BlakLyte
Hello, welcome, and thank you for coming to hear the music of BlakLyte. While most of songs have a metal edge to them, not all of them do. Some are more pop/hard rockish than metal; but you can decide that yourself. While here, check out the other stuff and links we have. There's a lot of information within them. You can read the story behind each song, songs lyrics, etc. The band's history, member profiles, etc. You can join the mailing list to keep up to date and be notified of new song uploads, etc. There's a message board for you to give feedback. Please, come back often, post a message on our board, read about the songs, tell a friend...most of all, I hope you like the music, and thank you for visiting. GuitarsJM - BlakLyte
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
BlakLyte was formed by 2 guitar playing brothers from Long Island, NY in the late 80's. In time, the finished lineup would be: guitarists John and Robert Martini, drummer Kevin Cahill, bassist Eric Barbasso and vocalist, Micki Pendergast. All songs, words and music written by John and Robert Martini, with the exception of 'Attittude', words by M. Pendergast.
At present, I am solo, but still using the name, BlakLyte as the artist name.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Not at present; I am currently SOLO and recording new songs and mixing down others for a new demo and release through CD Baby. In the past, we did play a number of the hot spots around Long Island NY such as February's and McHebes. The band got great reviews from local music publications, Good Times and The Island Ear. Special moments...playing our first show at February's was great..it had been a dream of sorts. Another special moment was having 4 songs from our demo in the top 40 on Audiostreet.net & Mp3.com's Heavy Metal/Hard Rock genre song standings/chart pages, right under Alice Cooper was one our songs, 'And Of The One'... I still have the printouts of those standings. THAT, was a rush.
Your musical influences
We have so many. The first would have to be The Beatles. Then, it became music as a whole. It didnt't matter whose it was; what mattered was how it sounded, what the instruments were doing, how the vocals were working...everything about a particular song became influential. Jazz, R&B, Rock, New Wave, bands like Blondie, Benatar, Earth Wind and Fire to Ozzy, Van Halen, Ratt to name a few...so many bands; just about every style of music has been an influence one way or another.
What equipment do you use?
Guitars: BC Rich Mockingbird, Schecter Damien, Custom Ovation Deacon, Ovation Legend 12 Acoustic, Tacoma Acoustic, Peavy Bass
Amps: G&K Bass Amp, Line 6 Spider IV 150 w/Carvin 4x12 cab with vintage 30's, Behringer GX 110
FX- BOSS GT-8, Line6 Shortboard, Roland Vol
Recording: Zoom MRS-1266CD, Tascam DP-24, Sony Studio Pro Digital CD Creator, ZOOM M-1, Senheiser, AKG, Turtle Beach Headphones, Shure Microphones
Playback: ONKYO, Infinity Q Studio Monitors, Hagstrom Monitors
Anything else?
Just one song....just ONE to make it big..just one, to make a life's dream come true.
