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After 14 years of existance, it's amazing that some music fans in the state of Ohio are still in the dark about the Unknown. The Cleveland foursome just released their fifth full-length effort, RADIO LIED TO ME, and are ready to head back to Europe, where they just did some dates earlier this year.
OhioOnline correspondent Peanuts traded some thoughts with Cleveland lead vocalist Ken Blaze in an effort to take the mask off the band's obscurity in some parts of the state.
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| OO: |
What started you on the road to becoming a lead vocalist? |
| KB: |
"My high school drama teacher and Greg Dulli from the Afghan Whigs out of Cincinnati. Singing with the glee club got me started in performing, but Greg Dulli really showed me what I could do as a signer when I attended Miami University in Oxford. I was in two different bands in college, Easter Island and Picasso Shag." |
| OO: |
Tell me a little about your vocal style. |
| KB: |
"Well, I inhale deeply and hold the air in my lungs and use my diaphragm to push the wind through my vocal chords hoping to make some sort of musical noise to go with the stuff the other 3 guys are playing." |
| OO: |
Off to a good start. What got you interested in music? |
| KB: |
"My best friend in grade school got me listening to all kinds of off-kilter punk stuff that wasn't on the radio. Being a kid, all I knew was what the radio dictated. And, when I found out that there was something I could actually relate to, I was blown away. I'm very happy someone pointed me in the right direction." |
| OO: |
Are you a Cleveland native? |
| KB: |
"I've lived all over Cuyahoga County, but am from Cleveland. I graduated from Kent State University in 1995." |
| OO: |
What national artists have influenced your songwriting? |
| KB: |
"I use to say 80's punk like the Descendents, ALL, Agent Orange and Dag Nasty. But, nowadays, I find people like Elvis Costello and Juliana Hatfield creeping into my music." |
| OO: |
With that in mind, describe The Unknown's music.
"Sugary sweet pop-punk to the Nth degree." |
| OO: |
How about national acts in concerts? Any good matches? |
| KB: |
"We have played with ALL, Agent Orange, Down by Law, Descendents, Suicide Machines to name a few. All of them are pretty similar and we matched up well." |
| OO: |
Anyone from Ohio you've split bills with that impressed you? |
| KB: |
"We have done many a show with Ohio bands. We have played 20 or so shows with ROD (now the Story Changes) and bands like Change. Sidecar, Fun Machine and the Scrubs. All are awesome." |
| OO: |
RADIO LIED TO ME is your fifth one?
"Right. The first one came out 1993 and we have done a ton of singles and compilations since then , too. This is our twelfth release in all."
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| OO: |
Where did you cut the music?
"We recorded the new one at Closer Look studios in Cleveland with producer Tommy Rich. This was a fantastic situation for us. Tommy is a great producer with a great ear. Very Comfortable." |
| OO: |
Favorite Ohio venue to play? |
| KB: |
"The old Speak in Tongues on Cleveland's west side. RIP, since it is no longer open." |
| OO: |
Long term band plans? |
| KB: |
"Whenever someone asks this question, I answer it the same: we just hope to keep writing and putting out more music and go on tour and see the world. You only live once." |
| OO: |
Any final thoughts to throw in? |
| KB: |
"Yeah, a lot of times people say stuff like 'oh, I've seen those guys a million times before.' They don't realize that we are an evolving band that has different people and sounds all the time. Come on out and check us out. You are probably missing out." |
