GINGERJAKE
BIO
Hailing from Minneapolis and formed in November of 2002, Amanda Harris (Vocals), Ian Severson (Guitar, Backing Vocals), Eric Rotter (Bass, Backing Vocals) and Joe Rotter (Drums) have created a unique style of aggressive rock that?s been described by numerous fans and critics alike as the ?perfect blend of beauty and brutality.?
Prior to Gingerjake, Amanda was making a name for herself as a solo artist while Ian, Eric and Joe were members of the now defunct band Two Ton Crutch. When a mutual friend introduced them, the chemistry was instant. They?ve been writing and performing ever since.
In only their 7th show, they placed 2nd in the Twin Cities hard rock station's 93X Battle of The Bands. They then went on to play the station's annual 93X-Fest in Somerset, Wisconsin, sharing the stage with such bands as Sum 41, Taproot, CKY, and many more. Since then, they?ve embarked on a non-stop assault of the Minneapolis/St. Paul and greater Midwest club scene. To this day they continue to stretch deeper into the Midwest playing shows in Iowa, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois, Kentucky and beyond.
In late 2003, Gingerjake journeyed to Orange County, CA where they hooked up with Producer/Engineer Cameron Webb, who has engineered albums for 311 and Godsmack and produced So Cal punk legends Social Distortion. They returned with a blistering six song E.P. entitled Paralysis. Released independently in March 2004, the band kicked it off by packing The Quest Club in Minneapolis with over 950 fans. The single "Karats" quickly received airplay on 93X?s prime time audience judged "Cage Match" with Gingerjake being crowned ?retired champions? as they beat out national acts for the entire week. Since its release, the E.P. has rapidly scanned over 3,500 copies and receives regular radio airplay on several Midwest stations.
In May 2004, Gingerjake returned to the 93X Battle Of The Bands and won, securing a coveted main stage slot at the 93X Riverfest concert along with Sevendust, Papa Roach, Cold and many more.
In September 2004, the Paralysis EP was nominated as ?Best Hard Rock Recording? by the prestigious Minnesota Music Academy.
On October 10th 2004, the band returned to The Quest for the release of their highly anticipated live concert DVD, again packing the club with devout fans. On January 14th, 2005, Gingerjake's "Karats" was added to XM Radio's "Unsigned" show where it will continue to receive regular airplay.
A highlight for Gingerjake in 2005 was playing Summer Fest in Milwaukee, WI. Gingerjake were direct support for the Cardboard Vampyres, Jerry Cantrell?s (Alice In Chains) rock star line up cover band. Gingerjake played to a capacity crowd of over 5,000 fans and are invited back to play Summer Fest in July of 2006.
Most recently, Gingerjake released ?Get It Get Off / Live?. The mostly live EP consists of a studio version of the single ?Get It Get Off?, a multi-media video for ?Get It Get Off?, as well as seven previously unreleased live tracks. It was released Friday, January 13th ?06 as a limited edition release which recently sold out of it?s only pressing.
Currently, Gingerjake is hard at work in the studio working on new music to potentially be released this spring. No release date has been set yet, but the new material is shaping up to be the strongest Gingerjake music to date. Stay tuned and look for Gingerjake in a city near you.

American Head Charge are survivors. Despite numerous line-ups, the tragic death of guitarist Bryan Ottoson and changing labels, the band is still creating music and decimating crowds across the globe. Their new Nitrus Records CD/DVD compilation aptly-titled Can?t Stop the Machine chronicles their roller-coaster career. Guitarist Benji Hellberg sums up the DVD best. ?I want fans to be able to feel like they?re getting to see inside the band members? souls. The story is completely out of control and unbelievable, and the music is just as out of control and unbelievable.? With numerous extras, music videos and unreleased tracks, fans are granted all access to the enigmatic band like never before. The DVD also features a 75-minute documentary with tour and studio footage from the last five years, as well as jarring and honest interviews with members both past and present. Holding nothing back, the film captures the darkness and genius inherent within American Head Charge.

NUMM started in 1999 with three bro's originally from Eau Claire Wisconsin, JoeyD (vocals,guitar) Stab (bass,vocals) and Mikey (drums). The band quickly gained recognition as a contender in the Minneapolis music scene with their heavy melodic sound, playing major venues such as First Avenue and The Quest, as well as many other gin joints around the midwest. It didn't take long for the band to make a name for itself. While Recording at Oarfin studio's in early 2000 the band went through two member changes. Mikey and Stab where gone being replaced by Beak (drums) and Kerry (bass). The Band pressed on and continued to gain momentum touring and recording as a trio. One night after playing another Quest for Mayhem in Minneapolis, Joey met Dale Steele (lead vocals) and they talked about writing some songs together and it worked. Now with a lineup stronger then ever the band began attracting label attention, and working with major notables in the music biz. Playing with just about every named band on the MNPLS scene as well as some major touring artists, NUMM had/has a whole vibe of their own!

