James “Jimi” Payne

For the past three years I have lived in the Monster House, a DIY punk house in Columbus, Ohio. I co-founded the Monster House with Pat Crann, Austin Eilbeck, Ryan Eilbeck, Jeff Love, Kristina Markey, Matt O’Conke, Joe Scarbro, Dylan Taylor-Lehman, and Nick Wong. A few weeks ago the last three original roommates – besides me – left. And, as of this week, I’m moving out as well. A group of our friends still living at the Monster plan to continue hosting shows and events. On October 8th, Apache Dropout, Landlord, Reverse The Curse, and Cody Troyan are performing there.

After “the jump” is a list of every performer who occasioned the “stage” at the Monster House in the last three years. 400 different performers have played over 150 shows booked by over 20 promoters. The list is representative of the Columbus punk scene as well as the national DIY touring circuit from 2007-10.

More than 30 people paid rent at the house during this time span.

80HD

A Drum And An Open Window
Absolute Magnitude
Ad Astra Per Aspera
Alex And The Imaginary Friends
Algernon Cadwallader
Amazing Hawkline Band, The
Amelia
American War
Andrew Graham And Swarming Branch

Andrew Jackson Jihad

Andy Gardner
Anna Ranger
Annabel
Antilles
Arkansas?
Arlo And The Otter
Arrah And The Ferns
Artillery Breath
Asinine
August Moon

Bail Bondsmen
Band Name
Banditas
Banner Pilot
Batrider (New Zealand)
Ben Bennett
Ben Bennett And Ryan Jewell
Best Friends
Best Friends Forever
Beyond Dark Hills
Biff Boff Barf
Bird And Flower
Birth Screams
Black Love
Black Phantom Thousands
Black Wine
Blake Skidmore
Bob Carlton
Body Rot
Bohemian Grove
Bomb The Music Industry
Bong Ripper
Boogdish
Brainworms
Branta
Bridge And Tunnel
Broke As A Joke
Busman’s Holiday
Bust!
Butt Bats, The
By The Horns

Call It Radar
Canadian Rifle
Casey Rochateau
Cati (Argentina)
Cedar Fist
Cerebral Bore
Chad Channing (Nirvana cover band)
Cheap Girls
Cheap Time
Cheater Slicks, The
Chin Up Meriwether
Chris’s Puppet Show (Performance)
Chris Yang
Christ
Christians And Lions
Chromakid
Churches Burn
Closet Fairies
Cola Freaks (Denmark)
Cold White North
Completely Smitten
Constance Taylor
Cop Hugger
Copyrights, The
Couch Forts
Creatures, The
Credentials, The
Cringe
Cult Ritual
Cytosis Ingestion

Dan Webb And The Spiders
Dane Terry
Dangerous Ponies
Dark Circles
Dave House (United Kingdom)
Dead Friends
Dead North
Dead Uncles
Deadwood Floats
Dean Dirg (Germany)
Dear Landlord
Defective Males
Diet Coke Heads, The
Delay
Demon Horse
Diamond Mines
Diente Perro
Disnihl
DJ Detox
DJ Ethan Frederick
Domino Theory
Drums Like Machine Guns
Doomhawk
Dopamines, The
Dustin And The Furniture

Emma N. Young (Poetry)
Envelope
Environmental Youth Crunch
Ergs!, The
Eric Ayotte
Erin Tobey
Exploding Hearts (Exploding Hearts cover band)

Failures Union
Fellow Project
Fifey
Fighting Tarantula
Fischer
Floating Verses
Fops And Dandys
For Science
For Serious This Time
Forever
Free Clinic
Friendly Fire
Frozen Teens
Future Kings Of Nowhere

Gadabout Film Festival (Film)
Gateway District, The
Gay Lazer
Gerd Dembowski
Ghost Mice
Ghost Town Trio
Gigantopithecus
Ginger Fetus
Girlfriends
Gnarwhale And The Rose’s Thorn
Goat Bucket
Golden Tuxedo
Good Luck
Gordon Gano’s Army (United Kingdom)
Grass Widow
Greg Mullen
Griffin
Gut Bugs, The

