Music

I first saw the Devil Doves in June of 2013 on the main stage at Comfest. On a stage that could probably fit 20 comfortably, it was just three guys with an acoustic guitar, an electric bass and the box-like latin percussion instrument called a cajon. The sound, though was massive; the audio engineer was on the top of his game that day, and the band took full advantage. All three players were concentrating on giving life to the groove, and letting everything else follow. More than anything else, of all the music I heard that day, they were different.   Recently, I had the opportunity to see the Doves at the 3 Legged Mare in the Arena District. I fought through a mob of Blue Jackets fans (4-2 win over the Capitals!), accidentally purchased a Guinness, and found the band onstage toward the back of the bar. They were doing it up for the hockey folk, tossing out the occasional cover tune, noting the existence of the tip jar and generally enjoying themselves. Again, it struck me that this was something far more interesting than the usual Columbus band Americana.   It’s the group thunk of the beat that does it.

In the summer of 2010 Wes Crow and Brandon Pettiford were members of different musical acts competing against one another at the Rising Star Talent Show in Gahanna. Neither of the teens won that day, but the event proved to be the genesis for one of the area’s most noteworthy emerging bands. One year later, Crow and Pettiford teamed up with Wes’ younger sister Julia to form Pett Crow, returned to the Rising Star and came away with top honors. The jazz scene in central Ohio may never be the same. It is rare these days to hear teenagers rattle off a list of musical influences that includes The Doors, The Who, Kiss, Motley Crue, Rush and The Allman Brothers Band. But such is Pett Crow, a trio featuring a pair of Olentangy High School students and an eighth grader at Gahanna’s Middle School East. “We’re a blues rock band,” said Wes, 16. “But we play old blues, modern rock and anything in between.” Pett Crow will be headlining a diverse lineup at this year’s Instaband Battle of the Bands semifinals, a 20-group competition taking place Friday Feb. 7 at GROOVE U’s campus in Columbus.

Justifiably celebrated as a statesman, civil rights warrior and all-around American hero, Pete Seeger was also an incredible musician. Beyond the civil rights anthems for which he is known, Seeger produced a huge body of work encompassing both traditional songs from around the globe and contemporary songs, many of which he authored himself. His songs can be pointed, serious, political, irreverent, hilarious and sometimes all of these. Many of his best recordings are live, with a healthy dose of audience participation (witness his 1964 solo version of “Wimoweh” (Mbube) in which he organizes the audience into three separate parts, before adding the falsetto part himself). His back catalog is a treasure of music, and well worth exploring. In the week since Seeger's passing, I have compiled eight of my favorite Seeger tracks, which I hope are a good jumping off point to his music. Whenever possible (and often it wasn't), I have tried to give the original release dates and albums for these songs, because in an 80 year career chronology matters. Seeger was so incredibly prolific, however, that running down all of his recordings would be an impossible task.

Many years ago, Andrew Herbert Davis, also known as Episkopos Udu Tribble, realized a great truth: people with titles get better seats at the ball park. Although not interested in sports, Andrew took this advice to heart and began collecting letters. Now, when sending out important letters, as important people sometimes must, Andrew finishes his signature sapp epoee rev ulc pop sp ahem. An explanation is necessary. Andrew belongs to a secret sect of devotees known as the Legion of Dynamic Discord. In fact, he is a Pope (Self-Appointed Pope and Poet). An Episkopos is an overseer. In this case, what is being overseen is the Para-Theo-Anametamiskhood of Eris Esoteric (see http://principiadiscordia.com/ for more information on the Goddess Eris and how you too can become a Pope). Andrew is also an ordained minister, Reverending for the Universal Life Church O’ Love In_Action. Feel free to make contact for information on weddings, wakes, house cleansings and other ministerial type duties. POP stands for Prince of Parsnips. This makes no sense and was added just for the letters. SP is for Snappy Pappy.

Normally if someone invites me to a spoken word event, I bestow the same mistrust I would if that person borrowed a $5 from me and did not pay it back. I might be polite but I would have a distant politeness to that human until they showed me a reason to want to engage with them. So I was a bit leery when I went to the Jan. 28 reading at No Place that featured N.E. Alt-Lit stars Jordan Castro, Mallory Whitten, Richard Wehernberg as well as Columbus “poets” Alex Mussawir, James Payne, Danielle, Cagialno and Ryan Eilbeck. The writers from N.E. Ohio are primed as this era’s voices. So if they were corny, then poetry would be ruined for another 5-12 years depending on what technological advances, atrocities and new drugs created another generation. As far as the people from Columbus, I am not so sure if I wanted to see them naked. Fortunately everyone mixed humor with insight. Some highlights, James Payne started the evening singing an acapella version of “Mercedes Benz” by Janis Joplin, and went on to speak candidly about student debt often having zero correlation with job prospects, and his preferences for interacting with certain types of intellectuals.

