Life Size Ghost
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Life Size Ghost

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
Rock Alternative

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

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Press


"Grand Rapids music scene ready for February"

After the Intersection, one of February’s best shows will be at Founders Brewery. Led by Grand Valley State University’s own Talitha Snowden, Life Size Ghost will be performing tonight for free. This band will surely be swept away to bigger and better things, so see them in Grand Rapids while you still can. - Chris LaFoy


"Newcomers Life Size Ghost Rally to Win"

"When asked about the reaction to their success at this year's Review Music Awards, Talitha says the band was “surprised, excited, and very grateful for the people that voted for us. It was our first year being nominated for anything, so it was nice to walk away with some awards.” - Robert E. Martin


"Life Size Ghost to Play Combat Corduroy CD release"

Don’t just take my word for the fact that LSG is kicking ass. Last year they scored a sponsorship from Sparks Energy Drink which landed their single “Where We Started” on the Sparks Digital Playlist. This past June that same single made its way on to the all-female compilation She Got Next 2011. They also landed first place in six separate categories in the 25th Annual Review Music Awards: Best New Artist of the Year, Most Innovative Artist, Rock Keyboardist, Female Rock Vocalist, Rock Guitarist and Blues Instrumentalist. - Dwayne Hoover


"Life Size Ghost get even larger with "Magnify""

The Grand Rapids rock band Life Size Ghost are seemingly going for the gold on their new EP "Magnify" (to be released in February 2012). The band features Talitha Snowden on keyboard and vocals, Curtis Hendershott on guitar, Erik Ryden on lead guitar and bass and Brian Thomas on Drums.

Experimenting with contrasts, Life Size Ghost layer intricate tempos over muddly distorted guitars and beautifully delicate vocals to create what will soon be called "Magnify."

The first track, "In your sleep," possesses a delayed rhythm guitar a carried gently by a mellow drum riff in 4/4 time. The guitar subtely solos into the mix as the listerner floats into a dream and Snowden sings "One thing on your minds, the brightest of brights in your eyes." As they build through the song, it gets heavier and more beautifully poetic.

The title track mirrors a style similar to prog-rock and jazz with the smokey vocals still in full effect. The track shows creativity and invention while Snowden represents a style that is playful, sweet and innocent. But what makes them different from the rest of the bands in the greater Grand Rapids area is that they seem to possess a strange and underlying blues element that lies subtely within the mix and is slightly hidden by a good amount of heavy commotion that surrounds it.

Given all that it possesses, "Magnify" shows a band that contains all the elements- including uniqueness and intrique- that contribute to a bands success. For those interested, the album release party is at Founders Brewery on Feb. 2nd, 2012 and is a free show. For more information check out www.facebook.com/lifesizeghost. - Jared Field


"Get to Know "Life Size Ghost""

What makes LSG different from other bands in my opinion is that we are not driven by anything other than our love for what we do. We are all very close friends and we simply play for each other and the people who listen to us. - Alwayz Therro Mag


"Where We Started 2010, Life Size Ghost"

"Every Other Word" is a slow, dynamic rocker that features outstanding work on the vibes and another strong vocal outing from Talitha Snowden. Life Size Ghost is hitting on all cylinders here in the sort of big rock anthem that has real radio potential." - Wildy's World


"Taxi.com review of Life Size Ghost: Where We Started"

"Your vocals are engaging, and quite compelling. The passion that you have certainly does come across to this listener! The actual cadence in the delivery of the lines, adds to the appeal here. The use of melody to set up and create the mood is strong and effective. In particular, I like the use of the vibes and keyboard textures...this is both different and interesting. Guitar lines are also powerful, and act like additional hooks. Speaking of hooks, this chorus is set up and released well. You guys also repeat it for effect, and as such it is memorable after one go round. All in all, this is a very solid song, that is delivered well. Nice job!"

- Taxi.com


"Life Size Ghost: Creating Musical Substance"

"Motivation is not something you see from many bands around the area, they are dedicated to bringing you an excellent piece of original work every time you see a live performance, they give you what you pay for at the door, and then some. Its remarkable the standard they are setting for up and coming musicians, to wrap so much beauty and intelligence in their songwriting capabilities, it almost makes you wonder when time will take and sweep them away from us, in this small chunk of the world." - John Vasquez- Associated Content


"MOTM: Life Size Ghost"

"They have proven themselves to be more than worthy of their inclusion, and they continue to grow their fan base with year-round shows at Michigan venues and Midwest tours every spring. Led by strong, soulful female vocalist Talitha Snowden, their dynamic sound has brought them attention everywhere they have played. The addition of percussionist Reese Gall (vibraphone, congas, shakers, etc.) in 2008 brought their band’s lineup to 6 members, and it has catapulted them into the upper echelon of mid-Michigan talent." - Joel Heckaman


"Where We Started by Life Size Ghost, 2010"

"I rate Where We Started by Life Size Ghost a “thumbs up” and 10 stars. They have a unique sound and the drive to make it!" - Gulf Coast Music Review


"Life Size Ghost: Where We Started"

"Life Size Ghost's Where We Started is a solid sophomore effort that supports the buzz that has been steadily growing around this young band. Comprised of six members—Talitha Snowden on keyboard and lead vocals, Curtis Hendershott on guitar, Erik Ryden on lead guitar, Dan Pavlovich on bass, Brian Thomas on drums, and Reese Gall on vibraphones and percussion—the Lansing-based group seamlessly comes together to create a bluesy, danceable indie rock.

Much of the bluesy qualities is due to Snowden's voice. As a front-woman, her soulful vocals are powerful and clear, and the dynamic songs demonstrate her range. Her vocal command is on display from the opening track on, and her contributions are definitely some of the strong points that make this album memorable.