Halo Fauna
Heath Deadger
Heathers
Hellbath
Hello Shark
Hello Shitty People
Helper T-cells
Henry Boy
Hip Cops
Homostupids
Hooker Spit Windex
Hop Along Queen Ansleis
Horrible Creeps
Hot Graves
Hot Iron
Human Boys
Human Host
Hunchback

I Am The Sky
I Woke Up, I Did The Same Thing
Ian MacChrist (Fugazi, Minor Threat, and Embrace cover band)
Ignorant Motherfucker
Imperial Cans
Infernal Stronghold

Jail
James Payne (Poetry)
Jason
Jason Clackley and The Exquisites
Jazmine Wolff
Jelly Hearts, The
Jeremy Ruggles
Jetty Boys, The
Joe Camerlengo
Joe Mangum
Johnny Bodacious And The Bad Seeds
Jordan Castro (Poetry)
Jordan O’Jordan
Josh Kleinberg (Poetry)
Josh Walden
Julie Karr

KBrutal
Kepi Ghoulie
Kingsli
Kitten Forever
Klessa
Knifey Spoony
Knockdowns, The
Kurt Russell
Kyle Sowashes, The

La Armada
Laserhead
Laura Stevenson And The Cans
Le Vansona
Leftovers, The
Lemming
Lemuria
Leslie Perrine (Reading)
Letters
Letters To The Moon

Levi Funk
Lightningyingyang
Like Bats
Liturgy
Lose The Tude
Lovely Eggs, The (United Kingdom)
Lydia Loveless

Mad Ones, The
Madeline Ava
Make It Fit
Manix
Manners
Manson Family Picnic
Maps And Atlases
March Of The Carpenter Ants
Mark C. And The Aqueous Three
Maryn Jones
Maska Blaska
Mat At some Musk
Matt Horseshit
Mattress
Mayday
Max Levine Ensemble, The
Measure [SA], The
Meneguar
Merkurs, The
Michael From Skylab
Missoula Oblongata
MMP
Monikers
Moondrones, The
Motovirus
Mouthbreather
Movers And Shakers
My Bicycle Emergency

Native
Nautical Hyperblast
Ned (France)
Needy Visions
Nervous Sex
New Creases
Nick Tolford And Company
Night Beat
No Target Audience
Noise Noise Noise
Nordic Waste
North Highlands
North Lincoln
Northwest Ordinance
Nothing Is Over
Nuclear Dawn

Off With Their Heads
Ohio
Ok Ikumi
One Hundred
Openboat
Operation America
Our Cat Phillip
Outclassed
Outerspacists
Over Sea Under Stone
Over The Cardboard Sea
Overground
Overground Percussion Group
Overrated

P.S. Eliot
Pancreatectomie
Panty Hearst
Pat Bond
Paul Baribeau
Pencil Dive
Pharmacy
Pheramones
Pink Houses
Pink Razors
Pirate
Plates
Point Break
Polka Dot Dot Dot
Project: Citizen
Prosantcus Inferi
Punk-O-Matic All-Stars

Rad Company
Rage Against The Cage
Rager
Rat Attack
Read, The
Redbear
Rest Assured
Reverse The Curse
Richard Wehrenburg (Poetry)
Richard Wehrenwolf
Ringers, The
River City Rebels, The
Ryan J.
Ryan Newall
Ryan Starinsky
Saintseneca
Sass Dragons
Seascapes
Seditious Libel
Seizure Fist
SevereSexy Crimes
Shannon And The Clams
Shredder Lettuce
Shreds
Sidekicks, The
Signals Midwest
Sinkane
Six Gallery
Slingshot Dakota
Slugging Percentage
Smart Girls
Sok!
Sons Of An Illustrious Father
SpooktoberSpraynard
St. Dad
State Lottery
State School
State Song
Steve Ciolek
Straight As
Stupid Party
Super Bobby
Stymie
Submarine Spaceship
Super Desserts
Super Famicom
Sword Heaven

