December 26, 2001

Band in musical state of bliss

Blisstrip: A journey of friendship and music

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
       Reveling in the sheer joy of shared creativity and musical synergy, members of Blisstrip hope their listeners will enjoy the ride with them.
      The outlook is bright so far as their eclectic mix of funk, rock and hip-hop is striking a chord with their audience. Not just limited to their high school peers, Blisstrip is getting their parents and older siblings aboard as fans.
      "We appeal to a lot of different audiences and so far everyone who has heard it has liked it," said Adam Percy, the group's lead guitarist and back up vocalist. "It is pretty nice when even your grandpa asks you to turn it up."
      Comprised of three high school juniors and two seniors, four from Central High School and one from Suttons Bay High School, the band formed in its current state last spring. They chose the name Blisstrip to convey their wish to transport their audience to a state of bliss, keying off the words joy and nirvana.
      "Blisstrip is a feeling, they are having a bliss trip," said Seth Goodman, the band's percussionist whose basement they all rehearse in weekly.
      Already with two victorious 'Battle of the Bands' under their belt, one in Suttons Bay and the other in Traverse City, Blisstrip is taking their upbeat show around the region to ever-increasing acclaim.
      "We want our music to have people in a state of bliss," added Matt Mann, also known as "dj kpow," the group's disc jockey. "We want it to have an impact."
      A recent bliss trip took nearly 500 fans along for the ride as the band hosted a CD release party for 'Time to Shine' on November 30 at Traverse City Central High School. During the band's trademark high-energy show, they worked through their original compositions, many featured on the disc and some not yet recorded.
      "I know this one person who left our concert and ran right out to his car to play our CD," Mann said. "That's what we want. Our music is appealing to people and they like the stage show we put one, we're entertaining."
      The show gave a boost to their disc, which they recorded in 38 hours at a recording studio in Copemish before self-publishing this fall. So far, their initial run of 500 copies is more than 60 percent sold and requests for autographed copies are pouring in.
      It is taking Blisstrip members a little time to adjust to their new status as a successful band. Hearing others singing the tunes in the school hallway or reading through lengthy emails received from friends about how much their songs meant is, well, a trip.
      Then there is the recognition factor, where complete strangers stop them on the street.
      "I was walking downtown and this girl stopped me and asked if I was in the band," recalled bassist John Stoye. "She pulled out the CD from her bag and asked me to sign it."
      Blisstrip formed in manner as eclectic as their music. First, Mann and Goodman got together to jam, seeding the band with a guitar and percussion. They asked their friend Jeff Linsell, a singer and guitarist, to play along,. Then Linsell knew John Stoye, a bass player, who came aboard.
      Four strong, they began practicing seriously, liking the sounds generated from their individual musical strengths and interests. They released a debut CD in the spring of 2000 called "Just Another Melody."
      "Then somebody knew Adam and he joined up and we've been six or seven months as the real thing," said Mann.
      Blisstrip augments the standard layout of lead guitar, lead singer, bass and percussion with a disc jockey, an unusual element in a live band. Usually either a band plays music or a DJ puts on his own show; few commercial bands combine the two.
      Members of Blisstrip, however, believe that this unusual combination is their strength, with "dj kpow's" samples adding depth to the sound. With a strong interest in hip-hop music, Mann also takes the mic and raps on some of their songs.
      "We like adding more sound effect to the music," said Linsell, the group's singer and rhythm guitar player. "At first I hated the idea of a DJ, and then it worked out. Now, I wouldn't have it any other way."
      A shared love of music and desire to succeed is balanced by a friendship between all members.
      "We're all best friends and just have crazy times together," Stoye noted.