Instrumental / progressive rockers Speed Limit 35 formed during the summer of 1997 as a result of frequent songwriting sessions between guitarist Steve Rabeler and keyboardist / guitarist Mitch Gorman. Singer Judilynn Niedercorn, from Pittsburgh-based progressive rock band Persephones Dream was then recruited and provided an additional ingredient, adding a new musical dimension to the bands sound.
The first album release from Speed Limit 35 entitled The Speed of Sound was made available from mp3.com in 2000. The album contained ten tracks that varied between guitar-based instrumentals and progressive tracks featuring Judilynns vocal work. Several songs were extremely reminiscent of Renaissance in their construction especially when amplified by the texture of Judilynn's voice; excellent examples being "Siren Song" and "Memoria". Instrumentals spanned from the light acoustic sound of "Binky" to the driving guitar rock of "Throb" and "HTML" and experimental nature of "GuiTarPits." Guitarist John Walker contributed some additional guitar tracks for 3 of the songs. More than 90,000 downloads and plays resulted from Speed Limit 35's presence on the mp3.com website, and "Throb" was number 1 on the Instrumental Rock chart for 28 days.
In 2002, Steve and Mitch parted ways with Judilynn and returned to their instrumental and progressive rock roots. Steve's surf and rockabilly influences were also tapped into as recording sessions progressed for Speed Limit 35s 2nd album. After nearly 3 years of work, the resulting self-produced all-instrumental CD, Shifting Gears, was released on the bands own Hectic Eclectic label in 2004. Ranging from the heavy, slow-building progressive rock of Mechanical Failure Suite to the upbeat surf of Atlantica and the Gene Krupa-influenced ReKrupaRation, Shifting Gears demonstrated the duos instrumental versatility and strengths. The CD has received excellent reviews along with thousands of online downloads and plays.
Speed Limit 35's song "ReKrupaRation" was featured on the first episode of the Roadtrip Nation television series on PBS. The show premiered in September 2006 on PBS stations nationwide.
