From the Back of the Beachland: Bethesda talks licensing, plans for new album

Written by Priscilla Tasker

I caught up with Shanna Delaney and Eric Ling of Bethesda at a recent show at The Beachland Tavern in November to talk about the band’s successful year. They shared exciting news about the licensing deals they signed with a few global television networks and what the next few months hold for the band. 

The group is finishing up some local shows before taking a two-month hiatus to write a new full-length album to follow up the EP the band released earlier this year; and they are planning tour dates in Chicago and Indiana in January. 

“We just came out with our EP, Dream Tiger & Other Tails, a couple of months ago, and we’re itching to write. So, we have a lot of songs in us, and we have several we’re going to write over the winter months,” Delaney said.

Dream Tiger launched in May with a radio and television campaign. The TV push landed Bethesda 13 contracts, slating the band for 13 shows on MTV, VH1, E! and Showtime, among others. 

“That was actually when we were on tour in June when we got that news – and we were really excited,” Delaney said.

Keeping Up with the Kardashians and The Real World are just two shows on which the band is signed to be featured. Ling laughed as he said they are wondering how the network plans to fit their songs into a show like the Kardashians.

“And, then, just this fall, we were one of six bands shopped for our PR company to the Discovery Network, which has 30 plus shows,” Delaney continued. 

The contract will allow Discovery Network to use any song or section of a song off the album. Bethesda may not be paid out for a couple of years and won’t know when or how the songs will be used because, with the volume of bands large networks contract for music, there are too many artists to email individually when a song is featured in a show. 

“They can do just instrumental or just vocals. They pretty much have complete control over what songs they want to use, but they have the whole five-song EP,” Ling said.

Delaney giggled that they just want to know when they’re on so they can watch – just once!

“We can’t Tivo all the shows, you know. So hopefully someone will call us,” Ling said.

To build on the success of 2011, the band is already looking forward to a new year, completing a new full-length album and a tour stop in Austin to play SXSW Music Festival in March 2012. 

Fans can catch this pipe-dream posse at the Rowdy Indie Craft Fair this Sunday, December 4, before they delve into a studio spell. Bethesda will be performing with Comfort Clouds and ShiSho at Studio 526 in Akron at 7 p.m. 

Follow the band on Facebook, Twitter or www.bethesdaband.com for more information.

Monday Muse: Aaron Lafette, Britni Elise, Dj-EV at the Agora

Pump up your Monday with this electropop teaser featuring Aaron LaFette, Britni Elise and Dj-EV at the Agora in Cleveland.

Weekend Prelude: "It Might Be" Rob Geer Live from Colorado; "Ocean" Pearl Jam

There's a void Rob Geer's smooth vocals used to fill in the Cleveland soundscape. It's been several weeks since the artist migrated to Colorado's Rocky Mountains, but the artist sent his love back home with this scenic recording of "It Might Be." Geer shared details on the stunning location of his new music video and his first few weeks out West:

"Well, it's at Mount Falcon, in Morrison, Co., about 20 minutes from my house (which is fucking awesome by the way!). And mostly, I've just been layin low, mixing the stuff I recorded before I left, and chillin, not necessarily "finding my inner self," just checkin some new shit out! It's cool out here, I've played a couple open mic nights that were pretty accepting of what I do, but I'm hoping to at least have a digital copy out in a couple weeks. So I'm waiting to have the CD finished before I start whoring myself out.  haha. I want to film a few more other videos in some cool locations. I'm thinking Red Rocks, which is about 15 minutes from my house (... Ahh! The reverb is so good!), and swapping out some old bathroom/living room sessions." — Rob Geer via Facebook

Something New

Monday Muse: "Babel" Humble Home

Nick Wise and Matt Hectorne of Humble Home perform "Babel" off the band's Prologue to Doubt album.

Tonight, see Humble Home perform with Bethesda and Caroline Smith & The Good Night Sleeps at Beachland Tavern. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5.

Get more show details on the Facebook event page.

Downtown Cleveland is Moving

I saw an excerpt of this advertisement on YouTube today so I had to search it out.

Less than 13,000 people have viewed this full-length version so far. Let's see how far we can spread the word. Share this with a friend on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, StumbleUpon, or whatever social network you're on today!

This is Your Changing Cleveland
It's in your hands. This is your home, my home, OUR HOME. We should be proud of it, appreciate it. Take action. This video's only received about 4,600 views. Share it!

Monday Muse: "Cleveland" Machine Gun Kelly

 

"I'm still that little white boy out of Shaker, man."

Machine Gun Kelly

Video by RG Films

There is No Music Scene Here

Written by Priscilla Tasker

I was always one of those kids growing up who lived on pop music. Sure, I had friends who played in bands – which was cool – but I never gave them much credit for what they created. Let's face it. Most teenage bands flat out suck. In my mind, at the time, they never could have lived up to the artists and bands with radio airplay and music videos on MTV. Sound familiar to you? A lot people can admit they've written off the talent of friends based on the fact that they're only playing in basements and at a local level. 


Here's the thing. Those kids grow up. They hone their talents, and what they create may be extraordinary. You only have to listen, see and experience it. 


Yet, it is that mentality – if something is not appealing to the masses, it must be mediocre – that plagues local music and arts scenes. The Northeast Ohio music scenes are beset by this stigma. I've heard it, and I'm sure you have as well. "There is no music scene in [Cleveland, Akron, or insert your city name here]."


