By E.M. Serensky Some band names just stick. Groove Pipe is one such band. They got their name when they sat down and each threw out a few words. The following day, they tried to remember some of the names that they had come up with. Groove Pipe was the only choice that they could remember, thus making it the winner. Simple as that. Formed in 2004, Groove Pipe is Chad, Matt and Brian. In that time, they have released two albums. One is a six song EP, The Fall (2007). The other is a full-length album, Hangman (2008). Groove Pipe is mainly influenced by Alice in Chains, which is a great influence for any musical group. They can be classified as heavy modern rock, though the new album they’re working on will be more rhythmically driven. Matt, the bass player, says that, “More than half a dozen [songs] were written on an acoustic guitar. They’re going to be more melodic and musical than straight in your face heavy.” The group is known for writing their own music, but they do a cover of The Rolling Stones song, “Dead Flowers”. The cover showcases their instrumental musical talent as well as their vocals. If obstacles weren’t involved it wouldn’t be a rock band. Groove Pipe has gone through a few different guitar players since the band’s birth. They’re currently without a second guitarist, but are digging the sound that they’re getting. Fans have told them that, “[the music] sounds a lot cleaner.” Because of the positive feedback, the band is going to continue as a trio. Like any band, they have a list of goals that they’d like to accomplish. A short-term goal is to save up money from their summer gigs to get in some studio time this fall. A long-term goal/dream is to make a living by performing. Groove Pipe has done a handful of out-of-state tours and numerous shows in Ohio. They haven’t done a large national tour but it’s not out of the question. If Alice in Chains approached them, for instance, they would love to join them. In 2005 and 2006, Chad, the lead singer, organized the Shangri-la Music Fest in Waynesburg. The venue was a motocross track. The stage was huge and the fun factor was larger. Playing the festival is considered one of the highlights of Groove Pipe’s career. There’s no word on if another festival is in the works, but music festivals, of any sort, are always a great way to promote independent music in the country. The guys have taken a break for a little while but will be returning to the rock scene on June 26th at the Carriage House in Louisville. They’ve played there many times and consider it their home turf. At their upcoming show at the Carriage House this month they will be joined by the Cleveland-area band, Mushroomhead. Both bands have great followings, so the venue should fill up very quickly. The Groove Pipe guys love their fans. For tickets, contact the band directly at groovepipeband@gmail.com. The tickets are $25 from Groove Pipe and a little bit more if you go through ticketmaster.com. Other upcoming events include July 24th at Moose Island and August 14th at the Iron Saddle Saloon with the Akron-area band, Motherload). For more, check out www.groovepipe.com, Myspace, Groove Pipe on Facebook, or iTunes.