Nick Tolford & Co, Envelope & Detox, Freaky Franz & Cornelius Jackson, DJ Johnny Cashola, DJ True Skills are performing at Skully’s Tonight for Daymon Day Eve.  
The 5 dollar cover raises money for parade costs.
I wrote a story about the Daymon Day weekend in the Other Paper.
I didn’t get to use quotes from everyone I talked to..

So after the jump, Mike O of Nick Tolford & Co, Johnny Cashola, Envelope and Freaky Franz all speak on their experiences with Daymon Dodson, and the Daymon Day Parade.

Mike O’shaughnessy of Nick Tolford & Co and El Jesus de Magico

I met Daymon… wow, maybe in like 2000 or 2001 down at hip-hop night at Bernie’s. I don’t think there was one certain point where I ‘met’ him, it was sort of like we were just both around at the same time. All the rocker kids went to Bernie’s for hip hop night because the music was always good, it was always fun, and always packed. I think, for the same reasons, Daymon came out to pretty much every el Jesus / CDR associated show.

I learned from Daymon that it’s easier to bring a community together than you might think. Daymon brought crowds of people together that you might not expect; people gravitated toward him. He’s the reason we could do a show like Greenhouse Effect, Cheater Slicks, and el Jesus de Magico and have it packed with all the hip hop kids, all the old rockers, and all the young trouble makers. If you think about it, it’s a weird bill – you’d never think noisy ass rock bands would be able to hold the attention of backpackers that are into clean beats – but if Daymon was standing there watching Tom Shannon shred the room with feedback, he was always surrounded by as many dudes in baggy jeans as dudes in tight jeans. This is also why it made so much sense to have him as ‘The Jesus’ in the Last Supper photo re-creation we did for el Jesus. We were just as honored to have him in the center as he was to be there, I think. And we weren’t ripping on religion, he knew that, because we’d had so many conversations about mystical bullshit that he knew it was beyond some sort of lame attempt to downplay the importance of the image. He was the center of so many normally disparate music scenes that he essentially ended up merging just by existing. I mean, it’s not like he had some master plan to get everybody together. He was just as into going to a rock show as he was clowning on the mic next to Prizm djing at some house party, and he would clue you in on what to do the next night, or what show was going to be good, cos he had better taste than anybody handing out handbills. The thing was, he was this real nice, god-fearing dude hanging around all these criminals and druggies and miscreants, and he never pushed his politics on anyone – it’s like, just by him wearing a shirt that said “Token” summed it up perfectly.

The first Daymon Day parade was pretty emotional, really. I mean, we were out on tour (el Jesus) when BJ called to tell us he’d died. I think we were driving in California drinking champagne and listening to “St. Elmo’s Fire” by Brian Eno. Every time I hear that song it takes me right back. Everyone just went silent. I felt a million miles away from Columbus. I was almost like, alright, turn the van around, let’s go be with our friends. We can’t miss the funeral. But, shit, Daymon would have wanted us to spread that good Columbus word the best we could. I was glad to be with Tony, Jon, Sarah, and Dave, who were all just as close with Daymon as I was.
So, seeing the turnout for the first parade was great. It was my first chance to really be with everyone and remember Daymon together. I had to put sunglasses on when we started marching because I got a little misty. I had the shivers, the hairs standing on the back of my neck listening to everyone chanting. All these Betty and Bobby Buckeyes dropping their beanbags and running up and asking what the deal was, I couldn’t even talk to them. My hope is that they start scheduling games around the Daymon Day parade. It’ll just keep getting bigger, next thing you know OSU will want their band to march with us. Think we could teach them “Bitch, You Don’t Know Shit”?

I think the parade is going strong mainly because of Tony(Envelope), honestly. Dude got all the permits and the cops wrangled up – we both know he has a special relationship with Columbus’ Finest – and he’s a tireless promoter when he’s hyped about something. Now, I don’t think it’d fall by the wayside if Tony didn’t organize it, don’t get me wrong. It’s like, Daymon was a catalyst, he gave us all a reason to get off our asses when he was around. Now that he’s not, we’d be knuckleheads to just stand around and talk a bunch of shit when we should be doing something fun and creative and constructive and bringing everybody together. You know, there’s gonna be a point where I’m too feeble minded to remember anybody’s name, and young kids aren’t gonna come visit me in my rocking chair asking for stories about how cool So What was back in the day. I hope at that point Daymon Day is still going, Tony Envelope pushing Detox down High Street in a wheelchair with turntables on it and a huge crowd of the next-next generation chanting ‘Ra-cst Jo-oe’ behind them in green Chucks.

