BLYSTRE
2,380 plays
14,238 views
14,238 views
For those who prefer rock, welcome to the world of blystre....Band/artist history
Lead singer Toby started taking voice lessons at 13, and promptly disregarded everything his teachers said. Quickly understanding that being good was not enough to make it as a performer, he took everything he learned in junior high and high school choirs, combined with years as a metal devotee and created a supported screech that is distinctively his own. When lead guitarist Tony heard him sing at a Karaoke bar, they formed a partnership that has evolved into a writing and performing group second to none.
Lead guitarist and driving force in the band, Tony has been strumming since the tender age of 5. Learning his first riffs from his father, he was inspired to start a musical journey that has passed through many instruments and genres. Having tried his hand at viola, trumpet and guitar, he soon settled on acoustic and electric guitar as his primary instruments of choice. While stationed with the Air Force in Delaware, He started the band "pi" with fellow USAF musicians. The band gigged around for three years and even recorded a demo before the Air Force reassigned them, killing the band's prospects. When he heard Toby singing Karaoke at a local Anchorage bar, he approached him and asked if he was interested in starting a band. That was in the fall of 1998.
Over the next two years they would record several demo and short selection album CD's under the name "Blister". When they took on new management, they recorded their first full length CD under the name "Blystre". The name change, along with the additions of dedicated bassist Shelly and experienced percussionist Jax, gave the band a new focus. Having written many songs for the "essence of enlightenment" album together, the addition of two new strong musical personalities invigorated the sound of the compositions and infused a powerful backing sound to the lead guitar and vocals.
Shelly has been playing guitar since age 10 and piano since age 12. A Portland native, she grew up playing in bands in Washington and Oregon. A natural musical ability and innate feel for chordal structure and melodic line have allowed her to very quickly adapt to the bass. Moving from six strings to four was not an easy transition, but she rapidly developed a solid ground floor for the band to build on. As the foundation of the groups soaring lead and vocal lines, she has the responsibility of holding the tempo and key while creatively accentuation the primary lines. She succeeds brilliantly. Her experience has helped to enhance and shape the lead guitar and solo lines that make the group so strong.
A native of Dallas, Texas, Jax has been beating on things since she was old enough to grasp a spoon. When mom was tired of having her pots and pans dented up, the family purchased a kit for her when she was only 5 years old. She has been hitting the skins ever since. As a member of her college drum corps she had the opportunity to play for the Dallas Cowboys. Having played drums in high school and college, she moved to Anchorage in 1998 and began playing local jazz and blues clubs with a variety of local acts. When she had the opportunity to join Blystre, it opened her creativity spout and brought a subtle percussive style to the bands sound. Don't let her background in jazz and blues fool you though, she can hammer those heads with authority, and style.Have you performed in front of an audience?Blystre has played and still plays: Chilkoot Charlies, Club Oasis, Klondike Mikes,Club Celsius(RIP), the Indica Haus, Blues Central, Al's Place, Hotshots and many other independant venues.
2,380 plays
14,239 views
14,239 views
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blystre
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