Military
Allyson B. Crawford
Writer and Editor
United States
A Dayton, Ohio based freelance writer with more than 20 years of bylines across the music, business, health and defense industries.
United States
A Dayton, Ohio based freelance writer with more than 20 years of bylines across the music, business, health and defense industries.
Military
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFLCMC) - Katie Ward likes to stay busy. During the day, she's a civilian FMS Chief with the Legacy Tanker Division, part of the Mobility and Training Directorate at Tinker AFB. July will mark her 16th year working for the Air,
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio - A veteran of the Air Force civilian workforce, Lily Arcusa is excited to step into her new role as Deputy Program Executive Officer (PEO) for the Presidential and Executive Airlift Directorate of Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. Arcusa was competitively selected for the position earlier this month.
Each October, the U.S. marks National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The theme of this year's month is "America's Recovery: Powered by Inclusion." This piece is a special profile in honor of this initiative. WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio (AFLCMC) - Knowledge Management Specialist James Terpenning - or "JT" to most coworkers - has a happy personality.
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio (AFLCMC) - The Human Systems Division of Agile Combat Support used sister branch contacts, a current Department of Defense (DoD) initiative and ingenuity to quickly deliver better protection for warfighters in less than two years. Every deployed Airman is issued a mobility bag with protective gear including a helmet and body armor.
AFLCMC Commander Lt. Gen Shaun Morris and Executive Director Kathy Watern hosted the first AFLCMC Celebrating the Workforce event on August 17, 2021. The virtual event featured a mix of taped and live speakers focusing on the theme "Women Achieving Acquisition Excellence." Over 600 individuals watched the presentation live.
A civilian employee at Wright-Patterson AFB since 1984, Jacqueline Fisher is ending her career on a high note. Fisher recently received the National Public Service Award (NPSA) for outstanding contributions to her community. At the end of July, Fisher will retire from her civilian career and focus completely on volunteer work.
Until 1971, Memorial Day was known as Decoration Day. The act of visiting cemeteries to remember the war fallen included loved ones decorating gravesites. The first official Decoration Day was May 30, 1868. Originally, Decoration Day only honored those lost during the Civil War.
Ida Holdgreve is considered the first woman to work in the aviation industry. She blazed a trail that points directly to the AFUO today. ,
Spring is almost upon us and that means warmer weather and longer, sunnier days. Still, the global COVID-19 pandemic continues on and there are still a few weeks of chillier weather ahead. With pandemic restrictions making many of us feel isolated, fighting the blues is more important than ever.
The Women of Color STEM award is a prestigious annual honor granted to those in the field who make significant contributions across 15 categories including positively impacting government, educational leadership and technical innovation.
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio - For retired Senior Master Sgt. Pete Peel, helping refugees in the Dayton area means giving boys a positive male role model. Pete's wife Ning is the leader of the family when it comes to helping refugees in the Miami Valley.,
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Florida (AFLCMC) - The Air Force is all in when it comes to helping America battle the COVID-19 pandemic. The novel coronavirus has claimed more than one million lives worldwide, including more than 200,000 Americans.Moving fast,
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio (AFLCMC) - "I was vaguely aware of ROTC," laughs Maj. Jazmyn Hyman, Program Manager for AFLCMC. "I had a friend who did Air Force JROTC [in high school] and we ran track and cheered together, but I was totally oblivious. I didn't,
Carolyn Wright has been a fixture with Parity Inc. for decades, first as a volunteer then as CEO. She became CEO in March of 2019. Parity Inc. in west Dayton began in 1982 as a grassroots movement and became an incorporated nonprofit organization in 1993.
Business Journalism
All eyes remain on Centerville when it comes to a rejuvenated Uptown area and chic new restaurant offerings. The city's Uptown Action Plan focuses on the areas around Main and Franklin streets, creating a less congested business district with more parking, restaurants and public gathering spaces.
Kathy Harper is system vice president and chief marketing and communications officer for Premier Health. As Outstanding Diversity Champion, Harper oversees all of Premier's outreach activities throughout the greater Miami Valley region and with employees across the system. Harper joined Premier in 2011, working in marketing at Good Samaritan Hospital.
