Local Bands
to the Rescue
March, 2005
 

Dating back to the beginning of mankind, music has been around in one sort of shape or form. From ancient war drums to the Beach Boys, music has played a major role in our society.

When surfing the airwaves on the way to work or school, you eventually find that radio station which is actually playing music. And, just as the joy sets in that you’re rockin out to Bohemian Rhapsody, the song ends, leaving you stuck listening to 15 minutes of commercials.

Some respond to this crisis by sliding in a CD as they drive; Aerosmith, Green Day, Queen, 50 Cent, and even those few Brittney Spears fans can enjoy themselves for a whole 12 track of maximum rockage.

Yet, recently I discovered that my musical side was growing tired of the everyday mainstream mumbo-jumbo that is blasted through every car from here to Vegas. I, like many of the Novi High School students, was ready for something different, something fun; and what I found was the foot stomping, hip swinging jams from several local bands right here in Novi.

Looking back, let’s look to where this new wave of “garage band” music came from.  In 1999, Middle School students John Paul Sherbeck, John Postema, Will Elkins, Andrew Krupansky, and Jason Bates combined their musical skills and performed at the 8^th grade talent show, thus forming “The Mattress Testars.”

This major leap in local music has paved the way for several other groups to come about today such as Phoenix Radio, Ellipsis, Stratford, and Outlawed Expression.  What is it that these bands bring to the music table that no others can offer? For one, the shows don’t cost you an arm and a leg, the atmosphere is fun, and the bands always make a strong connection with their fans.

These local groups aren’t manipulated by the popular image of what a rock band should be. No drugs, sex or alcohol. Many members of the different bands are in the Choir, National Honor Society, and on sports teams. These talented young musicians just go out and have a fun time, playing for whoever wants to come out and listen. Ellipsis is a great example of just that idea of having fun; you can see how member Eric Craven puts his heart into every song and every show.

From Rap to Punk, you can hear it all around town from some of our own high school students. They may not have the biggest crowd or the coolest looking drum set, but these local bands sure put out some great music. I don’t know about you, but to me there isn’t a better way you could spend five bucks and two hours of your life than at a concert featuring one of Novi’s own local bands.

The band Ellipsis shown here with members
Dan Hawley, Dan Bruder, and Eric Craven.