Membrata

This Lincoln IL based group officially formed with the introduction of singer/guitarist Mark Luttrell to drummer Nathan Whiteman in the spring of 1999. They were soon friends and jamming on their favorite cover songs soon followed. Mark and Nathan soon realized how unfulfilling it was to learn other artists songs when they could write their own. The construction of original music began. There was a definite bond between the two of them and the music that resulted was a direct reflection of it. The songs were filled with catchy choruses and monstrous grooves that captured the ear of the local scene. They began to break the mold of Midwest Metal. Once songs had collected, bassist Joe Pesha was considered. He actually had never played a bass before being asked to join, but within six months, he completed the three-piece. Experimental home recordings and live performances became common weekend pastimes. The recorded songs soon found themselves on many local music broadcasts and the group realized it was time to record a full length album. Mark and Nathan soon set foot into The Recording Workshop (Chillicothe, OH) where they would learn the skills they needed to record a professional sounding album on a small budget in their living room. In their spare time, between juggling jobs and high school, Membrata recorded their first and self titled album. They turned to Eclipse Studios in Bloomington, IL for the mastering process which brought the entire project to a finish. The albums completion took nearly a year. It emerged as a local hit almost immediately upon its release. Their live performances are widely discussed as the songs seem to gain momentum beyond the recordings, making it a memorable and enjoyable experience for all.Achievements: Within a few months, Membrata was filling local venues and venturing out to bigger ones. Their audience has steadily grown. They sold nearly 600 albums within the first year of the albums release. The group was also named a top 100 finalist in the Independent Music World Series (IMWS) Midwest Finals. Very few artists of their genre made it to that level in that particular contest. The Midwest portion of the contest spanned 13 states. They have recently drawn attention from, and been complimented by, some of the areas music industry giants. Membrata has also won many Battle-of-the-Bands competitions.Membrata is very busy performing throughout the Midwest and Illinois. Their sound was complimented with the addition of their newest band member, bassist Bradley Whiteman. They are currently scheduling many small tours and are in the process of writing for their second album. They have also currently found a fourth member, guitarist Andrew Gonzales.Audience/Format: The audience base is wide ranging from the under 18 to 18-54yrs age groups. Membrata is considered a Metal/Hard Rock band with a wide range of songs ideal for Modern Rock, Alternative Rock, Mainstream Rock, and Metal formats. They transcend all age groups and musical tastes of the Rock/Metal genres.The Band is: Mark Luttrell Lead Vocals and Lead Guitar Nathan Whiteman Drums, Percussion and Background Vocals Bradley Whiteman Bass Guitar and Background Vocals Andrew Gonzales Rhythm Guitars***This is Membrata***