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Rolling Stone Rocks the Super Bowl Tailgate
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Bloomington, Indiana funk quintet Main Squeeze, the winners of a contest among dozens of Indiana ban...Bloomington, Indiana funk quintet Main Squeeze, the winners of a contest among dozens of Indiana bands, represented the state well, with lead singer Corey Frye’s powerfully soulful vocals forming the foundation of an energetic set. They capped their performance with a pitch-perfect cover of Michael Jackson’s "P.Y.T." It was the perfect bridge between Pete Wentz’s DJ set – which featured Thriller cut "Wanna B Starting Somethin’" – and the Roots’ subsequent performance.
Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rolling-stone-rocks-the-super-bowl-tailgate-20120205#ixzz1sJUmsWvB
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The Main Squeeze Wins Rolling Stone Volkswagen Super Band Contest
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We would like to congratulate The Main Squeeze (Bloomington, IN) for being the Grand Prize winning b...We would like to congratulate The Main Squeeze (Bloomington, IN) for being the Grand Prize winning band in the Rolling Stone and Volkswagen hosted Fan Tailgate Contest.
For the last 7 days, over 200 bands have been lobbying for online votes via Do317.com. The top 3 online vote getters include The Main Squeeze, Crawpuppies, and Dazzy Vanse. The three finalist’s submissions were sent to Rolling Stone late last night and today, they have chosen The Main Squeeze as the winner.
The Main Squeeze will perform live at the Rolling Stone and Volkswagen hosted Rock & Roll Fan Tailgate at The Crane Bay Event Center this Sunday. The band will open for two music icons, The Roots and Jane’s Addiction, with a special guest DJ set from Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz. The event runs from 1-4pm before the big game. Tickets are on sale now for $540 in advance. Tickets are all inclusive of food and drink and you must be 21 to enter.
The Final Results are as follows:
Grand Prize Winner: The Main Squeeze (Bloomington)
Runner Up: Dazzy Vanse (Lawnrenceburg/Bloomington)
Third Place: Crawpuppies (Valparaiso)
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The Main Squeeze - Bloomington's best band
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Sometime in the past 12 months, the Main Squeeze went from being a local band known for covering an ...Sometime in the past 12 months, the Main Squeeze went from being a local band known for covering an eclectic range of classics by Stevie Wonder, the Allman Brothers Band and Jay-Z to being a Bloomington household name, the new unofficial face of the Bluebird Nightclub and a band earning national attention with its dazzling technical chops and live energy.
But its meteoric rise didn’t happen without its fair share of obstacles. Early in its career, the Main Squeeze had to overcome being pigeonholed as a cover band and endured multiple lineup changes.
“We had humble beginnings, but we had big hopes and big dreams,” guitarist Max Newman said, having just returned home from a successful Thanksgiving show at Sullivan Hall in New York City. “And we still have even way bigger dreams to be the top act in the nation.”
They came a few steps closer to that goal this year and can now call themselves the top act in Bloomington. For the Best Local Band award, they impressively beat out a sizeable field of other local groups with more original material that included last year’s winner, Hotfox.
Newman attributes the blowup to his band’s perseverance and gradually increasing ratio of originals to covers.
“I think it’s 60/40 these days in favor of originals, and that ratio’s gonna keep getting bigger,” Newman said. “But I think that there’s something to be said when you’re playing in a college town. You want a good balance. You want to give people what they want to hear. And so I think we’ll continue to do covers, and we’re just gonna try to get more creative with what covers we bring out.”
The band’s 2011 accomplishments have included opening for alternative group State Radio, drawing massive crowds during the Little 500 and Halloween/Homecoming weekends and playing at Illinois’ Summer Camp Music Festival. This time next year, they hope the list will include sets at South by Southwest, Bonnaroo, Electric Forest, All Good or any other major festival that will have them — as well as their first full-length album.
Despite his band’s relentless pursuit of bigger stages, Newman still insists the Main Squeeze could not have launched itself on its own.
“We would definitely like to thank our fans in Bloomington,” he said. “It really blew me away how many people over the past couple years have really gotten into the Squeeze and know the songs and still come out and support us, and we really love them, and we really, really thank them.”
