CorpuS

CorpuS is a powerhouse, four-man hard rock band originating from South Dakota. CorpuS features Tucker Tonkel, vocals; Mike Haynes, guitar and vocals; Chris Schmoker, bass; and T.J. Snow, drums.

Their debut album “Show Me Somthin” was released in 2005. CorpuS is currently working on their 2nd album “Rectified”, with famed producer Bradley Cook(Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Tool, Counting Crows, SR71, Everclear…)They have shared the main-stage with bands such as: Saliva, Powerman 5000, Drowning Pool and Egypt Central. They are currently getting air-play on local/regional radio stations, as well as on satellite radio. CorpuS has been described as “Top-notch, with powerful drumming, guitar driven melodies, and aggressive vocals”. CorpuS has become an unstoppable force determined to pave the way for future Midwestern bands.


www.myspace.com/onlycorpus
- nocovermagazine.com

Go to website and read online interview on page 4. - www.indielabelmagazine.com

Go to http://thetubmagazine.com/artistlaunchmag/2008/04/ and read our article After Burner on page 54-57. - artistlaunchmag.com

CorpuS featured in Nov 07 article. - thetubmagazine.com

Interview by Shauna O'Donnell
CORPUS IS A FOUR-MAN HARD ROCK BAND FROM SOUTH DAKOTA. UNSIGNED AT THE MOMENT, THEY ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO TAKE THEIR SHOW TO A NATIONAL LEVEL.

MUEN: HI GUYS! AND THANKS FOR TALKING WITH MUEN! LET'S START WITH A LITTLE HISTORY ON THE BAND. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT HOW CORPUS GOT STARTED?

CORPUS: CorpuS was actually formed by Chris(bass) and Mike(guitar) about 4 and a half years ago. Tucker(vox) has been with the band for 3 and half years and TJ(drums) has been with CorpuS for right at a year. Mike played guitar and got Chris started playing bass. It was fun to just sit in the dorm room and jam unplugged, the love of playing is addicting and we decided to try and form a band. We would sit for hours and hours playing our favorite songs. All the bands that play at the local bars are "cover" bands, we decided that we would play "covers" so we could play live, but that we would write our own songs as well and always pursue the originality aspect as much as possible.

MUEN: YOUR DEBUT ALBUM "SHOW ME SOMTHIN" WAS RELEASED IN 2005 AND DID REALLY WELL GETTING AIR-PLAY ON LOCAL RADIO STATIONS AND SATELLITE RADIO. HOW IS THE CD DOING CURRENTLY?

CORPUS: The cd is still doing very well. The radio stations have been great. The support and feedback we get from DJ's and fans is overwhelming. We're currently working on our 2nd album and are looking forward to getting it out. All of our fans that have had the opportunity to sample the new songs are very excited about our new release. It is amazing to have been able to write an album that has allowed us to tour for two years and provide enough financial support to be able to make a 2nd album. It wouldn't be possible without our fans. They learn the songs and sing along with us, sometimes in towns we have never played. It's a great feeling!

MUEN: I WAS READING THAT YOU COME FROM AN AREA OF THE U.S. WHERE COVER- HEAVY BANDS ARE THE NORM AND THAT SOUTH DAKOTA HAS LITTLE TO NO SUPPORT FOR LOCAL ORIGINAL MUSIC. WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO TRY AND CHANGE THAT?

CORPUS: Well I wouldn't exactly say there isn't ANY support. We have great fans. We come from an area where people love to go to club/bars and hear your typical cover bands. You just don't really see bands do well trying to play their own music. There was a club in Rapid City that was dedicated to all original music and to live shows! They brought in any local act that played original music and acts from around the country....the place went "under" and closed because nobody would go. It was a shame. We decided a few years back to play the covers so that people could see us play, but also bring our own music into the shows. It has worked out very well, we have been able to make people want to hear our songs, maybe even more than they want to hear covers. Our goal has always been to make a good name for original bands and prove that live music is better than any karaoke bar or dance club.

MUEN: AT YOUR SHOWS YOU PLAY YOUR ORIGINAL SONGS BUT YOU ALSO PLAY COVERS. WHAT COVER SONGS DO YOU PLAY?

