Jeff Rex, lead singer for the Franklin-based band Dead Level, said he “heard a lot of bands at last year’s Sturgis motorcycle rally and recalls thinking “We can do this, and maybe better.”
In August, the hard-rock band will get its chance when it travels to the South Dakota community renowned for holding the world’s largest annual motorcycle rally.
“Music is everywhere in Sturgis and thousands of bands want to play there, he said. “I began by pounding on doors and making calls. I got nowhere.”
“Duffy asked me to send him our music and he’d give it a listen,” said Rex, who resides in Franklin. “He liked what he heard” and suggested to saloon owner Ken McNenny to hire the group, which describes itself as a hard-rock band playing music from the ‘70s to the present.
“Whatever music we play, we rework it and put our own stamp on it” said bassist T.D. Burchfield, of Oil City.
Although none of the band members believed it would happen, McNenny contracted them to play five dates during the 10-day rally in Sturgis: Aug. 6 through 9, and then Aug. 12.
Performing at the world’s largest motorcycle rally, attended by hundreds of thousands people, is “a great opportunity and the next step,” said drummer and vocalist Jamie Neidich, also of Franklin.
Guitarist and vocalist Tony Neidich, who is Jamie Neidich’s brother and owner of West Park Guitar & Music in Franklin, pondered “how a small-time band from a small town ends up performing at Sturgis” and then wondered “how are we going to make this happen.”
In planning the 1,388-mile trip, the band members said they’ll take their time to ensure they “cover all the bases.”
Closer to home, Dead Level regularly performs at clubs, festivals and events throughout the area and occasionally out of state. The band has opened for well-known rock acts Artimas Pyle and Saliva, among others.
Dead Level will perform next month at an event hosted by Bikers Against Child Abuse, and the group has appeared three times at events held by the Alliance of Bikers Aimed Towards Education of PA (A.B.A.T.E.). The band members agreed supporting such causes is important.
Although the band formed more than 20 years ago, it has no recordings, but the group members were emphatic in saying they want to make it happen and that writing music is a goal.
As for the band’s name, Tony Neidich said, “The name is a reference to the construction trade; when something is said to be dead level it means exact, spot-on.”
So, after landing a gig like Sturgis, what could be next?
Tony Neidich acknowledged Sturgis can open some doors, but what matters is what brought Dead Level together: “our love of music, performing and having fun.”