The truth of the matter is, there is a scene and great things are happening in it. If you don't know, you're simply not in it.

Ohio produces big name acts

In recent years, the nation and the world has seen acts like The Black Keys, Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) and Jessica Lea Mayfield explode in popular culture. Where do you think they began? The Black Keys formed and started their music career in Akron. MGK came up in Cleveland. Jessica Lea Mayfield, if I recall correctly, still calls Kent home. 


In the past, artists like Macy Gray, Reliant K and Marilyn Manson cropped up out of Canton. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony started in Cleveland. Going back even further, Devo and Chrissie Hynde were Kent State University students. And, to throw it out there, although they're not from the northeast part of the state, John Legend hailed from Springfield and short-lived 90s pop sensation 98 Degrees was from Cincinnati. Out of those acts – love them or hate them – almost every person reading this article could attest to how each has impacted pop music and changed our world in some way.


I recently pointed this out to a friend who works in Los Angeles as we discussed my potential move out West. As I made the case for why I am dedicated to the music scene in Northeast Ohio, I reminded him of the numerous musicians who've originated in this great state. In response, he said to me the one thing most of them had in common was that their careers took off after they had left Ohio. This is true, but every one of them had small beginnings in some local scene. 


At the time when most of those groups or individuals "made it," an artist had to pursue a career in a major music hub to be heard. In today's tech-centric world, kids and adults who are still making music in their basements, living rooms or bedrooms can upload their tunes and videos to the Internet for the world to hear and see. Location barriers have been broken down. Just as I am reaching you from the sofa in my apartment to wherever you are, musicians have at the tips of their fingers the opportunity to amass a following through the Internet. The challenge many local musicians face is the lack of wider appreciation for the live shows they play in their home towns. It's disheartening. 

Artists build careers from NEOhio home base

In 2009, Cleveland-based hip hop band Vitium released "Never Looking Back" on the Goon Trax label in Japan. The single produced by re::plus hit No. 3 on the country's iTunes hip hop charts. You're probably asking yourself, "Who the hell is Vitium?" It's one of the many professional bands that can be seen playing in the Northeast Ohio area. Sadly, one of the last times I saw this band play at Beachland Tavern, the venue was nearly empty.


Another terrific band on the bill that night was Winslow, a group which originated in Kent and is now based in Akron. Earlier this year, the soul-rock fusion ensemble recorded its latest single "Quarter Life" with Grammy-award winner Edwin "Tony" Nicholas. The song was released nationwide on a Sony RED promotional album. But you didn't know that, did you?


The Greater Cleveland and Akron areas have a plethora of artists who are making great music. Some of them are paving their way into the national and global scenes. Daytrotter took interest in The Lighthouse and The Whaler of Cleveland and recorded a session with the band in July. If you don't know Daytrotter, it is a music project in Rock City, Indiana that has recorded hundreds of live session with independent artists; a short list includes Death Cab for Cutie, Adam Arcuragi, Ingrid Michaelson, The National, OK GO, Scars on 45 and Tegan & Sara. In addition, this past October, The Lighthouse and The Whaler was a feature act at Paste & Rdio's Afternoon Delight party during the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City. 

Bethesda, another Kent-based band, signed a major licensing deal with Discovery Network, which operates in 187 countries. The band's music will be featured on more than 30 original shows on Discovery Channel, the Oprah Winfrey Network, Military Channel, Animal Planet and more.


Do you know what each of these bands have in common? 
They comprise a diverse representation of Ohio music and can frequently be seen in the "non-exsistent" Northeast Ohio music scene. There are plenty more from where they came, so support the local music in your home town. 


Come out to a show at Beachland Ballroom & Tavern, the Grog Shop, Happy Dog, The Winchester, Kent Stage, Musica, Auricle Venue or any other venue supporting the live, local music.


For God's sake, Cleveland is the home of The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Do you really think we're not making music here? Wake up!


And don't forget about the people and businesses behind these artists. Bad Racket Recording Studio, Cellar Door Records, Buzzbin Magazine and, of course, The Rhythm Report are among those that stand behind the scene to cultivate and capture the culture and art being created here and share it with you. Tune in. 

Hear the music

Weekend Prelude: "Bag Lady" Erykah Badu and "Lose Control" Lwam

Something Old

"Bag Lady" Erykah Badu (2000)

 

Something New 

"Lose Control" Lwam (2011)

Lwam, Northeast Ohio's own YouTube sensation, released her debut EP Smile earlier this year. 
Get the free download here.

Follow this girl's beat on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Shows to See: Canton & Lakewood – November 4-5

Canton

One Man Band Death Match
Buzzbin Magazine Art & Music Shop 
Nov. 4 – 8 p.m.

• Steve Trent
• Ohio Joe
• Chris Bentley
• Dolly Rocker Ragdoll

Hurt:The Acoustic Performance
Auricle Venue
Nov. 4 – 8 p.m.
$15


Lakewood 

Anne E. DeChant: "Swing" CD Release
The Winchester Music Hall 
Nov. 4 – 9 p.m.
$10


Chris Castle and The Womack Family Band: The Drenched Earth Tour 
The Winchester Music Hall 
Nov. 5 – 9 p.m.
$10