MEET THE BAND
T.J.
Drums, Lead and backing vocals, Electronic percussion, Band management and ridiculous attention to detail
Do you have pets?
Unfortunately no but I’m a HUGE dog lover. My favorite breed is labrador retriever
What city did you grow up in?
Warren, Michigan
Where do you currently live?
Clarkston, Michigan
Favorite vacation you’ve taken?
We visit Las Vegas A LOT, but I’d have to say Grand Cayman
Dream vacation you’d like to take?
Belize or Hawaii
Name one thing most people don’t know about you
I have never gotten a traffic ticket in 35 years of driving (knock on wood)
If you had only one genre or decade of music to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I’d have to say the 80s because it’s the decade during which I was learning to play the drums. I love all the genres of music from the 80s....New Wave to Hair Metal!!
Who is your biggest musical influence?
While I was learning how to play, I’d say it was Tommy Lee of Motley Crue. Later in life I found a guy named Pat Torpey from the band Mr. Big. I really liked Pat for not only his incredible chops but he also sang and wrote music. I appreciated his triple-threat abilities. FUN FACT - the thing that made me want to start playing the drums was seeing the Muppets episode featuring Buddy Rich
Besides music, what hobbies do you have?
I spend a lot of time working out, I love tennis and golf
ALYSSA
Lead and Backing Vocals, Hand Percussion, Harmonica, The Occasional Piano Part, and The Leaf Blower
Do you have pets?
I have 2 rescue dogs, a 9 year old miniature pinscher dachshund mix name Bella and a 1 year old Pitbull name Freyja
I also have a 16 year old cat named Lulu.
What city did you grow up in?
Macomb Township
Where do you currently live?
Mount Clemens
Favorite vacation you’ve taken?
My honeymoon, it was the first time I had been out of the country. We went to Costa Rica.
Dream vacation you’d like to take?
I have two, I would love to go to England and I would love to go to Australia.
Name one thing most people don’t know about you
My favorite car is a Geo Tracker
If you had only one genre or decade of music to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Wow that's a hard one, I would want to say Jazz but for the rest of my life that might get too repetitive…..so I'm gonna go with Classical Music. Without it we wouldn't be where we are musically today. I don't listen to it very often right now but I think it would be a nice soundtrack to life.
Who is your biggest musical influence?
LeAnn Rimes, she was the first CD I ever got so her voice, style and energy always has stuck with me
Ella Fitzgerald, her low tone and ability to scat with ease
Besides music, what hobbies do you have?
Drawing, Hang out with my puppies, Dancing, Learning New Things
ADAM
Lead and Backing Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Slide Whistle, and Mad Rap Skeelz
Do you have pets?
No
What city did you grow up in?
Clawson, Michigan
Where do you currently live?
Warren, Michigan
Favorite vacation you’ve taken?
Upper Peninsula of Michigan. My fiancé and I decided to go up to her dad’s house in Germfask, MI. We visited Tahquamenon Falls and several other tourist attractions and everything was in full fall color. It was then that we decided to get married up there and did so one year later on October 14th, 2017. The ceremony was outside, and the weather was perfect.
Dream vacation you’d like to take?
I would love to take a vacation in space if and when that becomes an option.
Name one thing most people don’t know about you
As a performer of cover band music, I am not a fan of nearly all of the music that I have learned and played over the years. I have learned to enjoy performing most of it, but I mainly listen to classical and jazz.
If you had only one genre or decade of music to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Medieval Melismatic Gregorian Chant
Who is your biggest musical influence?
My older brother, Jason. He is five years older than me, and when I was about 10 he was playing bass in a band. I would always ask to watch them practice. I saw him perform live a couple years later, I knew then that that was what I wanted to do. My parents get an honorable mention here, for if it weren’t for them buying me my first guitar, I might not have ever learned to play.
Besides music, what hobbies do you have?
I am a lifelong video game enthusiast. I own over 8,000 games, nearly all of which are stored on my home server totaling 1.62 terabytes of data. I also have several video games consoles that I hacked and loaded with games. I have a gaming PC worth over $4,000 that I assembled and configured. I have assembled and configured several PCs. I also enjoy cooking, especially barbecuing, braising and slow cooking.
K.C.
Tenor Sax and Intellectual Stimuli
Do you have pets?
I have a 6 y/o black lab mix named Willow… she is the most laid-back dog of all time and an integral part of my family!
What city did you grow up in?
Rochester, Michigan
Where do you currently live?
Franklin, Michigan
Favorite vacation you’ve taken?
I love to travel and any vacation with a combination of hiking (or skiing) and beautiful views is right up my alley – I’ve visited 49 states and at least 15 countries. Favorite out of all of those is a recent trip with my wife, son, and dog to southwestern Colorado for 2 weeks of hiking.
Dream vacation you’d like to take?
