…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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…it’s not often that things last in the world of rock n’ roll. Especially here in Dayton. So, for an event such as HoliDayton to see it’s eighth inception is a rather impressive feat. Under the direction of Mark McMillon and Poppy of The Story Changes, HoliDayton will return to Blind Bob’s this year, presenting two alternating stages filled with some of Dayton’s finest. Scheduled to perform tonight are:

The Story Changes
Kuan
JT Woodruff [of Hawthorne Heights]
Smug Brothers
C. Wright’s Parlour Tricks
Roley Yuma
Inviatation to a Bullfight [feat. members of Devil Wears Prada]
Father’s Day
David Payne
Brandon Hawk

Things get rolling at 8 pm and it’s a $7 ticket for 21 & up. Hopefully we’ll see a lot of you out there to bid farewell to another year here in the Gem City….

MP3: The Story Changes “Breed [Unreleased Nirvana Cover]”

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MP3: Kuan “M”

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MP3: Roley Yuma “Heavenly Hollow”

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MP3: Smug Brothers “Low Like Nothing”

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…it’s hard to believe that Dayton Music Fest 2010 is only a week away. We hope all of you are getting as excited as we are. We continue today with more Q&A sessions with the bands you’ll be able to see at DMF2010 with The Story Changes and Good Sir Con Artist…

BAND NAME: The Story Changes

HOME BASE (city): Dayton, OH

FORMED (year): 2004

STYLE OF MUSIC: Rock, Post-Punk

MEMBERS (names and instruments played): Mark McMillon – Vocals/Guitar, Christopher “Poppy” Popadak – Drums, Samples

SHARED INTERESTS OF BAND MEMBERS: Touring, Making Music, Coffee, Lost, Gadgets.

DISCOGRAPHY (release title and year):
Analogies – 2009 Future Destination Records
The Way of the Dinosaur – 2007 Future Destination Records
Dead to Me – 2006 Future Destination Records
Last Night a Rockband Saved My Life – 2005 Future Destination Records
The Story Changes / Sparechange? split – 2004 Confined Records

SONG THAT BEST REPRESENTS YOUR BAND (and why): I think our song Constellation has a good mix of a lot of the elements that make up our band. It has a fun hefty guitar riff that muscles it’s way through the song, a straight up pop style hook in the chorus, and a looped ending that basically turns into a drum solo, haha.

NUMBER OF DMF APPEARANCES (and years): I believe we have been lucky enough to play DMF the last four years, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006. It’s always a great time not only performing, but seeing a lot of friends out and about.

LATEST NEWS (what’s up?): We spent the largest part of the Summer on an seven week tour through the States. It’s been a very rewarding year and we’ve been having a lot of fun. We’ll take a short brake in November while both of us head to Europe with Hawthorne Heights. We will be finishing out the year with a run of dates through the Midwest in December, leading up to our annual HoliDayton show at the end of the year.

PLANS FOR 2011: We’re really looking forward to recording a new album early on in the new year.

WEB SITE: www.theStoryChanges.com

MP3: The Story Changes “Move Forward”

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BAND NAME: Good Sir Con Artist
HOME BASE (city): Gem City
FORMED (year): 2007
STYLE OF MUSIC: 90’s pop rock, indie
MEMBERS (names and instruments played):
Jacob Vox/Guitar
Andy Guitar/Vox
Evan Bass
Alex Drums
SHARED INTERESTS OF BAND MEMBERS: Money, Giggles, Talking when we Drink, and
forgetting to take pictures, Comparing Jeans, Not being mature enough for
gloves, Alex not telling what he hears
DISCOGRAPHY (release title and year): Self Titled 2007, This Just Happened
2007, Buying the Time 2009, Self Titled 2010
SONG THAT BEST REPRESENTS YOUR BAND (and why): Ones we haven’t written quite yet
NUMBER OF DMF APPEARANCES (and years): zero
LATEST NEWS (what’s up?): I tell ya the places we seen, they ain’t nowhere
to where were gonna be
PLANS FOR 2011: We’ll see what happens
WEB SITE: Type “Good Sir Con Artist” in Google

MP3: Good Sir Con Artist “Darla”

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…tonight over at Blind Bob’s sounds like it’s going to be quite the rock n’ roll party, so you might wanna plan on making it down. Along with longtime local faves The Story Changes, you’ve a newly reworked lineup of The Sound For Language, the new skull-rattling heaviness of Feathered Serpent!, and up-and-coming indie power-poppers Me & Mountains [who we previewed earlier this week for you]. Sounds like a veritable smorgasbord of rock n’ roll goodness. Get down there…

