Joe Hertler has always loved music, ever since he began singing in the shower as a little kid.
As he grew older and his music went from the shower to the stage, Hertler’s aspirations grew. He is now lead singer of Joe Hertler and The Rainbow Seekers, a Michigan-based band who played in the Union Ballroom Friday night.
Hertler got his start playing in an orchestra when he was young, and switched to writing his own songs once he got to college. While in Mt. Pleasant performing as a solo artist, Hertler opened for guitarist Ryan Hoger, and the two quickly became friends. Soon after they were playing as a pair.
Hertler said the rest of the group came together and bonded during recording sessions with a Lansing collective through Bigger Brush Media.
“To this day they’re my best buds and my closest bandmates,” Hertler said.
Drummer and MSU alumnus Rick Hale pursued his passion for music in high school as section leader of the drum line.
He said this got him into complex rhythms, and in college he met musicians who were into the same styles.
“There’s definitely a rhythmic foundation with me and all the other members of the band,” Hale said.
Hale said the band loves when the crowd is completely invested in the music.
“When they’re really into it and we’re really into it, it’s an awesome circle,” Hale said. “It just makes for an incredible show.”
He said Hertler has always been about connecting with people, and he got the rest of the band excited about that aspect as well.
“Music is something that’s purpose is to grow communities and bring people together,” Hertler said.
MSU brought Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers to MSU based on their success and affiliation with MSU, said Russell James, Residence Halls Association director of special events.
James said hosting the band in the ballroom was a change from doing shows on a bigger stages and made for a more intimate experience.
“We really want a very welcoming atmosphere for students,” James said.
He said RHA strives to create events that reach as many people as possible, and Joe Hertler and The Rainbow Seekers catered to both a widespread audience and a niche market.
“It’s cool that we’re able to reach a different demographic on campus,” James said.
Hale said for the future, the band wants to perform on larger scales. Hertler said the broad goal is to continue to make art while maintaining the fun.
“We hope nothing changes and that we can still do what we love while raising our kids and being husbands,” Hertler said.
Hertler said their new record, “Terra Incognita,” is a great opportunity to show the industry that Joe Hertler and The Rainbow Seekers can succeed, since they’re still a young band.
He emphasized the fact that the money from records sold doesn’t go into the hands of a corporation.
“I can’t express how much the sales of this record benefit us and allow us to continue making music,” Hertler said. “We’re shamelessly asking our Michigan family to support us with this record so we can make another one.”
