Andy Gibbons: Aurora WILead Singer
Hey everyone this is Andy Gibbons, lead vocalist and newest member of Bad Axe Rodeo! Back in the early summer of 09' I heard that Bad Axe Rodeo was in search of a front man that could fill the boots of the front men before. In July the B.A.R boys let me take the reigns! I must say I couldn't be any more grateful to be with such a great group of talented guys...
A little on me... I'm from a little northern Wisconsin town called Aurora, was in the Army as a Combat MP, joined in 99' and was honorably discharged in 07', did two tours to Iraq, seen countless other countries as well. I've been singing most of my life starting in school programs and at church as a child. I realized singing was what I wanted one night sitting on a pier on the Persian Gulf at about 11pm. I was singing "Carried Away" by George Strait and my friend came up to me and said "what were you singing, I didn't know you could sing", and since then I have been hooked! After that I started "cuttin' teeth" singing in karaoke contests, Sturgis, SD at The Knuckle Saloon, singing with the troops every Tuesday and Thursday for a year at Camp Anaconda Iraq, singing for my grandparent's 50th anniversary, at a million places in between and now front man for Bad Axe Rodeo!!!
My influences range from almost all genres and from tons of different artists. I would say my major influences come from the likes of Hank Williams Sr. & Jr., Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, George Strait, Loretta Lynn, Travis Tritt, S.R.V, Ozzy, AC/DC, Alabama, cani't leave out the man above and my parents, and way to many more than I care to list haha!
Now that Bad Axe Rodeo has took a chance on me I will do what I can to make sure we have a "bad axe" time no matter what we do! That's all I got for now I'm thinking?! Come on out to see one of our shows or just to say hi if ya want. We appreciate it all, thanks......
Andy Gibbons
Bob Hostettler (HOSS): Quinnesec MIGuitar and vocals
I was born and raised in Iron Mountain, MI. I guess that makes me a "yooper". My biggest influence for my love of music were my parents, seems like they were always singing or whistling a song, when I was 9 yrs. old my grandma bought me a guitar, mom signed me up for lessons, and I was on my way, listening to the 45's (remember them?) of Elvis, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, and later Lynyrd Skynyrd, and other southern rock bands, anticipating the day I could play in a band. I am grateful and fortunate to have played with some of the areas top musicians over the years. In various bands locally and touring full time throughout the Midwest for 4 years during the 80's, later settling back home in the U.P. and marrying the love of my life, Kim. Shortly after in 1990 I joined the city limits band, playing the music I loved, country with an edge, and for 17 yrs. we had a blast, from playing bars to opening for national acts. But another page is turned and a new chapter begins, "Bad Axe Rodeo" this one promises to be bigger and badder than ever, so hold on, It's gonna be a wild one, cuz "THIS AIN'T NO 8 SECOND RIDE"........................
Brent Hostettler
Drums
I have been involved in music since the second I was born, being that my father was local and regional musician., Although he tried hard to get me to play guitar I decided early on to play drums, I took lessons for about 5 years and decided I wasn't learning anymore. Where I then experimented with playing in bands. I have been fortunate enough to play in local bar bands, with older more experienced musicians including Tru Blu and Wandering Jones. At the ripe age of 18 I'm thrilled to be finally playing in a band with my old man, Its truly an honor and look forward to having fun and grooving (along with some rapping) to the beat with bad axe rodeo!