Barbara Johnson is executive vice president and chief operating officer for Premier Health. She is the first Black woman to hold the position at Premier. She joined Premier in 2003, holding various positions of leadership within human resources and operations.
North Main Street in Clayton is undergoing major commercial development efforts. The project is massive and will take decades to fully complete and city officials are tackling the multi-year challenge head on. "It's a generational project," explains Jack Kuntz, director of development at Clayton.
Running from one task to another, local entrepreneur Bridget Walker safely pulls her car off the road to chat over the phone about her latest project: transforming the historic Carnegie Library in Xenia into a restaurant and entertainment venue. Walker is the owner of Xenia's Sweets Boutique Bakery & Café.
Job growth held up at the beginning of the year and hiring remains robust, according to January data from the U.S. Department of Labor. Despite the widespread Omicron surge, demand for employees continues across the economy. Long hours and pandemic fatigue are a common cause of turnover among hospital staff.
Middletown city officials are looking forward with great expectations and optimism as the redevelopment plan for Towne Mall Galleria continues. The mall redevelopment now includes the creation of an indoor go-kart track in a former retail space. The Warren County Port Authority along with Wisconsin-based architectural firm RINKA developed the master plan that reimagines the space.
One Dayton-based business is shaking up the competitive catering scene, one menu at a time. Clarece and Gerald Richardson are owners of Rich Taste Catering. The African American duo are married and parents of two young children. If their names are familiar, that is because both are previous DBJ Forty Under 40 honorees, in 2015 and 2020 respectively.
Area businesses, non-profit organizations, places of worship and centers of learning continue to prioritize diversity and inclusion. For Clark State College, diversity and inclusion are part of the school's strategic plan. This ensures the institution places a high priority on diversity issues through its working vision, goals and objectives.
Housing demand around the United States continues to outpace the number of available homes on the market and that includes the Miami Valley. And as the economy continues to recover from pandemic shutdowns of 2020, job growth in Ohio remains strong. A recent social media post from Ohio Lt. Gov.
After 15 months with many of their doors closed, arts organizations in the Dayton region are gearing up for a busy season ahead. "I think early on, everybody was concerned," said Lisa Hanson, executive director of Culture Works. "If you just looked at ticket sales revenue, everything was cut off ...
Areas with limited access to nutritious and affordable groceries are often called food deserts. The Gem City Market on Salem Avenue aims to serve Dayton's west side residents who otherwise have few options for full-scale grocery shopping nearby.
One Bistro is a unique restaurant that is thriving in Xenia. While many restaurants have been hard hit by the pandemic, One Bistro continues to feed large crowds. That is because One Bistro is more than a restaurant: it is a faith-based mission with a goal of stamping out food insecurity in the Xenia area.
Rotary is an international service organization that encourages members to do humanitarian service in their own communities. Rotary International began in Chicago in 1095 and chapters quickly sprouted all over the globe. One hundred years ago, Xenia Rotary was formed. Today, Matthew Bennett, owner of Anderson Williamson Insurance, serves as the president of the Xenia Rotary club.
Xenia bakery owner Bridget Walker said for her, like so many other business owners, the Covid-19 pandemic has created many struggles for her business. "The pandemic has hit us hard, and it has been a real struggle for my business," said Walker, owner of Sweets Boutique Bakery in Xenia.
Prime Controls, Inc., is a family business. Founded by Larry Tucker in 1992, the manufacturing company designs and makes inspection equipment for industries including canning. Today, Larry's daughter Beth Graves is president of the organization, and a finalist for Executive of the Year by Dayton Business Journal.
High net worth individuals are likely familiar with the financial advisory industry, but even those of more modest means can benefit from professional money management. Despite headline-making job losses for higher paid employees in the Miami Valley over the past decade, the region retains a large amount of well-known and boutique advisory firms. Shon Anderson, president of Anderson Investment Strategies, believes the Miami Valley is primed and ready for financial growth.
