Dayton music fest is back, bigger and better than ever

Anyone who’s ever tried to organize a music festival knows Murphy’s Law inside and out. Nearly a decade ago, Dayton musician Joe Anderl, picking up where the Much More Than Music Festival of the '90s left off, organized his Not Much More Than Awesome Festival. It was a one-shot deal — or so many would have thought.

Several months ago, Anderl decided to revisit his concept, bringing bands with punk and hardcore leanings back to town in the form of the Not Much More Than Awesome Again Festival.

He’s found the process much more of a relief than a hassle, using his contacts and old friendships to bring a harder-edged indie sound back to the area for a two-day, 13-band bill, at Yellow Cab Tavern in the Oregon District this weekend.

“The average age of the band members is a lot higher (than the first festival). It’s been fun. In dealing with more seasoned musicians, it becomes a lot easier,” Anderl said.

“People are real honest real quick.”The festival is a showcase of both local and regional bands who’s sounds are reminiscent of the Dischord Records-era groups that became far more influential than they ever were commercially viable. Anderl has put together an eclectic mix of bands for this edition.

“From the local side, I tried to make it a little bit different with who I booked with whom,” Anderl said. “Dayton is a finite community when it comes to indie rock. So I was trying to change it up in the mixture of who we play with.”

The very thought of bands like Haymarket Riot (Illinois), Kill Surf City (Indiana) and Yard Boss (Michigan) mixing with more experimental groups like Primitives (Columbus) and XL427 (Dayton) conjures up memories of punk and art-rock shows at Dayton's long-departed, but fondly-remembered (mostly) Brookwood Hall.

“It’s a little bit of a different flare to indie rock, especially from the out-of-town side. We wanted bands that have little bit more throwback to the mid -90s hardcore and punk scene — a bit more angularly aggressive — which I don’t think this town gets a lot of,” said Anderl.

Anderl’s choice of venue also brings back that Brookwood Hall feeling — only much better in every way.

“Yellow Cab is pretty much the closest we have to something (like Brookwood Hall), where it’s run in an old-school punk aesthetic, if you will. They’re real open to creative ideas (and) different things. The space is just friendly to booking an event. It still has that same sort of feel,” he said.

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Anderl's band, The 1984 Draft, will close out both nights with two entirely different sets. You can find a complete listing of bands and performance times here.

“Mid-level to higher level indie bands — I think they’ll find, when they come to Dayton, it’s a really appreciative music scene and they’ll want to come back,” Anderl added.

WANT TO GO?

What: Not Much More Than Awesome Again Festival

Where: Yellow Cab Tavern, 700 E. 4th St., Dayton

When: March 3-4

Cost: $5 (Friday), $7 (Saturday)

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