-Brent
Damian Lakomy: Kingsford MIGuitar and Rapper
My first years were spent on the South side of Chicago in a polish neighborhood. The first two albums I ever purchased were Jimi Hendrix Experience and Tiny Tim. When I was 13 years old I began my musical career playing in a rock band called US that played at all girl birthday parties and grade school graduations. 1971 I moved to help my grandparents in Marinette, WI and attended Marinette High School. I stood out like a sore thumb with my plaid bell bottoms and dress shirts while everyone else wore flannel shirts and jeans. Valhalla was the band I was in during my High School days. It wasn't until I turned 20 years old that I began to take my music seriously. I worked hard at building a solid technique while priding myself on trying to pick as many notes clean and well defined as I could. I entered the University of Wisconsin Center in Marinette and began formal training in a music program and took a few classes in Jazz guitar at the Wisconsin Conservatory in Milwaukee, WI. I finished my college education in Milwaukee but switched to an Engineering degree in order to support my rapidly growing family. My love for music never left me, even though I took a short sabbatical to get established in my profession. A band called Thunder Island helped get me back to entertaining in Shawano, WI. My job brought me to Kingsford, MI in 1993, and I joined the band City Limits. My experiences allowed me to expand my skills where I can be stylin as a rapper, a dancin fool, and sometimes they even let me sing. I really appreciate the abundance of musical talent in our band. We have a blast entertaining the community and I think it shows in our act.
Damian Super " P " Lakomy
Bobby Nichols: Niagara WIBass Guitar and Vocals
I'm from the small Wisconsin town of Fence. It's the kind of place where everybody knows everybody else, and a lot of people are related.
I really can't remember all the bands I've been in over the years. I've been playing in bands since I was sixteen with a year or so off once in the while in between bands. My biggest and best Rock-n-Roll band was "Flashback," and likewise for Country has been "City Limits"...SO FAR :-) I've opened for many Rock and Country artists/bands over the years, I've even had the opportunity to meet and converse with some. I'd be lucky if I could rattle off 10% of them, so I won't even try.
My favorite styles of music are 80's rock/New Wave, Singer/Songwriter, Rock, and Country. I consider myself to be a "groove bassist" (Yes... I also play guitar!) I love to play in the band with Cal because he's the ultimate time keeper; this leaves me a lot of room to have fun with what I'm doing. I take more of an artistic approach to playing bass guitar instead of trying to throw as many notes as possible into a song. I am somewhat proud of the fact that I sing the majority of the harmonies, many of these are a different rhythm from what I'm playing on bass. Most people don't realize the difficulty of this... but other musicians do.
These guys in "Bad Axe Rodeo" (that's "row-day-oh") :-) that I play with now are not only my comrades, but their also my best friends, and they feel like family to me.
Thanks for taking an interest in the band. If you come out to see us, see me checking out another band, or whatever, feel free to approach me. I love to talk (sometimes too much) and love to meet new people.
-Bobby
Sound ManDave's Bio.
Written by Cal Coopman (drummer for Bax Axe Rodeo)
When we first decided to put a website together one of the first things that Lisa asked for was that everyone write up a bio of themselves so people can learn a bit about that person. Dave is a bit shy and doesn't like to talk about himself so I've decided to speak for him.
Dave Sullivan,
Dave has been a soundman in the local area since the early to mid 90's. He has ran sound for various bands including Iron Mountain favorites Rockslide, Hourglass, City Limits and now the infamous "Bad Axe Rodeo". Dave has also ran sound at many big festivals out of the area including Rockfest in Cadott, WI and The Porterfield country music festival.
It seems to me when people start talking about soundmen, Dave's name comes up first. I myself have worked with numerous soundmen the last 30 years. Some great some not so great and I can tell you a soundman can either make or break a band. That's how important they are. I remember one "gig" I went to at Greenleafs a few years ago when Dave was running sound for Rockslide. I walked into the bar, stood right in front of the band and was totally amazed at the sound I was hearing. I remember thinking "I really hope I get to have him as my soundman someday. I had never heard drums sound that great in a bar, I could hear every instrument, vocal and harmony clearly. I knew then I had to work with him someday.
Well, a few years later that's what ended up happening. I can sincerely say Dave is not only the hardest working soundman I have ever played with, he is also the humblest one and just an all around great guy. I consider him one of my best friends. Oh, plus he fixed my furnace a week ago when the temp. got down in the 30's so he is not only the best soundman around but he's the best and cheapest "furnace repair guy" I've ever had. Hey Dave, I'm having problems with the heater in my motorhome...
So, thanks Dave for the years you gave to City Limits and I hope you are the last soundman I ever work with. And I mean that sincerely.
Cal
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