…over the past few months, Me & Mountains has been building some impressive momentum in the Gem City. With a highly polished indie sound and hooks that dig deep from the first listen, it’s really no surprise. The band are poised to release their debut self-titled EP [which was recorded/mixed by Fictionband Mechanics's own Darryl Robbins] later this Spring, from which the track “Foxy Friends” is taken. Dig the gnarly guitar intro that gives way to deep, swirling synths and a bitter realization of what happens when you tie the knot. As the story unfolds, the incessant chorus of “I do” takes on a delightfully bittersweet twist that perfectly juxtaposes the rather bouncy track. While it wouldn’t be a stretch to draw comparisons to either The Killers or The Strokes, there’s a certain Midwestern charm to M&M that doesn’t quite encompass the world of decadent after-hours parties in glamorous nightclubs with famous supermodels. Then again, we could be wrong. Take a listen and try not to hit repeat…

…while the disc isn’t scheduled for release until June on Fictionband Mechanics, we have it under good authority that advance copies may be available through the band this Friday at Blind Bob’s where the band will perform along with The Story Changes, The Sound for Language, and face-melting newcomers Feathered Serpent!…

MP3: Me & Mountains “Foxy Friends”

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…while we’re a couple days behind on getting this up to you, we just wanted to let everyone know about some Daytonians that are currently out on the road spreading the word. After a successful winter tour opening up for Hawthorne Heights, The Story Changes have teamed up with HH frontman JT Woodruff [on his first solo tour] and Spitalfield’s Mark Rose for the Never Say Decaf Tour. While it’s a brief stint for these epic travelers, it is February. Take a look at the dates below, have a look at the clip below and make it out if you can….

Feb 9 7:00P THE HOUSE CAFE Dekalb, Illinois
Feb 10 6:30P MIXTAPE CAFE Grand Rapids, Michigan
Feb 11 7:00P THE FACTORY Rochester, Michigan
Feb 12 5:30P FRANKIE’S INNER CITY Toledo, Ohio
Feb 13 6:00P MUSICA Akron, Ohio
Feb 14 6:00P ELEANOR RIGBY’S Jermyn (Scranton), Pennsylvania
Feb 15 6:00P Vibe Lounge Rockville Centre (Long Island), New York
Feb 16 6:30P THE LOFT @ THE AUCTION HOUSE Audubon, New Jersey
Feb 17 6:30P SOZO State College, Pennsylvania
Feb 18 6:00P THE BRICKHOUSE Nitro (Charleston), West Virginia
Feb 19 6:00P RHINO’S Bloomington, Indiana
Feb 20 4:30P BLIND BOB’S *EARLY SHOW ALL AGES* Dayton, Ohio
Feb 20 9:30P BLIND BOB’S *LATE SHOW 21+ Dayton, Ohio

…having recently returned from a 6-week bout of touring that took them from coast to coast, The Story Changes make their triumphant return to the Gem City tonight at Blind Bob’s to celebrate the release of their new split album, Analogies. Sharing disc time with AZ outift Let Go, Analogies is the result of a trip out west earlier this year to record with producer Jaime Woolford (Let Go/Punchline/Gin Blossoms) who mixed the songs together for a consistent sound and feel. This is the first release from TSC since 2007’s The Way of the Dinosaur. Also along for the ride this evening are good friends The Sound for Language (with a new lineup), Stone the Mayor Sheriffs, and 8-Bit Revival. See you there…

MP3: The Story Changes “Move Forward”
MP3: The Sound for Language “You’re Not Alone”
MP3: Stone the Mayor Sheriffs “Intuition Is Now”
MP3: 8-Bit Revival “We Space Out”

…earlier this week, The Story Changes announced that they’ve partnered up with their label Future Destination Records to re-release the band’s debut, Last Night a Rock Band Saved My Life. The reissue disc will also feature bonus tracks not on the original issue. Always ones to add a personal touch to everything they do, guitarist Mark McMillon prepped this cool little video clip for the announcement. Check it:

…you can grab this newness over here.

…there was a recent venue shift over to Blind Bob’s for this one and we wanted to make sure that all interested parties were made aware. Yes, we know it’s Monday, but it will be early start. We’re guessing music will get going somewhere around 8:30. Headliners The Forecast are in from Peoria, IL and locals The Story Changes, Vows, and newbies All Alliteration Aside are sure to make it an evening worth of yr attendance…

…tonight is the close of all the Halloween festivities kids, and you’ve got some excellent options to help you celebrate…

…if you head out early, swing by the Dayton Dirt Collective for their Misfits Tribute show. Twenty bands are gonna take turns bashing out a couple of tunes each, so it should be a good time…

…after that, you’ve got some choices to make. You can head over to Blind Bob’s for a fun bill with good friends. The Story Changes is hosting and have brought compatriots The Sound For Language, Stone the Mayor Sheriffs, and 8-Bit Revival along for the ride…

…or…you’ve got one of the single-longest-running annual events in Dayton music with the Monster Hop over at Canal Street Tavern. Brought to you by local punk icon Jamy Holliday, his Luxury Pushers will host Toronto’s Saigon Hookers and yet another local icon, Mitch Mitchell’s Terrifying Experience. Your eardrums will never be the same….