The Band Is...

	Name: John McGrath Instruments: Lead Guitar, Doubleneck Guitar, Acoustic Guitars, Violin Bow, Theremin, and devices. Bio: John was evidently a disconcerting infant, creating bizarre storms of talcum powder and imitating speech patterns but not actual speech. This foreshadowed his unusual approach to the guitar: Make it sound interesting and make it fit, but try to make it sound like something else other than guitar. Be it violin bow, Ebow, or an myriad of electro-harmonix effects....rarely is the guitar signal straightforward. Despite a fascination with odd sounds, John DOES appreciate good melody, which may explain why even the most chaotic Hemlok cacophony still has a song beating at its heart. Various favourites include VAST, King Crimson, Van Der Graaf Generator, Muse, (Peter Gabriel era) Genesis and Rush. John also enjoys strange films with a flair for the surreal ("The Fountain" was a recent favourite), the grotesque ("Suspiria", anyone?), or sheer ominous fun (Think "2001" or "The Seventh Seal"). Completely contrasting this is a love of BBC Science fiction, from "Blakes 7" to "Doctor Who". Books figure into the regimen as well, usually historical details or oddities that history classes care to skip over. (Six-fingered queens? They happened, y'know....)
	Name: Chris Whittier Instruments: Vocals, Screams (If you care to call them that), Ocassional Guitar. Bio: One of Chris's most influential gifts while he was growing up, was a keyboard. It didn't do him much good in the piano playing world, but it did open the doorway to music for him. In 2005 Chris released a CD under the name Seeking Quiddity, the offspring of a personal journey through the turbulent waters of a normal life. Simple songs bound together with powerful emotions are his trademark. Although Chris still actively plays guitar, he is concentrating most of his energies on his voice. Chris's favorite bands are, without question, Nightwish, and Muse. And he is a huge fan of Clive Barker's novels, movies and artwork.
	Name: Jay Myers Instruments: Drums, and Electronic Percussion. Bio: Coming from an already musical family, Jay became interested in drums at the age of 4. After listening to him bang on household objects all the time, Jay's parents bought him a toy drumset, which he broke quickly and upgraded to a real drumset. He began drum lessons in 3th grade and continued until his graduation. Some drum influences include Rush and Phish. Jay also enjoys Spaghettios.
	Name: Kevin Williams Instruments: Bass, Guitar, Backup Vocals Bio: Music is the center of Kevin’s life. He teaches guitar and bass locally in Rhode Island and also directs young choirs. Prior to joining Hemlok he played guitar in the modern rock band Fate’s Cruel Joke. FCJ and Hemlok had played quite often together and it seemed only natural that Kevin would join a band he’d known and respected for years. In addition to his low-end duties with Hemlok, Kevin is also a songwriter and composer who has provided music for independent films both locally and across the nation. Material of this nature can be sampled at his soundclick website www.soundclick.com/kevinwilliams on the main page or in the music section. He holds advanced degrees in performance and composition and his bass playing is primarily influenced by Tool, Incubus, Pink Floyd, and J.S. Bach.
	Name: Brianne Alves Instruments: Electric Violin & Keyboards. Bio: Bri was born into music. Once able to walk, she always seemed to be found at the family’s piano, or singing for anyone who would listen. At age eight, she decided to follow in her great-grandfather’s footsteps and play violin. She played in school orchestras and choruses through Middle and High School. Early on she knew that music was the most powerful force in her life. Bri entered college to pursue a degree in Music, focusing in Vocal Performance. She had the opportunity to study classical and jazz vocal styles, as well as violin, viola, and some piano. She is now a private instructor in the areas Voice, Violin, and Viola. She loves all kinds of musical styles, but her musical turn-ons are uneven meters, unusual tonality, string arrangements and rich vocal harmonies. Some influences randomly include: Bach, Pink Floyd, Sarah Vaughn, Debussy, Led Zeppelin, Sondheim, Duke Ellington, Alanis Morissette, Dave Matthews Band, Faure, Alice in Chains, Sarah Brightman, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Tori Amos.