Humble Home plays album release party at The Grog Shop

Humble Home played at the Cellar Door Records Volume III album release party at The Grog Shop on Friday, March 18. The compilation album features 15 artists from various musical backgrounds and areas of the Northeast Ohio region.

Drummer Anthony Foti shared his thoughts on the event and the release of the record with The Rhythm Report.

"There is so much talent here that is yet to be discovered. So I thought the show was a great way to get different artists, bands and fans from different backgrounds together into one place, and have everyone get exposed to new music that they most likely would not hear otherwise," Foti said.

Stay tuned to The Rhythm Report for more updates on the Cellar Door Records release.

Article written by Priscilla Tasker, editor and creator of The Rhythm Report

Video filmed and edited by Priscilla Tasker, De los angeles Productions

Rob Geer opens with demo at The Grog Shop

Rob Geer played at The Grog Shop for the Cellar Door Records Volume III compilation album release, opening with a demo the band started writing the night before and recording over the weekend.

Originally called The Conductor and The Creator, the band plays under pseudonyms such as Rob Geer and the Flashlights from show to show.

The band includes vocalist and guitarist Rob Geer, lead guitarist Matthew Augusta, bassist Dan Thompson and drummer Tim DePasquale.

Stay tuned to The Rhythm Reports for more information on the Cellar Door Records release and other updates.

Article written by Priscilla Tasker, editor and creator of The Rhythm Report

Video filmed and edited by Priscilla Tasker, De los angeles Productions

Review: The Only Man - Lydia Loveless

Lydia Loveless' album, The Only Man, released under the Columbus, Ohio-based Peloton Records label in February 2010, is a country music revival. I mean, real country -- traditional American tunes born in honky-tonks and rooted in folk fables and quilted farmlands.

The Only Man is a promiscuous, dark-humored diary of lost love, bourbon whiskey binges and revenge. Amidst today's neo-country-pop craze, Loveless boldly breaks out with this 33-minute roots-country medley of self-written originals.

Traditional country music of this caliber is not an easy sell in mainstream markets but this 10-song compilation is a loaded gun, and this songstress is ready to take a pinpoint shot at the country crown. Loveless is coming up as a strong contender against the genre's finest, even the "Queen of Country" herself, Kitty Wells, and she's only 20 years old.

Recommended tracks: "The Only Man" and "Paid"

Find more artists like Lydia Loveless at Myspace Music

Editor's note: Loveless signed with Bloodshot Records in 2011.

Read about Loveless' recent performance at The Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, in this article: The Conductor, Oldboy roused fans at The Grog Shop

Article written by Priscilla Tasker, editor and creator of The Rhythm Report

'The Conductor,' Oldboy roused fans at The Grog Shop

The Conductor and The Creator packed the house at The Grog Shop on Saturday night, playing, in jest, under a naughty pseudonym, “Ralph Geer and the Flesh Lights.”

(If you’re wondering what a “flesh light” is, as did this reporter, you’re better off left in the dark; just beware unabashed pokes from below the belt.) Led by frontman Rob Geer, the group’s popular rock sound is a bricolage of early British pub rock (before the punk revolution), blues rock and modern alternative with folk and swing influences. Ultimately, this band offers a unique sound complementary to easy-listening or a full-on progressive jam fest. It was no secret that this artistic group has made an impression with audiences as the wall-to-wall crowd dissipated following the conclusion of the band’s set.

Lydia Loveless followed up with a country-bluegrass set. A long, curly haired rube slapped the upright bass on stage left as the singer from Coshocton, Ohio, crooned angsty, down-home melodies sure to rile up a boondocks bonfire. Loveless proved herself a talented vocalist and songwriter, but, on first impression, she seems to lack the stage presence to back it. The singer’s indifferent demeanor may be in line with a “country outlaw” persona but drove the set into a lull in between songs. Luckily, the band was able to pick up the energy with each twang of the guitar and bass strings. I’d like to catch this artist on her home-turf to watch her liven up. [Read up on this artist's debut album on donewaiting.com. The Rhythm Report review is available here.]

Headlining act Oldboy closed the night on a high note. The band’s Americana-jam-band sound harkened me to an open-field festival in mid-August. The dynamic five-piece is fronted by the energetic Shawn Brewster, who pulled the audience in with quirky, so-bad-they’re-good jokes and lighthearted commentary on familiar individuals in the crowd. Brewster’s vocals channel a Dave Matthews quality; perhaps contributing to why I felt as if I ought to be dancing in the lawn area of Blossom during the set. Alas, at the show’s end, winter chilled to the bone outside but Oldboy provided a nice breakaway into the mind’s favorite memories of summer. Perhaps we’ll see this group opening for arena acts in the future.

Oldboy was recently featured as the "Local band in focus" in Cleveland Scene magazine and also received a media hit on Cleveland.com.

Watch The Rhythm Report's latest videos, including Rob Geer performing Assassin live at The Grog Shop.

Article written by Priscilla Tasker, editor and creator of The Rhythm Report