Gravity http://www.gravity-store.com Award-winning progressive rock from Cleveland, Ohio Wed, 15 May 2013 20:04:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Gravity “Artist Tributes” on Facebook http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=1453 http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=1453#comments Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:18:15 +0000 mkerschner http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=1453 Hello everyone!

As we get closer to finishing our third full-length release, we decided to take sometime to pay tribute to the artists that have inspired and continue to inspire our musical journey. On our Facebook page, we will each take one day a week to share an artist or band that has inspired our individual playing styles. We will also take this opportunity to share some up-and-coming artists, as well as local Cleveland bands, that we feel deserve more attention.

Below, you can view the various artists that each band member has discussed, along with links to that group’s website and our Facebook post discussing their influence on us.

]]> http://www.gravity-store.com/?feed=rss2&p=1453 0 Eric Potapenko Wins Guitar Center’s “Master Satriani” Sweepstakes! http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=1348 http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=1348#comments Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:39:04 +0000 mkerschner http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=1348 BRECKSVILLE — For most young musicians, getting the chance to meet and be acknowledged by one of their idols is only a dream or, if they’re lucky, a once in a lifetime experience.

Eric Potapenko, 21, a 2009 Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School graduate and guitarist in the local progressive rock band Gravity, could probably consider himself among the most fortunate musicians on the face of the planet because he will soon embark on just such an experience . . . for the second time in two years.

In August, Potapenko entered the Guitar Center Master Satriani sweepstakes through Whooznxt.com by submitting a video of himself playing over a backing track of a song by Grammy-nominated guitar-virtuoso Joe Satriani. See the video at the bottom of this story.

People were able to view the video through a variety of social media outlets and Satriani himself reviewed it. Two weeks later Potapenko, along with nine other guitarists from across the country, found out they were winners.

Early in his career, Satriani worked as a guitar instructor whose former students include Kirk Hammet (Metallica), Larry LaLonde (Primus) and Rick Hunolt (Exodus), to name a few. He is the founder of the G3 Jam Concerts series and has played with numerous acts including Mick Jagger, Deep Purple and, most recently, Chickenfoot.

“For me, this is kind of like deja vu because I won a similar contest two years ago, only it was with Steve Vai,” Potapenko said.

In the summer of 2010, Potapenko went through the same process and was one of 10 guitarists who won the opportunity to fly to Los Angeles. That group met face to face with Vai, who shared tales of his rise to fame in the music industry. Vai has worked with the likes of Frank Zappa, Ozzy Osbourne, David Lee Roth, Alice Cooper and was also a student of Satriani.

Now, Potapenko will once again head west to the Guitar Center Headquarters in L.A. to meet Satriani, who he credits as one of the guys whose music inspired to pick up a guitar in the first place.

“He has been one of my biggest influences,” Potapenko said. “It’s kind of surreal that I’m getting to meet him and under these circumstances. I really wanted Joe to see me play and it’s really inspiring to know that he did and I won.”

It will be, basically, a case of ‘same situation, different rock icon’ for Potapenko, right down to the fact that in both instances he won despite waiting until the last minute to enter.

“I submitted to both contests just before the deadline,” Potapenko said. This time around, he submitted his entry just before midnight on the Aug. 11 deadline.

The fact that the contest was partially based on the amount of votes any given guitarist got almost discouraged Potapenko from entering, at first.

“It was kind of a turn off because it just seemed like a popularity contest,” Potapenko said.

But, when he got a call from a media representative with the California-based Guitar Center telling him he’d won, despite only being in the top 70 as far as the number of votes received, Potapenko knew he was being recognized legitimately for his talent, not just voting popularity.

So on Nov. 7, Potapenko will find himself once again under the California sun on Sunset Boulevard, anxiously anticipating the chance to meet with yet another one of his idols. A once in a lifetime experience that few, besides him, could duplicate.

[Source: Brecksville-Broadview Heights Sun News]

Click here to view the embedded video.

