September Hase

Infobox musical artist
Name = September Hase
Alias = Blackbird


Img_capt = September Hase performing in August 2008 at the Cox Capital Theatre in Macon, Georgia
Img_size = 250
Landscape = Yes
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Tifton, Georgia, USA
Genre = Alternative rock
Years active = 2005—present
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/septemberhase www.myspace.com/septemberhase]
Current_members = Al Janelle Adam Smith Matthew Heller Joel Jones

September Hase is an American alternative rock band formed by singer/guitarist Al Janelle in 2005. Janelle formed the group as a three-man project with Adam Smith (bass/vocals) and Matthew Heller (drums) after the dissolution of his high school blues band. Joel Jones (guitar/vocals) was later drafted to round out the band's sound.13WMAZ. [http://www.13wmaz.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080821/ENTERTAINMENT/80818026 "Scene 13: Alan Walden and Blackbird visit the WMAZ Studios"] . 13WMAZ.com. August 21, 2008.]

Over the course of the band's career, they appeared in the audition rounds of FOX's "The Next Great American Band" in 2007.The Next Great American Band. [http://nextgreatband.msn.com/ngb/video/week1 "Blackbird - Chase the Sun"] . nextgreatband.msn.com. Retrieved August 26, 2008.] They also signed a management contract with Alan Walden, Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductee and brother of Capricorn Records co-founder Phil Walden in 2008.

The band can currently be found touring the southeastern United States.

History

Between 2002 and 2005, all four founding band members were part of the blues band at Tift County High School in Tifton, Georgia, with Joel Jones and Al Janelle playing guitar, Matthew Heller playing drums and percussion, and Adam Smith providing vocals.Rollins, Kenneth. [http://www.macon.com/137/story/439223.html "Tifton band possesses stage presence, new name, and big backer"] . macon.com. August 22, 2008.] The blues band was dissolved in 2005 by school officials, and Janelle, Smith, and Heller teamed up to play in a high school talent show in November 2005. Their performance of "Voodoo Child" was well-received, and the band was born in Janelle's garage. In January 2006, Jones was added as an additional guitar player and vocalist, and the band began working on original material as well as learning covers by artists including Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers Band, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and the John Mayer Trio.Janelle, Lauren. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKNgB7Z5wHI "Blackbird Live at 550 Blues"] . youtube.com. January 31, 2008.] In May 2006, the band performed for the first time under the name "Blackbird", playing 10 songs at a free concert in Tifton.Thompson, Angie. [http://www.tiftongazette.com/archivesearch/local_story_136230558.html "Blues rockers Blackbird to perform Friday"] . tiftongazette.com May 16, 2006.] They began performing at bars and festivals throughout south Georgia, and enjoyed local popularity when radio stations WQBZ (106.3 FM) in Macon, Georgia and WGLF (104.1 FM) in Tallahassee, Florida played their original songs "Chase the Sun" and "Watch Me (Break Away) on Sunday nights.

, had set up an audition showcase for the band with the intent of giving them a few pointers about the music industry. When he heard them play, however, he was blown away by their talent and potential. "The first time I heard them play, I literally cried," Walden later said. "I had tears going down my face." The band signed a management contract with Walden at The Red Tomato in Macon in July 2008.

During a performance at the Cox Capitol Theatre in Macon on August 22, 2008, the band announced that they were changing their band name from "Blackbird" to "September Hase".

Musical Styles

When Janelle first started the band, the music pulled heavily from blues rock influences such as Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and the John Mayer Trio, with several songs following the standard 12-bar blues structure, like their original work "Mistaken for a Fool". As the band received regional attention and the need for original material grew, the music started to shift from blues rock to a more alternative feel. The band has cited current influences like the Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam as contributing to this musical shift. Members also draw inspiration from the long, often-improvised rhythmic grooves of the Jam Band genre and such artists as Dave Matthews Band and Phish.

Band Members

*Al Janelle - lead & rhythm guitars, lead & backing vocals
*Adam Smith - bass guitar, backing vocals
*Matthew Heller - drums, percussion
*Joel Jones - rhythm & lead guitars, backing & lead vocals

Discography

"Blackbird" sampler, 2006
*1) Southbound (Cover): (Betts) 4:16
*2) New Shade of Blue: (Janelle/Smith/Jones) 3:13
*3) Look at Little Sister (Cover): (Ballard) 3:05
*4) Too Damn Young: (Jones) 2:36
*5) Whipping Post (Cover): (Allman) 4:47
*6) So Cold: (Jones) 3:01
*7) Hard to Handle (Cover): (Redding/Bell/Jones) 2:57
*8) Couldn't Stand the Weather (Cover): (S.R. Vaughn) 4:33

"Chase the Sun" demo, 2006
*1) Get to Me: (Jones) 4:25
*2) Chase the Sun: (Smith) 5:09
*3) Blind: (Janelle) 3:26
*4) Watch Me (Break Away): (Smith) 5:28
*5) Mistaken for a Fool: (Janelle/Smith/Jones) 6:47

"September Hase" demo, 2008
*1) Undone: (Janelle) 4:51
*2) Need You: (Janelle) 4:47
*3) Love Yourself: (Smith) 4:29
*4) Zimmerman (Stand Alone): (Smith) 4:17
*5) Freeze Time: (Janelle/Burns) 4:29

References

External Links

* [http://www.myspace.com/septemberhase Myspace page]