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Writer and editor Home > Blogs > Brain Droppings > Archives > 2008 > June > 03 > Entry
Who’s Dayton’s best covers band?
While out and about last weekend, I ran into two of the area’s best-known bands as they were playing their hearts out at local events.
The Fries performed Saturday night at the post-mini grand prix party at John Dixon’s cool and swanky Taj Ma Garaj in downtown Dayton (a place which is worth an entire blog entry all its own; it’s truly a unique, fascinating joint). This veteran combo does a solid job and earns their money with a lively mix of hits from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, with an ear toward old-fashioned rockers and a cars-girls-beer sensibility. I’ve seen them a lot, and they always do the trick.
Friday night, I saw Velvet Crush perform at the Alpine Festival at Carillon Park. This quartet never met an ’80s song they didn’t like, and their set ran the gamut from INXS to the Cure. If the vocals were a bit rough that evening (they usually aren’t, that I’ve noticed), the musicianship was assured, and they got folks dancin’ before the storms blew in.
So, my question is: Who’s the best covers band in the Dayton area? We do have a lot of them, and they all stay pretty busy. Seemed like for years you couldn’t go anywhere without bumping into Buck Naked, who never had trouble turning up a party. Soul Express (of which two members are friends from the DDN) never seems wanting for business, as they purvey their danceable slate of Motown and old-school favorites at events all over town.
Who’s your favorite? Who do you enjoy seeing most?
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Comments
By Jeremy
July 1, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
This Side Up is a great cover band. They’re Musicianship is stellar, but they’re vocals is what really makes them shine. What other band can offer 5 part Harmonies and actually sound great? Check out their site at www.thissideup.usBy Beth
June 24, 2008 6:53 AM | Link to this
The best cover band in Dayton by far is This Side Up! They cover a wide genre and their vocals can’t be touched.By SoundGuy
June 4, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this
There’s a band out of Middletown called The Cleavers, they do covers very well. Older group, they have been doing it for years. 5 Piece group, awesome. Check them out sometime. Playing today 06/04 in downtown Middletown with Johnny B. and the Gravediggers. FREE, beer and food available too. 5:00 to 10:00pm. Called teh BroadStreet Bash !By chiefwino
June 4, 2008 7:53 AM | Link to this
Check out “Three Wheel Drive.” While they are based in Columbus they do play around Dayton on occassion. Great mix of tunes and good guys to work with when planning an event.By WOHBuckeye
June 3, 2008 7:00 PM | Link to this
Hawthorne Heights.By hmm
June 3, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
All of these Skeptical Cats comments make me somewhat skeptical…lol. They are a fine group, but not necessarily a high level of musicianship throughout. Buck Naked, for 12 years, covered the widest range of music, with the highest level of musicianship, no doubt. The Hathaways may have the record for longest running cover band—they’re still going!By Skyy
June 3, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this
The Skeptical Cats are the by far the closest and best renditions of covers I have heard. The vocals and sound often times sound similar to the real artists. They have great original stuff too.By Skyy
June 3, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
The Skeptical Cats are the by far the closest and best renditions of covers I have heard. The vocals and sound often times sound similar to the real artists. They have great original stuff too.By Rebecca Hamiel
June 3, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this
Skeptical Cats! No band plays better music in Dayton!By RIFBoy
June 3, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
Skeptical Cats is by far the best cover band in town. Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and The Who are just a few of the covers they have perfected!By RIFBoy
June 3, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this
Skeptical Cats is by far the best cover band in town. Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and The Who are just a few of the covers they have perfected!By Dennis Paisley
June 3, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this
Skeptical Cats!