In the summer of 2006, my friend Paul Simpson (Photographer) and I went to Los Angeles to take the first-ever Yacht Rock tour. The tour was given by Yacht Rock's JD Ryznar (Michael McDonald), David Lyons (Koko Goldstein) and Hollywood Steve. The photos do not have any captions but you can get the idea behind the first ever Yacht Rock tour of Marina Del Rey, California.

"That's what a fool believes, Kenny. That's what a..."

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To Read the full article with pictures, check it out here:
http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2008/12/11/jason-dove-boy-genius-takes-flight/

Jason Dove is not your average rock and roller. You'll never see him sporting big feathered hair or prancing across the stages of Baltimore clubs like the Ottobar and the Talking Head in pants two sizes too small. You're more likely to find him stepping out for a night on the town in an almost-but-not-quite-cheesy bright orange grizzly bear sweatshirt and a huge grin on his face. This Savannah, GA flea market find is a fitting image for the man whom Wham City's Ed Schrader recently compared to cartoon character Yogi Bear, calling him a "cuddly, bedazzled wall of rock." With an obsession for retro arcade games, Dove's only tattoo is an Atari symbol. But that doesn't mean he plunks out electronica on his laptop or fiddles with racks of dials and blinking lights in some kind of alienated dystopian artistic statement. Anything but. Jason Dove's music is a straight-ahead return to classic rock & roll song-craft and musicality, an uplifting unpretentious rock for a new era of climate change and economic downshift – a revival of music as it's meant to be.

With his third full-length studio album produced by J. Robbins at the Magpie Cage, Dove has transcended the tragic romantic longing of his last record "We Should Be Together." In his latest musical adventure, Dove turns his guitar heroics toward soaring coming-of-age anthems with a slew of radio-ready hits such as "Be Free," "The Whisper," and "Each and Every One of Us." His genuine enthusiasm – and complete lack of hipster-era irony - is contagious and timely as he delivers such lines as, "We're leaving it all in the past / We're free to roam the world at last / there's nothing resting on our shoulders / This complicated life is over." Supported by lush arrangements and intricately-crafted harmonies, Dove's writing is at times politically and socially conscious without being overly polemic or preachy: "There's no real news on TV / Because information doesn't make advertisers any money." While deftly dismantling the hollowness of modern media and society, Dove throws open doors (and windows) with refreshingly hopeful, sincere and deceptively simple lyrical pronouncements like "Don't live life in fear," and "The world is in our own hands / We'll find the problems and / Finally take command." Culturally, Dove's emphasis on freedom and hope couldn't come at a better time.

Dubbed "indie rock nice-guy" by Michael Byrne, music editor of the Baltimore City Paper, Jason Dove is the cool, magnetic and totally goofy older brother you never had. Having split his time growing up between the Baltimore and Atlanta regions, Dove is a never-ending source of funny stories and hilarious observations. Joy-riding around the Baltimore area with Dove in his box-like Toyota Scion (featured prominently in several episodes of his hilarious internet TV series, The Jason Dove Diaries), you're likely to be regaled with warm fuzzy memories of suburban locales like the Hunt Valley Mall's old arcade Spaceport, which Dove haunted in his formative years. Dove's aesthetic as an artist, in fact, is deeply rooted in nostalgia for a bygone Golden Era America, which he keeps alive through a total immersion in the music and culture of his rock and roll forefathers. Dove is practically a walking, talking Wikipedia entry for the history of groups like the Beach Boys, the Kinks, Zeppelin, Dylan & Springsteen – surpassed only, perhaps, by his vast knowledge of all things video game-related. Dove was once the proprietor of a bar/arcade in Atlanta, GA called ROM, currently holds close to a dozen documented world records in old school and modern video games, and is the proud owner of a full-size stand-up arcade cabinet of the Jungle Hunt game by Taito.

Whether he's busy beating world records, starring in his own web TV show, releasing monster studio albums or manufacturing his own line of classic 1970's era solid oak skateboards, Jason Dove is taking his own advice, "Be free / Right now," he sings. As an artist, he challenges others to do the same and he isn't taking "no" for an answer.


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Related Event Announcements:

The first ten episodes of the Jason Dove Diaries are being aired at a special event this weekend, Saturday December 13th, 2008 at the Wind-Up Space in Baltimore, MD. 12 West North Ave., Baltimore, Maryland 21202. Cost: FREE. It's also Jason's birthday, and we'll be celebrating that night, so stop on by!

