Rocky Loves Emily.

Andrew Stevens of Rocky Loves Emily and I

If you were born in the late 80s or early 90s as I was you will remember the infamous scene from Three Ninjas where two younger brothers are tormenting their older brother, Rocky, jumping up and dancing and chanting “Rocky Loves Emily! Rocky Loves Emily!” A classic scene which I have recreated a time or two in my life. Well, get ready to hear it a lot more soon because Rocky Loves Emily is now the name of a band who, in my opinion, you will be seeing a lot more of.

Rocky Loves Emily is based primarily in the Metro Detroit area of Michigan and is made up of Brandon Ellis - vocals, Stephen Hull - Keyboards & BGV,  Pete Kalinowski - drums, Sean Kick - guitar, Wood Ellison- bass, Andrew Stevens - guitar. Brandon, Sean and Andrew met in college and got hooked up with the other guys through the music scene in Michigan. RLE played a Valentine’s Day themed show at Crofoot Ballroom’s Pike Room last weekend and I was fortunate enough to be able to attend.

After the show I got to interview Andrew. One of the first things I asked him was "Pop Rock?" “I really didn't listen to a lot of pop music until I started playing in a pop band. I appreciate it a lot more now that I play it. I love bands like The Summer Set, Mayday Parade etc. But my roots are more grounded in classic rock, metal, and a lot of indie music.”

Brought together by a dream of making music as a profession RLE formed in  January of 2009, but their first shows did not begin until that Spring. It is no secret that making it big time in the music world is hard work. I do not believe they are naïve to that fact. In fact, you can catch them any given day sitting in a van driving around the country playing for whoever will listen. They have played a lot of places. “A lot of amazing places and a lot of...well, not so amazing places. I think one of my favorite places to play is in Hagerstown Maryland called Legends On The Square. It's a bar/restaurant and they just put on shows on their floor and bring in a PA system. But the people there are incredible. I love it." 

Stephen Hull & Wood Simmons

RLE has spent a lot of time perfecting their sound. Not your typical hit factory band. Brandon usually comes up with ideas and the guys all sit down and work them out together. Let's be honest for a minute, most of their songs are about girls, writing about true life experiences and what they know, I see no issue with that. They intend on growing up with their fans “We talk about it all the time. We want to be light hearted and have fun with our music, but in the future we plan on delving into some more gripping topics

There it is. One of the defining characteristics between a flavor of the week and a band that will steal the hearts of millions: the passion for music not fame. These guys love their music and they want to share it with the world. 

Their sound? Rocky Loves Emily is self-described as "catchy pop/rock" music. Though they argue ‘"catchy" part is determined by the listener.’ I know catchy & they are catchy.  But with pop/rock music come pop/rock bands and there were about 4 opening bands before RLE came on – around eleven PM. The opening acts to the show were – interesting. (isn’t that the politically correct term?)  The only band I listened to was called Set It Off. Check out the website to really get a taste of the experience I had. It is one that cannot be easily captured by words. I have certainly tried, however words have fallen short.

When Rocky Loves Emily took the stage  I had a reaction that I was not quite expecting – nostalgia. And here is why: I have known Andy since we were about thirteen. We were in the same homeschool group together.

Andrew Stevens and I in the homeschool days.
"I was homeschooled so I don't get embarrassed. haha"

I even had a crush on him for a short minute. Ever since I have known Andrew he has loved music. His AIM SN (throwback?) was “Reallyneedaband” or something to that affect. He was in the youth group worship band. He wore girl pants and I mean literally he would wear girl’s jeans. In fact if I remember correctly he got in trouble and had to go back to guy’s pants for a while. He had, still has, firey red hair, that he would style into a mohawk. His passion for music has not dwindled since those days as a skinny middle schooler. I believe it has grown, matured and taken him places most people never thought he would go. “I think if people are honest with themselves, none of us would mind being known and not having the stress of money. I'll speak for myself at least, I'm not out to be a millionaire and play arena tours. Would I hate that? Probably not. But really all I want out of music is to be able to come home and pay my bills and take care of a family someday and be able to say, "hey, I followed my passion and dream and it worked out pretty well".

Andrew Stevens - Rocky Loves Emily

Clearly Andrew has not lost his humbleness and childlike spirit He still has a genuine heart of gold “We're ready in our hearts for great things to start happening for us; that next "big tour" or "big break". But we have to remember every day we wake up that our future as musicians is in God's hands.”

RLE has fans all over the country and their band is gaining more and more fans with every show.  I asked him how he reacts to fans “whenever I meet people that are legitimately nervous to talk to me because of who I am. It blows my mind, like I always just tell people "All I do is sit in a van all day. And I poop and eat a lot." I hope that puts things in perspective for them.” It does.

 Fast forward to present time, I am in the front row of a concert  (because is there another way to get the full effect of a show, I think not) literally on top of a speaker thinking about to middle school. And how different things are now. 

 So there I am shoved in the corner in the  front row surrounded by people who were soaking in every minute of the show. I am sure my thoughts were not like those of the concertgoers around me. Because  not only was I thinking about years gone by but I contemplated how in the world they danced so ferociously in such tight pants; when such tight pants exactly came into style; and how many times a week collectively they washed their hair. Over all – I enjoyed Rocky Loves Emily a lot. They are who they are, thank you Ke$ha. They sang about life, life as they see it, and they had fun doing it. They were real – they looked like they were having the time of their lives.  You could see it on their faces- this was their passion. It was contagious. They were up on stage making their dreams come true.

I walked away from the show oddly encouraged. Encouraged that dreams come true. Never say Never