cm-life.com/category/vibe
Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011 || 3B
[VIBE]
Joe Hertler and The Rainbow Seekers release first album ‘On Being’ debut release from Mount Pleasant band By Sean Bradley Staff Reporter
Joe Hertler talked with passion about writing a seminal track, “What It Feels Like To Drown,” on the debut album from Joe Hertler and The Rainbow Seekers titled “On Being.” “It’s about losing yourself in the moment,” Hertler, a Lake Orion senior, said. “The title came from a photograph in the (University Art Gallery) of a big mountain-scape with ‘What it feels like to drown’ under it.” After more than a year of playing songs such as “Ego Loss on Grand River Avenue” and “Devil, Don’t You Steal My Bicycle” to crowds across Michigan and the Midwest, the band is holding an album release concert at 9 p.m. on Friday at Rubble’s Bar, 112 W. Michigan St. The Mount Pleasant event will feature performances from Prussia, Jetpack On! and American Opera. The album will be released
PHOTOS BY VICTORIA ZEGLER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
for purchase on http:// bandcamp.com Nov. 8. Lower Peninsula Records and Bigger Brush Media, both out of Lansing, are issuing a limited release of the album on vinyl, expected in December. Lansing resident John Krohn, Lower Peninsula’s founder, said the album has its roots in Michigan music in a similar vein to Detroitarea folk band Frontier Ruckus. “It’s very much a Michigan record. There’s references to Michigan places, sports teams, etcetera.,” Krohn said. “It’s an example of putting Michigan out there as a
place that inspires creativity.” Hertler said what he enjoyed most about the recording process was having a band to help bring the songs to life. “I really felt that I enjoyed watching my band put themselves into the record” he said. “There’s little pieces of songs I know I couldn’t have done and I completely credit my band.” This collaborative effort sparked many different ideas while recording, said Kevin Prichard bassist, producer and Lansing resident. “No idea is a bad idea,” Prichard said. “There was no risk.”
Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers perform a live set of music off of their upcoming album January 22 during the Rock Your TOMS Off Benefit Concert at Rubbles Bar, 112 W. Michigan.
Prichard used studio techniques such as reverse-reverb, which he said creates a sound similar to that of a ghost sneaking up on the listener. He said the Beach Boys popularized this technique. Electric guitarist and junior Ryan Hoger, from Commerce Township, said playing the songs live helped in the studio during recording. “I’m glad we played the songs out live before we recorded them,” he said. “By the time we get to recording, getting the song down
is the easy part. Then we can embellish the record with all the bells and whistles.” Fusion Shows owner Irving Ronk said the album, from beginning to end, feels complete and full. Fusion Shows is a Howell-based concert promotion company and Ronk is Hertler’s manager. “I like the way it came together as a full album. It’s rare to find that all the songs go together perfectly,” Ronk said. “It feels like the record was all done with purpose, which I think it was.”
MORE COVERAGE w Review of Album, 4B
Singer-songwriter Jeff Pianki, a Milford resident who has played many shows with Hertler and his band, said “On Being” has a very big feel. “You can hear that the songs start out very slow and quiet and by the end of the song you just have chills and it sounds big and you hear so much going on,” Pianki said. studentlife@cm-life.com
Students prepare for upcoming elections By Jamie Favazza Staff Reporter
Tuesday’s general election and Feb. 28 Michigan primary are prompting Central Michigan University students to prepare to cast their votes. Fred Woodhams, spokesman for Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, said he recommends the online Michigan Voter Information Center to students. The VIC is online at www.Michigan.gov/vote. “It’s a good resource for students,” Woodhams said. “They can find out polling locations, view a sample ballot, change their address and obtain an absentee ballot.” Absentee ballots may also be obtained at the Mount Pleasant Secretary of State office, 1245 N. Mission St. or at the Isabella County Clerk’s office, 200 N. Main St. room 240. According to the VIC, requests to have an absentee voter ballot mailed to voter
residences must be received by local clerks no later than 2 p.m. Saturday and completed by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Woodhams said the deadline to register for voting in the Nov. 8 election has passed, but students are still able to register for the Michigan primary. The VIC reports more than 7,275,000 Michigan residents are registered voters, including CMU students like Keith Phillis. “I’m registered to vote in Mount Pleasant because I don’t have a car and it’s hard to get back to my hometown, especially during the middle of the week,” the Grand Ledge senior said. Phillis said he changed his address to Mount Pleasant during the 2008 election because he didn’t feel comfortable with voting through an absentee ballot. “I’ve heard of previous elections where boxes of absentee