Shon Anderson is president at Anderson Financial Strategies and is president of the Dayton Chapter of the CFA Society. What is your approach to investment management? Do you prefer a particular investing style? Do you prefer particular investment vehicles? The type of management we employ here is Outsourced Chief Investment Officer.
Shannon Cox has her hands full in year one of a new position. Cox is superintendent of the Montgomery County Educational Service Center (MCESC). The MCESC supports school districts, teachers and students through collaborative efforts to strengthen the educational system. Cox has been with the county educational center for over a decade.
Like other educators around the state, Matthew Sableski is learning to adapt in a world changed by a global pandemic and stay-at-home orders. Sableski is principal of Carroll High School, a large, private Catholic institution in Dayton. Sableski is a 1991 graduate of the school. Carroll has over 700 students.
For Sarah Williams, a background in nonprofit work is the perfect base for a new position as community engagement specialist for Huber Heights. "I am just thrilled to be in this position," Williams said. "I certainly look forward to engaging and immersing myself more into the community and being a partner in making sure that we have an awesome city moving forward.
For Sheila Rush, CEO of Miamisburg-based home health agency Nurses Care Inc., leaning on faith means good business. "I don't believe without the Lord, any of this would have been possible," Rush said. "I believe it was His plan from the beginning for this agency ...
Spring is one of the most significant times of the year on the Christian calendar. Palm Sunday, Easter and first communions are high points - and families gather to worship and celebrate together. The Covid-19 pandemic changed that for 2020.
Are you dreaming of a new master bathroom? Your focus should be on the shower, says Danny McGeady, owner of JEM Designs in Beavercreek. "It's all about high performance showers: big showers, two shower heads, body sprays. We see that more than we do the big tubs," he said.
Affordable housing is an issue facing cities across the country. Most news stories highlight homelessness in places like San Francisco and Seattle, but the problem persists much closer to home. The Family Abuse Shelter of Miami County in Troy is in the middle of an expansion to meet the growing need of those in crisis.
Career technical education is booming in Ohio. That is especially true for the Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC) in Englewood. MVCTC serves 27 area partner high schools from the region, with 40 career technical programs available to juniors and seniors. Some of those programs include health occupations, hospitality services, cosmetology and digital design.
Progress continues on the planned transformation of the Zollinger Company building in downtown Piqua. The Wayne Street building features 40,000 gross square feet. The former grocery warehouse will soon become a mixed-use space featuring apartments, a farmer's market, public garden and co-working offices. The Zollinger building was constructed between 1914-1915.
The city of Kettering is currently in the midst of replacing the Schantz Avenue and Ridgeway Road bridges. These projects will also include large public art installations. "There is a strong legacy in thinking of how we use our public space and responsibility to transform our public space into something beyond a standard concrete wall," said Shayna McConville, division manager for cultural arts for the city of Kettering.
Kettering-Fairmont High School is literally building up business these days. Crews from Shook Touchstone are hard at work on a 25,000-square-foot expansion to the Career Technology Center on the Fairmont campus. This expansion will allow for not only more classroom space but also the addition of more career preparatory programs. The expansion comes after passage of a permanent 5.99-mill tax levy during November 2018.
Speed matters when it comes to emergency medicine. In early 2019, Premier Health launched a pilot program with EMS agencies in southwest Ohio. The pilot aims to relay patient information more quickly between hospitals and first responders. Tipp City Fire and EMS was one of the first agencies to sign on the pilot, with promising results.
Despite recent market swings and analyst rumblings about a possible recession looming in the months ahead, the local economy remains strong. In addition to robust hiring in the region, individuals are freely spending on entertainment and experiences. This has helped fuel a boom in Springfield's downtown artist community.
With Ohio unemployment hovering at just over 4%, employers are jockeying for talented workers. Often, employees are already on payroll that might need a little education or skills refresher. The Miami Valley is fortunate to have so many collegiate workforce development programs available.
