Sail

The Clarkston News



Author: Phil Custodio





The Clarkston band Sail is heading for the sky after winning their first Battle of the Band competition in Birmingham.



"They're really hitting their groove," said Cherie Lowe of Independence Township, band manager and mother of drummer Thomas Lowe.



Based out of Clarkston High School, Sail includes Thomas Lowe, 17; lead singer Anthony Fink of Farmington Hills, 20; Jarrett Holtslag of Clarkston, 15, on keyboard; Ray Shaffer of Clarkston, 18, guitar; and Jimmy Redman of Clarkston, 15, bassist. They won the contest on Jan. 16.



The band, which got together last February, chose their name after a group meeting.





"We wanted a good group name that sounded new," Fink said.



"Something like 'sailing onto new horizons,'" Shaffer said.



"It's vaguish, not of any certain genre," said Lowe.



"Not like 'Death Ponies,'" offered Shaffer.



"No connotations, and it's one syllable," Holtslag said.



"Two syllables would be too much," said Fink, who also pointed out the band plays the classic Styx song "Come Sail Away" at every gig.



They're all classically trained, with influences ranging from the Red Hot Chili Petters, to Styx and Carlos Santana, to classical composers like Wagner, Holst, Bach, and Tchaikovsky.



They play covers of songs in genres including progressive metal, pop, classic rock, and metal, but not country.



"We try to throw in a variety," Holtslag said.



"I wasn't into the Red Hot Chili Peppers but now I love them," Fink said.



"It's extremely fun. We meet really cool people," Shaffer said.



They're also working on original music – enough to fill 2-4 hours.



"That's two songs each," Fink said.



Performances so far include paid gigs and fund raisers at restaurants and bars throughout Oakland County, Michigan State Fair, Peace Fest, and Taste of Clarkston on downtown Main Street.



"That was fun," Fink said.



"We're getting more well known locally," Holtslag said.



"One guy came in and said 'I heard about you guys,'" Shaffer said.



"So we have one fan," Holtslag said.



Cherie said the band members have all grown musically and as a group.



"I think they're doing really good – everybody is a strong musician," she said. "We are very grateful to win this contest and this is the first contest the band has won."



The band is also ranked number 3 out of 69 bands on the Reverbnation Charts in the area in the rock genre, she said.



For more information, contact the band at Sailbandcontact@gmail.com.



The Clarkston News



Phil Custodio is editor for The Clarkston News. - Phil Custodio

Starting Friday, bowlers will be doing a little bit of rocking all night long at Classic Lanes’ Rock N Bowl Live 2015.



Rock N Bowl Live is a party where bowlers and music lovers can kick up their heels to a night of glow bowling while stomping to the music of hometown bands of talented musicians ranging from age 11 to the late 20s.



“I believe that everybody needs a start, and I believe in giving musicians a chance,” says Christine Murray, a former teacher and the community relations director of Classic Lanes.



The sixth season of Rock N Bowl Live begins at 8 p.m. Friday, June 5, and will return every Friday at 8 p.m. with the grand finale on Sept. 6 designed to help Oakland University students kick off the school year.

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“Initially, Rock N’ Bowl Live was developed as a means to provide youth with an entertainment outlet, however, over the years it has evolved to a night of entertainment for the entire family,” says Jim Selke, owner of Classic Lanes.



On June 5, three bands will take the stage — H.R. Rustica, The Shoes and finally the headliner, Sail.



In January, Sail, a five-member band ranging from 15 to 20 years old, based in metro Detroit won the Birmingham Battle of the Bands. With Thomas Lowe on drums, Jimmy Redman on bass, Jarrett Holtslag on keys, Ray Shaffer on electric guitar, violin and back-up vocals and Anthony Fink as lead vocals and on keys, Sail plays everything from classic rock and alternative grunge to blues and modern rock.



Rock and Bowl Live gives some of our youngest musicians and upcoming bands the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience made up of their family, friends and fans. Every year for the past five years 1,000 to 1,300 kids have participated in Rock N Bowl Live.



The following is the Rock N Bowl Live 2015 lineup (subject to change):



• June 5 Sail, H.R. Rustica, The Shoes



• June 12 Radiotypes, Worst Case Scenario, Eyes Are Clear



• June 19 Overdrive, AudFeed, OIM Appear



• June 26 Red Herring, The Tourist



• July 10 Beside the Point, Incandescents



• July 17 Leah & The Troublemakers, Eyes Are Clear, Sail



• July 24 The Tourist, AudFeed

• July 31 Keynote Sisters, The Harold and Maudes



• Aug. 7 Radiotypes, Tie Troopers



• Aug. 14 Midwestern Sky

• Aug. 21 Tie Troopers



• Aug. 28 Sail, Leah & The Troublemakers



• Sept. 6 Welcome party for Oakland University students with one band for the evening.



Tickets for Rock N Bowl Live can be purchased at the door for $10, or from one of the bands. Tickets include 5½ hours of glow bowling, door prizes and much more.



“Classic Lanes is barrier-free fun, and for those who need assistance in throwing the ball we have access ramps where the ball can be placed on a delivery ramp and merely pushed with gravity, providing the needed muscle to propel the ball down the lane,” Selke says.



Classic Lanes is at 2145 Avon Industrial Drive in Rochester Hills. For more information visit: www.myclassiclanes.com, or call 248-852-9100. - The Oakland Press