Music: Circle of Crows
Relatively new local band melds metal with Southern rock sound

Christian Czerwinski | NOISE

Naming a band is hard work. Especially, if you're looking for something that's menacing but conjures images of Southern rock.

Circle of Crows, a hard Southern-esque rock band from Lansing thinks they've done it. With slow grooves and a sound that compares to Godsmack and Corrosion of Conformity, the band has been around less than a year but is attracting fans of all ages. We talked to drummer John Oakley, 35, and guitarist Beau Joblonski, 30.

You guys formed in March of this year right? So, how's it going?

Beau: Pretty good, it's going better than we planned. Everything is falling into place so far. We have really good fans and they're really loyal.

Where did you get the name from?

Beau: We originally started out as "Brimstone" and we were sitting at practice one day and we brought it up. The name fit our style more. We thought of what you see when you see a circle of crows. The crow thing reminds us of the South. It was dark but had the Southern feel to it.

You didn't pick the name because it would make a menacing album cover image did you?

John: No, but the album cover came pretty easy.

You guys are centered on a slow groove. How come?

John: That's what everyone wanted to play, that slow heavy groove. But our influences are Godsmack, Pantera and Down. We want that old Black Sabbath type of feel. You don't have the groove when you have that speed type of sound. It's tuned down and has a really nice crunch to it.

Why do you like Southern rock?

Beau: My favorite band is the Allman Brothers and I like the slide guitar a lot. And now you'll see it in the newer bands and that always appealed to me. You see that with Hell Yeah and Corrosion of Conformity. And I've always been into the Black Crowes. They're a really good Southern rock-sounding band and I wanted to incorporate that sound with heavy metal.

What do most of your lyrics focus on?

John: We have a variety of stuff. It's not the typical stuff you hear. The first four songs we wrote were like little stories. "Whiskey Train" is about a guy who goes on a drunken binge and kills his old lady and takes off out of town. "The Ballad of John Doe" is about being embalmed while you're still alive.

If you had a battle royal with all the guys in Lynyrd Skynyrd and the original Allman Brothers, who would win and why?

Beau: I'd have to go with Ronnie Van Zant from Skynyrd. I can't explain why.

John: I'd say the same. He's one of those gritty, dirty, in-your-face type of people. He's the type of guy you could drink beer with, fight with and drink more beer with.