Show time with Nicholas Johnson

March 25, 2023 your tuesday afternoon alternative Live Live Live, Live Shows Age Nowhere, Back Upstate, Blind Bob's, Nicholas Johnson, Rock and Roll Show, Shady Pines Vol. 2, Shady Pines VOol. 1

We were fortunate to be able to see a knock-your-socks-off set at Blind Bob’s in Dayton from Nicholas Johnson who is finishing up a punishing schedule of shows in support of his latest record, Shady Pines Vol. 2.

Coming to town with The Pinkerton Raid and joined by hometown heroes, Age Nowhere – he played one heck of a show featuring music from not only the new record but the excellent Back Upstate and Shady Pines Vol. 1!

Before the show, we spoke with him about the tour and we were amazed that he not only played the classic one show a night but also played multiple shows on the same day in different towns. However, you would never know the demanding itinerary for the tour from his performance. He was energetic and charismatic which drew the crowd into the experience because of his enthusiasm.

If you ever have a chance to see a Nicholas Johnson show. Do it. You will not be disappointed.

Eighteenth Year Promises to be Special

December 29, 2021 your tuesday afternoon alternative Radio Show 2022, Age Nowhere, Age Nowhere Strikes Again, Break Up Songs about Staying Together, In The Evening, Kurt Lee Wheeler, Lavender Honey, Magnaphone Records, music, On Our Way, Samantha J. King, The Touchy Feelys, Tom Gilliam

2021 was a solid year for independent music which is quite remarkable given the challenges that we all faced. Music has always existed as a way for us to process the dilemmas, struggles and losses that we face in life.

We are very excited for 2022 on Your Tuesday Afternoon Alternative! Our 18th year doing this radio show is shaping up great! Next week on January 4th we start strong right out of the gate with special guests Lavender Honey on the YTAA program! Their atmospheric funky electro dream pop debut comes out early in the new year. Their single ‘In The Evening‘ can regularly be heard on the show! You can keep up with their plans on twitter, Instagram and their webpage.

Then our pal Paul Monnin of Age Nowhere joins us on January 11th to talk about the terrific sophomore effort ‘Age Nowhere Strikes Again‘! We were blown away by the texture and real feeling of this band’s first record, Airport Sounds. The follow-up album is another example of the fine variety of music that is consistently released on Magnaphone Records! Authentic country music is all too rare these days. You can keep an eye on Age Nowhere on Instagram! And we suggest that you do so! Tune in on the 11th and hear Dr. J chat with Paul about the new record from them!

A week later on January 18th The Touchy Feelys come in and chat about their excellent new album – ‘Break Up Songs about Staying Together‘ which was produced by The Wizard Patrick Himes at Reel Love Studios! In fact, Patrick was involved with that new music from Age Nowhere, Neo American Pioneers, The New Old-Fashioned and more this past 2021. The Touchy Feelys play with well… passion and feeling that capture the weight and of relationships. You can learn more about their music on their bandcamp page! They are also on Instagram – you have to love the video of them slicing the cake with the cover of their new record on it!

The month concludes with our good friend Tom Gilliam in the studio for our annual memorial program! As is the case every year, Tom joined us for our annual indie holiday effort, made suggestions for our ‘faves’ of 2021 shows and is kind to join us to reflect on the musicians and artists who left this realm in the past year.

And the train keeps rolling down the track because in February as we have Samantha J King in the studio to talk about her new single — coming out you on January 7th! — and playing a few songs acoustic live for us. Then later in the month of love we have Kurt Lee Wheeler in the studio to discuss his amazing record ‘On Our Way‘ and playing a show at Yellow Cab Tavern! Don’t worry, we will be talking about these upcoming shows soon.

Damn 2022 you are rocking!

Dan Spaugy’s Short Takes

July 14, 2021August 12, 2021 your tuesday afternoon alternative Short Takes Age Nowhere, Before the Frost... Until the Freeze, Bringing Down The Horse, Dan Spaugy, Erika Wennerstrom, Neo-American Pioneers, Sweet Unknown, The Black Crowes

Today’s Short Takes comes courtesy of guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Dan Spaugy (photo of Dan used with the kind permission of Holding It Still Photography).

