…as one of the most prolific forces on the Dayton music scene, Squids Eye Records has issued a string of releases over the past few years. Tonight, the label will present two more discs a show at Blind Bob’s that features some of the best-loved acts, as well as some newcomers that you’ll want to check out as well. Trunk Bound Regime presents their new disc Now You’re All Fucked and the long-awaited follow-up to the 2007 release Dayton, OH, Vol. 1 finally sees the light of day, which is limited to 200 copies worldwide. In addition, you’ll get performances from SER heavyweights Yakuza Heart Attack and Astro Fang, as well as newbies Creatures and Golden Kong. Trunk Bound Regime will also take to the stage as well in support of their new album. If yr looking for where it’s at tonight, odds are you’ll find it here…

…we apologize for the late notice on this, but that’s how things are around here today. Be sure to tune in tonight to WYSO for Kaleidoscope, hosted by none other than Juliet Fromholt. On air this evening, she’ll be featuring Tim Pritchard, Tod Weidner [Shrug], Tom and Jason from The Rebel Set, Tony Gilbert and Keith Rankin from Squids Eye Records [whose 3rd Anniversary show is coming up at the end of this month], and Shelly “GladGirl” Hulce. WYSO is currently in the midst of the Spring Fund Drive, so tune in this evening starting at 7 pm and donate if at all possible to support such a vital local resource…

…while it had been some time since we’d been out to Blind Bob’s for a rock show [forgive us, dear readers], the summer air seemed to beckon to the masses, filling the venue to near-capacity during this evening. Perhaps you’d also have to factor in that last night was only the second showcase for the much-loved Squids Eye Records in 2009….

…Even early in the night for the opening set of Brooklyn’s Starscream, the venue was percolating with activity. While we had sampled some of the band’s songs, seeing them in a live setting was an entirely unexpected event. First and foremost, we simply had no idea that the majority of the band’s music was composed and performed using only a Nintendo Gameboy. Yes, you read that correctly. While some may cringe at the mere notion of such blatant non-traditionalism, rest assured the presentation and the music itself was nothing sort of stellar. While the onset of a free-for-all dance party never quite manifested, it was perhaps the most engaged audience we’ve see for an opening act in quite some time…

…rather unexpectedly, we next came face to face with one of Dayton’s most popular, and in our opinion, most talented outfits, Astro Fang. With the band celebrating the release of their long-awaited debut disc [albeit an EP], we expected they would take the stage much later in the evening. Alas, it was fortuitous for the band to play early, as by this point the crowd was already reaching a critical mass [no small feat for a Dayton crowd pre-midnight], and the energy in the room was palpable. Despite, or perhaps because of, whispered tones circulating the room suggesting that this was likely to be the band’s swan song, from the fist note, Astro Fang delivered a collection of tunes that has served as the meat of the band’s set for the better part of a year. What was so astonishing for us was how the band tore through the material as if it was fresh off the drawing board. From the cascading metallic guitar runs to infectiously twitchy synths to the unrelenting singalong choruses of the alternate-universe hits “Lovers” and “Passing”, Astro Fang proved, yet again, why they are considered to be amongst the current Dayton musical elite…

…with lights dimmed and video projections running amok, NY quartet Anamanaguchi stepped into the void and slowly but surely won over a typically suspect Gem City crowd. As their beats got people moving and the guitar-played synth lines reeled in listeners, Anamanaguchi proved the theory of a well-placed cover in a set. Just as the crowd’s curiosity was piqued, the band dropped into the utterly unanticipated cover of Weezer’s “Buddy Holly” prompting everyone in the room into singalong and completely winning over the evening….

…with their first public appearance in a year, Yakuza Heart Attack took to the stage in support of their new album, II and proved yet again that, despite their relative inactivity, they are undeniably one of the Gem City’s most loved bands. While the band clearly draws heavily from the vintage prog of King Crimson and ELP, Yakuza possess something that neither of those monumental dinosaurs ever possessed: a raging sense of humor. The playfulness in the melodies and the arrangements only further heightens their majestic, epic gestures and connects with their audience in a human and humane way. It was a testament to their audience as well that, despite not having been seen on stage for a year, this crowd knew every nuance of the band’s music, despite the complete absence of any vocalization. So much for short-attention spans…

…for more photos from the evening, go here.