Huber Heights is experiencing a manufacturing renaissance fostering growth in the sector thanks to positive business practices that City Manager Rob Schommer says helps "cut through the bureaucracy." PVS Plastics Technology Corp. makes electric motors and ventilation units. The company is headquartered in Germany, and its Huber Heights plant was always meant to be small.
Soon the city of West Carrollton will be home to a $4.5 million dollar indoor/outdoor volleyball complex. "As a city, we want to make ourselves more attractive and create development that makes us a destination location," said Mike Lucking, the city's economic development director.
Pet owners in the northern Miami Valley are likely very familiar with the North Main Animal Clinic and Clayton Animal Hospital. The practice opened over 60 years ago. The clinics represent a vibrant, growing business with four veterinarians caring for all different types of animals. Drs.
Construction continues on the new facility that will house the expanded Greene County Career Center (GCCC). A successful levy in November provided the needed funds for the project to move forward. The new facility will sit at 769 U.S. Route 68 in Xenia, eight miles away from the career center's current location on West Enon Road.
The Xenia Community Schools Foundation assists students with money for special programs and academics. Each year, the foundation awards $25,000 in grant dollars to a variety or programs, touching students from grades kindergarten through 12.
For distance runners, there is no race more important than the Boston Marathon. Known simply as "Boston," the race is the oldest annual marathon in the world. The event is always held the third Monday of April. For many non-elite runners, qualifying for Boston is a life-changing, bucket list item.
Phil Parker is president and CEO of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce. The chamber this year will move its offices deeper into the downtown Dayton core with plans to invest $250,000 to renovate the current Business Furniture space when that company relocates. What pockets of Dayton are seeing the most new business?
The city of Centerville continues to bet and win on golf. Officials just allocated nearly $1 million in improvements for the 27-hole municipal course and clubhouse to help retain members and attract new, younger golfers. "Golf, for some reason, has been trying to dumb things down over the years," said Yankee Trace PGA Head Professional Steve Marino.
A new year means a lot of political change in the nation's capital. There also is change coming closer to home. Starting this year, Beavercreek residents will cast ballots directly for the position of mayor. In prior years, the city council member with the most votes would become mayor for a two-year term.
The Modern College of Design, previously known as School of Advertising Art, is enjoying robust growth in Kettering. "I am a businesswoman who loves helping artists find a way to have a successful career and use their talents," said Jessica Barry, president and owner of The Modern.
Gone are the days of all students reporting to the same high school for the same classes, day after day. There are more educational choices than ever - from traditional classroom learning, to online high schools and the continued rise in popularity of homeschooling. Career tech education has changed too.
Piqua-based Harmony Systems & Service is riding a wave of business success right now. The plastic injection mold manufacturer is enjoying robust growth and testing innovative solutions to fill open positions. Harmony has about 130 full-time employees and the organization runs on a temp-to-hire model.
Long-time Kettering City Manager Mark Schwieterman says during a period of growth for the city, business retention and the attracting of new companies remains a priority. "The biggest thing for us is to make sure (business owners) know where we are and then work with them at the speed of business so that we're able to help them with situations they have," Schwieterman said.
In a time of record low unemployment, area businesses are fighting to recruit and retain top talent. For Corner Kitchen in the Oregon District, making dinner is a family affair, with little staff turnover and a tight knit group of employees. "Eighty percent of our staff has been with us since we opened.
A Bellbrook floral shop is a finalist for woman-owned business at the 2018 Business of the Year Awards. "It's an amazing opportunity to impact our local community as women," said Cady Vance, owner and founder of Floral V Designs in Bellbrook. "As women, I think we need to put ourselves out there and show how strong we are.
Health Journalism
What Happened: Iconic art supply company Crayola is known for education staples like crayons, markers and sidewalk chalk. With back-to-school just weeks away and cases of COVID-19 spiking in many parts of America, Crayola is getting into the mask business, offering colorful options for kids and adults alike.
What to know: Representation matters. For people with anxiety and chronic illnesses, lacking language skills or not understanding how to discuss emotions can be a barrier to care. Enter "Guts," a 2019 graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier. Through "Guts," Telgemeier tells the story of chronic illness and mental health in a way that children can understand.
