The Infatuations

Artist Information

Biography

The Infatuations are “Detroit.” The Motor City starts coming out of your speakers the second the first note hits. This band celebrates every sonic movement that is undeniably “Detroit” with every song they create and perform; from Motown soul to the inescapable good-time bravado of Parliament Funkadelic, to the raw, untamed rock energy of MC5 and Detroit Rock City’s last three decades of powerful rock n roll. The Infatuations compel you to dance to the groove.

The Infatuations was formed by Christian Draheim and Marco Lowe as an acoustic cover duo back in January 2009 with the aim of bringing some paying customers into the Eclipz Lounge inside the Greektown Casino. The first live gig saw the addition of J.T. Lee, and by April they were a full band playing their first EP release party, no longer just a cover band. After 2.5 years of playing with a rotating cast of talented Detroit music names, The current, permanent lineup features Draheim, J.T. Lee, vocalist Caleb Gutierrez, guitarist Chris Polite, bassist The Wolf (Kenny Olson’s bands), drummer/percussionist Robert Myers, and guitarist Nick Behnan (JIVA). Co-founder Marco Lowe is currently The Infatuations producer, engineer, backup instrumentalist, and songwriter along with Draheim.

“While we were recording January Sessions, Marco always joked that he was a rock singer at heart”, says Draheim. “He wanted to find a dynamic, soul inspired vocalist that possesses the power of Levi Stubbs, and the smoothness and range of Stevie Wonder with a little bit of Tyner grit. We were at an open mic night when we heard Caleb Gutierrez’ powerful voice and range for the first time. Caleb, started wailing away singing “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley full voice, and everyone in the room, stunned, turned to watch and listen. Caleb soon joined The Infatuations as frontman.”

Since that day, Gutierrez has sung the National Anthem for the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, at Ford World Headquarters, and for many Michigan Hispanic community organizations. Gutierrez – and the rest of The Infatuations – are strong believers in their local community, and participate through song in regional festivals and benefit events frequently. The Infatuations have recently headlined Arts, Beats & Eats, Sparks In the Park, West Dearborn Oktoberfest, Detroit River Days, played Stars & Stripes Festival, and Mid Point Music Festival in Cincinnati. The Infatuations’ pure Detroit brand of funk-motown-rock-dance party gets festival audiences in particular dancing in the sun since there’s something of everyone’s teenage record collection in the jams.

The music that the Infatuations make is infectious. It has a way of getting under your skin. The hooks have the swagger, the flowing sexual energy, to seduce their audience like a hot girl on the wrong side of town.

That is why the band is so aptly named – because it doesn’t simply have “fans” like other bands. Its followers are genuinely infatuated with the music. Everybody that listens to the Infatuations is basically having a love affair with the members. It’s intimate. It means something. It feels really good.

The band’s three Freshman recordings, as well as countless stellar live performances, have led to the Infatuations receiving an Emmy Award nomination for the “Blame it on You” video. The Infatuations has won the vitaminwater People's Choice Award two years in a row (2011 & 2012) as a part of the Detroit Music Awards.

The Infatuations are one of the most talented, original, and infectious dance rock bands, dance bands and/or rock bands to have come out of Detroit in recent years, and in a town with such a flavor-rich and iconically characteristic history, that means a hell of a lot.

Instrumentation

Christian Draheim - Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals
Caleb Gutierrez - Lead Vocals
Wolf - Bass
Chris Polite - Rhythm Guitar/Backing Vocals
J.T. Lee - Drums/Backing Vocals
Nick Behnan - Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals
Robert Myers - Percussion/Drums/Backing Vocals
Marco Lowe - Vocals/percussion

Discography

Recorded Live in Front of a Studio Audience (2012)
Blame It On You - Single (2012)
January Sessions (2009)

Official Website

http://www.theinfatuations.com

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Last.fm
• MySpace
• YouTube

Audio

• Dancin' On My Knees
  Listen  
• Box Of Shells
  Listen  
• Blame It On You
  Listen  
• Yesterday Morning
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Blame It On You
• Dancin' On My Knees
• Alright

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• City Slang: Weekly Music Review Roundup [+ Show ]
  

  The Infatuations’ January Sessions (Acid Groove) sound like the sort of music that Justin Timberlake...The Infatuations’ January Sessions (Acid Groove) sound like the sort of music that Justin Timberlake wishes he had the balls to make. In other words, this is fun and dance-able white-boy disco-soul. “Dancin’ On My Knees”, in particular, is a great tune.

• The Beats [+ Show ]
  

  The Infatuations - are like a can full of disco-funk, Motown soul and Detroit rock. Yet another very...The Infatuations - are like a can full of disco-funk, Motown soul and Detroit rock. Yet another very Motor City-sounding band well worth checking out.

• The Infatuation Story [+ Show ]
  

  Every time I flip through the stations on the radio and come across some good old Motown music I am ...Every time I flip through the stations on the radio and come across some good old Motown music I am reminded of what drives the scene in this town. The sounds from Detroit have been played from house to house, radio to radio and car to car. It is respected on every level in every continent. If I could go back in time and re live the Motown era I would pack my bags tonight.
  
  Well lucky for me, time travel will not be required because of a band called The Infatuations. This group of young veteran musicians has taken the Motown roots combined with their obsession of celebration to create a new Detroit sound that will have you Dancing On Your Knees.
  
