Written by Alisa Manna
In 2011, New Castle’s Fillmore Jive vanished and The Modulated Tones appeared with psychedelic sounds and a need for distortion.
Drummer Gina Kanter and vocalist-guitarist Kevin Braun saw more potential as two-piece act and decided a reformation, as well as a change of name, was necessary.
“We started with a bassist,” Kanter said, “but we kicked her out, changed the name and wrote new material.”
Kanter and Braun have played together since high school. The two members’ musical influences include The Velvet Underground, Spacemen 3 and the Warlocks. Braun also mentioned more avant-garde stimulants like environmental noises, driving in a car, city sounds and drones.
The Modulated Tones have a natural way of making minimalist music. The two members are interested in unstructured sounds and strive to make the most out of very little.
“There’s a lot of sound coming from just a two-piece,” the drummer said.
Nothing the band does is forced. It is inspired by their moods. Braun explained they cycle through certain types of bands depending on whether or not they connect on a different level.
“We go through phases with music,” Braun said. “We look for bands that share the same vibe or atmosphere.”
Kanter previously played in a few random bands, but said nothing ever kept her attention.
“I prefer listening to music over making it,” the drummer said. Braun disagreed, adding, “I don’t know, I prefer making it.”
Though the singer never played music before meeting Kanter, aside from the clarinet in high school, he always loved music.
Braun is the primary songwriter, which allows him to write about things he considers important.
“Like songs of great joy or happiness, riding a high or darker and more uncomfortable things,” he said.
The singer wants to get the listeners’ attention even it if it doesn’t make sense. He wants to make people think.
“It’s mind expansion through music,” Kanter said.
The Modulated Tones try to be intense, but the members aren’t sure if it is apparent to their audience. Their intentions: to put the listeners in a trance with a drone-induced, psychedelic frenzy.
“Either people leave or love it,” the members said.
And those who stay are usually confused.
“People think it’s weird, but we think it’s completely normal,” Braun said. “Maybe that’s because we’re weird.”
What’s great about The Modulated Tones is that there isn’t a gimmick. What the audience hears and sees on stage is The Modulated Tones.
“We are our live show,” Kanter said. “That is our band.”
The band hopes to eventually tour, but for now plans to make good records and avoid all day jobs. The members also want to share the wealth by encouraging the band’s listeners to expand their mind and even check out other acts, like The Vacant Lots.
Though The Modulated Tones mentioned a few ways they differ from other local bands in the area—mainly their style of music—, Kanter and Braun also stressed their disregard for competition in the local music scene.
‘‘We want to hear good music just as much as we to make it,” Braun said. “And Kent and Akron have a great music scene we want to encourage.”
The Modulated Tones are currently recording new tracks to release a 7’’. It is the first time the band’s recorded in a professional studio. Kanter said it is the best work the two have done to date and that they believe the songs are an accurate representation of their vision.
“The music is fun to listen to, but also very serious and dark at the same time,” she said. “Which I think mirrors our personalities.”
The band has music available on Facebook, but they strongly suggest listeners contact them for bootlegs and other recordings.
The Modulated Tones have upcoming shows Oct. 28 at Youngstown’s Cedar’s Lounge and with The Vacant Lots both Oct. 30 at Cleveland’s The Happy Dog and Oct. 31 at Youngstown’s Lemon Grove.
The band also plans to cover The Jesus and Mary Chain’s Psychocandy for Halloween and hopes it is well received.
Stick With The Modulated Tones. Everybody Must Get Droned.
October 5- The Spot, Cleveland OH
October 22- Happy dog, Cleveland OH w/ Terminal Lovers
October 28- Cedar’s, Youngstown OH (performing Jesus & Mary Chain’s ‘Psychocandy’)
October 30- Happy dog, Cleveland OH w/ The Vacant Lots
October 31- Lemon Grove, Youngstown OH w/ The Vacant Lots
November 11- Symposium, Cleveland OH w/ Sisters Of Your Sunshine Vapor
