Scranton’s Das Black Milk are putting the final touches on a four-song EP titled “Mid-Level Blues,” their first release in almost six years, and they’ve already hit the road to places like New York, Virginia and Philadelphia to support it.

Brian Emmert and Nathaniel Kane started DBM in 2006 and toured when and where they could before taking a short break and now they’re picking up where they left off.

“With the previous band, the first incarnation, we got to get out of town a lot. We did a Midwestern tour where we hit a bunch of states; Indiana, Iowa, different places,” Emmert said. “With just the two of us it’s conducive to being able to quickly hit the road for the weekend or whatever you want to do.”

Emmert and Kane’s recordings take on high-energy atmospheres that are equal parts Black Keys, Japandroids and any one of your favorite ’80s punk outfits. The DBM rhythm section is currently handled live by backing tracks, but that means it’s have-guitars-will-travel for the human half of the band. On Aug. 4, their travels took them to Shea Stadium where they played with Dead Sexy Shelia, Def GRLS and Brooklyn-based band Sexy Neighbors.

“It’s really easy because we’re just two guys, we set our stuff up and play,” Kane said. “It was fun to watch the audience get adjusted to that as far as all the other bands having drummers and that, but they warmed up to us.”

“I think we take a gang mentality – it always typically starts with one person in the room,” Emmert added. “We’re two guys on stage with just some equipment playing this crazy rock ‘n’ roll so we go out of our way to make sure somebody’s feeling something. You gotta approach it like a professional wrestler maybe.”

Emmert and Kane will bring that main event mentality back home on Aug. 20 for a show at O’Leary’s Pub, 514 Ash St., Scranton, with their current tour mates Sexy Neighbors. It’ll be the last date on the latter’s album release tour, but for DBM, it’s a hometown performance with four new songs to show off.

“The way we approached it, this happened quick and it happened really organically,” Emmert said. “Rehearsing, recording, cover design, bang bang bang. We’re happy with the results.”

For more information about Das Black Milk, visit Facebook.com/DasBlackMilk.

Das Black Milk’s live show features members Brian Emmert and Nathaniel Kane on guitar with a rhythm section provided by backing tracks. The duo approaches each live show as a theatrical production, helping the audience look past their non-traditional lineup with a high-energy performance.
https://www.theweekender.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_dbm-live-bw-untoned-1.jpgDas Black Milk’s live show features members Brian Emmert and Nathaniel Kane on guitar with a rhythm section provided by backing tracks. The duo approaches each live show as a theatrical production, helping the audience look past their non-traditional lineup with a high-energy performance. Submitted photo

Das Black Milk’s new four-song EP “Mid-Level Blues” will see a limited cassette release on Scranton record label Summersteps Records. To order, visit Facebook.com/summersteps.
https://www.theweekender.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_dbm-promo-untoned-1.jpgDas Black Milk’s new four-song EP “Mid-Level Blues” will see a limited cassette release on Scranton record label Summersteps Records. To order, visit Facebook.com/summersteps. Submitted photo
After a short hiatus, the duo is back with a four-song EP entitled ‘Mid-Level Blues’

By Gene Axton

gaxton@timesleader.com

Reach Gene Axton at 570-991-6121 or on Twitter @TLArts