Live on the Dawn Princess

Greetings from the Dawn Princess! Wondering where we are these days? Well, we’re cruising again living the life “Down Under”. We’ll be back in the States again in May. Looking forward to seeing you then.

Fans and friends of 7MJ will be excited to welcome Scott Michaels (FAF, Disney All Star Band) on the drums, Sean Z (Calamity Jane) on the guitar and Scott Vernier (The Dream, Dal Bouey) on keyboards. These amazingly talented guys are a wonderful asset to the band. We know our friends will appreciate hearing all the great new songs and vocal harmonies these guys bring to the table. 7MJ also debuts a new set of dance party tunes featuring more songs by the Beatles, disco favorites, more big 80’s and modern hits. This is one hot line up full of great singers and performers making for a live band experience you wont want to miss. Look for a new and updated 7MJ web site with shots of these good looking people, updated songs and more shortly after the new year.

Catch the all new 7 Million Jigawatts on their debut performance on New Years Eve Rochester Mills Brewing Co. Rochester Mills is located at 400 Water Street in Downtown Rochester. The band performs on 12/31 from 10pm – 2am and there is no cover charge for this event. Happy Holidays!

Summer Concerts
IN THE PARK
Saturday, JUNE 26
6-9p
Free Admission

7 Million Jigawatts
& their unique fusion of Rock ’n Soul hit the Bandshell at Bay View Park on beautiful Thunder Bay. Come listen to Alpena natives Melissa Behring and Nathan Montgomery, along with Jake Tobias and Jon Vidal perform songs from their recent release, “Taking Flight” along with a variety rock & soul covers from the past 5 decades. Bring your picnic basket & lounge chairs to enjoy the view of Lake Huron from the hill while the waves roll by. (Dancing on the grass encouraged!)

Win Cash & Prizes like:

An overnight stay at the Alpena Days Inn
or
$1000 CASH from Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union, Alpena Community Credit Union, Besser Credit Union, H.P.C. Credit Union and Thunder Bay Area Credit Union.
or
A chance to pop a balloon for a bracelet and
charm from Bolenz Jewelry worth approximately $80

Sponsors:
Budweiser
Pepsi
McDonald’s
Days Inn
Pizza Hut
Walmart
Dean Arbour Ford
Plowman’s Collision
Bolenz Jewelry
The Alpena News
Alpena Agency, Inc.
Soaring Eagles Casino
Perch’s IGA
Take 5 Deli
Alpena Furniture
Community Financial of Hillman, Lewiston and Gaylord
EJ Paul Agency of Atlanta
Judy Burns – State Farm Insurance
John Knapp – State Farm Insurance
Arby’s of Alpena
E-Z Way Store

Hosted by the City of Alpena
Sound provided by G.T. Sounds of Alpena

7 Million Jigawatts is in the running to open for Bon Jovi!

One band. One Night. One great chance to be the opening act for the Bon Jovi “Circle World Tour” Concert at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

NOW IS THE TIME TO VOTE!! DEADLINE FEBRUARY 18TH

Fans can vote once an hour between now and February 18th, so keep on voting. 7 Million Jigawatts is listed under the “S” category on the second page…. So don’t give up when you’re looking to vote for 7MJ!

Five bands that receive the most votes will get to play on the Fox 2 Morning Show. The performances will be posted on MyFoxDetroit.com for another voting period. The band that gets the most votes will play a 15 minute set on the main stage at the Palace during the March 17th Bon Jovi concert.

Musically, former area residents Nathan Montgomery and Melissa Behring got a solid start during their days as students at Alpena High School.

After graduation, both went onto to study music at the college level and to embark on careers that have allowed them to make money and make music.

This Saturday marks a homecoming for the two when they and their fellow 7 Million Jigawatts band mates perform for the Thunder Bay Arts Council-sponsored Guitar Summit VI. The event takes place at 7:30 p.m. in the Alpena High School Auditorium, with their band signed on as the headliner.

“I feel really lucky to be coming back,” said Behring, the front woman for this rock band that is well-known in the Detroit area and beyond. “There were good people there who supported me when I was younger and encouraged me to keep chasing it.”

“Being a part of the high school band program, and people like Greg Adamus and my band instructor gave me a start,” said Montgomery, a 1993 AHS graduate. “It’s nice to come back to the high school, the place that got me going.”

The unique sound of 7 Million Jigawatts is infused with rock and soul, and recently caught the attention of Ford Motor Co. Their song, “I’ve Got You Covered,” is featured on the 360 view of the 2010 Mustang on www.the2010mustang.com. They also have had a successful release of a new CD, “Taking Flight,” which is currently available online at ITunes, Last FM, Digstation and CD Band.

After graduating from AHS in 1992, Behring spent two years at Alpena Community College and then transferred to Central Michigan University, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in voice performance and English. She relocated to the Detroit area in 1998 and worked in the corporate world full-time, all the while maintaining an active performance schedule. Last year, she decided to branch out and start her own company called Dream Town Media as a source for meeting the publishing, social and digital marketing needs of other artists.

“The music and the English were two extraordinarily useful things,” said Behring of her college education. “In the corporate world, I was a better writer than everyone else and I was unique because of my music. It allowed me to engage in some really interesting conversations.”

Montgomery, who plays guitar as well as bass and keyboards for 7 Million Jigawatts, received a jazz performance degree at Wayne State University. He currently teaches at the Arts Academy in the Woods where he has run the guitar program for the last six years. He also is half-way through a Master’s Degree program in secondary education.

On the performance end, Montgomery has played for Taylor Guitar clinics and opened for the likes of John Fogerty and Brian Vander Ark.

Interestingly, he and Behring didn’t really know each other while they were growing up in Alpena, other than by name. A mutual friend in the music industry reintroduced them several years ago, and Montgomery agreed to become a part of Behring’s already established band.

Along with the two of the them, the group includes Jake Tobias on guitar, bass, keys and vocals, and Jon Vidal on drums and vocals.

Tobias, as a 17-year-old high school student, performed with local rock and pop bands who sneaked him into Detroit clubs. In addition to degrees in music and engineering from University of Michigan, his eclectic career has seen him on stage with many Detroit and national acts, including The Contours and The Marvellettes. He is also known as a writer, studio engineer, guitar teacher and producer.

Vidal has been drumming since he was 10, and playing guitar since age 14. A talented songwriter, he pens hits for 7MJ such as “The Way Down.” His musical education has included stops at the Recording Institute of Detroit, Wayne State University and Berklee College of Music.

Both Behring and Montgomery expect a number of their family members and friends to turn out for Saturday’s Guitar Summit, and they look forward to sharing their brand of music with Alpena area listeners.

“It’s great to bring the downstate experience musically back up to Alpena,” said Montgomery. “It’s great to bring the Detroit influence up here.”

In additon to 7 Million Jigawatts, Guitar Summit VI will feature the local youth band, Bobbing for Piranhas, the doctor duo House Call, and well-known local guitarists Wayne Kenjorski, Pete VanVlera and Larry Daoust.

Tickets to Guitar Summit VI are $12 for adults, with all students admitted free of charge. The tickets are available at Neiman’s Family Market, LeFave Pharmacy, Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union on Bagley, TBAC office or at the door.

7 Million Jigawatts Tshirts

You can get them at the 7MJ shows or paypal.