A new sound comes to Avalon

LIMA — They are not a group that has ever played Lima before. And when The Dukes are Dead perform here tonight, they'll bring to the Avalon Bar just what co-owner Pepper Allen wants to see.

“We try to get bands that have never played here before. We want to expose people to different kinds of music,” Allen said. While tonight's groups count their strength as nitty-gritty rock and roll, the Avalon has recently hosted a variety of musical genres, including punk.

“We take our music very seriously. Our bar is small, so everyone is right there with the band. It's very personal,” Allen said.

But while the band is new to Lima, the reverse can also be said, that Lima is new to the Cincinnati-based band. And Randy Proctor of The Dukes are Dead said the group is hoping this foray from home is the start of a tri-state tour they would like to take as they grow in popularity.

“This is one of our first times outside Cincinnati, and we're hoping this launches us. We want to bring new energy to a city we've never been before. Maybe bring something new and shocking musically,” he said.

The Dukes of Dead will perform music from the four-plus album's worth of material they've written.

“We like the sinister joy of our sound. The underlying dark feeling makes you feel comfortable and uncomfortable all at the same time,” Proctor said.

Performing with The Dukes are Dead is another Cincinnati-area band, New Strange, and the Lima locals, Storm Kills 4.