Jason also plays the Ottobar with Baltimore mainstays "Lake Trout" next Friday night, December 19th 2008 (Lake Trout's CD Release Party) - 2647 Howard Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
Cost: 10.00.


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Related Links

Jason Dove Official Website
Jason Dove on MySpace
The Jason Dove Diaries on YouTube
Free Album Download: "We Should Be Together" (Dove's 2nd studio album)
Jason Dove at Center Stage's Stoop Stories, 2007
Jason Dove on the Ed Schrader Show, filmed live at the Metro Gallery in Baltimore.
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Related Studio Photos (Unreleased)

This is an excerpt from the Baltimore City Paper "Noise" section written by Michael Byrne. To read the full article click HERE.

The two openers I caught seemed a bit mismatched, playing nuanced listening-not-dancing music bent toward trad rock and folk/country. Steve Hefter and Friends of Friends are very good at what they do, particularly when they add a viola part or female vocal harmony, but the Talking Head crowd was more into socializing than paying attention. I'd go as far as to call it disrespectful. The poppier Vacation Face, which included a handful of local rock scene vets, including Steve Hefter and Jason Dove, was ultimately more engaging and seemed to grab more of the room. The band, which I'm assuming is a new project, is something to look forward to.

You can find live audio from the Baltimore Taper for Vacation Face here and Steve Hefter and Friends of Friends here.

Jason Dove/Vacation Face
The Talking Head
Baltimore, MD
October 16, 2008

Band:
Jason Dove-guitar, vocals
Steve Hefter-guitar
Bryson Dudley-bass
Michael Ward-piano
Steve Colmus-drums

Source: Peluso CEMC6/ck4(card)>PS-2>AD-20>NJB3
Transfer: NJB3>PC>SF-7>Wav>FLAC
Taper: Jeff Mewbourn (jm292@yahoo.com)

1. We Should Be Together
2. Let's Not Think
3. Hallelujah
4. Song for Neil
5. dialogue
6. What Ever Happened to Living on Your Own
7. Each and Every One of Us
8. The Whisper
9. Big Red Truck
10. New Tomorrow
11. Be Free

Notes:
Lineup: Magical, Beautiful>Steve Hefter & Friends of Friends,
Jason Dove/Vaction Face>Starf*cker
Audience was extremely chatty
Sound: Chris Freeland
SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC

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Steve Hefter & Jason Dove live at the Talking Head

Thursday night, two indie rock groups with the word "and" in their name took the stage at the Talking Head Club (inside Sonar, 407 E. Saratoga St.): Steve Hefter and Friends and Friends of Friends and Jason Dove and Vacation Face.

It was Hefter's last gig in Baltimore before he splits for several months in Canada. I caught (and enjoyed) the last handful of songs. Hefter's music can be sparse and ambling at times, but it can really grab your attention.

Hefter closed his set with what is perhaps his most poignant song, "Diamond Ring." Complete with whistling synthesizer riffs and a sharp snare drum, it was a wistful way to say goodbye (for now) to Charm City. Bye bye, Steve. We'll miss ya.

Next up was Jason Dove (pictured) and his new group, Vacation Face.  

Vacation Face includes a hodge-podge of local indie rock musicians: Mike Ward (from Egg Babies Orchestra) ..s, Steve Colmus on drums (from J-Roddy Walston and the Business) and Hefter on guitar and vocals.

Dove is a semi-goofy, totally unpretentious guy who likes poking fun at himself (check out his hilarious Jason Dove Diaries series). But on stage, Dove got down to business pretty quick. He played a fair share of new material from an album he's finishing right now.

Dove didn't introduce most of the songs, but I especially liked the one he dedicated to Neil. It ended with Dove and Hefter layering their guitars (a la "Blue Sky" by the Allman Brothers) and playing a tight melody in two-part harmony. It was a tight set of indie rock. Now I'm itching to hear the new album.

