The Saltines

About the Band:

The Saltines were born sometime around 2005 when Tony Taylor and I (Mike Steffen) realized that our creative need to rock out in our own voice with our own sound simply could not be met within the confines of a two-bit cover band in Fremont, OH. Undaunted by the fact that very few bands in the area even bother to perform their own songs, we decided to focus on doing just that. We started sharing ideas with each other and our original drummer Merrick Baker of Sandusky, OH. In fact, the first night we got together on a porch in Huron, we drank beer and wrote a silly song called "Cradle Robbin' and Beer Gogglin'" that we still perform from time to time.

Much to the chagrin of my neighbors and local law enforcement, we set up camp in my garage or living room, sights set on writing good songs and having an original sound influenced only by what we experienced or witnesed of life, love and music. Aong the way, bassists Ryan Dayringer and Channing Heath spent time rounding out our group, respectively adding their own elements of style and feel to the music. We played shows in Bowling Green, Toledo and Fremont on a regular basis, including an opportunity to play a show with national act Seven Mary Three in March 2007.

Real life happens, and in that late spring, our drummer left to pursue career interests on the west coast. Wanting to continue, we enlisted the help of the talented and adult A.D.D. driven Neal Anderson of Tiffin-based band Drastic Levels to fill in. After a summer of jamming out, re-working songs to the satisfaction of all, and playing select shows together, Mr. Anderson decided to embrace our brand of madness and be our full-time drummer. In December, we added "Madcapl" Mike Ritter on bass to fill out the sound with someone who loves music as much as the rest of us.

People are always talking about setting goals to be successful. Our goals are simple. To write good rock music and to be heard. To create and have fun. To share our love of life and music with our fans, friends and families. We're currently wrestling with new recording equipment in the effort of producing our own full-length recording recordings. We're constantly jamming on new ideas with new riffs, chord progressions and words. We're We're always working on playing new stuff at new places. Check out what we're up to and where we're at on the interent at: www.myspace.comJmonkeypawrecords.

It's an exciting time to live and there's plenty of things, both good and bad, to say about the world we live in. There's so much to do in the little time we have to do it I guess the point would be to do what you love, how you want, with who you want to do it. Whatever you do, don't waste it If there's any theme or reaon or rhyme behind The Saltines, that would be it.