To say that Dan is involved in several music projects here in Dayton is to actually under-represent his involvement in the Dayton music community. Dan is in Age Nowhere, Neo American Pioneers and is an often in-demand session player for other musicians’ records. Dan’s guitar work elevates any song her contributes to with his passionate yet deliberate playing style.

We appreciate Dan taking the time out of his busy schedule to share the music that is currently part of his listening journey with us!

Dr. J: What are you listening to right now?

The Wallflowers “Bringing Down The Horse” (1996)

Year after year, usually during the summer months, “Bringing Down the Horse” is a mainstay in my listening rotation. Some of my earliest, most vivid memories were hearing “One Headlight” on pop radio stations and seeing the music video on MTV when I was around 10 years old. Out of all the tunes on mainstream radio, this one always stood out to me- the lyrics, driving beat, and that beautiful whistling-sounding instrument which I would later discover was a Hammond B3 Organ through a Leslie Speaker. I actually still listen to “One Headlight” on a weekly basis and it never loses its luster. In my teenage years while learning guitar I picked up a used copy of this album on CD at CD Connection (Dayton people- remember?). I truly feel that there is not a low moment on this album and every song is great, which is something that cannot be said about many albums. It is safe to say I will continue to praise this as one of the best albums released in my lifetime.

The Black Crowes “Before the Frost…Until the Freeze” (2009)

Recently I was out at a local show (finally!) and I had a conversation with a fellow Crowes fan. I don’t know if I had declared it out loud in the past, but in that moment I made up my mind to answer the loaded age old question that music fans always get- “Who is your favorite band of all time?” Now of course there are the Stones, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and Led Zeppelin, but having witnessed over half of the Black Crowes career unfold as a fan, I can safely come to the conclusion that they are my favorite Rock & Roll band of all time. This double album was recorded live at Levon Helm’s barn in Woodstock. The “Before the Frost” section of the album contains all things Crowes – the dual guitar work, Chris Robinson’s howling vocals, some long jams, and a couple of ballads that hit the sweet spot. The second half “…Until the Freeze” showcases the depth of the Crowes musical influences. The songs on this side of the record have a timeless feel and sensibility. I feel that this side of the album was a bit overlooked and would have been a strong contender for Roots/Americana music awards the year it was released. My personal highlight of this album is the track “So Many Times,” which is a cover of a Chris Hillman penned tune for the Stephen Stills “Manassas” project. Chris and Rich deliver an intuitive brother vocal harmony performance that is reminiscent of the Louvin Brothers or Everly Brothers. To top it off, guest multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell (Dylan, Phil Lesh, Levon Helm) delivers a beautiful pedal steel performance that sends this track to the next level.

Erika Wennerstrom “Sweet Unknown” (2018)

There are so many great local albums that have come out over the last several years. It would be hard not to leave someone out while writing this blog post so I have selected an album with a Dayton connection that has been in regular rotation. Erica Wennerstrom’s 2018 release “Sweet Unknown” often makes its way into my listening rounds. This album clocks in at almost an hour and nearly every song is over five minutes and all of them are wonderful. That is a lot to be said for me because nowadays albums with that long of a duration usually don’t hold my attention very well. For the guitarist in me this album features some of the most inspiring guitar work that I have heard in recent years. The songs are very atmospheric and contain many sonic layers. It would be a goal of mine to make an album that had a fraction of these elements. Seeing Erika and her band perform at Dayton Music Fest at the Brightside in 2019 was definitely a high point of my concert experiences for that year.

Many thanks to Dan for sharing some of his musical journey with us!

If you would like to contribute to a future Short Takes essay, just let us know at drjytaa on gmail.com! Our contact us through this page. We would love to feature more artists and listeners of Your Tuesday Afternoon Alternative!

