Change. Change is good. We all face change in our own lives, and sometimes that change involves risks. Change means improvement. Change means growth.
Raising Kane, a 5-piece metal/hard rock band from St. Louis, Missouri, are no strangers to change. The band trace their origins back to 2004 when they formed as a 4-piece under the name ADHD. Founding members include Brett Ortwerth (guitar/vocals), Luke Thompson (Drums) and Brian Kinealy (Lead Guitar), who had attended elementary and middle school together, finally forming the band during Spring of their seventh grade year. Several months after conception, they added a new bassist, Mason Marshall. This core group of musicians took influence heavily from Blink-182, Sum 41, Green Day, and, increasingly, Metallica.
High school rolled around and brought with it a change of atmosphere, as well as a broadening of horizons. Drew Morris, whom Kinealy had met in the school band, joined the lineup as lead vocalist in 2006. Around this time the band changed their name to Raising Kane. The release of 2007’s
“Salvation” featured Morris on vocals, yet also marked the end of the band’s punk sound.
As the band drew influences from heavier outfits such as Pantera, Iron Maiden, Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet For My Valentine, Killswitch Engage, and Shadows Fall, amid countless others, their songs began to reflect that metal edge. 2008’s
“Controlling The Machine” represents songs recorded between September 2007 and September 2008. During this time period, Raising Kane worked extremely hard for opportunities to open up for big-name acts like Hellyeah and the 2008 Taste of Chaos Tour, which featured Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet For My Valentine, and Atreyu. Raising Kane has also shared the stage with He Is Legend, Black Tide, blessthefall, Otep, Bloodsimple, Kill Hannah, and Gwen Stacy. Several tracks from
“Controlling The Machine” receive weekly St. Louis radio play.
Eager to get back in the studio, Raising Kane recorded three new songs during the first half of 2009. Combining these three songs with two songs from
“Controlling The Machine”, the band released an EP entitled
“Welcome Vacancy” on June 3, 2009. This creation represents a more focused vision of the band’s sound, one that is refreshing and uniquely their own. The music hits hard while the melodies hook into listeners’ temporal lobes like a fish hook into bait. With lyrics that deal with personal struggle, the songs are raw, meaningful, easy to relate to, and unabashedly real.
Both
“Controlling The Machine” and
“Welcome Vacancy” are available at local St. Louis retailers, CDBaby.com, and the iTunes Music Store. To check out tour dates, music, videos, pictures and more you can visit Raising Kane at www.myspace.com/raisingkanestl.
Although this band has gone through considerable change in the last five years, more is yet to come as these eighteen-year-olds head off to college in the fall. Rather than viewing this change as a setback, they are looking at it as a chance to grow. Having already gained considerable recognition in the St. Louis area, they are grateful for the chance to spread the name of Raising Kane across the Midwest region and eventually the United States. They have proven that they have the work ethic, determination, and talent to succeed. Moreover, they have proven that change, at least for this band, equals growth.
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