 

]]> http://www.gravity-store.com/?feed=rss2&p=1348 0 10.19.12 – Wilbert’s w/ District 97 & the Chill Broz http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=934 http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=934#comments Mon, 03 Sep 2012 18:08:54 +0000 mkerschner http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=934 821 Huron Road E., Cleveland, OH 44115
9:00 PM

Join us for a special night of progressive rock as we welcome Chicago-based act District 97 back to Cleveland! Already making a mark in the prog scene with their adventurous music, District 97 is fronted by former American Idol Top 10 finalist Leslie Hunt. Gravity was privileged to perform with them during their first trip to Cleveland last year, and we look forward to welcoming them back for a show at Wilbert’s, one of downtown Cleveland’s top music venues. Also performing will be the Chill Broz, who continue to entertain audiences with their infectious alternative prog sound! Tickets can be accessed through the band, which will help fund this event, so please contact us if interested. We hope to see you there for a great night of progressive rock!

]]> http://www.gravity-store.com/?feed=rss2&p=934 0 Keyboardist Vikram Shankar Joins Gravity! http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=913 http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=913#comments Wed, 01 Aug 2012 15:22:32 +0000 mkerschner http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=913 Gravity is excited to announce that keyboardist Vikram Shankar has joined the  band as our newest full-time member! Joe Capka, who has been with the group since 2006 and helped write and record our full length releases Into Oblivion and Midnight Sonata, will no longer be performing with us in a full-time capacity after accepting a financial analyst position outside of Cleveland. We want to wish Joe the best of luck as he takes this significant step in  his career path – as a band member  and close friend, it’s been an amazing experience performing with him over the past six years!

Over the past several months, we auditioned several  keyboardists as possible replacements for Joe.  Eventually, Vikram came to our rehearsal and greatly impressed us with his technical abilities and deep understanding of our  music. After a couple “live auditions,” including opening slots for symphonic  metal band Rhapsody of Fire and progressive metal legend Dream Theater,  we officially welcomed him in as a full-time member! We feel that he adds a lot of new and exciting elements to Gravity and can’t wait to see what’s in store. Make sure to say hello and congratulations to Vikram at our upcoming shows!

]]> http://www.gravity-store.com/?feed=rss2&p=913 1 Guest Appearance on “Somewhere Between Sunrise and Sunset” – 88.3 WBWC http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=890 http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=890#comments Wed, 04 Jul 2012 17:38:34 +0000 mkerschner http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=890 On Tuesday, July 10th, Gravity will be a special guest / co-host on the progressive radio station program “Somewhere Between Sunrise and Sunset” on 88.3 FM WBWC. Special thanks to DJ Allen Thompson for welcoming us as we spin our favorite prog tunes, while also showing some of our own music — including a brand-new original song!

Make sure to head to http://www.wbwc.com/ to listen in on the 10th!

]]> http://www.gravity-store.com/?feed=rss2&p=890 1 Opening for Dream Theater on June 21st http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=853 http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=853#comments Sun, 10 Jun 2012 04:18:27 +0000 mkerschner http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=853 Lightning has struck for the third time! Gravity is very excited to announce that they will be opening for progressive metal icon Dream Theater during their Cleveland tour stop. This will be the third time that the band will open for Dream Theater; they also appeared as their opening act during their visits in 2007 and 2008. Gravity is truly honored to represent their city’s progressive rock scene as the local band on this bill, which also includes Crimson Projekt, a group of former King Crimson members such as Pat Mastelotto, Tony Levin and Adrian Belew.

This concert, as part of Dream Theater’s A Dramatic Tour of Events, will be held on Thursday, June 21st at the Jacob’s Pavilion at Nautica located on the east bank of the Cleveland Flats. Doors open at 7 p.m., at which time Gravity will begin their 45-minute set to kickoff the show. Tickets are available through the Live Nation website.

“We are so thrilled to be opening for one of our progressive rock idols once again!” said Gravity drummer Matt Kerschner . “It is just as much a ‘dream come true’ now as it was in 2007 when we opened for them after winning the High School Rock Off. We’d like to thank Live Nation for helping us become the featured local act for this Cleveland show, and we’re looking forward to sharing both old and new Gravity songs at this very special event!”

