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King of the Forest

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King of the Forest is a band that revels in it's uniqueness.

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Hometown	battle creek, MI
Genres	Indie Rock, Alt. Rock
Band Members	Michelle Russell-vocals; Ashley "Kitty" Russell-... » more
Achievements
Upcoming Shows	None

Contact Information:	Artist / Band Member Ashley Russell kfudd87@gmail.com 2694209012 Booking Ashley Russell kfudd87@gmail.com 2694209012
# Years Experience Performing Live:	6
# Live Perfomances Past Six-months:	0
Market Draw:	rock: 76-100
Venue History:	Planet Rock - battle creek, mi The Loft Lansing - lansing, mi ROCKAPALOOZA MUSIC FESTIVAL - jackson, mi Corner Bar - kalamazoo, mi Macs Bar - lansing , mi Papa Petes - kalamazoo, mi red room - kalamazoo, mi gary fields - battle creek, mi canolis - battle creek, mi
Opener Experience:	Sevendust; Taproot; Filter; Theory of a deadman; Red; Pop Evil
Similar Artists:	Stone Temple Pilots; Incubus
Performing Rights Society:	None
Discography:	Intensive LP—2010; The Nerve LP—2008

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Achievements

Top 10 in Soft Rock, May 2013

Top 40 in Soft Rock, June 2013

Top 40 in Soft Rock, April 2013

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Press Coverage

BC music blogger on KOTF by
And so long as King Of The Forest can keep from running low on its cache of material, it has a chance to evolve into something at least salable, if not very meaningful.

King of the Forest finds the nerve on debut album by by Justin Hinkley
In writing and recording their debut album, the musicians from King Of The Forest said they matured as songwriters, professionals, band mates and found their sound. Seventeen months after forming in this village south of Battle Creek, King Of The Forest has polished off the 10-track, independently released "The Nerve." The band said recording the album during the past four months at Raygun Studios in Kalamazoo forced the songs to evolve. We definitely have figured our sound, I think," said vocalist Michelle Russell. "Everybody's got a specific sound, and I think that we've found that." I think 'The Nerve' represents where we've come from where we started to where we are now," said guitarist Ashley "Kitty" Russell (Michelle's sister). "I like to have the attitude where I'm never really satisfied." King Of The Forest is rounded out by guitarists Joe Klein, bassist Willy Klein (Joe's cousin) and drummer Fred Trogdon, who in April replaced ousted drummer Louie Howard. A band with classic rock and blues influences, the musicians feed off each other and the life of the song on stage. In the studio, under the whip of producer Chris Frankhauser, the musicians recorded pieces separately in isolated booths, which they said required intense inspection of every note. Much effort was put into composition and timing, the band mates said. Joe said the focus on composition -- figuring out how different parts of the song fit together -- made the tracks "less mechanical." We're getting a better feel for the flow of a song," Joe said. The sounds of 1970s and 80s rock and pop, of early blues and jazz, of 1990s alternative and hard rock and a glimmer of funk are heard on the hook-and melody-heavy "The Nerve." It's Rush meets The Police meets early Bruce Springsteen meets Incubus. The lyrics, delivered through Michelle's sultry voice, are "about relationships," the vocalist said. In a sense, it's a lot about me because I write the lyrics and a lot of it is about people I know or myself," Michelle said. "The songs are about people ... It's relationships, not really love songs." An album under its belt, the band now hopes to take itself as far in the success sphere as it can. But the musicians would be, they said, happy with regional success where music can at least help pay they bills. And though they've grown closer together as musicians, Michelle said they've also grown a thick-skinned sense of professionalism. This is the group of people we want in the band, but we're serious," she said. "It's, I really want you to come with me, but I'm not gonna drag you.

The Nerve album review by by Eric Mitts
The hook to “Perfect” off King of the Forest’s debut album is just that. Lead singer Michelle Russell’s voice, fragile and fierce at the same time, claws deep with conviction, as she sings of “going off the deep end” so invitingly listeners want to take the plunge with her. Diving into the album, the band’s array of alt rock influences come out on cuts like the fantastic “Misunderstanding” – one of many filled with busy work by bassist Willy Klein. And the harmony-laden “Green”, with its captivating guitar solo worthy of the B.C. hard-rock scene where King of the Forest has flourished. Elsewhere guitarists Joe Klein and Kitty Russell show off their chops, especially on strong start opener “Mosca”, a mesmerizing track that lowly burns into a fiery final riff illuminating the promise of this young band.

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