Miles to Dayton Performs Live In The Lobby

Miles to Dayton performed in the lobby of the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts on Thursday as the final show in the fifth season of the Live In The Lobby Series.

Miles to Dayton (M2D) showcased their ability to fuse the disparate genres of folk, rock, classical and funk with stripped down versions of several of their songs.

The intimate acoustical format underscored the Long Island ensemble's back to basics approach, which consists of an intricate web of four-part vocal harmony, formidable songwriting, improvisational but disciplined violin and cello and a rhythm section that keeps this groove-train chugging along.

M2D first performed at the Patchogue Theatre during the initial Live in the Lobby series in 2006 and have since been asked back many times, including two main stage performances.

Almost all of the members of the band are related to one another by either blood or marriage.  Vocalist Krista (March) Preddice who has often elicited vocal comparisons to Natalie Merchant and Dolores O'Riordan is married to songwriter Jonathan Preddice.  He is a multitalented member of the band, also sharing lead vocal duty and playing guitar and cello.  Dave March (March-Preddice's brother) contributes pocket baselines and wholehearted vocals; he also plays in the Ed Travers Band.  Violinist Leanne Preddice-Strom (Preddice's sister) plays with a precision that comes from her classical training.  Drummer Brian Kroll, who did not play in this acoustic performance, is the new addition to the M2D family but is not related by bloodlines or vows of matrimony but only by a shared dedication to creating top-quality music. 

The Preddices have an 18-month-old daughter, Ruby, and another on the way.  Preddice-Strom is also expecting.  They'll both be having girls one month apart.

The show chronicled the bands' evolution musically as well as personally.  March-Preddice said, "The new album shows so much maturity; the life we are in has really helped the songs mature, with babies and marriage."

March said, "We're fusing bluegrass, country and folk rock; we take all that and mix it into a big ball— and that's Miles to Dayton."

The band has already released two independent albums, and developed a loyal regional following. With the new line-up the band is set to release a third album which should be out by the end of 2010. M2D promises this will be their finest work yet.

M2D delved deep into their catalog, treating the audience to some rarely performed songs from early in their six-year career, alongside material from their soon to be released Pass it On.

M2D began their set by joining the opening act, folk duo Martha Trachtenberg and Tom Griffith for a shared selection.

The set included the first song M2D ever wrote together called "A New Song "with the lyrics "Love is a stranger to the foolish; love is unkind ... Let go of the past and you will find me waiting."

The band that was formed in the wake of collective heartbreak seems to have found the light at the end of the tunnel, the dichotomy clearly emphasized as they moved into their newer more upbeat numbers such as the jubilant "Oh Ruby."

The band also performed the mournful, yet hopeful "Dayton." Preddice prefaced the song with an anecdote explaining the origin of their name, "This is the song that brought us together as a group.  My grandfather Dayton passed away.  He was a big figure in my life."

They debuted the title track to their new album "Pass it On", as they harmonized the words "Learn how to sing, pass it on" there was no doubt that it was inspired by the new generation they will be bringing and singing into the world.

Live in the Lobby is a venue within the Patchogue Theatre which seats about 50 people.

Christopher Capobianco, curator of Live in the Lobby said, "It evolved into original music, only from Long Island; we turn away a lot of cover bands.  We've been part of the evolution of acceptance of more original music in Patchogue."

More information on Miles to Dayton can be found at www.milestodayton.net.