What to know: Colombian Reggaeton superstar J Balvin is opening up about his struggles with anxiety and depression. Penning a personal essay, Balvin explained how working with doctors, taking medication and regular meditation has improved his mental health, along with how meditation has become his go-to coping skill.
What Happened: Children with developmental disabilities are more than twice as likely as other kids to have asthma, according to a new study from public health researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and published in JAMA Network Open. About 16% of children with a disability have asthma.
Arts Journalism
Boy George: Still stylin' after all these years. "It's very exciting for us to get a date out there for new music. It's been a few years, making this record. It's finally coming out," George Alan O'Dowd tells The Dayton City Paper. You might know him better as Boy George, the glittery frontman of Culture Club.
Lily Tomlin brings Ernestine, Edith Ann, and many of her other beloved characters to the Taft. Photo: Greg Gorman. When comedic legend Lily Tomlin comes to Cincinnati this week, it will be for a good cause. Tomlin, currently starring in the Netflix smash Grace and Frankie, will bring a night of classic stand-up to the Taft Theatre.
Daltrey's on-stage energy and charisma still wins over audiences, as much as during the early days of The Who. By Allyson B. Crawford Roger Daltrey has nothing left to prove. He's a bona fide living legend: lead singer and founder of The Who, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Kennedy Center Honors recipient, among many other awards and accolades.
"I have to tell jokes and keep people laughing... when you sing all those sad songs you have to!" singer Judy Collins tells the Dayton City Paper. Picking up where they left off, folk heroes Judy Collins and Stephen Stills are touring America together this summer.
The Victoria Theatre Association (VTA) is helping the musical dreams of a select group of women come true. Earlier this year, the VTA held auditions for an intensive singer-songwriter boot camp.
David Sedaris' dark humor illuminated at Springfield's Kuss Auditorium The cracked lenses aren't in David Sedaris' spectacles... By Allyson B. Crawford We are living through a world of tension. Each day, we all step over political landmines, trying not to destroy what's left of our friendships and family rel
Intimate Dayton Playhouse production is suitably lean and mean Col. Nathan Jessep (B. Lee Drew) swears to tell the truth. (Bailiff played by Ron Maurer) By Allyson B. Crawford | Photos By Art Fabian "What I love about community theatre is that it is local," explains Dayton theatre regular Jennifer Lockwood.
Valerie Reaper will be running a singer-songwriter boot camp for Dayton-area women who rock By Alyson Crawford Calling all budding female singer-songwriters! The Victoria Theatre Association (VTA) wants to help foster female musical talent in the Miami Valley. The VTA is holding auditions to find up to 20 exceptional women to foster in an intensive singer-songwriter boot camp.
Photo: Kinky Boots struts into the Schuster Center May 23-28; photo: Matthew Murphy By Allyson B. Crawford When someone says "Broadway," Cyndi Lauper isn't necessarily a name you think of. But maybe it should be. Lauper, the '80s hit-maker, along with Harvey Fierstein, created Kinky Boots, a musical theatre production based on the 2005 British film of the same name.
Music Journalism
Billy Bob "Bud" Thornton, Teddy Andreadis, and J.D. Andrew (l-r). Photo: Rob Fenn. "accidental" actor, Billy Bob Thornton is enjoying the fruits of small and large screen success. As a kid, he wanted to be a musician. In his younger days, Thornton spent time working as a roadie and assisted acts like the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Johnny Paycheck.
Bret Michaels. Photo: Mark Mazzanti. Bret Michaels is everywhere these days. He's the face of Life Rocks, a foundation that raises money for diabetes (Bret was diagnosed as a child). He had a product line with PetSmart called Pets Rock. He's done reality TV (and won Celebrity Apprentice).
George Clinton and P-Funk are known for colorful and outlandish stage presence. "If some people don't like funk music then it's just the wrong time for them. They will get it. It's addictive," George Clinton recently told The Guardian. "That's why they call it dope. It gets you.
