Stone the Mayor Sheriff/Outside Residential/Kanible/Mascot-Tonight @ Pacchia

...continuing the Pacchia Secret Show series this evening, you have an interesting bill to close out the month of May. From the unbridled sonic assault of Stone the Mayor Sheriff to the engaging A/V exploits of Outside Residential and Kanible to the humble folk-pop of Mascot, this bill has a lot to offer. We'll see you there...

Turkish Mascot

...we're continuing our April Residency at The Buddha Den NTRO/XPO tonight with The Turkish Delights. In case you haven't joined us over at the Oregon Express yet this month, the trio are catching a serious wave and have turned in two excellent performances. We'd highly encourage you to join us this evening, especially since it's totally FREE. Opening the evening will be Mascot. We'll see you there...

MP3: The Turkish Delights "Dig Yourself"
MP3: Mascot "Solar Party"

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...

Mystery Arrows

...if yr out on the streets of Dayton tonight, you've got a great pairing of shows to check out. Head down to the Dayton Dirt Collective early to catch a couple of locals and couple of touring acts. In from Cleveland, you've got regional buzz band Mystery of Two who serve up an infectious blend of twitchy jangle doused in sheets of swirling noise. Highly recommended. Rounding out the bill are Aura (from Buffalo) and locals Hospital Garden and Mountain Screamer. Show starts at 7, so head out early...

...if you're still out later, head over to Oregon Express to check out some new projects from old Dayton faves. The remnants of Snake Oil have reformed as Suicide Hill and the country-flavored indie of Twin Arrows emerged from the ashes of Late Nite Drivers. Opening the night will be Mascot. See ya out...

Towhee/Hospital Garden/Electric Banana/Mascot @ Pearl 6.19.08

...it's difficult to say for sure whether the closing of Nite Owl has really affected music-going in Dayton, but from recent turnouts on Thursday nights at Pearl, it would seem that the lack of quality weekend shows in recent months has turned the Pearl into the de facto weekend show on Thursday nights. Steady turnouts for all manner of shows bears this out, and last night was no exception...

...after a short opening set by Mascot, new buzz band Electric Banana whipped into the Pearl to lay down their self-proclaimed "fuck music" for the kids. The duo clearly seem more concerned with shredding than with quality backing tracks, as their drum-and-bass tracks were called up using a Discman. After struggling through the first half of the set with PA issues, the guitars finally cut through and by the time the band reached the climax of their set with the title track of their Denim on Denim album, Electric Banana were finally able to deliver on the promise of the recorded material. While much of their act relies on schtick and swagger that suggests the band may be little more than another Tenacious D, the fact remains that Billy Blanco and Jimmy Spade can shred on their guitars. The pair also know how to serve up jams that crack and smile and get heads banging simultaneously (see "The Mexican Jam", a tale of l'amour at the local Mexican joint) that get people up and moving. We'd like to think that as Electric Banana puts in a few more hours that we'll see these guys outstrip the gimmicks and seriously make a mark on the local scene. We're gonna keep an eye on these guys and we recommend you do the same...



...next up were one of our favorite newer bands, Hospital Garden. The only other time we'd caught them, the PA was simply no match for the band's sound and the vocals never broke through. On this night, however, the vocals of Lucas came through clearly and the plaintive, earnest vocal delivery recalled everything from Alex Chilton to Paul Westerberg to Conor Oberst. The rhythm section of Sarah and Ian Spencer nailed down the structure as Lucas slashed across the tunes with utterly fuzzed out bursts. As this band continues to solidify, we highly recommend that you try and check them out...



...closing out the evening was one of Dayton's best-kept secrets, Towhee. Why this band continues to remain at the fringes of the local scene baffles us, as on this night their mastery of indie pop music was in full display. Between the stunning melodic guitar interplay of Brandon and Valen to the solid dance beats laid down by Josh to the solid, yet incredibly playful bass lines laid down by Sarah, Towhee is a band that begs to break through. The band are currently wrapping up their second album and we can't wait to hear it....




For more photos from the evening, go here.