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Bloomington’s The Main Squeeze will leave you ‘Squozen’
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A funk-tastic band from Bloomington, IN (yay), The Main Squeeze have been steadily making a name for...A funk-tastic band from Bloomington, IN (yay), The Main Squeeze have been steadily making a name for themselves since their formation in 2009. Armed with a colorful and infectious sound the guys of The Main Squeeze, Corey Frye, Max Newman, Reuben Gingrich, Ben Silverstein, and Will Robinson seamless blend funk, soul, rock, and jam to create their original groovy sound. Perhaps the band describes their sound best as, “a raging funk experience, blending soulful vocals with high energy funk grooves and ripping solos that will leave you freshly squozen!” These guys certainly have an abundance of energy, that’s for sure. Now, after gaining a following for their fantastic live shows, the band has released their first studio project, “First Drops” available for free on their website although they reasonably ask for a donation for their ear candy. Check it out!
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The Main Squeeze - First Drops
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Our good friends THE MAIN SQUEEZE just dropped their first album on the world – for free! Stream a f...Our good friends THE MAIN SQUEEZE just dropped their first album on the world – for free! Stream a few songs and download below. And if you feel generous, donate to the cause!
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The Main Squeeze: One of Bloomington's hottest bands works to gain national attention
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It started with oranges, piles and piles of oranges pouring out of a fridge. At least, the name did....It started with oranges, piles and piles of oranges pouring out of a fridge. At least, the name did.
The Main Squeeze, recently one of Bloomington’s more buzzed-about bands, found its moniker in a dream, when the band’s now-former drummer had one that he was thirsty. He visualized going downstairs only to find a fridge full of oranges, which he squeezed into his mouth one-by-one, standing in front of a neon sign that flashed, “The Main Squeeze.”
“He had a dream the night before our first show,” keyboardist Ben “Smiley” Silverstein said. “We ended up going with that.”
The group has changed its complexion a bit since then, with both a new drummer and new lead vocalist from the original lineup. Even though they all came from different hometowns or states, the current lineup of Silverstein, singer Corey Frye, guitarist Max Newman, bassist Willie Robinson and drummer Reuben Gingrich came together rather easily.
Silverstein said he and Newman met at a summer camp in upstate New York during high school. They clicked almost immediately.
“We knew we wanted to play music together from that time,” Silverstein said. “When Max came to IU, then, he looked me up and we started playing.”
Music has been a large part of both of their lives for a long time. Silverstein found his keyboard muse through piano lessons, while Newman has been playing the cello since he was in first grade. He even came to the Jacobs School of Music from his hometown of New York City to play cello.
“By the time I was here as a freshman I was already really into blues and rock guitar and that,” Newman said. “So my sophomore year I actually gave up playing cello at the level I had been.”
He added that he definitely wanted to work the cello into one of the band’s songs at some point. Given the band’s diverse group of influences, it’s certainly plausible.
Corey Frye, the group’s lead singer, was one of the last members to join the band in February 2010. He had been in Straight No Chaser for five years and was a member of a band called Soul Review, which at different times held Robinson, Silverstein and Gingrich as members as well, making it the main common ground between the current lineup.
“I was just kind of hopping on the mic for people at Sports at the time, and after a show, Smiley approached me and said ‘Hey, we should jam sometime,’ and we eventually made it happen and obviously it worked out,” Frye said.
Frye said that his time with Straight No Chaser helped him not only realize what he wanted to do, but also learn a lot of the non-musical aspects of being in a band, things he still utilizes with the Squeeze today.
“It puts you in a situation where you need to be ready to go and put on a good show,” he said. “I learned a lot about the professionalism of doing it right.”
Whatever the group is doing, something has been working for it this summer. The early summer shows at the Bluebird were drawing crowds of between 500 and 700, earning the group a trip to Summer Camp music festival in May. Last month, the group played in New York City for the first time.
“We had about 200 or 250 people there, mostly people that Max and I knew or IU grads, but still, it was pretty cool in a city like that to have that many people at a show,” Silverstein said.
