…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…

…wanna start your long weekend off with a bang? The only way to go is over at Aquarius tonight. The brutal grind of My Latex Brain headlines a bill that also includes heavy-hitters Sah (from Michigan), Accidently on Purpose, and Switchblade Serenade. After the smoke clears, you won’t know what hit ya….

…for your midweek mischief, we submit the following: head to Nite Owl tonight for five bands that are certain fix your rock n’ roll needs up just right. Dig the female-fronted onslaught of Accidently on Purpose, the garage-trash of Switchblade Serenade, the fuzzed-out duo Mountain Screamer, the deranged grind of Splattertude, and the big vintage riffage of Shame Club (out on tour from St. Louis). You know you wanna…

…it’s a good night for Dayton music yet again, kids. If you’re inclined to get yr drink on, head down to Jimmie’s Cornerstone to witness the garage-trash maelstrom that is Switchblade Serenade. Sharing the bill will be fuzzed-out newbie duo Mountain Screamer…

…if perchance you long for the intimate setting of a house show, we’ve got a great one for you tonight over at Acid Fever House. Opening the evening will be The 1984 NFL Draft (nee Joe Anderl), fresh off an East Coast tour. Next up you’ve got one of our absolute favorites, Toads and Mice. Closing the night will be perennial Columbus faves The Kyle Sowashes, who will be celebrating the release of their new album, Yeah, Buddy! Should be a great one…

…we just got a last minute notice that gutter-garage superstars Switchblade Serenade will make a surprise appearance at the Nite Owl tonight. What? The snow? Well, if yr brave, we’re sure you’ll be rewarded. Tell em The Buddha Den sent ya….

…with it being a leap year and all, it could have gone either way last night over at Canal Street Tavern. In fact, it went both…

…after missing the debut of opener Swell, we came in on an reduced lineup of Switchblade Serenade. Following the departure of guitarist Matt Webster, the remaining trio is soldiering on with incredible intensity. The sleeker outfit delivered their trademark gutter/garage with an intensity and directness that only bolstered their sound and left us hopeful for whatever might come next from this highly unpredictable group…

…as this was our first report on Accidently on Purpose, our expectations were high. Digging way back into an early 90s/pre-Nirvana brand of grungy punk, the band impressed us with a distinctive blend of punk/art-rock influences. Charismatic Greta Smak prowled the stage with burning intensity, drawing all eyes onto her and her band for the duration of their blistering set. As soon as you get a chance, be sure to catch them…

…at last, the moment of celebration on this evening had arrived, as the post-industrial juggernaut known as My Latex Brain unleashed its new album, Good Is Dead. Although there was lengthy delay due to myriad technical difficulties, the band persevered, channeling their frustrations into their performance and elevating the intensity of their sound to nearly unbearable levels. As bassist Chris Corn and drummer Roger Owsley initiated a sonic Blitzkrieg through the venue, singer Hoops screeched and howled his mutilated rantings, the sum which resulted in an unparalleled assault on all sensory intake. Truly, MLB is one of the most exciting and inventive bands in Dayton at the moment…

..for more pics from the show, take a look over here.

…we’ve gone and set up another giveaway for you, kids! Tonight My Latex Brain will be releasing their new album, Good Is Dead, over at Canal Street Tavern along with Accidently on Purpose, Switchblade Serenade, and Swell (who will be making their debut this evening). We’ve gotten our hands on some advance copies of the album and we’re giving them to you…

…to win, it’s simple: email us at buddhaden27@yahoo.com and put GOOD IS DEAD in the subject. We’ll present the winners this evening at the beginning of MLB’s set at Canal Street Tavern. You MUST be present to win. Take our word for it, this is an incredible dish of post-industrial brutality that you’ll wanna have…

GO!!!

…(we apologize in advance for a lack of visual evidence to accompany this report. Due to technical difficulties, we were unable to photograph this evening. In our defense, we are a small outfit and, to be quite honest, any photography would not have done the event justice.)…

….buried deep in the back of the Front Street complex, Dethfits’ base of operations doubled as a venue on this particular evening. As we navigated through the ice fields and made our way into the cavernous space, we learned we had arrived just after My Latex Brain had finished. Next up would be the Choir of Two Ohm Cicadas, who we knew precious little about. The duo proceeded to launch into what was largely derided by this audience. While we here at The Buddha Den relish good noise rock and ambient offerings, on this particular evening Choir of Two Ohm Cicadas offered us little in the way of any texturing or subtle melodic content which would drive music of this style. A trace of melody would bubble up on occasion, but for the most part the grind of the band’s sound was simply more than anyone could really tolerate on this evening. Perhaps a shorter set might have been the ticket…

…as the audience regrouped, local faves Grizzzzy Bear prepared to hit the stage for the second time this week. Struggling through some early technical difficulties, the band opened again with a new piece that strongly favors the band’s metal tendencies. While it is obviously a work-in-progress, on this night the band seemed somewhat more comfortable with the piece. Hopefully the band will iron out their ideas and trim it down to a manageable piece. As Grizzzzzy Bear proceeded with their set, they laid heavily into some their best tracks off their debut disc. The audience lurched back at the band, singing along with some of the most infectious songs in Dayton at the moment. As Grizzzzy Bear seems to be embracing a more muscular, metal edge these days, we are curious to see if they will succeed in integrating this element into their eclectic amalgam which was so successful on their debut disc, or if they will abandon the melodies in favor of the grind. With the inclusion of a cover of “Blitzkreig Bop” near the end of their set, we’re a little anxious to find out. Time will tell….

….we apologize for not having reports on sets by Akillis Green and Switchblade Serenade (who were performing as a trio on this evening). If anyone has the lowdown, we’d love to hear it…

…it seems the bloom has fallen off of Valentine’s Day, as Dethfits celebrates their Deth to Valentine’s Day show this evening. On hand you have the politically-charged industrial grind of My Latex Brain (whose new album, Good as Dead, hits on Feb 29), one of our favorites Grizzzzy Bear, the cowpunk of Akillis Green, the gutter/garage/trash of Switchblade Serenade, and the rarely-seen Choir of 2 Ohm Cicadas. All this for free. Yes, free. Just remember to go in the E door. See you there….

…if it’s raw rock n’ roll that’s gonna soothe yr soul tonight, we highly recommend you head over to The Oregon Express to catch two of Dayton’s finest. Making a rare live appearance will be The Professors, who are certain to whip you into a rock n’ roll frenzy. Opening the show will be the princes from the gutter, Switchblade Serenade, some of whom will be pulling double duty this evening. Head down and work it out…