…while the Squids Eye Records camp has been relatively hush thus far in 2009, tonight the venerable Dayton label will issue a twin shot that kicks off a string of releases that should take the label well into the new year. Tonight at Blind Bob’s, the long-dormant Yakuza Heart Attack returns to the stage with a prog-minded fury that is seldom matched in the Gem City [or anywhere else for that matter]. The occasion? The release of their second album, titled simply II. The other prong in this dual attack tonight features the ubiquitous Astro Fang, who issues their debut EP this evening. SER has also brought in a pair of East Coast 8-Bit enthusiasts to bolster the evening: Anamanaguchi and Starscream. Head on down tonight to pick up these new releases before they’re officially released…

MP3: Yakuza Heart Attack “Power Surge”
MP3: Astro Fang “Galactic Dracula Landing”

…this came across our desks this morning and we thought we’d pass it along to all of you. One of Dayton’s newer outfits, Smug Brothers, have completed a video for the track “Striking Relative Humor”, which is slated to appear on their upcoming Fortune Rumors album due out on Squids Eye Records this fall. Building off the buzz generated via their EP release series this past spring, the band have made a couple high-profile festival appearances in the last month with their Dayton debut slated for this year’s installment of the Dayton Music Fest, taking place on October 3. The clip is a nice little lo-fi gem that holds well the band’s aesthetic. Enjoy…

…we apologize for the lack of activity around these parts as of late, but we’re still here and kicking. Mostly. Anyway, you’ve a great show over at South Park Tavern tonight we highly recommend checking out. Out on tour in support of their new album, Enchanted Islands (out on Saddle Creek), Omaha’s Beep Beep will be making a stop in Dayton tonight. One member of the band will also be doing a solo set under the moniker of The Show Is the Rainbow. You’ll get local support from a pair of Squids Eye Records’ finest :Toads and Mice (on last) and The Happy Planets (on first). We’ll see you there…

MP3: Toads and Mice “Ghengis Kahn”
MP3: The Happy Planets “The Summer Slime”
MP3: Beep Beep “The Whispering Waves”

…it took us a while to finally get around to it, but once we threw on Myka 9 we were hooked. Building on his groundbreaking work in LA as a co-founder of the Legendary Freestyle Fellowship, Myka 9 hooked up with Fake Four Inc. (which Squids Eye Records mainman Tony Gilbert helped jumpstart), to release the soulful 1969. As the album title would suggest, Myka 9 is tapping into a bygone era focused more on spiritual awakening than superficial posturing. With Fake Four conspirator Factor laying down some funktastic beats, well-placed horn stabs adding punctuation, jazz-fusion flourishes, and featuring a cameo from Busdriver, this is food for the mind, body, and soul…

MP3: Myka 9 “Inner Knowing”
MP3: Myka 9 “Soul Beat”
MP3: Myka 9 “Chopper (feat. Busdriver)”

…as soon as we walked into Blind Bob’s last night, we knew it was going to be a good one. Mixing in with the legions out on the town for a St. Patty’s warm-up round, it was exciting to see so many people out specifically to support the lovable Dayton label, Squids Eye Records. Standing at the 2-year mark, the label’s work in Dayton is impressive: they’ve helped to revive a once-flailing scene and redefine in many ways the Dayton sound. On this particular night, label head Tony Gilbert put together an eclectic bill, giving many of the unknown artists on Squids Eye Records a minute in the spotlight. From the drum-machine driven indie rock of Scott Deadelus and Joey Deady to the jazz-prog of Five Deadly Venoms to the folk-tinged laptop dance party of The Happy Planets, Squids Eye Records showed their range. Sadly, we missed the exciting conclusion of Cry Baby Genius and Astro Fang. By the time we departed, the staff had finally removed the last few tables near the stage as the crowd swelled to near-capacity. If you were there, we’d love to hear about it….

JOEY DEADY

FIVE DEADLY VENOMS

THE HAPPY PLANETS

SCOTT DEADELUS

For more photos from the evening, go here.

…as tends to happen in Dayton every so often, seemingly everyone decided to have a show on the same night. Tonight is a big night, so we just thought we would let the poster art speak for itself:

…you can grab a few tracks from the new Squids Eye Records sampler, Hi, We’re From Dayton over here. They’ll giving away the whole sampler tonight at the show. See you there…

…in conjunction with their 2-Year Anniversary party this Saturday at Blind Bob’s, Squids Eye Records unveiled their new website today. With a new look and new some new bands added to their roster, Squids Eye Records seems poised to continue building up the Dayton music scene into 2009 and beyond. Among its new features, all current releases can be streamed for your listening enjoyment…

…Squids Eye Records has also put together a new compilation disc, Hi, We’re From Dayton, that will be given out at their Anniversary show this weekend. Here’s a preview:

MP3: the happy planets “Pregnant Prom Queen”
MP3: Five Deadly Venoms “Horror Resistance Death”
MP3: Cry Baby Genius “Welcome to the Horror”

…speaking of website updates, did anyone else catch the new Pitchfork update? Gonna take a while to get used to that…