CORPUS: We are a new rock type of band. We've been compared to such bands as Seether, Chevelle, Three Days Grace, Godsmack...etc. We tend to play songs by those bands along with some Marilyn Manson, Metallica, and White Zombie. It's lot of hard rock put into a four hour night of music. What it comes down to is, if we have to play 4 hour sets with cover songs just to be able to play at these clubs, then we are going to play the type of music that we would listen to. We play our favorite songs by our favorite bands. We play music that fits well with our own originals. It's Hard Rock and Metal, and if you play well and put on a good show, people always have a good time.

MUEN: I HEAR FREEBIRD IS A FAVORITE AMONG CROWDS. WHAT DO THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH DAKOTA LIKE TO HEAR IN THE WAY OF COVER SONGS?

CORPUS: Freebird...freebird...freebird!!! We never ever get tired of hearing that. We also get the occasional Slayer shoutout too. Because of the choices we've made with our set lists we are alot different from most of the cover bands in the midwest. I understand when you get a metal-head that wants to hear Slayer and Pantera and thinks we may play that, but I'm still unsure of what makes people think there is any chance that we would play Freebird. Again there are bands that play the same thing as every other band....and there is Us, we like being different.

MUEN: YOUR SONGS ARE PLAYED ON JUKE BOXES AND DJ'S PLAY THEM. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER WAYS YOU PROMOTE THE BAND? DO YOU FEEL THAT MYSPACE HAS BEEN A USEFUL PROMOTIONAL TOOL?

CORPUS: We promote at our shows, word of mouth, radio, etc. The internet in general is great, but Myspace has been a life (time) saver. We have been able to get our music out to more of the masses like we need to. Myspace has helped us with bar/club gigs, magazine articles(Muen of course), talk to producers, managers, etc. Myspace and sever - muenmagazine.net

Local band’s sophisticated sound wows listener
CorpuS descended from Spearfish last weekend to perform Friday and Saturday night at Big Kahuna for a crowd of 20-somethings with low-slung jeans and mixed drinks, pool games and comfy couches.
A regular act at the Back Porch Bar in Spearfish, the four-man hard rock band has only played a few times in Rapid City, and this was my first introduction to their music.
But their music wasn’t prominent; the set was heavy on cover songs and light on the band’s own music. The originals they did play left me wanting more.
As far as “bar bands” go, CorpuS was top-notch. All four members seemed friendly and fun, comfortable on stage and almost too laid-back to be playing such aggressive music. The cover of Green Day’s “Brain Stew” was harder and more aggressive than the original recording, and it got the crowd moving.
CorpuS features Tucker Tonkel, vocals; Mike Haynes, guitar and backup vocals; Chris Schmoker, bass; and Mike Lich, drums.
Haynes, Schmoker and Lich formed CorpuS about 3-1/2 years ago, but they weren’t satisfied with the original lead singer. Then, by chance, they ran into Tonkel, whom they remembered singing in choir in their Wyoming high school, and asked if he was interested in joining the act.
He was, and a band was born.
Tonkel’s singing style is similar to Creed frontman Scott Stapp and Godsmack’s Sully Erna. His voice surprised me; its range and maturity isn’t something you hear often in a local band. He slid easily from mellow, seductive crooning to a righteous bellow with almost as much resonance as James Hetfield.




