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May 2008
The Story Changes gear up for tour
Dayton-bred pop-punk rockers the Story Changes will kick off their June tour with a local performance on Saturday, May 31st.
The band, along with After the Accident and Models, will be at the South Park Tavern (1301 Wayne Ave.) this Saturday prior to beginning a June tour out West and a August tour of the Midwest and the South.
This is a change in venue from the scheduled show that was originally slated to be held at the Nite Owl.
The band will debut a new tune at Saturday’s show entitled I Remember. The new track was just recorded and will be featured on a compilation due to hit stores in July from Future Destination Records.
“We just finished recording the new track,” said Story Changes front-man Mark Mcmillon. “It will be on a comp called The Good Times.”
The Story Changes, who were the featured band on 103.9 WXEG’s local show last Sunday, are still in competition to play this Summer’s Warped Tour. Fans can vote to help the band join the Warped Tour line-up at http://warpedtour.battleofthebands.com/theStoryChanges.
Other exciting news from these local rockers includes a feature on the upcoming Seaweed tribute album entitled Hours and Hours. They did a version of Seaweed’s Anti-lyrical for the album that is due out in the States on June 24th.
Mcmillon had no word on when the follow-up to the band’s 2007 record Way of the Dinosaur would drop, but hang tight Story Chang-“ers” the band is working on it.
If you miss Saturday’s kick-off show then catch the Story Changes do a free all-ages show at the downtown Library on June 28th.
Visit www.StoryChanges.com for tour dates and mp3’s.
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Canal Street Tavern, now accepting playoff registrations
Attention Dayton bands, it is Dayton Band Playoff time again at Canal Street Tavern.
Registrations to perform and compete in this Summer’s Dayton Band Playoffs are now being accepted.
Visit www.canalstreettavern.com and print out an entry form and competition rules. Drop off the filled out form to Canal Street Tavern (308 E. First St.) and your band will be entered. For additional info call Canal Street at 937-461-9343.
The Dayton Band Playoffs is the nation’s longest running local band competition.
In recent years the playoffs have been a catapult for bands on the rise. The exposure that playing the DBP gives a band is unmatched by any other area music event.
2006 champion, Orange Willard, used the success and promotional value of winning the playoffs to land a record deal with Aztek Records.
2005’s Playoff champ, Mona, gained considerable acclaim from their DBP last to first win. The buzz for them was not only local, but national. They have since released a cd, moved to Nashville, and signed with an agent. Labels are calling.
Last year’s champ the Audible Influence just wrapped up recording their debut cd earlier this month and are set for a big release show later this Summer.
These are just a few recent examples of 25 plus years of Dayton Band Playoff success stories.
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Nite Owl/Blind Bob’s theft reprieve
Sorry conspiracy theorists, there is no cover up, just fact checking.
Earlier this week I posted a blog entitled ‘Theft and dismay as Nite Owl becomes Blind Bob’s’. I then took down the blog as I learned more about the incident.
Through various posts from bands on Myspace.com I had learned that theft and vandalism had occurred at the Oregon District club formerly known as the Nite Owl last weekend.
It was relayed that this had occurred during renovations to the club by new owner Lisa Mendenhall as she and her husband inspired to update the venue for it’s reopening as Blind Bob’s.
Previously it was thought that the bands who rented practice spaces above the club had equipment and supplies come up missing.
I have learned through communication with Mendenhall that the only property that had been taken or vandalized was equipment that she and the club owned.
It was also believed that she had ordered the demolition of the practice spaces and had exposed the now stolen equipment.
It is now known that the contractor hired by Mendenhall, James Kent, was responsible for the “axing” down of the practice space doors that had begun the stream of chaotic rumors.
Mendenhall wants bands to know they are welcomed at her club with open arms.
“I understand the bands dismay but they need to understand our point also. If they want to continue to play there then they need to work with us, not against us,” said Mendenhall.
“We have tried to make it clear that there would still be local bands booked for shows, just in a much nicer space with a stage located where people can actually see the bands,” she said.
I drove by the club a few days ago and peaked inside. From what I could see through the settling dust convinced me that the club would look completely different when it is reopened.
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The Nite Owl is offically closed
The Nite Owl’s booking agent Mary Kathryn announced through myspace.com bulletin that the long running Dayton rock hot spot is now officially closed.
She wrote simply that, “the Nite Owl is officially closed and I am really sad about it.”
She is not the only one who is sad about it.
The Nite Owl’s myspace page is filled with comments from local bands and fans sending condolences.
The club’s posted schedule lists bookings all the way until the end of June. All of these shows will be cancelled.
The local rock group HQAX was the first to write fans about the cancellation of their May 30th show that was scheduled at the Nite Owl.
“Our show for May 30th has been canceled due to the Nite Owl closing its doors,” wrote HQAX.
“The new owners apparently don’t want to keep the already scheduled shows booked,” they added.
