Ottawa / Soul Stroke / Freak

Cleveland-based garage pop-rockers Ottawa will play at Be Here Now in Muncie on June 26 as part of their Roman Candle Tour.

Through high school friendships, two Craig's List ads (Musicians Wanted, not Missed Connections), and a few years of trial and error, OTTAWA was born on Cleveland's west side in the winter of 2014. Since then, lead singer Dale DeLong, guitarists Will Hooper and Tim Czajka, drummer Steve Crobar and bassist Chris Williams have developed a sound described by Cleveland.com writer Troy Smith as "a brand of garage pop that merges elements of indie-rock, blues and new wave that's quite melodic and hypnotizing."

Ottawa is on tour to promote their latest single, "Roman Candle." According to lead singer Dale DeLong, a good song "stops you in your tracks and paralyzes you for a moment," and Roman Candle passes that test. Although the song immediately sounds like an energetic, summery pop tune, the lyrics tell a different story: "When I was 13, I went to see the fireworks, and during the display a girl my exact age was killed by one of the fireworks that fell over. I saw it shoot across the grass with my own eyes, and it could've very easily been me. The first verse - "stand back, they're gonna light it" - those could have been the last words she heard that night. This was an innocent girl who just wanted to see some beautiful colors as she looked up at at the sky that night. Writing this song, I started thinking about all the stupid arguments that probably took place that night, the petty stuff that takes over. The fireworks didn't stop after the accident, people kept on laughing and talking and enjoying their night. Everyone just kept moving in the light of tragedy, including me. So inside of this three minute pop song, I finally got to empathize with this girl and her family and say 'I'm sorry I cared so much about whatever I was doing to not stop and really truly feel what happened that night - and the song reflects that contrast between a really happy, festive moment and this serious thing that happened."

Ottawa takes the stage at Be Here Now in Muncie at 8pm. Also performing are Soul Stroke and Freak. For more information about the event, please visit http://beherenowmusic.com/calendar/ottawa-soul-stroke-freak/. To learn more about Ottawa, please visit www.listentoottawa.com.