The Homegrown Band

Music group influenced by upbringing on farm
By: Brittany Gearheart
Issue date: 4/21/04 Section: Living
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Throughout the humble hills of Tennessee, music resonates to young musicians and they can only convey to others what it is they have always known - beauty and a tune.

There is a community in Summertown, Tenn., that glows in shadows of nature and basks in the sunlight of peace, good, brotherhood and a little band known as T.H.B - The Homegrown Band.

For many that have never heard of them, I'm sure the question that comes to mind is "What is happen' homegrown style?'

On the Farm, six guys were raised and influenced by each other creating a natural harmony and a funky back beat that tells us these kids started playing at an early age.

Lenny Cramer, vocals and guitar, and Glenn Rohrbach, vocals and bass, started jamming together at age eight. Not only did their age help in the growth of the musical talent that is still being developed, living on the Farm allowed them to play at their own will for as long as they saw fit.

Other members of the band include: Mike Cramer - the brother of Lenny Cramer - on drums, Ryan Clark, vocals and trombone, Louey Kachinsky, vocals and trumpet and Mattias Santana, percussion.

The band has performed at a few of the local bars in Murfreesboro, and they put on quite a show.

Not many bands bring a horn section that has a James Brown appeal.

Though I wouldn't say all of their music pertains to a specific genre, they know how to get down and dirty with limited resources and variety of dance-your-ass-off tunes.

Looking at their iconic influences of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Parliament Funkadelic, the Toasters and Fishbone, there isn't a question on where their stage show antics are derived from.

On their album, T.H.B Live (one of many that they avidly hand out at their performances) the song "Kickin' It Naturally," written by Glenn, provides listeners with a touch of the home-grown simplicity.

However, this band proves that simplicity itself does not exclude the ability to have a good time and keep it real.

The Homegrown Band will be performing at the upcoming Unity Festival on the Farm April 16-18.

To find out more information on the festival visit www.unityworx.com.

For more info on the band visit their Web site at www.homegrown@minister.com or you can reach them at (931) 964-4143.

- MTSU Sidelines