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Love Turns Hate: Don’t let the name fool you
By John Benson
If there was ever an emo-sounding band name or song title, Love Turns Hate would be it. However, that’s apparently not the case with the local group — Jimmi Migliozzi (vocals), Tony Young (guitars), Brady Brownlee (guitars), Don Kacenski (bass) and Leif Damstoft (drums) — that recently released its self-titled debut CD.
“We’re by far not emo,” said Migliozzi, a Niles native who calls Howland home. “We’re the furthest thing from it. It’s just the passion in the music; that’s where that comes from. It’s extreme goods and extreme bads.”
So if not emo, the band name really seems like someone was unlucky in love.
“Yeah, a lot of material on this album was through a dark time in my life,” Migliozzi said. “Actually, one of the song titles was ‘Let Love Die.’ That’s a name that came up as a possible band name, and later we thought it was too dark. So we played on the word love, and hence Love Turns Hate.”
With a rock-radio-friendly sound compared to the likes of Papa Roach, Seether and Shinedown, Love Turns Hate is on quite a run.
Not only did the band jam with Warren native Dave Grohl last year when he came through the area, but this past summer it won a competition to open for Kiss at Blossom Music Center. Up next for the band is to promote its new self-titled album, which was recorded in Cleveland.
“It’s good, solid music,” Migliozzi said. “I’ve been in other original bands in this area and recorded other CDs, and the music that we’ve locked in on, people are connecting with. The CD itself sounds great, very professional. Among our favorite songs on the album are ‘Intoxication,’ which shows our edgier, heavier side. There’s also ‘It’s Not Over,’ a very rock, anthemic kind of song, and the midtempo ‘Climb.’”
Formed about three years ago, Love Turns Hate plays out once or twice a month with the idea being not to over-saturate the market. Migliozzi believes the group’s shows have become quite popular due to its original music and interesting covers. The latter includes everything from Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall” and Dead or Alive’s “You Spin Me Round [Like a Record]” to Prince’s “Darling Nikki.”
Migliozzi said though he’s proud of Love Turns Hate’s success so far in Northeast Ohio, the band’s ultimate goal is bigger. This isn’t a weekend warrior type of band.
“We’re not kids; we’re all in our 30s; and we’ve been doing it for years, so we’re seasoned,” Migliozzi said. “We’ve all played and have been performing in various bands, so we come across as very professional. And for some reason, the combination of our songwriting and the music we’ve come up with is getting people’s attention. Without a doubt, this band is on the move.”
To keep up on Love Turns Hate, visit myspace.com/loveturnshate.