ballots go uncounted or missing, so I don’t feel confident that my vote would be counted under an absentee ballot,” he said. Phillis said he is mostly familiar with the Nov. 8 ballot, but is more interested in the presidential election and Republican primary. “I think it’s especially important for students to learn about the policies and the agendas of the different candidates because at this point, it’s the students that are currently at universities who are going to be affected most by the policies,” he said. “I’m looking very much forward to the primary coming up for the Republican Party because certain candidates may seal the parties’ fate for the upcoming election.” Like Phillis, Lake Orion senior Lauren Kellogg is registered to vote, and is looking forward to the presidential election. “I don’t think there’s enough
hype amongst college students for local elections,” Kellogg said. “People aren’t really informed, especially with the presidential election being so close, people are more focused on that.” Kellogg said she hasn’t kept up on proposals featured on the Nov. 8 ballot, but she stills plans on voting in her hometown that day. Voting precincts will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. studentlife@cm-life.com
Department of Journalism Internship Fair 2011
Three incumbent commissioners unopposed in next week’s election By Jackie Smith Online Coordinator
Three Mount Pleasant public officials are set to put on their City Commission hats once again after running for re-election uncontested this fall. Incumbent commissioners Sharon Tilmann, Jim Holton and Erik Robinette will be on next week’s local ballot — three individuals for the three open slots. The three-year terms for both Tilmann and Holton will end in December, whereas Robinette hopes to serve what would have been former commissioner David Maguire’s final year of a term before Robinette replaced him in April. Having filled in the past six months, Robinette said things are “so far, so good” in the position, but he will have to seek re-election in November 2012 for a full term. He said he takes a holistic approach in his decision-making and has always had a general interest in city government. “I always wanted to be on the City Commission, ultimately,” Robinette said. “I’ve been following city government for a while. It seemed like a comfortable fit.” He said he originally joined the Zoning Board of Appeals to “get my feet wet” and served there for close to six months. He was a member of the Planning Commission for more than a year before his appointment last April. Tilmann would return to the commission with a longer record of service than her fellow incumbents. She first served as a city commissioner from 1995 to 2001,
including a year as both mayor and vice mayor. She also sat on the Isabella County Board of Commissioners until 2005 before twice returning to the city, first in 2005 and again in 2009. Tilmann said she brings a balanced viewpoint with an emphasis on making sure people feel heard. “If individuals feel that they’re heard, even if they don’t get their way, they’re a lot more likely to feel satisfied,” she said. Holton is currently in his fifth year and second full term, also including time as mayor and vice mayor. He got his start on the planning commission, serving for seven years. THE ISSUES Holton said there is not any particular hot-button issue going into election that has seen a large concerned response from the public. However, he said that could always change. “You can’t please everybody, there’s no doubt about it,” Holton said. “My guess is, if there was some extreme problems with the City Commission, there’d be more than three people running for these seats.” Both Robinette and Holton said redevelopment of the Mount Pleasant Center property in the coming months could prove to be a large item of concern. Balancing the city’s budget will also continue to be a concern, Robinette said, despite calling Mount Pleasant “financially healthier” than other regions of the state. Tilmann said the city needs to look into finding other sources of revenue whether it be additional grant opportu-
Other Races Mount Pleasant Public School Board Candidates (Vote no more than two) Donald J. Chiodo Christine McKnight Wynne Winslow
Thursday, November 3, 2011 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.• UC RotUnda
*Montcalm Community College Trustee Hopefuls
(Vote no more than two) Carol Deuling-Ravell Roger A. Thelen *Election limited to certain designated precincts nities or re-examining if the city’s millage is covering all of its necessities. Additionally, she said the city’s residents get more involved. She recalled situations in the past when public input didn’t come until after a decision was made. “I think there’s a sense of discouragement on the part of voters and if they’re truly heard,” Tilmann said. “We try to make sure we have special hearings and special meetings to involve citizens. I think that the state and national levels contribute to the discouragement in government. I think that carries over.” Robinette and Holton agreed more residents need to take an active role, even in Tuesday’s election. “We always encourage people to come out and vote,” Robinette said. “Contested or uncontested.” metro@cm-life.com
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