7 Million Jigawatts
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7 Million Jigawatts

Detroit, Michigan, United States | SELF

Detroit, Michigan, United States | SELF
Band Rock Alternative

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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"Chick Ride helps battle breast cancer"

The sixth annual Chick Ride for Breast Cancer will run for 90 minutes starting at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Oak Tree Farm, 6854 Ready Road, South Rockwood. Registration is from noon to 1:30 p.m. and includes ride pin, dinner, drinks and a performance by 7 Million Jigawatts, a rock and soul fusion band.

Cost to participate in the fundraiser to help support women who need free mammograms and those who are battling breast cancer is $50 per bike for motorcycle riders and $75 for riders with passengers. Cost is $20 minimum donation for nonriders. The event features food by Carrabbas Italian Grill, a silent auction, brown bag raffle and helicopter rides.

For tickets or more information, call or e-mail Carole Bell at (734) 675-8065 or carolbell@att.net. - Detroit News/Kimberly Taylor Hayes


"Rock The Dog Benefit Huge Success"

With one of Milford’s busiest weekends approaching, what better way to kick off the weekend than a packed house at the Red Dog Saloon. Sponsored by the STLD along with the owners of the Red Dog, George and Patty Robinson, we knew this Thursday would be rockin’.

Red Dog Saloon

4 MSU students had approached Patty just 3 weeks before the event asking if they could use her venue for a charity rock concert which would help children who are affected by cancer. The uniqueness of this charity is that the children aren’t the ones who have been inflicted with the disease, no, Camp Kesem is a camp for kids whose parents are suffering with the horrible affects of Cancer.



This camp is where young kids can attend and be surrounded with others who know their situation. As a child whose father had struggled with throat cancer until his death, I understand what a toll this can take on a child and their surrounding family members.


Hoping to raise $2500, a successful fund raiser would pay for the childens stay, also including enough for their counselors and any ever events they would participate in. When Patty approached us here at the STLD with the opportunity to help these children, I jumped at the chance.



Some of our time was spent contacting local merchants to see if they could support our cause. I know everyone would like to donate something for an event like this, however with the economy being like it is right now, we weren’t sure what kind of a response we were going to get. To our delight, we had over $1500 worth of gift certificates and numerous donations that would allow us to put on an incredible raffle. Area businesses came out in droves offering us an incredible amount of prizes and gifts to raffle off at the Rock the Dog concert event.

Fortunately, the Red Dog has some very gracious bands who also donated their time and talents to entertain the packed house while the prizes were being raffled off during intermissions. MSU also brought one of their favorite bands from the college town to entertain the large crowd.


7 Million Jigawatts cranked up the night with their high energy sound that got the crowd filled with excitement, kept their toes tapping and their hearts pounding. As people danced, ate and just plain enjoyed the tunes, the students of MSU were collecting donations at the door to present to Camp Kesem.

The end result was a total of $3551, almost doubling the goal which the students had set for themselves. This amount might not seem like that much in the grand scheme of things but it will pay for 14 children to take a break from their everyday life; allowing the stressful and unsure situation that their parent is in to not weigh so heavy on their minds while they meet new friends and enjoy some new experiences.


We’d like to say a HUGE “Thank You” to everyone who donated items to be given away. The list is way too long to print, but your time and efforts went to a great cause. We’d also like to thank the bands that donated their time, and everyone who came out on a Thursday night to Rock the Dog! - Small Town Low Down Magazine


"LOCAL MUSIC: Fest promises great blues"

I still haven't finished my holiday shopping, and I have no idea what I'm doing for New Year's Eve. But I'm already making plans for well into 2006: I'll definitely be hitting the Fifth Annual Ferndale Metro Blues Festival, set for Jan. 27-Feb. 4.

The festival is a series of live music showcases held at various Ferndale hot spots and a few venues in neighboring cities.

This year, the festival has grown to include more than 19 venues and a slew of blues bands performing over a nine-day stretch, ending the day before the Super Bowl. (The event is approved by the Super Bowl XL Host Committee.) "It's a great way to promote the city's rich musical heritage in the national spotlight," says Craig Covey, the festival's founder.

