Studiotone

Studiotone combines new-age imagery with sharp, soaring vocals to create radio-friendly guitar rock with a decidedly British slant. Unique to the local scene is Studiotone's uncommon use of harmony vocals, which blow the life into "Alien" (the disc's most memorable track) and "Digital Radio." Nearly all of Digital Radio's melodic themes rest on singer Brett Nuffer's capable lungs - consequentially, liking Studiotone's music demands you warm to Nuffer's moderately atypical voice. Lyrically, the band focuses on the world's morph from warm and analog to cold and digital - a transition encompassing everything from music ("Digital Radio") to women ("She's On the Machine"). Get your tone at www.studiotonemusic.com.

-Cliff Frantz - Recoil Magazine

It's a brand spanking New Year and the members of Studiotone are in
good spirits as they take to the stage at the Hamilton St. Pub.
Apart from running through a tightly wound set of original new material
with precision, flare, passion and spontaneity, the group is excited about
strides made on their newly released 'sophomore' CD, a remarkable
collection of new songs entitled Where You Left Off.

It's been three years since the Lansing based band made their debut with
the critically acclaimed release of Digital Radio, and since that time
founding members Brent Nuffer (vocals) and Bryan Mauro (guitar/vocals) have
added three new members to the fold - drummer David Saxton, bassist Brock
Elsesser, and the latest member to the line-up, guitarist/vocalist Jeff
Graham.

Any personnel change can serve as a double-edged sword that can threaten
the purity of one's original vision at the same time it opens new musical
avenues, but if change is axiomatic to growth, both Brent and Bryan are
excited about the way Studiotone has blossomed.

"We've been around a few years now and I view this latest line-up as a
'Mach II' incarnation of the band," explains Brent. "In fact, with Jeff &
Brock in the band we thought of calling the new CD 'Roman Numeral II', but
that seemed a bit too obvious."

One thing that does not seem obvious to refined ears is the seamless manner
in which the new members have augmented the Studiotone sound, staying true
to their 'signature' quality of showcasing strong songwriting by broadening
the musical spectrum that frames the expanding topical themes of their
material.

"One thing that I feel does distinguish this line-up from prior
incarnations of the band is the sense of seriousness that we share about
the music," continues Brent. "Everybody is on the same page in terms of
presenting the material and we have a nice chemistry now."

Indeed, the topical content on their new CD is a welcome respite from the
angry metallic edges that have pre-empted so much of what is labeled
'alternative music' on the airwaves, and while the melodic and lyrical
backbone of the band is still present in new songs such as Better On the
Inside and The Best of a Bad Year, the group has made a conscious effort to
explore softer and more poignant musical nuances in ballads such as I
Remember Falling and the expansive Everything She Wanted.

In fact, newest members Brock and Jeff both agree that it was the strength
of Brent and Bryan's songwriting that drew them into the fold.

"When I first saw Studiotone it was the quality of the songwriting that
struck me most," notes Brock. "If you're playing music in a band that's an
important quality to have, along with good stage presence. Their attitude
was the polar opposite from the previous band I was in. This group is tight
and doesn't need to mess around."

New guitarist Jeff Graham echoes this sense of fortune in terms of hooking
up with Studiotone. "My prior band was falling apart and a lot of the guys
were graduating college and joining the real world," he explains. "I wasn't
ready to do that, so started talking to Bryan at the bar one night. I
thought they could improve with different people, so offered my services.
They were doing what I wanted to do, so this was more like a 'life choice.'

"You can hear that sense of commitment from the new members in the new CD,"
echoes Bryan.

"I think we've evolved through the lineup changes and just by being
different guys than from when we started. Obviously, different influences
will lead to creating something new out of the mix. We have a new sound,
now. Our former guitarist (Pete Schaller) was a great guitarist, but not
the same person as Jeff, so it only makes sense that different stuff will
come out in the writing. Jeff's influences may be different, but really
it's just an evolution."

At age 31, David Saxton is the oldest members of Studiotone and the "third
oldest or newest member, however you phrase it," he quips.

"I've noticed an evolution in the sound since joining the band," he
continues. "The songwriting is more evolved. Digital Radio is the album I
auditioned to, but I'm excited about this new release because I feel it
truly showcases the diversity of the band."

So let's talk a moment about that 'diversity'. A sad fact of Modern Rock
today is that much of the crop of music being played and promoted by radio
stations & rock journalists seems to follow some type of 'agenda' that is
predicated more upon fashion & 'product' than musicianship and songwriting
ability. I mean, let's face it. How else can one explain bands like The
Strokes and The White Stripes?

"I think what's happened is that a huge gap has been created between Indie
& Major Label rock," comments Jeff. "Even five years ago you had many more
major labels than you do now, because a lot of them have consolidated.
Consequently, a good 'indie' band that crosses over into - Review Magazine

The stage was buzzing with energy and activity at Rick's American Café on Saturday night, as Studiotone rocked the house to promote its new CD, "Where You Left Off."

From lead vocalist Brent Nuffer hopping around stage and constantly interacting with the audience to the rest of the band smiling and sometimes looking caught in the moment, Studiotone simply had fun - and so did its concert-goers.

