Asleep plans to rock The Cellar in return to Mahoning Valley

The band is recording its debut album, which it hopes to release in the spring.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
After recording for the better part of 2005, Asleep is about to wake up in a grand fashion as its debut album nears completion and release.
To celebrate, the Youngstown band has announced a hometown date Saturday at The Cellar in Struthers. Guitarist Jon Dean hopes this show will act as a kickoff to a very important 2006.
"That's exactly what it is," Dean said. "It's a good way to get momentum going right off the bat. Hopefully come out with a bang, build some steam, and the touring will be coming up right after that."
Falling somewhere between The Mars Volta and 30 Seconds to Mars -- blending hard-core, alternative and emo styles -- Asleep's sound has gotten the attention of many national music industry players.
"I'm not sure it's metal," Dean said. "Not to toot our own horn, but it's going to be a very eccentric album. There's going to be a lot of different things happening on it."
Even though the band's debut "All These Things We'll Never Need" is being released on Cleveland indie label Fractured Transmitter, major labels such as Geffen and Universal recently flew out for a Peabody's Down Under showcase last month that Dean said was amazing.
Loyal fans
"It was nuts; it was fun," Dean said. "We had a great Youngstown crowd that came in on a bus trip and [it was] really supportive and made the night go smooth. All of that stuff about the fans being there, there's a lot of truth to that. We put on a hell of a show, but without them being there, it would not have been nearly as good."
Actually, part of the reason behind the upcoming Cellar show is to thank the local fans, who have been patiently waiting for a Mahoning County date for months.
Dean said the quintet is looking forward to performing nearly all of its debut album, which is set for a spring release, including lead single "Tile." "We're really going to try to make it the best show possible and give the area a really good time," Dean said. "Some of these national acts that come through The Cellar, the bands are good, but they don't play their hearts out. And we're going to play our hearts out. We really want this bad."