…while it’s been several months since we first began to hear about Bandcamp as a site by which bands could easily distribute their music, in the last few weeks, it seems to have caught fire amongst Dayton bands as THE method of dissemination. With the high quality audio in a number of formats available to listeners, an exceptionally fair pay system to artists, and a clean layout that makes it easy to forget nearly any other previous music site, it seems that Bandcamp provides bands with an unparalleled opportunity to get their music out to listeners. We’ve gone through and taken some of the search work out for you and listed a number of bands whose albums you should give an ear to….

…we’re continuing our Dayton Music Fest 2010 Q&A sessions today with two more excellent local talents that have both recently issued excellent new albums that were featured on this very website recently, Human Reunion and Bonneville…

Human Reunion
AND NAME: *HUMAN REUNION*
HOME BASE (city): *DAYTON, OH*
FORMED (year): *2004*
STYLE OF MUSIC: *WEIRDO POST-POP / INDIE QUIRK WRANGLERS*
MEMBERS (names and instruments played): *JEREMY FREDERICK: VOCALS,
SYNTHESIZER, GUITAR / TIM KRUG: VOCALS, SYNTHESIZER, GUITAR / ALAN BAKER:
VOCALS, BASS, SYNTHESIZER / MIKE CHASE: DRUMS, DRUMS, DRUMS*
SHARED INTERESTS OF BAND MEMBERS: *music, synths, strange noises, dumb
things that we think are funny, not getting beat up, pizza, long drives,
sleeping on your floor*
DISCOGRAPHY (release title and year):
*DEMO CDr: 2005*
*CARBONICS 7″: 2010*
*PRELUDE TO A MISS CASSETTE: 2010*
*ARC DE SQUARE CD: 2010*
SONG THAT BEST REPRESENTS YOUR BAND (and why): Let’s say *the Rub,* people
like to yell that at our shows. It’s dark, weird, annoying, dancy, and
abrasive, yet palatable. Just like us!
NUMBER OF DMF APPEARANCES (and years): *DMF07, DMF08, DMF09*
LATEST NEWS (what’s up?): *Our full-length album, Arc de Square, produced by
John Schmersal is finally available. 13 songs of “**time-warped synth
sounds, twisting grooves and joyous rock absurdism” ***
*** YouIndie.com*
PLANS FOR 2011: WRITE MORE NEW SONGS, PRESENT MORE RELEASES
WEB SITE:
www.humanreunion.com
www.facebook.com/humanreunion
www.myspace.com/humanreunion
www.last.fm/music/human+reunion
www.reverbnation.com/humanreunion
www.stereokiller.com/humanreunion

MP3: Human Reunion “Carbonics”

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Bonneville

*BAND NAME:* BONNEVILLE

HOME BASE: Columbus, Ohio

FORMED: 1999

STYLE OF MUSIC: Alternative Pop Rock

MEMBERS:
Ryan Pitts (Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards)
David Miklos (Guitar, Vocals)
Kevin Sanders (Bass, Vocals)
Nick Frye (Drums, Vocals)

SHARED INTERESTS: Other than music, Art of all forms; be it painting,
cinema, comedy, architecture, literature. etc.. This probably goes without
saying, but we’re all pretty interested in women.. Tube amps, vintage
guitars. World News.. We all enjoy NPR (National Public Radio). South Park

DISCOGRAPHY:

*Drawing Maps LP (2010)

In Stereo EP (2006)

Bonneville Self-titled EP (2005)

*SONGS THAT BEST REPRESENT US:

We just completed a new song titled “The Uniform”. We think this song best
represents us for a number of reasons. It’s a song that began with a simple
chord progression that we’d been toying around with about a year. Then at a
band practice a few months ago, we started jamming on the idea, and ended up
creating an entire arrangement. Ryan had some vocal melodies in the works
and at the next practice we spent about two hours collaboratively finishing
the lyrics and creating the vocal melodies. Ryan leads sings the song, while
Kevin, Nick, and I sing backup harmony. The song is a great example of the
direction we’ve been moving in with our songwriting. More collective
creativity and contribution from every member. We just love to share ideas
and build off of each others strengths.

