28 North

"....An epic dogfight between the Eagles and the Foo Fighters...." - Music Connections

ext up were Pittsburgh “rockternative crunchers” 28 North, who were high (on life) and obviously happy that in addition to lots of fans in the pit, some important dudes in suits were sitting in a booth over in the corner, checking out this honestly flawless show. I had been expecting a boring bar band, but got These Guys Instead: “Purveyor of Joy” frontman Mike Lindner never missed a note and hit more than one Daltrey height, especially as he took on The Who’s epic Won’t Get Fooled Again scream. Holy shit! Can’t believe he pulled that off! Bassist Mark Glinka (who, along with Robin-Zanderesque lead guitarist Taylor Netzler, is from one of my favorite cities: Cleveland) was a cool crackup with his macho rock god moves, yet his playing was spot on and he even showed off some 70s funk slap bass chops just to prove he could. Drummer Tyler Bond’s backing vocals were actually more like co-lead vocals (i.e. similar to what Mike Mills of R.E.M. used to do), giving the tunes a super rich sound. The band’s windblown rocktacious 70s icon hair was something to behold; this is the band to see if you’re feeling down in the dumps and need a pick-me-up. 28 North was voted Best Band in Pittsburgh 2010 and has since hooked up with producer Gavin MacKillop and legendary manager Jerry “The Guy Who Gets There First” Heller. They are working on their breakout record World on Fire to be released by Red River Records/SONY Red/Bob Frank Entertainment on a date TBA. Check out the 28 North blog here. More info on these guys at the Pittsburgh Tribune and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and in the We ? Music review of the Viper Room show here. - Carla Pierce

Dan Majors / The Pittsburgh Press
If it weren't for that darned Friday sticking up like a weed in our imaginary lawn of fun, tonight would be the start of an extended holiday of summer weekend wonderfulness.
Stupid Thursday holidays.
Oh well, we make the best of it tonight by heading to the Altar Bar and getting things off to a head-nodding start with 28 North, a local band that is traveling the road to success despite being named after a road that is famous for delays and detours.
Not that 28 North hasn't had its share of detours. There have been significant changes since guitarist Michael Lindner of Aspinwall and drummer Tyler Bond of Cleveland met while studying music at Duquesne University in 2003.
"Tyler and I, we've been playing music literally almost every day since we met," Mr. Lindner said this afternoon.

At first, they played with a couple other local guys in countless clubs in and around Pittsburgh, finding their footing then stretching their legs. Pittsburgh Magazine voted them "Best Band in Pittsburgh" in 2010, the same time that Post-Gazette music writer Scott Mervis described their "classic rock with a funky, Southern blues vibe."
So much for that. Since then, 28 North has inked a record deal with high-profile manager Jerry Heller and relocated to Los Angeles, where they have become fixtures on the Sunset Strip. Their website boasts that their songs have been getting more and more radio play and their nationwide tours have had them opening for top acts, as well as playing concerts and festivals such as South-by-Southwest.
And the sound, according to Mr. Lindner, has "evolved."
"Now, I think I'd describe us more as alternative rock that nods toward the great classic rock," he said. "But there are influences from all of that range. We've come so far. We almost feel like our music was older then. The music that we played was influenced by what we liked when we were 18. And that was great music, but now we're influenced more by indie music and it's a lot more current."
Some of these changes were the result of input -- some of it direct and harsh -- from their new mentors in Los Angeles.
"Obviously, we all want everything to be perfect and we liked what we were doing," Mr. Lindner said. "And we'd always been told how much people liked it. It was hard to hear some of what we heard later and, sure, it hurt for a minute, but it's great because hearing it makes you get better. What we found was -- you want to put out stuff that's competitive. We needed to get signed, we wanted to tour. So we listened to people who knew what they were talking about."
The band's makeup has likewise changed, adding Taylor Netzler (guitars) and Mark Glinka (bass), both of whom also are from Cleveland.
But Mr. Lindner would rather not discuss the changes in the band and its past. He and the rest of 28 North prefer to look down the road.
Tonight it returns to Pittsburgh.
"It's great to come back," Mr. Lindner said. "Actually, it's been like we've been living on our tour bus for two years. It's been good, but we all had to come home for some weddings, and then we're headed to New York for some meetings with the label.
"I love it. This is where I grew up. This is home. Pittsburgh allowed us to start and from here we continue. It's fun to see how we've progressed."
If there was any concern that the band's older fans might not appreciate the newer sound, it vanished after a show Tuesday night in Cleveland.
"I don't think anybody's going to be disappointed," Mr. Lindner said. "People were flipping out last night.
"I think people will see that even the old stuff is new now, because we're a completely different band. Even Tyler and I. We're still the same guys, but we've changed. We found our own kind of path."
It leads to the Altar Bar, located at 1620 Penn Ave. in the Strip District, tonight at 9.
The opening act is Act of Pardon. The cover is $12.


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/ae/music/tonight-28-north-returns-to-pittsburgh-694182/#ixzz2ZtOyC5Xk - Pittsburgh Post Gazette

28 North just returned to their LA home from being back east playing shows and visiting loved ones, and what a better way to kick off the West Coast than making an appearance at the infamous Viper Room on the Sunset Strip? The foursome consists of Michael Lindner (vocals, guitar), Taylor Netzler (vocals, guitar), Tyler Bond (drums,vocals), and Mark Glinka (bass,vocals). The guys were super pumped before the show, and with good reason, as they were recently signed to Sony Records and also had a packed house of exuberant fans anxiously awaiting their set.

These guys appeared onstage as if they were Rock Gods sent to earth to show us what's been missing since the 70's. That is, these guys are SO seventies...in the best possible way. With Michael's hair flowing in the fan like something out of an Aerosmith video and Taylor wailing on the guitar, their opening song from their upcoming album of the same title “World on Fire” blew the roof off the Viper. The energy between the band is undeniable, and all of them sing backup which is always impressive. When they played their hit “Restless” the crowd went wild, so much so that one would believe it to be a much looser city than the sometimes-hard-to-please Los Angeles. These guys know how to have fun and it's impossible not to follow their lead. Ladies and gentlemen, Southern Rock is back and better than ever.

The mind-blowing performance continued as another hit from their upcoming album, “Monster”, filled the room. The song is about Michael's brother, with the heartfelt lyrics 'There's a monster running around in your head and I don't know how to calm it down; I'm sure he will pretend he's our friend but we'll turn it around when we shake it off'. This is a band that strips away all reservations and seems to truly value the sanctity of rock 'n' roll. Michael has no difficulty making the crowd laugh in between songs and his sheer excitement and gratefulness is written all over his face...in fact it's written on all their faces...they are jamming out flawlessly all while having the time of their lives. What's more fun than being a rockstar anyway? The band sent us home with “Pride”, another rosy track off their debut album that dropped in 2010. They bid farewell to an elated crowd while thanking all the folks who traveled from places like Cleveland (where a couple bandmates are originally from) to be there to show their support.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Michael after the show, as they were loading up their bus. He expressed to me how happy they were at Sony and how awesome they were with letting them drop their upcoming album World On Fire without a single modification. Gavin MacKillop produced the album, who's worked with bands such as Neon Trees and Toad the Wet Sprocket. His influences range from My Morning Jacket to The Band, and he's crazy about Talking Heads. He graciously played me a new acoustic song he was writing called “Demon” and I was blown away not only by the song itself but how soulful he is and his abilities as a more folky kind of artist.

