About The Mines

The Mines 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.

Ethan Nickerson Greg Lockwood Greg Lockwood Greg Lockwood

Discography

Performances

Timeline
11/15/2009 The Mines begin recording next full-length CD.
9/15/2009 The Mines begin pre-production for next full-length CD.
9/12/2009 The Mines Headline the Roann Covered Bridge Festival.
8/18/2009 The Mines play Meijer Gardens w/ Papa Vegas.
1/25/2009 The Mines join The Autumn Film @ The Wealthy Theatre -- that's a lot of THE's.
7/19/2008 The Mines headline a show at The Intersection, Grand Rapids, MI.
3/28/2008 Experience III/CD Release: People Music held at Wealthy Theatre.
2/13/2008 People Music mastered at Mastermind Productions, Milwaukee, WI
1/30/2008 People Music sessions completed at StudiOtte.
1/1/2008 "Valley" Music Video & Single Released
11/9/2007 "Valley" sessions at StudiOtte - Greg's guitars & Ethan's vocals
11/3/2007 "Valley" sessions at StudiOtte - Todd, Ethan & Troy's rhythm tracks
10/13/2007 "Valley" Video shot with CineVera Pictures
10/10/2007 The Mines perform Live on WYCE Radio
8/21/2007 The Mines record "Valley" at River City Studios (they scrap it and record again at StudiOtte).
3/24/2007 The Mines play the Orbit Room, Grand Rapids, Michigan
3/2/2007 The Mines: Colors (Experience II) held at the historic Wealthy Theatre
10/7/2006 1st "The Mines Experience" audio/video/lighting extravaganza held
7/15/2006 Troy's first show as a member of The Mines.
6/1/2006 Debut CD, "Metropolis" Released.
5/11/2006 "Metropolis" Mastered at Glenn Brown Productions.
1/6/2006 First show as The Mines.
12/21/2005 Return from China factory tour.
12/20/2005 Final show with Josh (in China).
12/11/2005 Start of China factory tour.
10/1/2005 Recording of "Metropolis" Begins.
6/10/2005 JGET performs in the World Series of Rock.
3/5/2005 The first show as a band.
1/30/2005 Demo recordings of "The Beach", "The Dawn" and "Who Saved The Day" completed.
1/22/2005 JGET recording sessions begin.
10/14/2004 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).
6/1/2004 Ethan attends his first jam session with the currently nameless band...
3/4/2004 Todd, Greg & Josh Mikrut get together for the first of many sonic explorations.