Many events are free, and some will have a cover. Two local charities, Ferndale Youth Assistance and MAPP (Midwest AIDS Prevention Project), will benefit. For more: www.ferndalebluesfestival.org. In other blues news, hometowner Bettye LaVette received two nominations this week from the Blues Music Awards. She's up for top soul blues album for "I've Got My Own Hell to Raise" and top soul blues female artist. Winners will be announced in May. More at www.blues.org.

The ninth annual Metro Times Hamtramck Blowout is set for March 1-4. Last year, it boasted more than 200 local bands performing at 20 venues over four nights. Among past performers are Eminem, the White Stripes and the Von Bondies. Event info and performer applications are posted at www.metrotimes.com/blowout.

It's not every day a local rock band puts out a yuletide CD, so I thought you should know about "Sinister Santa Sampler," from 7 Million Jigawatts. It's a collection of holiday songs with a rocked-up flair. A CD-release party is set for Wednesday at Fifth Avenue Ballroom, 25750 Novi Road, Novi. 248-735-4011.

RACHEL MAY compiles the Free Press music listings. Send show dates or local music news to her at rmay@freepress.com or 313-222-5990. - Detroit Free Press Written by Rachel May


"Go Band: 7 Million Jigawatts"

The members: 7 Million Jigawatts is Melissa Behring of Alpena (vocals), Jake Tobias of Trenton (guitar, bass and vocals), Mike Concepcion of Southgate (guitar, bass and vocals) and drummer Clint Sabon, also of Southgate.

The history: The result of four experienced and quality musicians coming together, 7 Million Jigawatts is out to revive the days when music came from deep within the artists’ souls.

Each member has certain accolades — Behring and Concepcion have placed in and won local contests for their talents, while Sabon earned a degree in music performance from Eastern Michigan University. Rounding out the foursome is Tobias, who has jammed with many different R&B, Motown and oldies acts in the area, including The Contours and The Marvelettes.

What's up with the name: Tobias said the band’s interesting name is meant to display “an unobtainable amount of energy, positive energy.”

”Really, the meaning is only that the name makes people smile, and we’re all about having a good time,” Tobias added.

The style: 7 Million Jigawatts performs cover songs by everyone from Led Zeppelin and Coldplay to Aretha Franklin and Blondie, and Tobias said its original music is indie-rock that pulls from these diverse influences.

Got anything recorded? While the group self-proclaims to be “one hot-ass band with a great live rock ’n’ roll show,” it has yet to release any studio recordings. However, 7 Million Jigawatts is at work on its debut album.

Tell us your future? With summer here, it’s time for 7 Million Jigawatts to embark on a Midwest tour, as the quartet continues work on its first CD. The band will continue playing monthly in the Downriver area, as well as all over Michigan and Ohio.

Website: www.7millionjigawatts.com - Goanddomichigan.com Written by Nick Brandon


"Where Music And Art Intertwine"

Music and art have always had a synergistic relationship. So what happens when you combine the two? In order to find out, come to the Next Step Studio in Ferndale on Thursday November 19. This hidden gem of an art studio is located at 530 Hilton between 8 and 9 Mile, and is run by the talented artist Kaiser Suidan, whose unique vision of art is inspired by the geometrical forms found in nature. One upcoming event, Fine Art Meets Rock n’ Soul, will serve as the CD release party for 7 Million Jigawatts — a band more commonly known as 7MJ. Also appearing will be Ann Arbor artist Graceann Warn and the very talented artist/musician Marcus Worx; he will be opening up for 7MJ and will be composing a live painting while the band performs.

Formed in 2003, 7 Million Jigawatts is headed up by Melissa Behring, the outfit’s sassy frontwoman, who began her singing career in church at age four. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University in voice performance and is currently pursuing her masters at Berklee College of Music. On vocals and guitar is Jake Tobias; at the age of 17, local bands were sneaking this minor into Detroit clubs to perform with them. In addition to degrees in music and engineering from the University of Michigan, Jake’s eclectic career has seen him on stage with many local and national acts that include The Contours and The Marvellettes. Nathan Montgomery, 7MJ’s guitarist extraordinaire, has a bachelor’s in jazz performance and has been the director of the guitar program at Arts Academy in the Woods since 2003. He fuses many styles of music including blues, funk, jazz and rock to create a sound all his own. Tying the group together is the drummer, Jon Vidal, who is also a multi-instrumentalist singer/ songwriter.