28 North are currently playing countless shows in Los Angeles and have two albums which are available on Itunes. Keep your eye on these guys...and try to catch them at an intimate show before they're blasting off stadium lights all over the World. - We Heart Music

Pittsburgh-based band 28 North hits SXSW | SXSW’s Music Begins March 15

March 15, 2011
Posted By - Emma Venezie
Source Credits - talent network, inc., 28 North, SXSW
---

Pittsburgh-based band 28 North, and one talent network, inc. has had great success with, are hitting SXSW this week, opening up for TV on the Radio in SPIN Magazine’s showcase on March 18.

While working on their fourth album, “A Long Walk Home,” 28 North attended several SPIN Magazine functions, acquiring many connections along the way: “We played their CMJ show with ace producer Daniel Lanois in October, so they knew that we brought the fury!” (The band is even pictured in March’s issue of SPIN Magazine). This led to the band’s being invited to perform in the SPIN Showcase at SXSW with TV on the Radio. On Friday, March 18, 28 North will be hitting the stage at Stubb’s, a venue the band “dreamt of playing” since they played at SXSW last year with Crash Kings. In a 30-minute set, jam-packed with their “catchiest material,” 28 North will be sure to play the single off their new record, “Call Me Up,” which is available to download for free at www.28northnet.com. Among other songs that will be heard: “Trails,” “Brother,” “Charlotte,” and mostly new songs with a choice throwback, possibly “Pride.”

2 8 North
Hoping to gain national attention, the talented 28 North will be networking with the vast number of bands and musicians attending SXSW: “Considering the amount of touring we do, we really want to hook up with bands all over the USA!” With such an immense list of musicians to be seen and heard at the festival, 28 North says they are excited to see TV on the Radio, The Kills, OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark), and DJ Skillrex.

28 North’s fourth album, “A Long Walk Home,” will be released soon, and they are currently on tour. Dates and more information is available on 28 North's website.

And don’t forget you can download 28 North's new single, “Call Me Up” for free here.

SXSW's Music runs from March 15-20 and features a massive amount of musicians. Check out the SXSW Music Schedule here.

Other Pittsburghers aside from 28 North performing at SXSW include Lovebettie, Wiz Khalifa, The Cynics (Get Hip Showcase with The Ugly Beats, The Mullens and more), and 1,2,3 (featuring Nic Snyder and Josh Sickels of Takeover UK).
- Talen Network News

Pittsburgh-based band 28 North hits SXSW | SXSW’s Music Begins March 15

March 15, 2011
Posted By - Emma Venezie
Source Credits - talent network, inc., 28 North, SXSW
---

Pittsburgh-based band 28 North, and one talent network, inc. has had great success with, are hitting SXSW this week, opening up for TV on the Radio in SPIN Magazine’s showcase on March 18.

While working on their fourth album, “A Long Walk Home,” 28 North attended several SPIN Magazine functions, acquiring many connections along the way: “We played their CMJ show with ace producer Daniel Lanois in October, so they knew that we brought the fury!” (The band is even pictured in March’s issue of SPIN Magazine). This led to the band’s being invited to perform in the SPIN Showcase at SXSW with TV on the Radio. On Friday, March 18, 28 North will be hitting the stage at Stubb’s, a venue the band “dreamt of playing” since they played at SXSW last year with Crash Kings. In a 30-minute set, jam-packed with their “catchiest material,” 28 North will be sure to play the single off their new record, “Call Me Up,” which is available to download for free at www.28northnet.com. Among other songs that will be heard: “Trails,” “Brother,” “Charlotte,” and mostly new songs with a choice throwback, possibly “Pride.”

2 8 North
Hoping to gain national attention, the talented 28 North will be networking with the vast number of bands and musicians attending SXSW: “Considering the amount of touring we do, we really want to hook up with bands all over the USA!” With such an immense list of musicians to be seen and heard at the festival, 28 North says they are excited to see TV on the Radio, The Kills, OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark), and DJ Skillrex.

28 North’s fourth album, “A Long Walk Home,” will be released soon, and they are currently on tour. Dates and more information is available on 28 North's website.

And don’t forget you can download 28 North's new single, “Call Me Up” for free here.

SXSW's Music runs from March 15-20 and features a massive amount of musicians. Check out the SXSW Music Schedule here.

Other Pittsburghers aside from 28 North performing at SXSW include Lovebettie, Wiz Khalifa, The Cynics (Get Hip Showcase with The Ugly Beats, The Mullens and more), and 1,2,3 (featuring Nic Snyder and Josh Sickels of Takeover UK).
- Talen Network News

SEPTEMBER 4, 2010
Talking tour with 28 North

BY ANDY MULKERIN
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It's not necessarily a popular time to be called 28 North, but it's an okay time to be 28 North. The local rock band has a welcome-back show Saturday night at Thunderbird Cafe; singer Alex Stanton took some time last week to chat with me about the tour the band just undertook, and its plans for the future.

I know you guys have been in and out of town a lot – tell me about your summer tour. How long were you out on tour?
We just got back a couple days ago – we were basically out from July 14th or 15th until Sunday [August 22] – we drove in from Cleveland that morning. We did a bunch of other traveling and playing in June and early July, but it wasn't the tour part, where we're out the whole time.

This is presumably the most you guys have been out of town on tour before, right?
Last year and the year before we did a similar thing but we weren't out as long and we didn't play as much when we were – we literally played every night but three or four while we were out [this time]. And I think that was the key to why it felt so successful.

Did you have a booking agent routing your tour for you?
For some of them. A lot of places we were going were places we play regularly in New York, Cleveland, Philly. These places that we hit are easy to book, we play there all the time. Those were a no-brainer, then we did a lot of the stuff in the South – it was our first time down there, we did the Carolinas and Atlanta and New Orleans. Those were trickier to get. But we did most of that ourselves by calling and finding local bands there that could hook us up. We had a booking agent do a few gigs. The coolest one he got was when we opened for Afroman in Lexington, KY. It didn't make sense on paper, but when we got there it was cool. He had a total white college crowd there to see him. Not to say – black people generally love us, sometimes more than white people.

Were you satisfied with the venues you were able to book?
Yeah – we found a lot of great ones, like Smith's Old Bar in Atlanta, Nectar's in Burlington. These are places where, we'd never played in the city before, so it's great when you show up and think “Yeah, we're in the right place.” Sometimes you show up and just think “Well, we did the best we could as far as finding a venue.” But we definitely got lucky in a bunch of places.

Were there any surprises – maybe you didn't expect a good show and it turned out to be great, or --
Yeah. We knew what to expect in the places we go a lot, but if it's someplace new, we advertise it on Facebook, and we had a radio campaign going and our publicist was trying to get us listed, get things written about us, but you still don't know what to expect. So we were surprised that we did well in a lot of places we'd never been, especially on Sundays and Mondays and Tuesdays. We were playing every night of the week. But the Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays were great the whole tour.

