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ROCK[insider]
Catching up with 'Story'
Touring aficianos take a rare pause
Friday, July 06, 2007
Since forming in 2003, The Story Changes has been one of the hardest touring bands in Dayton. But, due to the recent loss of bassist Gee Gee Bradley, the group has been out of the public eye for three months, which is an eternity for this road-tested act.
"Having downtime is kind of weird," guitarist and vocalist Mark McMillon said. "We've had weekends off, which is rare for us. We were on the road seven months last year and did 150 shows. When the last record came out we didn't have a van for two months, and then once we took off we were gone most of the year. We always brag about how much we tour, but it even caught us by surprise."
Extras
"The least shows we did in any month last year was 11 shows," Poppy said. "The most in one month was 27. I was like, 'That's alright, but that's not enough!' That's still not enough."
With a powerful new album, "The Way of the Dinosaur," and Matt Jenkins filling in on bass, The Story Changes is ready to make up for lost time with an extended tour that should stretch into early autumn.
"This is the first time we've really had freedom to tour," Poppy said. "We have no time frame other than we have to be back in September, but until then we don't need to come home. If something gets offered to us, we wouldn't even have to think about it. As long as the money is there and shows are good, sure, we'll take it. We have the new record, so we'll have to tour a lot, plus, we want to."
The new album, like its predecessor, "Last Night a Rock Band Saved My Life," was recorded by Jamie Woolford at Panic Button Studio in Tempe, Ariz., but it's much heavier and the performances are more self-assured.
"This record feels more natural than the last one," McMillon said. "I think it's a little different, but it wasn't really a conscious thing. It is heavier, but not in a metal way. It's got a mid-'90s post-punk feel, kind of like Quicksand and Faith No More. That's the kind of stuff we listen to in the van."
"I don't think our record sounds like anybody else's because we're not going for that sound of current bands," Poppy said. "We don't want our record to sound like that — we want it to sound like something we'd all listen to, which is something that's long past."
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.
How to go
WHO: The Story Changes with The Sound for Language, After the Accident and Hold for Swank.
WHERE: The Nite Owl, 430. E. Fifth St., Dayton.
WHEN: 9 tonight.
COST: $5.
MORE INFO: (937) 223-0540 or www.myspace.com/theniteowldayton.