Another strong point is the songwriting. Comprised of only seven songs, the album still clocks in at 32 minutes. The opening track, "Old Design," is the longest song on the album, coming in just shy of 6 minutes, while the title track is the shortest song on the album but it is still a good length at 3:45. The longer songs allow for more complex song structures, which give way to more breakdowns and more opportunities for the individual bandmates to showcase their abilities. Especially shining during these moments are Ryden's guitar solos and Gall's vibraphone sounds. While the vibes are a presence throughout the album, it's during breakdowns like the Caribbean-influenced beat in "Anytime, Anywhere" where they really come to the forefront. Often associated with jazz, the vibraphone fits in perfectly here.

Lyrically the songs address relationships, but they escape falling into either of the extremes we're used to hearing in pop songs—that of the head-over-heels in love or that of the broken-hearted. The emotionally mature songs get at the complexities of relationships and acknowledge things are never black and white. Overall, each track is solid and the album is professionally polished. If there is one downfall, it is that there is not one track that stands out amongst all the others. However, if the biggest complaint is that all the songs are good, then this band is probably on the right track." - Gina Meyers


Discography

Still working on that hot first release.

Photos

Bio

Haunting, emotional, honest, technical, heavy – all are words that can be applied to Grand Rapids hard rockers Life Size Ghost. Since the band’s formation in 2007, founding members Talitha Snowden (vocals/keyboards), Curtis Hendershott (guitar), Erik Ryden (lead guitar), Brian Thomas (drums), plus recently-added bassist Jeremy DeHaan (also of Lansing band Herd), have been wowing crowds in their hometown, in Michigan, and beyond.

Life Size Ghost formed in 2007 in Mt. Pleasant. “We started playing college parties and gigs regularly at the local bars,” says Snowden. “All of us have a strong passion for music and have made it a priority in our life due to pure enjoyment.”

The band cites blues and jazz music, plus Pink Floyd and Incubus, as major influences and that makes complete sense when listening to songs like “In Your Sleep” and “Lonely Light” from the three EPs released so far. The inventive, progressive psychedelia of Floyd merges seamlessly with the contemporary metal of Incubus, while the purity of jazz and the blues shines throughout.

That energy and quality can be heard in abundance on each of Life Size Ghost’s releases: 2010’s Where We Started, 2011’s The Realverb Sessions EP, and 2012’s Magnify EP. The band has played Nashville, Austin, Brooklyn and Chicago, opening for artists and groups as prestigious as Candlebox at the Emerald Theatre in Mt. Clemens (where the band played in front of approximately 700 people), Company of Thieves (signed to Wind-Up Records), Freezepop (appeared on Guitar Hero 2), Oh My God, Evolove, American Opera, Great Lakes Myth Society, and the Hounds Below (featuring Jason Stollsteimer of the Von Bondies).

In March 2011, Life Size Ghost played on two of the Planet LA Records showcases in Austin, TX, during South by Southwest. The following month, the band opened for Washed Out at the Ragbag of Jollification tour hosted by the Cartoon Network’s [adult swim] in Lansing, and it played the main stage of Michigan Rock ’n’ Brew in August 2012 on a bill that also included the Toadies, Helmet, the Hard Lessons, Dirty Americans, the Muggs and Downtown Brown.

“Playing down in Texas during SXSW was a great experience for all of us to be around a strong, supportive music scene,” says Snowden. “The Emerald Theatre was a memorable moment due to the amount of new people we got to play for. Ragbag of Jollification was also a fun experience.”

In addition, the band earned first place in six separate categories in the 25th Annual Review Music Awards: Best New Artist of the Year, Most Innovative Artist, Rock Keyboardist, Female Rock Vocalist, Rock Guitarist and Blues Instrumentalist.

It is this series of impressive live shows, plus the excellent recorded output, that drove Yahoo! Voices scribe John Vasquez to say, “Motivation is not something you see from many bands around the area, they are dedicated to bringing you an excellent piece of original work every time you see a live performance, they give you what you pay for at the door, and then some. It’s remarkable the standard they are setting for up and coming musicians, to wrap so much beauty and intelligence in their songwriting capabilities, it almost makes you wonder when time will take and sweep them away from us, in this small chunk of the world… Life Size Ghost is proving that with enough heart and soul, you can create an unbeatable sound. Talking with the band members recently, they told me they are stretching their legs, trying to bring new cities and fans closer, they are very personal, talking with a genuine tone remarkably every time I see them. In the music business these days, this is something hard to come by, people forget who they are, but not this band, there live performance can be felt strongly, with heart, soul, a mixture of feelings, it really makes you step back and think.”

Meanwhile, Dwayne Hoover of Kalamazoo Local Music said that, “Don’t just take my word for the fact that LSG is kicking ass. Last year they scored a sponsorship from Sparks Energy Drink which landed their single “Where We Started” on the Sparks Digital Playlist. This past June that same single made its way on to the all-female compilation She Got Next 2011. They also landed first place in six separate categories in the 25th Annual Review Music Awards: Best New Artist of the Year, Most Innovative Artist, Rock Keyboardist, Female Rock Vocalist, Rock Guitarist and Blues Instrumentalist.”

With so many plaudits singing Life Size Ghost’s praises, it was no surprise when, in 2010, the band received a sponsorship deal from Sparks Energy Drink. As a result, the “Where We Started” single was featured on the Sparks digital playlist, as well as on Block Starz’s all-female compilation She Got Next 2011.

The past five years have seen Life Size Ghost grow from a local bar band to a nationally recognized hard rock machine. In Snowden, they have a charismatic, alluring front woman capable of holding a crowd in the palm of her hand. Howeve