Artist description Lead singer Toby started taking voice lessons at 13, and promptly disregarded everything his teachers said. Quickly understanding that being good was not enough to make it as a performer, he took everything he learned in junior high and high school choirs, combined with years as a metal devotee and created a supported screech that is distinctively his own. When lead guitarist Tony heard him sing at a Karaoke bar, they formed a partnership that has evolved into a writing and performing group second to none. Lead guitarist and driving force in the band, Tony has been strumming since the tender age of 5. Learning his first riffs From his father, he was inspired to start a musical journey that has passed through many instruments and genres. Having tried his hand at viola, trumpet and guitar, he soon settled on acoustic and electric guitar as his primary instruments of choice. While stationed with the Air Force in Delaware, He started the band "pi" with fellow USAF musicians. The band gigged around for three years and even recorded a demo before the Air Force reassigned them, killing the band’s prospects. When he heard Toby singing Karaoke at a local Anchorage bar, he approached him and asked if he was interested in starting a band. That was in the fall of 1998. Over the next two years they would record several demo and short selection album CD’s under the n ame "Blister". When they took on new management, they recorded their first full length CD under the name "Blystre". The name change, along with the additions of dedicated bassist Shelly and experienced percussionist Jax, gave the band a new focus. Having written many songs for the "essence of enlightenment" album together, the addition of two new strong musical personalities invigorated the sound of the compositions and infused a powerful backing sound to the lead guitar and vocals. Shelly has been playing guitar since age 10 and piano since age 12. A Portland native, she grew up playing in bands in Washington and Oregon. A natural musical ability and innate feel for chordal structure and melodic line have allowed her to very quickly adapt to the bass. Moving from six strings to four was not an easy transition, but she rapidly developed a solid ground floor for the band to build on. As the foundation of the groups soaring lead and vocal lines, she has the responsibility of holding the tempo and key while creatively accentuation the primary lines. She succeeds brilliantly. Her experience has helped to enhance and shape the lead guitar and solo lines that make the group so strong. A native of Dallas, Texas, Jax has been beating on things since she was old enough to grasp a spoon. When mom was tired of having her pots and pans dented up, the family purchased a kit for her when she was only 5 years old. She has been hitting the skins ever since. As a member of her college drum corps she had the opportunity to play for the Dallas Cowboys. Having played drums in high school and college, she moved to Anchorage in 1998 and began playing local jazz and blues clubs with a variety of local acts. When she had the opportunity to join Blystre, it opened her creativity spout and brought a subtle percussive style to the bands sound. Don’t let her background in jazz and blues fool you though, she can hammer those heads with authority, and style.

Music Style Alternative Power Pop Rock

Musical Influences The Rock N Roll Community

Similar Artists Classic Rock,Vertical Horizon, candlebox,everclear

Artist History Tony & Toby(guitar & Vocals) met in the fall of 98 while stationed in Alaska...there they started writing songs, next thing you know they were in the bars, they released their first cd "deal with it!" in the summer of 2000, "Starved" in Jan 2001 and "Population 81-An Acoustic Blystre" in Feb. 2001....currently, with newly joined members shelly and jax, under the High Point Records Lable they just released their fourth cd "essence of enlightenment" in April of 2002.

Group Members Toby-Lead Vocals,Tony Andews-Guitars/backing vocals,Jax- Drumms,Shelly Hollywood -Bass/vocals MANAGER-Levi S. Nilsson(907)561-9766

Instruments guitar's,bass, percussion,vocals

Albums Deal With It!!, Population 81,Essence of Enlightenment

Press Reviews "The album showcases a sound that would fit right in on classic or modern rock radio stations. Lead singer Toby, has a pleasantly raspy voice comparable to Bryan Adams or John Mellencamp. With simple, honest lyrics and bouncy, fun guitar work, some songs bring '80s hits like "Jesse's Girl" to mind. Bassist Shelly Stevens, who adds vocals in addition to her bass duties, and drummer Jax make up a fine rhythm team." -Crystal Hutchens, Anchorage Press "Blystre comes out of far-flung Anchorage, AK with an awful name but a sound that truly grows on you with repeated listens. "Air You Breathe" offers a particularly heartfelt delivery, calling to mind Candlebox both in the strengths and the excesses. The group's brand of earnest, accessibly melodic hard rock could either be hindered by, or hugely benefit from, slavishly niche-dependent radio formats. If they were more interested in studio polish than gut emotion, songs like "Air You Breathe" could morph into Raspberries-like power-pop gems. Their influences, however, point them elsewhere, so as long as Creed and Nickleback are popular, Blystre will have a fighting chance." -Joseph McCombs, Starpolish Critics Corner "This alternative metal quartet of two years sports a female rhythm section who also lends harmony and lead vocals to the effort. This unique dynamic is the foundation on which Blystre has built their reputation." "Shredding concert halls from one side of Alaska to the other Blystre leaves no room for the meek." -Rob Shatzer, West Coast Performer Magazine

Additional Info CD's: Sam Goody, Mamoth Music, Metro Music, Borders,Amazon.com or any retail chain

Location anchorage, AK - USA

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