My wife and I have a list of about 25 places on the dream list, but we had a pre-Covid plan to go to Jordan that got nixed as the virus took hold. I’m looking forward to doing it someday!
Name one thing most people don’t know about you
I am an automotive engineer by day and mechanical things fascinate me – I have a particular soft spot for trains and take every opportunity I can to ride and visit vintage steam locomotives.
If you had only one genre or decade of music to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I’m a millennial, but live mid-century by music taste and tend to gravitate to music produced from the early 1960s to early 1970s, particularly soul and Motown. That said, I also listen to a lot of pop, classic rock, and jazz from that era as well.
Who is your biggest musical influence?
Purely as a saxophonist I typically cite Stan Getz… but when it comes to performing in Cosmic Groove, I always aim for the sound/feel/antics of the great rock saxophonists of the 1950/60s like Sam Butera, Louis Jordan, Junior Walker or Boots Randolph
Besides music, what hobbies do you have?
I enjoy athletics, which recently is a lot of volleyball, running, mountain biking, and skiing. Likewise, I am a car enthusiast (currently restoring a 1966 Impala) and I spend many hours on home restoration/repair.
MATT
Tenor and Alto Sax, Flute, and Malted Barley and Hops Connoisseur
Do you have pets?
Yes, I have a mini goldendoodle named Cooper. I have
always, and will always, have at least one dog.
What city did you grow up in?
Bellefonte, PA
Where do you currently live?
Huntington Woods, MI
Favorite vacation you’ve taken?
I’ve visited the Pacific coast of Costa Rica
twice, and it was amazing both times. London is a close second!
Dream vacation you’d like to take?
The glass igloos with views of the
Northern Lights in Finland look pretty epic. And a Maldives over the water
bungalow. And a drive up the Pacific Coast Highway. And Fiji. And Hawaii.
And... ok. I’ll stop.
Name one thing most people don’t know about you
I stop hearts for a
living.
If you had only one genre or decade of music to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be?
This is an absolutely impossible question. I couldn’t
even give you one century.
Who is your biggest musical influence?
My dad, who was a band director
by day and (still is) a performing musician by night/weekend.
Besides music, what hobbies do you have?
I am an avid golfer and have
been playing since I was a little kid! I also like
hiking/backpacking/camping... Outdoors>Indoors.
VERNON
Lead Guitar, Lead and Backing Vocals, and Southern Charm
Do you have pets?
I loved having pets as a kid, unfortunately I don't have
the time to own a pet as an adult
What city did you grow up in?
Hazel park, Hamtramck, Ferndale
Where do you currently live?
Hazel park, Hamtramck, Ferndale
Favorite vacation you’ve taken?
Visiting my uncle in Hawaii was the best!
Dream vacation you’d like to take?
Since flavor town doesn't exist (yet) anywhere tropical and hot!
Name one thing most people don’t know about you
I had a poem published in a poetry book when I was in 4th grade
If you had only one genre or decade of music to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I'm a serious open mind when it comes to music but if I had to pick a genre,
it'd be anything soul. The decade would have to be the 60's.
Who is your biggest musical influence?
As a guitarist there have been too many influences to count but my #1 is
always Jimi Hendrix. As a vocalist my three biggest influences were always
James Brown, David Lee Roth, an Paul McCartney.
Besides music, what hobbies do you have?
I like to stay active whether it's doing outside activities in the summer such
as kayaking and swimming, or going to the gym.
BRANDON
Keyboards, Trumpet, Electronic Percussion, Builder of Things Wood and Metal, and A Sassy Attitude
Do you have pets?
I do not have pets right now, though I do love cats and dogs!
What city did you grow up in?
Palm Desert, CA until 7th grade where I moved to
my mom’s hometown of Ionia, MI
Where do you currently live?
Farmington Hills, MI
Favorite vacation you’ve taken?
Niagra Falls, Canada
Dream vacation you’d like to take?
Tour of Europe
Name one thing most people don’t know about you
I’ve only ever been in one
relationship in my life, which is to my wife whom I’m currently married.
If you had only one genre or decade of music to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be?
60’s, you can never go wrong with anything from the 60s.
Who is your biggest musical influence?
I have always been amazed and inspired
by lead singer for my favorite band MuteMath, Paul Meany. He can play all
instruments and is an amazing producer.
Besides music, what hobbies do you have?
I love woodworking
MIKE
Bass......just bass
Do you have pets?
I have a cat named Mingus
What city did you grow up in?
I grew up in Farmington Hills Michigan
Where do you currently live?
I currently live in Madison Heights
Favorite vacation you’ve taken?
A recent vacation I took to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin islands.
Dream vacation you’d like to take?
A trip to moon and back
If you had only one genre or decade of music to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Classic rock from the 50’s and 60’s
Who is your biggest musical influence?
There are many but a big one is James Jamerson of the Funk
Brothers
Besides music, what hobbies do you have?
Reading, billiards, camping, backpacking being outdoors, and
cooking