Hospital Garden/Towhee/Electric Banana/Mascot-Tonight @ Pearl

...thanks to the kids over at Sarasvati Productions, you've got a pretty eclectic mix of Dayton flavor over at Pearl tonight. From the melodic grunge of Hospital Garden, to the impeccable indie craftsmanship of Towhee, back through the metal throwback of newcomers Electric Banana, to Mascot, there's a lot of styles being presented this evening. Head on down and check it out. We'll see you there...

The Buddha Den Presents: Songwriters-in-the-Round - Tonight @ Canal Street Tavern

...we at The Buddha Den have a very special treat for you this evening. The Buddha Den is hosting a Songwriters-in-the-Round tonight at Canal Street Tavern. For those of you unfamiliar with the format, there will be two sets, each featuring four musicians. Each player will do one song at a time for four rounds. Tonight we will be featuring some of Dayton's finest songwriters: Nathan Peters (Captain of Industry), Tod Weidner (Shrug), Nick Tertel (Sleepybird), Andy Smith (Andrew & the Pretty Punchers), Dustin Rose (Toads and Mice), Derek Gullett (Switchblade Serenade), Mascot, and Miranda Pennington. We will also be recording this evening for future release as a FREE DOWNLOAD through The Buddha Den, so keep an eye out for that. We'll see you tonight...

Hospital Garden/Audrey Ryan/Mascot/The Boombarians @ South Park Tavern 4.17.08

...as the weather warmed in Daytonia last eve, it seemed as if everyone was itching to get out and have a good time. Fortunately, there was quite a fine bill of music at South Park Tavern to be enjoyed...

...opening the evening was the debut of The Boombarians. Decked out in vines and flowers in celebration of the full arrival of spring, the band reveled in their raw, guttural approach. As the band howled and gyrated throughout their perfectly brief set, their absence of pretense and embrace of the more visceral aspects of rock n' roll left us hoping that we'll see more of this outfit around town...




...after a set by Mascot, Audrey Ryan brought her one-woman-band to the stage. Recalling everything from Joanna Newsom to Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys, Ryan's set commanded undivided attention from the audience. Oscillating between electric guitar and accordian, and always playing both kick drum and tambourine with her feet, Ryan's undeniable musicianship left us hoping for a return to Dayton very soon (for those of you that missed her last night, Audrey Ryan will be at the Trolley Stop tonight as well)...




...closing out the evening, newer outfit Hospital Garden plowed through a set of uncompromising indie/grunge, the likes of which would appeal to fans of Dinosaur, Jr. and other pre-Nirvana indie acts. Not only was their sound incredible, guitarist Lucas raved around the stage as if himself amplified, spitting shards of blistering guitar over top of an incredibly solid rhythm section. Splashing their sound with hints of Pavement and GBV as well, we're looking for more great things from Hopsital Garden in the coming months...




For more pics from the show, click here.

Audrey Ryan/Hospital Garden/The Boombarians/Mascot-Tonight @ South Park Tavern

...if it's quality craftsmanship you desire in yr songwriters, you should definitely head on over to South Park Tavern this evening. Headlining the bill is Audrey Ryan from NYC making a tour stop in Dayton. Employing accordian, guitar, banjo, violin, glockenspiel, and more over top of her whimsical melodies, it should be quite the treat for lovers of folks like Andrew Bird. You've also got the new outfit Hospital Garden, who have recently added a drummer, dishing out highly-digestible indie melodies. The Boombarians will reportedly be making their debut this evening, and Mascot offers up his own brand of indie/folk. We'll see you there...

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....

Limbeck/John Ralston/Mascot/John Gassett/The New Frontiers @ Nite Owl 2.24.08

...upon arriving at the Nite Owl, we were hardly shocked to find that a fifth band had been added to the Do Tell bill on this evening. Fortunately, the show started early and opener The New Frontiers (from Dallas) turned in a powerful, short set. Reminding us of everything from Teenage Fanclub to post-Byrds Gene Clark, we'd love to see these guys come back through Dayton (sorry, no photos. technical difficulties)...

...taking the evening in a more intimate direction, John Gassett delivered a dozen or so fleeting gems tempered by self-effacing banter. With such sublime melodic gifts and a penchant for brevity, we'd love to see more of Gassett out and about...


