Across the nation in township halls, centers, clubs, back yards, bars, basements, churches, and any other place a P.A. system fit, the 90's were filled with a collective of undiscovered passionate musicians. This music scene of punk, ska, hardcore, alternative, and metal bands was far cry from what anyone considered rock stars, making a living, or anything close to mainstream. When they still toured in vans and carried their own equipment, bands like P.O.D., Underoath, Living Sacrifice, and Copeland played The Underground in Lansing, Michigan. Before he went triple platinum and won Grammy Awards with fun., Andrew Dost started out at The Underground in Anathallo. In the days before releasing top-5 singles and touring the world's largest festivals in Grouplove, Daniel Gleason began his journey fronting local bands Anah Aevia and Blissfield. Local Michigan bands found themselves living on the road for years as touring artists like The Deluxtone Rockets, Johnny Respect, Still Remains, and Anathallo, all of whom played some of their first shows on a two foot tall stage that was barely big enough to hold their equipment. Scene and Unseen isn't just the story of those few who found fame, careers, and recognition in the music business. Each page tells the tale of a night down in that basement where talents were honed, friendships were made, bones were sometimes broken, and a community was built. Each flyer is the story of someone's first show and possibly the one that changed their life forever. For those fortunate enough to descend the stairs into the basement of the Christ Lutheran Church, this is our story, this was our time, this was our history, and this was The Underground. Through a few words and the DIY art of the original flyers, this is the story of 388 performances, by 197 bands, at 122 shows, with 113 flyers, from 1996 to 2003, all on one small stage at The Underground.
About the Author: After first entering The Underground on May 15, 1998, Alex rarely missed a show. Between 1999 and the final show in 2003, he consistently helped with ongoing operations and promotions at the venue. Known in the scene as Big D, he was a member of the St. Johns Crew, worked promotions and finance as a member of the Selah Records family, oversaw the Michigan street team for Tooth & Nail Records, and was an A&R Super Scout for MajorLabelScout.com, an early crowdsourcing platform that identified undiscovered artists for Simon Cowell's J-Records. Since leaving the DIY music scene for the next generation, Alex graduated with a bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University in 2005, graduated with a Master's of Business Administration degree from Oakland University in 2016 and earned a Post-Masters Gradate Certificate in Higher Education from Oakland in 2017. In his professional career, he's worked for Michigan State University in East Lansing, Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Delphi Automotive Systems in Troy, Michigan and Warren, Ohio, Oakland University in metro Detroit, and also runs HyperFocus Media. In January, Alex was named a member of the Class of 2017 for the Oakland Executive Elite 40 Under 40 Award, presented for excelling in his field and improving the quality of life in Oakland County. The Oakland University Alumni Association honored him as a recipient of the Young Alumni 10 Within 10 Award, recognizing the exceptional impact young alumni make within their professions and throughout their communities. Finally, in late 2017, the Society of Research Administrators International presented Alex with the mid-career Excellence Award for his strong advocacy for SRAI, as well as mentorship and devoted encouragement of his staff and others in the profession. In his spare time, Alex has finished a full marathon, completed the entire Detroit Free Press "Must Do Metro Detroit: 101 Fun and Fabulous Activities for 2013" list within 2013, completed the 12 months/12 races no-training challenge, officiated multiple weddings, once crashed three weddings in a single night, sang a duet with Andrew W.K., ran with the bulls, brought the book Scene and Unseen from first word to final print in under three months, and sustains an unquenchable thirst for adventure. Currently living in metro Detroit, Alex maintains a deep passion for music, history, and preserving the friendships made at The Underground and within the Michigan music scene. Recently rediscovered, the original folded, faded, 19 year old paper flyer for his first Underground show at the 1998 Punk Prom prominently sits framed on his desk at work.