The Buddha Den 2nd Anniversary Show feat. Toads and Mice/Pretty & Nice/The Motel Beds/Jesse Remnant & the Trainwrecks-TONIGHT @ South Park Tavern

...what can we say kids? This is a HUGE evening for all of us here at The Buddha Den, as we celebrate two years of bringing you everything you wanted to know about the Dayton music scene and more but were afraid to ask. We couldn't be more excited or more grateful to all of you who have made this possible. It has been our distinct pleasure to get to meet so many great people near and far over the last couple of years, to see so many great performances from so many great bands, and perhaps play just a tiny role in shining a light on music scene that is so incredibly vibrant and filled with so many talented people. Thanks so much to every single one of you that has come to a show, left a comment, let us share yr music, and just kept reading this blog every day for two years. Rest assured, we will continue to do all that we can to continue to shine a light on the Gem City...

...as our humble way of saying "Thank you!", we've assembled a bill for tonight that has us absolutely giddy with anticipation. As if it would take much to get us excited about a bill that includes Toads and Mice, Pretty & Nice [Boston/Hardly Art], The Motel Beds, and Jesse Remnant & the Trainwrecks. Add in that it's at one of our favorite Dayton spots, South Park Tavern, and we've got a pretty good recipe for a great night of music. We hope yr equally excited. We're getting things started early tonight, with doors at 8 pm and music by 8:30. Fashionably late at yr own risk. See you there & thanks again for everything...

MP3: Toads & Mice "Skull"
MP3: Pretty & Nice "Grab Your Nets"
MP3: The Motel Beds "Go for a Dive"
MP3: Jesse Remnant & the Trainwrecks "At the End of the Day"

...just to provide a little context to this evening's celebration, here's some footage from our 1st anniversary last year, done by Glad Girl...

Trainwreck Mice

...if you're reading this in d8n, we encourage you to stop and go outside. Now. It's so nice out. Get away from yr computer and come back and read this after the sun goes down...

...moving on, you've got a couple of fun bills tonight in town. Over at Canal Street Tavern, Jesse Remnant & the Trainwrecks [pictured] headline a bill that also includes Jesse's brother, Adam Remnant [of Southeast Engine] and newbies Yazoo Street Scandal...

...over at Blind Bob's, local stoner rock provocateurs Marijuana Johnson headline a bill that includes local faves Toads and Mice and Suckerpunch Thompson [Pittsburgh]. See you out...

MP3: Jesse Remnant "Same Sun" [from the Squids Eye Records compilation Hi, We're From Dayton]
MP3: Toads and Mice "Skull"

...oh, and just in case you needed a reminder, Toads and Mice and Jesse Remnant & the Trainwrecks will both be part of this next Sunday night...

UPCOMING: The Buddha Den 2nd Anniversary Party 9.13.09

...while it's still a couple of weeks off, we thought we'd give you ample opportunity to prepare yourselves. The Buddha Den is very excited to cap off our 2nd year of bringing you everything you wanted to know about the Dayton music scene and more but were afraid to ask, so we're throwing a big party. With some of our favorite bands: Toads and Mice; Pretty & Nice; The Motel Beds; Jesse Remnant & the Trainwreck. At our favorite local club: South Park Tavern. Sure, it's a Sunday, but it will be worth it. Trust us. Mark yr calendars now and we'll see you at South Park Tavern on September 13...

MP3: Toads and Mice "Genghis Kahn"
MP3: Pretty & Nice "Tora Tora Tora"
MP3: The Motel Beds "Go For A Dive"
MP3: Jesse Remnant & the Trainwrecks "Better Than You"

Wake Up Mordecai CD Release/Towhee/Jesse Remnant and the Trainwrecks/XL427-Tonight @ Dayton Dirt Collective

...as we mentioned earlier this week, Wake Up Mordecai will celebrate the release of his new album, Too Young for the Disco, tonight at Dayton Dirt Collective. Let us reiterate that we highly recommend to check out this new release. Along for the ride this evening will be some of Dayton's finest practitioners of indie pop, Towhee, Jesse Remnant and the Trainwrecks, and XL427. Things get started around 7 pm, so don't be late...

