Bedford Drive
Encyclopedia
Bedford Drive is an alternative rock
band from Southgate, Michigan
, which is located in the Downriver
area of Metro Detroit
. The band describes its sound as "post-hardcore power pop." The line up includes: Scott Anger (vocals, rhythm guitar), Ed Sertage (lead guitar, vocals), Michelle Bojanowski (bass, vocals) and Ryan Looney (drums, percussion). It has been active since 1998.
" on the now defunct Vertical Verve Records. In the summer of 2003, drummer Jay Croft recorded his final tracks before leaving the band and was replaced by current drummer Ryan Looney.
In 2004, they released a self-titled follow up EP. They embarked on a series of brief tours, playing with acts such as Plain White T's, and Sherwood. They entered a contest held by Windsor/Detroit's CIMX FM. Bedford Drive was selected for a slot on the annual "89X
Birthday Bash" show. They were put on a bill alongside AFI
, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
. Vince Cannova began playing their song "Four Years Later" on his afternoon show.
In early 2006 when Bedford Drive was named in Alternative Press
as one of "America's Top 10 Unsigned Bands of 2006". This article captured the attention of recording engineer Mike Poorman (Tsunami Bomb
, Piebald
) who expressed interest in working with the band on a future project. They accepted his offer and in August of that year, they headed to Strange Ways Studios in Burlington, Vermont
where Poorman assumed recording, mixing and co-producing roles on 7 new tracks. Due to time constraints, the band left Vermont with having only completed 5 songs, abandoning the other 2 partially recorded songs for a future session. The completed songs became an EP called "The In-between" which was released in March 2007. An abbreviated "radio edit
" of the EPs closing track, "Juliane", as well track two, "Seven to 7", have been receiving airplay on CIMX FM.
In the Summer of 2007, after almost a decade of continuous work, the band decided to go on hiatus for all of June and July. Bedford Drive to ended their hiatus ahead of schedule (July 27), when they were asked to join the 13th Annual Vans Warped Tour (Detroit) bill. After Warped Tour, Bedford Drive started rehearsing regularly once again. The band has been in a dormant stage with no official word on their future plans.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band from Southgate, Michigan
Southgate, Michigan
Southgate is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 30,047 at the 2010 census.Southgate was the last city to incorporate from the former Ecorse Township, gaining city status in October 1958...
, which is located in the Downriver
Downriver
Downriver is the unofficial name for a collection of 18 suburban cities and townships in Wayne County, Michigan south of Detroit along the western shore of the Detroit River....
area of Metro Detroit
Metro Detroit
The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is the metropolitan area located in Southeast Michigan centered on the city of Detroit which shares an international border with Windsor, Ontario. The Detroit metropolitan area is the second largest U.S. metropolitan area...
. The band describes its sound as "post-hardcore power pop." The line up includes: Scott Anger (vocals, rhythm guitar), Ed Sertage (lead guitar, vocals), Michelle Bojanowski (bass, vocals) and Ryan Looney (drums, percussion). It has been active since 1998.
History
Bedford Drive began in 1998 by playing shows in and around Detroit. They released their debut album "The Last Time I Saw the StarsThe Last Time I Saw the Stars
The Last Time I Saw The Stars was Bedford Drive's first album, released in the spring of 2002.-Track listing:# "Never Saw It"# "The Last Time I Saw The Stars"# "Incredible L"# "Bittersour"# "It Fits Together"# "Not Minding, Loving"...
" on the now defunct Vertical Verve Records. In the summer of 2003, drummer Jay Croft recorded his final tracks before leaving the band and was replaced by current drummer Ryan Looney.
In 2004, they released a self-titled follow up EP. They embarked on a series of brief tours, playing with acts such as Plain White T's, and Sherwood. They entered a contest held by Windsor/Detroit's CIMX FM. Bedford Drive was selected for a slot on the annual "89X
CIMX-FM
CIMX-FM — branded 89X — is a commercial active-leaning alternative rock radio station based in Windsor, Ontario. 89X serves both Essex County, Ontario and Metro Detroit; its 100,000-watt signal reaches most of southwestern Ontario, southeastern Michigan, the Toledo metro area and the western Lake...
Birthday Bash" show. They were put on a bill alongside AFI
AFI (band)
AFI is an American alternative rock band from Ukiah, California that formed in 1991. They have consisted of the same lineup since 1998: lead vocalist Davey Havok, drummer and backup vocalist Adam Carson, with bassist Hunter Burgan and guitarist Jade Puget, who both play keyboard and contribute...
, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2000. The group is composed of vocalist and pianist Karen O, guitarist and keyboardist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase. They are complemented in live performances by second guitarist David Pajo, who joined as a touring...
