…after nearly a decade spent in the basement recording for albums that were never to be, seasoned veterans Dark Backward finally emerged as a fully-formed band in 2008 and promptly set to flattening eardrums throughout the Gem City. Featuring Eric Purtle [Luxury Pushers/Mondolux], Max Nye [Dementia Precox], Jeff Brelsford [Sexicon/Mondolux], and Jim Ingram, this quartet issue their debut disc, Mute Memorials, this weekend at Oregon Express. While the disc contains much of the aggro fury you would expect from the band’s respective pedigree, buried deep within its gooey center lies a sonic departure that gives the disc an unexpected range. Drawing on at least three generations of British post-punk that gives the songs a pronounced tunefulness and subtle application of swirling backgrounds and applying just a hint of disco, Dark Backward delivers a depth that will certainly beg repeated spins. You can catch them tomorrow night, June 26, at the aforementioned Oregon Express along with My Latex Brain and The Jackalopes for an evening of ear-splitting rock n’ roll…

MP3: Dark Backward “Standard Device”

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MP3: Dark Backward “Binary Love”

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MP3: Dark Backward “New Luddites”

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…for those of you in some kind of heavy-duty relationship, odds are you’ve got some big plans for Valentine’s Day. For everyone else, yr probably looking for anything to possible distract you from the fact that you don’t have those big plans. Well, you’ve got a pair of great options tonight no matter on which side of the l’amour line you find yourself…

…over at Blind Bob’s, Brandon Hawk has assembled a trio of duos for his Valentine’s Day Show. In from Columbus, The Receiver blew us away when we caught them last year. Dayton noise duos Hills and Goatherd round out the lineup…

…over at Oregon Express, you’ve got the Anti-Valentine’s Day show, featuring the debut of Dark Backward (ex-Luxury Pushers/Mondolux/The Bang Tale/etc.), the politically-charged sonic assault of My Latex Brain (who made our Top 5 Albums of 08), and female punk quartet, Jasper the Colossal…

…over at the Dayton Dirt Collective tonight, you’ve got a solid bill of big rock. You’ve got Genesis Climber (from Cali), as well as major local flavor from the post-industrial monolith that is My Latex Brain, the sleaze and swagger of Electric Smoke, as well as Tin Can Telephone. As always, this is ALL AGES and starts early, around 7:30….

…if you’re looking for something to do this afternoon, head on down to Riverbend Ampitheatre for the Vans Warped Tour where a pair Dayton favorites will be taking the stage. Punk mainstays The Story Changes (pictured above) will be taking the stage somewhere around 12:15 and industrial-thrash monsters My Latex Brain will be on sometime this afternoon…

…over the last decade or so, the Vans Warped Tour has become a beacon of opportunity for burgeoning punk bands looking to break on through. This year, a pair of Dayton bands have made the cut and will be performing at the big show. Both The Story Changes and My Latex Brain will grace stages at the festival next Wednesday, July 30 at Cincinnati’s Riverbend Ampitheatre. If you’re willing to endure a day in the sun, head on down and represent…

…in other news, The Story Changes have recently contributed an exclusive track, “I Remember”, for a comp called the Good Times. The comp is out via the band’s label, Future Destination Records, and is available now right here. The Story Changes also completed a video shoot last week for the track “Don’t Fall” off of last year’s album, The Way of the Dinosaur. According to the band, the clip prominently features the Gem City skyline and more. We’ll keep you posted as to when and where you can check the clip…

…on a rare Sunday evening at Pearl, The Story Changes will make a rare appearance in Dayton tonight. Also on the bill are Stone the Mayor Sheriffs, My Latex Brain, and Lumaera. Guaranteed, you won’t get much more rock than this tonight…

…wanna start your long weekend off with a bang? The only way to go is over at Aquarius tonight. The brutal grind of My Latex Brain headlines a bill that also includes heavy-hitters Sah (from Michigan), Accidently on Purpose, and Switchblade Serenade. After the smoke clears, you won’t know what hit ya….

…with it being a leap year and all, it could have gone either way last night over at Canal Street Tavern. In fact, it went both…

…after missing the debut of opener Swell, we came in on an reduced lineup of Switchblade Serenade. Following the departure of guitarist Matt Webster, the remaining trio is soldiering on with incredible intensity. The sleeker outfit delivered their trademark gutter/garage with an intensity and directness that only bolstered their sound and left us hopeful for whatever might come next from this highly unpredictable group…

…as this was our first report on Accidently on Purpose, our expectations were high. Digging way back into an early 90s/pre-Nirvana brand of grungy punk, the band impressed us with a distinctive blend of punk/art-rock influences. Charismatic Greta Smak prowled the stage with burning intensity, drawing all eyes onto her and her band for the duration of their blistering set. As soon as you get a chance, be sure to catch them…

…at last, the moment of celebration on this evening had arrived, as the post-industrial juggernaut known as My Latex Brain unleashed its new album, Good Is Dead. Although there was lengthy delay due to myriad technical difficulties, the band persevered, channeling their frustrations into their performance and elevating the intensity of their sound to nearly unbearable levels. As bassist Chris Corn and drummer Roger Owsley initiated a sonic Blitzkrieg through the venue, singer Hoops screeched and howled his mutilated rantings, the sum which resulted in an unparalleled assault on all sensory intake. Truly, MLB is one of the most exciting and inventive bands in Dayton at the moment…

..for more pics from the show, take a look over here.

…we’ve gone and set up another giveaway for you, kids! Tonight My Latex Brain will be releasing their new album, Good Is Dead, over at Canal Street Tavern along with Accidently on Purpose, Switchblade Serenade, and Swell (who will be making their debut this evening). We’ve gotten our hands on some advance copies of the album and we’re giving them to you…

…to win, it’s simple: email us at buddhaden27@yahoo.com and put GOOD IS DEAD in the subject. We’ll present the winners this evening at the beginning of MLB’s set at Canal Street Tavern. You MUST be present to win. Take our word for it, this is an incredible dish of post-industrial brutality that you’ll wanna have…

GO!!!

…it seems the bloom has fallen off of Valentine’s Day, as Dethfits celebrates their Deth to Valentine’s Day show this evening. On hand you have the politically-charged industrial grind of My Latex Brain (whose new album, Good as Dead, hits on Feb 29), one of our favorites Grizzzzy Bear, the cowpunk of Akillis Green, the gutter/garage/trash of Switchblade Serenade, and the rarely-seen Choir of 2 Ohm Cicadas. All this for free. Yes, free. Just remember to go in the E door. See you there….