MP3: Wake Up Mordecai "Cowboys and Indians"
MP3: Towhee "Calm Down"
MP3: Jesse Remnant "Better Than You"
MP3: XL427 "It's Not Just Pink, It's New Wave Pink"

Northwest Cannonball Delight States

...for a Wednesday night in Dayton, you've got some pretty good options tonight. As we mentioned a while back, Lexington's These United States will be rolling into Canal Street Tavern tonight in support of their most recent effort, A Picture of the Three of Us at the Gates to the Garden of Eden. Opening up the evening will be a pair of great local songwriters that we highly recommend you check out: Jesse Remnant & the Trainwrecks and Wes Tirey...


...in case yr a little light in the wallet, you can join us for FREE over at Oregon Express for The Buddha Den NTRO/XPO. Every Wednesday in April we're featuring The Turkish Delights and tonight they'll be joined by another of our local faves, The Northwest Ordinance. We'll see you there...

MP3: These United States "First Sight"
MP3: Jesse Remnant "The Human Cannonball"
MP3: The Turkish Delights "Lite Brite"
MP3: The Northwest Ordinance "Found Love"

Southeast Engine/Jesse Remnant and the Trainwrecks-Tonight @ Canal Street Tavern

..after hearing us talk about the new Southeast Engine album, From the Forest to the Sea for a while now, the band will bring the goods to Canal Street Tavern tonight. Opening up, and pulling double duty as well, is Jesse Remnant and his Trainwrecks (feat. members of Shrug). Do yrself a favor and do everything you can to make this show...

MP3: Southeast Engine "Black Gold"

VIDEO: Jesse Remnant "Who Knows, Who Knows?"

...here's a rather dark clip from Jesse Remanant's performance at J-Alans earlier this month for The Buddha Den Present show. This is a great song off his album, The Human Cannonball, which we highly recommend everyone check out. Dig the clip (courtesy of Austin Radcliffe):



Remnant will soon be joining his brother, Adam, and the rest of Southeast Engine as they head to SXSW and other locales in support of their new album, From the Forest to the Sea...

The Buddha Den Presents: Andrew & the Pretty Punchers/Jesse Remnant/Mascot @ J-Alans 2.6.09

...you could feel it as soon as you walked in the door. With the near glacial avenues of Dayton finally reemerging as legitimate walkways, the need to break out into the streets was overwhelming. Even early on in the night the restless crowds poured into J-Alans, seeking any sort of respite from the tedium that has beleaguered this city in the throes of winter. Alas, the promise of even a modicum of joy in this, the depths of the season, pulled so many out for the promise of a night of music. Following a short, but spirited, set by Mascot, Jesse Remnant offered a sparkling set of pop gems from his highly underrated debut, The Human Cannonball, as well as string of masterpieces from GBV's Bee Thousand, that induced the revelers into a momentary singalong...

...without a doubt, however, the din had come to witness Andrew & the Pretty Punchers. Over the past 18 or so months, each subsequent appearance garners further accolades from their peers and adulation from their audiences. Yet again, this formidable unit stepped into the lights and channeled the collective angst and optimism of life in this post-industrial wasteland. Unraveling tales of drunken nights and jaded hope, in their unbridled enthusiasm Andrew & the Pretty Punchers deliver a catharsis that, if only for a brief shining moment, enables this sleepy city to revel in near-perfect rock n' roll bliss...

The Buddha Den Presents: Andrew & the Pretty Punchers/Jesse Remnant/Mascot-Tonight @ J-Alans

...in our ongoing efforts to bring you the most for the least, everyone here is very excited about our first show at J-Alans (121 N. Ludlow St., right around the corner from the Schuster Center). Of course, you've the big bang that is Andrew & the Pretty Punchers. Word is they're well on their way to following up their stellar debut, Goodbye Ohio, later this summer and are currently in the throes of a top-secret side project. No worries, we'll keep you posted as details emerge. Also along for the ride are Squids Eye Records' Jesse Remnant, whose debut The Human Cannonball was one of the best discs to come out of Dayton in 2008. Opening the evening will be Mascot. Oh yeah, did we mention that this show is FREE??? Yep, we got you covered. See ya there...

Turkish Engine

...hey kids, you've got a pair of great shows to get out to tonight. Here's the details...