Who is ill e. gal?

Hopeful, honest and hungry her mission is clear.
Strong, independent and lyrically inclined, her time is now.

ill e. gal was born and raised in Rhode Island. As a young girl she excelled in writing and poetry. It was no surprise when she realized her true calling in life in late 2002. Being an emcee. Although she had recorded two songs in early 2003, one being fan favorite ?Mary Jane?, ill e. gal felt as if there was no outlet for her music in New England. She took a chance by moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota in late 2005. Leaving her family, friends and everything she had ever known was one of the hardest challenges ill e. gal has ever faced. Luckily, at that point in her life, moving to Minnesota was one of the best decisions she could have ever made.
After six months and almost calling quits, something happened that would change her life forever. She met a few local hip hop artists including Krow and Miss Tress. Shortly thereafter, she was introduced to Ruthless and Playaz Lounge Crew of Loonatix Productions. ill e. gal had finally found people to work with. Other up and coming rappers just like her, who shared the same dream. Since then, she has been playing shows all over the country with Miss Tress in their band, True High Class. These ladies are currently recording their debut full length album ?Wings? which will be available this summer. Last year, T.H.C. won the Twin Cities Music Award for the ?First Ladies of Hip Hop?. The girls are also opening for national recording artist Tech N9ne this May. ill e. gal continues to remain a solo act as well, and has her album already in the works with a fall release expected.
ill e. gal stays true to herself, her beliefs and her motives to convey a clear message with her music. She fights strongly for the struggles of women that continue in today?s society. It is noticeably evident that there needs to be more females representing females in this male dominated genre. She also feels strongly and supports the actions to legalize marijuana. It is such a positive force in her life she will do all she can to speak her mind and reach the millions of people who feel the same way. ill e. gal is here to enforce change in the lives of many, to her it is more then hip hop. It is more then music itself. This is life.
Her sound is unique, aggressive and heavy with angst. ill e. gal needs to be heard loud and clear. Though a little rough around the edges, she has proven herself to be a contender in this game. Her lyrics come from the heart and she is not afraid to say it like it is. Fusing hip hop with punk rock and industrial she continues to grow not only as a writer but a musician as well. She has started producing her own beats, and is constantly improving as a performer. ill e. gal is a master of self promotion, acquiring a fast growing nationwide fan base. She has created quite the buzz in the underground scene. I guarantee there is much to look forward to from the likes of ill e. gal. In her eyes, this is just the beginning.

Once upon a time, Erik Appelwick and Darren Jackson were hard at work writing songs and gigging for their "other bands" (Vicious Vicious and Kid Dakota, respectively). But in the damp basement shadows of a lowly squire's Minneapolis cottage, the two were experimenting with a mysterious and magical sound that didn't seem to fit the vibe of either band. They'd lay down a few tracks here and there to blow off steam or to find a good home for an orphan guitar lick or synth riff. You know, just for kicks. The lucky few in the kingdom who heard the handful of resulting songs liked them very much. So although the duo focused on their other efforts, they nevertheless played an occasional show under the name "Camaro," airing the charming innocence of '60s-era pop cuts like "Drain the Sea" and the bittersweetness of anti-love songs like "Pretty Bigmouth" to enthusiastic crowds. And each time, they had only a sheepish shrug for the hapless fans who inevitably demanded, "Where can I buy your record?" Eventually, the two began asking themselves the same question. They took a closer look at the repertoire that had materialized into a full-fledged album in those dark basement corners, and decided that "sooner than later" was the appropriate response. The king of 2024 Records gave a listen one fateful January day (with Jackson singing live into the computer screen on some songs) and decreed that a debut was, indeed, long overdue. Then again, timing is everything, and in the interim, Jackson and Appelwick had gained valuable experience behind the boards working on their own projects, as well as those of the artists who sought out the pair's production skills. Their songs had evolved. They had acquired some new gear. They had grown in wisdom and beauty. And they had chosen a new name to launch this musical adventure. The resulting well-oiled music gemini now known as the Hopefuls added the engineering wizardry of Lord Alex Oana (Honeydogs, Spy Mob) to the mix. The finished record, titled "The Fuses Refuse to Burn," is slick in all the right places but always full of soul, and combines a bit of Weezer guitar grit with the playful, carefree anthems of bands like The Apples in Stereo and Beulah. Onstage, bassist Heath Henjum (The Beatifics), drummer Eric Fawcett (Spymob, N.E.R.D.) and multi-instrumentalist John Hermanson (Alva Star, Storyhill) complete the Hopefuls lineup. And the quest for rocking mightily continues...