Now comes the hard part. Frye said the group is trying to take its shows outside of Bloomington to garner some regional, and hopefully, eventually national, recognition for the band.
“We want to take this thing as far as we can go,” he said.
Currently, the group is in the studio laying down three new tracks, a couple of which it hopes will be ready for the return of students in the fall.
“We try to be the best of what everyone wants to hear,” Frye said. “We’re really trying to write, make some original tunes for everyone. Now that we’re playing a lot, we’re just now truly discovering our sound.”
Want more Main Squeeze?
The group will be playing another show at the Bluebird July 23.
The first album, “First Drops” is available for a full, free download on the band’s website, where you can also see the group’s first music video, which was released in May.
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Bloomington's Bluebird: A superb live music venue
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Located in the heart of downtown, The Bluebird is Bloomington, Indiana's premier live music venue. A...Located in the heart of downtown, The Bluebird is Bloomington, Indiana's premier live music venue. A staple for decades, the "Bird" showcases artists varying from local bands to major label artists. Genres aren't limited here either, there's something for everyone. You can catch a bluegrass show one night and a rap concert the next. Located at 216 N. Walnut Street, the Bluebird features live tunes almost every day, along with some pretty killer weekly drink specials.
Wednesday's are a great day to hit up the Bluebird, as domestic draught beer will only cost you 0.15 cents a cup. Talk about a deal! In addition to the brew, most Wednesday's feature staple local bands like Jip Jop, Dot Dot Dot, The Main Squeeze, and 40% Steve among others. Lots of tribute bands also stop by, like Dark Star Orchestra (Grateful Dead), and Led Zeppelin and Red Hot Chili Peppers acts. But the Bluebird isn't just a local and tribute band venue, they bring out the big hitters too. The Bluebird's fall schedule is shaping up to be quite a treat for the live music fan. Here is just a taste of some of the acts who will be gracing the stage from August 24th to October 29th...
Papadosio (an "Experimental Jamband combining Roots and Eclectic styles with Modern Electronica and Dance Music"), The Tallest Man on Earth (a Dylan-esque folk musician from Sweden), Yeasayer (psychedelic, experimental indie rock), Bone Thugs and Harmony (do they even need a description?), Victor Wooten (5 time Grammy award winning bass guitarist), Keller Williams (a multi-talented musician who uses loop sequences to essentially create a one man band), and Guided By Voices (a 90's indie staple). With an extremely diverse lineup, there's no reason not to check out a show at the Bluebird. Ticket prices run in accordance with how "big" the band is... you'll be paying less for a Papadosio concert than a Bone Thugs one. And for the short of stature, don't worry, the Bluebird has an elevated standing area overlooking the stage. The best part about shows here is that it's general admission. You can get as close to the stage as you want and for the live music fanatic, nothing beats that. Often times artists hang around after the show talking with fans and chilling on their touring bus out-front.
When you're fieding for some live tunes, make sure to check out the Bluebird at 216 N. Walnut St. It doesn't get any better in Bloomington than the Bird... there's a reason why they are able to book the biggest acts. Whether you're hitting up the Bluebird for their specialty liquor drink the "Dirty Bird", or just checking out whatever live act is playing that night, one thing you can be sure of is a great time.
Continue reading on Examiner.com: Bloomington's Bluebird: A superb live music venue - Indianapolis Live Music Bar Scene | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/live-music-bar-scene-in-indianapolis/bloomington-s-bluebird-a-superb-live-music-venue#ixzz1GctPhTqm
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Jip Jop, Main Squeeze move Bluebird crowd
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Bluebird Nightclub attendees were sweating and swaying together as music united the crowd. Fans danc...Bluebird Nightclub attendees were sweating and swaying together as music united the crowd. Fans danced so hard the floor trembled. At the Jip Jop and Main Squeeze concert Saturday, the music was nonstop.
The concert was different from typical concerts at the Bluebird because the show united both The Main Squeeze and Jip Jop as headliners.
