Widetrack

Widetrack was founded in 2005 by Ron Tippin, a multi-faceted musician/producer from Michigan, USA. The band’s sound has been described as “Something Pink Floyd might sound like if they were a current hard rock band...” By combining inspired musicianship, to-the-point songwriting, and a cinematic edge that displays a depth rarely found in a band that rocks so hard, the music of Widetrack fills a glaring void in the current music climate.

Buzz on the group has been tremendous since performing at the 2007 Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans. Given the chance to perform alongside such artists as Smashing Pumpkins, Rage Against the Machine, Porcupine Tree, The Black Crowes and many more, the band seized a pivotal moment and won over their biggest, most diverse crowd to date.

For more information, please visit: www.MySpace.com/Widetrack

In early 2006, prompted by the death of his cancer-stricken father, songwriter/producer Ron Tippin began recording drum, guitar and vocal tracks for what would eventually become Widetrack’s debut release. In teaming up with veteran engineer/studio guru Andy Patalan (Sponge, Bob Guiney Band, Throttlebody) and longtime friend/bassist extraordinaire Rik Latta (S.A.R., Polymer), the album began to take shape, and by 2007, was finally completed. The cathartic nature of the experience led to the decision to form a solid line-up to begin rehearsals for touring, as well as establishing a partnership for future songwriting endeavors. “I always wanted to be part of a band,” says Tippin. “The ‘solo artist’ thing is just not for me; I would much rather be in a situation that is more of a team-based ideal.”

Currently, Tippin has been working with various filmmakers and artists in an effort to conceive a visual presentation that will suit the music in a live context. Tippin says that the logistics may take a while to sort out, as the show promises to be somewhat elaborate, but he wants to do justice to the initial ideal of the presentation. “All my favorite bands have always had pretty elaborate stage shows, visually as well as sonically. I love the idea of being able to bring different mediums together in the effort to visually accentuate the emotional impact of the music. Basically, if we can blow peoples’ minds just a little bit well, that’s what we’re shooting for”

Yes. We played the Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans on October 27th, 2007. There were some great bands performing and it was a really great thing to be a part of.

We're always getting into new things but naturally there will always be certain mainstay classics like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Peter Gabriel-era Genesis, Black Sabbath, Rush, etc. Also, "newer" bands such as Queens Of The Stone Age, Porcupine Tree, Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, Tool/A Perfect Circle, Tori Amos Band, Portishead, Death Cab For Cutie, The Mars Volta, many of the current so-called "post-rock" bands such as God Is An Astronaut, Mogwai, Te' (one of our favorites), Grails, etc.

As far as true influence, though, that can come from anywhere, really... movies, art, life in general.... it's all influential to some degree.

Les Paul guitars, Marshall amps, Yamaha drums, Fender basses, Ampeg bass amps, many interesting effects, etc.

There is so much great music out there. We try to keep ourselves grounded in the fact that there are thousands and thousands of bands and artists who are SO much more "worthy" of "making it" than us, in terms of sheer talent, brilliance and experience. But the reason we do this is to express our own unique artistic voice and feel the satisfaction of productivity therein. If we can make music that we're happy with, that people enjoy and can only get from us, and do it in such a way that we feel good about, then we've accomplished what we've set out to do. Influences are fine, but we feel that the best art transcends familiarity and says, "Wow, there is certainly only one of THIS... So glad I found it..."