Knitting Factory. With songs like “A Trip to the Slaughterhouse” and “Rebuilt for Speed,” Dirt Communion is definitely not your average modern metal band. The name, however, came about simply enough. “We were all just riffing on ideas and it popped out, basically,” says Earnest. “Tony wanted to use the word ‘communion,’ and I added ‘dirt’ to the front of it. It seemed appropriate since we play an earthier style of metal, more basic, and as a kind of accidental commentary on how some people wrongly see metal fans. Plus it looks good on a t-shirt.” With the economy the way it is, it’s a great time to be a fan of local music. Dirt Communion hopes the larger crowds they’ve been seeing at shows keeps growing. It means a lot to bands like them, especially since the town is in the middle of a renaissance of sorts. There are good venues to play at – including Knitting Factory, New Oasis, Black Tangerine, etc. – so a lot of artistic stretching has been taking place. “There is starting to be a true sense of camaraderie among the musicians here,” says Earnest. You can catch Dirt Communion playing in April. On Thursday, April 8, they’ll be playing at Tonic Lounge with an impressive out-of-town act. “We’re playing with an amazing punkmeets-metal band called Prize Country from Portland,” says Earnest. “An unbelievable 24 www.renopassport.com
live act that’s getting national press as well. Also on that bill is the great local hardcore/ metal act, Us You And Them.” You can also see them on Friday, April 23 at Black Tangerine. They’ll be playing with Reno’s veteran jazz-meets-metal band Cranium and new local band Beta Case, which plays prog-influenced metal. For info on upcoming shows and on how to get their album, visit them on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/dirtcommunion and on Facebook by searching for Dirt Communion. Text by Meghan Green
Photos by Jeff Guero, Courtesy of Dirt Communion