Tacocat
Tanner Jones
Tax Payers, The
Team Robespierre
Team Smile And Nod
Tenement
The Boy Who Could Fly
The Boy With The Broken Jaw
The Ground Is Lava
This Is My Suitcase
This Is Smoke, This Is Signals
Thread And Butter
Til Plains
Tiny Lungs
Time And Temperature
Times New Viking
Tin Armor
Toby Foster
Totally Michael
Trains Across The Sea
Truthdealer
Two Hand Fools

Uh-Oh
Unarmed
Underdogs Of Nipomo
Undesirables
Unicorn Basement
Universe
Unwelcome Guests

Vacation
Vialka (France)
Vietnam Werewolf
Vikesh Kapoor
Vile Gash
Virgins
Vocal/Vocal
Vug

WabashWarm Hands
Warning Shot
Weedsteeler
Weezer (Weezer cover band)
Welcome Home
Welcome To Concrete
What Gives
What If ?
What’s Wrong With Us?
Wheels On Fire
White York
Whitehaus Family Revue
Wingnut Dishwasher’s Union
Winslows, The
Witches
Woodrow Wilsons, The

Y Lime?
Yea Big And Kid Static
Yikes!
Yoni Gordon And The Goods
You, Me, And The Atom Bomb
You’ll Get Yours
Young Hearts
Young People
You’re A Brace Soul Alaska
You’re So Bossy

You may know Bobby Silver from some band Brainbow or whatever they’re called. One thing you may not know is that he is an aspiring nunchuk olympic champion. Also, he does badass interpretative nunchuk routines. This is one of those routines set to Major Lazer’s Pon De Floor. I give it a 10. At least.

If you’re lucky you can catch Bobby Silver and the Terrible Boobs Friday night at Skylab as part of Aaron Hibbs of Sword Heaven‘s world record breaking 120 hour hula hoop marathon. There may also be impromptu imperative nunchuk action throughout the course of the weekend.

On Saturday, August 1, to celebrate their bassist Matt Reber’s 40th birthday, Columbus punk legends New Bomb Turks invaded Ravari Room. The good time was guaranteed. To make the event even more special the band would play their landmark debut LP !!Destroy-Oh-Boy!! top to bottom! A treat, indeed… And so it came to pass. And now that it did, we, who were there, can proudly brag about being there for years to come. And those who weren’t there will probably say they were, as they tend to do sometimes.

Released by Crypt Records in 1993, !!Destroy-Oh-Boy!! was met with rave reviews in both indie and mainstream music press. Spin Magazine gave the album it’s “Highly Recommended” mark. The record became an instant garage punk classic and to this day is a standard other records of the genre are compared against. As for the Turks…. Well, they went on to put out more awesome records for some pretty big labels, tour the world and influence a whole slew of bands both big and small all over the world. Not bad for a bunch of punks from Columbus. And even though they don’t gig much anymore, we get to see them every now and again, being the home town crowd and all.

Now on to the show…. The entertainment for the evening was pretty diverse. Besides the Turks, slated to play were a local noise duo Sword Heaven, Birds Of Hair, fronted by Scrawl’s Marcy Mays and rounding out the bill was DJ True Skillz, who, in-between the bands, provided a set of awesome vintage funk and soul you are not likely to hear many places. Dude’s got some records, man!

Sword Heaven kicked things off. I was particularly curious to see how their brand of aggressive experimental noise would go over with the Ravari crowd. A few folks did run for the door, but for the most part the response was positive. Not a noise aficionado myself, I’ve always liked these guys. The gadgets, the theatrics, the heavy rhythms… My friends and I always joked about running drums through a distortion pedal. These guys actually do that!!! And ya know what? It sounds pretty bad-ass.

Next up were Birds Of Hair, an all- female band featuring, besides Ms. Mays, Sara Yetter of El Jesus De Magico on bass and Jen Burton on drums. Their brand of rock is more on the psychedelic side of things. I’ve always been fan of Sarah’s bass playing. It’s not too complex, but not without nuances either. Paired with Jen’s primal drumming they make a great rhythm section to Marcy’s eerie guitar sounds and vocals. Pretty cool!

