The Circus Collective Presents: The Sideshow

By Kyle Metlon

For those of you heading out to Urban Nights this coming weekend, you’re certain to encounter a variety of experiences throughout downtown Dayton and beyond. Out on the fringes of downtown at Fourth and Walnut, however, you’ll come across an independently produced event showcasing an eclectic mix of visual art, performance art and a variety of local musical talent gathered together over two nights — Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12 at the old Yellow Cab Building.

Dating back to 2006, The Sideshow emerged as the brainchild of performance artist Laurana Wong, who described her vision of The Sideshow at the time as “expos[ing] the burgeoning underground art scene and interconnect[ing] it with the more established art community. We will bring attention to Downtown Dayton through a grand-scaled and highly public display of the art that is so ripe in this town.” Out of this initial event, a group of like-minded individuals banded together to form The Dayton Circus Collective, which has continued to collaborate and produce The Sideshow each year. Now in its 7th incarnation, The Sideshow continues to present some of the most interesting artists from Dayton working in various media for a night celebrating community and creation.

For this year’s event, Jeff Opt stepped up to help coordinate the musical portion of the program, along with Kate Ervin, who is handling the visual arts for the night. With over 20 performers lined up over the course of the two nights, Opt carefully curated a cross-section of what is happening in Dayton, which will cater to a range of musical palates.

“I am trying to showcase the variety and quality of music available locally, and highlight people that I think are very creative,” explains Opt. “The two nights each have a different vibe. Friday tends to be a little more mainstream since a good majority of the audience comes from Urban Nights — so there is a wider crowd I try to appeal to. Saturday, on the other hand, tends to be more experimental — the audience that comes on Saturday night tends to know what The Sideshow is and is open to try new sounds.”

With returning groups including C. Wright’s Parlour Tricks, The Fair Shakes, Dan Raridan & The Calientes, The White Soots and Oxymoronatron alongside first time participants Jasper The Colossal, Tim Pritchard, The Boxcar Suite (making their debut performance) and Father’s Day, The Sideshow offers attendees an interesting slice of what Dayton music has to offer.

“I try and mix things up between bands that have played The Sideshow before, and new bands,” says Opt. “As far as capturing the range of music available in the area — I always want more. I personally would love to have bluegrass, jazz and funk, but those genres really haven’t come up in our application process. This randomness is what makes the Sideshow fun to put on — you never know quite what you will get from year to year. So rather than try and represent all of the Dayton music scene, I try and focus on quality.”

One of the biggest changes from previous years will be an outdoor covered tent where bands will perform throughout the two days, separating the visual and musical experience. However, Opt seems optimistic that newcomers and returning visitors alike will find something engaging in this year’s installment of The Sideshow.

“I like to say, ‘you never know quite what you will see, but it will be a good time,’” concludes Opt. “There will be art that you will love and other art that won’t make sense. There will be music that gets you moving, and other music that might do nothing for you. The beauty of the Sideshow is that there is something for everyone — if you don’t like the band, go look at art — in 40 minutes or so there will be a completely different band that you might think is amazing. Don’t like a style of art, walk a few feet in either direction and you will see something totally new. Get into conversations, make new friends, experience new things … these are all things we strive for as part of the Sideshow experience. And expect the unexpected — no one saw the glitter fight coming last year but people involved still talk about it!”

(The Circus Collective Presents The Sideshow Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12 at The Old Yellow Cab Building, 700 E. 4th Street. Admission is free for all ages, donations accepted. Doors open at 5p.m. each day. For more information, visit facebook.com/DaytonSideshow.)

Reach DCP Music Editor Kyle Melton at MusicEditor@DaytonCityPaper.com and read his blog at thebuddhaden/net.

Atlanta’s Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun at South Park

By Kyle Melton

In an era with countless bands vying for the attention of listeners through the near-infinite resources of conventional media, social networking sites and the likes of Spotify and iTunes, a handful of bands remain committed to the old-fashioned means of connecting with an audience: relentless touring. Hailing from Atlanta, indie/electro outfit Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun (TTMTTS) — consisting of Lauren Gibson (voice/guitar/keys), Cregg Gibson (guitar/voice/bass), Micah Silverman (bass/keys/voice) and Jeremy Cole (drums/electronics) — have spent the last three years playing to audiences all over the Eastern United States, growing their fanbase on the strength of their live show. With their latest release Wildfire, the band got picked up by the Greyday imprint, and now find themselves poised to break out to a wider audience throughout the country. We spoke with Cregg Gibson recently about the band’s undying belief in the power of touring, and about their latest release:

How did TTMTTS come together?  

Several years ago Lauren and Micah were both in a band called AvengeVegas and Cregg and Jeremy were in a band called Linger. Then after Lauren and Cregg married in 2005 we decided to join forces and bring our talents together, which became Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun.

We all met in Atlanta and it’s where we call home, but when you tour almost 200 dates a year it’s not hard to fall in love or connect with other cities. So, we basically call the East Coast home. [Cregg Gibson]

You put out your most recent album, Wildfire, independently last spring and then re-released it on Greyday Records. Why did Greyday decide to put the album out? 

