X-Fest 15
Local stage with Admitted Dilemma, Desalitt, Make Joy Cry and Superkreep
Who: X-Fest 15 with Shinedown, Seether, Papa Roach, Sick Puppies and others.
Where: Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 1043 S. Main St., Dayton
When: 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 12
Cost: $35 through Sept. 11 and $40 day of show.
More info: (866) 448-7849, www.xfestdayton.com or www.ticketmaster.com
Shinedown, Seether and other popular hard rock radio acts are always the big draw at the annual X-Fest event, which returns to the Montgomery County Fairgrounds on Sunday, Sept. 12. However, for fans of local music, the multi-band festival sponsored by WXEG-FM (103.9) also is an opportunity to see some of the best from the underground metal scene performing on the local stage.
This year, Admitted Dilemma, Desalitt, Make Joy Cry and Superkreep, emerged from a field of 16 regional bands in the Battle for X-Fest at McGuffy’s House of Rock to win coveted spots at the huge outdoor event. Here’s the scoop on this year’s champs.
Admitted Dilemma
STYLE OF MUSIC: Rock
LOCATION: Franklin
MEMBERS: Josh Allen (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Dusty Frisch (lead guitar, backup vocals), Byron Ingram (bass) and Zach Gross (drums)
FORMED: 2004
DISCOGRAPHY: “Admitted Dilemma 2.0,” “Remember Me,” “Through Your Words,” “Carry On,” “Hidden Agenda,” “Wake Up,” “Next in Line” and “There is a Way”
UNUSUAL BAND FACT: Josh has a dent in his chest that we all believe powers his powerful vocals.
WEB SITE: www.myspace.com/admitteddilemma
Q If your band had a motto, what would it be?
A An apple a day keeps Dusty looking physically fit.
Q If you could’ve written any famous song, what would it be and why?
A “Runnin’ with the Devil” by Van Halen. That song is in so many awesome movies.
Q Besides performing, what are you looking forward to most at X-Fest?
A Hopefully, meeting other bands and gaining a lot of street cred.
Q If you could seek musical advice from one music icon, who would it be and what would you ask?
A Michael Jackson. What is the formula to an album like “Thriller?”
Q If you could play any venue with any band ever, where would it be and what other act would be on the bill?
A X-Fest, but we’d be the co-headliners with Dio.
Q What is the most difficult part of maintaining a band in this part of Ohio?
A Man, there have been so many things that have made our road tough. We’d have to say keeping the same group of people together. It’s really hard to find good musicians to fill the shoes of the original members. I think that’s why we went old school and got the original band back together.
Q If you were forced to choose, which two famous acts would you say your band’s sound most resembles?
A Breaking Benjamin and Bullet For My Valentine. That’s a really tough question though.
Desalitt
STYLE OF MUSIC: New Rock
LOCATION: Xenia
MEMBERS: Greg Crawford (lead vocals, guitars), Mark Kincaid (lead guitars, vocals, Dave Anderson (drums) and “Scooby” Scott Harvey (bass, vocals) FORMED: Sept. 2008
DISCOGRAPHY: One five-song CD called “Desalitt.” We’re in the works to complete the second five-song CD.
UNUSUAL BAND FACT: We are one of few bands where our singer is not our front man. Greg is an excellent singer, but is shy to the crowd, so Scooby the bass player does the talking onstage.
WEB SITE: www.myspace.com/desalitt
Q If your band had a motto, what would it be?
A Get Litt
Q What would you say is your band’s signature song?
A “Insane” (our friends have mentioned it has our signature sound).
Q Besides performing, what are you looking forward to most at X-Fest?
A We really hope there are some important people in the record industry there to hear us. We feel this is a great opportunity.
Q If you could recommend one song by your band, which one would it be and why?
A “Astray.” We all agree on this one. It has a lot of power to it and people have really liked it. We usually close with that one.
Q What is the most difficult part of maintaining a band in this part of Ohio?