I know a lot of bands are doing weekend trips and day trips since gas prices are higher than they used to be and it's harder to make money playing out – what made you decide to hit the pavement for a longer period instead of just sticking with that model?
As a day job the previous couple years, we've been driving school vans, and we're hoping this is the last year we do it – we think we're not going to do it this fall. All four of us had this job – which is great, we're on the same schedule, so during the school year it made more sense to do weekends and in the summer we planned this tour because we're totally available. We're thinking we might be able to jump to doing more tours like that and less weekend trips if we're not doing the day trips.

Do you all split time driving the tour van since you have experience driving vans?
Yeah. [Laughs.] It's a family operation, Mike's dad comes on tour with us and helps out, does a lot of the driving, wakes us in the morning, all that.
Good to have a band parent around. So you're looking to take it full time?
I think we're going to. We've started planning a two- or three-week tour in October; we're playing CMJ in New York, doing a SPIN Magazine-sponsored party.

So we're going to be touring in October around that, and we're playing the Dewey Beach Music Conference in the beginning of October, in Delaware. We played that the last couple years, so we're probably just going to tour between those two things.

Beyond just good vibes and having fun, do you feel like there were good dividends from being out on the road – getting your name out - Pittsburgh City Paper

SEPTEMBER 4, 2010
Talking tour with 28 North

BY ANDY MULKERIN
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It's not necessarily a popular time to be called 28 North, but it's an okay time to be 28 North. The local rock band has a welcome-back show Saturday night at Thunderbird Cafe; singer Alex Stanton took some time last week to chat with me about the tour the band just undertook, and its plans for the future.

I know you guys have been in and out of town a lot – tell me about your summer tour. How long were you out on tour?
We just got back a couple days ago – we were basically out from July 14th or 15th until Sunday [August 22] – we drove in from Cleveland that morning. We did a bunch of other traveling and playing in June and early July, but it wasn't the tour part, where we're out the whole time.

This is presumably the most you guys have been out of town on tour before, right?
Last year and the year before we did a similar thing but we weren't out as long and we didn't play as much when we were – we literally played every night but three or four while we were out [this time]. And I think that was the key to why it felt so successful.

Did you have a booking agent routing your tour for you?
For some of them. A lot of places we were going were places we play regularly in New York, Cleveland, Philly. These places that we hit are easy to book, we play there all the time. Those were a no-brainer, then we did a lot of the stuff in the South – it was our first time down there, we did the Carolinas and Atlanta and New Orleans. Those were trickier to get. But we did most of that ourselves by calling and finding local bands there that could hook us up. We had a booking agent do a few gigs. The coolest one he got was when we opened for Afroman in Lexington, KY. It didn't make sense on paper, but when we got there it was cool. He had a total white college crowd there to see him. Not to say – black people generally love us, sometimes more than white people.

Were you satisfied with the venues you were able to book?
Yeah – we found a lot of great ones, like Smith's Old Bar in Atlanta, Nectar's in Burlington. These are places where, we'd never played in the city before, so it's great when you show up and think “Yeah, we're in the right place.” Sometimes you show up and just think “Well, we did the best we could as far as finding a venue.” But we definitely got lucky in a bunch of places.

Were there any surprises – maybe you didn't expect a good show and it turned out to be great, or --
Yeah. We knew what to expect in the places we go a lot, but if it's someplace new, we advertise it on Facebook, and we had a radio campaign going and our publicist was trying to get us listed, get things written about us, but you still don't know what to expect. So we were surprised that we did well in a lot of places we'd never been, especially on Sundays and Mondays and Tuesdays. We were playing every night of the week. But the Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays were great the whole tour.

I know a lot of bands are doing weekend trips and day trips since gas prices are higher than they used to be and it's harder to make money playing out – what made you decide to hit the pavement for a longer period instead of just sticking with that model?
As a day job the previous couple years, we've been driving school vans, and we're hoping this is the last year we do it – we think we're not going to do it this fall. All four of us had this job – which is great, we're on the same schedule, so during the school year it made more sense to do weekends and in the summer we planned this tour because we're totally available. We're thinking we might be able to jump to doing more tours like that and less weekend trips if we're not doing the day trips.

Do you all split time driving the tour van since you have experience driving vans?
Yeah. [Laughs.] It's a family operation, Mike's dad comes on tour with us and helps out, does a lot of the driving, wakes us in the morning, all that.
Good to have a band parent around. So you're looking to take it full time?
I think we're going to. We've started planning a two- or three-week tour in October; we're playing CMJ in New York, doing a SPIN Magazine-sponsored party.

So we're going to be touring in October around that, and we're playing the Dewey Beach Music Conference in the beginning of October, in Delaware. We played that the last couple years, so we're probably just going to tour between those two things.

Beyond just good vibes and having fun, do you feel like there were good dividends from being out on the road – getting your name out - Pittsburgh City Paper

SEPTEMBER 4, 2010
Talking tour with 28 North

BY ANDY MULKERIN
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ALSO IN FFW>>
MP3 Monday: The Composure
Screw MP3 Monday; you're downloading the new Girl Talk
Das Racist tonight at The Shop
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Mike Doyle on Democratic opposition to tax compromise
Dance Alloy's From Where We Come ...
First Night 2011
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It's not necessarily a popular time to be called 28 North, but it's an okay time to be 28 North. The local rock band has a welcome-back show Saturday night at Thunderbird Cafe; singer Alex Stanton took some time last week to chat with me about the tour the band just undertook, and its plans for the future.

I know you guys have been in and out of town a lot – tell me about your summer tour. How long were you out on tour?
We just got back a couple days ago – we were basically out from July 14th or 15th until Sunday [August 22] – we drove in from Cleveland that morning. We did a bunch of other traveling and playing in June and early July, but it wasn't the tour part, where we're out the whole time.

This is presumably the most you guys have been out of town on tour before, right?
Last year and the year before we did a similar thing but we weren't out as long and we didn't play as much when we were – we literally played every night but three or four while we were out [this time]. And I think that was the key to why it felt so successful.

Did you have a booking agent routing your tour for you?
For some of them. A lot of places we were going were places we play regularly in New York, Cleveland, Philly. These places that we hit are easy to book, we play there all the time. Those were a no-brainer, then we did a lot of the stuff in the South – it was our first time down there, we did the Carolinas and Atlanta and New Orleans. Those were trickier to get. But we did most of that ourselves by calling and finding local bands there that could hook us up. We had a booking agent do a few gigs. The coolest one he got was when we opened for Afroman in Lexington, KY. It didn't make sense on paper, but when we got there it was cool. He had a total white college crowd there to see him. Not to say – black people generally love us, sometimes more than white people.

Were you satisfied with the venues you were able to book?
Yeah – we found a lot of great ones, like Smith's Old Bar in Atlanta, Nectar's in Burlington. These are places where, we'd never played in the city before, so it's great when you show up and think “Yeah, we're in the right place.” Sometimes you show up and just think “Well, we did the best we could as far as finding a venue.” But we definitely got lucky in a bunch of places.

