08/03/2007 -- 10 Questions -- Daytonbands.com

Interview By: Jeremy Knedler

Once-Ler has been a fixture on the Dayton band scene for almost 10 years. You would be hard pressed to find a local band that has not shared the stage with them and even harder pressed to find a musician that does not have a great respect for their music and laid back personalities. In a 10 year time frame where most bands have broken up, reformed, started new bands and broken up again, the guys in Once-Ler have managed to keep it together and do what it takes to get their newest release completed and ready for the masses. August 3rd marks the release of their latest offering "Last Day of Summer". Check out our latest ten questions interview with the band....

1. How long has the band been together and what is your current lineup?

We have been playing together since the fall of ‘99. The current lineup is Burns/Guitar, Deininger/Bass, Reif/Vocals, and (new guy) Ward/Drums.

2. How would you describe your group's style? What are the bands collective influences?

Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Kyuss, Allman Brothers, Tool, Outkast, Soundgarden, Melvins, and many many more including anything else you can see, hear, touch, feel, or taste.

As far as our style goes, it's always weird coming up with these labels, but how about Dynamic, groove orientated, Original rock.

3. What is the bands songwriting process? Is there a main writer or is it a group effort? Explain.

It's basically a group effort. Sometimes one of us will pretty much have the music completely mapped out and then everybody else writes their parts, and other times it's more collaborative where none of us know where we are going until we all arrive there together. We all contribute lyrically in much the same way. Sometimes someone will come to the table with all the words for a tune written and then we trim it up a bit, and other times everybody adds their own little part. That's why as far as song credits go we always list them as all words and music by Once-ler.

4. What are your current goals as a band? (Working on CD, Booking, Tour, etc.)

Now that we are finally finished working on the album it's time to write some new stuff. We are really looking forward to that. We are also working on getting out of town A LOT more including a little touring. Ultimately we would like to get some help as far as distribution goes to get our music in as many ears as possible.

5. What goals have you set for yourself in the past that you have or have not achieved and why?

Recently we found our new drummer Ward. He is doing an awesome job and plans to be around a while. That was a big stroke of luck as well as accomplishing a goal. Getting our new album Last Day of Summer in our hands felt pretty good after spending all that time, effort, and money over the last year. As far as things we would like to do but it hasn't worked out yet is getting a tour together and playing out of town more than in town. We are working on that though.

6. What Dayton clubs would we be able to see you perform?

Really about any of them. I think we've played them all over the years. We can often be found at J-Alan's (they have been great to us). Also, be sure to catch us at Canal Street Tavern on Fri. August 3rd at our cd release with Accidently on Purpose and Sexicon. That one is going to be a great night.

7. Do you have many out of town shows? Where?

Well not as many as we would like booked just yet, but we have been known to play Cincinnati, Columbus, Indianapolis, Detroit, etc.

8. Give us some details on one of your most memorable moments as a band? Good or Bad.

Well there have been a lot of them over the years, but it's the funny stuff that sticks out. Playing a gig at Bernie's up in Columbus that was double booked 8 bands showed up and not one sound guy. There was a junkie screaming in the hallway as we came in, there was literally a big amp eating whole in the stage, and the whole place smelled of sewage. Everybody sat there waiting for the sound man to show then about 10 o'clock some random guy threw down his pool cue and decided he was going to run sound. We opted to play first just to get the hell out of there. That was pure rock and roll. Weekend gigs and hotel shanagans in beautiful Lima, wrong turns in Detroit, the guy who played guitar in Nazareth buying us beers and hitting on our girlfriends in Columbus………GOOD TIMES !

9. What advice would you give someone that is just starting to play the Dayton scene?

Actually go out and support the other bands in town at their shows.

Music isn't a competition it is an art form, so don't walk around with your arms crossed and your nose in there air as if you are some sort of local rock hero. When bands are good to each other it helps promote a sense of musical community way more than when people get tied up in wanna be scenester ego battles.