December 13, 2010
By Nicholas Miller
Duluth, MN, seems as if it has always been known for its local music scene and its contributions to the musical world, but to one young Duluth local it’s more than just a scene, it’s a way of life. Chad Erlemeier, a local percussionist, is involved in seemingly every aspect of music in Duluth and indeed in most of Minnesota.
“I believe he was created to be a musician.” said friend and vocalist Jena Levelius. And it does seem that from a very early age Erlemeier was destined for great things. “When I was a little kid riding in cars with my parents I would always be tapping rhythms on the doors, windows, pretty much anything I could reach. And so my dad suggested I take drum lessons.” said Erlemeier.
And so beginning in the third grade Erlemeier took private lessons from teacher Scott Junkert. Junkert started him off on nothing but a snare drum and Erlemeier quickly worked his way up to a full drum kit. “I’ll never forget what he said to me.” said Erlemeier, “He told me that out of the 25 years he had been teaching music I was one of only five people that he considered to have natural talent.”
Junkert even got him his first real gig playing music at a Barnes & Noble at 10 years old. Erlemeier continued private lessons through middle school and then in high school, at the recommendation of his former teacher, he began to study the art of jazz and jazz drumming. By the end of his freshman year of high school he was involved in as many bands as he could find. Multiple school jazz bands, marching bands, pep bands, and the Duluth Youth Symphony Orchestra. “He’s a great dedicated musician and he spends a lot of time working on music. It’s basically his life.” said roommate Dan Perkins.
It’s been four years since Erlemeier started his touring career with Melodramatics, and he hasn’t slowed down one bit. Currently a student at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he is majoring in jazz percussion, Erlemeier participates with the jazz ensemble, the jazz combo, the percussion ensemble, the symphonic winds ensemble, the marching band, and the athletic pep bands.
“He seems genuinely happy and in his place when he is onstage” said Levelius. He certainly has a great energy and air about him when he plays. Last Wednesday Dec. 8th, Erlemeier truly showed off this attitude during the UMD Jazz Ensemble concert. The final song of the evening was composed of a few minutes worth of horns and ten plus minutes worth of drum solo. Erlemeier showed his skill as a future master percussionist that night by playing with dramatic movements often using his feet or elbows to bend and change the sounds of the drums. In fact he managed seven different sounds out of the snare drum alone.
Erlemeier certainly appreciates all that he has been given through his remarkable talent. “I remember once I got to play a show with Melodramatics opening for a band called The Limns. It was in a little club in Minneapolis called Cabooze’. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life not just because there were 250 people there, but because the same stage had once been used by The Rolling Stones and their signatures were even still in the green room. Prince even hung his platinum records on the wall there.”
It just goes to show that Erlemeier’s philosophy holds true. “Do what you love, if you love doing music keep doing it and great things will happen.” Erlemeier has certainly accomplished more than most in his twenty years of life, but he continues to have newer and higher goals for the future. After graduation he plans on attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, and then to move on to play music not just for a living but as a lifestyle. Erlemeier can be seen Saturday December 13 at Pizza Luce where he will be playing a benefit show with local legends Low.
Sources
Chad Erlemeier (218)341-7525
Dan Perkins (507)244-0825
Eric Mandelin (218)393-8918
Jena Levelius (715)897-6196
By Nicholas Miller
Duluth, MN, seems as if it has always been known for its local music scene and its contributions to the musical world, but to one young Duluth local it’s more than just a scene, it’s a way of life. Chad Erlemeier, a local percussionist, is involved in seemingly every aspect of music in Duluth and indeed in most of Minnesota.
“I believe he was created to be a musician.” said friend and vocalist Jena Levelius. And it does seem that from a very early age Erlemeier was destined for great things. “When I was a little kid riding in cars with my parents I would always be tapping rhythms on the doors, windows, pretty much anything I could reach. And so my dad suggested I take drum lessons.” said Erlemeier.
And so beginning in the third grade Erlemeier took private lessons from teacher Scott Junkert. Junkert started him off on nothing but a snare drum and Erlemeier quickly worked his way up to a full drum kit. “I’ll never forget what he said to me.” said Erlemeier, “He told me that out of the 25 years he had been teaching music I was one of only five people that he considered to have natural talent.”
