Flint Michigan

No, Flint Michigan does not hail from the Midwestern city that is it's namesake, but the band plays a brand of rock that would not be a stranger to the Heartland. Based in Jersey City, New Jersey, Flint Michigan claim they chose their name in honor of Flint native, social critic Michael Moore. If that's not already enough to confuse, their music draws from roots-rock, rock & roll, country, zydeco, blues, improvisation, and...psychedelia? The band came together in 1996. Other than drummer Fred Roberts, the band members had known each other for some years. Guitar, vocal, and songwriting duties are shared by Jim Asherman and Dennis Katsanis, who first met and started playing together after meeting in film school. Flint Michigan was born a few years later when the duo enlisted Dave Carta (bass), Tom DiPaolo (lap steel guitar), and Roberts to round out the lineup. They signed with New Jersey label Buy Or Die soon thereafter and garnered a following on the New Jersey/NYC club scene (in fact Hackettstown, NH--home of Buy Or Die--awarded them a key to the city). In 1998, the band's first album, Amber Waves, was released.