The Flying Underground, concert, Dayton, Ohio, Blind Bob's

Cincinnati-musician Brian Lovely led The Flying Underground in the early 2000s before the trio went on hiatus for 15 years. After a long search and time working in new singer Kelly McCraken, Lovely recently revived the rock band as a four-piece outfit, which performs at Blind Bob’s in Dayton on Friday, March 17.

"I couldn't find a singer I was really pleased with, but I didn't give up," Lovely said. "I just got on the Internet and started going to sites and looking for singers and looking for bands. I waded through all these people and I finally found Kelly. I don't even remember the site, but she had good audio clips and a video. She looked great and sounded great."

Lovely and McCraken worked on music together for more than two years before he officially reformed the Flying Underground.

“Kelly and I played as a duo for a while and got to know each other,” Lovely said. “I tried out some songs I wrote and she co-wrote ‘Death of Stars’ with me. We did some recordings together. We went out busking and we played some benefits and different events. She was already a really fine, powerful singer but she has just gotten better.

“I do a lot of production and as it turns out, I work with a lot of women singers in the studio,” he said. “Kelly was very open and hardworking. She was agreeable to suggestions and ways to develop the material and we became really close in the process. Then I put the band back together about a year ago.”

The band, which also features Dave Ramos (bass) and Chris Arduser (drums), released its debut CD, “Death of Stars,” in January.

“At this point, I write the songs and I bring them to the group,” Lovely said. “This is my project and everyone has agreed to that so we sort of follow my vision. Kelly is perfectly fine with me presenting the songs to her because she digs them and it’s a good arrangement. Writing for another singer hasn’t really changed the way I write. I just have to be aware of Kelly’s vocal range.

“I had to do a little bit of study on my part with her recordings and then working with her,” Lovely added. “I’ve learned where she is comfortable, what her sweet spot is and what’s too high and what’s too low. We’re planning on writing more. We’ve got one in the works we haven’t finished so it’s pretty open. There are no rules.”

>> MORE LOCAL ROCK NEWS: The history of Robert Pollard’s Rockathon Records.

WANT TO GO?

Who: The Flying Underground with Me & Mountains

Where: Blind Bob's, 430 E. Fifth St., Dayton

When: 10 p.m. Friday, March 17

Cost: $5

More info: 937-938-6405 or www.blindbobs.com

Artist info:www.facebook.com/flyingundergroundmusic

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