“Tonight is an accumulation of the last three years in Bloomington,” Jip Jop lead singer Benny Gershman said. “The purpose of the night is to funk with the audience to get them to our level of funk where people can’t help but dance.”
The concert had both bands taking turns. One band would do a 40- to 45-minute set while the other would watch and listen.
Members of the two bands also shared the stage, such as Jip Jop trumpeter Ryan Imboden and Main Squeeze guitarist Max “Maxamillion” Newman. Both bands enjoyed the presence and accompaniment of IU adjunct lecturer and jazz guitarist Corey Christiansen.
Both played original music and famous covers, such as “Shout” by the Isley Brothers.
“I’ve noted the change of Bloomington’s appreciation to original music,” Main Squeeze lead singer Corey Frye said. “This crowd proves you can do original music and the audience will respond.”
Along with Saturday night’s festivities, The Main Squeeze also released its first album, “First Drops,” and promoted its upcoming album concert party, which is March 5 at the Bluebird.
Some audience members went exclusively for The Main Squeeze while others went for Jip Jop. The concert allowed fans of one band to be introduced to another.
“They really know how to work the crowd and keep them engaged,” audience member Angie Heger said.
As the crowds were singing and dancing, the celebration was also prevalent backstage among the musicians.
Many of them were happy with the night and the outcome of the crowd as toasts were made, and both bands said they would love to do another concert like the one Saturday.
Both bands have different goals for the future. Jip Jop members are moving to Chicago and hoping to start a Chicago following, Gershman said. Frye said Main Squeeze members are trying to play wherever they are and to play with each other for the rest of their lives.
Although both bands have a different sound and different goals, they have music as a common passion, which was shared with the audience.
“We all see so much potential in each other,” Jip Jop keyboarist Benjamin Bolasny said. “We just want to keep playing music.”
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Jip Jop, Main Squeeze to bring nonstop music
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Jip Jop is fine-tuning its hip-hop while The Main Squeeze is preparing to bring the funk. Both bands...Jip Jop is fine-tuning its hip-hop while The Main Squeeze is preparing to bring the funk. Both bands will be headliners from 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. at Saturday’s concert at The Bluebird Nightclub.
“It’s the first time ever on the Bluebird stage there will be two bands headlining,” said Main Squeeze keyboardist Ben “Smiley” Silverstein.
Both bands are originally from Bloomington and both have roots in IU.
Jip Jop takes its name from hip-hop and jazz, said Jip Jop vocalist Ben “Benny Nice”
Gershman.
“Jip Jop is a fusion of jazz, hip-hop, with influences of classical reggae and early Motown,” Gershman said.
Jip Jop first started making music in 2006 when four musicians at IU’s Jacobs School of Music converged with rapper and jazz enthusiast Gershman.
After the addition of bassist Bobby Wooten III in the fall of 2007, Jip Jop began its movement by performing in fraternity houses, basements and backyards, spreading the word and building a dedicated fan base.
“Jip Jop is a different thing from what I was playing at the music school,” trumpeter Ryan Imboden said. “When I play with Jip Jop we have our music morphed. It’s a party instead of a concert. People are going to have fun with their friends and dance.”
Saturday’s show will mark Jip Jop’s first professional concert.
“We’ve played at Jake’s before, but this is our first real show,” Gershman said. “It’s almost like a genesis of the last few years.”
The concert will be different from other concerts at the Bluebird, since both bands will take turns sharing the stage.
“We will be collaborating a few times with The Main Squeeze, but we won’t both be on stage at the same time,” Imboden said. “There’s going to be a lot of surprises.”
Although The Main Squeeze is influenced by some of the same musical genres as Jip Jop, the band creates a different type of music. While Jip Jop is mostly influence by jazz and hip-hop, The Main Squeeze is influenced by funk, soul and jazz, Silverstein said.
Like Jip Jop, many of the members of The Main Squeeze are from the Jacobs School of Music.
Silverstein said 80 percent of The Main Squeeze’s music is original and 20 percent is covers. The band’s covers range from soul tracks by Stevie Wonder to more danceable songs by Michael Jackson.
Saturday will be The Main Squeeze’s debut of its first album.
