Some local musicians are gearing up to hit the road and tour this summer. The members of the band ‘Blue Lite? have purchased the van and booked shows for a tour of the east coast and midwest.
The band is made up of Clarkston residents Mike Farrell, singer, Nate Matzelle, guitar and Mike Ross, bass, as well as Lake Orion resident Mike Burns, drums.
The group has been together since spring break of 2001. At the time they were a cover band playing the songs of popular bands such as Green Day.
‘At the time we were playing songs of the bands we like,? Matzelle said. ‘We eventually started writing more songs and becoming more original.?
In September of the same year, the band began to change styles. With the addition of Steve Conanton and Chad Kovis on trumpets, the band got away from punk music.
In November 2001, the band released its first compact disc.
‘We won a battle of the bands and as a prize we got some free studio time,? Matzelle said. ‘We made a demo which took five hours to record the six songs. We sold those to whoever we could for $10.?
The maturation of the band continued as Conanton and Kovis both discontinued playing in Blue Lite for different reasons. As the band gets set to go on tour, their music can best be described as a combination of reggae and rock.
‘It is laid back,? Ross said.
The group created a name for themselves by playing locally in Clarkston at the Clarkston Christian Association and around the Lake Orion area.
‘It was really great getting to play in Clarkston in front of so many friends,? Matzelle said. ‘It was more just hanging out with friends than an actual show. It is cool that all your friends can hang out and listen to you play. We would play Tuesday nights and there would be a huge turnout.?
Having booked shows through the summer, the group is hoping to continue in the fall. While they are all going to college, they hope to play two weekends a month.
You can purchase the Blue Lite compact disc by visiting www.bluelitemusic.com or www.azkorecords.com.