…from the very beginning of this humble blog, one of the bands that inspired us and fueled much of our content was Andrew & the Pretty Punchers. Although the band has remained on the sidelines of Dayton music for the better part of a year now, A&TPP have quietly been hard at work with John Lakes at Refraze Recording Studios on their long-awaited sophomore album, No Longer a Lover. Retaining much of the raw energy that powered their debut Goodbye Ohio, this new album finds lead Puncher Andy Smith in stronger command of both lyrics and arrangements, many of which benefit from the added textures of pedal steel, piano, auxiliary percussion, and harmony vocals. The band will celebrate the release of this new album with a show on Saturday night at Jimmie’s Cornerstone [along with openers Jesse Remnant & the Trainwrecks and The Black Whos?], but the release will also mark the end of Andrew & the Pretty Punchers as a functional unit. Although this may be the end of the road for this lineup, it seems unlikely that Smith and his compatriots will lie dormant for long…

MP3: Andrew & the Pretty Punchers “Cloud Berries”
Download audio file (Cloud_Berries.mp3)

MP3: Andrew & the Pretty Punchers “Shitty Teeth”
Download audio file (Shitty_Teeth.mp3)

MP3: Andrew & the Pretty Punchers “Good News”
Download audio file (Good_News.mp3)

…if you’ll recall the earliest days of this little music blog, our coverage of the defunct Wild & Free was fairly extensive. Since that time we have been keeping close tabs on that band’s protagonist, Jake Giesige, as he traveled to Brooklyn and founded a new outfit, The Judy Blooms. Tonight the band makes it’s Dayton debut at South Park Tavern and we could not be more excited. While this new band turned in a decidedly more hard-driving rock sound, Giesige’s impeccable pop craftsmanship and attention to detail continue to be the hallmarks of his sound. While we only have a demo to offer below, you should be able to get a good sense of what we’re talking about…

…in the middle slot this evening are newcomers Roley Yuma. Although the band recently went from a 5 to a 4-piece, they seem to have made the transition relatively smoothly and retained all of the components that endeared them to us in the the first place: wild dynamics, hypnotic storytelling, and intertwining guitars that seem poised to collapse at any minute, but seem to always find a hook to reel us in. You can hear a track from their upcoming debut Sun Tea below…

…opening things up tonight is another of our earliest local favorites, Andy Smith. While it’s been a while since we’ve seen him live with his full band the Pretty Punchers, Smith quietly completed a new album, No Longer A Lover, which should see release by summer’s end. The disc remains firmly rooted in the high-octane Americana that made their debut, Goodbye, Ohio, such a compelling listen, but the addition of pedal steel and various ambient noises throughout the disc definitely raise the bar on this sophomore effort. You’ll definitely be hearing more about this as the release date approaches…

…dig the tracks below and we’ll see you tonight at South Park Tavern…

MP3: The Judy Blooms “Love and Depression”
Download audio file (Love_And_Depression.mp3)

MP3: Roley Yuma “Toohey”
Download audio file (Toohey.mp3)

MP3: Andrew & the Pretty Punchers “Good News”
Download audio file (Good_News.mp3)

MP3: The Judy Blooms “Now There’s a Famine [demo]”
Download audio file (Now_There’s_a_Famine.mp3)

MP3: Andrew & the Pretty Punchers “Love Like the Child”
Download audio file (Love_Like_The_Child.mp3)

MP3: Mascot “If They Like You”
Download audio file (If_They_Like_You.mp3)

…we thought our first stop of the night would be Blind Bob’s, but upon arriving we learned that local purveyors of mayhem and merriment, Sitandance, had taken to the streets. Literally. They had set up in the parking lot next to Ned Pepper’s with tiny amps and a makeshift drumkit, attracting enough of a crowd to get the cops called…

…we made our way back over to Blind Bob’s to kick off the night the way it usually closes: with Andrew & the Pretty Punchers. Even starting the evening, A&TPP hit a stride with a handful of newer tunes and old standards. Although usually where our night ends, it was only the beginning…

…being a nice night, we decided to walk up to Canal Street Tavern to catch the release party for Southeast Engine’s new album, From the Forest to the Sea. Stepping into the cozy confines of Canal Street, we were nearly stopped in our tracks by the heat building in the room due the crowd that had gathered to help celebrate the occasion. Arriving just in time to catch the start of their set, guitarist Adam Remnant quietly launched the band into a set that coursed through new and older material creating a seamless link that runs through Remnant’s powerfully reflective lyrics. Unfortunately, the crowd were as excited to see one another as they were Southeast Engine and in the quieter passages easily buried the band in chatter. Despite all the distractions, we wish Southeast Engine well as they head out on the road in support of their new album…

…we made one more tip along the old canal back to Blind Bob’s just in time to catch Hospital Garden kick things off. Although the crowd had thinned somewhat, the band still delivered a ferocious set of infectious melodies slathered in ear-splitting guitar, just the way we like it. We’ll be hosting Hospital Garden at South Park Tavern on March 28 for our monthly showcase, so tune in now and we’ll see you then…

For more photos from the evening, go here.

MP3: Hospital Garden “Ypsi”
MP3: Idaho, Alaska “Muscle Car”
MP3: Andrew & the Pretty Punchers “Our Modern Love”

…A few months ago we came into possession of a three-song disc by The Years. The band ran for most of 2005 and featured Jake Geisege (vocals/guitar; Wild & Free and The Judy Blooms) Josh Wickersham (bass/Wild & Free, Andrew & the Pretty Punchers); Brandon Guthrie (drums/Toads and Mice), and Dave Kitchener (guitar). What’s more, the band’s recordings were made by Dustin Rose, currently of Toads and Mice. So, clearly, there’s some interesting history here…

…through special arrangement, The Buddha Den is very pleased to issue as a FREE DOWNLOAD, The Years Live @ Elbo’s 7.3.05. This set is dynamic, yet driven. It’s spacious, swirling arrangements harness the deranged urgency of Modest Mouse and the earthy, Midwestern stomp of My Morning Jacket. The seven tracks offer an interesting insight into the divergent paths of its members: Geisege and Wickersham turned a corner back toward more traditional songcraft; Guthrie would soon pair up with Dustin Rose to form the wildly popular Toads and Mice, retaining, yet further exploring the sonic possibilities presented in The Years. As seems to often occur, one member of The Years, Dave Kitchener, seems to have retreated from music. In many ways, his wiry guitar runs foreshadow part of the essence of Toads and Mice…

…you can grab this tasty little nugget of Dayton’s recent musical past for free through us…

DOWNLOAD THE YEARS LIVE @ ELBO’S 7.3.05 HERE

…without a doubt, however, the din had come to witness Andrew & the Pretty Punchers. Over the past 18 or so months, each subsequent appearance garners further accolades from their peers and adulation from their audiences. Yet again, this formidable unit stepped into the lights and channeled the collective angst and optimism of life in this post-industrial wasteland. Unraveling tales of drunken nights and jaded hope, in their unbridled enthusiasm Andrew & the Pretty Punchers deliver a catharsis that, if only for a brief shining moment, enables this sleepy city to revel in near-perfect rock n’ roll bliss…