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[caption id="attachment_47979" align="alignnone" width="800"] Miles to Dayton.[/caption]
By Tim Sommer
Let’s put the noise in the Champenoise and compliment the varietals with a wide variety of amazing Long Island music. Yes, it’s time again for Winterfest, the annual mid-winter celebration of the East End’s grapes, grooves, and good times (I wasn’t quite sure what Champenoise was, either – turns out it’s a way of making sparkling wine where the last stage of fermentation takes place in the bottle).
This year, the kick-off concert for Winterfest will feature one of Long Island’s very best bands. Miles to Dayton play shimmering music, full of harmony, joy and skill, incorporating the grace of classical instrumentation, the wide-eyed glee of jam band music, and the amiable tension of college rock. Their sound creaks with the winds of tradition and the muscle of youth. It’s really a startling and successful combination, powered by a love of folk and family (the band features a husband and wife – not to mention the husband’s sister and the wife’s brother). The ensemble makes beautiful American music, at times reminiscent of a shuffling REM walking in the long, yellow grass at sunset, humming sweet old folk songs. Their style is lush yet immediate, accomplished yet innocent; it resonates with skill and expertise, but still has immediacy of A-list ‘80s/’90s college rock.
“We try our best to combine many elements of music from our musical influences,” says guitarist/vocalist Jonathan Preddice, “with proper respect for an honest presentation of the song.”
The Miles to Dayton sound can be heard on three independently released albums, with a fourth one on the way. Although some may compare Miles to Dayton to Whiskeytown, Nickel Creek, or Dave Matthews, the band have distilled all those influences (and many more) into an original sound that sparks with emotion and skill while seeming incredibly organic.
“Sure, I think these bands all have elements of inspiration for us,” says Mr. Preddice. “We feature three and four part harmonies, acoustic guitar, bass, drums, and the violin and cello. For our full band shows and studio recordings, we like to add some organ, electric guitar, and string quartet to the mix. We are proud to say that we have a sound of our own.”
Miles to Dayton are not only loyal to their muses; they also have deep roots in tradition and family, not to mention a unique and inspiring relationship with music education.
“The core of the band formed when I returned home from college,” notes Mr. Preddice. “Dave and Krista March -- brother and sister -- had been performing in a local band that had recently disbanded, and I was looking for some friends to make some music with. We all knew each other from high school, and decided to try to play a few open mic nights. Our chemistry was pretty instant. Eventually, we added my younger sister Leanne on violin and a young drummer named Rob, and eventually added a new drummer, Brian Kroll. Recently, my older sister Alisa has been also performing on violin with us. I guess you can say we are a family band! We have been proud products of all that Long Island has to offer,” adds Mr. Preddice. “Many of us in the band had positive musical experiences growing up, thanks to brilliant music educators in the public school system.”
This relationship to music education has led to some unique opportunities for Miles to Dayton.
Mr. Preddice: “Brian, Leanne, and I are all public school music educators during the daytime hours. This led to a collaboration with the High School Chorus at Half Hollow Hills East, singing our song ‘Pass it On’ while we played ‘backing band’ for the evening. What a fun and rewarding experience! Also, my father Phil Preddice is a conductor of orchestras. My father and I took our songs, and arranged and scored four of them for full symphony orchestra and rock band. The result was a wonderful performance with the West Islip Symphony and Miles to Dayton, an amazing musical experience for all involved.”
This commitment to the future of music education on Long Island compliments the deep familial roots that fuels the creative engines of Miles to Dayton. In fact, this awareness of the power of family even helped inspire their curious and singular name.
“After watching my grandfather, Dayton Preddice, pass away after a battle with cancer, I began to channel my grief through the process of songwriting,” Mr. Preddice notes. “After performing my original song ‘Dayton’ for Dave and Krista, they helped to create the name Miles to Dayton, which grew into the greater meaning of ‘the miles you travel to see someone again.’ For us, the ‘Miles to Dayton’ represent the journey of our lives, one which we have chosen to share in song with all that will listen.”
Even if Miles to Dayton don’t have to travel terribly far to perform at Winterfest, they will bring with them a sound that incorporates thousands of miles of American trails and highways, and aspects of a century and more of American music. Oh, and you can also see them at another Winterfest event, when they perform at Duckwalk Vineyard in Southold, on March 12 from 4 to 6 p.m.
We may not usually think of gorgeous, accomplished, Grade-A Americana music when we think of Long Island. But one of the reasons Miles to Dayton make such wonderful music and actively seek unique ways to bring it to local communities is because of their open heart, open ears, and open mind.
“I think that wherever you go, true beauty, music, and art will always surround us, as long as you have the eyes to see it. Long Island is certainly no exception," says Mr. Preddice. "Long Island is a great place to perform.”
Winterfest Kick Off Concert with Toby Walker and Miles To Dayton, Friday February 19 at 7 p.m. at The Suffolk Theater, 118 East Main Street, Riverhead. Tickets are $20 presale; $25 at the door. For more information on Winterfest visit www.liwinterfest.com/. For more on Miles to Dayton, please go to www.milestodayton.net.
on Feb 9, 2016