Bands Inspire Each Other and Breathe Life into Music Scene
By Isaac Mell
In the nineties era of the Kent State music scene, several bandmates considered their record-releasing options. From their couch’s perch, they asked themselves: Why sign with a pre-existing label when you could create your own? Their budding assembly of songwriters would change the face of Cleveland music—and continues to do so today.
This close-knit group of bands, musicians and artists call themselves The Davenport Collective “because that’s where most people (especially us) find ourselves listening to and talking about music,” writes Mike Cormier, leader of The Volta Sound and co-runner of their studios with Ben Gmetro of The Dreadful Yawns.
“From the beginning, we always have done things ourselves,” Cormier writes, “and our numbers allow us to keep loads of great bands and artists going. It’s what allows bands like The Dreadful Yawns, Afternoon Naps, Herzog, Cloud Nothings, Village Bicycle, Voxcaster, The Volta Sound and Megachurch to thrive. Musicians fade in and out of bands as needed, when needed.”
In 1997 The Davenport Collective laid down roots in Lakewood, constructing two studios themselves. The spot has served as a place to practice, record, workshop and savor music.
Mara Robinson, photojournalist and member of Voxcaster, has seen the collective evolve since those first years in Kent.
Robinson writes, “Davenporters strive for excellence. The collective gives us space to work, freedom to explore the avenues we choose, and friends who support us along the way. It’s an environment where great musicians can make great songs.”
One benefit of The Davenport Collective is that there will always be someone listening, someone who can then lend a hand.
“Anytime an artist needs something,” Robinson writes, “the collective has people who help achieve it. Whether it’s album production or engineering, session musicians or bandmates, press or promotional materials, tour booking or management, the collective makes it happen.”
Recently the collective has added stencil artist Eric Alleman (aka Stencil Everything), whose spray-painted pop icons piqued the interest of band members. He now designs their t-shirts, album artwork and handcrafted band merchandise.
“There’s no hierarchy to it or anything,” Cormier writes. “We talk a lot with our blocks of wood and taut metal strings. It just depends on who starts the conversation and who’s listening at the time.”
Originally from Columbus, Cormier considers Cleveland to be an easy incubator and catalyst.
He writes, “It doesn’t take much to get something going around here. An idea, a little excitement and hey, presto! You’ve got a thing going! We just want to keep building something big in Cleveland and then keep it right here. We’d like to be part of the representation for Cleveland. When someone wants something good, we’d like it if they said, ‘Go to Cleveland.’”
The reputation of Cleveland and the collective extends beyond the United States. After warning Facebook followers of The Volta Sound about spam that hackers had sent from his account, Cormier received an unexpected, exuberant, semi-English response from a Ukrainian named Zoryan. The two musicians struck up a fast friendship and ended up trading songs.
The Davenport Collective bands play regularly at the Beachland Ballroom, the Happy Dog and the Grog Shop. The Village Bicycle had a CD release party on May 11 at Happy Dog. Voxcaster will have theirs at Happy Dog on June 29. Bands will be playing showcases this summer at Open Air in Market Square, on the corner of 25th and Lorain by Westside Market.
In addition to their personal labels of Van Gogh Round Records and Tolmie Terrapin Press, members of The Davenport Collective have signed with The Committee To Keep Music Evil (Los Angeles/Berlin), Happy Happy Birthday To Me (Atlanta), Bomp! Records (Los Angeles) and Exit Stencil (New York).
For a sense of scope, here are past and present groups associated with The Davenport Collective:
Herzog, Expecting Rain, Remember, The Dreadful Yawns, The New Lou Reeds, Mike St. Jude & The Valentines, The Artificial Sweeteners, Volcano Fortress, Good Touch Bad Touch, Aluminum Anemone, The Volta Sound, 9-Volt Haunted House, The Phoebe Cates, The Las Vegas Tumbleweed Connection, Sun Spots, The Village Bicycle, Afternoon Naps, Shiny Penny, Megachurch, Spacer Ace, The Mole People, Cloud Nothings, The Hot Rails, Eric Alleman/Stencil Everything, Voxcaster, Afternoon Naps, The Guile, Saint Francis Arms, Unsparing Sea, New Planet Trampoline, Rubella, Nameless, Extra Medium Pony…
Like a friendly amoeba, The Davenport Collective keeps expanding and evolving, grooving in the petri dish of Cleveland, fed by the fuel that is music.
To keep up with shows and releases happening this summer and beyond, “like” The Davenport Collective Facebook page. [Photos by Mara Robinson.]
Isaac Mell grew up in South Euclid, OH and attended American Jewish University in Los Angeles. He welcomes conversations with potential employers, collaborators and friends.