NUMBER OF DMF APPEARANCES: This will be our first appearance at DMF

LATEST NEWS:
We’ve been playing shows as often as possible to promote our latest release
*Drawing Maps*. The summer went really well, and we’re going into fall with
several shows in Columbus and Dayton. We’ll be playing at Canal St. Tavern
with Vanity Theft on November 12th. We’re really looking forward to that
show. We’re already thinking about recording a new album as well. We’ve
written two new songs since the release of *Drawing Maps* and have a lot of
ideas that we’re excited to start working on. We’re considering recording
the album at Reel Love Studios in Nashville, and having Patrick Himes be our
engineer/producer. Nothing is set in stone, but we’re scheming.

PLANS FOR 2011:
Hopefully we’ll be releasing a new album. We’ve been talking about creating
a list of labels to shop a new record to. We have lots of ideas on how to
keep moving forward and take it to the next level. We’re hoping to make our
way back down to South Carolina sometime next year to play with our friends
Sequoyah Prep School. The first time we played down there we had a great
time and made a lot of new fans. We’ll have to wait and see what’s in store.

WEBSITES:
http://www.bonnevilleband.blogspot.com
http://www.myspace.com/bonneville
http://www.reverbnation.com/bonneville
Search “Bonneville” on Facebook to find our page.

MP3: Bonneville “Drawing Maps”

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…at some five years in the making, at long last Dayton’s beloved Human Reunion will issue their first disc this weekend, the Carbonics 7″. Brought to you by the Detroit imprint Five Three Dial Tone, the 7″ includes the title track which is the first shot from the band’s upcoming debut full-length, Arc De Square, all of which was recorded by Enon frontman John Schmersal. The remaining three tracks are all non-album sides, including a spooky demo version of the title track. As the first shot fired from the upcoming album, “Carbonics” is a perfect introduction into the world of HR: the grinding bass bolsters the propulsive rhythms, guitars and synths ebb and flow throughout the soundscape, and the rapidfire vocal delivery speeds through the maelstrom. Human Reunion will celebrate the release of the Carbonics 7″ with a show this Friday at Blind Bob’s with The Motel Beds and Summer Lungs. Tune in now and we’ll see you there…

MP3: Human Reunion “Carbonics”

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…For the past five years, the Dayton music scene has patiently awaited the formal recorded debut from one of the city’s most revered live acts: Human Reunion. Featuring members of such Dayton outfits as The Dirty Walk, 8-Bit Revival, Let’s Crash, and Cigarhead, Human Reunion channel several elements of the city’s storied musical past into a danceable, yet deliciously demented sound. While the quartet has established themselves as one of Dayton’s must-see live acts, the band is poised to finally issue their first recorded artifacts in 2010. All slated for release on Detroit imprint Five Three Dial Tone Records, Human Reunion will issue the Carbonics 7” in May, followed by rarities on a cassette-only issue. The band’s long-awaited debut album, Arc de Square [recorded by Dayton expatriate, Brainiac alumni, and Enon leader, John Schmersal], should be out Summer 2010 on MinorManor. You can catch Human Reunion tonight in Detroit with a free show at The Pike Room and/or tomorrow, Saturday, February 13 at Blind Bob’s with metal/dance duo Electric Banana and Silo’s Wasted Space…

MP3: Human Reunion “Black Owl”

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…hey there, it’s been a while. We’ve been keeping an eye on things from a distance and enjoying one of the best seasons we’ve seen in a while. We also still take time occasionally to do some work on this blog. We recently had the pleasure of talking with John Schmersal from Enon, who will be rolling into Dayton this weekend to perform at Gilly’s. Here’s what he had to say…

The Buddha Den: It’s been a while since Enon has palyed in Dayton [Dayton Music Fest 2007, to be exact]. What is the impetus for getting the band out on the road at this point? What has been keeping you and the band busy in the interim?

John Schmersal: Well, we have been working on a new set up with our new drummer and some new tunes and wanted to give it some air. We’ve never really needed a reason or an excuse to go on tour. For me, it is easy as I am from Ohio, to come back to the Midwest. It’s as much of a family/friends visiting affair as it is a musical one. What’s kept us busy. Well we released Grass Geysers and toured and toured and toured. That ended around last July. We went to europe like 3 times and again for festivals in the summer. Since then we’ve just been regrouping and working on new stuff. We are playing with a new drummer Thomas, from here in Philly, he used to play drums for Man Man.

