Band all about being fun

by Mathew C. Easterwood
Vanguard A&E Editor

March 31, 2008 —

With so many bands fighting for existence today, it's hard for young bands to find their niche in the music industry. Lemon Test, a local Saginaw band, has a plan: entertainment, comedy and fun. That's why they have a friend perform stand-up before their performances and try for as much laughter as applause.

"I've seen too many performers who take themselves too seriously during shows," Erik Helwig said, the band's drummer and a former SVSU economics major.

Lemon Test started in the fall of 2004. They went on hiatus for a little over a year until this winter because in August 2006 they lost their bassist and lead singer. They're currently looking for a new lead singer because Kenny Stahl, a Delta College student, is only with them temporarily.

"We're advertising our music and sound together right now," Helwig said, "hoping eventually we'll find a good singer for us."

Stahl originally intended on being the lead singer for the band, but recently got accepted to Michigan Tech in the fall.

"We're still going to keep collaborating on music when I'm gone," Stahl said. "I've been playing around Saginaw for about four years now. It's a fun town, but it wasn't as fun till I found these guys."

Their goal is to put out an album as Lemon Test with Kenny Stahl sometime before Stahl leaves. The band currently has two EP albums released.

"We recorded our first album, which was just two of our songs, through a record label out of Nashville," Helwig said.

Lemon Test qualifies as a pop/alternative/indie/rock band. They also pull from such influences as French and Japanese rock music, especially the Japanese rock band Cornelius - who they recently traveled to Chicago to watch perform and, through a friend, got to talk to the band backstage.

And Helwig describes their sound as "Lemon Test" because of their amount of conglomeration.

But even with their variety of influence and sound, Lemon Test, at its core, is about entertaining its audiences. This attitude remains the band's core attitude, as well as targeting an international audience.

"It's a universal language," Helwig said.

Upcoming performances:

  • April 11, 7 p.m. @ Dawn of a New Day Cafe

  • April 18, 6 p.m. @ Saginaw on Stage Music Fest 2008

  • May 9, 10 p.m. @ Teazers Bar

For more information: www.myspace.com/lemontest

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