Recent Articles
Broken melody
In an increasingly competitive music industry, bands must have more than a popular song or the right look to sign with a major record label.More and more record executives are looking at a combination of live performances, song writing and the band’s ability to sell its own records when deciding whether to offer it a contract.Members of mid-Michigan’s Domestic Problems, 19 Wheels and the Verve Pipe know first hand the stresses of competing for a major contract and the opportunities it provides.MSU alumnus and 19 Wheels guitarist Scott Owens said the band traveled and performed for different record companies this summer.“We’ve started doing a lot of showcasing for labels,” he said.
3 Doors Down to perform at Breslin
3 Doors Down will be just down the road from MSU students when the national rock band plays at Breslin Center on Saturday night. The band is currently touring in the wake of their debut album “The Better Life,” which spawned the hit singles “Kryptonite,” “Loser” and “Life of My Own.” 3 Doors Down didn’t have an opening act scheduled for the show, so promoters scoured the area and invited local band Aventine to perform. The band hasn’t played recently because drummer Chris Ploeg left the band for unknown reasons.
Pipe album swims in pop waters
The Verve Pipe has stepped out of the melodramatic ’90s rock scene and into uncharted pop waters. The Grand Rapids-based quartet hasn’t been much more than an afterthought since its self-titled sophomore record failed to live up to the hype produced by its platinum debut “Villains.” Admittedly, “The Verve Pipe” wasn’t a great album, but it appears to have served as more of a rebound record between “Villains” and “Underneath.” It was just something to keep the band in the game without having to get too serious about it. But “Underneath” definitely has a serious side to it, only this time it’s concealed in a predominantly pop format. The writing duo of Brian Vander Ark and Donny Brown has written a great collection of pop, blues and rock songs that, when combined with an old-school rock sound, gives the album the honesty missing in its self-titled effort.
Radio station celebrates birthday with the Verve Pipe
Local and national bands rocked Lansing on Friday night when The Dollar Nightclub, 3411 E. Michigan Ave., hosted WWDX (92.1 FM) The Edge’s eighth birthday party.Exit to Windsor began playing outside of the night club at about 5:45 p.m.
Electronic festival hopes to attract thousands
Turntables will be twitching and scratching in Lansing’s Old Town when the second annual Electronic Sound and Image Festival kicks off Friday afternoon. Last year’s ESIFest drew more than 15,000 people during the two-day event.
