REVIEW: Nightbeast-Inside Jokes For Outside Folks

...it should always be kept in mind that not albums are created equal. Likewise, not all albums are trying to do the same thing. Do you think that Pete Townshend and the guys in Ween are trying to do the same thing? Yeah, didn't think so. In the case of Dayton's Nightbeast, it's pretty safe to assume that this is not intended to be put up for consideration as a stunning work of art from a small-town luminary. Rather, it's a sporadically fun disc of danceable jams that, if properly applied, may very well take yr party up a notch.

From the get-go, Inside Jokes For Outside Folks [Thriving Records] is nothing more, or less, than it's title suggest. In the persona of Nightbeast, Nick Testa is transformed into a character of such self-effacing bravado that it couldn't possibly be taken seriously. One minute he makes overstated claims of his awesomeness and natural endowments, only to be quelled immediately by notions that he's simply talking copious amounts of shit. Once this is taken into consideration and Nightbeast is accepted as merely on the proposition of a fun time, it becomes easier to digest.

Under the guidance of Steve Soboslai of Punchline as producer, most of the beats that populate the disc could easily fill a dancefloor. At times, however, the tracks veer into an over-saturated rehash of some generic 80s compilation as done by Timbaland and then warmed over with emo-fried vocoder tricks. Fortunately, Nightbeast is blessed with a remarkably good sense of humor and, occasionally, dishes out some decent rhymes. While most of his social observations fall well short of insightful, the midly clever dating commentaries of "Jungle First Date" and "Love, Panda Style" are amusing. Likewise, the pop culture references of "Textually Frustrated" speak loud and clear to the T9 set.

The largest chunk of Inside Jokes For Outside Folks, however, is filled with Nightbeast's unending boasts and claims of his myriad achievements. While this is entertaining on a certain level, especially in the context of libations and dancing with lady friends, the disc never really makes it past the mark of novelty. Sure, the acoustic ditty "Songs About" is a nice break in the action, but really the album is a dance party album. And you know what? It seems as if that may be exactly what Nighbeast set out to do...

The Nightbeast Backlash

...as many of you know, the inexplicable Nightbeast put out his debut disc, Inside Jokes for Outside Folks, a while back. Well, it's gotten some reviews. It's actually gotten a review from a pretty big publication: Alternative Press. Well, seems the reviewer didn't care for it too much. Actually, not at all. The album got summarily panned. Well, Nightbeast didn't care for that too much. So, he took the only action he really could: he wrote a song about it. You can check it out here. Different strokes...

Mouth of the Architect/Nightbeast/Wet Leather/The Sound For Language @ Pearl 6.5.08

...as the temperature rose to perilous levels in the Gem City, virtually the only reprieve that could be found was in the confines of the Pearl. Surely a heavy dose of rock n' roll served up Dayton-style would provide sweet relief. Opening the evening, The Sound for Language served up giant slabs of guttural rock. On the strength of the material from their recently-released second EP, The Sound for Language thrives on impeccable lines of harmony guitars and throbbing rhythms. With an impressive set, the band set up an evening that simply never disappointed...





...Next up were the recently-reunited Wet Leather. Moving between sludgy riffage and sleazy funk, we're excited to see this outfit in action again. On this particular evening the band were joined by local icon Jeremy Fredricks on vocals for an Agent Orange cover. While the band did not hold the audience at attention for much of their set, they continued to deliver a high-energy set that simply never let up...



...taking the evening to unexpected levels, Nightbeast, attired in a Batman outfit on this night, prowled the stage like a championship fighter poised to strike at any time. Strike he did, with an endless stream of deftly placed pop culture references that hit like well-timed jabs. As he incited the audience into a number of chants and skits, Nightbeast even regaled us with an acoustic number, lulling us into a false calm. By the end of his brief set Nightbeast echoed Muhammad Ali with his boasts and claims. On this night, these were well-founded...



...closing the evening, Mouth of the Architect's enormous sound simply could not be held in by the confines of the Pearl. On the cusp of the release of the new album, Quiet, MOTA is clearly a band at the top of their game. While the PA may not have been able to properly translate the dense melodic layers buried under waves of grind, it seemed to matter little to the audience who reveled in the sheer force of the band's sound...