Envelope rapper/ Co-organizer of the Daymon Day Parade

1.How did you meet Daymon?

I met Daymon in the late 90s through the Bernies/Thieves World/Columbus Hip Hop Expo circuit.

2.What Daymon, Przm, and Camu teach you?

They all taught me different things, but the one thing they all taught me was the need to be original.

3.What are some memories you have from the parade?

looking around and seeing everyone smiling.

4.Why do you think the parade is so strong after 6 years?

It has meaning.

sorry man, i kinda struggled with the questions today. i think i could of wrote a book on the subject. but i decided to make my answers as simple as possible.

1.How did you meet Daymon?

 I met Damon at a party at camp David he took a liking to me and my friend Lil Eric cause 1.) we were the two youngest people there chillen and 2.) we knew everyone and was always busy causing trouble there.

2.How did he affect your life?

He always was in a good mood and as a younger kid being around him the positivity he let off was contagious. Although a lot of time it was sarcasm and joking about people.

3.What are some memories/feelings you have from the parade?

The first year I went I think someone had like an almost life sized cut out of him and that shit was tight.

4.Why do you think after six years the parade is going strong?

I think Damon is a hard person to forget for many reasons and people aren’t ready to let go of him and hopefully it stays like that. If there is a way to come back for it every year or I can give a hand to keep it going I’ll bend over backwards for it. I mean shit he gave me the crown as the prince of this city

These photos include Flotation Walls, Swimsuit Edition, TK Webb, Kyle Sowashes, Andrew Graham, Nick Tolford, You’re so Bossy, Bird & Flower, Chris McCoy, The Bygones, Tin Armor, The Lindsay, Saintseneca, Tree of Snakes and Bigfoot.

Tree of Snakes

Nick Tolford & Co.

Flotation Walls

Swimsuit Edition

TK Webb

Andrew Graham

Nick Tolford & Co.

You’re So Bossy

Bird & Flower

Chris McCoy

The Bygones

Tin Armor

The Lindsey

Saintsenceca

Tree of Snakes

Bigfoot

Check out the rest of the photos here

Saturday night (May 1) marked the conclusion of the Jazz Arts Group‘s 2009-10 Inside Track concert series at the Lincoln Theatre with a much-anticipated appearance by soul legend Booker T. Jones and his band. Though the buzz for his appearance itself was plentiful, the addition of local openers Nick Tolford & Co. seemed to contribute additional interest, visibly making the show more appealing to a slightly younger demographic. These factors combined for an exciting, well-attended show that won the audience over. (Check out Kim Rottmayer’s photos here.)

Nick Tolford & Company’s set was a quick and fiery runthrough of the best of their soulful rock ‘n roll. The band was a bit nervous as they opened for one of their heroes but overcame any stagefright to deliver a solid set. In their allotted 30 minutes, Tolford and band performed with enough reverence and joy [insert pic of smiling Mike O here] to win over many concertgoers who would have never been otherwise exposed to their music. The JAG should be recognized for providing this outlet for local musicians, as Mojoflo’s recent set opening for Trombone Shorty gave them similar exposure, including my parents’ introduction to the band.

