the lithiums
Another gritty, sensational feature from Michigan, we have, ladies and gentlemen, The Lithiums!!
Before you even ask, No - they are not a Nirvana cover band!
Connecting with these guys, one of my top questions was how they settled on their band name, thinking, yes, some form of tribute to Nirvana. Funny enough without me saying anything they let me know that it was a name that kind of stuck. Their passion is in their music and not so much in the name. I will say it is a killer name for a band and they have an even killer sound!
The Lithiums are comprised of four guys: Robby Lewis (Vocals/Guitar), Jake Giltrop (Vocals/Guitar), Shane Seppala (Bass/Backing Vocals) and John “Jetski” Michalski (Drums/Percussion).
These guys are all from Michigan - Robby and Jake from Muskegon, and Shane and Jetski from Big Rapids.
Michigan is coming with some heat!
Robby and Jake met each other through mutual friends. Shane and Jetski were playing in another band. They all met each other in the scene and when their respective bands broke apart for whatever reason in 2023, they decided to form an alliance or how Robby describes it, “I just wanted to do something with my best friends who also just happen to be the best musicians I know.”
Before we get into the music, let’s take a look at some of the guys’ inspirations and start with music.
For this part, each of the guys gave their own take:
Robby
I saw The Beatles rooftop show on Youtube when I was about 6, and I asked for a guitar the following birthday. Started playing bars at 13 as the natural next step of a guitar player, started writing songs to be able to play longer sets, and have just loved making/playing music since. Influences are always a tough question to answer because I listen to a very absurd range of music, but some of the first that come to mind are:
The Red Hot Chili Peppers/John Frusciante, Paramore, Green Day, The Weeknd, The Smiths, Kendrick Lamar, The Crane Wives (Please for the love of God look them up if you don’t know), Slipknot, Black Thought/The Roots, Trampled By Turtles, Prof, Badflower, and all the SpongeBob trap music by Glorb.
Jake
I heard the song Boulevard Of Broken Dreams by Green Day when I was 3, and I told my mom I liked that song. The only Green Day record she had was “Dookie” which she said was also from the band. I listened to it, got to the song F.O.D. and I thought “This is not Boulevard Of Broken Dreams, but this IS, in fact, IT”. My influences are any good quality, like, guitar-based pop music. I’ve been told by people that I show music to, that I just seem to “like really good pop songs” so like, sure.
Jetski
Somewhere between the movie “That Thing You Do” soundtrack, and the album American Idiot by Green Day. For influences: Anything that grooves.
Shane
My Dad has been playing bass since 1978, and growing up in a musical environment made me want to pursue it as a career. I listen to a very wide range of different stuff, but off the top of my head: Judas Priest, Motionless In White, Job For A Cowboy, City And Colour, etc.
After getting to know what their musical tastes are I can keenly associate the music they create with the artists and groups they mentioned. Songs from their latest EP like Might Not and Sleep Alone have a resounding likeness to that of Judas Priest and Green Day and even a little Beatles action in We Say Goodbye. These guys have grit and gut-wrenching songs that make you want to push and kick around in a sweaty, adrenaline-induced mosh pit.
Robby and Jake are the primary songwriters but they state that everyone is a songwriter in their way and each one contributes and brings something to the table - they expressed how it tends to feel more like hanging out than work. “Nobody really decides what any of the others are going to play. It’s very much a team effort of all just trying to serve the song best. We do our best to leave all the ego in the pit of snakes I built in my yard.”
If you catch them at a show you can expect an improvised jam, they say, “to get the blood flowing.” Behind the scenes, they leave it to a “modified” rock-paper-scissor engagement to see who will be the jam starter. Oh, and they have a super, Top-Secret special chant to get in the zone…don’t worry I asked but they said “It’s a secret, and we keep it in a bulletproof briefcase, handcuffed to at least 3 band members at once.”
Speaking of their latest EP, The Last of the Rockstars, and one of my previous features, Spike the Media; Brendan Martin, frontman of Spike helped the four-man group record and produce many records including The Last of the Rockstars EP. The group praised Brendan saying, “he continues to be one of the most brilliant musicians/producers of all time - he’s just a super chill person, they all are. With that said, if you’re reading this and you haven’t read the [feature] on Spike The Media, read that next, and then also stream their album Giant Space Ocean on every imaginable streaming service. You will not be disappointed.” I didn’t make them say that last part, I promise!
The Lithiums, other than working with Spike on their record have yet to collaborate with other groups but are looking forward to doing some proper features with other artists soon.
Being recently signed to Onama Media Group, the band has quite a few fun developments on the horizon, especially with some tour dates coming soon! Linked below will be their socials so you don’t miss any juicy news coming from this jaw-clenching, head-banging troupe.
Before we close this out the band would like to share a few things:
Robby
I want to mention our crew, without whom, none of this would be possible
DJ/Playback Tech Blake “DJ ThinToast” Rainbolt, the honorary fifth Lithium
Plus the media/production team of superhumans who help to keep this ship afloat in more ways than you can imagine: Brad Zoulek, Kyla Backensto, and John Alex.
Jake
That’s what I spend most of my time doing. Breathing a lot. I like air.
Shane
And in the famous words of Ozzy, “You can’t kill rock and roll”
Jetski
Talk trash, smoke grass, eat a**
It has been a blast getting to know The Lithiums - with quite the sense of humor and rocking musicality you can catch these boys at their socials down below!
To The Lithiums, you guys have made me laugh more than you know! I appreciate your candor and sharing your story with all listeners, new and old! I hope to get the chance to meet you all, including DJ ThinToast and the media/production team very very soon!
