the infatuations

 

The Infatuations is a “Detroit Block Party.” The Motor City starts coming out of your speakers the second the first note hits.  These guys celebrate every sonic movement that is “Detroit” by combining the pop-suss of Motown soul, the sheer in-your-face bravado of Parliament Funkadelic, and the raw, untamed energy of Detroit rock ’n’ roll. The results are undeniably spectacular.

 

The Infatuations was formed by Christian Draheim and Marco Lowe as an acoustic cover duo in 2009 with the aim of bringing in a few dollars and writing some songs together.

 

“Our first gig was January 9th” Draheim says. “Marco invited J.T. Lee to come out and sit in during the show on percussion playing the Cuban Cajon. I literally met J.T. for the first time and a couple of minutes later we were playing our first gig together.

 

The boys felt that they were tapping into something special and, by April 2009, they had a name, the start of a band and their first EP, January Sessions, available to the public. In addition to Draheim (guitar), Lowe (vocals) and Lee (drums), the original lineup featured Aaron Julison of Kid Rock’s Twisted Brown Trucker Band on bass. After 2.5 years of searching and playing with a rotating cast of talented Detroit musicians, the lineup was complete featuring Draheim, vocalist Caleb Gutierrez, guitarist Chris Polite, bassist The Wolf, drummer/percussionist Robert Myers, and guitarist Nick Behnan. Co-founder Marco Lowe is currently involved behind the scenes, working side-by-side with Draheim in a role he loves as a songwriter, producer and on development of The Infatuations overall.

 

“While we were recording January Sessions, Marco always joked that he was a rock singer at heart”, says Draheim. “We wanted to find a dynamic, soul inspired vocalist that possesses the power of Levi Stubbs, and the smoothness and range of Stevie Wonder with a little bit of Tyner grit. I was at an open mic night when I heard Caleb for the first time. Caleb, started wailing away singing “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley and everyone in the room, stunned, turned to watch and listen. Caleb soon joined The Infatuations as frontman.”

 

Since that day, Gutierrez has sung the National Anthem for the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park as a part of the Latin-themed ¡Fiesta Tigres! day in 2012 and 2013 and several Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce events.  Gutierrez – and the rest of The Infatuations – are strong believers in their local community, and participate through song in regional festivals and benefit events frequently such as the 2013 Winter Classic Alumni Game at Comerica Park, Arts, Beats & Eats, D.I.Y. Fest, Mid Point Musical Festival, Detroit River Days with George Clinton & the P-Funk All Stars, Campus Martius 4th Fridays with the Family Stone and the Wailer’s, the Motown Macdown a fund raiser for local charity Justin’s Vision, the Mitch Albom S.A.Y. Radioathon and were a part of the Holy Cross Children’s Services 2013 CD compilation “A Michigan Christmas for Hope”. The Infatuations’ pure Detroit brand of funk-Motown-rock–dance party gets festival audiences in particular dancing in the sun since there’s something of everyone’s teenage record collection in the jams.

 

The music that The Infatuations make is infectious. It has a way of getting under your skin. The hooks have the swagger, the flowing sexual energy, to seduce their audience like a hot girl on the wrong side of town. That is why the band is so aptly named – because it doesn’t simply have “fans” like other bands. Its followers are genuinely infatuated with the music. Everybody that listens to the Infatuations is basically having a love affair with the members. It’s intimate. It means something. It feels really good.

 

The band is currently working on their first full length release due out in spring of 2014 and has thus far released the five-track January Sessions EP in 2009, the “Blame It On You” single in February 2012, Recorded Live in Front of a Studio Audience” live EP that same month and the video and single for “Yesterday Morning” on Thanksgiving Day 2013. Those recording as well as countless stellar live performances have led to The Infatuations receiving an Emmy Award nomination in 2012 for the “Blame It On You” music video. The Infatuations has won the Vitamin Water People’s Choice Award two years in a row (2011 & 2012) as a part of the Detroit Music Awards. In 2013, The Infatuations received 2 Detroit Music Awards, Outstanding Urban/Funk/Hip Hop Recording & Outstanding Urban/Funk Artist/Group, and out of 12,000 bands were Detroit Finalist and Top 25 Global Finalist in the 2013 Hard Rock Rising Global Battle of the Bands.

 

The Infatuations are one of the best dance rock bands, dance bands and rock bands to have come out of Detroit in recent years, and in this town that means a hell of a lot.

 

Quotes:

Metro Times – “The Infatuations: One of Detroit’s Hottest Bands. This is not your father’s Motown. It is new music with a hint of the oldie.”

 

Real Detroit Weekly – “The Infatuations are like a can full of disco-funk, Motown soul and Detroit rock. Yet another very Motor City-sounding band well worth checking out.”

 

City Beat/MPMP Guide – “Put on your sexy pants, Cincinnati — The Infatuations have come to seduce you. From funky, rockin’ ragers to super-sensual slow burners, these Motor City men know how to make a wide range of good music.”

 

Metro Times – “The Infatuations’ January Sessions (Acid Groove) sounds like the sort of music that Justin Timberlake wishes he had the balls to make. In other words, this is fun and dance-able white-boy disco-soul. “Dancin’ On My Knees”, in particular, is a great tune.”