Know Your Neighbors: Richard Brown, Dayton's #1 Music Fan
Vivienne Machi, Staff Writer
If you’ve been to a local show over the past years, there’s a very solid chance you’ve noticed a man standing near the front of the stage, taking pictures with an old camera under a yellow Panama hat.
In fact, if Richard Brown isn’t at a Dayton show, the organizers might start to get worried. The Dayton native estimates that he’s been to over 2,000 local music shows since he started going regularly five years ago, and a couple of years ago, even squeezed in over 500 during a one-year period.
“But I’m cutting back this year,” he said.
Brown said he wasn’t into the music scene until after he retired nine years ago.
“I was married, I worked 12 hours a day and seven days a week, so all I did was eat and sleep, so I’m making up for it now,” he said.
A Twin Towers neighbor, he spends his days volunteering at the Life Enrichment Center on Findlay Street or for St. Vincent De Paul. He manages the YouTube channel the Boxxcar, which boasts 276 videos online, and he has over 1,000 more that haven’t been posted yet.
His videos span the music genres, from rap to indie to metal.
"If they’re not too loud, if you can’t hear what they’re saying, I don’t film them,” he said.
Though Brown is usually the man behind the lens, he does take pictures with friends — many of which he’s made through the years as he photographs bands night after night. Here’s just a few highlights from his past five years as Dayton’s No. 1 music fan.
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Canal Street Tavern: where it all started
Sideshow musical finals at Canal Street Tavern. Contributed photo by Richard Brown.“After I retired, I first started going to Canal Street to see shows,” Richard said. “I liked it so much, I bought myself a camera and started taking videos and photos. Now, I get people expecting me. If I’m not there, they ask, where’s Richard?”
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Partying with Nightbeast
At a Nightbeast show, shirts are optional. Screen grab from the Nightbeast's video "The Grown Up"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTdEK2WVdFw“I’ve been a fan of Nightbeast for years now. Nick (Testa) was by himself at South Park Tavern, and he would do open mics and put on a wig and do comedy. He’s come a long way. I’ve been in five music videos now, and this one for Nightbeast at the bowling alley was a lot of fun.”
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A farewell to Urban Nights
Brown with local Dayton rockers Good English. Contributed photo by Richard Brown.“I’m going to miss Urban Nights. If you had asked me last year, I would have said Urban Nights was one of my favorite events in Dayton. I looked forward to it twice a year, every year for the last eight years. And Good English, they’re one of my favorite local bands.”
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RIP Too Buku
“When I started filming at Canal Street, Too Buku was one of my favorite bands to see, with this sweet lady playing the keys. I always tried to see them play, and wish they were still playing now.”
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Photographing Dayton's talent
Sharon Lane and friends at the ninth annual Hog Jam in 2014. Contributed photo by Richard Brown.“Sharon Lane is one of my favorite singers from Dayton. She’s a teacher at Stivers (School for the Arts) and has one of the most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard.”
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Cleaning up Dayton
Cleaning up Dayton, Dragons style. Contributed photo by Richard Brown.“I’m part of the Twin Towers Association Board, so I help out and do sweeps, volunteer a lot. We did an alley sweep with the Dayton Dragons, and that was great to do a clean-up with a bunch of baseball players.”
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The work behind the scenes
Dayton Does Dayton Festival, 2014. Contributed photo by Richard Brown.“Louie Wood, Jr. puts on a lot of great shows for less than $10 admission. I’ve been to his last 15 shows, and if you want to go see 10 bands for 10 bucks, you get your money’s worth. Dayton Does Dayton is his biggest show, it’s a two-day event, and you have Dayton bands performing other Dayton bands’ songs.”
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Dayton's festivals
A World A'Fair 2015 attendants Brown and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley. Contributed photo by Richard Brown.“My favorite two events every year are Sideshow and A World A’Fair. I love the food, the music, the dancing, I go there every year, I’m looking forward to next year already.”