Finally it was the New Bomb Turks’ turn to grace the stage. By the time they did, the Ravari was packed to the max, the crowd was charged and ready to go. Some folks came to see the show from as far Chicago and NYC. The band took the stage and with the first chords of the classic opener “Born Toulouse-Lautrec” the madness, rarely seen these days at punk shows, ensued. And all was great!!!!! Enthused punkers, old-schoollers, dudes and babes sang along, danced, sweated and dry-humped all over the place. On stage the Turks’ were once again showing us, why the world-over they’ve always been regarded as one of the best live acts. With front man Eric Davidson’s frantic howling, moving and shaking, Jim Webers’s sick guitar riffing and wailing, Reber’s stomping bass-lines and Sam Brown’s fast hard drumming the crowd was hardly given any chance to take a breather between the songs. And even when the band would stop to take a sip of their beers, Davidson kept entertaining by dishing out zingers to random members of the crowd. All in good fun, of course… And then they would go back into it again. And the crowd was with them all the way, screaming along to classic blasts like “Tail Crush”, “Tattooed Apathetic Boys” (with it’s heys and yeahs) and their great take on Wire’s “Mr. Suit”. And yes, a night this festive would not be complete without Don B. doing “Batman”! After the band was done going through !!Destroy… it was time to bring out Matt’s birthday cake. Naturally, the cake was made in the shape of one-finger salute with number “40” in the middle. How fucking punk is that? The crowd then proceeded, joined by the band, to sing a very heart-felt version of “Happy Birthday To You!”. After that the band took a short break and then got back on stage for an encore, during which they performed one of my favorite live staples “Defiled” from their ’98 LP “At Rope’s End”(Epitaph). There is a break in the song where it gets really, really quiet and Davidson motions to the crowd to get down, really, really low and then after a short while he counts “1…. 2…. 1! 2! 3! 4!” and the band and the crowd just erupt!!!!! I once almost lost a tooth doing that.

All and all it was a great night! Fun was had by all in attendance, I would like to think! Thanks to Matt Reber for putting together a great show and thanks to you for reading about it!!!!

Don B

Sword Heaven

Sword Heaven

Birds of Hair

This is most interesting art show in a minute.
Lifted from the OSU Urban Art Space Website.

Joy Divisions
Thursday, June 4th 2009 | 2 to 7:30pm

Columbus Metropolitan Library
96 S. Grant Street
Downtown Columbus Ohio

Curated by Eva Ball, this exhibition and outdoor listening party explores the band Joy Division and the Nazi forced sex slave camps of the same name.

Joy Division, the band, is an English post-punk outfit, who changed their name from Warsaw to Joy Division in 1977, borrowing their new moniker from the sex slave wing of a Nazi concentration camp described in the 1955 novel, The House of Dolls. The group played their first show as Joy Division on January 25th, 1978.

The House of Dolls describes Joy Divisions as groups of Jewish women in WWII concentration camps who were forced into slavery for the sexual pleasure of Nazi soldiers. The book is currently part of Israeli high school curriculum.

Evidence suggests that between 1942 and 1945, Auschwitz and at least nine other Nazi concentration camps contained sex slave camps, called ‘Freudenabteilung’ or ‘Joy Divisions’, used by the government to reward both Nazi soldiers and cooperative non-Jewish inmates. This kind of slavery is not an uncommon war crime.

While bassist Peter Hook and keyboardist/guitarist Bernard Sumner of the band Joy Division later admitted to being intrigued by fascism at the time, Morris (drums) insisted that the band’s interest with Nazi imagery came from a desire to keep memories of the sacrifices of their parents and grandparents during World War II alive. He argued that accusations of neo-Nazi sympathies merely provoked the band “to keep on doing it, because that’s the kind of people we are.”

Housed on the grounds of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Joy Divisions exists in three simultaneous layers. The first being the listening party: a dj presentation of “all” of the released Joy Division music and a few rarities, totalling 5.5 hours of music. Passers-by are invited to stop by, sit on the grass and listen.

