Flatfoot

Formed in 2000, Flatfoot quickly established itself among the leading acts on Michigan’s alt-country circuit when singer-guitarist Aaron Bales, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Jason Bales, and bassist Thomas McCartan joined forces. Those three musicians remained the group’s steady core through most of its history, even as a rotating cast of others passed through briefly. Operating from Lansing, the band merged traditional country, vintage country rock, punk, garage rock, and classic rhythm & blues into its distinctive sound. Three years of steady club dates across the state preceded the self-released debut album Down in the Cellar in 2003. The independent Rexrode Records label then issued the follow-up, The Legend of Big Sid, in 2004. After Track’s End appeared in 2007, Jason Bales relocated to North Carolina and McCartan moved to New York City. When the band reassembled for the 2009 album Wild Was Our Mercy, Jason’s departure became permanent, although he returned as a guest musician; McCartan came back to Michigan and the lineup, which now included guitarist Justin Zeppa and drummer Dan Amori. Rexrode partnered with the Kalamazoo indie Los Diaper Records to release the record, adding a vinyl pressing. Five years later, in 2012, the quintet of Aaron Bales, Thomas McCartan, Dan Amori, guitarist Tom Green, and Jeremy Rapp on pedal steel and keyboards delivered the band’s fifth album, Blue Water.