The Rhythm Report

Bethesda showcases at SXSW 2013 (Interview with Shanna Delaney and Eric Ling)

2013-03-14T07:33:00.004-04:00

Bethesda is making its second trip to South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. Over the next three days, the folk-rock group has several showcases lined up including the Cleveland Rocks Showcase, which will also feature Winslow, Attack Cat and The Lighthouse and The Whaler.

Shanna Delaney (vocalist) and Eric Ling (guitarist/vocalist) invited The Rhythm Report into their home for an interview one week prior to their take off to SXSW. They talked about what they learned from their first experience at the massive music event in 2012 and what they are expecting from their 2013 "unofficial" tour at the festival.

The band's scheduled for showcases Thursday, March 14 through Saturday, March 16. Visit www.bethesdaband.com or follow the band on Twitter for updates.

Share this video on Twitter:
@TheRhythmReport
@BethesdaBand
#BethesdaSXSW

Interview conducted by Priscilla Tasker
Camera support provided by Stephanie Snyder

Monday Muse: Sean Benjamin "Love Me Like A Drug"

2013-03-04T16:36:00.000-05:00

Musical artist Sean Benjamin released this devilish music video last fall to the tune of his 2011 track "Love Me Like A Drug." His acoustic-hip-pop sound melds with a rhythmic lounge groove in this confession of love obsession. The music video was produced by Cleveland-based FNA Productions, which is heading out to Los Angeles this week to represent its 48-Hour Film Project winner, Phemimenon, at 48HP Filmapalooza 2013.

Benjamin plays a free show at Buzzbin Art & Music Store in Canton on Friday, March 8 with Northeast Ohio staple, Oldboy, and Winslow, who recently released its sophomore album, Left of the Right Direction.

Music Video: The Modern Electric "All We Have Is Now"

2013-03-03T13:05:00.001-05:00

For whom would you become a zombie? The Modern Electric's latest music video begs the question. At the stroke of midnight on March 2, the band released a cinematic short feature complementing its single "All We Have Is Now."

[SPOILER ALERT]

Catering to the national zombie addiction, the video relates the dark commitment of a man to his beloved–in spite of her soulless condition as a bloodsucking, flesh-eating corpse. Initially, he runs from the exquisite monster as she chases him through a wooded path and neighborhood landmarks. Flashbacks to their relationship prior to her conversion reveal his enchantment with the girl. To preserve her existence, damned as it may be, he succumbs when he finds her threatened by a band of hicks ready to clobber the walking dead.

The script is a bizarre take on a love song, but the imagery and the audio will stick with you. Watch the video and share your thoughts.

The Modern Electric is up for best local act in Cleveland Scene's annual "Best of Cleveland" survey. See who else is on the list and vote here.

12 artists 'Live from Bad Racket'; studio announces first compilation release

2012-11-14T03:18:00.002-05:00

Source: Bad Racket Recording Studio
http://badracketrecording.bandcamp.com/

A multitude of sounds have been projected in the craft studio space of Bad Racket. During two years of operation, the production team has recorded and engineered a mix of full-length records and EPs and coordinated numerous live shows (on- and off-site events). Hundreds of songs have reverberated off the aged walls and colorful hand-fashioned partitions that enliven the open performance space.

Arguably one of the most successful endeavors helping to launch the studio out of Northeast Ohio obscurity is the Live from Bad Racket video series it launched in collaboration with Ohio Authority in 2010. To commemorate the growth of the video series, Bad Racket assembled––and will release on Nov. 20––its first compilation album reflecting the sundry musicians with whom the studio worked in its infancy.

The musical corpus comprises the first dozen artists and bands to be featured in the Live from Bad Racket series from 2010 through 2011. It is a diverse audio showcase, which includes tracks by Signals Midwest, Nick Zuber, The Family Womack Band, and Thaddeus Anna Greene. [Full track listing available here.]

"I've been planning this for a long time. Basically, since we did the first video I wanted to release the audio," said Thomas Fox, Bad Racket co-owner and studio manager. "It's been two years since I first started thinking about this."

