The Western Reserve – An Ohio Christmas – Episode 5

Happy non-denominational holidays from The Western Reserve! This episode is perfect for that drive to see family on Christmas, just over an hour of all-Ohio holiday music. Everything from Buffalo Killers to Bone Thugs and Harmony. I am joined by my wife Sherri to discuss our own Christmas memories (including several about video games) and play the Buckeye state’s best holiday tunes.

Bone Thugs N Harmony – “Carol of the Bones”
Pretenders – “2000 Miles (It Must Be Christmas Time)”
Moviola -  “Will Santy Come to Shanty Town?”
Swearing at Motorists – “Silver Bells”
Buffalo Killers – “Run Run Rudolph”
Super Desserts – “Children Go”
Robert Pollard – “Frostman (long version)”
The Waitresses – “Christmas Wrapping”
The Isley Brothers – “White Christmas”
Elliott, Walter & Bennett – “12 Days of Cleveland Browns Christmas”
Frankie Yankovic – “MEDLEY: Joy to the World / Deck the Halls / God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
The Ohio Players – “Happy Holidays Pt. 1″
Brainbow – “O’ Holy Night”
The Guitars – “Sleigh Ride”
Andy Gabbard – “Old Toy Trains”
The Black Swans ft. Eve Searls -“Christmas Alone”
Adam Remnant – “Bob Cratchit”
Steve Zarate – “Santa’s Done Left Town (live on Kaliediscope)”

Sometimes the Bear Eats You: Episode Four

STBEY is back after a brief delay with a fourth episode that manages to be equal parts raucous and somber. This time we focus on Ohio’s current capital city, Columbus! Listen to the rockin’ sounds of Wheels on Fire (even though they’re from Athens), Super Desserts and Narrow and the Brights. Laugh at three goons as special guest Dave Obenour joins us to discuss one of Noah’s top ten favorite albums. Shake your head in despair as Kris fails to accurately describe how to make Noah’s signature drink: The Rolling DDT. You know what, here’s the recipe for everyone out there who wants to taste the magic.
Mix in a Pint Glass:
Ice (to taste)
3 shots of Vodka (or 3 fingers if you wanna get loco)
10 oz. of Tonic Water
Splash of Grape Soda (Welch’s, Crush, or a nice Dr. Brown’s)
1 shot of Grenadine
Mix with a swizzle stick, and garnish with a fresh orange slice.
Have a couple of those beasts, then listen to the podcast. I assume it’s much more enjoyable when one is three sheets to the wind. Click below to listen.

Aquabear Legion Volume 4 is (almost) OUT! Release Party at Union This Saturday!

Things are really exciting here at Aquabear HQ. Our brand new compilation Aquabear Legion Volume 4 is all finished up and ready to be heard by all, coming in at a whopping 38 songs from 38 Ohio bands all on 2 CD’s. We are celebrating the official release THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 11th at The Union in Athens, Ohio with music from Seascapes, Black Owls, Scubadog, and Weedghost. Comps will be for sale (at a special price!) and there will be some awesome music which will start around 10pm.

The compilation features hand screen printed art by Jed Collins and looks real sweet. They will be for sale at the show and then on our website and at good places around the state in the coming weeks.

FULL COMPILATION TRACK LIST AFTER THE BREAK…

Aquabear County Fair Preview: DAY FOUR Sunday, March 6 at ARTS/West

The Aquabear County Fair closes out with a visit from Columbus' Super Desserts, Brian Harnetty, and Adam Remnant. 2pm at ARTS/West, it's a free show and potluck!

The 5th annual Aquabear County Fair is coming up this weekend (March 3-6) and we think this year just might be the best yet. The Aquabear is serving up four days of Ohio music with 16 bands.

