In the middle of Joe Hertler’s freshman year at Central Michigan University, he bought his first guitar and started what would become a lifelong relationship.
Although not from the area, Hertler said the East Lansing music scene is one that makes the trip to town worth his while because it’s supportive of blossoming musicians like himself.
“I have a lot of friends in the area,” Hertler said. “I really like playing at Mac’s (Bar) — I’ve played there a couple of times. There’s a scene there and I’ve met a lot of people.”
CJ Kjolhede, a fellow musician and drummer for local band Elliot Street Lunatic, said Hertler’s genuine personality is palpable when he performs, and it adds a note of honesty that is absent from many performers.
“His songs are laid-back but they still command your attention,” Kjolhede said. “He has great melodies and he’s a very impassioned singer — you believe what he’s doing on stage and it doesn’t come off as contrived at all.”
Recently, Hertler has taken this coupling and dove head-first into the East Lansing music scene.
Nate Dorough, owner of Lansing-based Fusion Shows, said it’s his instrumental versatility that makes Hertler stand out from the crowd.
“Nowadays it’s important for musicians to be able to express themselves in different ways,” Dorough said. “To not be pigeonholed as a guy with an acoustic guitar.”
It’s this versatility that Kjolhede said makes Hertler’s stage show unique from other local acts.
“He’s very different,” Kjolhede said. “He uses a lot of different instruments when you see him live. He bounces from acoustic guitar to banjo a lot.”
Although Kjolhede said Hertler is good at connecting with the audience, Hertler said he often feels he completely retreats into his own head when he performs live.
This makes performing in front of people an entirely different experience from playing music privately, he said.
“There’s a total difference between playing in your bedroom and performing, so it’s hard to compare the two,” Hertler said.
Kjolhede said that aside from his stage show, Hertler’s solid songwriting is what really sets him apart from other new or local acts.
“He’s a songwriter, and that’s not to be taken lightly,” Kjolhede said. “There’s a lot of local bands that have a sound they’re getting right, or they perform great, but they don’t have the songs — he definitely has the songs.”
Hertler said he hopes his career continues on the path it recently has taken and would like to continue to play music well into the future.
“It’s what I love to do and I want it more than anything else. … I work really hard at it and it’s been picking up quickly,” Hertler said. “I’ll go as far as it will take me; it would be a total blessing to be able to support myself one day through (music).”
For more information or to hear samples of Hertler’s music, visit his website at joehertler.com.
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