Honestly, it was just perfect timing. Greyday really wanted to release a record around that time and none of their artists were ready to release anything. We had originally ordered about 1000 copies for our first run of Wildfire and sold about 700 in 3 months’ time. Our friends in I Was Totally Destroying had mentioned to Greyday that we were getting ready to reorder. Before we knew it the talks began and then a deal was made! [CG]

How did Wildfire come about? How long was the songwriting/recording process? Being on tour so much, what was the scheduling like for such a project? In terms of stylistic approach, what were your goals? 

We named the album Wildfire in honor of our fans! We’ve seen our fan base grow quickly over the last two years and it was a lot by word of mouth. It took us about five months from start to finish: writing/demoing/recording, then we sent them off to our friend Shawn Zuzek in New Mexico to mix and master each song. We took most of that time off from touring, though we still did some close-to-home shows. Our goal was to make the best record we could make to date, something that we could listen to ourselves and we knew our fans would never want to stop listening to. [CG]

Being based in Atlanta, how involved are you in the scene there? With much of your touring based in the eastern US, how easy do you feel it is to focus your touring in this region as opposed to trying to cover the expanse of the country? Why do you focus so much on touring consistently rather than recording and hitting select areas? 

This is the hard part about being in a full-time touring band: trying to go out when we’re in town. The few days we’re home we have to work, catch up on everyday routines, see family and loved ones, and sleep. But, we feel that we are connected in some ways. We have all played in Atlanta for a long time, previously in other bands, so when we’re home and out, bands welcome us and support what we do. We feel it’s important when touring that you should be able to revisit a market within two to three months to keep up momentum. When you do that, it builds a base for fans and money, which allows you to tour further. We tour consistently so no one forgets us. It’s easy to lose momentum, especially in an age where everyone bores easily. It keeps the buzz going. [CG]

What are the future plans for TTMTTS? What else should people know about TTMTTS?

We would love to make a new record, but for now our future plans are to tour the West Coast (we have tour support on the West Coast now, because our label is located in Portland, Ore.) two or three times before the end of the year, and maybe a tour in Europe as well. Look out for us — sooner or later we’ll be in your town or a town near you! [CG]

(Today the Moon Tommorrow The Sun will perform on Monday, May 7 at South Park Tavern, 1301 Wayne Ave. Also on the bill are Electric Banana and The Town Monster. Admission is $5 for all ages. Doors open at 9p.m. For more information, visit reverbnation.com/todaythemoontomorrowthesun.)

Reach DCP Music Editor Kyle Melton at MusicEditor@DaytonCityPaper.com and read his blog at thebuddhaden/net.

[Photo Credit: Terrence Rushin Photography]

Me & Mountains Release Feral on Vinyl

By Kyle Melton

In 2009, Me & Mountains burst onto the Dayton scene with a highly polished indie pop/rock sound that quickly caught the attention of audiences around town. Their self-titled debut EP evidenced a band with an uncanny penchant for infectious composition and no-frills arrangements, channeling the likes of indie heavyweights like The Killers and Weezer. In the interim, Me & Mountains — Pete Bowser [drums], Tim Collette [guitar], Burris Dixon [bass/vocals], Marshall Norman [guitar] and Roger Smith [keyboards] — performed around town and established themselves as one of the most promising bands on the locals scene. Earlier this year, the band emerged with a new album, Feral, providing the band a much needed boost.

“That debut record was such a long time coming and it felt like it would be a long time before we made another,” says Dixon. “We spent most of our time playing live and gathering up merch. We waited over a year before we even started recording Feral and by that time we had already been playing a lot of songs from that record live.”

“We spent the majority of that time sporadically recording bits and pieces,” continues Smith. “I think we achieved a sweet sound the way we did it.”

Having spent a couple of years playing around town in support of their debut EP and establishing their reputation, the band built up a stockpile of material for a new album and set about capturing the material in their home studio.

“We had a cache of probably 20 songs for the record and some got recorded and lost due to them not translating well on record,” admits Dixon. “The original idea was 10 tracks, but after we tossed out a few songs, I feel like it really started to mesh better.”

“Rodger read up on home recording and how to capture the sound in our little cave,” explains Bowser. “We invested in microphones and some other gear, and really took our time with it. It was definitely a learning process, but it turned out really well.”

With the album finished, Me & Mountains decided to release the album on vinyl, which while currently in favor with audiences, can be a cost-prohibitive manner of releasing new material. The band took a cue from fellow Daytonians and set about launching a web-based Kickstarter campaign to finance the vinyl release.

“It was a really fun and interesting way to connect with fans,” says Norman. “We even made some new ones in various parts of the country and even Europe and Canada, which is pretty neat.

“We talked about it for a year before we did it and it seemed like the only option was Kickstarter since the price of vinyl is extremely high,” admits Dixon. “After the [Motel] Beds did Kickstarter and succeeded, we thought ‘why not?’ We doubled our goal of $1000 and it really put a wind in our sails at that point because we felt a little disheartened after a year or so of releasing nothing. We were shocked and honored by the fans’ dedication to seeing it on vinyl.”

“Kickstarter was amazing,” says Bowser. “We didn’t know if there would be enough interest to make it happen, but the record was nearly funded after a couple weeks. We are really lucky to have fans and friends like that here in Dayton.”