Signals Midwest was the first band to appear in a Live from Bad Racket music video. The group's guitarist and vocalist, Max Stern, recollects his early experiences with the studio.

"I was kind of the guinea pig," Stern said, attributing his Bad Racket introduction to his acquaintance with studio co-founder Adam Wagner. Stern was working at Go Media, a marketing and design agency located two floors above the studio on Lorain Avenue in Ohio City. Wagner invited him and his band to demo some tracks in the recording space, which was still bare-walled and lacking a proper audio control panel. Despite meager aesthetics in the performance chamber, Stern said the pre-session hangouts and listening parties made the difference. He scheduled Signals Midwest for a recording session in October 2010. That month, the Live from Bad Racket series was born with the recording and filming of "In Tensions."

"I didn't know Live from Bad Racket was going to become this big thing," Stern said, adding, "We must have played that song 15 to 20 times that day because the director, Aaron Freeder, only had one camera."

Stern admitted he was sick of the song by end of the day. However, the overall experience and resulting product led to an official recording session for Signals Midwest's full-length album, Latitudes and Longitudes––another first for Bad Racket. [Wagner and Stern recount the experience in this recent Bad Racket blog post and interview.]

"I feel like we got on the ground floor of something really awesome," Stern expressed.

Since then, the band has recorded several smaller projects, including a couple of split 7" records with ally bands French Exit and Shady Ave. Stern even recorded a solo acoustic project, Meridian, at the studio.

"I don't feel the need to go anywhere else," Stern said. Describing Bad Racket's recording process as "open, communicative," he explained, "I felt really taken care of as a musician, like they wanted the output to sound as good as I wanted it to."

Launch event – Part I

Signals Midwest will headline the first of four launch events to promote the Live from Bad Racket compilation album on Friday, November 16.

"Thomas has put together four really cool shows. Each kind of reflects a different genre so this is kind of the 'punk rock' show," Stern said. "I'm excited we're headlining. I feel like we've been together since the beginning. It's cool to carry it over into this."

Accompanying Signals Midwest for Friday's show are:

Ma Jolie (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Worship This! (Cleveland/Akron)
En Garde (Akron/Kent)

The event will be held at Bad Racket Recording Studio, 4507 Lorain Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44102.

Official release details

On Nov. 20, the Live from Bad Racket compilation album will be available through online vendors i-Tunes and Amazon. Hard copies will be available at exclusive Northeast Ohio venues: Music Saves, Room Service and The Root Cafe. Pre-ordering for digital or hard-copy editions of the album is open now through BandCamp.

PheMIMEnon wins threefold at Cleveland's 48 Hour Film Project wrap party

2012-08-10T22:38:00.000-04:00

In 48 hours, the FNA Production crew and a band of merry volunteers joined to brainstorm, write, film, edit and complete a 7-minute silent film which recounts a man's devastation as he is diagnosed with Mimeitis, also known as Mime Disease.

The story is one of courage and self-discovery as Rick Everett learns to embrace what he has become in a cold civilization that does not take kindly to his type. Yet even in a world where mimes are disregarded as a scourge of society, he finds love in a mischievous "mimette" who shows him that the pantomime life is not all bad.

Tonight the film received recognition at the Cleveland 48 Hour Film Project wrap party for
Best Acting Ensemble, Audience Choice, and Best Picture. I had the pleasure of being a part of this fantastic team. Congratulations to all involved!

Genre: Silent Film, Romantic Comedy
Directed by Benjamin Barr
Produced by Len Ganley and Carl Drotleff

Monday Muse: The Floorwalkers "Some Love" Live from The Mug and Brush barbershop

2012-01-23T03:29:00.000-05:00

Brite Winter announces 30+ featured bands to play at free event in Ohio City

2012-01-20T18:24:00.000-05:00

Brite Winter organizers announced the lineup of musical entertainers who will be performing at the third annual arts and cultural festival on February 18. Musicians will play on an outdoor stage on Bridge Avenue in Ohio City as well as at venues throughout the neighborhood.