...over at Canal Street Tavern tonight the brothers Remnant celebrate the release of their split 7" from Southeast Engine and Jesse Remnant. Although older brother Adam Remnant's Southeast Engine is sporting a leaner lineup these days, their delivery is still potent. Jesse Remnant will be getting backing from members of Shrug. Opening the evening will be youngster Jordan Hull...


...you could also swing over to Oregon Express to catch a solid bill of garage/punk goodness. Between Thee Pistol Whips, Mountain Screamer, Hospital Garden, and newcomers Turkish Delights, you've got plenty of good rockin' tonight. We'll see you out...

Yakuza Heart Attack/Southeast Engine/Jesse Remnant/Cry Baby Genius @ Pearl 8.28.08

...with the hordes gathered yet again last evening for the monthly Squids Eye Records showcase at Pearl, we walked in to catch opener Cry Baby Genius (aka Mike Payne, who also serves as drummer for Andrew & the Pretty Punchers and The Judy Blooms). Releasing his debut on this night, Cry Baby Genius prowled the stage area in a nearly trance-like state as his distinct cadence spilled out over the beats. At his most impassioned, CBG nearly tore out his own soul to get across to his audience. By the end of the set however, a failed attempt at a new track gave way to a playful freestyle that proved that while Cry Baby Genius may be intense, he still knows how to get a party started...




...although we've loved his debut record since it came out, this was the first opportunity we'd had to see Jesse Remnant live. With the no less a backing band than 3/4 of Shrug, Remnant's summery pop melodicism absolutely shined on this night. Although tuning issues seemed to plague Remnant for a large part of the set, it was overshadowed by his band's consummate musicianship, in particular the multi-instrumental showcase by Eric Cassidy. From the Beach Boys-flavored harmonies, to the GBV-style brevity, Remnant & co. delivered a set of flawless indie pop that has us hoping for more appearances very soon....




...on a rare Dayton appearance, a new stripped-down version of Southeast Engine stepped into the void and ushered in a set of powerful, earthy tunes. Although guitarist Adam Remnant seemed somewhat self-conscious on this performance by the quartet, he still propelled the band into a rousing set that had the audience dancing and singing along throughout. One of the highlights of the set was a song performed for the first time last night that featured an extended piano duet between Remnant and keyboardist Michael Lachman which served as an hypnotic diversion from the rollicking rocker that bookended the piece. We're looking for that one to appear on their Daytrotter session soon....




...closing out the evening, the long-awaited return of Yakuza Heart Attack drew a sizable crowd to their feet and the responded with their trademark high-octane nintendo prog in full force. While the band seemed a bit hesitant early on, the crowd's unwavering adulation seemed to fuel the band and they settled in and delivered the electronic equivalent of a classical masterpiece. As keyboardists Keith Rankin and Matt Emmons veered between incredibly inventive melodic themes and severe dissonance, the rhythm section of Justin Baker on bass and Chris Mengerink on drums provided a muscular backbone to the compositions. We can only hope that we don't have to wait another year to catch Yakuza Heart Attack again....




Black and white photography credits to Marla Bremer. For more photos from the night, go here.

An Eye for an Eye

...it's another Thursday night, which you all know means some quality shows are coming yr way. The ubiquitous Squids Eye Records will be hosting their big monthly show tonight over at Pearl and you don't want to miss it. The big story here is that the extended hiatus of the incredible Yakuza Heart Attack has officially ended and they'll be performing tonight along with Southeast Engine (Misra Records), whose fiery brand of Americana is out for a short weekend jaunt which includes a stop in Rock Island, Illinois for an illustrious appearance for a Daytrotter session on Saturday. Stepping out as a sideman for older brother Adam in Southeast Engine, Jesse Remnant is slated for an all-too-rare solo set this evening. You've also got a special treat in Cry Baby Genius, who will be celebrating the release of his mixtape tonight as well...

...if all that isn't enough for you, earlybirds can swing over to Dayton Dirt Collective tonight for an eclectic bill. In from Columbus Ease the Medic and Winter Makes Sailors are out on tour for a few days that will take them into the deep South. Also on the bill are The Salt March and the jazz-tinged rock of newbies Black Wolf Fight...