Throughout Feral, Me & Mountains display their ability to refine hook-laden indie pop to its barest elements, letting the melodies shine through without excessive ornamentation. A razor-sharp disc that took months to compile, the band are extremely pleased with the results.

“I love the lead songs on both sides of the record, ‘Hooks’ and ‘Down For Whatever’,” says Bowser. “They are perfect openers because they have good energy and super catchy lines. The vocals are a highlight for me too. Burris and I have become much better at singing together, so there are lots of nice harmonies on this one.”

Although Feral only recently saw digital release and the vinyl is still pending, the band already has plans for more releases by the year’s end.

“We are planning a 4-5 song release on Gas Daddy Go Records in a few months,” explains Dixon. “We are extremely excited, as this is going to be a lot better, in my opinion, than both Feral and the EP. The songs are tighter, more dynamic. We’ve also got a lot of shows planned for summer. We will be playing Cincinnati, Dayton and hopefully Indiana and Kentucky this year.”

With a recently revamped website (meandmountains.com) fans can keep up with the band’s every step, which seems to have no indication of letting up.

“Our vinyl will be shipped on April 2nd, so everyone should have it by Record Store Day at the latest,” concludes Dixon. “We are playing Omega Music’s Record Store Day thing, and selling the new record that day. We will also be auctioning off a turntable along with our record on vinyl. We will be selling raffle tickets all day and announcing a winner the same day.”

Me and Mountains will perform on Saturday, March 31 at South Park Tavern, 1301 Wayne Ave. Also on the bill are Sleep Fleet and Dustin Smith. Doors at 9p.m. Admission is $5 for all ages. For more information, visit meandmountains.com.

Reach DCP Music Editor Kyle Melton at MusicEditor@DaytonCityPaper.com and read his blog at thebuddhaden/net.

Signs of Life Pay Tribute to Music of Pink Floyd

By Kyle Melton

In the pantheon of rock n’ roll’s iconic acts, few cast a shadow as long as British psychedelic pioneers Pink Floyd. Under the direction of Cambridge schoolmates Syd Barrett, Roger Waters and David Gimour, Pink Floyd charted a musical course that stands as one of the most artistically and commercially successful in the rock era. In 2008, Cincinnatian Jon Stankorb sought to present the essence of this seminal band’s music to audiences in the region with the formation of Signs of Life (SOL). Spanning the breadth of Floyd’s prodigious catalog, Stankorb meticulously assembled an ambitious stage show, complete with a state-of-the-art light show and 9-piece ensemble, and SOL delivers an exceptional recreation of the Pink Floyd experience. We spoke recently with Stankorb about his desire to showcase the music of Pink Floyd and what audiences can expect from the band’s live show.

How did this group come together to perform the music of Pink Floyd? How long has the group been together?

I had been performing in a few tribute bands since 2005 and Pink Floyd have always been my passion and motivation for playing music. It had always a fantasy to play this music on a grand theatrical scale and in the fall of 2008, I had an inexplicable and overwhelming “now or never” feeling that I needed to organize my own Pink Floyd tribute band. After months of research, a thorough audition process and 4 months of rehearsals, video production, set design etc … Signs of Life played to a standing room only crowd at our first show in April of 2009.  The response was nothing short of life changing. [Jon Stankorb]

What drew you to attempt a recreation of such an ambitious rock band? How faithfully do you feel you recreate the experience?

Ambitious … is the key word here … there is no handbook or blog on setting out to create a full scale musical production of arguably the most extravagant theatrical stage show in all of rock.  First and foremost, I feel that Signs of Life brings an authentic “British” reverence to the Pink Floyd material (slightly at odds with our decidedly Midwest location). Each SOL show features a unique one of a kind set list in which songs segue into another or feature spoken word passages, audio effects or dramatic lighting and video cues.  There is conceptual continuity that runs through the concert posters, video footage, the set list and special effects. [JS]

In terms of song selection, from what eras of the band’s catalog do most songs come from? Are there any deeper cuts that audiences might be surprised to hear?

The Signs of Life set list draws from Piper at the Gates of Dawn through The Division Bell.  Selections from The Final Cut and Piper at the Gates of Dawn seem to surprise and delight the more ardent Pink Floyd fans.   “Astronomy Domine,” “Fearless,” “Fat Old Sun,” “Childhood’s End,” “Echoes” (from the late ‘60s early ‘70s era) and “When the Tigers Broke Free,” “Fletcher Memorial Home,” “Terminal Frost” and “High Hopes” (from the latter era) have surprised many SOL fans. [JS]

With such an easily identifiable sound and a meticulous attention to sonic detail, how faithfully do you attempt to recreate the sounds and equipment of PF?

SOL is extremely reverent and faithful to recreating the sound of PF by using a mix of original vintage equipment and modern technology.  SOL has 130 + PF songs in the repertoire and each song has been selected from the various live and studio versions. This serves a specific mood and timbre among the songs in the set list. [JS]

Why do you feel people are so drawn to the music of PF? Why do you feel there is a need to present this music faithfully to audiences?