The outdoor stage acts include:

Bad Veins

Tom Evanchuck and The Old Money

The Lighthouse and The Whaler

Bethesda

Black Taxi

Almost 30 additional acts will be featured at locations such as Bon Bon Bake Shop, Joy Machines Bike Shop, Garage Bar, Great Lakes Brewing Company, Touch Supper Club, Market Ave. Wine Bar and Dragonfly Lounge. Visit http://www.britewintercleveland.com/ for more information about the event.

Through the TurnStyle features Smoke Screen

2012-01-17T02:30:00.000-05:00

Through the TurnStyle - Smoke Screen from TurnStyle Films on Vimeo.

Monday Muse: Kipp Stone "Live from the Tap" music video

2012-01-16T00:33:00.001-05:00

Fresh off the weekend, heading back into the office, I thought we could all use a steady beat to ease into the week. This Monday Muse features Cleveland hip hop artist Kipp Stone, whom I discovered on Saturday as I researched another local artist, psychedelic blues rocker Thaddeus Anna Greene. The two collaborated on the three-volume, 27-song mixtape series King Basi & The Brougham Music, which is an hour and 28 minutes of lyrical rhapsody and badinage laid over raw, rhythmic and melodic instrumental cuts. (I'm quite pleased with this find.) Nod your head to "Live from the Tap," track five on Volume 3: Dolce Victoria.

This music video was released last October just days before A Right To Create Music Group launched Stone's debut album, Video Game Kids. If you like what you've heard, also watch the artist's newest music video for "Pine Marten" off of King Basi & The Brougham Music Volume 1: Hollywood North.

Antoine Dunn: A dream comes true - Abram - Ohio.com

2012-01-08T18:25:00.000-05:00

Akron Beacon Journal pop music writer Malcom X Abram writes about Cleveland Heights' budding R&B star Antoine Dunn in this Jan. 8 article, Antoine Dunn: A dream comes true. Dunn reveals the bittersweet nature of his recent global and national achievements as he laments not being able to continue sharing the experience with his mother, who passed away in the fall of 2011. In the article, he describes these times as "the best days and years of my life, and the worst ones at the same time."

Read the full article on Ohio.com.

Dunn's music video for his new single, "Can't Forget," premiered on BET's 106 & Park on Dec. 26. Watch the video here.

Live from Bad Racket: Nights "Walk Away"

2012-01-01T23:27:00.000-05:00

Lugging musical instruments and gear to a roof accessible only by a ladder and a ceiling exit is no easy task. But that’s what Director Aaron Freeder and the Bad Racket Recording Studio team had to do to pull off the Nights Live from Bad Racket video shoot last fall. In fact, Nights front-woman Jenna Fournier said the production team had to tie the drums with ropes and pull them up the side of the building.

Bethesda was the first band to be filmed on the roof of the studio on Lorain Avenue for the “Live” series. However, the Nights production was fittingly the first Live feature shot atop the building after dusk. Some residents in the Ohio City neighborhood apparently were not too thrilled with the raucous rockers performing amidst bright flashing lights late into the evening.

"Someone had actually called the cops on us. We had to quit for the night and come back the next day," Fournier said, adding that night two wrapped earlier in the evening to avoid another noise complaint.

Freeder released the Nights Live from Bad Racket music video via Vimeo on January 1. The black-and-white feature stars the band performing “Walk Away.”

"Aaron who shot it, i thought, is very talented," Fournier said. "He had a vision, and we just did what we do and played."

Live From Bad Racket - Nights from Aaron Freeder on Vimeo.

On being asked to join the Live from Bad Racket featured artists, Fournier said, "We were flattered, and they have done a lot in the year they've been around. They did it kind of as a perk for us recording there. If we were to hire someone to do that, it would be thousands of dollars. It's a nice promotional tool to have."

Nights recorded its upcoming full-length album with Bad Racket, but is still working on wrapping up the final product. Fournier said the group is re-tracking a few things and outsourcing mixing. The record is expected to release in early spring. The band is hoping to be on tour by summer.

Nights' next show is at The Happy Dog on Tuesday, January 10. The band will play with psych-pop rockers DOM.