Booker T’s performance was a tale of two sets: the first set was the considerably lesser of the two, and its initial impact overpowered my enjoyment of the second set. Everything started out fine: Mr. Jones came out to contribute organ to his band’s introductory instrumental and then launched into recent composition “She Breaks.” After these fine examples of his new excursion into soulful roots rock, he played the biggest Booker T & The MG’s hit there was, “Green Onions,” which the crowd ate up. Unfortunately, at this point in the set, Jones and the band set off into a miniature review of the storied Stax Records material that he helped write and/or record. I had no problem with this, as his role in this material should be recognized, but this transition meant something else: he switched to guitar and started singing. As a man famous for performing on the Hammond organ (and basically on nothing else), this part of his performance was not his strong suit. His vocals were serviceable, but not nearly strong enough to do justice to powerful classics like “Born Under A Bad Sign” or “Hold On, I’m Comin’.” The other problem with the latter rendition of Sam and Dave’s classic tune was that drummer Darian Gray was given a mic – and proceeded to rap. Two verses, riddled with “I can rap now, and I’m going to” cliches. Though the crowd reaction was somewhere between positive and indifferent, it was painful to this audience member. The set ended with a solo guitar/vocal tune by guitarist Vernon “Ice” Black, and though Jones came out to add organ for its conclusion, I was left wondering during intermission what happened to the “Hammond B3 alchemist” we were promised.

The second set was much stronger, as Jones returned to the organ, put away the mic, and played a rousing collection of MG’s hits and tunes from 2009′s Potato Hole. The classics were well-handled for the most part, though “Melting Pot” seemed to lack some precision and conciseness and Gray returned to the mic with two more unneeded rap verses on “Hip Hug Her.” The band gave thunderous life to the current songs, adding some rock energy that the sometimes sleepy album versions lacked. Guitarist Troy Gonyea apparently had guitar problems, as he left the stage a couple times and fiddled with his amp repeatedly, which was a distraction, but he was always ready for a solo or other exposed part. With two sets, the concert ran a bit past 11, which also lessened the focus and energy for my enjoyment of the second set. However, the set was great in the end and though I missed the encore (I heard he went back to guitar and vocals), I still got the Booker T I wanted to hear.

Though Jones and crew saved their portion of the evening with a focused second set, the first set left a bitter aftertaste that they could not quite overcome. In post-concert discussion, we agreed that the show would have been perfect if the band only played their second set (and perhaps “Green Onions”), but as an American music legend, I suppose Booker T. Jones has earned the right to learn the guitar and play around a bit, and the happy audience supported this notion.

The Hood Internet

Nick Tolford & Co.

More Hood Internets & crowd

More Nick Tolford

Anna and the Annadroids

Kirk Kline oh man my life let’s high five

Mount Carmel has been getting some local love on the message board recently, and the band’s profile is sure to grow before our very eyes with news of the trio’s next record coming out on Siltbreeze — an especially familiar name in Columbus b/c of Times New Viking, Psychedelic Horseshit and ex-pat Pink Reason, all of whom have releases on the boutique Philly label. (Good work, Columbus.)

Ah, but don’t start the gripefest just yet, shitgaze haters. If you’re not familiar with Mount Carmel, this trio — Kevin Skubak and brothers Pat and Matthew Reed — gets compared to Cream whenever I hear their name come up. So you’re more likely to catch them playing with fellow blues-rock lovers The Main Street Gospel than with local Siltbreeze labelmates.

Still, it’s blues-rock under the influence of Siltbreeze’s longtime Ohio affiliate Mike Rep. And maybe it’s not such a big leap for Siltbreeze after all, given TNV’s infatuation with the ’60s. Now Mount Carmel brings us the ’70s. (I know, Cream broke up in ’69. But you get what I mean.)

Anyway, as Pat Reed tells Donewaiting, “We went to Musicol with Mike [Rep] and Adam Smith for a day this summer. They set a bunch of mics and stuff up and we played. We had a real fun time.” Rep and Smith also mixed the album, which Reed says should be around 40 minutes and is due to come out in late February or March on Siltbreeze.

Upcoming Mount Carmel shows in Columbus:
11/6: The Treehouse w/ Brainbow, Val
11/23: Carabar w/ Earthless
12/26: Carabar w/ Nick Tolford and Company

In-the-studio video of the song “Still Listening” after the jump:

Oh man Comfest...or something like that. Basically there are a number of ways to go about Comfest. You can camp out somewhere in the park on a blanket, go check out bands with “clever” band names, wander around aimlessly running into people you know and drink booze and eat food and not pay attention to any bands, or you can hang out at the Offramp Stage all weekend like I pretty much did and watch bands that you know will be good.

How many times can you say the same things about the same bands? Find out after the jump!

