Caledonia Argus

Local band to release CD, go on tour

Posted: 4/27/04

By Jane Palen
Managing editor

Theyíre not in it for the money, the fame, or even the girls. Well, maybe the girls.

The members of local punk-rock band Sold Separately just want to stay true to the music they love and grow together as friends and musicians.

Sold Separately is Mike Bubbers, lead guitar; Jimmy Fleischmann, drums; Seth Gengler, bass, all of Caledonia, and Andrew Conway, vocals, originally of Austin, Minnesota. Three members of the group spoke to The Argus recently about their first CD and plans for the future.

The CD, titled ìRoad Less Travelled,î is now in its final stages and is ready for mastering. It was recorded at Sound Stration Studio in La Crosse. Itís taken about a year for the CD to reach this point, but members of the band are more concerned with having a product that represents the best of what they do rather than something thatís cranked out as fast as possible.

Itís an effort that they are all extremely proud of, and the public will have an opportunity to celebrate the completion of the project with band members at a CD release party at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 15 at the Warehouse in La Crosse. Also appearing will be ìbrother bandsî Silik, Syntrap, and Sometime Tomorrow.

Following the CD release party, the band plans to go on the road. Its first gig will be June 4 in Austin, and from there the group will travel to various venues in Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio and New York. Their plan for the foreseeable future is to live their dream of playing music.

But dreams seldom come without sacrifices. All the band members withdrew from college in order to travel their musical path, and their lifestyles are anything but enviable. They sometimes live in the same clothes for days, donít have a lot of money to spend and sometimes have to sleep in their van, but itís all good.

ìWeíre all best friends,î explained Andrew. And even when they have their disagreements, once they get on stage together, all is forgiven and forgotten.

ìWeíre like brothers, like family,î said Jimmy.

ìWeíd do anything for each other, ì added Andrew, who is the newest member of the group. From the first time he sang with the band, the chemistry was right, he added. The four members even plan on getting a house together.

And although the group has a great time together, it does take discipline to keep things together.

ìWe take it seriously,î Andrew said. ìWe donít party or do destructive things.î

Mike said that the encouragement band members have received from family and friends has been gratifying to members of the group. Their parents have been supportive in a number of ways, and of course their fans are what makes it all worthwhile. But they donít like to refer to their ìfans.î Instead, they think of the people who attend their shows as friends.

ìItís not really right to call them fans,î said Mike. And if in fact these friends express admiration for members of Sold Separately, Mike likes to point out that ìWeíre just four dorky kids from Caledonia. You just have to have motivation and dedication to do what we do.î

For those unable to make it to the CD release party, ìThe Road Less Travelledî will also be available at Deaf Ear Records in La Crosse and from band members.

Top of Page