For almost twenty years now, Tim Anderl has written some of the most compelling stories and informative interviews for several outlets. He has been in contact with artists/bands that span all over the world. From cutting his teeth in the business as an intern at Alternative Press magazine to now being frequently featured in publications like Ghettoblaster Magazine and New Noise Magazine-Anderl has spent a large portion of his life involved in the world of music. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone then when you are made aware that Anderl is also in a band-right here in the heart of Dayton, Ohio. The band is called Arms Race. This past fall, the foursome released their debut EP (and one of the best releases in 2014) Brought a Hug to a Gunfight.
The other members of Arms Race; bassist Cole Bohanon, drummer Justin Satinover, guitarist Kris Neises began the work on music together back in 2013 with another guitarist at the time, Seth Ratliff. The lineup consists of members from other local bands such as The Black Hearts of Men, Kris N, Giant Defiant and The 1984 Draft. Satinover’s basement became the setting to where most of the music started to be written. As soon as some demos were recorded, Satinover presented them to his 1984 Draft band mate Joe Anderl, who is also Tim’s brother. Satinover’s intention was to optimistically recruit him to come onboard and sing lead vocals. Unfortunately due to timing not being ideal to join at that time, Joe respectfully declined the offer. He did listen to the demos though and immediately knew who should be contacted-Tim.
“I get this email from Kris saying that him and some buddies of his were playing in this band and were wondering if it would be something I would be interested in,” Anderl explained during a recent sit down.
It wasn’t going to be the first time Tim was possibly going to be involved in a band. In college, Anderl performed in another 90s-era emo band titled Low Pan. The 5-piece set went on a 10 day tour at one point and also played all over Ohio. When Anderl graduated from Ohio University, Low Pan parted ways. After spending some time in Cleveland working and returning back to Dayton, Anderl performed in a few other bands that lasted briefly.
When Anderl started listening to the instrumental demos, the sound coming out echoed the classic definitive sound that the 90s emo scene provided. The songs reminded him of the days when while he was growing up in Beavercreek as he would attend D.I.Y. basement/hall shows around the surrounding area. Memories of listening to bands like Texas Is The Reason and Braid began to resurface when the demos rolled on. It has been ten years since he last performed in a band. However-Anderl was hooked and agreed to join. Shortly after Anderl integrating himself within Arms Race and they began playing a little, Ratliff exited from being in the band due to becoming busier in another band was in and also getting married. With Ratliff’s departure, Arms Race made the decision to keep things were they were.
In July 2014, Arms Race went to work on recording Brought a Hug to a Gunfight at Popside Recordings Studio in Troy with ex-Hawthorne Heights’ guitarist Micah Carli. While recording, Carli stepped in a little to play some guitar to add some layers. The end result is an EP that influences include mid-90s alt-rock, grunge and emo. With Neises recording Thankful Parade with his other band Kris N in 2013, along with Joe Anderl and Satinover’s The 1984 Draft recording the EP Bo Jackson Up The Middle in 2014, the choice to work with Carli was a simple decision.
“He’s so easy to work with and was just a nice person,” Anderl said. “He also has such amazing equipment.”
Among Columbus and Dayton already under their belts, Arms Race plan to play more shows hopefully in 2015. An LP being recorded with Carli has also been discussed, but for now Arms Race plans on staying focused on writing new songs and having their performances stay as strong as possible. If Arms Race were to never have gone to the studio, play live, or simply do anything but just jam with really no intention of doing anything-Anderl would have been okay with that also.
“It felt like the kind of band that could be really fun to practice with and never play a show live,” Anderl says. “Once we graduated to actually doing things in public-that was icing on the cake.”
Arms Race will perform during the APUNKolypse Now! event on Saturday, April 4 at Canal Public House, 308 E. First St. The Loveless, Kill City, Red Hot Rebellion, Bribing Senators, Movehome and Daymare are also on the bill. Show begins at 7 p.m.
For more information and to hear the band’s EP, Brought a Hug to a Gunfight, visit soundcloud.com/arms-race-dayton-ohio.
