Super Desserts

Fashion

November  17, 2008

To be perfectly honest, I didn’t know what to expect from Our Cat Philip’s first full-length “Apart of Someone.”  Their previous recordings were a homegrown affair, cobbled together and easily eclipsed by the energy and cleaner sound of their live performances.  With this CD, OCP steps it up several notches and puts forth a solid effort that should -- and perhaps very likely will -- get them noticed outside of our fair city.  The production is cleaner, not overdone and communicates well their intent for each song.  The lyrics -- always an OCP strong point -- are in the forefront where they should be.  Yet at the same time, the musical content by no means is secondary.  I have only one real complaint about the production: Some of the instruments aren’t as highlighted as they ought to be in certain parts of certain songs -- the cello in “Time Is Just a Healer,” or the piano on “Awake Again” -- which would’ve created a more solid CD.  But be that as it may, this album may not quite be a grand slam, but it’s one hell of a homerun.

Stucco Jones is a two-man Columbus band that blows out rock tunes like Rodan blows down a Toho Tokyo -- efficiently, entertainingly, and (of course) destructively.

Except Stucco Jones does it with a bit more liquor.

The band consists of Tom and Dennis -- two men with a penchant for garage rock that is a step above a typical sound of the genre, but also comfortable in it.  And that’s meant in a good way.  They toss in just the right mix of driving beat and interesting riffs to create music that makes you not want to sit down, but at the same time order the bartender to line up another shot.

They profess that their songwriting process is “a shot of whiskey and a beer followed by a riff and a beat. If it has more than two parts, it usually turns into a song.”  And there being only two of them only makes it easier. “It’s good being a two piece, ‘cause if one of us likes something and the other doesn’t… its out. There’s no majority vote or anything, which we think works great.”

The Outer Sounds was originally conceived by James Allison and Jacob Halpern of the Columbus/Boston duo Blastronauts as a two-night local music show centered around their CD release.  Shortly after, it became a weekly Thursday night event at Scarlet and Grey Cafe, again featuring Columbus bands.  Now it’s morphed into something new.

The Outer Sounds begins anew on September 25, this time at various Columbus venues, and it’s scope reaches beyond only local to bands from all of Ohio -- and even a bit beyond.

LotC spoke with James about the new and improved Outer Sounds and began by asking him about why they decided to change up how they chose to do things.

Josh Fitzwater and the Shambles, Paper Airplane, and Toronto’s Emma Lee were on the Friday night bill at Oldfield’s on High.  The presidential debate likely kept away a larger crowd, but the people who did show up were treated to an entertaining line-up.

Ms. Lee started the night off.  I arrived late after leaving a debate-watching party early in order to catch the show.  She has an acoustic folksy sound that is different enough to be resoundingly refreshing and a songwriting ability to match it.  The final three songs that I was able to catch were simple, brilliantly written tunes that weren’t too girly to be appealing to everyone. 

Next up was Paper Airplane.  Their poetically and musically adventurous CD “Middlemarch” (4.5 buses) is soon to be added to with their new album “White Elephants,” due out in the beginning of next year. 

by Dave Schaefer

Music Loves Ohio is a new nonprofit organization that focuses on bringing the opportunity to learn and grow in music to underprivileged kids in Central Ohio.  Currently, there are few options for talented, disadvantaged kids to be able to get the chance to hone their skills or to even have access to instruments.  Music Loves Ohio is out to change that by purchasing guitars, drums, keyboards and recording equipment for this group of kids as well as working with schools and other organizations to provide instruction on playing and producing their music.  Music Loves Ohio also links its volunteers with opportunities to serve other nonprofit organizations that can benefit from free music, such as hospitals, homeless shelters, and the like.

I asked Matt Crumpton, founder of Music Loves Ohio, why he would take on such a potentially enormous undertaking.

“Basically, MLO was started because opportunities for music education were decreasing

and there was no non-profit that stepped in to fill that void,” Matt said. “For example, Save the Music has never done anything in Columbus. So we wanted to give back to the

community in an area that we care about -- where we know that we can help.”

The first step for the organization is a fundraiser Thursday night at Callahan’s in the Arena District, featuring live music from Ryan Smith, Tony Castricone, and Matt himself, along with former Buckeyes Justin Zwick, Doug Datish and Dee Miller.  There’s also a silent auction that includes tickets to Friday’s private OAR show and a RUSH poster signed by the entire band, among many other items to bid on.  And you’ll get a chance to win tickets to the OSU-Michigan game on Saturday.

But most importantly, it’s an opportunity to not only help out Music Loves Ohio, but learn about the opportunities that it opens up for the kids that need it. 

“We would love to meet anyone who’s interested in helping out with MLO and where the opportunities are to volunteer,” said Matt. “One of the goals of MLO is to help encourage local music and give local musicians a way to give back at the same time.”

Thursday, November 20, 2008

6 - 9pm

Callahan's in the Arena District; 520 Park St.; Columbus, Ohio 43215

$10 for students; $15 in advance; $20 at the door.

(Ticket automatically enters you into a drawing for two tickets to the OSU/Michigan game)

For more information go to www.musiclovesohio.org.

Music Loves Ohio is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for underprivileged children of all backgrounds in Central Ohio to learn, perform, and record music.

Saturday night was a hectic but fulfilling journey into the musically eclectic nature of the Columbus local music scene.  A trip that went from electronic folk with Team Smile and Nod, to jazz with Playhouse, and finally to modern rock and an interview with Sorry William.