We finish the 5th annual Aquabear County Fair off with a FREE afternoon potluck at the always awesome ARTS/West (132 W. State Street in Athens) on SUNDAY, MARCH 6 at 2:00pm. Its a great lineup too featuring Super Desserts (columbus), Brian Harnetty (columbus), and Athens’ own Adam Remnant. Plus it’s free (though donations help pay for bands, space, and sound) and it’s a potluck so bring some food to share and enjoy some amazing music. Trust us, you will have a great time. We’re bringing kelbasa and bread from Crumbs and a giant chocolate bunny.

Super Desserts are a fantastic band from Columbus, Ohio. Come see them this afternoon and you will love them as much as we do. 

Brian Harnetty is a musician and artist from ohio, and his work involves overlooked elements of sound. many of his pieces transform found material––including field recordings, transcriptions, and historic recordings––into personal sound worlds. He’s recorded and worked with Will Oldham, and graced stages from Europe to the Southern Theater.

Adam Remnant has been one of Athens’ most respected songwriters for a decade and appears at ARTS/West for a special solo show. Adam’s band Southeast Engine is releasing its new album Canary on MISRA Records in a few weeks and embarking on another tour.

 

5th Annual Aquabear County Fair (March 3-6 in Athens) Lineups Announced!

This year mark’s the 5th annual Aquabear County Fair so we decided to make it bigger than ever before. We’re pretty excited for this one… many more details to come.

This year we present 16 bands total in Athens, Ohio over 4 days on March 3-6. 15 Ohio bands and even 1 from Japan.

Thursday, March 3 at 10pm
COUNTY FAIR NIGHT ONE
at The Union curated by Blackout
Zoobombs (Japan)
Wheels On Fire (Athens)
Valleyboys (Athens)
The Pleasuredomes (Athens)

Friday, March 4 at 10:30pm
COUNTY FAIR NIGHT TWO
at Casa Cantina – FREE SHOW!
She Bears (Columbus)
Narrow + The Brights (Columbus)
Whale Zombie (Athens)
*donations benefit Aquabear Legion

Saturday, March 5 at 9pm
COUNTY FAIR NIGHT THREE
at The Union
Chickenpussy (Athens)
Megachurch (Cleveland)
Hex Net (Athens)
Scubadog (Athens)
The 65’s (Athens)
Weedghost (Athens/Dayton)

Sunday, March 6 at 2pm
COUNTY FAIR DAY FOUR
at ARTS/West – FREE AFTERNOON POTLUCK
Super Desserts (Columbus)
Brian Harnetty (Columbus)
Adam Remnant (Athens)
*donations encouraged to benefit bands and space

Support Local Music! Help spread the word.

Best of Ohio Music 2010

I was very excited to come up with a list of my favorite music from Ohio this year, particularly because not too much on the national scene really blew me away this year. The following list however features some very, very good music and all of it comes at high suggestion for me. Great records from Megachurch, Super Desserts, Wheels On Fire, Sun God, This Moment In Black History, Whale Zombie, The Black Swans, Orchestraville, Manor Animals, Seascapes, and Weedghost. When possible we have included a link and where you could purchase a copy, though a few of these things may be out of print.

I know I missed a few (sorry), and I am putting them in arbitrary order as I cannot possibly rank anything. But, I did limit it to 11, because 10 just didn’t work…

Happy New Year from the Aquabear Legion! 2011 is gonna be pretty awesome.


Megachurch, Megachurch
GET IT: megachurch.bandcamp.com

Super Desserts, Banjo Forever
GET IT: banjoforever.com

Wheels On Fire, Liar Liar
GET IT: Bompstore

Sun God / This Moment In Black History, The Paul EP
GET IT: Smog Veil Records

The Black Swans, Words Are Stupid
GET IT: St. Ives and Secretly Canadian Distribution

This Moment In Black History, Public Square
GET IT: Smog Veil Records

Whale Zombie, LP
GET IT: whalezombie.bandcamp.com

Orchestraville, Poison Berries
GET IT: orchestraville.bandcamp.com

Manor Animals, Rearranger EP
MORE INFO: Manor Animals Myspace

Seascapes, EP
MORE INFO: Seascapes Myspace

Weedghost, 2010 Tour Album
MORE INFO: Weedghost Myspace