This is Nawty Dawg

Starting The Band

The way things came together was quite spectacular. However, Nawty Dawg has not always been the five you see now. What, eventually, became Nawty Dawg, was initially a meeting of four musicians, each from different parts of the country (Florida, Indiana, Ohio, and Wyoming), each moving to Dayton, Ohio around the same time, and each never wanting to give up “doing music.” In the short time that the group moved from an idea, to a meeting, to a reality, to a vision, and to a band just beginning to gig, the road has taken side steps a time or two. We are thankful to original, founding members who sought out dedicated musicians to form the band, but with time, the group has evolved to something greater than that initial vision. Nawty Dawg is serious about caring for each of its members as family; respectful of talents and skill levels; respectful of differing opinions; mindful of personal lives and personal time; and that practicing musical thoughtfulness and self-betterment, by each member, allows each of us to rise to the strengths of one another, and is the mark of professional and passionate musicianship. That is the ultimate Nawty Dawg. Now, we’re ready.

Humble Beginnings

The first few months of forming a band can be both fun and frustrating. It is crucial to explore and learn about one another’s musical likes and dislikes, personal strengths and challenges in musicianship, and the confidence and hesitancy levels from which each member performs. These issues are not to be brushed off lightly; doing so only serves to weaken the structure of the group. For example, finding out, months down the road, that one of your bandmates is not comfortable with singing background vocals, or in playing the instrument with which he/she initially auditioned, introduces potential weakness to the growth of the band. This is, especially, true, as in this example, if the need for those background vocals, or playing said instrument, constitutes a significant part of the vision for the band. The issue(s) could have been avoided and addressed much earlier, with effective communication.

Nawty Dawg sought out and auditioned several musicians, each with his/her own great strengths, passions, and musical goals; however, with time, we found the core group you now see. As a band, we are grateful to all musicians who have an interest in our group, but we hold firm to our core values and vision, as expressed above and summarized as follows: singing/playing music is a journey… we are experienced enough to practice the craft; dedicated enough to do the necessary work; aware enough to know our challenges; and humble enough to know that musicianship is not a final destination but, instead, a life-long ride of learning and self improvement.

Bursting Out Of The Gates

Nawty Dawg’s first few performances were actually contests, and the experiences were stellar! During the Summer of 2019, just a few short months after the band hit the scene… hard. With the first annual Fairborn (Ohio) “Battle Of The Bands,” which hosted many groups from the local and surrounding areas, Nawty Dawg was fortunate to be one of those included (some rough spectator video can be found here). The votes we received, for the top slot, were just a couple shy of what was needed. But, as a new group, with no real street cred under our belt, at that time, we felt proud of what we accomplished, and we were humbled by the genuine feedback we received from both audience/spectators and the judges, themselves. We couldn’t have asked for more (except, perhaps, a top slot!).

Fairborn Ohio Battle of the Bands 2019

That December, the Dawgs again saw ourselves in a band battle at JD Legends, for one of two slots and a chance to open for a major touring artist. At the end of three successive rounds, and hundreds of collective votes for all the participating bands, the Dawgs were shy by two votes (again!). But, we could not have been more thankful to take part in such a contest, “battling” against talented fellow musicians. For the short time we’d been together as a band, it was worth the stage time, friends made, and rubbing elbows with others just as passionate about live performance and music, as we are. Every experience, every outcome that isn’t the desired one, every “win,” and every bystander’s comments or accolades, are valuable. We use it all, and we grow from it.

The World Shut Down

As 2020 saw rapid changes across the country and globe, and, in particular, musicians and artists, restaurants, and services, began to shut down, the Nawty Dawg halted its paws in its tracks, before the feeling of getting started could truly set in. This was a time of heightened anxiety, questioning what’s ahead, and difficulty in discerning how to keep a band together during a pandemic. What would it mean for the future of the group? Would we all weather it, and would we look different afterwards (would there, even, be an afterwards)? Like millions of others, these questions and uncertainties hit us, as very real and constantly consuming thoughts.

Although serious public health concerns continue to dominate our “new normal” (at the time of this writing), the Dawgs have been able to get their paws back in the dirt, as of Spring/Summer 2021, and are ready to run. Throughout the difficult challenges presented by the pandemic, Spring 2020 and into Spring 2021, Nawty Dawg stayed true to its fellow members’ concerns, personal challenges, and the vision and core strengths of the band; we prevailed, and we are much stronger for it.

Our Time To Run

With the arrival of Summer 2021, improvements in public health, and businesses and opportunities for social gatherings becoming more viable, Nawty Dawg slowly hit the ground running, once again, and is back on the music scene. Multiple pub gigs, a few private corporate events/parties, and a new forward outlook have dominated the entire band; we are literally a new band. The music we play continues to get tighter, find feeling, and emotionally charge each of us to grow. The exploration to create our own music is constantly rumbling beneath us all and only needs each of us to chart out the additional time to make it happen; but, it will happen. The opportunities we continue to see, as a band, are beginning to evolve and we are only extremely grateful for the path so far and where it might lead. We are five funk-loving friends who’ve formed a great rock band. And although we each have different professional “day jobs” (Scott, systems software engineer; Barb, professional geologist; Pete, business owner; Chip, ER nurse/aesthetician; Jason, IT and security professional), we also consider ourselves to be professionals when it comes to individual musicianship and dedication to the whole. Nawty Dawg will continue to grow and define itself, and that is a good thing. No matter the road ahead, Nawty Dawg will always put forth good music, to the best of its ability… and always, always, will forever be the band that’s *takin’ a bite out of rock-and-roll!*

Nawty Dawg Band in Dayton, Ohio