Were there any surprises – maybe you didn't expect a good show and it turned out to be great, or --
Yeah. We knew what to expect in the places we go a lot, but if it's someplace new, we advertise it on Facebook, and we had a radio campaign going and our publicist was trying to get us listed, get things written about us, but you still don't know what to expect. So we were surprised that we did well in a lot of places we'd never been, especially on Sundays and Mondays and Tuesdays. We were playing every night of the week. But the Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays were great the whole tour.

I know a lot of bands are doing weekend trips and day trips since gas prices are higher than they used to be and it's harder to make money playing out – what made you decide to hit the pavement for a longer period instead of just sticking with that model?
As a day job the previous couple years, we've been driving school vans, and we're hoping this is the last year we do it – we think we're not going to do it this fall. All four of us had this job – which is great, we're on the same schedule, so during the school year it made more sense to do weekends and in the summer we planned this tour because we're totally available. We're thinking we might be able to jump to doing more tours like that and less weekend trips if we're not doing the day trips.

Do you all split time driving the tour van since you have experience driving vans?
Yeah. [Laughs.] It's a family operation, Mike's dad comes on tour with us and helps out, does a lot of the driving, wakes us in the morning, all that.
Good to have a band parent around. So you're looking to take it full time?
I think we're going to. We've started planning a two- or three-week tour in October; we're playing CMJ in New York, doing a SPIN Magazine-sponsored party.

So we're going to be touring in October around that, and we're playing the Dewey Beach Music Conference in the beginning of October, in Delaware. We played that the last couple years, so we're probably just going to tour between those two things.

Beyond just good vibes and having fun, do you feel like there were good dividends from being out on the road – getting your name out - Pittsburgh City Paper

Up-and-coming indie rockers 28 North invited Relix into a recent recording session at Let ‘Em In studios in Brooklyn. Here’s “Call Me Up,” a single from their upcoming album, slated for release next year. - Relix Magazine

Up-and-coming indie rockers 28 North invited Relix into a recent recording session at Let ‘Em In studios in Brooklyn. Here’s “Call Me Up,” a single from their upcoming album, slated for release next year. - Relix

It used to be that a handful of multinational record companies and a few indies controlled all of the music we heard. That’s all changed.

With the advent of everything from iTunes and CDBaby to YouTube and Reverbnation, a band from Pittsburgh has as much opportunity to break through all the noise as one in traditional music capitals such as New York, L.A. or London.

--------------
LISTEN TO 28 NORTH INTERVIEW!
--------------

And that’s what’s happening on Mr. Media tonight: we’re going to give some air time to 28 North, a four-piece act with a big sound that’s at once original and familiar to the ears. The band, which played earlier this year at both the CMJ and South By Southwest (SXSW) music fests, is in the midst of a months-long road tour. That means you might see Michael Lindner, Alex Stanton, Jonathan Colman, and Tyler Bond at a club near you—soon.

We’re going to play some new music from the band during tonight’s show, starting “Panic,” recorded live at their hometown rock radio station, 102.5 WDVE in Pittsburgh. And then in a special moment, the band will perform, live, "Napa Valley," a song from their next album. This is a first for Mr. Media--I hope you'll take time to watch the complete show video, below.

28 North has produced three CDs over the last four years; the latest, titled “28 North,” was released in April 2010. You can order all of their work online at their website, 28North.net. If you've never heard these guys before, I think you're going to really enjoy tonight's show.

28 North Website • Twitter • Facebook • YouTube • ReverbNation • iTunes • MySpace
- Mr. Media Radio Interviews

“Give me what I want / I’ll give you what you need,” 28 North declares on “The Shine,” and that is precisely what is happening this month at Arlenes Grocery, where the Pittsburgh four-piece is holding a Thursday night residency that began on November 4 and continues November 11 & 18 at 10:00. Guitarists Michael Lindner and Alex Stanton, bassist Jonathan Colman, and drummer Tyler Bond play feel-good southern roots rock that blends Americana with 1970s classic rock on such songs as the countryish “The Last Goodbye,” the poppy “Call Me Up” and “Carry the Rains,” the funky “Set It Down,” and the metalish “Prayer to Mars.” The unsigned band has one disc out, an eponymous album released in April, but they have an extensive songbook of more than 250 tunes, from such originals as “Pride,” “Mystery,” “Beast Jug,” and “Sneaky Woman” to a surprise cover of the Cranberries’ “Dreams.” Michelle Cleary (7:00), the Hotcakes (8:00), Let’s Destroy (9:00), the Kid Henry (11:00), and Propane Cowboy (12:00) are also on the bill November 11, with Rory Sullivan (7:00), Bram Johnson (8:00), Big Mosey (9:00), Lily Sparks (11:00), and Bo Peep (12:00) playing November 18. - This Week in New York

28 North

28 North may be the biggest current thing in the Pittsburgh rock scene. They have their own playlist of original songs, now at 150+ and growing, and work a classic rock, southern jam vibe that's proven popular over the decades, not only in the Tri-State area but across the land.

Their sound has won enough local fans that the group was selected as 2010's Best Band in the annual WQED Readers Poll taken by Pittsburgh Magazine. It's solid rock, with hooks, harmony and radio-friendly riffs galore.

Followers of The Grateful Dead, Lynnard Skynyrd, Government Mule, Phish, the Allman Brothers and Blackfoot should groove to their music; the band itself says its muse is The Band, chief among others ranging from the Beatles to the Black Crowes.

The members of 28 North are frontman Mike Lindner (guitar/vocals), Alex Stanton (guitar/harp/vocals), Jonathan Colman (bass/vocals) and Tyler Bond (drum/vocals). They originally started out as a trio before adding Colman, a Philly native, to round out the sound.

They have three CDs out; "Gone Too Far" (2007), "Mystery" (2008), and "28 North" (2010), the last mastered by George Marino, who has worked with the Arctic Monkeys, Guns N' Roses and Bon Jovi. All are available through iTunes and Amazon; the group is unsigned and doesn't have a label to push them, yet, and so depends mightily on the digital record shops.

28 North is putting together a fourth album in Brooklyn, working with Felix McTeigue, a well-respected country writer and producer, while playing a November residency at Arlene's Grocery, a bar known for showcasing up-and-coming acts.

And 28 North isn't sitting on its laurels or looking to become home-town heroes. They tour nationwide to support their work, having done by their count some 400 shows in the past three years.

They've shared a stage with the Dave Matthews Band, My Morning Jacket, Crash Kings, Motley Crue, Dickie Betts, Ace Frehley, Billy Squire, Steven Adler, Pat McGee Band, Pat Travers, Ekoostik Hookah, and the Blues Travelers along with locals like Joe Grushecky and Rusted Root.

The venues are just as strong as the acts 28 North supports: they've played at LA's Whiskey A Go Go and Chicago's House of Blues, along with New York's CMJ, Austin's South by Southwest, and Park City's Sundance Film Festivals. They finished a busy summer tour at the end of July and are fitting together dates around Arlene's and studio time for the winter.

