Lansing Local Music

Are you from Michigan & want to be heard?

unklebonehead — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 15:20:10 +0000

Are you from Michigan & want to be heard?
Current mood: enthralled

Then submit your music to The Bush to get on regular rotation! Here is what The Bush needs:

2 (Two) CD’s    (1 for T.B.R. Vault, 1 goes into rotation)
                 Band Bio – We wanna know who you are so our digijockeys can tell the listeners about you!
                 Band website address or Myspace address so we can keep up with what you are up to!

                Send to      THE BUSH RADIO
                                  4733 East Denver RD
                                  Rosebush, MI 48878

Check them out here!

Then send me a high quaility mp3 of a song & I will play it on my podcast as well. I am currently preparing a show for broadcast on The Bush. Submissions for that show must be recieved by April 4th 2008!

unkleboneheadshow@yahoo.com

The Unkle Bonehead Show

So get them in people! Any genre is accepted from rap to polka, hell I’ll even play polka-rap! If the show has a great listenership I will try to get it made a regular deal on The Bush! But I need some tunes as well as The Bush.

If your from Michigan I want to get you heard around the world! And here are 2 great FREE opportunities for you to get somebody you have may never know to hear your stuff.

As always, support local music, buy a cd!

Now it’s time to Rock!

Unkle Bonehead

5 Minutes with Pat Zelenka

unklebonehead — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 15:16:37 +0000

Here is the first in a series of videos featuring Pat Zelenka & Scott Parks of Fate Promotions.

Robyn Thrasher

unklebonehead — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 10:28:07 +0000

I’m in a great mood & on cloud nine. Maybe it’s because it’s 4:30 am or it could be that a fan (me) finally got to meet a long time favorite band of mine. Robyn Thrasher. Although I am sad that it was at their going away party, they are relocating to Florida in the coming months. I am still excited because we can still keep in touch ( the wonders of the internet) & I will still be able to get ahold of their new cd’s!

The show was awesome, Robyn was joined by Mindseed & Circle of Crows. Mindseed opened, minus their drummer, so they performed an “unplugged” set. They pulled it off without a hitch. Robyn played second & Circle of Crows closed with a new vocalist, who is going to work out great for them.

Robyn Thrasher’s set was awesome. Their decision not to use a playlist was a great idea, giving the whole night more of a personal touch. Dozer’s (drums) playing was in perfect time, straight and true. Jim (bass) kept the low groove going & provided the perfect accompinant to Robyn’s axe. And of course Robyn’s sultry, smooth & sexy voice was on perfect pitch in every song. They played a couple of new songs, so new they arent finished yet. If the ones they didnt play are as good it will definately be one hell of a great cd. I for one am looking forward to it’s release.

They have one more show booked in Michigan before the move, Planet Rock in Battle Creek on March 15th at 10pm. Catch them if you can, you will not regret it! Then they are hoping to start a major tour starting in New York and working their way down to Florida.

I did an email interview with them a couple of months back and here is the Q&A.

Who are the band members? And what instuments?Robyn Thrasher; Lead vocals, guitar and songwriter

James “JungleJim” Frazee; Bass, backing vocals

Jeff “DoZeR” Barnes; Drums

Are all of you from the Lansing area?

James and DoZeR are from Portland, living in the Lansing area. Robyn is a transplanted southerner who longs to return to the paradise called Florida

How long has your current line up been playing together?

Robyn and James have been working together for four years. DoZeR (James’ cousin) joined them a year and a half ago.In your own words how would you describe your music?

Hard, commercial rock. Radio friendly yet heavy. Robyn’s voice is bewitching and you can understand the words.

How many shows a month/year do you play?

We just finished our first year together playing about three to four shows a month. Once we relocate to Florida we intend to be on the road for quite a while. We are planning to tour in ’08.

Who are some of your influences?

Robyn’s influences are an eclectic group. She was heavily influenced by Nickelback, especially Chad Kroeger who, upon meeting her, encouraged her to do this project. She credits everyone from Hall & Oates to W.A.S.P as influencing her, having grown up in a musical family she was exposed to all sectors of music.

James influences include KISS, W.A.S.P., Black Sabbath and some great funk bassists.

DoZeR’s influences would be on the heavier side of rock, including Mudvayne and Avenged Sevenfold.

How would you feel if you found out that you were somebody else’s influence?

That would be awesome. Honestly, Robyn has been in the business since her mid teens and has influenced many of her acquaintances along the way. Hopefully, we can be an even bigger influence in the days to come.

Where do you see yourselves in the next 5 years?Hopefully, accomplished artists living in the tropics and never having to worry about “work” again! Robyn would love to also produce for other bands.

Are you playing just for fun or are you looking to get signed to a big recording contract?

In Robyn’s own words; “It isn’t fun if you never get anywhere with it”. So, needless to say, we are bucking for a recording contract.

At what point would you consider yourselves as a success?

Signed to a label, an indie label is fine! Touring, selling enough albums to live off of and never having to work day jobs again.Do you know what podcasting & new media is?

We do. ‘Last November’ was featured on several podcasts in early ’07How do you think the new media and the internet has changed the music industry?

It has given artists the opportunity to market themselves and limited the control the “suits” in the industry have over what is out there. Quite often, they are not even on the same page as what the “fans” want. For instance, a record label didn’t like “My Punishment” but the fans have made it clear that it is one of their favorites. Independant artists are now able to be seen and heard much easier.Do you have a cd available? Downloads for sale? Where can we buy them?