The next layer is the visual component of the exhibition. Mark Van Fleet’s Van Gallery is situated between the listening party and the Library’s iconic fountain topped with a bronze sculpture of the forever young, Pan. The Van Gallery houses the works of 11 artists commissioned by Eva Ball to create works that explore the two Joy Divisions.

The final layer is a co-authored catalog that not only discusses the artwork in the exhibition but also delves deeper into the topic as a whole. Writings include a brief history of sex slavery in the 21st century, Nazi imagery in post-punk fashion, the problem of authorship, among others. The writing will be available for perusal during the exhibition, for sale, and because several copies will be part of the Library’s permanent collection, available for free at the library any time.

The exhibition includes a full dinner offered at 6:30. All are welcome and, of course, the event is free.

—–

Following the exhibit there will an afterparty at Skylab Gallery, 57 E. Gay Street, just blocks from the Colmbus Metropolitan Library. Slated to start at 9pm, this event will showcase a variety of music inspired by Joy Divisions. This event is not only a celebration, but also a fundraiser to offset some of the costs associated with the exhibit, including food (hundreds of people have been invited including homeless shelters) and artists’ fees.

Lovely heartbreaking acts include:

Anna Ranger: Pet Shop Boys love West End Girls, but can’t commit.

Silt Palace: Stripped down post- and pre- punk covers that think about Joy Division, but don’t bite

Ginger Fetus: Everything that is brand new except the primordial love songs.

Jam Division: Some call it Dub, others call it Joy Division covers.

Dj Detox: A genius who just dreams of spinning at a rave that Bobby Brown, Throbbing Gristle, Miss Tony and Martin Weinland attend, meanwhile planning the perfect goth/pop/hiphop dance party.

—–

More to be posted soon.

The Action Committee and Grundale Records are pleased to announce the Athens Experimental Music Festival, taking place May 15th and 16th, 2009. This festival is an eclectic mix of noise, metal, electronica and hardcore based in Athens, Ohio, one hour southeast of Columbus. The Athens Experimental Music Festival is donation-based, non-profit and will hopefully establish Athens as an up-and-coming hotbed for experimental music.

Keep reading for the full press release.

The Lineup:

Friday, May 15th, 2009
- The Crystal Castle (28 Central Avenue)
- 7 p.m.
- Donations go directly to out-of-town bands

- Sword Heaven (heavy noise rock from Columbus, releases on Load Records)
- Do Chimps Battle? (Sludge metal from Columbus, members of 333)
- Brad Griggs (Columbus harsh noise)
- Donner Party Dinner Party (noise and dubstep from Athens)
- Weedghost (low-frequency drone duo from Athens / Dayton)
- Bobb Hatt Attack (free jazz / harsh noise / performance art from Athens)
- Submarine Spaceship (crusty lo-fi punk from Athens)
- Nyodene D (power electronics from Athens)
- Interstates (Etc.) (droning noise from Mansfield, Ohio)

Saturday, May 16th, 2009
- The (Bruce) Manor (221 West Union St.)
- 7 p.m.
- Donations go directly to out-of-town bands

- Ryan Jewell + Wasteland Jazz Unit (electroacoustic improvisation from Columbus / Cincinnatti)
- Howland – Russell Duo (Cleveland / Chicago harsh noise, Wyatt Howland of Skin Graft and David Russell of Tanked)
- Robert Turman (Industrial ambient from Oberlin, Ohio, original member of NON)
- Andrew Kirschner (power electronics from Cleveland)
- Kid Panda Hands (psychedelic noise from Athens)
- Teeth Mountain (electro-acoustic improv from Dayton)
- H.x.B.x. (noise/powerviolence from Zanesville, Ohio, pronounced “Hollow Bones”)
- programs. (drone / harsh noise from Athens)
- Vivi C. Diem (gabber / noise from Loveland, Ohio, ex-Realicide Youth)

AEMfest Barbecue
- Saturday, May 16th, 2009
- The (Bruce) Manor (221 West Union Street)
- 4:30 PM

- We will provide hot dogs / not dogs, buns, fresh vegetables (whatever we can find at the Farmers’ Market) and a grill. Please bring donations (for the entree) or a side (vegan or non-vegan) such as salads, pastas, chips, soda, potato salads, cookies or whatever, really. Also, we need stuff like utensils, plates and napkins. The potluck, as well as both nights of the festival, are B.Y.O.B.

