…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….

…today we introduce another contributor to our expanding team here at The Buddha Den, former Dayton Daily New Music Blog writer, Kris Neises. Let’s see what Kris has to offer for his debut feature…

…In the spirit of last weekend’s ‘Dayton Does Dayton’ shows at Canal Street Tavern, the Den asked area musicians ‘What their favorite Dayton song is and why?’ We know that because of Dayton’s rich rock n’ roll history the question was a tad unfair. But, to those who helped us out with a response, thanks for being good sports…

What is your favorite song by a Dayton artist and why?

Chip Heck (Kuan, Shadyside): Twelve Tribes, “Strings” from As Feathers to Flowers and Petals to Wings – “As the first track on the classic album As Feathers to Flowers and Petals to Wings, this song builds and explodes with ridiculous intensity. I think I love it because the music and guitar work is very creative, heavy, and awesomely melodic. The lyrics are also great. As with most of Adam’s stuff, they are definitely dark, descriptive and vividly intense.”

MP3: Twelve Tribes “Strings”

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Derek Gullett (Dirty Socialites, The Professors): The Breeders, “The Last Time” featuring Mark Lanegan from Fate to Fatal EP – “This track was recorded in a basement in Dayton, OH. It’s no secret that I am a fan of The Breeders and Mark’s voice, but there is something special in the choice of noises and deconstructed style of the song that really draws me into their world. “Pinnacle Hollow” is like that as well. It’s from the same EP and I really enjoy it. I want to one-day slow dance on a boat in the Bermuda Triangle to that song it’s absolutely that mystical, at least to me. The whole EP is amazing.”

MP3: The Breeders [w.Mark Lanegan] “The Last Time”

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Nathan Peters (Captain of Industry): Guided by Voices, “Johnny Appleseed” from Clown Prince of the Menthol Trailer – “It has such a laid back Lou Reed vibe. Not the average GBV song, and right off the bat he hits you with these words: “You fly like a fly in the sky blue sky you’ll be important to important people when you die.” This sums up a lot of what Dayton is to me. There are really talented people here that never make it past the Ohio River. I think this was Pollard’s proclamation and I love it. He was saying maybe you’d love me when I’m dead. Brainiac, Ohio Casket, and Lab Partners were also really big influences on me when I was 18 and trying to find myself musically.”

MP3: Guided By Voices “Johnny Appleseed”

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Michelle Bodine (Brainiac, O-Matic, Shesus): A Ten O’Clock Scholar, “Lando” from Quietest – “This is so hard! I wish I could pick more than one. I’m going to say “Lando” by A Ten O’Clock Scholar. I love the chorus and the bass part, and I still listen to that record a lot.”

MP3: A Ten O’Clock Scholar “Lando”

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Mark McMillon (The Story Changes): Shrug, “Herion(e)” from Whole Hog for the Macho Jesus – “In addition to stellar songwriting, there’s a really cool vibe to the track that pulls you in. I think if young bands these days spent more time focusing on crafting songs even half this good and less time worrying about building light-boxes, the world would be a better place.”

MP3: Shrug “Heroin(e)”

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Tim Pritchard (Flyaway Minion, Floods): The Motel Beds, “Sunfried” – from Sunfried Dreams [due out Spring 2011] “This is the perfect lazy summer day song for any season. PJ is one of my favorite writers and the Beds have done an outstanding job of arranging this song. I believe it is the title track of their new record, and I’m eagerly anticipating this release. I imagine this one will make many a mix tape this year, and it’ll be the buzz song for every hazy day spent getting lost in the sunshine.”

MP3: Motel Beds “Sunfried”

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…with the weather finally letting up here in Daytonia, it made us feel a little lighter in our step and reminded us that Columbus twee/folk outfit Super Desserts will be returning to Dayton this weekend for a show at Canal Street Tavern. Armed with an array of ukeleles, banjos, glokenspiels, violins, and more percussive varietals than we could possibly keep straight, this is the kind of band that just makes us smile relentlessly with their feelgood singalongs. You can check out their debut album, Banjo Forever here. Super Desserts will appear alongside Dayton faves Shrug and the debut appearance of Floods, which we hear is the new project fronted by Tim Pritchard [Flyaway Minion] and Tod Weidner [Shrug]. Sounds like a perfect way to celebrate the holiday weekend. Just thought we’d give you a little advance notice…

…while we’ve been talking about the imminent release of The Motel Beds’ full-length debut Feelings for a while now, we have it on good authority that this little Gem of the Gem City should be making its way to market by the end of Summer. Brought to you courtesy of the venerable Fictionband Mechanics imprint and impeccably transcribed by their in-house engineering mastermind Darryl Robbins, rest assured that Feelings may very well be one of the finest albums to come out of Dayton in 2010. From dream-psyche epics like “Mr. Salad Days” to the ethereal acoustic dirge of “Bourbon Skies” to the unabashed pop confection that is “81 Sun”, this disc navigates disparate regions with unfailing ease. Tune in now, as The Motel Beds will appear live this Saturday, June 19, at South Park Tavern in what has unofficially been dubbed POP INVASION. Appearing with the Beds will be Shrug and Jesse Remnant & the Trainwrecks. See you there….

