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Toads and Mice
Musicians' work ethic shows in latest cd
Friday, November 30, 2007
Age can be deceiving. Local rock group Toads and Mice has only been together 18 months and members Dustin Rose (vocals, guitar), Brandon Guthrie (drums), Patrick Bateman (guitar) and Brad Patrick (bass) range in age from 18 to 23.
However, for a young group, the quartet recently completed a surprisingly mature self-titled debut, which is out this week on Squids Eye Records.
Extras
Founding members Rose and Guthrie contribute the group's quick evolution to experiences with former bands and a combined desire to do something completely different.
"Brandon and I got to the point where we wanted to do something really good and stop being mediocre," Rose said. "We never actually said that but we thought it."
The musicians' work ethic and attention to detail is obvious in well-crafted gems such as "Genghis Khan," "Plateau" and "Shame on You." Although the material was recorded mostly live in Guthrie's rectangular, cement basement, the songs sound surprisingly full.
"We spent about two months recording," Rose said. "I think if the recording could've gone any differently, I would've tried to get it cleaner. The goal was for it to be very clean but the equipment I was using was just maxed out."
At times Toads and Mice sound a bit like British band Clinic and other times like '90s indie rockers Shudder To Think, but any influences are assimilated seamlessly into material that is both melodic and challenging.
"When we first started it was going to be dance stuff," Rose said. "That failed."
"We will go on record as being a dance-rock failure," Guthrie said.
"We were serious about it," Rose said. "We ended up with different songs with dancey parts, but we couldn't commit to the full-blown dance-rock."
There are brief moments of groove-oriented dance music, but for the most part Toads and Mice has evolved into a post-punk art-rock group with a strong sense of melody and dynamics mixed with experimental tendencies and an unapologetic dark streak. This combination should have wide appeal to indie rock hipsters.
"We're really not trying to get famous," Rose said. "We're not trying to be 'cool.' We just come down to the basement and write songs."
"I don't know what else I'd do," Guthrie said.
"Right now for me the most important thing is just writing," Rose said. "I don't see us stopping for any reason. This is what we do so we'll be doing it for a while."
Toads and Mice celebrate the release of the new CD tonight at The Pearl with openers The Receiver and Of Brothers and the Bear. More info: www.myspace.com/toadsandmice.
How to go
WHO: Toads and Mice with The Receiver and Of Brothers and the Bear.
WHERE: The Pearl, 101 St. Clair St., Dayton.
WHEN: 8 p.m. Nov. 30.
COST: $5-$7.
MORE INFO: (937) 222-6808.
ROCK INSIDER, by contributing writer Don Thrasher, appears weekly and gives a behind-the-scenes view of the Dayton music scene. Contact Thrasher by e-mail at donaldthrasher8@aol.com.