Jim began playing professionally in 1965, and has played with some of central Ohio’s most popular bands. He was a founding member and front man for such bands as: the original Gears, the Diplomats, the Lapse of Tyme, Tristram Shandy, the Alligators, the Dick Mackey Band, the Hipnotics and the Lynch Mob. In 1995 Jim founded the band, the JuJu Bees. As the bandleader, lead guitar player, lead singer — and the only member of the JuJu Bees to have performed at every show from the band’s inception to July 4, 2002 — he named the band for a humorous story in his past. Jim has also been an integral member of such bands as: the Dave Workman Blues Band, Tyler, Spittin’ Image and McGuffey Lane, among others.

As winter has sat on our faces with its historic polar vortex, one can and must fight back. In lieu of a soul-saving emergency trip to Puerto Rico and midnight strolls along Coronado Avenue sensually absorbing the Atlantico's oceanic thickening of the night's warm breeze, there is one and only way to beat this polar vortex shit: Johnny Go Winter Time Aerobics. Two perfect tunes to warm up to, both by the sexiest bastards of all time, the Rolling Stones: The groove of "Love I Strong” is somewhere between slow and medium-paced, confident and determined. Mick is out for some ass and he's going to get it. "Love is strong and you're so sweet/you make me hard and you make me weak," a good lyric to loosen up to. Do lots of hip shakes as you march in place, wave your arms like a bi-plane making passes at King Kong. "I followed you through swirling seas/down darkened with silent trees," Continue hips, arms and legs. Next song: the Stones--again. "Has Anybody Seen My Baby" is living proof the Stones are the best white R'n'B band that is, has and ever will be.

It's 6:45 on a Friday evening, and the Honky Tonk Happy Hour is rolling at the Shrunken Head. Singer-Songwriter Chad Lee Williams has just finished up his set and has headed to the bar where a mixed crowd of band invitees and regulars are milling around. Most have finished the drinks they hoarded during the Head's "Happiest Hour" from 5-6 (75 cent drafts and shots!), and must now content themselves with a mere happy hour discount. Onstage the Hellroys have just launched into their unhinged brand of rockabilly and are starting to pick up steam. Host Matt Monta tracks down each new guest as they walk in the door and gives them a raffle ticket for the nightly prizes of band memorabilia and a home baked pie. Perhaps because it’s the beginning of a Friday night, the mood is laid back – even jovial. The Hellroys finish their first song, tell a couple of jokes, and smash back into their set. The Happy Hour was started in 2010 when singer/guitarist Jamie Lyn moved to Columbus from Brooklyn, NY.

Action Bronson stormed the A & R bar stage after his deejay Party Supplies had just unleashed Mad Lion’s 1994 ragga banger "Take It Easy." His confidence beamed a vigilante’s aura that fit perfectly with Mad Lion's barking "Too Many Sucka's/Not Enough Time.” The room was packed and it greeted The Q-Boro emcee with the full adulation that hip hop tradition thinks a man with upper-echelon rap patterns, zooted stream of consciousness abstract metonymies that consistently align skill and hip hop taste level with an imperative for fellatio as reciprocation for his presence deserves. As he plowed through everything from his “the Saab Stories” EP to both “Blue Chips” tapes, to his early “Dr. Lecter” material and guest spots; the crowd was going line for line with him. At one point during his set, Bronson called out, "Introducing Bronsolino." The crowd responded with the next part "With My Hair Slicked Back I Look Like Rick Pitino" without missing cadence from his cameo from Chance the Rapper's "NaNa.” This was the moment of Chance’s arrival as well as Bronson’s. The humorous part of this line is that Bronson does not look anything like the dapper GQ -esque basketball coach.

William Ong is a long time performer in the Columbus music scene. From humble beginnings in the two piece funk, Primus-inspired Big Nasty to his current role in SRVVLST. Drums are his passion and he certainly does them justice. A graduate of Fort Hayes Arts and Academics High School, he now has an endorsement deal with Soultone Cymbals. FP: Put together your fantasy band, dead or alive. Hmm, well if I had to choose, it would probably be Brendan Canty from Fugazi on drums, Jaco Pastorious from Weather Report on bass, Jacob Bannon from Converge on vocals and on guitar/keyboard/vocals, Nick Reinhart from Tera Melos. I would imagine it to be a chaotic thrash-mathy post-punk jazz band. Nick Reinhart is a madman with guitar pedals and layering, Jaco Pastorious laying down harmonic melodies though a distorted Ratt pedal, Brendan Canty hammering out fat grooves and powerful fills following that dry farmer's bell making you lost in the pulse, all while Jacob Bannon leads this barrage of musical madness into a depressing, yet insightful onslaught of vocal hardcore bliss. I could see post punk math rock kids flailing around wanting to destroy each other while zoning out together.