Tuesday, December 22, 2015

THE PROCESS in MLive Today.

Rock-reggae fusion band the Process hosting 25th anniversary show in Bay City


Members of the band The Process, from left, Bill Heffelfinger, David Asher, Garrick Owen and Gabe Gonzalez. (Sue White | MLive File Photo)
By Cole Waterman for MLive.com | cwaterma@mlive.com 
on December 22, 2015 at 7:15 AM

BAY CITY, MI — It's been 25 years since Detroit's seminal rock-reggae fusion band the Process formed, and to celebrate, they're playing a free show in Bay City.
The gig is happening Saturday, Dec. 26, at BeMo's Bar, 701 S. Madison Ave. The show starts at 9 p.m.
"We've always had a nice time at BeMo's," said David Asher, vocalist for the Process. "They support original music seven days a week and we've had several shows over there that have been successful. It seemed like the obvious choice."
Asher formed the group with guitarist Garrick Owen. Since 1991, they've released six studio albums, a compilation, one live album, and a couple of live DVDs.
"We used to be fanatic, practicing four or five days a week," Asher said. "Over time, we built it up. We're working on our seven full-length album now. It's going to be interesting, as we did some of it over in England."
Producing the forthcoming record is Adrian Sherwood, who has worked with such artists as Nine Inch Nails, Skinny Puppy, Ministry and KMFDM, and Skip McDonald of hip-hop progenitors the Sugarhill Gang.
In 2007, Detroit Music Awards named the band Outstanding World Music/Reggae/Ska Artist. Two years prior, the organization named Asher and Owen Outstanding World Songwriters.
The Process is currently composed of Asher, Owen, Bill Heffelfinger, Seth Payton, and Gabe Gonzalez, the latter a drummer known for working with George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic. Due to the show marking the band's 25th anniversary, a few previous members of the group are to perform with them as well, Asher said.
"For this show, we're bringing in all of our members," he said, though he added they haven't had that many personnel changes over the years.
In his time with the band, Asher said he's seen the Michigan music scene change quite a bit, with original music being far more prevalent now than it was during the Process' inception.
"It was kind of insulary," Asher said. "When we first started, there were no original bands playing in bars. It was kind of unheard of, really. Now, it's pretty common place."
The Process is to perform an extended set starting about 10:30 p.m. Also on the bill are Ben McArthur, Operation 13, and E.Z. Duzhit and the Soul Jar. There is no cover charge.

If you go:
What: The Process in concert
When: 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 26
Where: BeMo's Bar, 701 S. Madison Ave. on Bay City's East Side
Cost: Free
Info: 989-893-7071 

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