Album Notes

Though relative newcomers, the aptly named band known as Blend has quickly established themselves a comfortable home in the Motor City music scene. Of the many questions posed to Blend’s affable band members, the hardest to answer may be what does the band sound like? Perhaps the query is difficult to respond to because their style is quite unprecedented and escapes loose generalization. Blend simply is as its name implies; a blend. Not just a combination of genres and influences but rather a collection of different personalities on the individual level as well as musically. Formed in the summer of 2003, Blend is comprised of members from two former bands with decidedly different schools of musical thought. While this formation with its contrasting backgrounds may have proved to be a potential challenge, the members of the band have turned this to their advantage and perhaps their most distinguished trait. Their ability to experiment with and deviate from conventional popular music without losing the subtle refinement of their composed pieces is a testament of their love affair with playing music. This diversity is most likely the impetus for their fresh, clever sound.

The music creates a feeling of perpetual energy driven by a creative and cohesive rhythm section consisting of drummer Bobby Jankowski and Mike Schneider on bass guitar. Playing with enthusiastic intensity Bobby and Mike lay a sublimely intricate foundation. They act as both the staging point and catapult propelling Blend to exciting spontaneity while keeping everything tight. Josh Clemens adds to this mix with his confident and responsive guitar, switching between acoustic and electric as freely as the songs flow from brooding to whimsically upbeat, if not a little sarcastic. Josh also features as the band’s lead singer. His uniquely melodical voice commands attention while complimenting the stunning vocal harmonies between himself, Mike and keys man Joe Moultrup. Joe joins with guitarist Matt Diamond in providing Blend’s signature instrumental melodies, bridging Motown funk to the achingly ambient. Roaming from dulcet tones and back to the hard-edged, overdrive fueled mayhem that is indicative of Motor City rock and roll.

Blend’s enthusiasm for playing live music has carried them from their hometown of Detroit and far across the state of Michigan to, more recently, the central midwest. With an ever expanding repertoire of originals and a bevy of covers at their disposal, Blend constantly challenges themselves to perform at a level of exhilaration as well as intensity far exceeding their number of years on stage. It is not surprising the band’s debut album, “Deadlines”, is a sanguine transition from live performance to the studio. Relieved of the demands accompanying playing to an audience, the boys were provided an opportunity to be completely immersed within themselves, letting their hair down so to speak. The result: “Deadlines” contains a feeling of self-reliant maturity coupled with gracious humility. The album is personal and intimate, resonating with the odd familiarity of a new friend whom one feels as if they have known for years. Invigorated and poised, they have come into their own. The band is optimistically looking toward the future, and allowing their personalities, jams and passions to continually blend.