Dayton music you should listen to: Americana edition
By Vivienne Machi and Libby Ballengee
As we prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, and the once-yearly food coma-to-end-all-food-comas that comes with it, it dawned on us that Thanksgiving lacks a proper musical playlist. It's too early for Christmas music; spooky tunes are way over nearly a month after Halloween. This holiday celebrates the first American settlers' initial successful harvests in the early 17th century, and the foundation of our entire nation. The holiday deserves something patriotic, though not in the Independence Day, National Anthem, "America the Beautiful"-vein of patriotic music.
We propose that Americana, bluegrass, and folk music present the perfect accompaniment to reflecting upon this great American tradition while sipping on boozy hot cider on the couch. And sure, you can pop on a Bob Dylan record or sing along with Woodie Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land," but slip a few Dayton-area bands into the rotation and feel especially proud and grateful for your own little piece of American soil, right here in the Gem City.
Don’t miss out on your weekend shows: Check in with the Dayton Music Insider.
Blue Moon Soup: Fox On the Run
While Yellow Springs' bluegrass trio Blue Moon Soup is in the studio recording what they call their "biggest and best" full-length, satisfy your fiddle and banjo-picks with this barn-stormer from their 2013 self-titled release. "Fox on the Run" has all of the components of your favorite bluegrass/folk song: great fiddle runs, soulful harmonies, and scenes of the girl you love walking through cornfields. It's the picture-perfect (and tune-perfect) description of fall in the Midwest. -VM
Mark Cantwil: "Tonight"
Americana rocker Mark Cantwil released his second album this year, Diggin’ on You. This track is radio-ready, featuring outstanding guitar riffs and a upbeat, rockin’ rhythm. Mark is able to mix elements of Blues, Americana, rock’n’roll and just a touch of country, making this song accessible to crowds of all types. I also enjoyed the subtle background vocals that add a depth to the already strong vocals. This is a great song to party to on a Saturday night! - LB
The Repeating Arms: "Way Down Low"
Listening to the Repeating Arms' lead vocalist Harold Hensley sing his heart out on "Way Down Low," you can't help but want to belt along with him. The Dayton-based bluegrass rockers say on their Facebook page that they're interested in writing songs that mean something to them, and the best folk songs work because they mean something to everyone. That's what this song does. Its melody is an earworm that will stay with you all through dinner, even while you're watching the Chicago Bears take on the Green Bay Packers. You'll still be humming it as you curl up to digest and hibernate through the night. -VM
Scott Lee and the Whiskey River Boys: "Lost Serenade in AM"
The first strums of this tune by Dayton's Scott Lee and the Whiskey River Boys piqued my interest, then surprisingly rich vocals followed, and I was hooked! This is one of those songs I immediately want to listen to again and again. The lyrics and tonal quality take me to another time and place, which is part of the magic of music. Don’t think you like folk music? Give this song a listen, and it might just change your mind. Kudos to Scott Lee for a well-written, and beautifully executed song. –LB
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Trey Stone and the Ringers: "Setting Sun"
Trey Stone and his gang have proved prolific in their treatment of all of America's musical tendencies, from the R&B/soul-influenced tunes like "What's a Man To Do?" or "Things Are Coming Up," to the rockabilly-tinged "Hittin' the Road." Just run down the playlist on their Reverb Nation profile, and it's like a dive into American musical history. "Setting Sun" is a slow-building guitar ballad, the kind of song you listen to while gazing out the window day after day, watching the sun set just a little earlier each time, while contemplating the chain of events over the course of history that led you to this. exact. spot. -VM
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OldNews: "Whiskey Showdown"
You can tell the gentlemen who make up OldNews know each other well! Their songs are seamless harmonizations of this trio’s passionate vocals and individual acoustic guitars. I especially enjoy the solo that dances out of the rhythm guitar, then weaves back into the background, and emerges again. This song is both lovely and a bit gritty, which is exactly what makes folk music so authentic and relatable. This is the perfect song to swoon to over a fall campfire! Enjoy!  -LB
Let us know what you’re listening to! Tweet us: @DaytonVivi and @LibbyBallengee
Whenever possible, we highly encourage checking your local music/record store for Dayton musicians’ releases. Support your bands, support your businesses. Call Omega Music, Toxic Beauty Records and Poster Gallery, Play It Again Music, Game Swap Kettering, and Disc Exchange to see what they have in stock.
Want more local music suggestions? Check out our past Guided By Noises columns.