Opening up the evening is the sweet, soul inspiring individual Marcus Worx. His music and art are an extension of his creative persona. His foray into music began around the age of six, when he would wander over to the neighbors' house and tinker on their piano, trying to figure out commercial jingles he had listened to on TV. Most recently, he has been featured at Damned II, the Erotica Ball, the Marquis de Sade Ball and had a music performance and gallery showing at the Future II Gallery.

The featured artist of this event is Graceann Warn. Her art has been shown in the prestigious SOFA art gala in Chicago and will also be in the upcoming Architectural Digest show in March of 2010. When asked what she thought of the idea of this event, which fuses both music and art, she replied, “It’s a fine fit, art and music. I’m certain art inspires musicians and I can tell you that, for sure, music inspires my work. Music, dance, performance, visual art — they are all related. I am married to a recording engineer so I can attest that music and art coexist beautifully!” | RDW

Fine Art Meets Rock n' Soul • 11/19 • Next Step Studio Ferndale - Real Detroit Weekly


"In My Ear"

in my ear
7 Million Jigawatts

Get electrified by 7 Million Jigawatts! Their unique fusion of rock 'n’ soul has been channeled into their upcoming album. Their CD release party will take place at the Next Step Studio art gallery in fabulous Ferndale on Thursday, November 19th.

What the band’s been listening to:

Jon Vidal: Drums
Monsters of Folk — Monsters of Folk
David Gray — Draw the Line
Nate Montgomery: Keyboards & Guitar
John Mayer — Room for Squares
John Scofield — Hand Jive
Melissa Behring: Lead Vocals
The Orbitsuns — Dollars and Dice
Sam Roberts — Love at the End of the World
Marvin Gaye — What’s Goin’ On
Jake Tobias: Vocals and Bass
The Beatles — Abbey Road
Led Zeppelin — In Through the Out Door - Real Detroit Weekly


"D-Days: Fan-freakin-tastic!"

Art For Your Rockin’ Soul

At Next Steps Studio Gallery in Ferndale, DDays had the “Fine Art Meets Rock 'n’ Soul” experience. The event was the CD release party for 7 Million Jigawatts, which fused art and music. The signature cocktail was a pomegranate martini made with Detroit’s own Valentine vodka, plus there was a mead tasting provided by B. Nektar Meadery and sushi courtesy of Little Tree. Fan-freakin-tastic! - Real Detroit Weekly


Discography

Taking Flight 7 Million Jigawatts 5 Song EP - Released November 2009
Featured Tracks:
(I've Got You) Covered - As featured in the 2010 Mustang advertising campaign.
The Way Down
Angel (Dressed to Kill)
Can't Let You In
This Must Be Love

Sinister Santa Sampler, a compilation of holiday classics redefined by 7MJ - 2005

Photos

Bio

7 Million Jigawatts unique style of rock and soul infusion will have you on your feet moving. Performing hit songs you know and love along side originals penned by members of the group, they are a treat for the senses. Their unique style of music and the talent of this band has caught the attention of Ford Motor Company. Their song, I've Got You Covered, is featured on the interior 360 view of the 2010 Mustang on www.the2010mustang.com.

This is a band that is also very involved in the community. Every year, they take time out of their busy schedules to help raise awareness and money for breast cancer. This year they were chosen to kick off the Hard Rock Caf�s Pinktober Breast Cancer Awareness Month national campaign in Detroit.

The four diverse members forge a unique blend of Rock and Soul unique to Detroit and 7 Million Jigawatts including but not limited to the influence of Janis Joplin, Stevie Wonder, Led Zeppelin, Aretha Franklin and Elliot Smith. Established in 2003 7 Million Jigawatts continues to satisfy clients and patrons all over the Midwest.