to make Dayton a regular tour stop...




...closing out the evening, Human Reunion offered up their finest in electronic manipulations. The driving rhythms of drummer Ian Kaplan and bassist Alan Baker undeniably anchor this band. As the synths and angular guitar work slashes across the sound, the band's songs continue to shine through. We're hoping that the band is able to release it's debut before too long and get it out to the masses...

Human Reunion/Yea Big + Kid Static/The Goody Two Shoes-Tonight @ Pearl

...as if this week has already been a good one, there's a really great bill over at Pearl tonight. Headlining will be the always-exciting Human Reunion,, who have been bringing it on strong since their return to activity last month. They'll be hosting Chi-town hip-hop duo Yea Big + Kid Static, who you absolutely have to catch. Seriously. Opening the evening will be garage mainstays The Goody Two Shoes....

...we spoke earlier this week with Yea Big + Kid Static's Stefen Robinson (a.k.a. Yea Big) about their upcoming visit to Dayton. Here's what he had to say...

The Buddha Den: For our readers who aren't familiar with Yea Big + Kid Static, can you tell us a little bit about how the project started? What were you each doing before?

Yea Big: We met through the internets. I was looking for a vocalist to work with and Static came to my rescue. Before our union we both had solo projects and various other things/bands going on. But once we started working together we quickly realized we were way better together than apart, so this project became the focus for both of us.

TBD: You infuse an incredible dose of humor and self-deprecation into your particular brand of hip-hop. What made you decide to go that route?

YB: That's just the type of dues we are. Static writes all of the lyrics, and he has a particular knack for his kind of smart, humorous, and as you called it "self-deprecating" style. It's easily relatable shit, i think.

TBD: It's great that you continue to make Dayton a regular stop when you're out. What is it that keeps you coming back to Dayton? How do audiences react to your live show both here and throughout the country?

YB: The people are what keep us coming back to Dayton. we love the bands we've gotten to play with here, and all the folks involved with booking the shows, and the audiences are always super fun, and all the awesome people who have lets us sleep on their floors. It's just a good time whenever we come. we get relatively warm responses pretty much everywhere we go these days. It's actually really heart-warming. Even when we are in a town we've never been to before performing for 10 people, those 10 people really come through for us. We're lucky to meet so many nice folks, for sure.

TBD: When we caught at Therapy Cafe back in October, your debut disc had just come out on JIB. How has the response been to your album? How have things changed for you since it's release?

YB: The response to the album has been decent. It sells well on the road. We've gotten some solid reviews and whatnot. Things haven't changed a whole lot since the record came out, except we're finding that more people do know who we are these days. But that could be for any number of reasons.

TBD: What can people expect from the live Yea Big + Kid Static experience?

YB: Dynamic hip thrusts and shimmies.

TBD: Is there anything else that you'd like our readers to know?

YB: We both really like Tim Fite's new record, Fair Ain't Fair. You should check it out.

...so, get down to Pearl tonight and check out Yea Big + Kid Static, as well as Human Reunion & The Goody Two Shoes. You know it's gonna be a good one...

all for one....

...it's been a fairly slow week in town, but you have a few choice options this evening that should be enough to get you out and about...

...on tap over at Jimmie's Cornerstone we've got another Dayton Dirt Collective Benefit featuring The Goody Two Shoes, The Gluons, and up-and-comers Jasper the Colossal. Word is that the new cable program Underground in Day-Town will be on hand to document the event for posterity....

...over at Pearl, there will be a benefit show for Dayton for Darfur. Musical acts include Record Records Record and Mascot, as well as numerous spoken word and performance artists...

...as if that wasn't enough options, you've got a couple of heavy hitters over at Canal Street Tavern also. Columbus-based Happy Chichester will make an appearance backed by local faves Captain of Industry. Also on the bill are CMJ alums Halos Were Found at the Landing Site. Should be a good one...

...do yr homework and chart a course. We'll see you out there....

The Northwest Ordinance CD Release Show w/The Lions Rampant & The Goody Two Shoes 2.16.08

...on a rather mild Saturday night for February, we wandered down the Oregon Express to catch we were certain was to be a grand night of raunchy rock n' roll. Well, let us say we were by no means disappointed....

...as we arrived, there seemed to be a bit of stir over opener Waterbear's early dismissal from the stage. Various accounts circulated as to the reasoning, but it seemed as if the evening had started late and was running behind, thus the soundman made a judgment call to cut their set short. Alas, the rock pressed on as The Goody Two Shoes took the stage, dressed impeccably in vintage attire as always. With requisite technical difficulties and tuning a standing concern, the band still managed to throw out a handful of somewhat engaging tunes. While the audience seemed to enjoy it, we continue to be bemused by the whole experience....



...we then made an attempt to swing over to the Nite Owl and catch some of the more nuanced indie pop flavors on tap this evening. We rolled in just in time to catch the beginning of Pomegranate's set, who were up from Cincinnati. With their audience fully in singalong mode, the band launched into some perfectly crafted indie pop, guitars winding fluidly around the steady pulsations of the rhythm section as the songs gracefully variated between subtle and bombastic, often recalling a litany of 80s British guitar heroes. While we only caught a few songs, we're eager to hear more from this young band...


