If you stay home today, and don’t come out to see:18 bands on three stages downtown for $44 (new one day pass rate) you:

• Don’t love music
• Don’t know a great deal when you see one
• Can’t ever complain that there’s nothing to do in Dayton ever again.

The Dayton Revival is here.

I spent most of yesterday checking out bands I’d never seen before and having an awesome time. And the band I loved the most- “Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk” – which rocked my world. I think their drummer, Nikki Glaspie, may be one of the best rock and roll drummers I’ve ever seen- like a metronome with a kick like Chuck Norris and the moves of James Brown. I could have listened to them all day- and before this festival- I’d never heard of them.

Today you can hear:

• Train
• Rusted Root
• Heartless Bastards
• Mat Kearney
• Red Wanting Blue
• The Ohio Players
• Robert Randolph & the Family Band
• Buffalo Killers
• Good English
• The Cliftones
• Andy Grammer
• Tony Lucca
• Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers
• Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe
• Brent James and the Contraband
• Bad Sines
• Lauren Eylise
• Green Light Morning

I’ve wanted to see the Ohio Players since they were topping the charts when I was in High School- but, I also remember using Shazam to find out I really liked Karl Denson- and I’ve also heard that Heartless Bastards are amazing (but I’ve got my kids football game to see- so I’m missing it).

All of this wonderfullness didn’t come from the Downtown Dayton Partnership who is doing Urban Nights next Friday night – for my 50th birthday, or from the Dayton Development Coalition or Cityfolk (which has spoiled us for years with their festival which runs three days and was free or with a suggested $5 donation). It’s all because one crazy guy, Matt Luongo had the crazy idea that just because Austin has SXSW- Dayton can’t have something like it. He’s done an amazing job- and, unless a lot of you jump on that recently announced one-day $44 pass, he’s probably going to lose money. If you want to see this return- time to whip out the cash. As to the people who say that the $75 2-day pass was too expensive- it works out to about $2 a band- and some of them, like last nights headliner- John Legend, would easily cost you more than $45 just to see him- so quit yer bitchen. The weather is perfect- and the parking is easy and free in multiple garages downtown as well as at any parking meter.

There are also a ton of food vendors waiting to serve you- including some from local restaurants like my faves Taqueria Mixteca and South Park’s number 1 coffee shop Ghostlight Coffee.

Please support Matt and our city- come on down for a good time. Advice: bring sunscreen, a folding chair, water bottles. Wear comfortable shoes, bring a jacket for later because it will get cool, wear a hat, be prepared for a great time.