Pink Floyd draws the listener in emotionally and intellectually.  There is a sublime, empathetic, humanitarian message in the lyrics that is supported by the music. Many PF songs take some time to unfurl and develop taking the listener on a much deeper journey than the typical three minute pop song. There is a need to present this music faithfully because many, many fans have the PF catalog deeply embedded in their DNA.  Almost all PF fans don’t want stylistic recreations of the songs, or tribute musicians asserting their ego on the songs.  For a brief moment they want to feel that they are truly embraced by the “essence” of a Pink Floyd concert. [JS]

What should people expect from a SOL performance?

SOL concerts feature a feast for the eyes, ears and mind. We do not try to lock in within a specific period such as recreating the ‘94 PULSE tour, The Wall show or the Syd Barrett era.  Instead, we ask, “How would Roger, David, Rick, Nick and Syd present a PF show in an intimate 400-900 seat theatre today?” [JS]

Signs of Life is made up of 13 incredible musicians, vocalists and technical support that are committed, consummate professionals that happen to share a collective vision of excellence with an audience that love Pink Floyd.

Signs of Life will perform on Saturday, March 24 with a show at Gillys, 132 S. Jefferson St. Advance tickets are $16, DOS $18. Doors open at 7p.m., show starts at 8p.m. Admission is open to all ages. For more information, visit signsoffloyd.com.

Reach DCP Music Editor Kyle Melton at MusicEditor@DaytonCityPaper.com and read his blog at thebuddhaden/net.

[Photo: Sam A. Marshall]

Cincinnati’s The Minor Leagues Celebrate Release of North College Hill

By Kyle Melton

For about a decade, The Minor Leagues have brought their ambitious brand of indie pop to audiences in and around Cincinnati. Led by original members Ben Walpole and Patrick Helmes, their current 7-piece outfit is an eclectic group that employs dense pop arrangements to stunning effect. On their latest effort, North College Hill, the group explores the concept of reflecting on having grown up in the Cincinnati neighborhood. Walpole and vocalist Hilly Kenkel deliver whimsical, nostalgic tunes draped in a swirling blend of vintage ‘60s arrangements glossed in ‘90s Britpop sheen. We spoke recently with Walpole about the band’s decade-long trajectory, their new album, and what the future holds for The Minor Leagues.

The Minor Leagues have been around for about a decade now. How did the current lineup come into place? What major changes have taken place with the band’s sound and direction over the years?

We’ve gone through several lineup changes over the years, but Patrick and myself have been the constants. We’re really lucky right now to have the best lineup of people and musicians that the band has ever had. No question. [Ben Walpole]

Sound wise, I think we’ve probably tried to streamline some of the arrangements. For a while, we would just kind of throw any idea we had on the album, regardless of whether it sounded good or not. I kind of miss those days. Less overtly — Hilly really pushed me to try to make the lyrics on the new album more abstract than my words have been in the past. I guess that goes along with the move away from the Wall of Sound to a more streamlined approach. [BW]

Tell me about the writing/recording process for the new record. What was the songwriting/arrangement process? Where did you record the album? How long did it take to put the whole thing together and how do you feel about the results?

I sat down in January of 2010 with a self-imposed deadline to write an album about North College Hill in about three weeks. The plan was to do a quieter album about North College Hill and a louder, more raucous album about Northside [another Cincinnati neighborhood] later in 2010. For once, I actually met the deadline — but a few of the songs really needed more work to become fully realized. Patrick stepped in during the demo process and really made “Secret Codes,” “City On A Hill,” and “1985 Forever” what they wound up being. We took the demos to the band, worked them out that spring and then went to Nashville to work with our friend Sean Sullivan at The Butcher Shoppe studios. He hooked us up with eight days to track all 10 songs. The process really slowed when we got back to Cincinnati, intending to add a few extra parts and then send it back to Sean to mix. We couldn’t really get certain sounds right, so we wound up mixing and mastering ourselves, Patrick and I, over the course of about 13 months. It wasn’t very much fun, and we made quite long list of “well, we’ll never do it that way again” things. I think it probably resonates the most emotion — which is kind of a dignified, fancy, mature territory we never reached before with songs about thunderstorms and pestilential rocks. [BW]

As the title of the album, North College Hill references a neighborhood in Cincinnati, how much did living in the city inform the material on the new record? How much do you feel that as a band you are influenced by the music scene there? What additional influences inform your music?

The album is without question informed by living in North College Hill, lyrically at least. Every single lyric is just about what it was like growing up there for me, and how it feels to look back on that place and that time in my life. I miss it a lot. [BW]

What plans does TML have for the new record?

We’re going to be playing a series of out-of-town weekend excursions to help promote the North College Hill album. We hit Brooklyn and Pittsburgh in February, Chicago and Dayton in March, with potential plans for another trip east for May. From there, that long-delayed more raucous album about Northside should be in the pipeline for release early this summer, barring unforeseen difficulty. [BW]

Is there anything else people should know about TML or North College Hill?

It’s nominally about a place you may never have heard of, but the ideas on the album are pretty universal — wishing your hometown was the same way it was when you were a kid, childhood nostalgia, etc. Don’t be scared off by the specificity!

The Minor Leagues will celebrate the release of North College Hill with a show on Saturday, March 10 at South Park Tavern, 1301 Wayne Ave. Also on the bill are The Turkish Delights and TK. Doors at 9p.m. Admission is $5 for all ages. For more information, visit minorleaguesmusic.com.

