 |
|
| |
 |
No greater force exists in humankind than the power of Vision, the desire to create change, the desire to progress beyond what is and what has been. For one person to have a vision and to use all in his power to attain his goal is an amazing feat. For four separate entities to come together and combine their shared vision into one is a phenomenon.
Welcome to the Vision that is Blaked.
The Past: Every musician dreams of creating music and being afforded the opportunity to express their art through exposure be it live show, CD, T-shirts, stickers, etc. But before the clothes, the shows and the autographs, there must be chemistry and vision. Sounds simple, but believe me when I say that there is so much more to a band than what you see on stage or hear on a record. Patience, emotion, work ethic, brotherhood, confidence, the leaving of egos outside the door of creation, support network, the buzz, and last but not least, the fans. A band longs for these things and it is never easy. Creation has never been known as a simple process I say unto you good critic and playing live has never been so fun for us I say unto you, loving fan.
Aaron, Jeremy, Steve & Rob have searched long and hard for their fellow visionaries through many bands and many faces and there exists one word to sum up their feelings at this point: finally.
The Present: So now the stage is set for a blast of sonic intensity to be unleashed. Blaked calls its home DeKalb, Illinois—a veritable hotbed of diversity which, incidentally, can also describe the music: a distinct sound somewhere between chaos and harmony and driven by passion. This is what the members of Blaked were searching for all along and in discovering it, formed and indestructible unit.
The Future: Look for Blaked at upcoming shows around Chi-town and all of Northern Illinois.
This, friends, is the Power of Vision.
The Men Behind the Music: Rob writes elaborate guitar riffs that provide the perfect catalyst for his melodic vocals and sharp, heartfelt lyrics that touch on everything from satellites to Spanish Fly, from the perils of intoxication to potential lost. The vocals and guitar are rounded out by a strong rhythm section (with Aaron pounding out pummeling bass lines and Jeremy punctuating every moment with perfectly timed beats). Steve Wright never fails to cross every T and dot every I with lead licks that shower the rhythms like a summer storm. A mix of dedicated musicians who love their art as much as they are in love with it rarely comes together with as much fervor as the members of Blaked. Their live show is a spectacle not to be missed.
Blaked, always eager to please a crowd, performs a full set of diverse songs, which are neatly balanced between intense originals and recognizable covers. Aside from a searing live show, Blaked has been busy recording their first EP, entitled Opus, at Pogo Studio in Champaign, IL. Mark Rubel (Hum, Shiner, Box-O-Car) co-produced and engineered. Three songs were put on the demo, Fabrication, Hovercraft and Clairvoyant Savant. The quartet is currently recording at Apocalypse Cow Studios.
We in Blaked thank you for your time and hope to hear from you soon. |
| |
 |
Seriously Blaked
By P.J. Osborne
Weekender Reporter
Not only is Blaked DeKalb spelled backwards, it's a local band on the rise.
Blaked, which will perform at 10 p.m. Friday at Otto's Niteclub, 118 E. Lincoln Highway, is comprised of singer/guitarist Rob DeShazek, guitarist Steve Wright, bassist Aaron Gudmunson and percussionist Steve Smith.
The band's first release, “Opus,” a “lo-fi” three-song EP, combines the explosiveness and sheer power of Hum and Tool but also manages to incorporate the melodic tones of the Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana.
Lyrically, the EP is quite a leap for DeShazer.
“It was all about the girls [in the beginning]; now, it's the underlying theme that humans can be better – avoiding complacency,” DeShazer said. “My lyrics are incredibly personal. If anyone finds something in them, I'm connected to them in a personal way.”
Fresh off a recent opening gig for Chicago rockers Chevelle at the Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., Chicago, the band has several shows lined up for the coming month, including CAB-sponsored shows at noon and 8 p.m. April 25 at the Holmes Student Center's Diversions Lounge. The band also is in the process of booking shows for an upcoming tour that would take it across the Midwest.
Blaked is eager to hit the road and win over new fans. Traveling is something that DeShazer has mixed feelings about, but touring is another matter altogether.
“It's the experience – I've traveled a lot, and I hate traveling alone,” DeShazer said. “It's so much better when you have company with you to share experiences.
“We want to play every day – not flood the market [by playing in the same place too much]. The only way to get serious is to hit the road.”
Those experiences have led DeShazer and the band to stockpile about 20 songs, most of which will make up the band's full-length debut, which should be recorded in the near future.
Being in a band isn't all glitz and glamour, and most people don't realize that being in a band is work – hard work. So just what possesses four guys to climb into a van and hit the road?
“It locks you together,” DeShazer said. “Playing and touring puts a band together – that's what I live for.”
Blaked's show at Otto's Friday will be a 21-and-older show. The Pimps and Mulligan Stu also will perform. |
| |
 |
|
| |
 |
| Date |
Venue/Club |
Location |
| August 15, 2002 |
Phyllis's |
Chicago IL, USA |
| August 23, 2002 |
Otto's |
DeKalb IL, USA |
| August 29, 2002 |
NIU |
DeKalb ID, USA |
| August 31, 2002 |
Three-One-Three |
Bellville IL, USA |
| September 06, 2002 |
Mutiny |
Chicago IL, USA |
|
|
Location:
Rockford IL, USA
Blaked Website
thempmgroup001@aol.com
Regular Tour Area:
Chicagoland area IL |
