This Saturday’s album release party in the Southgate House’s Parlour for local band Alone at 3am’s new Cut Your Gills (read Brian Baker's interview with the band about the album here) will also mark the debut of a new project called R. Ring, a collaboration between local singer/songwriter/guitarist/engineer Mike Montgomery and Dayton’s Kelley Deal, singer/guitarist for The Breeders (alongside her twin sis/Pixies bassist Kim).—-
The Dayton/Cincinnati musical synergy was a big part of the project’s casual inception. Montgomery — member of longtime local Indie faves Thistle and Ampline and a well-respected producer and engineer — met Deal through Cincinnati’s Buffalo Killers, who had brought the Breeder along to sing on a cover of Guided By Voices “Scalding Creek.” The band was recording with Montgomery at his Candyland Recording Studio for a tribute album in honor of the Dayton Indie Rock legends. Deal returned to work up her contributions later (she’s also doing some vocals on the Buffalo Killers’ new album, also recorded at Candyland) and during one session Montgomery mentioned that he’d been asked to open for Alone at 3am at the group’s release party, but was anxious about playing solo. Deal said she’d be interested in lending a hand — both had a bunch of songs they’d been working on that they felt would work.
While R. Ring, as they’re calling themselves, was originally formed to fulfill a gig obligation, Montgomery says he and Deal plan to continue working on music together “as long as it interests us.”
R. Ring is just the latest addition to the full plate of projects Montgomery has been busy with lately. Besides the touring, writing and recording with his bands and doing live sound, Montgomery’s recording studio has taken up a lot of time and not just because of the steady stream of clients and recording projects. For the past year, Montgomery has been working on a building in Dayton, Ky., turning it into a recording studio/teaching facility/living quarters complex. The front of the building is completed and houses The Players’ Collective, which offers music lessons on guitar, bass, drums and piano by a staff of veteran local musicians. The apartment was also finished and will fulfill Montgomery’s longtime ambition be able to live amongst his creative endeavors.
“I’m moving because I’ve always wanted a space that I could do anything I wanted in: music, art, skateboard ramps, practice room, etc.,” Montgomery says. “Plus it’s always a nervous thing when you’re renting, you never know when an owner’s gonna change their mind or sell the building or something. I love my current spot (in the Avondale/Walnut Hills area), but this move will be better long term.”
Montgomery is now working on the studio construction and thinks he has another year of work until Candyland is ready to open for business in its new spot. For more on the studio, check out the the studios Web site here.