They work the home front pretty well, too. 28 North is regularly part of the rotation of WDVE and have appeared on the Morning Show, Coffee House and the station's on-air Christmas Party, while WYEP spins their music, too. They've also been getting some airplay nationally since the release of "28 North."

They play the big local fests like Ribs on the River 2010, the Pittsburgh Marathon and the Rivers Casino amphitheater concert, along with area venues such as the Altar Bar, Thunderbird Cafe, Club Cafe, and Mr. Smalls.

They've got all the licks needed to break out. Now it's just a matter of getting the breaks to launch that break out - Old Mon Music

Having opened for the Dave Matthews Band, My Morning Jacket, Blues Traveler and Dickey Betts, the Steel City’s 28 North finds itself logging hundreds of dates on the road, while touring behind its recently released self-titled debut. The quartet’s diverse live shows also draw from the band’s large canon of unreleased material. “We have around 200 original songs,” says 28 North singer/guitarist Mike Lindner. “Not all of them are arranged at this point, but the first rule is no two songs can sound alike.” During 28 North’s numerous opening stints, Lindner feels that the band has gained something from watching MMJ’s “calm” onstage or Dickey Betts’ “magical” guitar work—and expanded on its sound with an energetic fervor. But the band’s ability to craft its own variations on classic rock motifs with an impressive ability to segue from shimmering vocal harmonies to a dual guitar attack has inspired the quartet to seek much more—bigger stages and an even larger catalog. “It will be cool when we get to the point where everyone knows us,” says Lindner. “That’s what we want. We’re young—24, 25 years old—so by the time we’re 50, maybe we’ll have a thousand songs.” - Relix Magazine

Best Band: Perfect performance by every member of a rock band is something we’re woefully unfamiliar with. But the members of 28 North—Mike Lindner, Alex Stanton, Jonathan Colman and Tyler Bond—are masters of their instruments, playing with furious, precise passion. The band’s unique sound often turns out like big ’60s rock mixed with gritty blues (think The Who going down South). It’s irresistible, infectious and infinitely refreshing. 28 North tours nationwide, but Pittsburgh iss home; they’ve become favorites of WDVE, having hosted the radio station’s Christmas party. Go to a show. Now.
— Sean Collier - Pittsburgh Magazine

It's 8:30 p.m. Varick Street is starting to fill up. Nail Creek has a good crowd on their deck, the Electric Company is filing fast as well. Celtic Harp has a great crowd inside and though the outside is sparsely filled, the audience is attentive and engaged with Pittsburgh band 28 North. These guys are a third-year festival band and their spot at the Celtic Harp is a perfect place for these rockers.

Rick Brower and wife Debbie Brower of Utica attentively took in the band - singing along, applauding. This is the couple's first time participating in the festival. With only a few hours into the festival, these first-time UMAFers already had made the rounds. They'd already seen two bands by 8:30 p.m. and had seen two others on Thursday. They were particularly impressed with 28 North - who was just voted Pittsburgh's No. 1 band.

"This is the best band I've heard in a long time," Rick said. "They have so much personality."

Rick was equally impressed with the festival's potential to push Utica into the limelight.

"(Joe Sweet) is putting Utica on the map," Rick said.
- uticaod.com

The kickass music is by Pittsburgh's 28 North, four guys that can flat slam some music together. Featuring some rockous classic rock with a jamming feel to it, 28 North has only been together a little over five years but they've have an over-100 song catalog to their credit. The band's new album, Mystery, is loaded with their influences of The Beatles, The Band, The Allman Brothers, and Led Zeppelin are evident. This is a fantastic band; this is a fantastic album. If you ears yearn to hear music like this, without a doubt this is your band. Highly recommended, a definite must-have in any music collection.
- Local Vertical Music Blog

28 North
The funky pop jammers known as 28 North claim to have over 140 songs, and basically promise a different live show every time you see them. At about two hours per show, that almost guarantees that this versatile four-piece lineup will touch nearly every style of music in the course of an evening, which could be head-spinning if not for an essential fact: they have honestly mastered the art of the jam, knowing how to read themselves and the audience so well that no amount of string bending wails or voice-box wahs seems excessive, only exuberant.

To be sure, 28 North fits squarely in a certain tradition that attracts crunchy, Birkenstock-wearing fans. (Actually, hundreds of them. Thunderbird Cafe was completely packed when they played Saturday, before heading out West to perform at the Sundance Film Festival.) Fans of The Grateful Dead, Government Mule, Phish, or Dispatch will all dig this band's vibes. But the group's biggest musical inspiration, according to lead guitarist and singer Mike Lindner, is the Canadian rockabilly ensemble, The Band.

In that spirit, 28 North consistently draws on bits of country, tinged with Motown and boogie rhythms to punctuate their contemporary song arrangements.

"OK we're going to get funky as hell," said Lindner between songs. "Funkier, actually. Hell is more metal."

Sometimes that distinction is blurred. Both Lindner and guitarist Alex Stanton can play devilishly fast, in a Baroque style just like metal rockers. But the band steers clear of the harsh, brooding scales of the underworld in favor of pleasant, melodic refrains. The musical heat comes in thanks to the countless rhythmic fills and patterns that bridge different parts of each song. These details blend in so naturally, they're hard to notice without paying strict attention. But it's the reason why the group sounds so comfortable. They can snap in and out of a long run of improvisation, turn around a clever phrase and then zip into a new song part, all in the blink of an eye.

But don't get too bogged down in the details, man. The whole affair has this irresistibly casual feeling that is indifferent to such scrutiny. For one thing, the band never looks like they're working too hard at it. They always seem to be having a great time. Bassist Jonathan Colman played the entire set wearing a content, Zen-like grin. Can anyone really be that chill?

The group is as fan-friendly as you can get, posing for photos with the audience mid-song, playing The Beatles' "Birthday" to honor a young lady's 21st, and even opening up the stage at the end for dancing. "Just don't hurt me and don't touch my shit," Lindner said, relenting to pressure from the thick crowd chanting the name of the band in unison.

The only thing the band didn't seem to want to do was get more intense.

"Play a song we can mosh to," one fan asked.

"No, we're not moshy," was the reply.

For 28 North, this attitude and talent remains constant. Even as the chords and riffs and beat and bass evolve song by song, measure by measure, the 28 North experience endures. By the end of their set — after hours of music — the promise of all new material at the next concert is still alluring because somehow, even now, you just can't get enough. - Burghsounds.com

28 North
The funky pop jammers known as 28 North claim to have over 140 songs, and basically promise a different live show every time you see them. At about two hours per show, that almost guarantees that this versatile four-piece lineup will touch nearly every style of music in the course of an evening, which could be head-spinning if not for an essential fact: they have honestly mastered the art of the jam, knowing how to read themselves and the audience so well that no amount of string bending wails or voice-box wahs seems excessive, only exuberant.

To be sure, 28 North fits squarely in a certain tradition that attracts crunchy, Birkenstock-wearing fans. (Actually, hundreds of them. Thunderbird Cafe was completely packed when they played Saturday, before heading out West to perform at the Sundance Film Festival.) Fans of The Grateful Dead, Government Mule, Phish, or Dispatch will all dig this band's vibes. But the group's biggest musical inspiration, according to lead guitarist and singer Mike Lindner, is the Canadian rockabilly ensemble, The Band.