Reach DCP Music Editor Kyle Melton at MusicEditor@DaytonCityPaper.com and read his blog at thebuddhaden/net.

[Photo: Andrea Reeves]

Sixteen Local Bands to Keep an Eye Out For

By Kyle Melton, Tim Anderl and W.C. Ruffnel

In any given year, the Dayton indie scene seems to be boiling over with young talent just waiting to be discovered by local audiences and those beyond the boundaries of the Gem City. As we move into another new year, our humble music staff has compiled a short list of bands from the area we consider essential listening in 2012. While there is no shortage of bands that could potentially break out to larger audiences in 2012, here is a selection of bands picked by the DCP staff that should warrant special attention in the coming year:

Astro Fang
Formed: 2008
Style: Indie/Thrash/Rock
Members: Brian Baker/ Chris Mengerink / Christian Roerig / Bryan Saunders
Since morphing from Grizzzzy Bear into Astro Fang back in 2008, this quartet quickly became a local favorite with an unrepentant live show. Fusing breakneck riffage, prog-like arrangements and an gift for infectious melodic treats wrapped in dense layers of noise-thrash, it’s likely only a matter of time before the Fang gets its due notice outside of Dayton. With several releases due to hit streets this year, the band will hopefully be able to translate their energetic live presence to disc and hit the road to show the rest of the country what kids in Dayton already know so well.
Website: astrofang.bandcamp.com

Vanity Theft
Formed: 2005
Style: Indie pop rock
Members: Alicia Grodecki / Brittany Hill / Elyse Driskill
Upon the release of their 2006 debut, Vanity Theft quickly proved to be a formidable indie rock outfit with aspirations well beyond the small clubs of Dayton. They relocated to LA for a time in 2008-2009, further refining their sound with additional dance elements coming to the fore. Over the past several years, the quartet toured relentlessly from coast to coast, earning a loyal following the old-fashioned way. With an appearance at South by Southwest in March and an extended tour planned for the spring, their upcoming album should further bolster these ladies as one of Dayton’s leading exports.
Website: vanitytheft.com; facebook.com/vanitytheft

Hyrrokkin
Formed: June 2011
Style: Instrumental Rock/Jazz Fusion
Members: Paul Larkowski / Brett Nagafuchi / Edward Ricart
Emerging out of the ashes of beloved local quartet Kuan, noted guitarist Ricart relocated to Dayton last year to join forces with Larkowski and Nagafuchi to form Hyrrokin. Drawing heavily from Chicago’s post-rock scene and the avant-jazz fringe, this trio possesses exceptional chops, yet remains highly musical. With a self-released cassette, Astrionics, out late last year, the band toured across the country in support of the record over the past few months. For those fearless of the more remote aspects of what modern music can provide, Hyrrokin should satisfy even the most obscure of tastes. The band will be recording a full length this spring at Seizures Palace in NYC and has tours with Many Arms (Tzadik Records, Philly) and Geoglyphs (Boston) planned.
Website: Facebook.com/hyrrokkinband; Hyrrokkin.bandcamp.com

Roley Yuma
Formed: 2009
Style: Indie/Alt/Rock
Members: Randy Cornett / Kevin Hamilton / Aaron Hardy / Tyler McKinley
As you skim through the band’s debut Sun Tea, you’ll quickly notice a plethora of influences coursing through its veins, revealing an impeccable gift of skimming through the realm of alt/indie to create a distinctive sound. With guitar work ranging from jangly to droney, they create near-perfect backdrops for the exceptionally literate lyricism of Cornett, who weaves intriguing tales of modern living, complete with effortless abuse of pop culture references. As this quartet continues to hone its live show and puts out two new releases in 2012, keep an eye and ear out as they may quickly gain notice in Dayton and beyond.

Feathered Serpent
Formed: Sometime around 2008 or 2009
Style: Heavy/melodic/fuzzy
Members:  Ryan France / Ian Kaplan / Jeremiah Stikeleather
With an exceptional pedigree amongst this trio, Feathered Serpent burst onto the scene in early 2010. Fusing a fuzz-heavy sound with a hint of melodic fortitude, FS walks a fine line between shoegaze, post-rock, and vintage metal. Over the course of the past year, the band earned a stellar reputation locally on the strength of their skull-rattling sound. With their self-titled EP currently available (which was recorded at Cyberteknics with noted engineer Phil Mehaffey), look for 2012 to be a big breakout season for these veterans of the Dayton scene.
Website: www.reverbnation.com/featheredserpent3000

The Devil Wears Prada
Formed: 2005
Style: Heavy metal / Hardcore
Members: Mike Hranica / Chris Rubey / Jeremy DePoyster / Andy Trick / Daniel Williams / James Baney
A fury of swinging guitar headstocks and microphones, these Christian soldiers walk on water within the Warped Tour set. MTV, Fuse, Christian and independent album charts, Alternative Press magazine, Ferret Records and headbangers worldwide have taken notice of the band’s no holds barred stage show, and ferocious output. Already scheduled for a 2012 run with Slayer and Anthrax, The Devil Wears Prada are destined for a ground-breaking year as one of Dayton’s most notable, and road ready-tested heavy music exports.
Website: www.facebook.com/tdwp