Nights is also scheduled for February 18 at the Beachland Tavern. Twin Sister will headline the show featuring Ava Luna.

The Rhythm Report looks back on year of growth, success

2011-12-31T15:41:00.001-05:00

It's been an incredible year for The Rhythm Report. I started this blog in 2010, but the hard push to get this site up and running came in early 2011. Countless shows and 87 posts later, I'm looking back on a year of growth and success. Thank you to the musicians, readers and supporters that have helped make this publication what it has become.

A special thanks goes out to Todd Volkmer and Erin Ludlam of Wasted Talent Media, for providing the Indie Box Live Concert series, and to contributing writers Ty Kellogg and Bryan Pauley. [Kellogg wrote United we stand: Tom Evanchuck, Red Wanting Blue and Kent State Folk Festival: Failed coverage (almost); Pauly wrote Concert review: Energy ebbs, flows at Interpol show]

I'm looking forward to the new opportunities 2012 will bring. Here are two lists to wrap up the year: the most-read articles of 2011 and a few editor's faves.

Most-read articles of 2011

There is no music scene here — Nov. 6
Monday Muse: "Babel" Humble Home — Nov. 14
The Floorwalkers' DIY approach spurs grassroots growth — July 18
Last-minute music fest takes Rock Hall, Science Center — Aug. 2
Tom Evanchuck strikes a chord with three new records — May 23
Review: The Only Man - Lydia Loveless — March 17
Local artist Rob Geer's last show at Grog Shop signals new life out West — Sept. 29
New album: Rob Geer releases Find Your Way Home on Bandcamp — Dec. 28
Good vibes emanate at Painesville Party in the Park — July 21
A Rhythm Report film – The Great Unsaid: Documented — Oct. 23
I would have liked to include an eleventh headline. Unfortunately, Blogger's subpar analytics would not allow me to dig that deep to find out which article would have made it. Blast it! Goal for next year: New site platform with stellar analytic capabilities!

Editor's faves
These articles did not make the cut for being most read, but they are a few that I think have added value to The Rhythm Report in the past 12 months. (Note: The following headlines are listed by date, not priority.)

The Lighthouse and The Whaler celebrates the season, ushers in 2012 with career, fan focus — Dec. 20
From the back of the Beachland: Bethesda talks licensing, plans for new album — Nov. 30
Live, local music is at heart of Bad Racket anniversary show — Oct. 25
Bad Racket Anniversary Show! Full interview with Thomas Fox and Adam Wagner — Oct. 21
"TOM" beyond the Evanchuck: An interview with The Old Money — Oct. 9
Concert Review: Saturday at The Auricle with The Singular, Vinny Vegas — Sept. 12
Top-charted Vitium talks about recording new EP — July 10
Audio interview: Winslow's Maurice Martin talks about recording with Grammy award-winning producer, summer tour and more — May 8
Interview: DJ David Beans debuts at Ballantine — April 4
Cellar Door Records release: The sign of a new era for NEOhio music — March 25

Final success of 2011: Hitting 10,000 blog views for the year! It hasn't happened quite yet as I prepare to publish this article, but I'm looking at a beautiful number: 9,999. If you're reading this, you've helped me hit or surpass my goal. Thank you.

New Album: Rob Geer Releases Find Your Way Home on Bandcamp

2011-12-28T02:21:00.000-05:00

Written by Priscilla Tasker

Rob Geer released his debut
album on December 27.

Independent artist Rob Geer announced the digital release of his full-length debut album, Find Your Way Home.

The 10-song track list is a compilation of songs Geer has written over several years; some had previously been recorded with Jeff Toy (A Little Bit of Orange EP) and Cellar Door Records ("It Might Be"). The gradual acquisition of new recording equipment empowered him to fine-tune the material into a completed project over the past three months.

Geer said the final product might have been released earlier, but a technological mishap delayed completion. A hard drive crash wiped out his post-production mixing work in November, causing him to revert back to older tracks, which had been saved. Despite the set back, Geer was able to present the final compilation this week, before the year's end.