In that spirit, 28 North consistently draws on bits of country, tinged with Motown and boogie rhythms to punctuate their contemporary song arrangements.

"OK we're going to get funky as hell," said Lindner between songs. "Funkier, actually. Hell is more metal."

Sometimes that distinction is blurred. Both Lindner and guitarist Alex Stanton can play devilishly fast, in a Baroque style just like metal rockers. But the band steers clear of the harsh, brooding scales of the underworld in favor of pleasant, melodic refrains. The musical heat comes in thanks to the countless rhythmic fills and patterns that bridge different parts of each song. These details blend in so naturally, they're hard to notice without paying strict attention. But it's the reason why the group sounds so comfortable. They can snap in and out of a long run of improvisation, turn around a clever phrase and then zip into a new song part, all in the blink of an eye.

But don't get too bogged down in the details, man. The whole affair has this irresistibly casual feeling that is indifferent to such scrutiny. For one thing, the band never looks like they're working too hard at it. They always seem to be having a great time. Bassist Jonathan Colman played the entire set wearing a content, Zen-like grin. Can anyone really be that chill?

The group is as fan-friendly as you can get, posing for photos with the audience mid-song, playing The Beatles' "Birthday" to honor a young lady's 21st, and even opening up the stage at the end for dancing. "Just don't hurt me and don't touch my shit," Lindner said, relenting to pressure from the thick crowd chanting the name of the band in unison.

The only thing the band didn't seem to want to do was get more intense.

"Play a song we can mosh to," one fan asked.

"No, we're not moshy," was the reply.

For 28 North, this attitude and talent remains constant. Even as the chords and riffs and beat and bass evolve song by song, measure by measure, the 28 North experience endures. By the end of their set — after hours of music — the promise of all new material at the next concert is still alluring because somehow, even now, you just can't get enough. - Burghsounds.com

The band 28 North is so close to huge breakout success, that listening to their new self-tiled record brings — along with the pleasure of hearing a dozen tracks of kinetic rock and roll — a touch of frustration as well.

28 North's self-titled album

The line between their nascent popularity and massive, mainstream success is thin, only a hair’s breadth. Their following is rabid and growing. They opened for Blues Traveler last week, played SXSW last month, and Sundance Film Festival in January. Last year, City Paper opined that they were “poised to be Pittsburgh’s next big thing in straight-up rock.”

To put it very simply: this new record, their third, is really the first one that could very possibly put them over the top.

The jammy-ness of their earlier days largely cast aside, the new record is the result of tearing the guts out of songs that once used to be played 10 different ways, according to front man and guitarist Mike Lindner. The band has assembled (or re-assembled) a collection of sturdy, concerted arrangements representing only a slim cross section of 75 songs that they regularly rotate through their live sets. The current release is also their first to feature Jonathan Colman on bass.

The songs on “28 North” are the timeless standards of rock and roll, re-imagined. 28 North traffics in a kind of nostalgia that’s always in style, blaring an original voice each time through brute force and hard work. There’s nothing too fancy under the hood of the songs. But simple things can be made beautifully.

The first half of the record — primarily “Go Get Her,” “New York,” and the first single, “The Shine” — is a tour de force of melody making. There is some musical deja vu surrounding guitar hooks that are instantly familiar, as if you’d known them for years. But you haven’t.

From there, each track explores different sonic territories. “Prayer to Mars” is a large-scale uptempo rocker with crunchy guitars, bluesy vocals and mesmerizing drum patterns. A contrapuntal finale shrouded in layers of harmony finishes the song with a bang.

“Panic” is a funk rock tune whose standout feature are the a capella gang vocals. When those harmonies hang suspended between verses, there is an odd feeling of musical weightlessness, an inertia that at once drives the song forward and adds a firm stamp of finality at the end. Indeed, it was a masterly technique of mastering to begin “Take What’s Mine” and its soaring opening guitar solo so quickly after the end of “Panic.”

“The Crash” is a slow, acoustic-only number whose slight dissonances and advanced harmonies pair appropriately with its philosophical pondering: “What’s to find by digging any deeper, but a hole?”

Throughout the album, vocals take center stage. Surprisingly, special effects don’t. When the band needs to snarl, it does so as a unit. When straight chillen’ is in order, that happens together, as well.

The record especially benefits from using the talents of all their personnel. Drummer Tyler Bond stands out singing lead vocals over the sinewy guitar lines of “I Could.”

What is ultimately frustrating about the record is how to regard it among the other factors that may thrust the band into the upper echelons of success. The band makes no secret of their ambitions to join a world-class tour and become the next big thing. They work incessantly from their shared home and rehearsal space north of Pittsburgh. And their seemingly endless catalog of songs all but guarantees that their creativity won’t burn out before they have a chance to team up with a veteran producer like Steve Lillywhite somewhere down the line.

Guitarist Alex Stanton at work in front of a list of the band's songs

But this release is only a document of where the band is now. There is no promise in spite of their hunger. There is only the reassurance that they have laid another solid offering upon the altar of fate. - Burghsounds

By Regis Behe
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, October 20, 2005

It wasn't the most auspicious of debuts, playing for a group of bus drivers at a Strip District bar earlier this year. Even now, the members of 28 North disagree on the show's merits.

"It wasn't that good," says Michael Lindner, who sings, and plays guitar and bass.

"I thought it was sweet," says Alex Stanton, who shares the same duties as Lindner.

Since then, 28 North, which plays Friday at Moondog's in Blawnox, has been on the same page. Stanton, who quit college in Vermont to join 28 North, has no regrets about his decision.

"Before we even gigged together, there was something magic going on," he says.

Stanton and Lindner are graduates of Fox Chapel High School. Lindner met Eric Brewer, an Erie native who sings and plays guitar, and drummer-vocalist Tyler Bond, of Cleveland, while studying music at Duquesne University. All have one thing in common: An appreciation of classic rock that is older than they are.

"We think the best music is from the '60s and the '70s," Lindner says.

The songs on the group's self-titled debut release have a malleable quality. There are strains of the Allman Brothers and Led Zeppelin, but there are also elements of funk, soul and especially jazz, the latter a byproduct of Bond's inventive syncopation.

But there were no discussions of influences when Lindner first jammed with Bond and Brewer at Duquesne.

"I didn't even have to ask them what kind of music they liked," Bond says. "It came out when we played."

"The first time we played it was telepathic," Brewer adds.

Adding Stanton solidified the lineup and provided another vocalist. When performing live, band members switch instruments, save Bond, a fixture behind his drum kit. He does sing, but don't compare him to Don Henley of the Eagles.

"It's more Levon Helm thing," he insists, noting The Band's drummer.

"The Band is probably one of our main influences," Brewer says. "As far as the way we arrange our vocals, we use their approach."

Which is kind of odd given that The Band's original lineup quit performing long before the musicians in 28 North -- all of whom are either 20 or 21 -- were born. While they have tabs on what's current, they prefer to mine the past for ideas and inspiration.

