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THE AVERY-SET:
Youth, Musicianship, & Songwriting
Skills Beyond Their Years
By Robert E. Martin
It isn't every day of the week that one happens upon a young group of college freshmen with the musical maturity of The Avery-Set, but this element of surprise makes discovery of both the band and their music all the more rewarding.
Consisting of Chris Zehnder
(guitar & vocals); Jake Bartlett (percussion); Justin
Bannister (piano & bass) and Brant Klein (bass & lead
guitar), The Avery-Set began in the fall of 2003 when Chris and
Jake were both back in high school. Hailing from Frankenmuth, both were
in different bands at the time and eager to experiment with a different
sound.
"Jake and I met in high school when our
various bands played a show at Fischer Hall," explains Chris. "We hung
out for awhile and started working up ideas that we wanted to record. We
went to a local facility called Attic Studios together and
recorded a 4-song demo entitled Music for Boys & Girls.
Basically, we got along so well together that we wanted to line up more
members, so enlisted Justin and Brant."
Soon the alchemy started working and
The Avery-Set began to gain both attention and notoriety among many
established mid-Michigan musicians. Jake submitted some of his own
material for consideration by the Committee of the Nick Andros Scholarship Fund, and wound up winning
the 2005 award. The group opened for the Mick Furlo Band
reunion at the 2005 Showcase event at The Hamilton St. Pub and
instantly gained rapid attention, acclaim, and respect among musicians
considerably older and more experienced.
Apart from the fact that the band is
multi-talented, with members able to shift around on a number of
instruments, perhaps the most striking feature of The Avery-Set
is their uniquely strong songwriting ability. Performing sets of
largely all-original songs, the vocal & musical layering of their music
is always focused upon heightening both the emotional and lyrical
content of the material, bringing a depth and maturity to the stage that
truly gives one hope in the creative future of the mid-Michigan area.
Chris agrees that this is one of the
goals he and Jake focused upon when forming the band. "We were looking
for something different in our music that seemed more mature and
meaningful than what we had been playing in the past," he notes. "In
terms of songwriting I'm trying to get more people interested in more
types of music and make them aware that there is more to music than what
you hear on the radio."
The studied musicianship of Brant and
Justin contributes immensely to animating and bringing depth the
coloration of their sound. "I've had formal piano lessons since the 3rd
Grade and then got into Jazz. Jake and I played in a jazz band back in
the 7th
Grade, but I've never enjoyed playing 'by the book'. I like making my
own stuff up and like to filter other genres into the sound."
When asked about musical influences they
feel contribute to their collective sound, each member is equally
distinct. "I like Bob Dylan and Modest Mouse and Bright Eyes quite a
lot," notes Chris. "I'm into those artists that are lyrical and more
original."
"I listen to everything from Hansen to
Rap to Alternative and Country," explains Jake. "I try to absorb as much
as I can."
"I enjoyed Social Distortion when I got
older," reflects Brant, "but when I was a kid my Mom always listed to
great music, so I was fortunate. I remember falling asleep at a Diana
Ross concert and my brother is five years older, so I also grew up with
late 80s music. My step dad used to listen to Johnny Rivers. But what I
listened to because of my mom is kind of what defines what I'm into
now."
" I've always been into Billy Joel and
rockin' pianos and then got into Jazz," concludes Justin. "I'm into
chord progressions and recently learned about Earl Hines, which is very
cool stuff. I like more complex chording arrangements."
In terms of creating their haunting
original material, Chris will usually write the lyrics. "The song is a
rough draft and the guys will flesh it out and add to it," he notes.
"Usually I come up with a melody sitting in my room. Occasionally if I
come up with a great riff I'll have to write lyrics for it."
Presently the group has about 25 original
songs under their collective belt and is intent upon recording them.
With a second demo released and another on the way, the group continues
to evolve in refreshing new directions.
Two newer songs, Redwood Family Tree
and The Tracks Dissolve can be heard by going to
www.mypsace.com/theaveryset
or visiting
www.purevolume.com/theaveryset.
Additionally, the group will be featured on ReviewthisRadio.com.
Members agree that the most difficult
component can be winning over new audiences. "It's tough to get people
to appreciate something different and new," states Jake. "People all
have their favorite bands and groups of friends that want to fit
together and don't want other groups to play. They can very judgmental
that way."
"Plus you have so many new groups out
now," adds Justin. "People will get together and say lets make a band,
so it's hard to find the actual good ones out of those and easy to get
confused when you're bombarded by all these names out there."
The Avery-Set is working on
getting gigs lined up in Ann Arbor and Lansing, plus they perform
throughout the mid-Michigan area at venues such as White's Bar
and The Sky Room. Look to The Review for future updates.
Having accomplished so much in such a
short time, The Avery-Set is definitely a group to tune into. As
for the future, it's wide open. "We want to get signed and make money
off music, like everybody else," laughs Chris, "but mainly we're going
to see where the road leads following this dream."
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