TBD: We understand you’ve been working with some bands from this region that have records coming out this summer, Human Reunion and Eat Sugar. How did you come to work with both of them? How do you feel about being sought out as a recordist/producer?

JS: Well, HR I have known those guys for years and it was just a matter of time I suppose.Eat Sugar, we played with them last year on tour and then they wrote later on and asked if I’d be interested. I actually did their record in August right when I got back from finishing the touring. I like recording groups but, I am pretty selective about it as it becomes very time consuming and it always takes more time than budget allows so, it has to be a labor of love. I wouldn’t want to record/produce bands all the time but, it is a nice break from Enon and other commercial stuff I do when the timing and the music is right! I am glad people approach me about this stuff. It’s nice to be in demand a little.

TBD: With the recent demise of Touch and Go Records, where does Enon find itself in terms of releasing new music? How has this reconfiguration of the indie label scene affected your approach? Where do you see the music industry going from here?

JS: We aren’t thinking too hard about it, just trying to write a good batch of new tunes and we will take it from there. I have no idea what is/will happen with the music industry. It’s still in flux and it’s affecting everything from bands, to labels, to distribution, to recording studios, budgets, even videos. You name it. I don’t have any answers. People will always want to listen to new music and in fact people are kind of becoming like vampires about it which is a real turn off, in my opinion. Not too cool.

TBD: Your work with Enon and previously with Brainiac seems to have spread its influence fairly wide over the last several years. How do you feel about your work being so influential? Why do you think so many musicians have tuned into your work as a reference point?

JS: I have no perspective on what I have done from the outside looking in. I try not to dwell on the past but, I am glad that people still care about anything that I’ve been involved with. Music can be pretty disposable, here today and forgotten tomorrow so, it’s nice that some of it is sticking in peoples’ minds. That will always feel good.

TBD: Within the last year, a site came online called The Brainiac Live Archive Project. The site has collected numerous live audio and video sources in an attempt to gather together Brainiac’s legacy. How do you feel about your work in Brainiac? How do you remember the Dayton music scene in the early- to mid-90s? Do you feel there is something unique about making music in Dayton as opposed to a higher-profile city?

JS: I had no idea about the Brainiac Archive Project, that sounds cool. Where is it? etc. Brainiac seems like so long ago now. It really was a happy and much simpler time. Well stocked thrift stores, pawn shops, flea markets… unraided by the successes of Ebay. Mostly pre internet, certainly pre high speed. I feel like the web has changed that dynamic a bit.. making music in a high profile city vs. a Dayton sized city. Everybody has access to culture even if it doesn’t come right to the doorstep of a local venue. I don’t think it matters where you are from as much anymore. Living in a small town definitely still affords you the time and space to be creative/bored/creative vs. the race to just pay rent in a major metro city. But, that’s really the largest difference that still remains. Even just being in a band and going on tour is not such a big deal these days. Everybody has access to approximations of vintage keyboard sounds through computer synths, etc. Any band can cobble together some semblance of a tour through myspace or the like. Being in a band is about as dangerous or rogue as working in a fast food restaurant anymore wherever you are from. A kid from Virginia might not look much different than a kid from L.A. via American Apparel stylings readily available. I’m glad information etc. is available to all but, is homogenization cool? I don’t think so.

TBD: Is there anything else that you would like our readers to know?

JS: Colman’s original English mustard is the best! I wasn’t paid to say that.

…you catch Enon out on tour this Saturday, June 20 at Gilly’s along with D Riders (ex-US Maple) and local flavor from Human Reunion, Astro Fang, and Nathan Peters…

…so, through no apparent corroboration, it seems as if April 25 was somehow nominated as a day filled with totally good shows. Here’s a quick rundown to help you on yr way…

…over at South Park Tavern, we’re very excited to be bringing a pair of great bands through town. With their tour sponsored by Paste Magazine, WOXY, and Imeem, The Deep Vibration (pictured) have been earning rave reviews with an incredible live show fueled by their passionate debut EP, Veracruz. Out on tour with them are Roman Candle (Raleigh, NC). They’ll get local support tonight from none other than Andrew & the Pretty Punchers…

MP3: Andrew & the Pretty Punchers “Guns Raised”
MP3: The Deep Vibration “Oklahoma City Woman Blues (Veracruz)”

