MARCH, 2000 |
 MICHIGAN
MUSIC |
NEW
ROCK GROUP RELEASES "ANTHOLOGY" TO THE WEB |
By
Robert Dennis |
| It has been a trend recently for superstar groups to release
"anthology" CDs of their music containing tunes composed and recorded throughout
their career (and even tunes from before their careers began). It takes a lot of
music and many years of creation to have enough tunes for an "anthology." |
| So how could a new rock group of three lads, 20 and 21, create an
"anthology"? It's really quite simple; the group would have to had created
a lot of music over a number of years. This is the case with the mid-Michigan rock
group going by the name GIFTVS. Their self-titled full-length CD of 14 cuts is
scheduled to be released to MP3.COM by March 17th of this year and distributed to stores
in Michigan shortly thereafter by Motortown Internet Records (a company formed to release
their product). The price, $9.95 download at MP3.COM and $12.99 at the stores,
is designed for maximum exposure of the group. The photo at the right was a recent
band photo and represents "their look" today. Standing is "Jer,"
the lead singer/guitarist, with Josh, the drummer, sitting on the left. Kevin, providing
the bass bottom for the group, is seated on the right. |
|
|
|
| In spring of 1992 Jeremy and Josh Lafferty from Clarkston, MI formed a
rock group with two close school friends. They called themselves "The
Gift." The oldest was the age of 14. Since that time Jeremy, the lead
singer/guitarist, has been working on songs in his bedroom, in the basement, in the back
yard and more recently in the recording studio. To date there are over 400 original tunes. |
| Jeremy will be the first to tell you that he doesn't deserve all of the
credit. Although he did the most work on the majority of the songs, his attitude is:
"I can't write tunes for the group without the help of Josh and Kev. Everybody
who helps is part-writer, period. On some of the recent songs, they actually
contribute more to the song than I do." |
| Their professional career began with taking a $100 cash prize at a 4-H
fair's battle of the bands contest about a year after forming the group |
|
|
| Today you can see GIFTVS performing at various clubs in Michigan
including Waterford, Pontiac, Flint, Saginaw, Mt. Pleasant, Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor, etc. and
occasionally opening for national acts in radio station sponsored presentations.
Their music has been played on over 110 radio stations nation wide and they even have
attracted an offer from a national record company. So why aren't they national stars
yet? Besides the fact that one of the members is still too young to legally drink
beer, their manager sums it up like this: "We want to do what is best for the
long-term success of the group. A steady build, maintaining creative control is
paramount to us." |
| The new release, GIFTVS, contains 14 cuts, arranged in the order that
they were written: |
TITLE |
SUBJECT |
AGE AT CREATION |
STONED & ON MY OWN |
It's about smoking pot and how it can make you want to do nothing
else but smoke pot. |
15 |
WHITE DUST GIRL |
Its about a girl hopelessly addicted to some white powder |
15 |
FUNKY FUNK SONG (II) |
Fun loving & about a past association with a girl.
Rapper, Estilo, takes a verse as a special guest. |
16 |
TRIPPING SHRUMS |
About an experience. When I asked Jer if this wasn't a
"pro-drug" song, his answer was: "Come on Bob - 'Look at the girl with the
purple eyes...'" |
16 |
THE FISH SONG |
I don't want to give it away but it's painting a picture regarding
love & sex. |
17 |
COCAINE LIES |
It's about making life choices and the potentially deadly effects
of cocaine. |
18 |
I'LL GET HIGH WITH YOU |
It's really about the "high" of love. |
19 |
TRUE RIDER |
It's about wanting a girl, what else? |
19 |
WHAT SHE SAID |
About being in love with someone that didn't deserve it. |
19 |
WANT YOU |
I want you - do you want me too? GIFTVS is joined by world
famous percussionist, Murgua Booker. |
20 |
AUTUMN |
She's the best - I gotta have her! |
21 |
BUDDY |
You're my best friend. |
21 |
CRASEY |
It's hands off - but that's not how I feel. |
21 |
COCAINE LIES (UNPLUGGED) |
A cut done for the benefit of children abused by cocaine
addiction. Jeremy is solo and joined by Muruga and his wife Shakti. |
18 |
|
BACK TO:  Current Article PageREQ Home GIFTVS Home Page |
Copyright 2000, Robert Dennis - All
Rights Reserved USE OF THIS ARTICLE SUBJECT TO USER AGREEMENT |
