Shock Mountain

Matt Scheuermann keeps himself quite busy. When he isn’t organizing D.I.T. Fest or playing in The Sidekicks or No Target Audience, he is most likely playing a house show with an acoustic guitar under the alias American War. If you’re a Cleveland/Kent music fan with even the weakest ties to the D.I.Y. scene, it’s likely you have seen him play in a living room. I know I must have seen him at least 6 or 7 times. Anyway, this is his first complete album as a solo artist, which he just had a release show for. He previously released a split with his friend Andy Cook of Ghost Town Trio. Both of these albums are offered to fans free of charge, which is al the more reason you should consider sending the guy a buck or two.

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- James

Underdogs of Nipomo is a two-man band from Olmstead Falls, Ohio (I love the town of Olmstead Falls for giving me a place to sleep at Berea Fest IV, by the way) who started out as an Archers of Loaf cover band. They play a brand of dancy hardcore/punk, which isn’t really a surprise considering the band has played the gambit of punk festivals, including Berea Fest, D.I.T. Fest, Southwest Folk Fest, and pretty much any other Midwest punk festival or basement. Seriously, if you’ve ever been to a Midwest punk festival, you’ve probably seen these guys play. It’s almost criminal though, how little recognition they get. Jon and Andy are two of the nicest and funniest guys I’ve ever had the pleasure of talking to after a show. The last time I saw them was when they played with Arkansas? and Dustin and the Furniture on Lollapalooza weekend 2009. They played in the basement of Monster House to an outrageously small crowd and kept making jokes that their playing may be off because they flew in just before the show after playing an opening set at Lollapalooza (sarcastically). In all seriousness, however, if you want some good tunes to dance and yell along to, get this album and then catch these guys next time they come to your town. The first song on this album, “News Tart”, may be one of my favorite live songs ever, just because of the awesome mix of dancing and singing along this song entails.

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-McKenna

No Target Audience was a band based primarily out of Kent, Ohio. Last Saturday, I had the bittersweet pleasure of seeing them play their last show. I also saw them last year at Berea Fest III, which was a killer time. The band’s frontman, Matt Scheuermann, also plays in The Sidekicks and has a solo singer-songwriter project under the name American War. The saxophonist is Richard Werenberg, whose EP you can download here. Since the guys couldn’t care less about whether or not you download their music for free, I find it imperative to spread their music to new ears. Though they may no longer be playing shows, their music will live on in the hearts of their friends and fans, and perhaps yourself.

Asinine/No Target Audience Split

No Target Audience – Early Acoustic Stuff

No Target Audience – Tree City Blues

No Target Audience – Gifts & Returns

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- James

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- James

Ghost Mice is Chris Johnston, founder of Plan-It-X records, and Hannah Jones. The two musicians who have played together for years now in various bands including Disarm, The Devil is Electric, and Operation: Cliff Clavin. This album was released in 2004, but the political lyrical content is just as relevant in today’s climate. This is great folk music infused with the Punk Rock ethos and very worth your time. I’m seeing the band this coming Wednesday at The Soggy Dog House in Lakewood. If you’re a Cleveland resident, there is no reason to go becasue shows at the Soggy Dog are free, but you really should throw anything you can towards these musicians who tour the country in basements and backyards.

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- James

This is a split between Ghosttown Trio frontman, Andy Cook, and singer-songwriter Matt (I forget his last name) that produces music under the name American War. Anyway, this split is slightly different from others you may have heard as the track listing is not split down the middle. They alternate from one to the next and it meshes together much smoother than you might imagine. Andy’s voice is definitely more harmonious and clear sounding than Matt’s, whose voice is scratchy and filled with soul. Both offer something  unique to the album that has soft and slow songs followed by ballads that beg to be sung by a group of kids in a basement, attic, wherever… just download it and see for yourself. I’ve been lucky enough to see both of these guys a few times and they never dissapoint. This is good springtime music.

Andy Cook

American War

- James