The Migraines 25th anniversary show Rockstar Pro Arena, Dayton

Singer Shawn Edward Browning, aka Eddie Migraine, calls Fort Wayne, Ind., home. However, Dayton has always been a second home to his ’90s punk band the Migraines because for much of its run it had as many as three members living right here in the Gem City.

When Browning decided to revive the Migraines for a 25th anniversary show at Rockstar Pro Arena in Dayton on Friday, May 19, he recruited former Dayton-based members Gee Gee Bradley (bass), James Rouch (guitar) and Nathan Bush (drums). The local musicians recently sat down at Red Carpet Tavern to discuss the return of the Migraines.

Bradley: "The band was always based out of Fort Wayne, but after I joined the Migraines, any time we needed somebody to be a roadie or to play guitar or drums, I'd recruit from Dayton. That's why we always do the reunion shows in Dayton and Fort Wayne."

Bush: "I was at work one day when Gee Gee called and asked me what I was doing for the next five weeks and if I wanted to tour with a band. The next thing you know, I'm on the road with the Migraines."

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Rouch: "That's very similar to the conversation I had with him."

Bradley: "James was just a roadie for us at first, driving and doing merch. One night he jumped up and played a song. We'd been playing as a trio with Shawn on vocals and guitar but he really wanted to get a guitarist so he could just be the singer."

Rouch: "I was there anyway and I had a guitar, so I learned the songs. It was scary at first but it came together pretty quickly. Shawn was a task master. He made us work until we were a machine, but he wasn't wrong."

Bradley: "We did a couple of anniversary shows for the 20th anniversary and it was a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to doing it again."

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Bush: "It's bizarre to play these songs after five years. When we did the last reunion I couldn't believe how fast everything was. I was toast after we played the second show. My hands were shaking afterwards just from the adrenaline. I play regularly but nothing quite as fast as the Migraines."

Bradley: "When we decided to do it again for the 25th, we wanted to do something to make it special. All the old Migraines stuff was out of print so we decided to release this EP that never came out. I'm excited to finally get that released."

Want to go?

WHO: The Migraines with Legbone, the Give Ups and Bribing Senators

WHERE: Rockstar Pro Arena, 1106 E. Third St., Dayton

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, May 19

COST: $8, all ages

MORE INFO: www.rockstarproarena.net

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