I wandered down to the park in time to catch Fern at the Solar stage. Fern seemed a lil bit intoxicated. Fern is Hilarious…perfect way to start of the weekend I suppose. After that I caught some of Tin Armor and wasn’t totally stoked on ‘em, but will give them another chance in more a appropriate setting, after all, they played at five on Friday…maybe they should have been pregaming with Fern.

Friday had a pretty rad line up over at the Offramp-Grafton, Church of the Red Museum, Brainbow, Nick Tolford and Co…etc,etc…Managed to see a few Grafton songs, kicked ass for a 5:30 set. COTRM followed Grafton and killed. It had been a while since I had last seen them and maybe it was because I missed them sooooo much, but they sounded great. You know how you have to dress “nice” in a stuffy office and that’s suppose to make it feel more like work or make you behave better or something? Yeah, whatever…Church dudes jammed sans suits and they misbehaved the fuck out of that set .

Have you guys ever heard of Brainbow before? They sound like a deaf/mute eunuch Isis or something. They also covered Zepplin’s “Since I’ve Been Loving You” with the lovely Lara Yazvac of Ill Fits/Tough and Lovely fame on vocals.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Pictured: Nick Tolford and Co.

Tolford’s company featured some back up doowop from Cassie Rosehips and Leslie COTRM and some other chick I don’t know. Shit was mad souled out. Nick Tolford used to play drums for The Slide Machine. No he fronts a soul outfit. Basically what I’m saying is it turns out some drummers can actually sing and that Tolford is worth making it a point to check out live.

Pictured: Happy Chichester

Happy didn’t play “Alcohol”, but he did play “$3.99″ which was pretty sweet. Hey Happy-start a new rock band, thx.

I’m old and get tired and cranky when I start drinking at 2:00 p.m., but I managed to see a couple Sandwich songs…heavy, psych rock with an emphasis on the rock featuring the one and only Ron House on vocals. Fun fact(?), Sandwich were formed via the rock potluck …pretty sure that’s a first. As much as I wanted to hang for The Guinea Worms and/or Two Cow Garage, it was not to be, my feet hurt.

Pictured: Time and Temperature

I wasn’t in a big rush on Saturday…I gave myself until 7:00 to make sure I got there in time to see Time and Temperature play. This was the kind of performance that I have been practicing shutting the fuck up for…quiet, soft, gentle lullabys that culminated with a standing ovation-NO SHIT…so awesome and Val was totally stoked. You probably missed it because you were to busy doing something dumb. Don’t let it happen again is all I’m saying.

I spent a fair amount of time sitting on my ass on Saturday hanging with my peeps but I did check out You’re So Bossy and The Lindsay before not making it to see Envelope.

YSB are veteran Columbus musician who are on some next level shit not hanging on to anything…Can’t say enough good things about this band…hey dudes, heard of myspace? The Lindsay were prolly drunk like I was. They are so totally post grunge.

Pictured: The Lindsay

Sunday was chilllll as fuck, a totally killer way to end an otherwise mediocre and overcrowded Comfest. I worked at ye olde Donewaiting/Cringe merch tent on Sunday…there was a lot of cool shit for sale, hopefully you stopped by and spent a whole bunch of pesos. Went to see moons after the shift and OH MAN MOOOOOOOOOOONS. Dusty was dressed to the nines in his Sundays best and prolly ate like twelve sheets of acid or something because this shit was otherworldly…I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, HOLY FUCK MOONS ARE FUCKING EPIC AS FUCK.

Pictured: moons

moons were joined by indie rock drummer du jour Ahemed Gallab of Sinkane, current touring drummer for Yeasayer for a 20 minute drum off. Seriously, I feel really bad for you if you missed this, as this was the highlight of Comfest weekend for me. Ahmed also played with The Slide Machine following moons with two other drummers and killed it.

That’s a real drum circle hippies.

Pictured: Brian Simakis aka best sound dude in Columbus

This is what you look like after doing sound for 50 bands in 3 days. MAAAAAD props to Brian Simakis for making all of the Offramp bands sound super sweet all weekend.

Go to the CMC Parking Lot Blowout

Duffy where is my laptop I think I left it in the Hummer can I move to Brooklyn with you