Not that the new owners need to honor the club’s previous bookings, but visit www.myspace.com/theniteowldayton and check out the list of all the great shows you will not have a chance to see.
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Wild Breed Boys to play the Bellbrook Jamboree
The next addition of the Bellbrook Jamboree blog preview series is with the local bluegrass band the Wild Breed Boys.
Natives of Springfield, the Wild Breed Boys mix a banjo, mandolin, fiddle, guitar and stand-up bass to get a traditional and old-time bluegrass sound.
Yet, as evident by the long list of fan testimonials on the band’s website, the Wild Breed Boys have put a modern and energetic twist on tradition.
The band, who is becoming very well-known among the bluegrass festival circuit, has played throughout the midwest including West Virginia, Kentucky, Cincinnati, and Columbus.
The Wild Breed Boys have 44 dates scheduled thus far in 2008, and their calendar continues to be filled.
But the band, for the moment, is most excited about playing this weekend’s Bellbrook Jamboree at the Greene County fairgrounds.
“We are very excited to both be going to the Jamboree as well as performing,” said Brett Parsons (banjo, vocals).
“There are many great acts and we’re honored to be picking with them all weekend. We can’t wait for some backstage impromptu jam sessions,” he added.
The band will also perform live on 91.3 WYSO this Thursday, May 15th, at 12:30 pm.
They are scheduled to hit the Jamboree stage Saturday, May 17th, at 3 pm at the Greene County Fairgrounds.
For ticket information and Bellbrook Jamboree schedule visit www.bellbrookjamboree.com.
To hear the Wild Breed Boys visit www.myspace.com/thewildbreedboys.
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DJ Rev Cool to host massive dance party
A few months ago I had the opportunity to witness WYSO dj Rev Cool in action.
I sat in the studio while he hosted his Friday night radio show on 91.3 WYSO called Around the Fringe.
I saw the professionalism of his craft from the other side of the speaker and determined that the reverend of cool lives up to his legacy.
We talked off the air about how he helps in the community including efforts to get inner city kids to learn to read. He also told me a unforgettable childhood story about how he met Earl Averill who is most famous for ending the career of Dizzy Dean.
However, my fondest memory of Rev Cool is seeing his inner party animal come out at the first Dayton Music Fest. He was going club to club doing rousing band introductions surrounded by the Gem City Roller Girls and hundreds of his fans.
His inner party animal will come to life again this Friday, May 16th, from 8pm - midnight when he hosts a massive dance party at Playthink Learning Studios (411 E. 5th st.).
Rev Cool will be broadcasting live playing music and interviewing on the air some of, what he calls, the “movers and shakers” in town.
“I’m trying something completely refreshing and new with this live broadcast”, says Rev. Cool. “Not only will I be doing my regular selection of high energy beats from around the world but at the live performance there will be a crew of drummers and other musicians to create the Rev. Cool Temple Drummers and Arkestra.”
The dance party will conclude the Urban Nights celebration in downtown Dayton on Friday.
Visit www.wyso.org and check out the playlists from past Around the Fringe shows.
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Wes Tirey gears up to play Bellbrook Jamboree
Wes Tirey, who is best known for being the front-man of the local and successful indie-folk-rock band the Bull and the Bear, is making waves around town as a solo artist.
It has been over a year since the disbanding of the Bull and the Bear and now the folk and experimental singer/songwriter Wes Tirey has a new record and a spot on the upcoming Bellbrook Jamboree Festival.
“Before I played with The Bull and The Bear I played solo, so solo gigs are really nothing new for me,” said Tirey. “It’s sort of like going back to my roots.”
Tirey’s new cd, entitled Ohio and Other Sad Things, will be released May 16th when he plays the first annual bluegrass and americana festival the Bellbrook Jamboree.
“I recorded the album about a year ago with Patrick Himes (Captain of Industry). Seth Graham from Romance of Young Tigers did the artwork for it,” said Tirey.
The Bellbrook Jamboree is May 16-18 at the Greene County Fairgrounds.
Tirey is one of the few local artists playing the festival which also features such national acts as The Dan Tyminski Band, Josh Ritter, Dry Branch Fire Squad, King Wilkie, and The Farewell Drifters.
“It’s really an honor to be able to share the stage with so many great artists,” said Tirey. “I’m a fan of Josh Ritter, so opening for him is a big opportunity and I’m sure it will be a surreal experience.”
Tirey’s performance at the Jamboree will include guest appearances by Will Leasure and Gabe Mitchell from his old band the Bull and the Bear. Seth from Romance of Young Tigers is also planning a guest spot.
Maybe with a little persuasion we can get Wes, Will, and Gabe to break out an old song or two.
Visit www.myspace.com/westirey to hear tracks from his new record.
For Bellbrook Jamboree ticket and event info visit http://bellbrookjamboree.com/.
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