Ballyhoo! & 86 the Effort Show Review

Nino’s in Findlay, Ohio

30 January 2009

Reviewed by Jamie Moore

After seeing the show posted on MySpace - I was dedicated to attending. Having friends in Findlay I could get some R and R and make a weekend of it. So after grabbing a couple of friends that hade no obligations that weekend, we set out on our adventure. After a 40 mile detour the wrong way, we finally made it to the venue with a few minutes to spare.

Upon entering Nino’s we were shocked to learn it was only two bucks to see both bands. While my friends bellyed up to the bar, I rounded the corner to see if I could bump into any of the band. I recognized Howi from Ballyhoo! right off with the guys getting there photo taken and doing a shot (cheers) the first of many that night. I introduced myself to Howi and ask him to sign my Pepsi t-shirt (a shirt that I’ve had a few bands sign from the reggae/rock scene). He hand delivered it for me to every other band member so they could sign it too, including Ryan (vocalist/guitarist) and the guys from 86 the Effort. Wow! What a great group of guys! Nino’s Bar was kick ass too with cheep beer and a laid back atmosphere.

86 the Effort opened the night with Enjoy and myself and about twenty others stood speechless as Ryan poured his heart and soul into his songs. What a great voice! 86ing a Smoke Two Joints cover you could tell the guys have been playing together a while and I think Ryan’s voice is much more seasoned now than what the Get Live album offers. 86 the Effort also performed a couple of new songs that got my attention and announced a new album would be out later this year.

Kicking things off with Alcohol Looks Beautiful Tonight (a song written for The Pier Summer Sampler) Ballyhoo! broke‘em off something proper and before the second song the guys were already doing shots that someone in the crowd ordered for them (cheers!). This was going to be some show! I really liked the way Blaze harmonized with Howi. That’s what did it for me. They sounded great together!

Big D and Mister J didn’t disappoint either by getting the whole crowd to participate in Cheers making everyone feel like they were part of it all! To close the night out the band performed a cover of Incubus' Warning. With only his guitar and a spotlight shining down Howi starts the song all alone and when the band kicked in to finish the song it was SICK!

After the show I grabbed a few t-shirts and some CD’s and ran around and got Ballyhoo! to sign a Cheers album for me. With Howi right there making sure I got everyone’s signature again. He even said "what’s up" to my wife on the phone, who was home with our 16 month old baby boy. I can't say enough about both bands. Not only great people but great music. Just be ready to party and they will do the rest! Thanks guys I’ll see you all soon.