Bay City Music

You can contact Graveyard Tan at:

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/graveyardtanlive

Email: graveyardtanlive@yahoo.com

Date formed: Feb. 2004

Eric Schmidt: Vocals

Dave Johnson: Guitar

Brad Ayers: Drums

Matt Johnson: Bass

Biography
 

Graveyard Tan was formed by Brad, Matt, and Dave over three years ago. We have been through three vocalists in that time. Some might think that was wasted time, but along the way we have become a groove machine waiting for the right front person to take us to the next level. In early 2007 we found him, Eric Schmidt. Eric is more than just a singer, he is a seasoned professional front man. He can wrap the entire crowd around his pinky, and bring them along for a ride. His drive and work ethic are second to none. He is the missing piece to our musical puzzle.

Dave is a different breed of guitarist. He’s not the kind that cranks his amp way up to make sure he is heard by all. He is the icing on the cake. Sometimes his job is to just sweeten it up a bit, other times his job is to make you take a bite. He has the ability to know when each time comes. He is our riff master. Most of our material starts with a guitar riff. From there we establish a groove, a pulse. He allows the rest of the band to morph the riff into a song. He also writes some amazingly deep lyrics. While we all have a big impact on the end result, without Dave, we would not be who we are.

Over the top. That is a common first impression of Brad. Unlike a lot of drummers who have a huge kit for looks, Brad uses every piece, and tastefully. He is the perfect blend of huge hard hitting hard rock with just the right amount of “rickety-tickety”. Brad cues off the lyrics perfectly, inserting awesome fills that fit the words and the music. He is another veteran with loads of stage time. He is rock solid and will bring you back to one in a paper bag if he has to. Brad lives for performing and takes our live show over the top. 339

When it comes to the low end of the groove, nobody holds it together better than Matt Johnson. His perfectionist attitude shows both in his creativity of writing originals and playing cover tunes. Matt's energy is just one highlight of a Graveyard Tan performance. Not only do you see his energy, you will feel it on the dance floor and in the audience.

10 Questions

Q: Describe your style of music, who do you sound like?

 
Rock . Who we sound like should be answered by those who might listen. A musician can’t just listen their own music without hearing too much. So I guess that remains to be seen.

Q: What are your main musical influences?

Beatles, Sabbath, Stones, Ozzy, Ted, Tool, ALL blues. The list could go on.

 
Q: What/Who have been your biggest influences in life and on your lyrics?

In life, my dad, my wife, and my kids. In music screwed up religion, family, and music itself.

Q: What's in your CD player?

Black Stone Cherry, Eric Clapton, Dream Theater, Stevie Ray Vaughn

Q: What other local band would you pay to see play? Why?

After the Dust, great drummer, good solid clean vocals; Funkillenium, smokin’ bass, unbelievable GROOVE!!

Q: How did you meet?

Dave and I are brothers, Eric was in a band with me before, 10 years ago, Dave and I met Brad through another friend of ours over 3 years ago.

Q: Is there an interesting story behind the name of your band? Who came up with the name?

 No story, I heard it in an Audio Slave song (Doesn’t Remind Me) it stuck in my head, went on the list of other names and we voted.

Q. Tell us about your first show together.

 The chemistry was there and there was no mistaking it. We’ve all played for a long time so the music was solid, but the energy and stage show was the best any of has experienced.

Q. What have been the high and low points of the band so far?

First show was a high point, when we all realized that Eric was for sure our guy (after three others that weren’t) that was great too. So far the only low point was a show with a fill in vocalist, it wasn’t the same and we didn’t have very much fun. That led to our realization.

Q: You are the first band to play a song on another planet for aliens that have never heard our music, you can play any song ever written, what would you play? Why?

Sympathy for the Devil, While not a complete history of the human race, it certainly covers some major screw ups. The best way to not repeat past mistakes is to remember them. Maybe they could learn from ours. By the way, WOW!! Good one, it took a lot of thought to come up with just one. I would be interested to see what others came up with for this one.