"It feels great! I'm extremely happy to be done and to move on to some other things I've been working on," Geer said. "I took a little break from mixing everything, for things to feel fresh again, then finally finished a couple days ago."

Re-mixing revives early material
Two of the songs featured on the album had previously been released on A Little Bit of Orange EP in January 2010. The original recordings of "A Little Bit of Orange" and "Dead End" had more dark, progressive rock characteristics and lacked the higher-quality mixing of the new tracks.

Geer released A Little Bit of Orange EP as
The Conductor and The Creator in January 2010.

The latest recording of “A Little Bit of Orange” opens with the song’s catchy blues riff, but Geer stripped it down. He swapped psychedelic guitar trills with clean chord progressions and harmonious picking, and replaced weighty drums with the light percussive flavor of a shaker.

"Dead End," as previously recorded, jumps right in with full guitar, drums and vocals. Geer takes his time in the new recording, building the essence with a lone guitar, followed by vocals and discreet bass tones.

That patience and permeable space in the music speaks to the merit of the finished product. Geer has performed and released variations of most of the songs featured on Find Your Way Home at live shows and through digital demos. Now, in absolute form, these songs are evidence of Geer’s artistic growth and maturity.

“They just weren’t how I wanted them to be heard, so I decided to add some extra things in here and there,” Geer said. "The A Little Bit Of Orange EP was recorded in Jeff Toy's attic and basement with all of his equipment. The only musicians on that are me and him, but I wanted to release acoustic versions of those songs because I feel like they fit as a whole with Find Your Way Home."

Toy is credited on Geer's new album for his mixing and harmony work on “You Could Be All Mine.” The ethereal romantic ballad adds a touch of tenderness to an otherwise verbally grave collection.

Enlivened lyrics are illustrative, palpable
Geer is poetic. His lyrics are vivid, almost tangible. The inclination to write about sordid human endeavors in songs like "Human Nature" and "Assassin" is distinctive of his creative aesthetic.

"Human Nature," which features Dan Thompson's bass stylings, is a three-minute and 48-second dissertation on the faults of mankind. Geer compares men’s cold acts to the violent instincts of beasts, howling, "Packs of wolves kill their prey with one bite to the neck, and no one says a God damn thing. Their just wild animals – but what do you call us humans when we shoot people just for fun."

“Assassin” is a chilling account of a feigned lovers. Full and pure, Geer demonstrates his vocal power. The physical strain is audible as he cries out, “Call me the assassin. Call me what you will,” after taunting, “The way you tore apart your life, thinking every second chance wasn’t broken ‘til you found out everybody’s gone – and I just lied to you again.”

The lyrical content of Find Your Way Home is complemented by alluring, well-crafted melodies ("Under Devil's Skin") and capacious harmonies ("Keepin' My..."). Geer delved into the depths to produce these auditory gems – and they are sparkling.

Read more Rob Geer coverage on The Rhythm Report:

Weekend Prelude: "It Might Be" Rob Geer in Colorado wilderness

Local artist Rob Geer's last show at Grog Shop signals beginning of new life out West

New video: Live from 6ixth City Tech Fest

Artists review Cellar Door Records Volume III

Rob Geer opens with demo at The Grog Shop

"The Conductor," Oldboy roused fans at The Grog Shop

Video Premiere: Antoine Dunn's "Can't Forget" lands spot on BET's 106 and Park

2011-12-26T19:41:00.000-05:00

Source: Antoine Dunn
Official Facebook page

Soul singer and Cleveland-area native Antoine Dunn is celebrating the national release of the music video for his single "Can't Forget," which premiered on BET's 106 and Park tonight, Monday, December 26.

Dunn is an accomplished songwriter and mutli-instrumentalist who has toured with Anthony Hamilton, performed with Musiq Soulchild and Avant, and is noted on the production credits for Lakisha Jones' debut album.

"Can't Forget" is Dunn's first single launched by Elite Music Group Incorporated, which signed the artist in August 2011. The song was co-written and co-produced by Jerry Lang II (JL), pianist and producer, who is known for his work with Vitium and Nicholas Wonder a.k.a. Nicholas Smalc. Lang studied at The Cleveland Institute of Music and has released successful hip hop hits with Vitium in Japan.