We have a full length CD “Weni Yu Di” available for sale at shows, through the band and on CDbaby.com. We have downloads for sale through ITunes.Do you have any personal favorite tracks of yours?

Robyn is partial to “What happened to us”, James is partial to “Blame” and DoZeR is partial to “My Punishment”Do you have a website?

We used to but now we are strictly through myspace. www.myspace.com/robynthrasherAny thing else you want to plug?

Robyn wrote a novel that was published in 2007 and can be purchased through amazon.com. It is a fiction that centers on two people in the music industry. Sex, drugs and rock and roll and emotional baggage would describe it. The title of the book is “Alecya in Wonderland” and it is a good, decadent read.

We also have a variety of “Robyn Thrasher” merchandise for sale both through the band and through zazzle.com. Everything from T-shirts to keychains and calendars. We were VERY impressed with the quality of the zazzle products and encourage people to check it out.

We got some great pictures that I will post in the coming days. Both on our myspace page as well as here.

Although I could not convince them to stay here, we do wish them the best of luck and hope that they continue their success in the southern states. As for Mindseed & Circle of Crows watch for more of them in the coming months

Just one thing left to say…..

Robyn we miss you already. You better come back to see us.

Unkle Bonehead

Know Lyfe’s Alfonzo Ceville

unklebonehead — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 05:48:24 +0000

Here is the interview with Alfonzo Ceville of Know Lyfe. Know Lyfe are the winners of the prestigious Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands contest. They were 1 of 4 finalist to beat out 13,500 bands from across the country! The interview was shot at Mac’s Bar in Lansing, MI at their cd release party for “On Cold Hands & Dark Waters”. After the interview is “Theodore” filmed live at the Ernie Ball show and the video for “Escopia” from 2004. I know it’s not new, but I love the video.

You can purchase Know Lyfe’s cd and downloads at

www.myspace.com/knowlyfe

www.knowlyfe.com

Some other links

Know Lyfe Tribute page

Balloons video

Blackened Earth

unklebonehead — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:12:59 +0000

   I want you to stop & think for a minute. How many times have you gone to a bar or nightclub and heard a band and said “These guys are AWESOME”? Or how many times have you been driving your car down the road & a song comes on the radio that made you go “WOW” and crank the radio? And to realize that song is from a band with staying power. Well to put it simply, this is one of those bands. From the first time that I heard them I was a fan. Their list of accomplishments are long, not just because they have been together since 1996, but because they are that good! To be together that long you have to be good. The current line up has existed for the last four of the 10+ years.

They are Brian Osborn-Lead Vocals

             Greg Snider-Guitar/Vocals

             Ray Smetana-Bass

             Shane Lantrip-Drums

Here is just a few items from their bio on myspace. In 1997 Discmakers Inc considered them in the top 50 unsigned bands in America, opened for Sevendust & King Diamond, August of ’01 won Q 106′s “Homegrown” contest out of 300 bands and in ’03

1st out of 500 at the Ingham County Battle of the Bands. Check their my space for more. They have played as many as 100 gigs a year or as little as 10. If you are interested in having them play for you contact them at 517-917-1635.

I sent them an email interview and here are some of thier answers.

In your own words how would you describe your music?

“Hard Rock in the vein of Shinedown, Alice in Chains, Staind, etc, with more aggression.”

Where do you see yourselves in the next 5 years?

“Making music and recording - just like the last 15 years. Hopefully to a wider audience.”

Influences?

“KISS, Motley Crue, Panrtera, James Brown, JimCroce – The list goes on & on.”

How would you feel to find out that you were somebody else’s influence?

“That would be a wonderful compliment.”

At what point would you consider yourselves a success?

“We do now-not many bands have the staying power that Blackened Earth has had. In various forms this band as been going for over 10 years. Regardless of the lack of money or fame – just pushing for that long of a time without giving up is a success.”

How do you think the New Media & the internet has changed the music industry?

“It has opened up a lot more opportunities for a band to get their music heard but at the same time it has made the ‘value’ of music as an art form declineto almost nothing. It seems that people think they have a right to download music without having to pay for it.

But the musicians that pay for studio time, artwork, mastering and duplication costs would have the opposite thought.

If I buy raw wood and make a chair out of it and somone comes along and takes the chair-they are stealing.

Musicians take ideas and use tools to make a recorded song. If you download it without paying the musician for it -you are stealing.

The internet has made it all but impossible for musicians to retain control over the distribution of their own product.”

Blackened Earth has 2 full length cd’s available you can pick them up at www.myspace.com/blackenedearth or www.blackenedearth.com

Non-DRM 320kps mp3′s are available as well.

Their personal favorite tracks are “Decay(has found it’s way) and “This is your Pain” from “Before the Storm”

When I asked them if there was anything else they would like to plug they replied “Support Local Music because all the great bands you ever heard of started in a place where NOBODY knew them.” Now that is a great answer!

My own opinion-Buy these cd’s because they ROCK! You will not regret this purchase!

Hello Lansing!

unklebonehead — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:52:03 +0000

This is the temporary site for Indie Music Project Lansing. We are having technical difficulties with the domain and server and are dilegently working to resolve the problem.

We will be posting articles here until the site is up and running. In te coming days I will start adding items to this blog. I have some great video interviews with Alfonzo Ceville from Know Lyfe, The Pat Zelenka Project, Fate Promotions & Left of Zero. I cant wait to get them all up for you to read and watch.

Until then remeber that music is the soundtrack to your life. Please support your local music and buy a cd or download.