About The Mines
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 Injecting more dynamics and
emotionally-reflective songwriting into their music than most of their guitar band
peers in Grand Rapids, the Mines describe their music as "epic indie pop rock,"
doing justice to each descriptor.
The band formed in 2004 as a four-piece, before the line-up settled as a trio –
Todd Hoek (drums), Greg Lockwood (guitar, vocals) and Ethan Nickerson (bass, vocals)
– to record their 2006 debut, Metropolis. Filled with
novel-like confessions and character portraits, the self-produced album gave hints
to fans of the diverse directions still to come. Adding guitarist/keyboardist Troy
Hatfield in ’06 helped the band realize wider musical soundscapes in a live setting,
paving the way for the subsequent 2008 release, People Music.
People Music's lead single, Valley, has gained
the GR quartet local attention, thanks in part to a professionally-made video to
accompany the energetic and melodic show opener. (The video was produced by
CineVera Pictures).
The Mines began hosting "The Mines Experience" – performances in creative environments
that include music, lights, video and other art forms – in October 2006. The second
and third highly successful incarnations were held at the historic
Wealthy Theatre, featuring a dancer, painter and choir along with a full
light show and projected video that accompanied creative new arrangements of an
already broad catalog of melodic rock songs.
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Discography
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Performances
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Timeline
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7/19/2008
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The Mines headline a show at The Intersection, Grand Rapids, MI.
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3/28/2008
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Experience III/CD Release: People Music held at Wealthy Theatre.
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2/13/2008
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People Music mastered at Mastermind Productions, Milwaukee, WI
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1/30/2008
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People Music sessions completed at StudiOtte.
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1/1/2008
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"Valley" Music Video & Single Released
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11/9/2007
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"Valley" sessions at StudiOtte - Greg's guitars & Ethan's vocals
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11/3/2007
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"Valley" sessions at StudiOtte - Todd, Ethan & Troy's rhythm tracks
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10/13/2007
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"Valley" Video shot with CineVera Pictures
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10/10/2007
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The Mines perform Live on WYCE Radio
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8/21/2007
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The Mines record "Valley" at River City Studios (they scrap it and record again at StudiOtte).
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3/24/2007
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The Mines play the Orbit Room, Grand Rapids, Michigan
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3/2/2007
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The Mines: Colors (Experience II) held at the historic Wealthy Theatre
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10/7/2006
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1st "The Mines Experience" audio/video/lighting extravaganza held
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7/15/2006
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Troy's first show as a member of The Mines.
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6/1/2006
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Debut CD, "Metropolis" Released.
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5/11/2006
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"Metropolis" Mastered at Glenn Brown Productions.
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1/6/2006
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First show as The Mines.
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12/21/2005
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Return from China factory tour.
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12/20/2005
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Final show with Josh (in China).
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12/11/2005
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Start of China factory tour.
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10/1/2005
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Recording of "Metropolis" Begins.
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6/10/2005
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JGET performs in the World Series of Rock.
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3/5/2005
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The first show as a band.
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1/30/2005
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Demo recordings of "The Beach", "The Dawn" and "Who Saved The Day" completed.
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1/22/2005
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JGET recording sessions begin.
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10/14/2004
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Recorded "Joyful Joyful We Adore You" for the Mars Hill charity Christmas CD, To The World under the band name JGET (Josh, Greg, Ethan, Todd).
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6/1/2004
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Ethan attends his first jam session with the currently nameless band...
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3/4/2004
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Todd, Greg & Josh Mikrut get together for the first of many sonic explorations.
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