Mouth of the Architect/Nightbeast/Wet Leather/The Sound For Language-Tonight @ Pearl

...as the city heats up and Thursday continues to become the new Friday, the Gem City offers up yet another bill filled with Dayton's finest tonight at Pearl. As they gear up to release their new album, Quietly, on Translation Loss next month and set out for an extended US jaunt in August and September, Mouth of the Architect will make a rare Dayton appearance this evening. An equally rare sighting of the indescribable force of nature that is Nightbeast is also slated for tonight, along with the recently-revived Wet Leather. Opening the evening will be The Sound for Language, who recently self-released their second EP. This is more rock than you can handle. Get there....

Nightbeast "Inside Jokes For Outside Folks" OUT TODAY

...the world has waited long enough: the force that is Nightbeast officially releases his debut disc today, Inside Jokes For Outside Folks. As the interweb buzz grows, so the legend spreads. For all you Dayton folks, Nightbeast will be celebrating the release of the album on May 11 at Pearl. For the rest of the world, just go buy the album....

Nightbeast - Tonight @ Pearl/L'Eighties Night

...in no finer a setting than the middle of L'Eighties Night, the inimitable Nightbeast will treat his hometown to an uber-rare live performance as a preview of his upcoming debut, Inside Jokes For Outside Folks tonight at Pearl. The 'Beast hits the stage at midnight, so we'll see there....

I'm Soft And I'm Cuddly...

...Dayton's resident panda-style lover Nightbeast is getting ready to release his debut disc, Inside Jokes For Outside Folks, on May 6 via Thriving Records/East West. Next Tuesday night, March 18, at Pearl, Nightbeast will be performing for free. You won't want to miss this party. For now, go check out the new version of "Love Panda Style" and get ready...

You want some bamboo?

When he's not haunting Dayton venues as the inimitable Nightbeast, Nick Testa serves as a guitar tech for bands out on the road. Well, while doing some research, we discovered a recent incident where he served as both. Out on tour with Hellogoodbye and Say Anything, Nightbeast performed a set at the famed Warfield Theater in San Francisco. Here's what transpired....

Nightbeast/YeaBig & KidStatic/LVX/Shake Your Fusion/Revampire @ Therapy Cafe 10.8.07

Although rarely employed as a venue for bands, Therapy Cafe served its purpose fairly well this warm October evening....

Opening the night was a rare appearance by the art-noise outfit Revampire. Their set began as a brutal deconstructionist onslaught, melding Brainiac danceability with U.S. Maple's uncompromising ethos. Near the end of the set, however, things quickly devolved into chaotix freestyling with a number of people coming and going from the stage. Initially, the onlookers were intrigued by the unique and challenging sound, by mid-set though, most were leaving in droves to seek shelter and solace on the patio....


next up were the eighties-hipster synth pop of Shake Your Fusion. While there have been several acts nationally that have picked up the 80s mantle and made new use of the relentlessly maligned decade, this simply was not one of them. In many ways, it felt like a joke that was only minimally funny the first time you heard it being told for twenty minutes. With one member toting around a period-correct keyboard, one dressed in suit and tie handling the laptop, and the other two looking like they raided their older cousins wardrobe, this outfit was long on looks but short on substance...

The night rebounded strong, however, as LVX hit the stage. Hailing from Bloomington, Indiana, this set was nothing but relentless high-energy as LVX paced the stage like a lion stalking his prey. Still, a lion that you would want starting up your party...


Wheeling in from Chicago was the one-two-punch of YeaBig & KidStatic. This set was the real deal: old-school eighties-style hip-hop chocked full of humor, self-deprecation, and infectious beats that got even the most jaded on the scene cracking a smile and bobbing their head. This was some of the most fun hip-hop I've heard in a long time. And to top it all off, they closed with a cover of the Golden Girls theme...yes, that's what I said...



Closing out the night was the inimitable Nightbeast. Following YeaBig & KidStatic, however, proved a challenge to which few could have risen. Sadly, on this night, the force of Nightbeast was simply no match...

Overall, it was a great night of music. It would be great to see Therapy used more as a venue for bands of all stripes....for more photos from the evening, go here

Monday Therapy

Tonight at the ever-trendy Therapy Cafe, we have an extremely interesting bill. Yea Big + Kid Static from Chicago bringing some old school hip hop with havey doses of electronica heaped on top. L V X will serve up some electronica from Bloomington. The force of nature that is Nightbeast (pictured above)will be on hand for some serious synthy vintage sounds. Also on tap is the ambient art punk experimentation of Revampire, featuring members of Human Reunion & Fuck Uppers. Opening the night will be Shake Yr Fusion from middletown.

It's a cheap show at $3. Looks like doors open around 9, but don't expect any action until 10. It's an 18 & up show as well. Shake off yr DMF funk and get out....