"We do listen to everything," Lindner says. "We listen to classical ..."

"There's bluegrass and the Beatles," Stanton interjects.

"I'm a huge Bob Dylan fan," Bond adds.

Put all those influences together, and it's no wonder 28 North resists labels of any and all kinds. They refuse the limitations of a jam band, and don't think they are strictly rock 'n' roll. And given some of their past musical explorations -- Brewer was into heavy metal, Bond jazz, and Stanton a follower of Phish -- the aggregate sound could have been a confusing cacophony of different styles.

Instead, because the band insists on good lyrics and vocals, they're able to create a sound that is flexible and adjusts to the audience or room they are performing in.

"I think we all agree that the vocals are the most important part of the band," Bond says.

"The song aren't complete without vocals and harmonies," Lindner says.

So far, that's a formula that's worked for 28 North. - TRIBUNE-REVIEW

28 North's career picking up speed with CD release
Buzz up!
By Rege Behe, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, March 10, 2010

It hasn't always been a smooth path for 28 North. Starting as teenagers five years ago, they tried to balance attending college with a career in music, eventually giving up on higher education in favor of performing full time. They endured the loss of one band member, an uncertain period as a trio, and eventually breaking in a new bass player. But with the release of a new, self-titled album Saturday at the Altar Bar in the Strip District, the Shaler-based quartet is confident it's on the right path.

"It's not just a Pittsburgh band anymore," says Mike Lindner, who sings and plays guitar. "It's New York and Philly, Baltimore and Boston, it's West Virginia, Cleveland and Erie."

That road map is about to expand. Later this month, 28 North will perform at South By Southwest, the internationally recognized music festival in Austin, Texas. There's a gig in April at the House of Blues in Chicago, opening for Blues Traveler. They'll hit the festival circuit this summer, with appearances scheduled in New York and Delaware.

28 North could be a different band at every venue. Lindner, guitarist and vocalist Alex Stanton, drummer and vocalist Tyler Bond, and Jonathan Colman (bass and vocals) have more musical colors than a chameleon on a rainbow. The album "28 North" serves as a musical primer, with the bouncy pop of "Go Get Here" juxtaposed against "I Could," which seems culled from the Phish songbook. "The Shine" features three-part harmonies a la Crosby, Stills & Nash, while "Take What's Mine" and "Carry the Reins" are guitar-heavy anthems.

Stanton says the diversity is a by-product of the individual members eclectic tastes.

"We collaborate like crazy," Stanton says. "Everybody is bringing in stuff ... We've got over 100 songs we can play right now. If you start talking about song ideas that haven't come to head yet, it gets ridiculous."

"The decision to be so diverse comes from our passion and love of creating music," says Bond, who admits his vocal style as a drummer is more Levon Helm than Don Henley. "It's challenging and exciting. Although we're musicians, we're music fans at heart. So, the ability to do that in our group has been a blessing."

The addition of Colman has proven to be a boon for 28 North; Linder admits the band was floundering as a trio until he joined.

"As soon as Jon joined, we started traveling," Lindner says, noting that Colman's good nature improved 28 North's stage presence. "It's almost as if we were waiting for him."

The first gig 28 North played five years ago was for a bus company's Christmas party. The distance between that show and gigs later this year such as the Overgrown Music Festival in New York is stunning. But the band is matter-of-fact about its journey.

"It feels like the exact same thing," Lindner says, "except we have longer hair now."

Photos
click to enlarge

28 North
Joe Appel | Tribune-Review
28 North CD release party

When: 9 p.m. Saturday

Admission: $5 advance, $7 day of show

Where: Altar Bar, Strip District

Details: 412-263-2877 or Web site
About the writer

Rege Behe is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review staff writer and can be reached at 412-320-7990 or via e-mail.
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- Pittsburgh Tribune Review

28 North, a rustic collective of scalawags from the Steel City, will perform Saturday night at the Bullfrog Brewery, 220 W. Fourth St.

The band has its own interpretation of musical Americana, one written in a language of deeply gnarled guitar riffs and lyrics that take you down a road all of us have travelled. It's a road littered with love and loss, faith in something and in nothing altogether. Simple men with not-so-simple problems.

The self-titled album dives deep and explores the vast underwater catacombs of American music, good American music that's been buried under the trash of Pop culture and commercialism. 28 North couldn't have simply stumbled across this sound, they had to dig deep.

Through an archaeological excavation of sound, 28 North finally hit solid rock. This is music. With this album they break down the paper thin barriers of genre, choosing to create rather than duplicate.

As a listener, I feel no separation between music and being. These are introspective lyrics that speak to you, attaching words to emotion. They are almost like a surreal analysis to reality.

The interpretation of each song is relative to the listener, making the album in its entirety extremely relatable on multiple levels of human emotion.

The members of the band are Michael Lindner, singer and guitarist; Alex Stanton, singer and guitarist; Tyler Bond, singer and drummer; and Jonathan Coman, bassist and vocalist.

For more info, visit www.myspace.com/28norththeband, which notes influences such as The Beatles, The Band and the Allman Brothers. - JEREMIAH EISLEY Sun-Gazette Correspondent

The rock quartet 28 North is based in Pittsburgh, Pa., but has started to make Delmarva a regular stop during on its touring schedule. The group's energetic shows in Rehoboth Beach and Dewey Beach have helped develop a growing local following of fans who enjoy the high-energy shows and blend of styles.

The band will return to the Dogfish Head brewpub in Rehoboth on Saturday, May 2 to preview songs from its soon-to-be-released third CD. Members include singer-guitarist Michael Lindner, guitarist-vocalist Alex Stanton, drummer-vocalist Tyler Bond and new bassist Jonathan Coman. Linder took the time answer a few questions about where 28 North has been and where it's headed.
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Q: Your music blends elements of everything from Americana to jam band music. How would you describe your sound?

A: The four of us listen to a very wide spectrum of music. Truthfully, anything you put into our ears will become an influence. Whether it's Miles Davis, Mars Volta, The Grateful Dead or Tool, their influence will seep into our songwriting. We like to think we transcend any specific genre; we blend everything from funk to jazz to folk to reggae to fusion. But I think we're servants to our songs, so if a song asks for a certain feel, we aren't afraid to give it a metal riff or throw in a reggae bridge. We've always been very careful to make each song sound completely unique from all of the others, but have our style integrated into it. Short version, we're "new classic rock."
Q: What are some of the other common musical influences that you guys share?

A: The Band, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Phish, Allman Brothers, Rolling Stones (very much lately), Led Zeppelin, Derek Trucks, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ryan Adams — and definitely Wilco.
Q: You guys have opened for everyone from Dave Matthews to Ace Frehley to Dickie Betts. What has been your favorite opening gig (and why)?

A: It's always a rush to open for people we grew up listening to. Dickey Betts was certainly amazing, it was at the TLA (Theatre of Living Arts) in Philly and the place was packed and best of all, we were playing for the kind of crowd we feel we will eventually be playing in front of on tour — southern rockers. We recently opened for Steven Adler from Guns 'n' Roses at the Hard Rock Cafe here in Pittsburgh and that was amazing as well. His band played lots of G'n'R tunes and the crowd was very rockin'. But to answer the question, I would have to go with the Dickey Betts show — he's my favorite guitarist.
Q: How has the sound and the band dynamic changed since Jonathan came aboard on bass?

