2016 Best of Dayton Underground – Official Round 1 Polling Results!

After more than 23, 250 votes were cast in Round 1, we are proud to  present you the official results for Round 1 of the 2016 Best of Dayton Underground contest!

SHOW RECAP & PICS: Dayton Underground Series – Songwriter Edition at Jimmie’s Ladder 11

The Dayton Underground Series continued last month by featuring six phenomenal local songwriters at Jimmie’s Ladder 11 in Dayton, and the night was dreamy from start to finish! The crowd was completely lured in by music from Raya, Kyleen Downes, Kevin Milner, Todd the Fox & Victoria Harper, Sharon Lane, and Jeremy & Lynne and The Typical Johnsons!

Maybe you think songwriters just sit around and sing folk songs by the light of a campfire, but we brought together a diverse group of writers who showed the crowd at Jimmie’s that songwriters can be fresh, pretty, political, soulful, funny, and even a bit rowdy from time to time!

The Highly-Anticipated Debut Album, ‘Maybe Sometimes’, Is Almost Here! | Kyleen Downes – Singer-Songwriter – Dayton, OH

It was spring of 2015, at Sideshow X, when I first heard the friendly, sweet voice of local singer-songwriter, Kyleen Downes, and now, coming up in July 2016, she’s preparing for the release of her highly-anticipated debut album, ‘Maybe Sometimes’! 

Her voice floated above the crowds on that day and found its way into my brain like a cool breeze, and since that show, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing her perform a number of times and watched her grow as a performer and artist!

Nothing Will Stop New Single, “I Am Love”, From Exploding With Happiness, Groove, & Love, Love, Love | Ed Roman – Canada

Canadian singer-songwriter, Ed Roman, is at it again, delivering a powerful, heartfelt, and fun message with his new single, “I Am Love” off his new album ‘Red Omen’!  “I Am Love” is love at its finest, love exploding out of every cell in your body, love not waiting for you to reciprocate.  It refuses to be turned away.  It defeats all your anger and sadness because it doesn’t see that as an obstacle, but rather a path to becoming happier.
“I Am Love” is groovy and danceable, and the happiness level is off the charts infectious!  The new single is heavily driven by a funky bass line, Roman’s strong voice, and a lyrical message of “radical” love.  There’s a sweet breakdown section in the middle with a cool, reggae, island kind of vibe where the music chills out and Roman goes conversational, versus singing. It’s that personal, conversational style that really draws you in to this song and shows the sincerity and honesty that is at the heart of all of Ed Roman’s music.
Check out “I Am Love” by Ed Roman, TODAY!

 

* This fellow artist is supporting our local scene right here in and around Dayton! Go check out their music! If you would like to help support this page and our local scene, contact Kimberly Weiss at DaytonMC@Live.com

Ari’s Take: 8 Reasons Why Singer/Songwriter Shows Are Boring

I just played a new songwriter series billed as #songwritersundays at The Fox and Hounds in Studio City, CA. They have built up quite a supportive crowd of musicians and music lovers for this Sunday series. Without fail, every Sunday the place is packed with an audience silently listening to the performing artists. This isn’t a glamorous event. There’s no stage. The artists setup in front of the front window, and for all intents and purposes it’s a bar. But what makes these shows special, is the crowd.

Run and booked by musicians and music lovers, these nights have become somewhat of a hidden gem of the Valley. Most people in the house are other singer/songwriters checking out the talent. And unlike the pay-to-play clubs on Sunset Strip, the singer/songwriters are paid a guarantee for their performance. And the show is free for attendees.

Before the show, a woman came up to me and mentioned that she was going to review my show for a publication she writes for. We got to chatting and she asked me a curious question, “why are most singer/songwriter shows unmemorable?” Taken aback (being a singer/songwriter) I asked her to expound. She said that most singer/songwriter shows she walks away from she can’t remember a single song they played and nothing sticks out to her about the show.

As someone who has probably seen (and played with) hundreds of other singer/songwriters, she had a point. Most singer/songwriter shows ARE boring. But that doesn’t mean that the singer/songwriter genre is boring.

So, dear singer/songwriters, here are 8 reasons why your shows CAN BE boring as hell:

Ari’s Take: 8 Reasons Why Singer/Songwriter Shows Are Boring.

“Nothing Better” Is Dynamic, Sweet, & Rockin! | Justin Willis – Pop/Rock/Singer-Songwriter – UK

Blazing a trail of powerful songwriting from the UK to the US and beyond, emerging rock artist, Justin Willis, has just released a lovely, new single called “Nothing Better” on Star 1 Records!

Bringing together power and sweetness reminiscent of major artists like U2 and Coldplay, “Nothing Better” is a mainstream dream! 

February Spotlight: Jeremy & Lynne – Homegrown, Grounded, & Tenacious

All this month, Music Connection Dayton is proud to spotlight the Singer- Songwriter duo of Jeremy Siegrist & Lynne Baker. Since 2012, these long-time friends from the small town of Minster, OH have been writing songs about life’s struggles, victories, and triumphs. Together, the pair embodies a “never give up” mentality that has carried them through the highs & lows of the music biz!

Dayton Music Insider: Women Rock the Weekend!

      

Source: Dayton Music Insider: Women Rock the Weekend!

“Patience With My Heart” Ups the Ante for Bernie Journey | Pop/Dance Singer-Songwriter – Cleveland/New York

“Patience With My Heart” ups the ante for Pop & Dance Singer-Songwriter, Bernie Journey (Cleveland, OH/NY, NY)! We’ve had the opportunity to explore a number of tracks now from Bernie, and they’re always packed with great beats and sweet melodies! We’ve come to expect a certain standard in each new track, and “Patience With My Heart” is one of the best we’ve heard yet from Bernie!

“My Still Small Voice”: One Man’s Anthem for Solidarity | Tony Watson – Singer-songwriter – WV

A brand new release from Shine On Records, “My Still Small Voice” by West Virginia native, Tony Watson, is one man’s pleas about the epic problem of homeless and displaced persons everywhere, but it has the potential to carry a great message to many music fans around the world!