The Story Changes at Jimmie's The Story Changes (L-R) Mark McMillon, Christopher Popadak, and Chris Serafini By Allyson B. Crawford "I fly the Dayton flag all over the world every time I do an interview!" The Story Changes singer and guitarist Mark McMillon tells the Dayton City Paper.
As hype man or behind the kit, Rico Lewis lives for fun(k) "Funk is freedom!" Sons of F.U.N.K. bandleader and hype-man Rico Lewis tells the Dayton City Paper. Lewis sat behind the drum kit with George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic for 15 years. He's also the current drummer for Freekbass & The Bump Assembly.
Warrant wants YOU! (L-R) Joey Allen, Jerry Dixon, Robert Mason, Erik Turner, and Steve Sweet might be surprised to learn that Warrant released an acclaimed new album in May of 2017. For folks that equate Warrant with late '80s hits like "Cherry Pie" and "Heaven," the modern Warrant is still rocking, with an updated sound and touring on the back of A lot of people Louder Harder Faster.
Havok's (L-R) Pete Webber, Nick Schendzielos, David Sanchez, and Reece Scruggs By Allyson B. Crawford The third time will be the charm for Colorado based thrash metallers Havok. The quartet will play Dayton's Rockstar Pro Arena (1106 E. Third St., Dayton) on Thursday, February 1.
Mary Chapin Carpenter; photo: Aaron Farrington By Allyson Crawford Mary Chapin Carpenter is a different kind of songstress. She's not so much straight country anymore but more so evolved in to her own lane. She's a storyteller first and has a knack for creating melodies that highlight the ebb and flow of each tune she creates.
(L-R) B.B. Borden, Rick Willis, Doug Gray, Marcus James Henderson, Tony Black, Chris Hicks; photo: Marshall Tucker Band By Allyson B. Crawford "We're nothing special, we're just a bunch of guys that get together and make people smile and have a good time," Doug Gray tells the Dayton City Paper.
Ethicist's (l-r) Michael Wojtkiewicz, Chad Snowden, Johnny Finger, and Scott Stevens; photo: Adam Weeden By Allyson B. Crawford When you think of post-black metal, what comes to mind? Norwegians in corpse paint? What about Midwesterners with beards and day jobs? For Cincinnati-based band Ethicist, it's definitely the latter.
By Allyson B. Crawford Photo: Flaw's (l-r) Dan Johnson, Tommy Gibbons, Chris Volz, and Jay Daunt perform May 13 at Oddbody's; photo: Jonathon Walters The music industry is often a cruel mistress. It's always been hard to break into the business, a fact that is truer today than it ever was.
By Allyson B. Crawford Photo: Rachel Wooding performs The Music of Queen in 2012, back to the Schuster Center by popular demand April 29 For conductor Richard Sidwell, Queen wasn't a favorite band or even one that was on his radar.
Dayton City Paper offers news of challenges to prevailing notions, investigations of local institutions. Our entertainment pages are filled with Dayton concerts
By Allyson B. Crawford Photo: Greasy Mike (left) and Trashcan of Lima's Pizza Hi Five will deliver their 'grooviest mincing goregrind' this weeken Fans of local music know Dayton has a proud metal scene. Multi-day music festivals are hardly new. Splitting fests between two cities and 75 miles is certainly less common and definitely edgy.
By Allyson B. Crawford Photo: Gabby Riches from Leeds Beckett University in England examines women's participation in extreme metal as a form of feminism Oct. 22 "The metal research community is very welcoming," explains Bryan Bardine, Ph.D, and associate professor of English at the University of Dayton.
By Allyson B. Crawford photo: (l-r) Share Ross, Janet Gardner, Roxy Petrucci, and Gina Stile of Vixen hit BMI Speedway not a minute too soon Sept. 4 Vixen may or may not be a household name depending on your music worldview.
By Allyson B. Crawford Photo: Saxon will perform on Sept. 19 at Oddbody's Music Room "We are a live band... no click tracks running with Saxon so I suppose [the stage] is where we like to be!" says Biff Byford, Saxon frontman, of his band's current North American tour.
