Dali Costume Ball/Benfit for Justin King-Saturday @ Seven Timbers

...although we usually do show announcements the day of, we thought it best to mention now since it's advance tickets only. In conjunction with the closing of the Dali in Dayton exhibit, local purveyors of musical theatrics Sleepybird will team yet again with The Zoot Theatre Company to present a very special evening of music and theatre to benefit Justin King. It all goes down this Saturday, March 14 at Seven Timbers (32 Webster St). Advance tickets are $10. For ticket info, contact the band here...

The Buddha Den Presents: Toads and Mice/Everthus the Deadbeats/Sleepybird @ Pearl 10.23.08

...with the cold beginning to bear down on the Gem City, we gathered at Pearl yet again for another great Thursday show. Opening the evening, the sprawling sonic landscape that is Sleepybird offered up a an uplifting set of hypnotic tunes. From the dramatic entrance of the marching drum to the soaring, anthemic surges, Sleepybird demonstrated yet again why they are one of the finest, most unique, outfits currently going in Dayton...




...next up we had the colorfully costumed Everthus the Deadbeats from Indianapolis. With their set drawing largely from their incredible new album, John Kill and the Microscopic Lullaby, the psychedelic swagger of ETD held the crowds attention throughout. With bounding synths and searing guitar work, the subtle, demanding grooves of the rhythm section provided unending support for the group's freak-pop melodies. With any luck, the band will soon find receptive ears throughout the land...




...rounding out the evening, the always-impeccable Toads and Mice served up yet another rousing set of cathartic exuberance. Although we've covered this band at length over the last year, Toads and Mice solidly remain at the pinnacle of the Dayton scene. With a tour planned for next month, we can only hope that the band are successful in exporting what has emerged as one of the most engaging sounds in town...




For more photos from the evening, go here. Black and white photos of Toads and Mice by Marla Bremer.

The Buddha Den Presents: Toads and Mice/Everthus the Deadbeats/Sleepybird-Tonight @ Pearl

...we've got another great show for you tonight at Pearl that you simply cannot afford to miss. On tap we have two of Dayton's finest in Toads and Mice and Sleepybird, both of whom are poised to issue new releases in the next month. Along for the ride are Indianapolis indie/freak sensations, Everthus the Deadbeats, who are currently out on their Halloween Vision Quest tour in support of their incredible album, John Kill and the Microscopic Lullaby. Head and down and we'll see you there....

Twitchy Bird

...as the sweltering heat gives way to a rainy day in the Gem City, there's a couple of good shows for those willing to risk getting wet....


...over at the Dayton Dirt Collective tonight you've got an extremely rare opportunity to catch a Dayton original as Drexel will be performing with some kind of puppet action. Also on the bill are The Bible Beaters, Akillis Green, and The Twitches...


...if you're feeling a little more relaxed tonight, head over to Therapy Cafe to check out the hypnotic sounds of Sleepybird. With the release of their third album slated for mid-October, this may be one of the last chances to catch them before the new hits the streets...

One More Saturday Night...

...if yr heading out this evening, you've got all kinds of options to quell yr rock n' roll thirst...


...if yr not afraid to drive a bit and seem inclined to do something good, the 2nd Annual Darfur Benefit is taking place all day out at the Janice Ward Center in Clayton. Although Grizzzzy Bear seems to have left the bill, you've still got some great music from Stump, Toads and Mice, Lvngs, Stone the Mayor Sheriff, and more...


...over at the Dayton Dirt Collective, you can dig into some punk and garage via offerings from Thee Pistol Whips, The Vectors, Best Friends, and Your Nasty Neighbors...

..if yr musical needs veer toward the ballistic this evening, head over to Canal Street Tavern and dig the unrelenting fury of the rarely-seen Murder Your Darlings and Accidently On Purpose...

...if yr looking for something a little more relaxed, head over to the Trolley Stop and check out an evening of Sleepybird, who are currently wrapping up work on their third album....

The Bootleg Collective issues Toads and Mice

...thanks to the tireless efforts of The Bootleg Collective, you can now grab a pair of recent live recordings from Toads and Mice. One set is from their recent appearance for The Buddha Den Presents at Canal Street Tavern, while the other is from a show at Gilly's with Sleepybird. Both sets sound great and, given the identical set lists, serve as an interesting study of the band's incredible discipline in the live setting. With a split between new material and tracks from their debut disc, it's interesting to witness this band as they move forward into uncharted waters. You can grab those for free HERE...

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...

The Buddha Den Presents: Sleepybird @ South Park Tavern 6.14.08

...on our third attempt to showcase the embarrassing riches found buried within the Dayton music scene, we were very pleased to host Sleepybird in the cozy environs of South Park Tavern. While the octet had its issues navigating the small space, once every member found its space the band just rolled along. During the shorter first set, the band eased into the evening with several tracks off their upcoming third album, as well as older material. The set was closed out by an incredible virtuoso viola solo by the incredibly talented Lisa Garr. Upon returning for their second set, drummer Shon Walters marched through the club with a bass drum, only to be joined by guitarist/vocalist Nick Tertel and trombonist Dustin Malone on a meander back to the stage...

...From their plaintive ensemble singalongs to their symphonic arrangements, Sleepybird's songs can get at the listener in so many ways. With a distinctive midwestern flavor, their humble yet elegant songs are presented with an intensity and joy for the music. Sleepybird seem poised to transcend with the release of their upcoming album, The Sadness Will Last Forever...




