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The North Wind

The North Wind

The North Wind

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Ryley Wilcox
Ryley Wilcox
News Editor

I found my passion for journalism during my sophomore year of college, writing articles here and there for the North Wind. Since joining the staff this past semester as the news writer, I have been able...

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The North Wind is an independent student publication serving the Northern Michigan University community. It is partially funded by the Student Activity Fee. The North Wind digital paper is published daily during the fall and winter semesters except on university holidays and during exam weeks. The North Wind Board of Directors is composed of representatives of the student body, faculty, administration and area media.

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Face-Bomb blows up Upfront & Co.

By Alicia Stanek

Upfront & Company will be presenting a night filled with music, dancing and bombs; Face-Bomb and Driftless Pony Club will perform at 9 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 22.

Face-Bomb will also be doing a pre-show by themselves at 10 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21 at Merlot Mansion in Marquette.

“Come for a double dose of Face-Bomb,” said Brad Miles, who plays guitar and sings for Face-Bomb.

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Face-Bomb members include Jackson Lang on drums and vocals, Miles on guitar and vocals and Wil Jessup on bass and vocals. They started when Lang and Miles met outside of class.

“Nothing is complicated about music,” Miles said.

Both Jessup and Miles have had previous experiences in other bands before Face-Bomb. Jessup used to be the bass player in Five Finger Discount and Miles used to play drums with a boy-punk band named Riot 49.

Like many other bands, choosing a name proved more difficult than they wanted it to be, Miles said. The name Face-Bomb came about through frustration and sarcasm of picking a name.

“Our music is pretty much a bomb going off in your face,” Lang said.

They have only played in a couple of venues including a previous show at Merlot Mansion, but they say they talk about themselves a lot so people know who they are.

“To the over-worked and under-appreciated, there is reprieve,” Jessup said. “There is Face-Bomb.”

They will be using their set at Upfront & Company to help release their second EP, which is much like an album, but with fewer songs.

“The show will be something that you can really sink your teeth into,” Lang said.

Face-Bomb is joined by the Driftless Pony Club, from Chicago.

With more than 10 years on the DIY indie rock circuit, Driftless Pony Club has harnessed the power of YouTube to expose their angular, 90s-style indie rock to a widespread fan base outside of the mainstream music industry.

Lead singer Craig Benzine, also known as Wheezy Waiter, has accumulated more than 350,000 YouTube subscribers and has pulled in fans from all corners of the world.

The crew, Craig Benzine on guitar and vocals, Matt Weber on guitar, keyboards and vocals, Sam Grant on bass and vocals and Nate Bartley on drums have packed venues in cities across the United States.

“The fun part of being in a band is getting to see new places and meet new people,” Grant said.

They are influenced by bands like The Pixies, Weezer and Modest Mouse. Driftless Pony Club has released three full length LPs and an EP. Their most recent album, “Buckminster,” drew inspiration from the life and works of visionary architect, Buckminster Fuller.

The band hopes to release their next album by the end of June 2012.

The Driftless Pony Club members all graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and have been together for more than 12 years.

“We’re excited to come play,” Grant said. “Come see the show, and we promise you will have an awesome time.”
Tickets are sold at the door for $5 for 21 and up and $8 for under 21. For more information call Upfront at (906) 228-5200.

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