Painesville-based Cellar Door Records (cellardoorrecords.com), formed last year, announced its presence with its first official release last August, a compilation titled Cellar Door Records: Volume II. The label's now hosting a double CD release party to launch debut records by one of the bands on that compilation, Madison, Ohio-based hard rockers Frozen Hellsicles (myspace.com/the frozenhellsicles), plus Cleveland noise rockers the Slow Blade (myspace.com/ theslowblade). The release of the Frozen Hellsicles' Oh No Wait a Minute, which was mixed in Kent by Todd Tobias (Guided by Voices, Robert Pollard), and the Slow Blade's Kill the Lights will be celebrated at the Grog Shop (2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., 216.321.5588) at 9 p.m. Friday, May 6. The Uncanny Xela is also on the bill. The $10 admission includes copies of both bands' CDs. — AP

Gorilla Productions Showcase at Peabody's

Cleveland-based Gorilla Productions' Cleveland 100 returns to Peabody's (2083 E. 21st St., 216.776.9999) for another go-around, with two nights featuring unsigned area bands, with an emphasis on the heavier end of the musical spectrum. Friday, May 16 will be devoted to punk and indie rock with the Vinyltones, Madison Crawl and Silence of a Silhouette headlining. On Saturday, May 17, an all-metal showcase will feature Solipsist, To Envy the Horrid, Antenora and Fenian, among others. Gorilla Productions has invited representatives from independent labels, hoping to attract their attention to Northeast Ohio talent and to provide musicians with networking opportunities. Friday's show starts at 6 p.m., Saturday's at 4 p.m., with doors an hour earlier. Tickets are $10 presale, $12 at the door for both nights. Go to gorillaproductions.net for full lineup and info. — AP

Roots of American Music Benefit at Nighttown

Roots of American Music, a nonprofit group utilizing local musicians to engage and teach students with American roots music, is holding a benefit called Tangled Up in Bob. Honoring Bob Dylan's 67th birthday, the event will feature the band Maggie's Farm and guest musicians interpreting songs by Dylan. The evening also includes buffet dinner (cryptically described as "Greenwich Village café fare"), a limited open bar and a silent auction. It's at Nighttown (12387 Cedar Rd., 216.795.0550) from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15. Tickets are $100; to make a reservation call 216.321.9353. — AP

WBWC-FM Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Baldwin-Wallace College's radio station WBWC-88.3 FM is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. During the school's alumni weekend Friday, May 16-Sunday, May 18 it will mark the occasion with on-air specials all weekend. It'll also have a free meet-and-greet open house from 7-10 p.m. May 16 at the Student Activities Center (96 Beech St., Berea) for past and present WBWC staff members and station supporters with displays of photos, articles and archived recordings, station tours and the creation of a WBWC time capsule. Go to wbwc.com for info. — AP

Pinfield at Rock Hall

Best known as an MTV VJ, Matt Pinfield comes to the Rock Hall as part of its From Songwriters to Soundmen program. Pinfield, the former host of MTV's alternative-minded 120 Minutes program, has also held down an A&R gig at Columbia Records and helped promote acts such as Coheed & Cambria. He currently hosts an eclectic Sirius Satellite program called Pinfield Plays Whatever He Wants. Find out if he also "says whatever he wants" at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 21 at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's Fourth Floor Theatre. The event's free but reservations are required and can be made by emailing edu@rockhall.org or calling 216.515.8426. — Jeff Niesel

Midpoint Music Accepting Applications

Midpoint Music, the annual regional music showcase event that takes place in Cincinnati every year, is currently accepting applications for its upcoming festival, scheduled to take place from Sept. 25-27. Organizers suggest sending an EPK that includes at least three full-length original songs. Go to mpmf.com for more information. — JN

Moment of Truth
The Other Side of Vision (self-released)
myspace.com/momentoftruth

This album from Moment of Truth, a screamo act from Garrettsville, pretty much sticks to conventions. The opening track, "Coma Cloud," features the usual combination of screaming and singing but benefits from a particularly intricate guitar solo. In fact, as much as the band doesn't depart from anything you might hear from acts on the Victory Records roster, the guys — singer-guitarist Jason Haring, singer-guitarist Ben Haring, singer-bassist Jeff DiLorenzo and drummer Tom Sloe — play with precision. The dynamic guitar interplay in tunes like "Face & Name" and "Sweet Goodbye," which has a nice acoustic intro, speaks to the band's ability to start and stop on a dime. The production, handled at E&G Studios, is also top-rate, putting the group in league with the top names of the genre. — JN

Daniel Eli Weiss
The Dipsomaniac (self-released)
myspace.com/danieleliweiss

The guitarist for the local emo/pop-punk band the Promise Hero, Daniel Eli Weiss has recorded a set of his own tunes and put them together for this digital release that you can sample on his MySpace site (and download for free, if you like). There's nothing complicated about pretty pop tunes such as "Today I Saw You" and "I Was High in F," both of which recall the lo-fi approaches of Sebadoh/Lou Barlow. Weiss is able to sound delicate but not precious, and a gentle love song such as "Never Woulda Guessed" has such simple appeal, it wouldn't sound out of place next to the Moldy Peaches on the Juno soundtrack. — JN