Pre-law and political science senior Stan Bell was impressed by the band's performance at Rick's, 224 Abbott Road., especially when Nuffer at one point wrapped his hands around and essentially serenaded a dangling electrical cord.

"When he grabbed that electrical cord, it was like he was making love to it," Bell said. "The guy was really into his music, and that's what music is all about."

Some fans bounced around the dance floor, but most voiced their appreciation by whooping and hollering at various times throughout the show. The icing on the cake was when the band played an excellent mix of older and newer music.

In all, there are 11 tracks on the new CD, some of which are remastered ditties from the group's previous album, "Digital Radio."

The vocals also were spot-on and the instrumentals were sharp, as the quintet stormed through an hour set. Nuffer, bass guitarist Brock Elsesser, lead guitarist and vocalist Jeff Graham, drummer David Saxton and vocalist and guitarist Bryan Mauro make up Studiotone.

Some songs featured on the new CD included "Special," "Falling From the Sun," "Over Your Shoulder" and "Waited." Most new songs the group blasted out were pop-rock hybrids, full of energy and pizzazz.

Guitars riffed along to "Falling From the Sun," as Nuffer made spastic arm movements, ‡ la R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe. "Waited" came off as a pop ballad - slow and passionate in the beginning and then frenetic and energetic later on.

And, as if the band didn't already have the attention of its fans, Nuffer nevertheless asked the crowd to make some noise and, sure enough, it responded.

Ask and ye shall receive.

Overall, the band knows how to play a quality show and impress its fans. Studiotone had the crowd in the palm of its collective hand. It's no wonder the group has just released another CD, and it seems to be only a matter of time before it hits mainstream radio - when this homegrown band of musicians will finally be able to enjoy the fruits of its labor.

Location: http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=20054 - The State News- Kristofer Karol

With passionate vocals, instantly memorable tunes and tight production, Studiotone remind us of Fastball, Rick Springfield, Goo Goo Dolls(when the GGD don`t irritate), Gin Blossoms, Collective Soul and Semisonic. Fans of these bands, check this batch of 11 songs out! They rocks intensely with a strong melodic sense. "It blends equal parts power pop with second=wave alterna rock....think Goo Goo Dolls with a broader emotional range, sharp harmonies, and a few tricks up their sleeves"-The Noise. "Three years of hard work have yielded a finely-tuned machine anxious to share their catchy hooks with any and all who care to listen."=BravePages.

Very Highly Recommended. - Not Lame Records; others

If you’re tired of hearing the same five pop songs on the radio, don’t despair. New sounds are coming to Traverse City, riding on the coattails of the East Lansing pop-rock group, Studiotone.

Originally a hodgepodge of several disintegrated bands that operated out of a basement in East Lansing, Studiotone has grown in both numbers and appeal.

“Since I joined the band we’ve moved from the status of a local band to a regional band,” said Brock Elsesser, bass player for the band and a senior at Michigan State University. “We’re trying to further our quest onward and outward.”

Besides pleasing crowds at MSU, Studiotone has toured the Midwest, playing one or two nights per week in cities such as Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Mount Pleasant, Saginaw, Chicago and South Bend.

Studiotone will cross Traverse City off its list of unexplored cities on Thursday, May 22, when it goes on stage at Union Street Station at 10 p.m.

With three 50-minute blocks of playing time, concert-goers will have the chance to hear all of Studiotone’s original hits and more.

“We’ll play covers too, but not the standard bar covers,” Elsesser said.

Bryan Mauro, guitarist for the band and an MSU alumnus, said sometimes playing cover songs for a new audience can be an icebreaker.

“It helps when you’re in a new place to hear someone else’s music, something that will be familiar to the audience,” Mauro said.

Elsesser described the band’s music as “Not so pop-y alternative rock,” that resembles a mixture of the sounds of Our Lady Peace, U2 and the Gin Blossoms.

“If the Gin Blossoms were a little more upset and heavy, it would be kind of like that,” he said.

Elsesser also said touring in Traverse City is a good opportunity for the band, because of the lack of activity downstate at this time of year.

“Summer slows down a lot,” he said. “People are outside and college students go home, but resort towns like Traverse City are still attracting people.”

Elsesser has high hopes for a good turnout at Union Street Station.

“Like every band says, we put on a heck of a show,” he said. “We have a heck of a lot of fun on stage and I think it transmits to the crowd. You see people doing what they love to do.”

Studiotone formed two years before Elsesser joined. It self-produced a single album, “Digital Radio,” in 2000, whose singles earned slots in the top five on “Impact,” MSU’s college radio station.

The band is in the process of producing another album.

Elsesser said the new unnamed album will be released most likely in early fall, and features songs with a different sound than the previous album.

“The new one is a little more radio-friendly,” he said.

Bob Farmer, owner of the Rose-Robert Agency in Elk Rapids and booking agent for Studiotone, said Union Street is becoming a hot spot to attract local and regional bands.

“Union Street is sort of the grandfather of original clubs in northern Michigan,” Farmer said. “There aren’t enough weekends for good bands. The bands that have already played are phenomenal.” - Traverse City (MI) Record-Eage - Sarah Henry