. Vince Cannova began playing their song "Four Years Later" on his afternoon show.
In early 2006 when Bedford Drive was named in Alternative Press
Alternative Press (music magazine)
Alternative Press is an American music magazine based in Cleveland, Ohio. It generally provides readers with band interviews, photos, information on upcoming releases, and music charts. It was founded in 1985 by Mike Shea, who is the current president....
as one of "America's Top 10 Unsigned Bands of 2006". This article captured the attention of recording engineer Mike Poorman (Tsunami Bomb
Tsunami Bomb
Tsunami Bomb was a punk rock band from Petaluma, California that was active between 1998 and October 2005 and released 2 studio albums and 4 EPs. They were founded by Dominic David who left in 2003...
, Piebald
Piebald (band)
Piebald is an American alternative rock band. Piebald started as a hardcore band in Andover, Massachusetts, out of the same scene that produced legends Converge. They later moved to the Boston suburb of Somerville and became a staple of the Greater Boston indie rock scene. Two members still live in...
) who expressed interest in working with the band on a future project. They accepted his offer and in August of that year, they headed to Strange Ways Studios in Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
where Poorman assumed recording, mixing and co-producing roles on 7 new tracks. Due to time constraints, the band left Vermont with having only completed 5 songs, abandoning the other 2 partially recorded songs for a future session. The completed songs became an EP called "The In-between" which was released in March 2007. An abbreviated "radio edit
Radio edit
In music, a radio edit is a modification to make a song more suitable for airplay, whether it be adjusted for length, profanity, subject matter, instrumentation, or form...
" of the EPs closing track, "Juliane", as well track two, "Seven to 7", have been receiving airplay on CIMX FM.
In the Summer of 2007, after almost a decade of continuous work, the band decided to go on hiatus for all of June and July. Bedford Drive to ended their hiatus ahead of schedule (July 27), when they were asked to join the 13th Annual Vans Warped Tour (Detroit) bill. After Warped Tour, Bedford Drive started rehearsing regularly once again. The band has been in a dormant stage with no official word on their future plans.
Trivia
- Ed Sertage and Ryan Looney have played in many other projects together, both live and in studio. Some include: Tim Pak & The Budget Sinners, The Cast The Camera, and the active Matt Dmits Band and Songs from the Moon.
- Tony Thaxton of Motion City SoundtrackMotion City SoundtrackMotion City Soundtrack is an American rock band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, formed in 1997. The band consists of founding members Justin Pierre and Joshua Cain , along with keyboardist and moog synthesist Jesse Johnson, bassist and backing vocalist Matthew Taylor, and drummer, percussionist and...
provided hand claps on the track "Birthday in a Bearsuit" from the self-titled EP. - In 2007, Ed Sertage purchased Woodshed Studios where the band had recorded previously.
- In 2008 Scott Anger and former drummer Jay Croft rejoined forces to play in a cover band called "The DR5."
- Michelle Bojanowski sings the female vocal part on Limbeck's "Ohio" when the band is in town playing on the same bill as Bedford Drive.
- Scott Anger, Ed Sertage, and former drummer Jay Croft, were in a band called Sonic Reducer during their high school years. They won their high school talent show and later released a CD called "Smothered" in 1996.
- All band members are graduates of Southgate Anderson High SchoolSouthgate Anderson High SchoolSouthgate Thomas J. Anderson High School is a high school in Southgate, Michigan, United States.-History:Originally one of two high schools in Southgate, along with the since closed Schafer High School....
, Southgate, MichiganSouthgate, MichiganSouthgate is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 30,047 at the 2010 census.Southgate was the last city to incorporate from the former Ecorse Township, gaining city status in October 1958...
: Scott Anger class of '95; Ed Sertage class of '97; Michelle Bojanowski; Ryan Looney class of '98, and former drummer Jay Croft class of '97. - Ryan Looney has a long time-running rap project called Fight School
- The bear on the cover of the self-titled E.P. is named Randy.
- The band's name derived from the name of the street Jay Croft lived on as a child, which is where BD rehearsed from 1998-2003.
- Bedford Drive was called "Driver Six" for one show in the summer of 1998.
- The vocal harmony during the quiet part of "Not Minding, Loving" was performed by drummer Jay Croft.
EPs
- The In-Between (2007)
- Bedford Drive EPBedford Drive EPThe Bedford Drive EP was released independently as a followup to their debut The Last Time I Saw the Stars. It is sometimes referred to as the Bearsuit EP, due to the finishing song on the EP, and the bear on the front cover. The bear's name is Randy...
(2004) - Live in Detroit (2000)
- Vacuum Cleaner Tape (1998)