​

​The Band:

​

Joel Levise - Guitar

​

Born in 1968, Joel Levise is the son of Detroit rocker Mitch Ryder, and grew up with his sister, Dawn Levise, and mother, Susan Bilsky, in Southfield, Michigan. 

​

A guitar player from the age of 14, he’s played in a few bands: Outer Drive (1988-91), Ü-oui (2005-10), and In Your Hand (2012-13).  His new band is called Ruby Keeps Burning (2013).  As J. Levise, he put out 13 Pieces Orichalcum (1998), which collects the Outer Drive material, the Disk sessions (1993-94) with producer/engineer Frank Shaffer, and a couple tracks done at the Tempermill with Frank in 1998. 

​

Also a poet, he edited the Wayne Literary Review from 2006 to 2010, and was a member of the poetry bands/collectives Collide (2001-2) and Struck Lit (2003).  He finished a series of word-and-music poetry projects called Pairs (2009), featuring collaborations with synthesizer player Viki, euphonium player Brad Felt, poet Thomas Park, and singer-songwriter Ryan Dillaha.  He performs his poetry, often in musical contexts, live all over the Detroit area.  He earned a BA in English from Wayne State University in 2002 and a Masters in English from Wayne in 2012. 

​

He lives in Ferndale with his longtime partner, Justine Justin, and their dogs.

​

Ben Seas - Guitar

 

Stay tuned...

 

​

Frank James - Bass

 

Influences in order of exposure:

Gospel, Motown, The Monkees, The Beatles, Baseball, my uncle Evert (crazy legs) Hurst - Physical Metallurgist at Buick Motor Division and Advisor to NASA Lewis Research, John Denver, Dolly Parton, THE HOTTEST BAND IN THE WORLD - KISS! Alice Cooper, Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder, Led Zeppelin, Pat Metheny Group, Jane’s Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Beck.

 

Instruments and Amplification:

4 string American Fender Jazz Bass, 4 string Mexican Fender Jazz Bass, 12 string Korean Fender Acoustic Guitar, Ampeg SVT3 Pro 400 watt tube amp played through 4x10 Yorkville cabinet.

 

Bands:

Sanford Blaze - covers and originals 1994-2001, U-oui 2005-2010, In Your Hand Nov 2012-Feb 2013, Ruby Keeps Burning Feb 2013 to present.Currently: living in Royal Oak, MI.

 

Epilogue:

"These lessons and contacts have provided the motivation for a good life. I have one characteristic that was probably inherited but was really nourished by others; that is, if you want to accomplish something within your ability, fall in love with it; work slowly at it. Someone could say I was just lucky. There is more to it than that - there is the planning, preparing, and executing a plan. We all get the same 24 hours in a day. What will you do with yours?" Taken from autobiographical articles written by Evert Hurst in 1996 at age 79.

 

David Borovoy - Drums

​

 

Stay tuned...

 

​

 

 

Gear:

Guitars:

 

 

• Black 1994 Gibson Les Paul Studio with Seymour Duncan Jeff Beck pickup in lead position installed by Mike Kuntz.
• Black 1990 Steinberger GR 4 with custom three-mini-toggle pickup switching and extra tall frets installed by George Yantz.
• Sparkleburst Copper 2011 MIM Fender Telecaster with 60-year anniversary plate (1951-2011).
• Blond 1984 Electra Phoenix with fretless neck and electronics by George Yantz.​

​

Effects (guitar rig):

• Pro-Co Rat Distortion
• Mooger Fooger MF-102 Ring Modulator with Yamaha exp. pedal
• Electro-Harmonix Freeze
• Ernie Ball VPJR Volume Pedal Junior
• MXR Flanger
• MXR Carbon Copy
• Lehle Little Lehle Looper/Switcher

​

Amps:

• Fender Hot Rod Deluxe combo (40 watts, 1x12)
• Roland Jazz Chorus JC 120 combo (120 watts, 2x12)

​

Effects (looper rig):

• 4ms Pedals Noise Swash
• Roger Linn Design Adrenalinn I
• Boss RC-50 Loop Station
• Radial Stereo DI Box

​​​​​​

​

​

​