By Allyson B. Crawford Whitesnake, the iconic band fronted by British singer David Coverdale, will once again roll through the Miami Valley, stopping for a gig at Rose Music Center in Huber Heights on Wednesday, June 15. The band played Rose last year during its Purple tour.
By Allyson Crawford There's a lot of chaos in the world around us, from terrorist attacks to deadly mass shootings to an increasingly divided political scene. Sometimes, something as simple as a shared bond over a favorite song or band can build a bridge between different groups of people.
In 2009, Billboard magazine named Nickelback in the top ten 'artists of the decade.' It's true, Nickelback has had a dizzying amount of success since their self-released debut 'Curb' back in 1996. (Roadrunner rereleased 'Curb' in 2002). Since that release, the band has moved something like 30 million records off store shelves.
"When you're in a band and it's your passion, you've got to be careful about your catalog," says Velvet Revolver bassist and financial guru Duff McKagan. "When you license a song to a movie or T.V. show, you've gotta make sure that it's something that adds more validity to the song and not take away from it."
While it might be difficult to classify Asking Alexandria as any particular type of band, one thing is for sure: guitarist Ben Bruce understands his scene - and he doesn't like it. "I hate our scene. Not the fans, but the bands - they are so f-king fickle," Bruce tells Noisecreep.
When the new Rob Zombie flick Lords of Salem hits debuts April 19, theater-goers will get more than just a historic-horror flick. They'll also enjoy a soundtrack carefully crafted by guitarist John 5 and Griffin Boyce. The soundtrack marks the first time John 5 has scored an entire film.
Warrant, the '80s band best known for its mega-hit 'Cherry Pie,' is back with a new record. Dubbed 'Rockaholic,' the album features new vocalist Robert Mason and is due out May 17th. "Robert has never received the notoriety he deserved and I don't think this band has received it [either]," Warrant bassist Jerry Dixon recently told Noisecreep.
Raul Rincon When Canadian-based journalist Laina Dawes' first book, What Are You Doing Here? A Black Woman's Life and Liberation in Heavy Metal , was published by Bazillion Points earlier this year, the curtain was raised on gender and race in metal.
By Allyson B Crawford "Being on the road can be creatively prohibitive," Havok rhythm guitarist and vocalist David Sanchez tells the Dayton City Paper. "There are a lot of other things to do. We don't have techs, so we do everything ourselves, and that means we don't have tons of down time.
By Allyson Crawford Photo: Swarm will perform on June 14 at Canal Public House "We jump around and have a good time, but we're definitely serious about the music we're playing," Scott Bodine of Swarm told Dayton City Paper. "It's a good live show and we sound just like the record."
By Allyson B. Crawford Photo: '80s glam metal mainstays L.A. Guns will perform at McGuffy's House of Rock on Friday, Aug. 2 For diehard fans of '80s metal, the story of L.A. Guns is both complicated and frustrating. Strong album releases, popular videos on MTV and the big hair craze of the late '80s helped L.A.
By Allyson B. Crawford For singer and bassist Oskar "Ozo" Cedermalm, Blind Bob's is the definition of a perfect rock venue. "It's always a lot of people, great atmosphere and great people who work at the club, superb sound tech and sound system. Hey, even the food is great.
Feature Articles
By Allyson B. Crawford Photo: An aerial view of Waynesville's North Main Street, where hundreds of thousands check out wares and fare at the annual Sauerkraut Festival Fall is festival season in Ohio, and the Dayton area is lucky to host many of its fests.
By Allyson B. Crawford Photo: Keynote speaker Josh Bernstein will present on the business of heavy metal; photo: Rob Fenn Studying heavy metal as an academic pursuit isn't new. The interdisciplinary study has gained popularity in recent years, first in European countries and now in America.
Photo: Children of all ages enjoy the human powered rides like the Sea Dragon at the Ohio Renaissance Festival; photo: Will Thorpe Don't be the village idiot! Get thee to the Ohio Renaissance Festival! The Renaissance, known broadly as a period of great enlightenment, occurred between the 14th and 17th centuries.