The band, led by Max Fender, a definitive symbol of the American working man via overwhelmingly truthful lyrics and his “worn from trying, yet never going to give up” withered voice, have been performing since 2000. While over the past decade the band has seen some shifts both in the genre and lineup, the current situation proves that it has all been worth it. Matched by his soulful female counterpart Sarah Davis on keys and backup vocals, and paired with Clay Cason on lead guitar, the band showcases their ability to tastefully rip down the walls or dynamically recede into a dark corner. Rounded out by an extremely tight rhythm section consisting of Joey Beck on bass and the cryptic Chazz Stitler on drums, this is the Alone At 3AM the fans have been waiting for. While From an Ohio Basement does not necessarily offer a glimpse into the band’s future, it certainly makes you respect where the music comes from, offering some insight as to how the band crafts their own brand of Alt-Country meets Rock n’ Roll, with a slight hint of some influences that span from late ’90s East Coast hardcore to the early 2000s Southern Florida punk scenes. A combination of higher production quality from the band’s now home base of Candyland Studios with the ever-talented Mike Montgomery (Buffalo Killers, The Light Wires) at the engineering helm, along with mastering by Jason Ward (The Gaza Strippers, Del Rey), the songs of From an Ohio Basement come to life stronger than ever before. As Alone At 3AM have been described as “comfort food for the Cincinnati music fan” (Joe Long, Each Note Secure), From an Ohio Basement is sure to recall some great memories from the fans through years of smoke-filled and beer-drenched performances. What better way to say thanks than with a 7″ full of songs that crowds have screamed out in requests over the years, but never had the opportunity to take home, until now. As the band pays respect to their own rustic past, they also look forward to a bright future. This ray of hope came to fruition in July of 2011, with a peak performance at the Underground Music Showcase Festival in Denver, CO, a showcase that became the highest fan-voted set of the festival (the band won The Flat Response’s reader’s poll), in addition to a deal with Denver’s own Suburban Home Records, a personal favorite of the band. This coming year will see the band out on the road and the festival circuit, alongside their national debut, Midwest Mess, due out in April 2012. It is always nice to see a hardworking band receive well-deserved notoriety, especially when they have been labeled as “criminally underrated” (Joe Long, Each Note Secure). It is hard to believe what all has happened within the band’s 10 year career, not only to think that it is truly just getting started, but also that all it came from an Ohio basement.