“This is the first time we have original music for sale,” Silverstein said. “The EP has seven tracks and is called ‘First Drop.’ We are really psyched about it.”
People will also be able to download some songs after the concert Saturday,
Silverstein said.
“It’s going to be a hell of a party,” Silverstein said. “There will be nonstop music. It’s going to be a night to remember.”
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Main Squeeze to play for returning students
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As IU students head back to town or are already unpacking, parties are being planned, bar specials a...As IU students head back to town or are already unpacking, parties are being planned, bar specials are being announced and bands are preparing to entertain.
The Main Squeeze, the headliner for Friday’s welcome back concert at the Bluebird Nightclub, is one of them. The funk/rock band is scheduled to play at midnight.
“We play at Bluebird all the time,” lead vocalist Corey Frye said. “We are really excited about Friday night and doing something special for students back in Bloomington.”
The band got together more than a year and a half ago. Ben Silverstein, a recent IU graduate, said he had worked with other groups as soon as he came to campus, but when his long-time friend Max Newman joined him two years later, they both decided to form their own band.
“We wanted to play our own music,” Silverstein said.
Frye, a new member, said he joined the band after a couple of rehearsals.
“It just felt right,” he said. “I started singing with them and stuck around.”
Senior Reuben Gingrich, the band’s drummer, said he joined the band for the love of music. He said he enjoys meeting people and having a good time. With graduation in the near future, he said he plans to stay with the band.
“I want to stay active and play music as much as possible,” he said.
Silverstein categorizes the band under “feel-good music.” A mix of funk, soul and rock. He has a hard time choosing one genre for the group.
“It just makes you feel good,” he said.
Although the band has played a lot in several locations, Frye said he is looking forward to their first Chicago appearance on Sept. 4. The band will play at the North Coast Music Festival in Goose Island in Wrigleyville.
“We want to spread out in the Midwest,” he said. ”We want to play everywhere.”
After four months of separation, the band is preparing their first show, which will introduce a new bass player and lineup.
“It’s going to be a good one,” Silverstein said.
Tickets for Friday’s show can be purchased at the door.
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Main Squeeze Gets Down at the BMOC After Party
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This year, the Main Squeeze captivated our attention at the Bird, playing covers like “I Believe I ... This year, the Main Squeeze captivated our attention at the Bird, playing covers like “I Believe I Can Fly,” Beatles classics, "Shout" and “Give it Away.” They gave a taste of their own originals as well; the band played their first single, “Last Call,” which will be on their new album coming out in February.
“They have a great sound and can really entertain the crowd," said sophomore Sarah Glander. The band lives in Bloomington, allowing many like Glander to enjoy some quality live music locally when the band is in town. “We have a really strong fan base that follows us to the Bird,” said keyboardist Ben “Smiley” Silverstein. As for the Oct. 14 BMOC show, Smiley said, “It was great playing for a crowd that wasn’t completely familiar with us. The crowd energy really got us going.”
Although many Greek socialites got their first dose of the Squeeze at the BMOC after party, the band is no stranger to performing in frat castles and sorority mansions alike. Their first frat show was at Sigma Nu some years back, and last year they did their fair share of performances for the Greek community.
The band’s next show will be at the Bluebird on Oct. 29 over Halloween weekend. “It's about to be a wild costume party,” said Smiley, who will hopefully be topping his “Rain Man” costume from last year on the Bluebird stage. Mo Greene will be opening “The Night of the Living Bird,” and $1,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to the best costumes!
Zeta hosted a fantastic philanthropy this year, raising close to $200,000, but I think many can agree they were getting a little antsy in the 7th Street auditorium for some North Walnut fun. The Main Squeeze quenched our thirst for boozin’ and groovin,’ proving they are top entertainers and a band to keep an eye on.
The Main Squeeze:
Ben "Smiley" Silverstein - Keys
Max Newman - Guitar
Corey Frye - Vocals
Willie Robinson - Bass
Reuben Gingrich – Drums
Download the EP 'First Drops' for FREE @ www.mainsqueezemusic.com/media
supersonic