Comfortable in the spotlight, Tonkel held a mike in one hand and a beer in the other, belting out a series of songs that read like a typical jukebox selection on a Saturday night in a happening bar.
CorpuS performed Chevelle’s “Comfortable Liar,” Marilyn Manson’s “The Beautiful People,” Puddle of Mudd’s “She Hates Me” and others in that vein. Tonkel is an eerily good mimic, by the way; he sounded exactly like the original vocalists.
It was a showy set, with attitude and flashy lights galore; the intro to “Enter Sandman” was performed behind a heavy blood-red wall of smoke. Between-song moments were filled with bar-appropriate banter, such as “Anybody have a hangover this morning? Or was I the only one at the bar?”
CorpuS played a few original numbers, and the band’s own hard-hitting, guitar- driven songs fit in well with the big-name stuff. To hear more of the original music, I picked up a copy of the band’s debut album.
Since its release in July, about 800 copies have been sold of “Show Me Somethin,” a CD offering 11 original songs that range from a melodic number titled “Sever” to the tense “Addiction” and the all-out roar of “Dissonance.”
The album was mellower than I had expected, using ebb and flow of sound and guitar melodies backed by Lich’s powerful drumming for a CD that rarely lags. If you like Godsmack, Chevelle or Seether, you might be a CorpuS fan, too. The CD is available online at www.towerrecords.com and from the band at any performance.
Two members of CorpuS have college degrees, but music is their primary interest, and they are working toward playing in a wider region; they hope to go on tour once the band is more well-known.
“We can’t wait to go on the road so we can quit our jobs,” Schmoker told me. “It’s all we want to do.”
They’re good at what they are currently doing — again, Tonkel is a perfect mimic, a freaky mockingbird sort of singer. But the stuff I heard on the CD, not the stuff I heard at the bar, is what CorpuS is proud of. CorpuS wants to perform more original material.
“We’re trying to get away from covers,” Schmoker said, but, of course, they don’t have enough original material to fill a four-hour bar set, and cover songs are always crowd-pleasers in that setting.



It takes work to become well-known, and if performing other groups’ songs gets their name out there, CorpuS is willing to pay that price. The act I saw was only a stepping-stone to the real goal; someday, CorpuS will be asking the audience, not the manager, how many more songs to play.
For now, CorpuS is playing the usual bar sets with fire and style, hoping the originals leave other people, as they did me, wanting more. You can catch CorpuS from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25-26, at Rock Pile in Newcastle, Wyo., and from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 9-10, at the Back Porch in Spearfish.
See www.onlycorpus.com for photos, song clips and booking information.
If your out-of-the-mainstream band would like to be featured in From the Underground, contact Ruth Milne at 394-8420 or ruth.milne@rapidcityjournal.com
________________________________________
Copyright © 2007 The Rapid City Journal
Rapid City, SD



- rapidcityjournal.com

Local band featured in indie magazine
By Ruth Milne, Journal staff Friday, October 05, 2007
"Where in the heck is Spearfish, South Dakota?" begins a full-page article in the October edition of Indie Label Magazine.

The story, featuring a photo of lead singer Tucker Tonkel, focuses on alternative rock band CorpuS, which hails from Spearfish but has made a splash on a bigger scene as well, opening for big-name acts at the Sturgis Rally and earning airplay on national radio stations.

Over the past four years, the four-man band has built a reputation for solid, high-energy performances in the local bar scene. The addition of a new drummer, T.J. Snow, has helped boost the band to the next level. But their goal is a much bigger stage.

The magazine feature is just one element in a string of events that may open up a national audience for this area act.

A new, MTV-quality music video is in the works. Production companies in Florida and California have contacted CorpuS about recording with big-name producers. And one of their songs was featured on a radio show broadcast on stations across the country.

"I really do think things are going in the right direction," said front man Tonkel.

Indie Label Magazine contacted CorpuS after an employee came across the band's online recordings and was impressed, to say the least.

"He was blown away. He couldn't believe we were from South Dakota, and he couldn't believe that a label hasn't picked us up yet," Tonkel said.

To read the article online, go to www.indielabelmagazine.com or contact the band at www.myspace.com/onlycorpus to obtain a copy.

According to its Web site, the Houston-based magazine -- which has a print circulation of 15,000 and unlimited online viewing -- was created to expose independent bands, artists and businesses, and does not cover major labels.

If this band has its way, CorpuS will not be eligible for coverage in Indie Label Magazine much longer, because they want that record deal.

The Sturgis Rally has been a bonus for CorpuS, giving them the opportunity to share a stage with major acts like Saliva, Powerman 5000, Crossfade and Drowning Pool.

"It's a humbling experience. It's always an honor to be able to play with bands like that," Tonkel said of those concerts. "That's where we want to get to."

CorpuS' goal is the big time, and they have a specific strategy for getting there: playing enough covers of other artists' work to fill a four-hour bar gig, but throwing in some of their own songs as well to attract a following in their own right.