]]> http://www.gravity-store.com/?feed=rss2&p=853 0 2011 Summer Show Update http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=737 http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=737#comments Sun, 07 Aug 2011 15:44:53 +0000 mkerschner http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=737

Hello Gravity fans!

Thanks to all who came to our performance on August 3rd. We had a great time opening up for Chicago-based progressive rock band District 97, featuring 2007 American Idol Finalist Leslie Hunt.

Below is a brief review of our performance, as well as information about our show on August 9th at the Cuyahoga County Fair. Special thanks to OhioProg founder Allen Thompson for coordinating the show with District 97 and writing this post! You can view pictures from our August 3rd show and more by clicking on the link here.

Hope to see you all at our show on August 9th!

###

A small group of people recently gathered for a rare performance by Cleveland based progressive rock band Gravity. This past Wednesday they joined another Cleveland group, On the Air, to play alongside Chicago progressive rock band District 97. This was the first time Gravity performed as a trio, minus their keyboard player Joe Capka. He was unavailable due to prior commitments but the band didn’t want to pass up an opportunity to share the stage with District 97, who are quickly rising to the top of the progressive rock genre. Those that attended may have witnessed Gravity history as this Tuesday, August 9, 2011, Capka returns to the fold for a spot at the annual Cuyahoga County Fair in Berea, Ohio.

Gravity will perform from 8:00PM – 10:00PM on the Midway / South Stage. The set will include music from their first two albums, brand new tracks and covers from classic bands the Beatles, Rush and Van Halen. The band has already opened for world-renowned acts such as Dream Theater, Symphony X, Kamelot and King’s X, and they have won numerous competitions in Cleveland, including the Live Nation 2007 High School Rock Off at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame where they placed first out of over 200 Ohio bands. They have a major progressive rock festival credit to their name when they performed at 3RP in Pittsburgh in 2009.

###

]]> http://www.gravity-store.com/?feed=rss2&p=737 0 New Review of “Midnight Sonata” http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=652 http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=652#comments Mon, 14 Feb 2011 22:20:32 +0000 mkerschner http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=652 Greetings Gravity fans!

We hope your New Year has been been fulfilling and as warm as possible. We’d like to share with you a wonderful review of our new CD “Midnight Sonata” posted by Allen Thompson, a Cleveland indie music examiner. We are extremely appreciative of Allen for his kind words about our new CD. We hope you enjoy them just as much as we do!

http://www.examiner.com/indie-music-in-cleveland/record-review-gravity-midnight-sonata-review

Be sure to check back for spring shows!

]]> http://www.gravity-store.com/?feed=rss2&p=652 0 Featured Act on Metro Toyota Commercial! http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=631 http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=631#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 06:41:20 +0000 mkerschner http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=631

Thanks to the votes and support shown by our amazing fans, Gravity has been selected as a band featured on an exclusive TV commercial by Metro Toyota, as part of their “Metro Toyota Rocks” campaign! Thanks to everyone who helped make this possible with their votes!

The commercial will be aired the last two weeks of January on the following channels: BRAVO, Big Ten, Comedy, ESAPN, ESPN 2, FX, MTV, TBS and USA. More specific times and information may be revealed soon. We had an amazing time filming the commercial at the world-famous AGORA THEATER in Cleveland, and we hope you enjoy it too.

Thanks and rock on!

]]> http://www.gravity-store.com/?feed=rss2&p=631 0 Help Gravity Get on TV! http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=621 http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=621#comments Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:18:48 +0000 mkerschner http://www.gravity-store.com/?p=621 Metro ToyotaHello Gravity fans:

The band is currently participating in the Metro Toyota Rocks competition. Bands submit their video onto the event’s website, where their fans can then “like” it via their Facebook pages. The band with the most votes by November 30th will be picked as the band featured for Metro Toyota’s December commercial!

Consequently, WE NEED YOUR HELP! If you have a Facebook page, sign in and then please go to www.metrotoyota.com/rocks/war-drums to “like” our video for “War Drums.” It only takes seconds of your time and hopefully it will help us get TV exposure.

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR SUPPORT! we look forward to seeing you at our Christmas show on December 30!

]]> http://www.gravity-store.com/?feed=rss2&p=621 0