Rock band Asleep releasing first new music in five years

By John Benson

Five years removed from its last album, local rock act Asleep is about to give fans a little bit now and a lot later.

While the sextet — Jon Dean (guitar), Todd Kaden (vocals), Dave Ardale (drums), Larry Serb (keyboards) and Angelo Scordo (bass) — plans on releasing its still- untitled sophomore effort this fall, new EP “The Mass of Empty Spaces” is already out with a special-release show planned for Saturday at Salty Grogs in Boardman.

“The EP is actually a precursor,” Dean said. “It kind of takes the band in a lot of different directions. ‘The Mass of Empty Spaces’ finds the band just real stripped down and soulful. I’d say the songs are very mature sounding. Some of the stuff is very Indian experimental. And the full length coming out is louder and poppier. I’m excited about it. We’re all very excited about it.”

While the band’s 2005 debut, “All These Things We’ll Never Need,” garnered comparisons to everyone from The Mars Volta and 30 Seconds to Mars to Pink Floyd, Radiohead and The Who, the new EP continues to explore the band’s diverse influences.

“To me, and not to sound morbid, it’s kind of the sound of my soul being smashed to bits,” Dean said. “The whole thing to me is about finding hope and trying to sort through all the crap and realize that life goes on, and there is sometimes only so much you can do and you’re not the only person on earth feeling that. One of the songs is called ‘Craters.’ It’s Jeff Buckley-meets-Radiohead, with some Coldplay in there, too. And it’s poppy but weird, being very simple and very planned out.”

He added, “We just kind of span the whole spectrum, and that’s what has definitely captured people’s attention. So I truly believe that if you come to one of our shows, no matter who you are, there is going to be a song that will get your attention.”

As for the full-length effort, it was recorded last fall in New York City. Dean said he believes Asleep is about to experience a crucial time, with the new EP and upcoming CD pushing the band into a bigger orbit.

“The full-length is definitely going to take us somewhere,” Dean said. “We have all given up a large part of our lives to do this, and along the way you hit so many crazy roadblocks that it makes you wonder how bands survive 20 years. But we’re in it for the long haul. We’re not going to stop, and nothing is going to deter us. Good things are coming. We have a lot of things in front of us right now.”

He added, “And in the meantime, we recorded this EP and we’re going to have a celebration of sorts at Salty Grogs. It should be a blast as usual, a little mellowness, a little craziness and lots of alcohol.”