MP3: The Motel Beds “81 Sun”

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MP3: The Motel Beds “Bourbon Skies”

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MP3: The Motel Beds “Mr. Salad Days”

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…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…

..after hearing us talk about the new Southeast Engine album, From the Forest to the Sea for a while now, the band will bring the goods to Canal Street Tavern tonight. Opening up, and pulling double duty as well, is Jesse Remnant and his Trainwrecks (feat. members of Shrug). Do yrself a favor and do everything you can to make this show…

MP3: Southeast Engine “Black Gold”

…after disappearing for a few months late last year, the long-running Canal Street Tavern Musician’s Co-Op has made quite the resurgence in recent months. Thanks in large part to the efforts of Eric Cassidy (from Shrug), the Co-Op continues to serve as a fertile breeding ground for local songwriters to step out into the light and work out new material. The co-op takes place every Tuesday night at Canal Street Tavern and is always free to get in. Head on down and see it all before everyone else does…

…sure, it’s all too easy to make the obvious references to the earliest phases of a certain harmonica/guitar-playing-singer/songwriter. It’s also incredibly easy to get caught up on the fact that he’s only 18. The fact remains, however, that young Jordan Hull has issued an incredible debut album.

Working in the Nashville studio of Dayton ex-patriate Patrick Himes and accompanied by Dayton mainstays Brian Lakatos on bass (from Shrug) and Brian Hoeflich on drums (from Flyaway Minion/Brian Hoeflich & the All-Nighters), the nine tracks found on this disc display a command of songcraft that many of Hull’s elders have yet to attain. The Sun Records-flavored “On to Me” is an instant classic, with it’s singalong chorus that belies the song’s strained sentimentality. The incredibly powerful simplicity of “Better Than You” may be the album’s finest moment. With its hypnotic sway and pleading confessions, the song most clearly indicates the depth of Hull’s writing. Album closer “How Dare He” closes the case with its winding verses echoing some of Dylan’s finest moments from his earliest work and also from his post-Time Out of Mind era successes. Rather than be mired in the weight of the master’s early socio-political work, Hull draws more from the romantic introspection perfected on Blood on the Tracks.

This is not to say that Hull is merely a Dylan knock-off. Sure, the comparisons are easy to make. However, Hull’s other apparent affinity for the earliest strains of country-western, most notably those found through Hank Williams, infuse the album with a much-needed counterpoint. While the tracks that most readily evidence this (mid-album tracks like “Rusty Bones” and “Cause I Know”) are some of the weaker moments on the album, by their mere presence they indicate that Hull possesses the depth to transcend whatever similarities his work may have with Dylan and eventually come into his own. Keep in mind, Hull is not yet even in his twenties.

Perhaps more than anyone in Dayton at the moment, Jordan Hull is poised to make a name for himself outside of the Gem City. On the strength of his timeless songwriting, his masterful guitar and harmonica work, and a voice that is at once youthful and wise, Hull may soon catch the attention of audiences that will no more easily accept the unmistakable talent before them.

For a short time, Hull has made a track available as a free download at his website. Head over now and grab the free track, as well a samples of all the tracks…

…as the unseasonal heat nearly choked the city last evening, several of Dayton’s finest songwriters gathered for The Buddha Den’s first Songwriters-in-the-Round event at the legendary Canal Street Tavern. With four performers on stage at a time, each set delivered some incredible performances and an incredibly relaxed and fun show. In the first group, Nathan Peters (Captain of Industry), playing on Canal Street’s ancient upright piano, threw out some of his finest work with his band as well as a choice cover of an old Ohio Casket song by the all-too-reclusive PJ Paslosky. Nick Tertel (Sleepybird) might have seemed somewhat reserved without the backing of his sprawling outfit, but his country-flavored tunes truly blossomed in this context. In a rare solo performance, Derek Gullett (ex-Switchblade Serenade) showcased some of his more personal material, overcoming various technical glitches along the way…




…in the evening’s second set, Tod Weidner (Shrug) demonstrated yet again on his home turf why he continues to be one of Dayton’s underrated treasures. His literary wit and classic compositions are nearly as much a part of Canal Street’s charms as the battered stained glass. The younger, but no less vital, Andy Smith (Andrew & the Pretty Punchers) might have been buzzing on the eve of his band’s first proper recording sessions, but his songs of wisdom well beyond his years reminded us that this is a talent that will hopefully grace the Gem City for many years to come. After suffering through various technical aberrations, Dustin Rose (Toads and Mice) abandoned technology in favor of simple, yet elegant compositions. His departure from the material of his band completely shocked us and, yet again, gave of great hope of things to come. Newcomer Miranda offered up jazz/blues-flavored piano compositions and topped them off with a voice of such power and passion that we are hoping to see much more from her in the months to come…

For more photos from the evening, please go here.

…we at The Buddha Den have a very special treat for you this evening. The Buddha Den is hosting a Songwriters-in-the-Round tonight at Canal Street Tavern. For those of you unfamiliar with the format, there will be two sets, each featuring four musicians. Each player will do one song at a time for four rounds. Tonight we will be featuring some of Dayton’s finest songwriters: Nathan Peters (Captain of Industry), Tod Weidner (Shrug), Nick Tertel (Sleepybird), Andy Smith (Andrew & the Pretty Punchers), Dustin Rose (Toads and Mice), Derek Gullett (Switchblade Serenade), Mascot, and Miranda Pennington. We will also be recording this evening for future release as a FREE DOWNLOAD through The Buddha Den, so keep an eye out for that. We’ll see you tonight…