Junkert even got him his first real gig playing music at a Barnes & Noble at 10 years old. Erlemeier continued private lessons through middle school and then in high school, at the recommendation of his former teacher, he began to study the art of jazz and jazz drumming. By the end of his freshman year of high school he was involved in as many bands as he could find. Multiple school jazz bands, marching bands, pep bands, and the Duluth Youth Symphony Orchestra. “He’s a great dedicated musician and he spends a lot of time working on music. It’s basically his life.” said roommate Dan Perkins.
In his sophomore year he was approached by a bass player who convinced him to audition for his first band Orderly Chaos. Eventually Erlemeier and his lead guitar broke off from the band to form a new group known as Escaping Raul and he began to get his first taste of touring and bar shows. Escaping Raul was a short lived venture as Erlemeier was approached by fellow orchestral musician Alex Galle-From to form the rock band Melodramatics which later evolved into well known local band String Cinema.
“Right after we formed Melodramatics things instantly changed. We began to get gigs in bars and venues every weekend all across the state, and I was only 16!” said Erlemeier. And even then his friends knew he was destined for great things in the music world. “I’ve always known he was very dedicated to music. He had a Coldplay shrine in his locker in the 10th grade and he was proud of it even if people made fun of him for it.” said friend and former classmate Eric Mandelin.It’s been four years since Erlemeier started his touring career with Melodramatics, and he hasn’t slowed down one bit. Currently a student at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he is majoring in jazz percussion, Erlemeier participates with the jazz ensemble, the jazz combo, the percussion ensemble, the symphonic winds ensemble, the marching band, and the athletic pep bands.
He plays outside of school with the Proctor Community Band, and the Twin Ports Wind Ensemble, not to mention his two indie folk rock bands Wake Up Columbus and Lou Garoup. To top it off he also plays with a progressive funk metal band known as There By Fire. And yet somehow he still manages to find time to be a full time student, a full time worker, and a part time free lance show drummer. And as of this October Erlemeier got his first experience as a paid studio drummer for professional singer/songwriter Rachel Kalgour.
“He’s extremely passionate about all different types of music. He’s driven, fun, caring, generous, and awesome.” said Levelius. His passion is greatly reflected in all that Erlemeier does and thinks. “Recently I got to play a sold out show in Harbor City with Rachel Kalgour. There were over 180 tickets sold that night, it wasn’t the biggest crowd but it was the best crowd because they were there just to see her.” said Erlemeier. “There were some songs that I didn’t play during and I loved it because I just sat and listened, it was very wonderful music and I was proud to be a part of it.”“He seems genuinely happy and in his place when he is onstage” said Levelius. He certainly has a great energy and air about him when he plays. Last Wednesday Dec. 8th, Erlemeier truly showed off this attitude during the UMD Jazz Ensemble concert. The final song of the evening was composed of a few minutes worth of horns and ten plus minutes worth of drum solo. Erlemeier showed his skill as a future master percussionist that night by playing with dramatic movements often using his feet or elbows to bend and change the sounds of the drums. In fact he managed seven different sounds out of the snare drum alone.
Erlemeier certainly appreciates all that he has been given through his remarkable talent. “I remember once I got to play a show with Melodramatics opening for a band called The Limns. It was in a little club in Minneapolis called Cabooze’. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life not just because there were 250 people there, but because the same stage had once been used by The Rolling Stones and their signatures were even still in the green room. Prince even hung his platinum records on the wall there.”
It just goes to show that Erlemeier’s philosophy holds true. “Do what you love, if you love doing music keep doing it and great things will happen.” Erlemeier has certainly accomplished more than most in his twenty years of life, but he continues to have newer and higher goals for the future. After graduation he plans on attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, and then to move on to play music not just for a living but as a lifestyle. Erlemeier can be seen Saturday December 13 at Pizza Luce where he will be playing a benefit show with local legends Low.
Sources
Chad Erlemeier (218)341-7525
Dan Perkins (507)244-0825
Eric Mandelin (218)393-8918
Jena Levelius (715)897-6196