...as Mascot bridged the gap between the intimate and the rock, we arrived firmly back in rock n' roll mode as John Ralston and his band took the stage. With such an enthusiastic and finely honed band, Ralston's material sparkled and grabbed the audience's collective ear. Even during the few songs Ralston performed solo acoustic, the momentum and intensity of his set remained. As guitar hooks and impeccable vocal harmonies drifted across the room, smiles beamed back at Ralston and his band...



...as headliners Limbeck hit the stage, it quickly became evident that this was to be a drunken endurance test. Handing out tambourines to a pair of audients nearby (a move which we cannot condone), the crowd surged toward the stage and joined in the fray. With sun-scorched British melodies in spades and a beer-soaked joviality, Limbeck drew the evening, and the weekend, to a conclusion...

Do Tell Records Presents: Limbeck/John Raslton/Mascot/John Gassett - Tonight @ Nite Owl

...as an icy, wintry weekend comes to a close, the good kids over at Do Tell Records have an excellent bill of unpredictable rock n' roll on tap at the Nite Owl. Headliners Limbeck allegedly self-destructed on stage the last time they stopped in Dayton. They're out on tour with John Ralston, formerly of Dashboard Confessional. Local openers Mascot and John Gassett will offer up their own distinctive solo sets. You might wanna check this one out if you don't want to just hear about it tomorrow....

Joe Anderl/Mascot/Grizzzzy Bear/Outside Residential @ Pearl-12.6.07

As various members of the Circus Creative Collective gathered in the early evening at Pearl, we simply weren't sure what to expect from the evening. With art and crafts on display in the walkways surrounding the stage area and a widely varied cast of characters beginning to trickle in, we knew this evening could go in any direction...

...in his favored opening position, Joe Anderl began the musical portion of the evening with his somber, yet highly passionate, collection of tales of heartbreak and hope. Although Pearl hardly served as the ideal setting for such a set, Anderl's consummate storytelling drew a number of audients and held them captivated throughout his set. With a vigil of Johnny Depp at his feet, how could he not?




...after a set by Mascot, a revamped lineup of Squids Eye Records faves Grizzzzy Bear took the stage. On this particular evening, the band took a decidedly muscular approach, ditching their trademark synths and allowing the guitars to handle all of the melodies. As the guitars took the fore, the hip-hop and lo-fi flavors that dominate the band's debut disc were buried in favor of the trace punk elements that run through the disc. While we would admit that something was missing on this particular evening, the material still resonated with the near-capacity audience. In some of the more angular and prog sections, the band proved to us why they're still one of the most exciting and inventive bands in this town with or without their vintage synths....





...we apologize, dear readers that we did not maintain for the Outside Residential set. We can only do what we can do. If anyone has photos or commentary on the last set of the evening, we'd love to hear it...

...We'd like to thank the Circus Collective for putting on an amazing show. The turnout was spectacular and really drew in such a wonderful array of people to see so many different performers and artists. Nice work, kids. For more photos, go here.

Circus Creative Collective Presents: Rebuilding- Tonight @ Pearl

...thanks to the good kids at The Circus Creative Collective, the weekend starts early and awesome tonight. Over at Pearl, there's going to be a ton of great music and more for your delight. Opening the night will be none other than singer-songwriter extrordinaire, Joe Anderl, who is sure to start things off right. Next up you've got the elusive Mascot, followed by one of our newest faves, Grizzzzy Bear. They just put out one of the best records this year (Dayton or not), but they don't play out too much so you should really make the effort to catch these guys. Closing out the night will be Outside Residential, who we recently spoke at length about....

...in addition to all this great music, there will be poetry readings by Matt Estvanic and Dave Nichols, a belly dancing exhibition/contest, and a slew of artists exhibiting their work. All courtesy of The Circus Creative Collective. Be sure to thank them. We'll see you there....

Where Performance Is Passe.....

....we've been waiting for weeks to get the green light to post on this one: Fictionband.com has officially launched today and is now online for your listening pleasure. As Founder and President of Fictionband.com, Ted Dankerson has laid out his manifesto and a listening station for you online and would like to hear from you, the humble home recordist, as soon as humanly possible. For those seeking new consumables, tracks from such locals as Joe Anderl, Mascot, Peopleperson, The Smug Brothers, Kalvakota, and Big Baby are available as free MP3s right now.....so get 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