Local band Mantis is on a mission to revive Muncie's once vibrant music scene.
"There used to be a thriving music scene, and that seems to have deteriorated," Scott Lindell, guitarist, said.
Mantis, comprised of Jason Kindred, Brian Clark, Nick Nance and Lindell, say the Muncie music scene can thrive again.
Kindred, vocalist and guitarist, graduated from Ball State in 1998. He now manages Hot Topic in the Muncie Mall. Clark, the bass player, graduated in 1999 and works at WTHR Channel 13 in Indianapolis. Lindell also attended Ball State and manages Karma Records in Muncie. Nance, the drummer, is married with two children and works as a toolmaker in Winchester.
Kindred said part of Mantis' drive is to revive the Muncie music spirit.
"So that's our job," he said.
Members recall when local hangouts such as the Flying Tomato and Stevie Ray's House Of Wax were the places to hear live music. The Flying Tomato, an all-ages pizza parlor, and Stevie Ray's, a now defunct record store, operated in the Village in the mid-1990s.
"Sunday nights, that's just where you went," Kindred said. Kindred says there is no place in Muncie that supports a wide range of music.
"Something has got to happen so people want to come out and see shows," he said. "There has to be a breaking point."
The band's members have played together in other bands, but Mantis has been together only since February. Long-time friends Clark and Kindred have been playing together since middle school.
Clark, Kindred and Lindell played at BW-3 and the Heorot as an all-acoustic band called The Dooks of Bastard, which played tongue-in-cheek classic rock covers and some originals.
"We have experience on our side," Clark said.
Kindred and Clark started a new band last winter. While writing music, they searched for additional members for their group. Nance started in January and Lindell joined in February. The name "Mantis" came up partly because Kindred's nickname used to be "Mantis Face."
Other reasons included the "built-in hand sign," Kindred said, demonstrating a "too much rock for one hand" symbol (two fists together at the thumbs, with the pinky fingers raised), which imitates a praying mantis.
The band plans to lose the praying mantis visual to encourage listeners to think about what the name means.
Mantis's sound is "first and foremost rock and roll," as Clark describes it. Nance agreed, but added "with a mix of every influence you can think of."
Kindred said Mantis' music is good for everybody.
As for the subjects of their songs, Mantis remains grounded. "We sing about what we know," Kindred said. "A lot of it, we try to stick to our roots."
"We're from rural Indiana, so we sing about that," Clark said.
Each member is involved in the songwriting process. Musical influences include KISS, Iron Maiden, James Brown and rap artists. Outside influences make the creative process tricky for them.
"Our influences are so completely varied from person to person," Kindred said. "It's amazing we can even write a song."
The tone of the music ranges from introspective songs to music that is just for fun.
"We try to get people's emotions going," Lindell said.
For each member, his music means something different.
"For me, it is all about the emotion," Clark said.
For Kindred and Lindell, the confidence gained from playing brings them back.
"Being on stage and having people cheering for you -- it's just addicting," Lindell said.
Playing in a band is a thrill for all four members.
"We know how to have fun on stage," Clark said.
Mantis knows how to have fun during practice. Each member agreed this band is different because their friendships eliminate the tension they have experienced while in other bands.
"We're all friends, and I think that's really important to get that good-time vibe," Kindred said.
The band is also preparing for the Midwest Music Summit Aug. 7 through Aug. 10. The Summit, a series of music showcases at 25 places in Indianapolis, attempts to get Indiana bands signed with record companies. Mantis will perform at the Melody Inn in Indianapolis at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8.
"Our music is for you to come out, have a good time and to leave on a positive vibe," Kindred said. "We just want everyone to have a good time."
Mantis will perform at Speakeasy on Saturday, July 26, along with Oblique, another local band.
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