The sixth annual Midpoint Music Festival has descended upon Cincinnati, OH. With 19 stages and 240 bands, the festival is run by an all-volunteer staff and focuses on showcasing independent original musicians. With this many bands, I find it's best to try to catch a 3-4 songs of one band and then keep moving. Last night I was able to see: The Nathan Corsi Band, Mark Brecknell, The Prime Ministers, Josh Weinstein, Ruetschle, Elliott Ruther Trio, Hojas Rojas, Liz Pahl & The Pahlbearers, The Teenage Prayers, darynyck, Industrial Jazz Group, Angelo M., murmur, Cabin, and The Swarthy Band. What follows is a list of the highlights from the first day of showcases.
Nathan Corsi Band - A three-piece band from Akron, OH. They were all accomplished musicians. As this set kicked off the festival, there was a nasty low frequency feedback in the PA. After the sound guy worked on removing it for a while, the band decided it was good enough and they'd start their show. Corsi has a great voice and guitar chops. He was confident and suave. The rhythm section of bassist Phil Risko and drummer Eric Baltrinic was steady, but seem withdrawn. The feedback may have still been bothering them. The band seemed to relax as the set continued.
The Prime Ministers - This band from Berkley, MI, put on a loose and fun show. Vocalist/guitarist Todd Wicks made a quip about their music melding the pop tones of Foo Fighters with the indie sound of Fountains Of Wayne. To my ears they sounded like a combination of Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, and The Flaming Lips.
Ruetschle - As part of my homework for Midpoint, I listened to some tracks by 98% of the 240 bands scheduled to play the festival. After listening to songs by this Dayton, OH, band I was excited to see their set. The stage was set with 3 foot cutouts of the letters R, S, and C. Their songs still had the pop aesthetics of their records, but the band seemed fairly unenthusiastic to be performing. They were showcasing on one of the largest stages of the festival, but the band appeared unemotional and stoic for the few songs for which I was present.
Elliott Ruther Trio - I had seen this local Cincinnati musician once before, but Elliott was in an acoustic setting for that show. For tonight's Midpoint showcase the three-piece band was full amped. This set by the Elliott Ruther Trio was when the entire energy of the festival picked up. The band played a funky, punk rock style set.
Hojas Rojas - A damn good four-piece band from Minneapolis, MN. As their set continued, I found each song pulling me in a little more than the previous one. The band grew on me during their show. They have a loose and melodic sound. If James Mercer had a raspier voice and fronted a lo-fi version of The Shins, he would be Dan Kukielka and the band would be Hojas Rojas.
The Teenage Players - This five-piece band from New York, NY, appeared as a group fo professionals. On the largest stage of the festival, they took command of te audience. They had great vocals with the lead guitarist and bassist backing the lead singer. They had an electric pop sound that brought to mind a bluesier version of Spoon.
darynyck - This is an eclectic band from Columbus, OH. They seem to trade off instrumentation. For the songs I witnessed, one member was on electric guitar. The second member played a hand drum and harmonica before switching to the drum set. Daryn and Nyck offer a simple and original band that creates catchy tunes and put on a unique live show.
Industrial Jazz Group - This thirteen-piece band from Los Angeles, CA, was the highlight of MPMF Day One. Before their set, members of the band drove up Cincinnati's Main Street in a minivan playing songs. Once I walked into the tent were they were performing I was instantly drawn in to the band's entertaining atmosphere. The Industrial Jazz Group consisted of a drummer, a bass player, nine horn players (3 trumpets, 2 soprano saxophones, 1 alto saxophone, 1 tenor saxophone, 1 baritone saxophone, and 1 trombone), a female singer, and a keyboardists who doubled as conductor. The energy level of the band will remain unmatched. The singer spent much of her time dancing through and with the audience. The horn section wore unique headgear - which included a Skeletor mask, a crab hat, a fish hat, and a hot dog hat - and had some choreographed swaying and directional moves. The charts they played were dynamic and fluid. If they toured the country playing for high school students, every student would want to join the school's jazz band. They could save the entire country's educational music program and revive the art of jazz performance. This band exemplifies what a jazz ensemble should be!
murmur - Hailing from Dayton, OH, Murmur shows some strong potential. They have some very good songs that could be harnessed into some sugary gems. They appeared to be a young band who was not the most rehearsed band of the evening. With due time, this band could work into a staple of the Midwest music scene.
Cabin - This four-piece band made the drive up from Louisville, KY, worthwhile. They have a sound that is tight, eclectic, and dramatic. They cover a lot of sonic ground and swoop some catchy melodies into the layers of sound. Each musician demonstrated individual prowess and clicked as a group. Noah Hewett-Ball's vocals were immediately captivating. Sarah Welder's versatility on keyboards and violin added a powerful dynamic to the band. And the bass playing of Billy Lease and drumming of Dave Chale was intricate and rock solid.
Midpoint Music Festival - Day Two on The Wheel's Still In Spin
Midpoint Music Festival - Day Three on The Wheel's Still In Spin
Midpoint Music Festival - Overview on The Wheel's Still In Spin
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Hey, thanks for checking us out, and thanks for the kind words!
(Andrew from the Industrial Jazz Group)
Posted by: Andrew | 29 September 2007 at 08:29 PM