Jazz, Jamming and Joy!

This weekend is full of jazz, jamming and joy.  Let's get right to it.

Thursday

Did you know the  Dayton Art Institute  holds regular jazz concerts free for its members?  Pretty cool!  Only $8 for non-members, which is a steal for the talent you'll see at these  Vectren Jazz & Beyond  concerts, held in the Shaw Gothic Cloister.  Tonight the  John Mortensen Trio  takes the stage from 5:30 – 8 p.m.  If you're a jazz fan  or just curious, stop in and take a listen. It's delightful. While you're there, take a stroll through the current exhibit of  American Impressionism , and you'll be feeling like quite the culture connoisseur.

Friday

A very jam-centric weekend kicks off with personal favorites  Subterranean, sharing the stage with Cleveland's up-and-coming band  Yosemight  at  Canal Public House . Bands are self-described as "improv with intent" and "progressive funk rock", respectively.  Very listenable, fun to dance to, and a great lineup for just a $5 cover.  If you are south of town, the  Old Crow Bar in Middletown is hosting the ever popular  Big Damn Jam , featuring Nashville's  Johnny Neel.  Johnny is a vocalist and keyboard player known for his stage and studio sessions with the Allman Brothers, Gov't Mule and Dickey Betts.  A varied assortment of Dayton musicians will take the stage with Johnny in a rotating spectacle of open jams, originals and standards that aim to please.

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Want something super high energy and danceable? With a little soul and funk put in for good measure?  Then get down with  Jah Sol  at the  Dublin Pub .  This ensemble, featuring a trio of fabulous backup singers, is a Dayton favorite - and a true joy to watch.

If you lean a little more country than rock or are just in the mood for some excellent acoustic musicianship, I highly recommend you head to the  Trolley Stop  for  The Repeating Arms , and Cincinnati's female lead  Honey & Houston .  There will be upright basses, mandolins, fiddles and banjos - and a whole lotta fun.  "Honey & Houston have made one of the best debut albums to emanate from the Greater Cincinnati music scene in recent memory, " heralds Mike Breen of CityBeat.  Lovely of them to visit our neck of the woods.  Show them some love!

Saturday

Saturday is set to be sunny and pleasant, and where else would you want to be than outside at  Garden Station.   Hosting a  Spring Show , with an $8 cover and a local lineup, this is a sweet way to start the evening.  Starting at 6 p.m. and changing on the hour are:  Michael Trash,  The Zygotes,  Manray and  Speaking Suns , with the music ending around 10 p.m. Fans of indie and fuzzy garage pop will love this show, and it's certainly a great jumping off point to see even more live music around town.

The jam-centric weekend culminates with an unreal lineup at  Oddbody's  music room. Kicking the night off are all-star regional favorites including:  Scott Lee and the Whiskey River Boys,  Tropidelic Magic Jackson and  Aliver Hall. Just this lineup is worth the $12 presale, $15 DoS ticket price.  Add on NYC's  Consider the Source , and the night sky rockets. Dubbed "Sci-Fi Middle Eastern Fusion" - wha? - this band's music is unique to say the least. Progressive, cerebral and worldly, they defy true description.  I suspect some Tool and Rush fans might really get into this music as well. Certainly not a night for one particular audience, the music ranges from folk to funk and everything in between.  Enjoy!

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Credit: Libby Ballengee

Last but not least,  Ghost Town Silence  is releasing its "The Shadows" EP and celebrating this feat at  Oregon Express  with  Todd the Fox  and  Akillis Green.  Ghost Town Silence is a Dayton rock'n'roll 5-piece known for almost a decade as "The Rebel Set".  In the Oregon District?  This is a $5 no-brainer!

Bonus Material

Check out  Gem City Podcast, which is a great way to learn more about some of the bands and venues I've mentioned above. If you're new to podcasts, it's essentially free, on-demand talk radio, and this particular podcast is devoted to finding out what's going on in Dayton on a more intimate level.  Check out episodes featuring Subterranean, Magic Jackson, Manray, Canal Public House and Oddbody's below, for more in-depth information about these bands and venues. And keep listening! As one of the co-hosts, we aim to deliver funny and thought-provoking conversations about all that makes the Gem City great.

http://gemcitypodcast.com/?p=1054

http://gemcitypodcast.com/?p=1235

http://gemcitypodcast.com/?p=1140

http://gemcitypodcast.com/?p=403

As always, thank you for supporting the live music scene in Dayton.  Cheers!

Your Dayton Music Insider,

Libby Ballengee

Note to Readers:   This lineup is for April 9-11, 2015. Please click the links to find out detailed information about the bands, venues and events, including start times, directions and pricing. I try to link band names with samples of their music. Always check with the venue about start times and ticket availability. As you can see, I try to promote as many shows as possible, but there will be some I miss. Keep me in the loop:  @LibbyBallengee

About the Author