Best of 2019: Brandon Berry of The Paint Spats’ Picks and Thoughts

December 28, 2019January 8, 2020 your tuesday afternoon alternative Best Of, Radio Show Age Nowhere, Alex Cameron, Best of 2019, Billie Eilish, David Payne, Dayton Music, Dayton Music Scene, Jeffrey Lewis, Jeffrey Lewis and The Voltage, John Dubuc's Guilty Pleasures, Overthought Musik, Seth Gilliam and the Fake News, The Mountain Goats, Tim Heidecker

Best of 2019

Misconstrued – Seth Gilliam & The Fake News

There hasn’t been one project that Seth has been a part of that hasn’t been astounding, and this album is no exception. I’d say the fella’s talented beyond his years, but I’m the same age and that would just make me depressed now, wouldn’t it?

Where Have I Been All Your Life? – John Dubuc’s Guilty Pleasures

John’s become one of my best friends over this past year. It all started because I told him that when I grow up, I want to be as good of a songwriter as him, and that’s the truth. I’ve never heard a record with such re-listen-ability-ness as this one. This record will live with you for a long time.

What The Brokenhearted Do… – Tim Heidecker

This one blows my mind. Tim tricked us into thinking he got a divorce and wrote an entire record surrounding said divorce. He is the Andy Kaufman of music, a triple threat of awesome. Plus, he’s heavily influenced by Warren Zevon, which is no crime.

Bad Wiring – Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage

Because of my hankering for vinyl, a friend sent me the “LPs” music video from Jeffrey Lewis and I was enamored. This record has no shortage of great tunes, including “Except For The Fact That It Isn’t,” “Till Question Marks Are Told,” and “Exactly What Nobody Wanted.”

It’s easily become one of my favorite records of 2019.

In League with Dragons – The Mountain Goats

John Darnielle has been my biggest influence when it comes to my own songwriting. This album, in a way, feels like an experiment, or at least a divergence of style, which I love. There are a few country-esque tunes, and an 80s-inspired power ballad.

There’s adventure all across this one.

When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? – Billie Eilish

There is something dark and sinister that she’s bringing to the table that breaks up the monotony of the four-chord safety net that’s been implemented in pop music over the last few decades. Her live shows and music videos are out of this world. Billie gives me hope for music.

Misery – Age Nowhere

Paul Monnin ripped me from my sad bachelor pad on Central in late 2018 to bring me to my first open mic in several years at Star City Brewing. I heard him play this before I knew anything about his band or his songwriting. I associate this tune with my entrance into the Dayton music scene, and it couldn’t have been a better one to remember it by.

Transference – Overthought Musik

I am a firm believer of never moving the needle once it hits the grooves, but for some reason I break my own rule for this one. The whole record is a knockout, showcasing some of Dayton’s beloved heavyweights.

But this song, man. I can’t stop!

Miami Memory – Alex Cameron

The fuzzed-out drums, the simple melodies and minimal musical distractions, Alex Cameron tells it like it is. The lyrics are dirty, comical, yet heartwarming, and the video just reinforces the point.

Every time I hear it, I feel like I’m falling in love all over again.

“What I Mean To You” – David Payne

How can I make a best-of list and not include our good pal, David Payne? Like Nebraska before it, Orange Glow is an intimate record that gives you the sense that you’re being serenaded by a woeful traveler who shares the same heartbreak as you. After it’s over, all you can do is pour yourself – and your guest – a glass of whiskey and stare into the fireplace until the embers sizzle away with the sunrise’s orange glow. That’s what it means to me.

Brandon Berry is the sonic artist behind The Paint Splats. He loves long walks, sunsets and… just kidding he is a songwriter, videographer, photographer and visual artist who in his down time is watching VCR tapes and writing some of the catchiest indie and alt-country pop songs this side of the Mississippi. His latest record is Defacing the Moon, a split album with Mike Bankhead, available now. The Paint Splats are on twitter and instagram as @thepaintsplats.

Age Nowhere with a Great Cover Song!