Footbinder
Formed: 2009
Style: Math rock / Noise / Hardcore
Members: Matt Mihalus / Matthew Reis / Paul Larkowski / Mike Salyer
Highly disciplined and masterful in DIY and experimental music, Footbinder has an obvious and unwavering fetish for destruction. Pulverizing expectations for math rock and noise with their acidic approach, in recent years the quartet laid the groundwork for their agonizing aural agenda with a couple of cassette releases. In 2012, the band will focus on writing and recording split-releases on their own Factotum Tapes imprint with like-minded basement-dwellers and cathartic subterraneans, a frenzied and barn- burning full-length, and taking their breakneck live show to the road for performances sure to delight deviants and deface outdated punk archetypes.
Website: www.footbinder.bandcamp.com

Neon Warship
Formed: July 2010
Style: Rock / Classic Rock / Heavy Metal
Members: Kevin Schindel / Matt Tackett / Jay Bird
Classic rock and metal inspired power trio Neon Warship made tsunami sized waves locally in 2011 with their bombastic EP debut (recorded with local power producer and knob turner Brian Whitten) and arena-ready stage show. Featuring members of Twelve Tribes, Waking Kills The Dream, Mouth of the Architect and Bringers of Disease, these Dayton dudes are no strangers to the stage or studio, and we’re anticipating national attention and a record deal aren’t far off the Warship’s bow in 2012.
Website: www.youtube.com/user/NeonWarship?feature=mhee&fb_source=message

Oh Condor
Formed: 2001 as 8-bit Revival; changed name to Oh Condor in 2011.
Style: Alternative / Indie / Rock
Members: Shane Weber / Tim Krug / Jayson Hartings / Alan Baker
With over a decade of consistent and ear-pleasing ‘90s nodding and alternative-rock inspired records under their belts, Oh Condor are already spreading wings and wrapping a cassette EP for Dayton’s Gas Daddy Go records with a February 25 street date. Mission minded, and possessing serious and studied chops, Oh Condor will soar in 2012 whether they’re widely celebrated or not. If this isn’t the year this band tickles ears and hearts with their high-energy, guitar-centric approach, perhaps a pulse check is in order…you might already be extinct.
Website: www.ohcondor.com

Ruckus Roboticus
Formed: 1998
Style: Dance / Electronic / Hip-Hop / Funk
Members: Dan Haug
Kettering-based beatsmith Dan Haug, aka Ruckus Roboticus, concocts a fusion of hip-hop, electronic music and funk that has him in league with heavies like Kid Koala and Cut Chemist. When he’s not winning the award for “Best DJ Mix” from Rock Star Games, Scion and Solid Steel Radio, or gaining support from national and international radio (NPR, BBC Radio 1, WFMU, KCRW), the prolific crate digger is holed up in his studio planning his next fun and funky banger. The 2012 release of a handful of singles, and full-length Phantom of the Disco, are poised to capture the hearts and imaginations of even the most discerning booty shakers.
Website: www.ruckusroboticus.com

The Story Changes
Formed: 2004
Style: Pop/Rock
Members: Mark McMillon / Poppy
Two-piece, rock and roll tour de force, The Story Changes, relentless road warriors for the better part of a decade, spent 2011 producing the This Is Your Moment EP, performing a Woodward Skate Park and Punk Rock Hotel, and covering Alkaline Trio and Braid with their contributions for compilations celebrating the emo luminaries. Though guitarist/singer McMillon is pulling double-duty with Dayton emo heavies, Hawthorne Heights, he’s also keeping busy with a video blog for Guitar World magazine and he and TSC drummer Poppy are writing for a new EP or full-length with hopes of hitting the studio before year’s end.
Website: www.thestorychanges.com

Albertooth Lincoln
Formed: 2009
Style: Progressive-punk-rock-throat-punch
Members: James Lampe, Jacob Gandert, Mike “Mike” Werthmann, Josh Gandert, Matt Connor
One of the most jam-packed action-adventure groups currently going on at this particular moment of this particular cross-section in this particular area, Abertooth Lincoln has continued to engage and delight everyone from the incredulous to the devout with a hyper-energetic blend of metallic punk, fuzzed-up prog and pop-inflected grindcore. Not only do they give to their fans and show-attendees with copious amounts of riffage, Abertooth Lincoln also help out the community: James Lampe and the gang have started a charity group, Aberway, and are wont to give proceeds from shows to different causes or charities.
Website: www.facebook.com/abertoothlincoln

The Motel Beds
Formed: 2001
Style: Mid-Fi Rock ‘N’ Roll
Members: Ian Kaplan, Paul John “Peejay” Paslosky, D. Robbins, Tommy Cooper, Tod Weidner
Over the past two years, the Motel Beds have been known as the rock band from Dayton — releasing albums with a Guided By Voices-like fervor (which means they release them often). Their past two releases, Sunfriend Dreams and Tango Boys, have further cemented the group as one with real national rock and roll buzz band presence. Collaborations with the Breeders’ Kelley Deal and appearances at the illustrious CMJ Festival have set the stage for a much-coveted spot at South by Southwest coming up in March. Vocal hooks soar courtesy of Paslosky over indie-rock rock and surf guitar heroics, whilst the rhythm section accurately punches you in the neck quicker than Newt Gingrich’s political career flies off the radar.
Website: www.brotelbeds.com

