The only pretense to The Highgears is no pretense. Since the spring of 2004, they've consistently created what they've wanted to create without concern for status quo. There has never been a fashion focus, worry for trend, or attention to hipster internet buzz. The Highgears have kept their format as simple as possible: write good rock and roll songs, give them a good show; audiences all throughout the Midwest have been thankful for it. Taking a few lineup changes and time into consideration, the evolution has been very natural. Though you can catch glimpses of several different genres in the songs (stoner rock, early metal, Swedish rock, etc.), the end result is usually best described as it was by producer, Tim Ray: "It sounds like The Highgears." The influences are none too surprising either considering their roots deeply steeped into their home state. Combining their love of 70's bands such as Thin Lizzy, Grand Funk Railroad, early Aerosmith, and Mountain as well as some of the best their generation has had to offer like The Hellacopters, Clutch, The Golden Gods, and Bad Wizard, they've taken this divine inspiration in hopes of showing newer audiences that real rock and roll isn't packaged in car commercials and cell phone ads, but rather in big riffs and energetic live shows. While they've not so quietly self-released 3 EP's, they've made their biggest mark in their live show. Having logged plenty of miles hammering through shows all throughout the Midwest, people usually take notice of what happens when their on the stage. The look doesn't necessarily fit the sound and when those first chords are struck, the audience is not only surprised, but very well engaged with the band's kinetic stage show. This whole process have also made fans of the unlikeliest of people, such as award winning horror novelist, Gary A. Braunbeck , independent filmmaker and owner of Low Budget Pictures, Chris Seaver, and the Godfather of Gore, Herschell Gordon Lewis. After all this time, The Highgears are still passionate, still hungry, and still proud to play rock and roll. Taking it on as a duty and less of a challenge, they hope to bring true rock and roll back to the forefront and in the process bring more people into their fold. As a fan, I look forward to the day it happens. Find out more about the Highgears on: Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thehighgears YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/thehighgears PureVolume: http://www.purevolume.com/thehighgears Virb: http://www.virb.com/thehighgears OurStage: http://www.ourstage.com/fanclub/thehighgears