...upon returning to the Oregon Express, the stage erupted with the sound of Cincinnati's The Lions Rampant. With this being their second visit to the Gem City within a month, the audience was primed for the band's blistering brand of blues-infused garage. Digging deep into the most primal elements of rock n' roll, The Lions Rampant remind us all that rock n' roll is, in fact, very much alive...




...in celebration of the release of their debut album, State of Ohio, The Northwest Ordinance took to the stage in Mexican wrestling masks and proceeded to launch into their patented brand of staggering punk. Drifting from straightforward punk to staggering, lurching rhythms, the band demonstrated its unique range of interpretation. While some implied that a little more shine would be nice, it seems as if this band thrives on the brink of collapse. As the band mixed in new material alongside songs from their album, the audience whipped itself into a frenzy, concluding the evening in pure rock n' roll bliss...

The Budda Den GIVEAWAY-The Northwest Ordinance "State of Ohio"

....tonight at The Oregon Express, The Northwest Ordinance will be celebrating the release of their debut album, State of Ohio. We've teamed up with the band to bring you yet another exciting giveaway here at The Buddha Den. In addition to the band's album, our 5 lucky winners will also receive a very limited edition, hand-screened T-Shirt from the band. That's right, a CD and a T-shirt. We're looking out for you...

...here's what you have to do: reply to us at buddhaden27@yahoo.com with "NWO" in the subject line. The first five respondents will win a copy of State of Ohio and a limited edition T-shirt from The Northwest Ordinance. We will present the goods to the winners TONIGHT at The Oregon Express prior to the band's set. You must be present to win....

...we hope to see all of you out tonight for what looks to be a great show. Also on the bill will be The Lions Rampant from Cincinnati (who put on an amazing show last month), The Goody Two Shows, and Waterbear. See you there....

Grrrrilla Art Show-Tonight @ Pearl

...it seems only fitting that on Valentine's Day there will be an female-centric event. We're all for it, and you should definitely head over to the Pearl tonight and check this one out. In addition to a couple dozen artists showing their work, music will be provided this evening courtesy of The Goody Two Shoes, The Lighthearted Crusaders, Miranda Pennington, and Kelly Campbell. Keep in mind that this is also a benefit show, with all proceeds going to Planned Parenthood and Womanline....

The Goody Two Shoes/The Lions Rampant/The Turnbull ACs/The Give Ups @ The Oregon Express 1.19.08

...with wind chills on this evening plummeting below zero, it seemed unlikely that many people would make it out to The Oregon Express, even for this promising bill. Fortunately, we here in Gem City find such conditions irrelevant when it comes time to rock n' roll...

...opening the evening, the brutal precision of The Give Ups left us wondering how we've been missing these guys for so long. With an obvious affinity for the first wave of punk, these guys were no-frills all the way....


...although we'd seen they were coming to Dayton several times in the past, we'd not had the good fortune of catching The Turnbull ACs before this night. While we weren't entirely sure what to expect, we were blown away by the impassioned delivery and brilliant, life-soaked lyrics. This was a set you got absorbed in. As various members cracked a smile upon the realization that all cylinders were firing, we couldn't help but get swept up in the swagger and snarl of The Turnbull ACs...



...digging even deeper into the abyss of the raw emotions hovering in the core of rock n' roll, The Lions Rampant unapologetically dove head first into their blues-heavy brand of garage. With blistering guitar breaks and primal drums stomping, The Lions Rampant whipped the audience into a frenzy. Lead Lion Stuart MacKenzie prowled the stage, stumbling back into the drums one minute, scaling amplifiers the next, then ending the evening with the abandonment of his guitar and serving up a shamanic reading of the primordial "Gloria"...



...while having made great strides over the past few months to refine their sound, we still find ourselves lukewarm on The Goody Two Shoes. With a handful of songs that show promise, we'd like to see these ladies and gentlemen elevate their sound to the level of their style. Regardless, the kids on this night loved it...

The Goody Two Shoes/The Lions Rampant/The Turnbull ACs/The Give Ups

...if it's rock n' roll you need, yr in luck tonight. There's good rockin' tonight down at The Oregon Express, as local garage underdogs The Goody Two Shoes host a blistering bill. Opening the evening will be the vintage punk of The Give Ups, followed by a pair of Cincinnati bands. The Turnbull ACs bring a soulful, bluesy brand of indie rock, while The Lions Rampant, who we profiled earlier this week, are sure to bring the house down with their bluesy stomp and swagger. Head and down and work it all out....

Making Plans for Daytonia....

...it's another Saturday night and we know you want to know what to do tonight. Well, you've got options kids...

...if you're inclined to stay closer to home, swing over to Oregon Express and show your support for musicians fallen on hard times, as there will be a benefit for Sohio, who recently had a majority of their gear stolen right out of their own home out near Trenton. The bands showing their love for their colleagues tonight will be Joe Anderl, The Goody Two Shoes, garage kings The Professors, and the elusive The American Static. You really couldn't ask for better bands to do a good thing for their mates...

...now, if you're willing to do a little driving and would prefer your rock n' roll on the harder end of the spectrum tonight, head out to W.O. Wright's to catch The Black Cigarettes' celebration of the release of their Full Flavor album. Trading in sludgy, yet sleazy metal (think G n' R and early, early Motley Crue crossed with Thin Lizzy and Black Sabbath), these guys are full on rock. Odds are, you're gonna catch one hell of a show. Also on the bill will be Electric Smoke...

...so, make yr plans and we'll see you out there....