  Back in the 90'ss Christian Draheim was with the Blue Eyed Soul band and crossed paths with Marco Lowe who was with a band called Bridge. The two became great friends and began writing original scores based on good feelings, funk and rock. It didn't take them long to put the right ingredients together. They soon added Chris Polite on guitar, Jeff Lee on drums, Rico Grazioli on percussion, the wild man himself Wolf on Bass and the talented and beautiful JC Westwood on vocals. Together this group combines personal style with the very soul of Detroit music to produce some soon to be epic songs. One of the tracks on their new CD "The January Sessions" is "Dancin' On My Knees" featuring Kid Rock's own Stefanie Eulingberg on drums. This tune puts me in a past era while feeling like the present. Its rock'n beat and Motown feel would have had Berry Gordy dancing on his head to hear more. This band is so talented that even Ty Stone did a duet with Marco on a song called "Alright". This tune is more than alright, it's edgy, it's pure and it Rocks! During my interview with the band it was clear that they are focused and committed to bring the feel good sounds of Detroit back to our ears, our hearts and our radios.
  
  After interviewing a band and listening to their music I always ask myself to describe them in 5 words or less. I was having trouble with keeping it to so little words until I came across this defining definition: in-fat-u-a-tion an object of extravagant passion!
  
  Check out the infatuations at www.theinfatuations.com, as well as MySpace, Facebook and Twitter
  
  MG NADER

• Dr2 View "January Sessions" by The Infatuations [+ Show ]
  

  Detroit is undoubtedly without equal in its musical history, and not just in quantity, but also in s...Detroit is undoubtedly without equal in its musical history, and not just in quantity, but also in style and genre. We are so fortunate to live in a city where you can hear so many diverse styles on any given night, and the "January Sessions" EP from The Infatuations is a perfect example of this diversity and history all wrapped up in a single, musically inspired package! Drawing inspiration from the era where platform heels and polyester were where it was at, Christian Draheim (Guitar), Marco Lowe (Vox), Jeff Lee (Drums), and Aaron Julison (Bass, Kid Rock) have crafted a retro gem that has just enough Detroit nasty to make it new and incredible. There is no doubt what you are getting right from the first track, Taste, where its funky flavor, tight harmonies, and falsetto vocals would have the Brothers Gibb drooling!! But before you can dig out your white suit, the guys lead right into Dancin' On My Knees (feat. Stephanine Euilinberg of Kid Rock's Twisted Brown Trucker Band), you may ruin that suit getting dirty to this soulful, funktastic, instant classic. We at DR2 love when we get to hear something so unique, and so very Detroit, (yeh, we just used Detroit as an adjective!) so you gotta know we were already lovin' this 5 song epic, when the last track hit us squarely in that happy place only music can reach. Finishing out the disc, the guys bust out with an attitude-adjusting, smile-inducing, down and dirty, hook-heavy gem that features another Deeetroit classic, Ty-Mother-Funkin-Stone. Now, if you read our reviews, you know we loves us some Ty, and this song, with this band, it just doesn't get any better! Marco and Ty pull off a radio-ready hit with this effort. As impressed as we have been with this EP, it was only a tease to what we were treated to during their live show. We recently caught up with them at another Detroit classic, St Andrews, and they showed they were not just a studio band; these guys brought the funk home, live in the D! So get out and catch a show and get down with your bad self!! Be sure to visit The Infatuations on the web right here, and if you're grooving to the tunes, then head on over to iTunes where you can download the album in its entirety!! DetroitRockReview.com – The Only Place for Local Music News & Reviews!

• LAST BLASTS OF SUMMER [+ Show ]
  

  The Infatuations shouldn't be as good as they are. Hairy white guys playing soul? Oh, hell no. But,...The Infatuations shouldn't be as good as they are. Hairy white guys playing soul?
  Oh, hell no. But, somehow, they are on the less hyperbolic side of fantastic. Is it the super-catchy mid-'70s-y soul-disco tunes? Part of it. There's also merrily self-effacing about this crew, which is Caleb Gutierrez (vocals), Lacy Baby (vocals), Christian Draheim (guitar), Jeff Lee (drums), the Wolf (bass), Chris Polite (guitar), Bobby Myers (percussion), Nick Behnan (guitar).
  Why you need to see 'em: Because Earth, Wind & Fire ain't playing. Plus, there's a dude named the Wolf.

Setlist

1. Harley Girl
2. Get Out N Live
3. Into 3 (w/cover of Don't Stop Til You Get Enough or Wanna Be Starting Something)
4. Yesterday Morning
5. Diamond Disco
6. Talkin To Myself
7. Taste
8. Alright
9. Box of Shells
10. Dancin' On My Knees
11. Let It Ride
12. Blame It On You
13. Back Again
14. Groovin'
15. Drop Top Lover
16. So Sexy
15. Breezin'
16. You Can Blame It All On Me
17. Livin' Here Without You

1. You Should Be Dancing (cover)
2. Papa Was (cover)
3. With a Little Help From My Friends (cover)
4. It's No Good (cover)
5. Gimme Shelter (cover)
7. Miss You (cover)
8. Superstition (cover)
9. I Wish (cover)
10. Coming Up (cover)
11. My Girl (cover)

Basic Requirements

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