by Nine Line Media

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, August 26, 2010 – Rosetta Stone Café and Wine Bar, located at 110 West Federal Street, closed on Thursday, August 26 as part of a reorganization effort.

Given the current economic climate, the owners made a conscious decision to regroup and adjust their business model.  Since its opening, Rosetta Stone has had a vested interest in the redevelopment of downtown Youngstown, and is now exploring new ways to meet the changing needs of the community.  The business will reopen, but a reopening date has yet to be determined.

Rosetta Stone Café and Wine Bar opened in downtown Youngstown in January,  2008, as an upscale dining and entertainment destination.  The establishment offered breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as live music, and a display area for local artists.

by Kevin Braun

My band, Fillmore Jive (local psychedelic two-piece) is opening for one of the most famous psychedelic bands in the world, The Black Angels, in Pittsburgh, at Diesel, on Friday, September 10th. This is a really big show for our band because it will probably be our big break in Pittsburgh.

We have to sell a lot of tickets for the show, so we are putting on a free show down at The Lemon Grove on Monday, September 6th, to try and sell some tickets. The show will feature Fillmore Jive and Nashville psychedelic band, Bad Cop, and free ticket give-a-ways to the Pittsburgh show.

I was thinking it would be great if Jambrain had an article written telling people about the show down at The Lemon Grove, and letting people know that they can buy tickets to the Pittsburgh show at IndieWax Records in Boardman or The Lemon Grove in Youngstown any time.

Good thinking, Kevin. Please check Fillmore Jive’s profile page on JamBrain for more information about this talented and ambitious project.

by Dave Nery

My mother has been known to say, “It seems like, for the longest time, there’s nothing to do, and then everything happens at once.”

The first part or her ‘seeming’ is of course not technically true, but this is the weekend epitome of her contention. It might, in fact, seem like there are more musicians performing this weekend than fans available to enjoy them.

VEXFEST VII (7): VexFest, now in its VIIth year, is Youngstown’s signature music festival. Presented again by Youngstown Local Music on Sunday, Aug. 15, the 2010 event features more than 40 local and regional bands of all genres playing continuously on four stages on West Federal Plaza, downtown. Performances will alternate on the two outdoor stages at either end of the street, and simultaneously indoors at Barley’s (which has hosted the festival every year) and Downtown 36, across the street (a first for this new venue).

As usual, there will be plenty to eat and drink, with concessionaires and other vendors along the street; and, again as always, admission is free for all. Bands start around noon and play into the early hours of Monday morning.

For the complete schedule of performances, go to http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z116/thirdarm/?action=view&current=VEXTIMESFINAL.jpg

THE BLITZ: Also celebrating its seventh year, the annual festival of music, games and camping — always the second weekend in August — at Buffalo Hollow kicks off Thursday morning and runs ’til Sunday.

Buffalo Hollow is a private events area owned by the Beight (Monuments) family at their homestead near Petersburg, hard by the Pa. border (see the google map on their JamBrain profile page).

This year the Outlaws highlight the musical offerings with eight other bands over the three days on the spacious stage fronting amphitheater seating. Many of the people who have this weekend circled on their calendar each year camp there for the duration — $40 for three days — although single day ($15) entries are also available.

Food and drink are available on site, and, in addition to the musical entertainment, there are fireworks and a whole range of contests for participation and viewing. Please see the schedule at http://www.buffalohollow.net/buffalohollowblitz2010.php

Two other multi-band events are scheduled for Saturday night in Youngstown.

The YOTOWN MUSIC FESTIVAL, sponsored by Jamz 101.9 will feature Wiz Khalifa in a night of rap and hip-hop outdoors at the Covelli Center. Other performers include Durrough, Super Blanco and members of the YoTown Music Family. Tickets are $25 at the gate; $19 in advance. Go to http://www.covellicentre.com/event.php?id=452 for more information.

The Cedars Lounge will host a night of metal featuring Album, with Fillmore Jive and Akron’s Superpreditor, among others starting at 10 p.m. with a $5 cover charge.

Mom’s going to have a tough trip trying to fit all this in her schedule.

by Dave Nery

About a decade ago, singer/songwriter Simon Kenneally was in a local band called Sijupana (a combination of letters from the members’ names) which didn’t practice or play out. They met each Thursday and recorded the music they created on the spot.

In 2001, when the lure of sharing their efforts with others became irresistible, they created an event for that performance which reflected their ethos of artistic eclecticism, and called it Bon Frog to avoid any possible alternative connotation. They’ve done 12 of them, mostly at Cedars and Nyabinghi and recently at the Lemon Grove, and all have been “hugely attended,” Kenneally reports.

The July 24 Bon Frog is a combined effort at Cedars, Lemon Grove and a third stage in the Commerce Street parking lot at the rear of the two venues, starting at 1 p.m. and running into the night. There is a $10 entry fee; free to children under 12.

Almost all of the 26 bands playing on the three stages will be doing original music as part of the event celebrating all forms of creative expression. Afternoon performances are designed to be ‘family friendly’ and then trending toward more adult themes when Cedars opens about 7 p.m.

“It can be really thrilling for an audience,” Kenneally says, “because great things happen when we pull together as a community. Each time we do another Bon Frog, more and more people participate in all genres of creative expression.”

Artists of the Rustbelt are helping coordinate the installation displays.

Kenneally recently signed on as general manager of the Lemon Grove. Owner Jacob Harver called his talents and interests, “a perfect fit for what we’re trying to do here.”

by Dave Nery

JamBrain-area rock fans have two choices for their rock-’n-roll weekend with benefit shows raising funds for worthy local causes.

Kisses for Karlie

Ace’s Wild Wings in the Boardman Plaza is hosting a benefit, Saturday, featuring five of the area’s heavy hitters to raise funds for the family of Karlie Stith, a 4 year old girl diagnosed with ALL Leukemia. Music starts at 8 p.m. and continues through the night. There is an $8 cover charge, and there will be raffles for various prizes (donated by sponsors); all proceeds go to the Stith family to help with the huge costs for Karlie’s treatments.

Please see the JamBrain listing for the lineup.

The Rockin’ Rendezvous

A two-day camping and concert at Buffalo Hollow will raise funds for Paws for Peace, benefiting the New Castle, Pa., Police canine corps.

The event kicks off just before noon on Saturday and extends through Sunday, with 19 bands on the covered stage, and amphitheater-type seating on the bucolic hillside. Admission for the two-day show is $20 in advance and $25 at the gate, and includes camping Saturday night (RV hookups are an additional $15). Fans are welcome to bring their own food and drink — concessions are also available on site — but they are not permitted in the audience area.

Two tribute bands, Bon/Fire does AC/DC and Black Diamond performs KISS music, and performances by several local bands will be featured.

Buffalo Hollow is a private campground just a few miles north of St. Rte. 14 near the Pennsylvania/Ohio border. Check the map on their JamBrain profile page for specific directions.