The music video was uploaded to Dunn's official YouTube page on December 12. In the past two weeks, it has received 2,044 hits.

Fans of the video can text #cantforget to 79922 to secure its future appearances on 106 and Park.

Monday Muse: "Falling Away" by Rob Montague [Flat Earth Society show at House of Blues – Cleveland]

2011-12-26T18:09:00.001-05:00

Rob Montague released a self-directed music video for the song "Falling Away" off his latest album Farewell Song, which is available on Amazon, iTunes and CD Baby.

The entire video was shot with an iPhone 4. The dusty effect of black-and-white film was achieved using the 8mm Vintage Camera App from Nexvio.

According to The Rock blog's album review of Farewell Song, Montague will perform with a new band called Flat Earth Society next year. The group is playing a show with Downplay and Silver Lights at House of Blues in Cleveland on January 4. Tickets are $10. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Lyrics to "Falling Away" are available on Montague's ReverbNation.com page.

Video: "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch" performed by Red Wanting Blue

2011-12-25T18:39:00.001-05:00

Scott Terry's gruff, snarling vocals give a perfect touch of grit and mire to Red Wanting Blues' rendition of the classic "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," written about Dr. Seuss' great Christmas antagonist.

Thurl Ravenscroft's original recording of the song for the 1966 cartoon film "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" has been second to none, but Red Wanting Blue may have inched its way into my top holiday favorites with this one.

"On Christmas Morning" by Zach

2011-12-24T15:38:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas to all from The Rhythm Report!

Enjoy the next two days with your closest family and friends. Here's a little tune from Zach to start the magic on Christmas day.

"On Christmas Morning" (2005) – Zach

Hear more Christmas songs from Northeast Ohio artists in these Rhythm Report posts:

The Modern Electric – "Northcoast Christmas"

Bethesda – "If This is Christmas"

Holiday Spectacular Shows: Music Fills The Night in Northeast Ohio

2011-12-23T14:23:00.000-05:00

Folks are home for the holidays and Northeast Ohio musicians and venues from Cleveland, Akron and Canton are celebrating. Here is the event list for the night.

Kent – The Speedbumps Christmas Fun Time Show

8 p.m. - The Kent Stage

Painesville – The Carsons Holiday Party and Reunion Show

7 p.m. - Scores Fun Center

Akron – David Ullman Album Fundraiser with Enormity and Bushman

8 p.m. - Musica

Lakewood – A Very Acoustic Christmas with Tom Evanchuck and Cool Jason

9:30 p.m. - Merry Arts Pub

Lakewood – Pilgrim and Echo Canyon Players in Concert

9 p.m. - The Winchester Music Hall

Canton – !Dance Night!

11 p.m. - The Auricle Venue

iLTHY Store Grand Opening recap video dubbed with RJD2's "Smoke and Mirrors"

2011-12-22T16:58:00.001-05:00

Jason Kandalec (JasonUnoriginal) produced this recap video of iLTHY Workshop's grand opening event at its Gordon Square Arts District location on Detroit Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Modern Electric Northcoast Christmas Show at Grog Shop tonight – Thursday, December 22

2011-12-22T14:20:00.001-05:00

Raise your voice at the The Modern Electric's Northcoast Christmas show tonight at The Grog Shop. The doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Admission is $6.

Hear the band's latest ditty a "Northcoast Christmas," which the group describes as a song that captures the joys, struggles and triumphs of a Christmas on the Northcoast.

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://themodernelectric.bandcamp.com/album/northcoast-christmas-2"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Northcoast Christmas by The Modern Electric&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Opening acts include:

Tom Evanchuck and The Old Money – From acoustic folk tunes to Rock 'n' Roll-infused blues ballads, Tom Evanchuck and band put on a hell of a live show that is sure to get you on your feet and moving on the dance floor.
The Ruby Spirit – This spunky indie rock band hails from Toronto, Canada. The five-member group fosters an old-time feel with an exuberance for trippy synth play, ragtime dramatics and mod-era rock orchestrations.
The Plastic Hearts – With an intermixing of Americana roots and indie nonchalance, The Plastic Hearts adds an absorbent resonance to the night's eclectic roster of musicians.