A We had split answers on this. Some felt it was getting along as a band and staying together to get better. And, of course, there is the slow economy. We also need more venues to play at.
Q Which two bands would you say your band’s sound resembles?
A We decided it’s between Alice and Chains and Theory of a Deadman.
Q If you could tell one thing about your band, what would it be?
A We’re playing X-Fest, baby.
Make Joy Cry
STYLE OF MUSIC: Hard Rock
LOCATION: Dayton MEMBERS: Jeremy Knedler (lead vocals), Mike Craft (lead guitar), Jorge Brunett (bass, backup vocals) and Rob Potts (drums) Formed: 2008 DISCOGRAPHY: “Make Joy Cry” EP (Digital release 2010) UNUSUAL BAND FACT: One cool fact we are very proud of is that our very first live show won us a spot In this year’s X-Fest! WEB SITE: www.makejoycry.com Q Besides playing, what are you looking forward to most at X-Fest?
A Hanging out and having fun with our friends, family and fans that helped get us this gig, and checking out the other local bands we’ll be sharing the stage with. Q If you could recommend one release by your band, which one would it be and why?
A Well, this is easy since we only have one at this point, which is our “Make Joy Cry” EP. This has only been released digitally at this point, so you can get it at iTunes and almost any other online music retailer. Q What is the most difficult part of maintaining a band in this part of Ohio? A The overall lack of exposure. Ohio doesn’t have a New York or L.A. so the scenes that are around tend to be more underground. It makes us work a little harder and it’s that much more worth it when fans respond to your music. Q If you could tell people one thing about your band, what would it be? A Just how much it means to us that this band even exists. We all have busy lives and the pure fact that we can even find time to get together and accomplish what we have so far is mind blowing. Q If your band had a motto, what would it be? A Better late than never. Q What would you say is your band’s signature song?
A That kind of has two answers. The song “Romeo” is quickly becoming our signature song live, but on a personal level within the band it would be “Can Ya.” That song is magic to us and is the most spontaneous music we’ve ever created. Q What is the most unique characteristic of your band?
A How easy it is for us to write. We could probably play a show and just make up the whole thing as we went along and no one would know we never played the songs before. We definitely have no shortage of ideas and our chemistry is working out great.
Superkreep
STYLE OF MUSIC: Scrap Metal with a Southern twist
LOCATION: Middletown
MEMBERS: Greg Banks (vocals), Todd “The Beast” Braun (lead/rhythm guitars, backup throat), Khan (lead/rhythm guitars, backup vocals), Merle “Punky” Hollon (bass) and Kevin “K-No” Nolan (drums)
FORMED: 2004
DISCOGRAPHY: “Anger of Angels” (2006) and “Wizer than the Wicked” (September 2010 release)
UNUSUAL BAND FACT: Three of five band members worked at Cassano’s at once, but didn’t really know each other then. (R.I.P Vic)
WEB SITE: www.myspace.com/superkreep
Q If your band had a motto, what would it be?
A GFM: God/Family/Metal
Q What would you say is your band’s signature song?
A “Bring on the Pain”
Q Besides performing, what are you looking forward to most at X-Fest?
A Meeting new fans and all the crazy people.
Q If you could seek musical advice from one music icon, who would it be and what would you ask?
A Dimebag Darrell and we’d ask him how he coped with worldwide stardom while remaining genuine and true to his roots.
Q What is the most unique characteristic of your band?
A Writing aggressive music with positive energy and maintaining a real brotherhood.
Q If you could play any venue with any band ever, where would it be and what other act would be on the bill?
A That’s easy — Hara Arena with Pantera.
Q What is the most difficult part of maintaining a band in this part of Ohio?
A Staying focused, motivated and positive amongst all the surrounding drama. But we’re doing our part, along with other acts, to rebuild a local scene and to give fans a reason to come out and have fun again.
Contact contributing arts and music writer Don Thrasher at donaldthrasher8@aol.com.
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