Lodging / Food / Parking

- There are several hotels in the Athens area (we DO NOT reccommend the Sunset Motel), but you are more than welcome to stay all weekend at both venues, as they are both houses with several couches. Preference will be given to travelling bands, but there should be plenty of room for everyone. Bobb Hatt and his roommates are willing to let out-of-towners stay at their house, The Beaver Ranch (40 Smith St.) located 2 blocks from The (Bruce) Manor and four blocks from The Crystal Castle)
- There are also plenty of bars and restaurants for any taste/diet located a short walk from both venues.
- There is limited parking at the venues themselves (for bands only, please), but there is plenty of on-street parking near the Crystal Castle (along Central Avenue) and in parking lots and along streets a short walk from The (Bruce) Manor.

Merchandise

- All bands / labels are encouraged to bring merchandise for sale/trade at the shows. There will be plenty of people who will buy and trade merchandise. We will try and have tables set aside for merchandise. Remember to bring extra cash (there are ATM machines uptown).

Directions
- The Crystal Castle is located at 28 Central Avenue, Athens, Ohio, 45701.
- The (Bruce) Manor is located at 221 West Union Street, Athens, Ohio, 45701.
- The Beaver Ranch is located at 40 Smith Street, Athens, Ohio, 45701

MP3: Trance Figure by Brainbow

For a few years in Columbus, it seems like the most anticipated release has been the debut album by Brainbow. Their intricate music and epic live shows have made them a crowd favorite for a long time, drawing comparisons to everyone from Mogwai to Explosions in the Sky.

I’m happy to say that the time has come and it’s been worth the wait. They’re releasing the album Saturday, October 11 @ Skully’s. Joining them will be Sword Heaven and Envelope. Full details here. There will be lots of people. Get there early.

NOV 30th -DEC 2nd
THE OHIO EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

Friday the 30^th at Bourbon St, Sat the 1^st at Skylab, Sun the 2^nd out in Delaware

Full line-up coming soon. Almost 30 acts from every corner of Ohio…

Should be interesting. Stay tuned…

UPDATE:

More from MVF

Here is the final line-up for this thing. There was some talk of having a three day pay pal pass deal, but I think you are looking at 5 bucks on Fri, $5-10 on Sat, and $5 on Sun…

Cheap for so many bands, so bring money for merch, please.

Friday Nov 30th at Bourbon St (2216 Summit St, Columbus OH)

Sword Heaven (Cbus)
Realicide (Cinci)
Shane Mackenzie/ Spencer Yeh (Delaware/ Cinci)
Puffy Areolas (Toledo)
Thursday Club (Cleveland)
Foreign Soil (Dayton)
Swamp Leather (Cbus)

DJ: Shane Mackenzie (DJ Name?)

Start time 9:30 pm grudge set

Saturday Dec 1st at Skylab (57 E Gay St, Downtown, 5th Floor, Columbus OH)

Jason Zeh and David Reed (BG/ Cbus)
Lambsbread (Delaware)
Wasteland Jazz Organs (Cinci)
Kult of Unicron (Dayton)
Bee Mask (Cleveland)
Mike Shiflet (cbus)
Rage Against the Cage (Cbus)
Lesniak/ Hearts of Palm (Cinci)
Country of Chad (Cbus)
Fluxmonkey (Cleveland)
Small Life (Dayton)
Skin Graft (Cleveland)
Larry Marotta (Cbus)
Bob Newsted (BG)
Sonitus Intortus (Cinci)
Queen Mae and the Bells (Cbus)

Early Start time: 5pm!

Sunday Dec 2nd at The Farm (3645 Bunty Station Rd, Delaware OH)

Emeralds (Cleveland)
Cathy and Shane (Delaware)
IOVAE (Cinci)
Ralph Hausmann (Cleveland)
Brad Griggs (Cbus)
Ty Owen (Athens)
Face Place (Cbus)

Start Time: Early Evening?