The Grog Shop is located at 2785 Euclid Heights Boulevard, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44106.

The Lighthouse and The Whaler celebrates season, ushers in 2012 with fan, career focus

2011-12-20T08:02:00.002-05:00

The Lighthouse and The Whaler is in the Christmas spirit. Fans who've been following and keeping in touch with the Cleveland-based band can expect to receive a special gift from the group in their home mailboxes this week. The band spent a few hours on Sunday night creating and writing personal Christmas cards to devout followers – several who live abroad – to thank them for their continued support and to wish them a Merry Christmas.

In three short years, The Lighthouse and The Whaler (TLATW) has released a full-length album and an EP, toured coast to coast and appeared at high-profile events, including the Paste and Rdio Afternoon Delight at The Living Room. (Watch the video of TLATW performing "We've Got The Most" at The Living Room below.)

The band's work has been accompanied by a fanfare of media coverage from Spinner, KEXP 90.3 Seattle and BMI. Paste Magazine launched an exclusive premiere of the single "Venice" in October, and MTV described the band as "really cool melodic folk-rock ... and a live show you've got to check out for yourself."

"When we first started, I didn't think our music was that good, but you have enough people tell you that and you start to believe it," said Mike LoPresti, lead vocalist and guitarist. When asked how the band has achieved its success to date, LoPresti responded with a burst of sincerity, "By the grace of God and our fans!"

A strong online presence has helped The Lighthouse and The Whaler reach music appreciators. The band has amassed a following of more than 4,200 Facebook fans, and the group has engaged those fans this year with a Kickstarter campaign, free downloads from Daytrotter* and a "Get to Know the Band" month. The individuals who comprise TLATW are dedicated to building relationships and open dialogue with listeners, and have put all their effort into making those connections relevant.

“We've been out to eat with people after shows; people will let us stay at their houses [while touring]. We've made a lot of good friends along the way, and there are people we’ve stayed with multiple times," LoPresti said. "People just want to know that you care."

Hard work and seizing opportunity has also been at the heart of The Lighthouse and The Whaler's achievement. Multi-instrumentalist Aaron Smith said the band doesn't say no to a lot of opportunities. However, he added the caveat, "We don’t do everything that comes our way either; we try to be smart about it."

Smith addressed the fact that major changes and lagging record sales in the music industry has made it difficult for bands to land big-time record deals without putting forth a significant amount of personal effort into building up to that career opportunity.

“It seems like a lot of people in the industry are scared to take chances on bands," Smith said. "Bands have to build their careers by themselves. You have to be willing to give your all to the project. It just seems it’s more difficult to get them to look at you if you haven’t done that already."

The five men mapped out a plan for increased exposure in the coming year that includes extending its reach to fans through touring and a social media campaign to launch new material.

The Lighthouse and The Whaler is finalizing contracts with a major New York-based PR agency and a licensing company to support the group through 2012 as they release several singles through January and February and a full-length album in the summer, according to LoPresti. The select PR agency will also be promoting the band as it prepares for its February-March tour, which will include a stop at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin.

Stay tuned to The Rhythm Report for details about The Lighthouse and The Whaler's new album and its pending summer-time release.

Northeast Ohio fans can see this band perform next at The Grog Shop with Bears and Afternoon Naps on February 11, 2012.

*Since the release of The Lighthouse and The Whaler's Daytrotter session in July, Daytrotter.com has gone to a members format that charges $2 per month for the opportunity to download thousands of live recorded sessions with an impressive library of artists.

Christmas comes: Bethesda celebrates the season with song

2011-12-18T23:17:00.000-05:00

Bethesda released a modern Christmas hymn "If this is Christmas" on Sunday, December 18, one week before the Christian holy holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Shanna Delaney and Eric Ling crafted the beautiful baroque-style serenade and recorded it with Dan Corby in one day, stating on the band's Bandcamp page, "This is our gift to you."