A: Since Jon got on board, we have disected each and every song in our catalog and given them new life. We were a trio before Jon. Although the trio days were great, there was always something missing. Now we're able to do guitar harmonies (one of our favorite and signature moves) and we can layer much more. Jon is the white horse of 28 North; musically, we've reached new heights and personally, we've found our fourth brother.
Q: How does the new album differ from "Mystery" and "Gone Too Far"?

A: The new album is our first with Jon on bass, so automatically, the groove throughout the record is more cohesive. Alex and Mike played bass on the first two albums due to lack-of-bassist syndrome, and the results were satisfactory, but with a real, trained bassist, the outcome is a tighter groove and a more melodic low end on the album. "Mystery" was 11 songs recorded at different times and then made into an album. The new album was recorded all together and most importantly, all of our tracks were cut live. We did no overdubbing on the guitars, bass or drums. All of the guitar solos are live and we really tapped into our sound and the momentum we get when playing together. It'll be out in June, and we'll be back at Dogfish on June 12.
Q: Are you psyched about touring down south in July? How far have you traveled previously?

A: We can't wait to hit the south on our tour. We love to travel and always have a great time on the road. We drove to Little Rock, Ark. for a music conference and two shows; we drove to Hollywood (Calif.) to play at the Whisky A-go-go which was probably our best show to date.
Q: Will you be starting out with an acoustic set at Dogfish, or will you be rocking it from the get-go? How often do you play unplugged shows?

A: We will bring our acoustics to the show because we love to show that side of ourselves. We're all very in tune with our stripped-down, acoustic, earthy sound and we love to give that to people because it gives our songs a depth that sometimes gets lost in a loud, electric setting. I can guarantee that at our show on Saturday, the audience will recieve all types of 28 North; acoustic, electric and everything in between.
Q: Do you guys enjoy playing Dewey and Rehoboth?

A: Our first Dewey Beach show was at the Americana Music Festival (at the Rusty Rudder). It was amazing. We met so many amazing musicians - Beachcomber

Originally formed as a power trio by Cleveland-born drummer Tyler Bond and guitarists Mike Lindner and Alex Stanton, the now-Pittsburgh-based 28 North steers into new territory with the addition of bass player Jonathan Colman. All four guys are school-bus drivers — an ideal day job, since it allows for weekends and nights off . . . as well as a pretty flexible summer schedule. On its new album, Mystery, 28 North plays guitar-fueled rock, fused with three-part harmonies inspired by hairy hippies like the Allman Brothers and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. All three original members write and sing, which spreads the group in different directions. "Vacant Road" mixes Grateful Dead's patchouli-scented jams with some hard rock, while Mystery's title tune is a southern rocker with a hook-stuffed chorus. With this kind of momentum, it's only a matter of time before some kids in Pittsburgh will have to find another way to get to school.
-Ernest Barteldes
- Cleveland Scene

With the release of Pittsburgh-based 28 North's latest album "Mystery," drummer Tyler Bond, a Lakewood native, is optimistic about the band's future. Not only did the outfit recently open for the Dave Matthews Band in the Steel City, but the group has toured extensively across the Midwest and on the East Coast.


But don't call 28 North a jam band. "Yeah, that's kind of been a problem for us because we don't really like the term 'jam band,' but that's what we get grouped in by a lot of people," said Bond, a 2003 Lakewood High School graduate and former Duquesne University student. "I'd say we're roots rock. It's very open to a lot of styles. So it's hard to pin it down but we're heavily influenced by classic rock as well as alternative music from the '90s, grunge style like Pearl Jam and Soundgarden."

Perhaps the hardest thing for Bond, a diehard Cleveland Browns fan, is calling Pittsburgh home. "It's kind of rough but people are accepting," laughed Bond, 23. "They're hard-core fans but I haven't gotten in any fights yet, so it's all right." Celebrate Independence Day with the 28 North CD release show at 9 tonight at the Winchester Tavern & Music Hall, 12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood. Tickets are $7 ($10 under 21). Opening is Fat City Reprise. Call 216-226-5681.
-John Benson - Cleveland Plain Dealer

If everything comes around again in rock -- and it does -- then now is the time for Southern rock to wave its flag once more.

Bands like My Morning Jacket, Gov't Mule, and Kings of Leon are bringing new fire and energy to the eternal Southern flame. So, too, is 28 North, which plays Erie for the first time on Saturday at Docksider.


The surprise: 28 North isn't from down South but Pittsburgh. Their chunky, meaty, Southern-influenced rock is more conventional than the more adventurous Kings and My Modern Jacket, but still plenty satisfying.

They write the type of songs you can latch onto right away, thanks to colossal riffs and strong, soulful vocals.

Singer-guitarist Michael Lindner says 28 North is influenced by a variety of classic artists, including the Band, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Grateful Dead, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. But the guitar-driven eloquence of Southern rockers such as the Allman Brothers Band and Molly Hatchet shines through most on songs such as "Turn" and "Mystery."

"My two biggest influences are Duane Allman and Dickey Betts," said Lindner. "We actually opened for Betts awhile back.

"I remember driving around with my Dad, listening to the Allman Brothers. They were a huge influence. I feel like their guitar work hasn't been emulated or duplicated. You don't really hear an Allmans' influence in much of today's music. I just feel they're kind of untapped."


Lindner said 28 North started out as more of a jam band but decided to reign it in with their second CD.

"We wanted to have a little more hard rock and be less jammy," he said. "When we started out, we were kind of jammy, and it shows on our first CD. I think it's less song-oriented the way it's put together, more instrumental based. There are some decent songs, but I feel we definitely have an edgier second album."

"Overdone" and "Home Side Up" from "Mystery" fuse the two approaches with sunshine-y, Dead-style vocals and a Southern-fried, pop-rock feel. The result has the timeless appeal of classic rock, yet the fresh, exuberant glow of youth as well. All four band members are in their early 20s, including Lindner, who's 22.

This indicates how much Lindner, guitar-vocalist Alex Stanton, drummer Tyler Bond, and bassist Jonathan Coleman are on the same page: They share the same profession, one that enables them to pursue their passion.

"We're all school van drivers," Lindner said. "All four of us drive buses. It gives us the weekends off and the nights off, and we still get paid. So we saved up all our money and here we go."


They're going on an extended tour -- their first -- starting with Saturday's show in Erie. To make it affordable, they'll travel in one vehicle, sleep in tents, and eat plenty of peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches.

"Nothin' fancy," said Lindner. "Hopefully we'll be selling some CDs, but if we have to dip into the band bank account, we will."

Unfortunately, that includes leaving Floyd at home.

"Got to say goodbye to the dog," Lindner said.

"We've done mini tours, we've gone places, but this is our first month away from Pittsburgh. Erie is our first tour date, and we're really excited."

Opening up Saturday's show will be the Magdalenes, who are playing their first show in a year.

-Dave Richards - GoErie showcase