For more photos from the night, go here.

The Buddha Den Showcase Presents: Sleepybird @ South Park Tavern

...that's right, kids. It's time again for our monthly showcase over at South Park Tavern (big orange building at Wayne and Oak). This month, we're putting the spotlight on Sleepybird. The band is currently wrapping up their third album, The Sadness Will Last Forever, which is slated for an October 13 release. Come out tonight and check them out as they prepare to shed their skin yet again. Remember: This show is FREE and ALL AGES. Music starts promptly at 9 PM. See you there...

The Buddha Den Presents: Songwriters-in-the-Round @ Canal St. Tavern 6.8.08

...as the unseasonal heat nearly choked the city last evening, several of Dayton's finest songwriters gathered for The Buddha Den's first Songwriters-in-the-Round event at the legendary Canal Street Tavern. With four performers on stage at a time, each set delivered some incredible performances and an incredibly relaxed and fun show. In the first group, Nathan Peters (Captain of Industry), playing on Canal Street's ancient upright piano, threw out some of his finest work with his band as well as a choice cover of an old Ohio Casket song by the all-too-reclusive PJ Paslosky. Nick Tertel (Sleepybird) might have seemed somewhat reserved without the backing of his sprawling outfit, but his country-flavored tunes truly blossomed in this context. In a rare solo performance, Derek Gullett (ex-Switchblade Serenade) showcased some of his more personal material, overcoming various technical glitches along the way...




...in the evening's second set, Tod Weidner (Shrug) demonstrated yet again on his home turf why he continues to be one of Dayton's underrated treasures. His literary wit and classic compositions are nearly as much a part of Canal Street's charms as the battered stained glass. The younger, but no less vital, Andy Smith (Andrew & the Pretty Punchers) might have been buzzing on the eve of his band's first proper recording sessions, but his songs of wisdom well beyond his years reminded us that this is a talent that will hopefully grace the Gem City for many years to come. After suffering through various technical aberrations, Dustin Rose (Toads and Mice) abandoned technology in favor of simple, yet elegant compositions. His departure from the material of his band completely shocked us and, yet again, gave of great hope of things to come. Newcomer Miranda offered up jazz/blues-flavored piano compositions and topped them off with a voice of such power and passion that we are hoping to see much more from her in the months to come...





For more photos from the evening, please go here.

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...

The Buddha Den Showcase Presents: Sleepybird @ South Park Tavern 6.14.08

...building of the tremendous success of our first two showcases, The Buddha Den is proud to bring you the next installment featuring Sleepybird. Having caught the band back in February where the unleashed several new adventurous compositions, we could not be more excited to host Sleepybird on the cusp of the release of their third album, The Sadness Will Last Forever. Mark your calendars now, because you don't want to miss this one....

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...

Sleepybird-Tonight @ Boonshoft Planetarium

...hey kids, tonight is HUGE night for Dayton music. We've got several shows we're talking about today, so pay attention. First up, we've got experimental folk/psych masters Sleepybird, who will be doing a high-profile show up at the Boonshoft Planetarium. Taking their lucid brand of indie/folk and pairing it with a light show of this magnitude is certain to elicit quite the reaction from the audience. Tickets can be purchased here through the band. Music begins at 8 PM. Do what you can to not miss this one...

Sleepybird @ Peach's 2.8.08

...on our first report from this fine Yellow Springs venue, we were excited to bring you our first coverage on one of our longtime favorites, Sleepybird. On this particular evening, we found the band in high spirits, despite missing one member. No matter. Sleepbird's patented post-modern country waltzes and plaintive sentimentality brought beaming smiles from the audience throughout their two sets, which were punctuated by a victory lap by some of the band around the club. As the band worked through the material from their forth-coming album, we found ourselves likening some of the more bombastic material to Arcade Fire-meets-Exile On Main St.-era Stones and were blown away with the virtuostic viola work. Needless to say, our hopes are high for the band in the coming months...

Fruit for the Egg

...if you're brave enough to head out in this mess of Ohio weather, you should head ver to Goloka Gallery tonight. Yeah, we know, this is two nights in a row. Well, they're making it happen. Tonight you've got Sleepybird heading things up with a special stage performance from the Zoot Theatre Company. Also performing tonight will be Captain of Industry. Two of Dayton's finest up against an ice storm. We'll take those odds....

...also, if you're particularly crafty and committed, hit up Grizzzzy Bear to find out the secret location of their performance tonight. Maybe they'll let you in...

Legalize Gassett!!!

Tomorrow night should be more than anyone can handle....

Over at the rarely-used Gilly's, we've got a fantastic local bill. Captain of Industry, 8-Bit Revival, John Gassett's new project Goatherd, and the recently reconfigured Mouth of the Architect are poised to have one of the best local shows of the season. If you want to know more about the "benefit" aspect of the show, ask someone there....


Meanwhile...up Fifth Street at the Nite Owl, touring juggernauts The Story Changes will make an appearance before their Dayton Music Fest set next weekend. Also on the bill will be Simply Waiting, Accidently on Purpose, and Fairweather Fan....


One more good show on Saturday...over at the Oregon Express, a little lighter fare with Wes Tirey opening for Sleepybird, who will be heading out on tour in the next few weeks...

This should be a good warm-up for the Dayton Music Fest next weekend....