September 4, 2019October 16, 2019 your tuesday afternoon alternative Live In Studio, Live Live Live Age Nowhere, Anodyne, Cover, Cover Song, Dayton Local Music, Dayton Music Scene, Live in the Studio, New Madrid, radio, uncle tupelo

Age Nowhere surprised Dr. J with a cover of ‘New Madrid’ from Uncle Tupelo’s last record Anodyne when they visited on March 19th of this year. The Jeff Tweedy penned song references the New Madrid fault which is south of St. Louis where Uncle Tupelo members Jeff Tweedy, Jay Farrar and Mike Heidorn grew up. The band hailed from Belleville Illinois which is across the river from St. Louis. The New Madrid fault is the location of one of the most powerful earthquakes in the United States. The line about rivers running backwards is taken from a result of the massive earthquake in 1812. Another line in the song was based on a prediction made by Browning that predicted a massive earthquake would strike the fault and surrounding area in 1990.

Allow us to set a scene. Imagine stepping in for a drink at a bar where Sticky Fingers era Keith Richards is hanging out with his Nudie Cohen Suit wearing pal Graham Parsons and a world weary Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes. They are all sitting in a booth commenting on the passing musical fancies of the day. That is the experience of Age Nowhere! Imagine a true double guitar attack from Identical-twin brothers Matt and Dan Spaugy paired with smoky evocative lyrics sung by Paul Monin propelled by driving drums from Seth Gilliam and pounding bass of Matt Terry. That is the experience of Age Nowhere.The band takes it’s nom de plume from one of the standout tracks on Dayton’s own Shrug‘s 2005 record ‘Whole Hog For The Macho Jesus.’

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Age Nowhere with a Special Uncle Tupelo Cover!

May 4, 2019May 4, 2019 your tuesday afternoon alternative Live In Studio, Live Live Live, Radio Show Age Nowhere, Cover, Dayton Local Music, Dayton Music Scene, New Madrid, radio, uncle tupelo, Your Covered, Your Tuesday Afternoon Alternative, YTAA

Age Nowhere surprised Dr. J with a cover of ‘New Madrid’ from Uncle Tupelo’s last record Anodyne. The Jeff Tweedy penned song references The New Madrid fault which is south of St. Louis where Uncle Tupelo members Jeff Tweedy, Jay Farrar and Mike Heidorn grew up. The band hailed from Belleville Illinois which is across the river from St. Louis. The New Madrid fault is the location of one of the most powerful earthquakes in the United States. The line about rivers running backwards is taken from a result of the massive earthquake in 1812. Another line in the song was based on a prediction made by Browning that predicted a massive earthquake would strike the fault and surrounding area in 1990.

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Recent Guests

May 2, 2019May 13, 2019 your tuesday afternoon alternative Live In Studio, Radio Show Age Nowhere, Amber Bromer, Brother Hill, Khrys Blank, Starving in the Belly of The Whale, Theo Gainey, Trees & Wells, Wolf Moon Revival

Age Nowhere in the Studio!

March 20, 2019March 20, 2019 your tuesday afternoon alternative Radio Show Age Nowhere, Dayton Music, Dayton Music Scene

YTAA Goes Age Nowhere

March 15, 2019 your tuesday afternoon alternative Radio Show Age Nowhere, Airport Sounds, Dayton Music, Dayton Music Scene, New Music, Radio show

52005916_2078455642245954_4536899964810297344_n Allow us to set a scene for our upcoming show on Tuesday. Imagine stepping in for a drink at a bar where Sticky Fingers era Keith Richards is hanging out with his Nudie Cohen Suit wearing pal Graham Parsons and a world weary Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes. They are all sitting in a booth commenting on the passing musical fancies of the day.

That scene is the experience of Age Nowhere! Imagine a true double guitar attack from Identical-twin brothers Matt and Dan Spaugy paired with smoky evocative lyrics sung by Paul Monin propelled by driving drums from Seth Gilliam and pounding bass of Matt Terry. That is the experience of Age Nowhere.The band takes it’s nom de plume from one of the standout tracks on Dayton’s own Shrug‘s 2005 record ‘Whole Hog For The Macho Jesus.’

Join us for conversation, music and the Age Nowhere experience online at the usual website wudr.udayton.edu on Tuesday, March 19th from 3-6pm!

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