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Murmur is back
In 2005 the Dayton rock band, Murmur, backed off of their busy show schedule to enter the studio and record their debut cd. However, in the mists of recording the band experienced a slight problem with their rhythm section. The problem was they could not find a reliable drummer.
Since the formation of the band two years ago, the stool behind the drum kit has been occupied by five different sets of sticks. This inconsistency on the drums stopped the recording process 7 songs into the new cd and sidelined the band for the first half of this year.
But Murmur is finally ready to make their return to the Dayton Scene. The band’s lineup is complete with the addition of Shawn Cruze, former drummer of the Cincinnati band, The Hinges. Cruze joins Chad Kouse (vocals, guitar, key), Sam Haschke (rhythm guitar), Nakesha Volk (bass), and Tim Staley (lap steel guitar, banjo).
With Cruze the band believes they are ready to finish the album (due out early next year) and fill the streets of Dayton with the harmonious and catchy indie-pop that Murmur is known for.
The band is performing on Saturday, November 4th at the Oregon Express. The show starts at 9pm, but get there early because Murmur plays first. The bill also includes two other top local bands, Sleepybird and The Bull and the Bear.
I got to chat with Murmur about their “rise from the ashes,� and here is what they said.
KN – Will this be your first show with Shawn on Drums?
CK - Yes this is Shawn’s first show with us. It feels like were starting fresh. But the entire show on Saturday will be great. Sleepybird and The Bull and The Bear are very good bands and were excited to be playing our first show back with them. Oh and Nakesha is going to play topless and that alone is worth the cover.
KN – You say on your website that “Murmur is rising from the ashes,� explain?
TS - Yea, were like a cockroach; you can’t kill us. The past year we have just been hiding out working on an album. I think we were gone for so long that it may have seemed like we went away, but now we have Shawn on drums and were back.
KN – I got to see you guys in the Dayton Band Playoffs this past summer and on this blog some of your fans expressed that you guys were eliminated too early because people voted for their friends and not the best band. Do you agree?
CK – Yea, we agree. But, we knew what we were getting ourselves into.
SH - Yea, we play from the heart. We can’t play a 100 percent cover shows (like some of the playoff bands). As an original band it may take a little longer to gain a following, but the fans you get will stick around. I would rather play a show in front of 5 or 6 people who love our original music rather than a whole bar full of people who want to hear us play other people’s songs.
Visit www.murmurband.com for more info and podcasts.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Categories: Dayton Local Music, Dayton Local Music
Comments
By Chad
November 5, 2006 11:31 AM | Link to this
Hey Nat — sorry if you were offended by the article. I don’t think the term “unreliable” ever came up in the interview and I’d probably say it in a different way. I think what Kris was getting at was that we haven’t had a drummer that’s stuck around long enough for us to get where we want to go. And as far as your comment of “If 5 different people have left the same job, it might tell you something about the job, management, process, etc…” — just so you know you are the only drummer that ever left for those reasons. Our first drummer left because he was too busy.. our second drummer we let go after we found you because we weren’t happy with him. And our last drummer just left because he needed to make money and we definitely aren’t doing that.. So I don’t think the job is that bad.By nat
November 4, 2006 6:07 PM | Link to this
I was one of those stickmen and I wouldn’t exactly say we were all “unreliable.” That’s a very negative connotation that speaks to the prejudice held against drummers as true”musicians.” Perhaps “artistic differences” and other commitments, like family and work, have had an effect. I played for the band for a year, offered my home for practices, even bought a second set just for Murmur’s use, but the recording process/vision in the studio wasn’t to my liking, so I felt it best to leave before getting too deep in the studio. I still love the band, talk to some of the members, and support them 100%, so next time, Kris, you might want to talk to the former drummers before calling us all “unreliable.” If 5 different people have left the same job, it might tell you something about the job, management, process, etc…Again, I’m not saying anything negative about the band, only Kris’ choice of words.By John
November 4, 2006 12:49 AM | Link to this
Murmur is the greatest band currently playing in Dayton… hands down… If they don’t get picked up by a record company soon the world will be a worse place… Catch them while you can. Keep rocking guys. See ya saturdayBy Rich
November 3, 2006 7:46 AM | Link to this
Great to see this band out in the public! I interviewed them and featured their music on one of my shows at audiogumshoe.com. This is one of my favorite shows to date.