Vanity Theft

Thursday is for Indie

January 16, 2012 By Art Jipson Leave a Comment

Vanity Theft playing out this Thursday

Normally when you think of what night you should go out, you think about the weekend… maybe a Friday or Saturday night, right? Well music fans, this week Thursday is for Indie! This Thursday, January 19th, we have a terrific collection of Dayton bands who will be playing at the Rathskeller Room at Wright State University! We have a great lineup that includes Vanity Theft — whose album Get What You Came For — made my best of 2011 list. In addition to VT we have: We Were Animals — and their Apoco-Lips album– should not be missed, Abertooth Lincoln, and 3rd and Main! The show starts at 7pm and goes until 10pm that leaves plenty of time for your weekend. It is an all ages show so that music fans of all ages can begin their love affair with Dayton music! And most importantly you can get a good jump on a weekend of great local music.

We Were Animals

Abertooth Lincoln

And to give you a start on the show: You can download the We Were Animals album! You can also check out Abertooth Lincoln’s music, if you haven’t already at ReverbNation or theirFacebook page! Just remember that it is socially acceptable to begin your weekend on a Thursday night!

Explosion in Local Music

January 12, 2012 By Art Jipson 1 Comment

Vanity Theft playing First Friday at Riverscape

It is often assumed that there is no local music scene in Dayton. Dear music fans, nothing could be further from the truth! We have a literal explosion of new music from bands of numerous musical genres, approaches, and styles happening right now. Once the Gem City was considered the post-punk haven for groups such as Guided by Voices, Branniac, and The Breeders. Dayton has a long and significant music history of which the post-punk wave was but one trend in local music.

Today, we have bands playing in almost too many genres and styles to count. We have new music from The Fair Shakes, Bonneville, We Were Animals (from the previously power-pop dream of Ed vs. Radio), Vanity Theft, The Rebel Set, The Story Changes, the horror-rock of Splattertude, Hawthorne Heights, Me & Mountains, Night Beast, Toads and Mice, Smug Brothers, and so much more.

We have many places to see bands and musicians are plying their trade in the Oregon District or throughout the city. If the assumption is that there is no growing and evolving music scene in Dayton, that is simply not correct. As someone who has conducted research on music scenes for several years (do not ask how many, I am just a little touchy about the age thing), I can honestly tell you that Dayton musicians have much to offer you. All you have to do is go listen.

You can go to several fine establishments to see bands play most nights of the week in the Gem City. And you should. Come on what do you have to lose except your preconceptions about the limitations of Dayton music.

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Check out our Local Music Calendar on the right of this page for shows in the upcoming week, or go to our full Online Event Calendar for more…

Local rocker returns to play First Friday show

May 31, 2011 By Maggie Malach Leave a Comment

Although she has performed live shows in cities such as Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Alicia Grodecki says her favorite city to play is her hometown – Dayton.

Lucky for her, with two upcoming shows – First Friday @ 5 on June 3 and a slot at Canal Street Tavern June 18 – her band, Vanity Theft, will get to perform in the city she says is a great place for music.

This week, I talked to Grodecki about Vanity Theft’s new album, touring and the unbelievable experience she had in the recording studio.

“People call us a more badass version of The Killers, except girls,” she says of the band’s sound. “[When asked to describe it] I usually tell people to go listen to it.”

“Get What You Came For,” the latest from Vanity Theft, is a hybrid of dance and pop, with a little electronic feel and attitude. The songs cover a variety of topics ranging from relationships to growing up to just having a good time.

Earlier this year, the band piled in a van and played shows across the United States and Canada, promoting the new album.

“There are an infinite number of ‘best’ things about touring,” says Grodecki. “We see so many people and travel. The bottom line is we get to do what we love every night.”

She does admit being on the road has its downside. “It’s hard being away from home. You miss your family. Our longest van ride was 48 hours straight, but it’s always worth it when you get there.”

Vanity Theft will continue to tour during the summer, including a spot at the Summerfest music celebration in Milwaukee. Grodecki just found out the girls will be opening for Taking Back Sunday, one of their favorite bands.

“I freaked out,” she says. “It’s crazy.”

Playing alongside Taking Back Sunday is not Vanity Theft’s only brush with fame. Elton John was in the studio below them while they recorded their most recent album. The girls were not able to meet him because of his high level of security. But, Grodecki says, he cracked the door and they were permitted to sit outside the studio and listen to him sing.

Even after traveling the country, Grodecki says there is nothing like playing in Dayton. She notes the strong sense of community the city exudes. “It feels good to come home and show everybody what we’ve been doing.”

Dayton natives kick off First Friday concert series

May 25, 2011 By Maggie Malach Leave a Comment

I hesitate to discuss the “edginess” of all-girl bands because I find myself stumbling along the fine line of making clichéd gender comments and completely disregarding the abnormality of an all-female group in the music industry.

After listening to Vanity Theft, however, I am convinced to make an exception. Want to hear it for yourself? Check out Vanity Theft when they return to Dayton to perform at the RiverScape MetroPark Pavilion as the first band in the First Friday @ 5 concert series.

According to their website, the Dayton natives spent five years booking their own tours and propelling themselves into the Midwestern music scene. Their loyal fan base reflects their hard work; in 2009, a grassroots effort won them the local-band slot in Cincinnati’s Warped Tour lineup.

Vanity Theft’s sound is a descendent of The Donnas’ legacy — assertive, sassy, girl rock. While the band was the only all-female outfit of the 227 selected to play in Cincinnati’s 2009 MidPoint Music Festival, they held their own and ended up filling the room. The girls haven’t relented yet — the New York Post described its live shows as being “eardrum-slobbering.” Yes, that’s a compliment.

While recording its October 2010 EP, “Anatomy,” the trio met former Disney child star Lalaine. (You might remember her from her the tween show “Lizzie McGuire.”) When the band needed a new bassist, members auditioned Lalaine and the four instantly clicked.

This February, Vanity Theft released their new album, “Get What You Came For.” The songs I sampled from the album (you can stream a few tracks here) definitely lived up to the band’s no-holds-barred reputation. With lyrics like, “Maybe I don’t want you for your mind; Can’t decide,” Vanity Theft makes it clear they are in control. And maybe, based upon its success already, that’s how it should be.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOPQS_EbHqQ’]

The concerts are part of the First Friday events and will feature additional bands on August 5 and September 2. The concession will be open and beer will be sold from 5-7 p.m. The concerts will wrap up in plenty of time to head to the galleries and other arts venues taking part in the First Friday art hop. The First Friday @ 5 summer concert series is presented with additional support from Heidelberg Distributing, the Oregon District Business Association, Clear Channel Dayton Radio and Culture Works.

Vanity Theft celebrates homecoming, new EP

November 9, 2010 By Juliet Fromholt Leave a Comment

The ladies of Vanity Theft have been staying busy this year. They welcomed bass player, Lalaine earlier in 2010 and have spent the summer and fall touring almost non-stop. In late October, they released a new EP and embarked on a short Midwestern tour. That tour will wrap up this Friday night at Canal Street Tavern. It’s a combination homecoming show and release party for the Anatomy EP. It’s also the band’s last show of the year. Word has it, they’ll be prepping a full length album for 2011. Vanity Theft will be joined onstage by local bands Bonneville and Jasper the Colossal and Minneapolis’ Sick of Sarah. Full details at the DaytonMostMetro Events Calendar.

Here’s a track from the Anatomy EP: