Great Lakes Myth Society

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GLMS Left to Right: Scott McClintock, James Christopher Monger, Timothy Monger, Fido Kennington, and Greg McIntosh

GLMS live @ Arbour Fest 2006

Great Lakes Myth Society, or GLMS, is an indie rock/pop quintet collectively hailing from the Michigan cities of Ypsilanti, Flint, Ann Arbor, and Britton. They play a rough-edged brand of folk rock that employs the standard guitar-bass-drums soundscape along with accordion, strings, and piano. They are known for their engaging, and sometimes brutal live performances.

Members include brothers Timothy and James Christopher Monger, Fido Kennington, Greg McIntosh, and Scott McClintock. GLMS was officially formed on January 1, 2003, at the death of the members' former band, The Original Brothers and Sisters of Love.

The GLMS have recently inked a deal with Southeast Michigan-based record label Quack!Media, with plans to release a new album in the spring of 2007.

[edit] Songs

Big Jim Hawkins by Great Lakes Myth Society

"[Big Jim Hawkins] is essentially a fable about the origin of the Great Lakes themselves; part Greek tragedy, part Norse legend and part Native American tall tale. Paul Bunyan (who was created by a Milwaukee-based advertising firm to sell pancakes) and Treasure Island’s Jim Hawkins always seemed larger than life to me when I was growing up, so I put them both in a small bar in Northern Minnesota to fight to the death. To simplify; they hit each other in the face for five years straight, Paul goes down, Babe the Blue Ox rushes an unsuspecting Jim and their dying blood, spit and piss floods every river and tributary in the region, forming the lakes currently known as Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie & Superior."

-James Christopher Monger

[edit] The Power of The Great Lakes and a Black Suit

I had the chance to sit down with the Great Lakes Myth Society before they performed on April 7th, 2007 at the Lager House in Detroit to find out a little more about the band and what their society is really about. *All pictures are taken at the Lager House.

[edit] What's so great about the lakes?

The members of GLMS appreciate the romance of the history of the Great Lakes. While on tour, they welcome any chance to visit a historic harbor and would be the first people out to play a benefit show for a new light house.
GLMS loves the Great Lakes scenery, if it was up to them, their next big endeavor would be to shoot a music video while playing on a freighter headed down the Great Lakes. Lake Superior is without a doubt the band's favorite lake. They favor it because they believe it is the most frightening and that makes it humbling.
Although GLMS has no political or environmetal agenda, they have frequently been asked to perform at fancy political dinners, which leaves many spectators surprised by their performance. These shows usually go well for GLMS and has allowed them to expand their fan base to a multigenerational group of listeners. They redifine cool in the Great Lakes.

[edit] what kind of myths are in rock n' roll?

"I heard about a drum company that harvested sunken timber from [Lake Superior]] to construct their drums and the myth is that the wood is haunted by the spirits of the lake. I would love to play those drums." -Fido Kennington

[edit] Is this some sort of secret society?

GLMS describes their music simply as northern rock. This sense of having a regional sound allows music to help illustrate aspects of northern living.
Instead of singing about hot rods and surfing, bands could exemplify a different Culture by singing about salt trucks and sledding. Writing songs for GLMS is about telling a story and they are going to tell what they know.
GLMS often plays with other Michigan bands who also sing about the region. There is a close scene in the region made up of bands playing in many different styles, all full of Michigan pride.

[edit] What's with those suits?

GLMS started wearing black suits when they changed their name from The Original Brothers and Sisters of love. After this change in wardrobe and title people actually started coming to see their shows. As far as the suits, people may see the band as more legit and actually doing something serious and important.