Grenades!?
Formed: 2011
Style: Danceable Indie Rock
Members: Daniel Madero, Mike Patak, Brian Stone, Andrew Chenault
Grenades!? made quite the name for themselves in 2011 with their excitement-filled performances and a string of demos that caught the attention of most in the “local scene.” When I told them of their inclusion in this article, Madero was nice enough to send me an email: “We think we are a band to watch because we bring a level of excitement to our live shows and an anthemic quality to our songwriting. We’re accessible without being acquiescent. We’re fun without being phony. We’re genuine without being generic. Thanks again for thinking so highly of us.” How charming!
Website: www.myspace.com/grenadesohio

Sleep Fleet
Formed:  2009
Style: Indie Punk Rock
Members: Corey Montgomery, Nicholas Walter Shope, Andre’ Vanderpool, Shane Natalie
At risk of sounding pretentious, Sleep Fleet are a punk rock band for people who don’t like punk rock: Loud, feedback-driven guitars, catchy choruses, gigantic amplification and dreamy hair for days are all part of the allure and appeal of one of Dayton’s rising cultural forces. Samples of their upcoming album, Morris Drive (apparently named after an adorable feline, Morris) have left their fans chomping at the bit. So much so that I recently caught the group and people were singing along to songs that were released that fucking day. How’s that for devotion? Criteria for band to watch 2012: Met and exceeded.
Website: facebook.com/sleepfleet

Rad Company
Formed: 2007
Style: Punk Fucking Rock
Members: Josh Goldman, Randall Buhr, Josher Lumpkin, Dereck Brown
Considering the amount of records, tapes and discs these guys have put out, it would seem they spent most of their time recording – which is probably true, but the band has embarked on no less than 5 tours in the past 3 years, and lead singer Josh Goldman has recently begun pressing recordings under his and girlfriend Brandi Smith’s Rad Girlfriend records. Rad Company creates frenetic pop-punk that recalls listening to Screeching Weasel on a skateboard through a boombox. Two part vocal harmonies, guitar leads and fast-as-shark drumming all equate to one hell of a booze-soaked party.
Website: www.radgirlfriendrecords.com

Reach DCP Music Editor Kyle Melton at MusicEditor@DaytonCityPaper.com and read his blog at thebuddhaden/net.

Reach DCP freelance writer Tim Anderl at TimAnderl@DaytonCityPaper.com.

Reach DCP freelance writer W.C. Ruffnel at WCRuffnel@DaytonCityPaper.com.

Celebrating 30 Years with WYSO

By Kyle Melton

Cultural change doesn’t happen overnight. In many cases, individuals work quietly, slowly altering the fabric of their communities without notoriety. While often a thankless task, their efforts over extended periods of time result in significant progress toward a more enlightened population. In the case of Jim Carter, known on the WYSO airwaves as Rev. Cool, over the past 30 years his passion for eclectic music has brought some of the most forward-thinking programming to the Miami Valley. This Friday, the Rev. will celebrate 30 years of his weekly radio program, Around the Fringe.

In the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, Carter built a reputation locally as a promoter of early punk shows in Dayton, hosting numerous house shows around town, as local clubs still favored cover bands almost exclusively. While hosting events at Brookwood Hall with national touring acts such as D.O.A., Carter eventually built enough momentum with his events to move into local bars. His presentation of local punk favorites The Dates and Toxic Reasons at Walnut Hills is often cited as one of the first significant punk shows in the Dayton area.

“The first one we did was at Walnut Hills, which is now Tank’s,” recalls Carter. “I was always into publicity things, I called it the Battle of the Bands because I remembered the old ‘60s Battle of the Bands. The bands got kinda mad, saying it wasn’t a battle. I was just trying to make it seem like a deal. We had a three band showcase at the Hills and the place was just packed. We had a line out the door. The Toxics just stole the show. I think that was probably the first big punk rock show in town, that I know of.”

In 1982, Carter approached the station manager at WYSO about putting on a program that encapsulated his tastes for punk, reggae and world music. Along with Jim Collins, who dubbed their program Around the Fringe, he began broadcasting over the WYSO airwaves.

“The format has changed somewhat over the years, but it’s pretty much the same things,” Carter admits. “In the early years I had a lot more punk-type stuff with a mixture of roots music, world music, and reggae. I’ve always loved reggae. It’s probably been a Mayan shift, which is fine because your tastes change as you grow older.”

Over the past 30 years, Carter presented Around the Fringe on a weekly basis, delivering a uniquely eclectic show in the region, even the country. Carter considers the opportunity to share his diverse tastes with listeners in the Miami Valley a distinct privilege.

“When I’m at the station I’m by myself, it’s late at night and there’s nobody there,” explains Carter. “It’s just me and the audience. I just try to picture that there’s just one person that I’m playing music for. That’s what it really is. I’m having an opportunity to join good friends of mine and be their selector for a few hours. I think that’s a real compliment. A lot of them are by themselves or with their friends and they’re accepting me into their home and letting me play music for them and letting me join them for that short period of time.”

With a special program lined up this week that will feature live music from the Nick Kizirnis Band, email and phone messages from fans of the show, as well as Carter spinning music from around the world, he’s also dug out some archival footage from years past of special programming.