…over at Blind Bob’s you’ve got an incredible 4-topper featuring The Human Reunion, Yea Big + Kid Static, Trunk Bound Regime, and The Motel Beds…

MP3: The Human Reunion “Red Ape”
MP3: Yea Big + Kid Static “Speak the Facts”
MP3: The Motel Beds “Love Hurts” (demo)

…the other big option for you tonight you’ll find over at Aquarius with Rock n’ Wrestling II, which will feature live performances from The Goody Two Shoes and Orange Willard, as well as some great indie wrestling provided by Cincinnati-based EGO Pro Wrestling…

…don’t forget as well that Gem City Jam is taking place all day today over at Garden Station. Might be a good day to enjoy a festival…

…chart a course and we’ll see you out on the streets…

…it’s been quite the busy weekend in the Gem City. Tonight is the icing on the cake. Head on over to South Park Tavern tonight for an electrifying conclusion to your weekend or an overamplified jumpstart to your St. Patrick’s Day festivities. In their first localappearance since Dayton Music Fest, Human Reunion return to the stage along with their buddies from Boston, Pretty & Nice, who haven’t stopped through town since we had them back in September. P&N are on their way to SXSW and the VOV Festival in Arkansas in support of last years’ Get Young album (out on Hardly Art). We’ll see you there…

MP3: Human Reunion “Red Ape”
MP3: Pretty & Nice “Tora, Tora, Tora”
MP3: Pretty & Nice “Grab Your Nets”

…this just came across our desk and we just had to get it up here for ya’s. The Human Reunion have brought through Chicago’s Yea Big + Kid Static a number of times. It’s no surprise then that YB+KS would do something like do a mash up of the entire debut EP from Human Reunion. On top of that, this clip features some excellent fire antics from The Soul Fire Tribe. Check it out…

…although last year we were able to cover a fair amount of the Dayton Music Fest, we admittedly fell for the hype surrounding the potential for a sellout at Gilly’s in anticipation of Robert Pollard’s homecoming show with his new band, Boston Spaceships. As a result, our account of the evening focuses on the action at Gilly’s. Still, we were very excited about what we saw…

…kicking things off were last-minute additions, Hospital Garden. Having seen them a number of times over the last few months, we felt the band turned in one of their best sets. Likewise, The Sailing rose to the occasion and delivered a powerful set for a swelling audience. At long last, Boston Spaceships took the stage following a surprise introduction by none other than GBV alumni, Don Thrasher. For the part of the set that we caught, Pollard and co. combed through a flurry of material from Brown Submarine, as well as recent releases by The Takeovers and Pollard’s recent solo album, Robert Pollard is off to Business. Although we were not fortunate enough to hear any classic material, Pollard’s newest live band might very well be one of the best lineups Pollard has ever assembled…

Hospital Garden

The Sailing

Boston Spaceships

…after staying stationary for way too long on this night, we finally ventured over to Blind Bob’s to catch a few of our favorites at DMF. Rolling into the Oregon District, the energy on the street was great. People were everywhere and seeming to have a great time. We caught the last half of Astro Fang’s set, which may have been their best ever. The sound in the room was much improved over our previous venture into Blind Bob’s, which we were very pleased about. We caught a few songs from the new lineup of Lab Partners, and they likewise sounded great. With the night waning, we headed out to try and stop into one more club…

…we got to Oregon Express just in time to catch a few songs from Human Reunion. By this point, we were getting a bit burned out, but the band sounded great…

…although we had a pretty good time, it would have been nice to have seen more. For more photos, go here.

…How did your night go? Got any good pictures?

…if yr heading out tonight, here’s our recommendations:

…still the “new” venue in Dayton, Blind Bob’s is hosting a good one tonight. Brace yourself for the one-two punch of The Human Reunion and Astro Fang. Seems like every time these two get together it’s a big one…

…if you’re something a little more relaxed, head over to the Trolley Stop to check out The Magpies from Cleveland. They’ve been making Dayton a regular tour stop and have earned a pretty loyal following here in town. Stop in to dig the buzz….

…finally, a couple of great touring bands are stopping through Oregon Express tonight. Up from the Deep South, touring partners The Winter Sounds and Look Mexico should make for a good night. Also on the bill, locals Murmur will be releasing their debut CD…