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://bethesda.bandcamp.com/track/if-this-is-christmas"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;If This is Christmas by Bethesda&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Delaney's endearing vocals are reminiscent of Karen Carpenter crooning the classic "Merry Christmas, Darling," composed by Richard Carpenter with lyrics by Frank Pooler. Much like the song that earned The Carpenters a Billboard No. 1 holiday hit in 1970, Bethesda's Yuletide carol has the potential to make its history in the hearts of families celebrating this special time of year.

Lyrics to "If this is Christmas" are available on Bethesda's Bandcamp page.

Read more about Bethesda in these Rhythm Report posts:

From the Back of the Beachland: Bethesda talks licensing, plans for new album

Music Video: Bethesda "Dreamtiger"

Here Only Good Music For All: War - The World Is A Ghetto (Soul/Funk/Jazz)

2011-12-16T19:57:00.000-05:00

Here Only Good Music For All: War - The World Is A Ghetto (Soul/Funk/Jazz): 1. The Cisco Kid 2. Where Was You At 3. City Country City 4. Four Cornered Room 5. The World is a Ghetto 6. Beetles in the Bog Best known ...

Event: The Lighthouse and The Whaler at Musica Friday, December 16

2011-12-14T01:52:00.003-05:00

The Lighthouse and The Whaler is set to perform at the Square Records & Music Saves Holiday Get Down with The May Company, Dunes and Total Babes on Friday, December 16, at Musica in Akron.

The five fellows that comprise TLATW have engaged fans with "Get To Know The Band Month," giving devout followers of their nimble-noted music a glimpse into each gentleman's life. Read autobiographical commentaries from Mike and Matt LoPresti, Mark Porostosky, Steven Diaz and Aaron Smith on http://thelighthouseandthewhaler.tumblr.com/.

If The Lighthouse and The Whaler hasn't found its way onto your playlist yet, the band shares free downloads of several songs, including tracks from its Daytrotter session, on Facebook.

Event

Square Records & Music Saves

Holiday Get Down

featuring

The Lighthouse and The Whaler

The May Company

Dunes

Total Babes

Friday, December 16 – 9:30 p.m.

Buy tickets here

$5

Musica
51 East Market Street
Akron, Ohio 44306

Monday Muse: Humble Home "Too Young" and Thaddeus Greene "Let Me Be" Live From Bad Racket

2011-12-12T00:40:00.000-05:00

The Rhythm Report is once again celebrating the reverent songwriting of Humble Home in this week's Monday Muse. Last month, the blog featured a video of Humble Home's vocalists Nick Wise and Matt Hectorne in a back-alley performance of "Babel," originally released in 2010.

Bad Racket Recording Studio introduced a new audio-visual production featuring the full band on December 2. The independent folk rock quartet from the Solon-Aurora area was invited into the Ohio City-based studio to record a Live From Bad Racket session directed by Aaron Freeder.

Live From Bad Racket - Humble Home from Bad Racket on Vimeo

Filmed at and audio engineered by Bad Racket Recording Studio
Directed by Aaron Freeder

Humble Home announced through social media that the band is in writing sessions and updated fans with a Facebook post that read, "New material is coming together like cream and coffee. Stay tuned."

The group has been generous to eager ears, playing raw renditions of their latest creations during a few live performances in the past months. Fans can catch up with the band before the year's end at The Grog Shop on Sunday, December 18, when Humble Home takes the stage with Above the Atlantic, CARE and Morgan Mecasky.

MORE MUSING

Throwback artist Thaddeus Greene was also a featured subject for a Live From Bad Racket video that hit the internet in November. Greene was courteous to allow a sneak preview of the "Let Me Be" audio recording for The Rhythm Report's interview with Bad Racket in October. Now, the full craft recording production is available to satiate the auditory and visual senses. Watch the video here and stay tuned to The Rhythm Report for more on this exceptionally vintage musician.

Live From Bad Racket - Thaddeus Greene from Bad Racket on Vimeo

Filmed at and audio engineered by Bad Racket Recording Studio

Directed by Aaron Freeder