    A cuddly, bedazzled wall of rock: Jason Dove
by: Ed Schrader

"I kept looking at Jason Dove and thinking, 'Who does he remind me of? Then it hit me: Yogi Bear," said an enthusiastic show-goer, having just witnessed Baltimore's cuddly singer-songwriter Dove and (if ever a word was more of an understatement) backing band Vacation Face triumphantly roar through a debut set Sunday at the Ottobar. The debut was twofold: I's a new band playing new tunes Dove composed

    The group features rhythm guitarist Steve Hefter, 30, and keyboardist Mike Ward, 31 (of local pop-folk band Steve Hefter and Friends of Friends), with bassist Bryson Dudley, 31, formerly of Mojo-friendly Baltimore natives Payola Reserve, and drummer Steve Colmus, 28, of indie rockers J-Roddy Walston and The Business. The outfit was assembled three weeks ago for an album due this winter. "With these new songs, I want to avoid innuendo and metaphors," Dove said. "I just want to put it out there, like when you hear a song by The Kinks."

    Dove and his new cohorts had played a more low-key affair Sunday afternoon for moms, dads and dance-crazed toddlers at the Creative Alliance. But with no deciblel restrictions, the late night Ottobar set gave us a double heaping dose of pub-rock wizardry. Dove took the stage adorned with a little, glitter-be-dazzled pink guitar, comedically contrasting with his towering stature and minimal T-shirt and jeans. The Daisy Rock guitar, "primarily marketed as a low-end beginner guitar for teenage girls," (according to Dove), was a gift from the Ottobar after Dove's guitar was swipped.

    As he ripped into a new original, "Big Red Truck," singing "Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba Ba," you sensed he meant it, as he sheepishly contorted his face into an expression that fell somewhere between a howl and a smirk.
    the guy can shred, too. His six-string maneuvers revealed black-belt skill, coupled with a sincere touch of giddiness. The intensity varied from lovelorn independent movie ballad waiting to happen, "The Whisper," to one of Dove's strongest new songs, "Be Free," a drum -rolling, piano-burning, guitar blazing, bass-thumping powerhouse if a finisher. It spotlighted Vacation Face as arguably one of the sickest backing bands this side of the Chesapeake, and Dove as one of Baltimore's finest song smiths, irony not included.

Dove plays Sept. 13 at the grand reopening of the Metro Gallery, 1700 N Charles St. For more info go to jasondove.com. Ed Schrader is host of "The Ed Schrader Show" and is a member of the Wham City art collective. His Column appears Tuesdays. Find him on bthesite.com

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Check the link.

JASON DOVE:
We Should Be Together: CD

Jason Dove's second full-length album, We Should Be Together, is a more complex kettle of fish than the previous, Pronto. The fourteen new tracks are simply executed pop melodies ranging from lo-fi moodiness like, "Old Men," to prog. I expected catchy but predictable rhythms and rhyming lyrics, given the Daniel Johnston association. I still got the rhyming lyrics, but I was surprised by the change in direction the songs were taking, like the sharp turn into the festering guitar hook in "So You Know" that made me stop and listen. Lyrically, Dove can be hit or miss but, "I'm so wasted, girl, I don't know which way to go/I wanna wake up in your bedroom without saying 'hello'," from "Stoned on Beer" is one of my favorites off the album.

–Kristen K –Guest Contributor (Self-released, www.jasondove.com)

Ranked 9 out of 10

From Foxy Digitalis


A short DVD set of five live songs by the immortal Daniel Johnston, here backed by Jason Dove and the Magic Whip. As you might expect, the songs are playful, poignant, and oddly powerful. The power is increased a hundred times over by actually being able to see Johnston deliver them, his shaky hand holding the lyric sheet, his looks into the crowd to see if anyone is paying attention. Oh they are.

Dove and band keep a gentle rocking pop beat, never undermining nor overwhelming the real meat of the performance, which are Johnston's words. The childlike grace and odd wisdom of "Speeding Motorcycle" and "Worried Shoes" are given almost profound readings; Johnston's gentle delivery seems almost fatherly towards his audience, which eats it up with respect and support. Dove, who has been known to spin a childlike ditty or two himself, provides subtle backing, with well-timed up-tempo shifts to help the tunes soar.

This four song DVD seems twice as long as it is, mostly because of the way Johnston and company help you fall deep inside each song. You fall willingly. 9/10 -- Mike Wood (8 April, 2008)


here is the link: http://www.digitalisindustries.com/foxyd/reviews.php?which=3283

Jason Dove was featured in an article in The Baltimore Sun on Sunday, December 16th. The article was about the new internet phenomenon known as the "micromercial" and prominently featured Dove's, "Burn Books For Peace" commercial in the article. To read the article, click HERE.