Their music has been compared to bands such as Seether, Chevelle and Godsmack, and CorpuS is currently recording its second album of original material.

"There's nothing better than playing one of your songs and having somebody singing in the crowd. ... That's what we do it for. We do it for the music, for the love," Tonkel said.

At present, the four members have full-time jobs, but as soon as someone is willing to back the band, they say they are ready to give it all up and roll the dice on a chance at the big time.

And while the musicians love the Black Hills area and their fans and friends in this state, CorpuS may be looking at relocating to a city with a bigger, more thriving music scene in the future.

But they have not left yet -- so fans can catch CorpuS live in concert at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, at the B&B Back Porch in Spearfish.

Contact Ruth Milne at 394-8329 or ruth.milne@rapidcityjournal.com

- rapidcityjournal.com

TJ Snow featured on 12-21-07 in Modern Drummer Magazine!!! - moderndrummer.com

Ready for the next stage
Drummer for alternative rock group CorpuS an Aberdeen native
By Gretchen Mayer, gmayer@aberdeennews.com
Published on Thursday, January 17, 2008
Drummer TJ (Tyler James) Snow fulfilled a longtime dream of his when he was featured in the December issue of Modern Drummer magazine.

“I've been reading the magazine since I was 13 years old,” said Snow. “To do better than being in Modern Drummer, well, that's tough.”

The former Aberdeen resident and son of the late teacher Bev Snow will perform with the alternative rock band CorpuS at The Zoo beginning at 9:30 tonight. Cover is $3.

“For me to come back and play at The Zoo is pretty cool,” said Snow, who attributes his drumming ability to teacher Doug Rezac. “I bought my first drum set from him. He's a great guy and a great teacher.”

Member 16 months

Snow has been performing with the Spearfish-based band for about 16 months now. “I learned all the songs off their first album (“Show Me Somthin'”). On Jan. 23, we'll be going to Los Angeles to record for two weeks with producer/engineer Bradley Cook (Foo Fighters, Tool, Counting Crows, Everclear),” said Snow.

In the four years CorpuS has been performing, the group has appeared in Aberdeen three or four times. The other members of the group are lead singer Tucker Tonkel, 28, guitarist and vocalist Mike Haynes and Chris Schmoker on bass. Tonkel, Haynes and Schmoker are all originally from a little town called Upton, Wyo. “Mike and Chris were a year behind me in school,” said Tonkel. “In fact, we played together in high school band.”

Tonkel is pretty pumped about the upcoming Los Angeles recording session. “We're in talks with some record labels and I'm excited to be recording with Bradley Cook. He's a three-time Grammy-nominated producer,” he said. “Our new album, 'Rectified,' is a lot different than our first album (“Show Me Somthin'”), because of TJ's drumming style.”

More controlled

Snow feels his style has morphed since joining CorpuS. “I was heavily influenced by bands like Kiss and Pantera,” he said. “My style has always been heavier and more aggressive. But I've evolved. With heavy metal, it was all about how fast can you go, how fast you make your feet go. Now I'm playing for the song. My drumming is more controlled and I'm not trying to impress people with the drumming.”

While living in Aberdeen, Snow played for such cover bands as Hollow Point and Eleven.

“I was always the young guy in the band and now I'm the experienced old guy,” said Snow. “The rest of the guys give me some ribbing about that.” At age 35, you can't even add the suffix “genarian” after his age.

The band is getting a full resume of publicity and opening-band credits. The group has appeared in industry magazines like Indie Label, Muen (Music Underground Entertainment News), The Tub, Medium and No Cover. The musicians have shared the stage at the Sturgis Rally with such groups as Saliva, Powerman 5000 and Drowning Pool.

Have a goal

The members of CorpuS have a goal to someday be the headline band with up-and-coming groups glad to be opening for them.

For Tonkel, it's all about the audience. “To play something you've played before and have people sing it back to you, that's what keeps me going. Or getting e-mails saying how much a song we wrote has helped someone. We're just humble to be where we're at right now.”

Of the local audience, Tonkel added this: “Coming back to Aberdeen is always a great time. It's worth the six-hour drive.”

- aberdeennews.com