“I found some old tapes from past years and we’re going to play segments of those,” Carter says. “I found a Camper Von Beethoven show I did at Antioch College in this terrible space, I don’t know where it was. By whatever coincidence it turned out to be a really good tape, like almost a perfect tape. So we’ll be playing some segments from that.”

In celebrating 30 years on the air, Carter is extremely grateful to his listeners, as well as the community and station that have supported his efforts to bring diverse programming to the area.

“WYSO is a complete blessing to this area,” concludes Carter. “ I don’t know if the musicians and the music fans in this town realize what they’re getting for nothing, except for their contributions. For all the trials and tribulations of WYSO, they’ve stuck by me all these years. I can’t say enough for that. For the past 30 years, it’s been a complete pleasure and honor to do that.”

Around the Fringe with Rev. Cool will celebrate its 30th Anniversary with a show on Friday, February 10 at 9p.m. You can tune into WYSO at 91.3 FM or online at wyso.org.

Reach DCP Music Editor Kyle Melton at MusicEditor@DaytonCityPaper.com and read his blog at thebuddhaden/net.

Cincinnati’s The Seedy Seeds Return to South Park Tavern

By Kyle Melton

Joy. Pure, unbridled joy. The pursuit of this ideal lies at the core of The Seedy Seeds’ aesthetic. Hailing from Cincinnati, the trio brings an impassioned sense of wonder and bliss to each and every performance which, if allowed, can cause uncontrollable gyrating and leave an audience with a visible glow.  Since the release of 2011’s Verb Noun album (the band’s third on their own Eurodorable imprint), the band experienced a lineup change, as longtime drummer Brian Penick parted ways this past fall, replaced by Joe Frankl, leaving founding member Margaret Darling and Mike Ingram to carry on. While some bands may falter at such turning points, The Seedy Seeds seem optimistic about their future. We spoke with Ingram about the changes experienced by the band during 2011 and what the future holds for The Seedy Seeds…

Dayton City Paper: As TSS wrap up 2011 and head into 2012, what were some of your favorite moments from the past year? How was the reception to your last album, Verb/Noun?

Mike Ingram: 2011 was our biggest year ever. New album, new agent, new drummer, two music videos, and about 22,000 miles worth of touring on top of it all. There are too many moments to even begin to say which one represents my favorite, but I think the ones that I’ll always remember are the sort of eye-of-the-hurricane moments. I think my favorite thing however was the release of Verb Noun, which I really think is our best album yet; we finally had the right studio and the right time frame and the right tools to flesh out the sounds in our heads, and I’m really proud of it.

The band recently parted ways with drummer Brian Penick. What was the story behind the lineup change? How did you meet up with your new drummer, Joe Frankl?

Joe had filled in this past summer for a handful of festival dates while Brian was on vacation, and he fit right in without missing a beat, har har har. Brian then announced that he was going to take a break from playing music, after spending the better part of a decade constantly touring. It couldn’t have been an easier transition. Joe brings a lot of exciting things to the table because he also plays guitar and bass and piano and a pile of other instruments, and sings like an angel. We will definitely be exploiting him to the fullest extent of the law! [MI]

You recently released a new video for the track “I am the Conductor” off Verb Noun. How was that experience?

The director, Anthony Moorman, came to us originally with an idea for a video that was reasonably straightforward, and while it would have been cool and a great video, we asked him to come up with something crazy to compare it to make sure it was really going to work. He came back the next day with the concept for the “I Am The Conductor” video, almost shot-by-shot how it eventually turned out. We’ve done videos before that are loosely based on a story and a couple that are kind of simple “band-in-a-room” kind of deals, but we couldn’t be happier with how Anthony was able to fit just enough story and character development and humor and music into a two-and-a-half minute song. [MI]

With a new lineup in place, are you currently working on new material? Have you been recording?

We’ve been working on new material for a while now. Right now we’re writing without a specific album or project in mind, so instead of trying to write songs that fit with the other songs so they’ll all fit on one disc, we’re letting each song go in its own direction and flesh it out into its own existence, and try to take it as far as it can go. It’s really fun to work on each song like it’s its own little album, and see it evolve and change as we play it live and make changes and record demos and change it again and again until it really fills out its own identity. [MI]

Is there anything else people need to know about TSS and their upcoming show at SPT in Dayton?

I guess the only thing to say is despite being from Cincinnati, it feels like our two cities are expanding to the point where they join in the middle – right around the Trader’s World exit, as if that flea market is the light on the end of God’s finger in the famous Sistine Chapel mural. We feel like Dayton is just as much part of our home as Cincinnati. We’re really, really fortunate to have so many people in Dayton treat us like a hometown band, and it’s really exciting to have two cities right next to each other that have so much respect and support for original music. We had an absolute blast at South Park Tavern last time, and I suggest folks bring their dancin’ shoes! [MI]

The Seedy Seeds will perform on Thursday, February 19 at South Park Tavern, 1301 Wayne Ave. Also on the bill are Wake Up Mordecai. Admission is $5 for all ages. Doors at 9 pm. For more information, visit theseedyseeds.com.
Reach DCP Music Editor Kyle Melton at MusicEditor@DaytonCityPaper.com and read his blog at thebuddhaden/net.