Turn it Down Local Mix: Obscure Michigan-made garage-rock songs

The New Era “We Ain’t Got Time” — 1967

Holland’s own The New Era recorded the obscure jangle-pop gem “We Ain’t Got Time” in 1967 while the band was still in 10th grade, yet it’s still one of my favorite Michigan-made ballads. This lone single, released on Great Lakes Records (a Fenton subsidiary), featured the equally enchanting flipside “Won’t You Please Be My Friend,” a mellow Rickenbacker-driven, Byrds-esque tune. The band, which was known for its stupendous live cover of “Light My Fire,” comprised Dana Dunn (drums, vocal), John Williamson (lead guitar, vocal), Jay Bertalan (rhythm guitar, vocal) and bassist Steve Kunkel. Later, keyboardist Jeff Brown joined the group. Both sides of The New Era’s majestic folk-garage 45 was written by Dunn’s brother, John Dunn of the fellow Holland-based band The Sheffields.

The JuJus “Do You Understand Me?” — 1966

The JuJus formed at Godwin Heights High School in Wyoming, Michigan, after the members met in the school’s jazz band. While its first gig was a Beatles cover set at a school assembly, the group would go on to record some stone-cold garage-rock classics — in their own folk-rock and British Invasion-influenced way. The original JuJus lineup was comprised of saxophonist Max Colley Jr., Bill Gorski (drummer) and lead guitarist Rod Shepard. After adding vocalist Ray Hummel III, the group headed to Sparta and cut one of its most sought-after 45s, 1965’s “You Treat Me Bad,” on the Fenton Records imprint. The single was backed by the tremendously poppy “Hey, Little Girl.” Locally, “You Treat Me Bad” reached No. 2 on the October ’65 charts and earned the band a performance on WOOD TV’s American Bandstand-style show, "McKay’s Place" — hosted by the late Dick McKay. After the band had some turnover. In 1966 Ron Burke stepped in on vocals and the band released its primitive masterpiece, “Do You Understand Me.” Over the years, The JuJus’ tunes have appeared on countless CD and vinyl compilations, even landing spots on the legendary “Back From the Grave” and “Pebbles” ’60s collections.

The Pedestrians “Think Twice” — 1966

After forming in the spring of 1966, The Pedestrians quickly became a fixture at local teen clubs like The Place and Beach Bash in Grand Haven — sharing stages with the likes of the Lansing-based, Motown-signed Danny Hernandez & The Ones. The Pedestrians was also a regular at local high schools, gigging at Catholic Central and Union High School dances. The group included Tony Cooper (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), Jay Kilpatrick (drums), Kim Weighous (lead guitar/vocals) and bassist Bill DeYoung. The band’s delicate, moody single “Think Twice” was a No.1 local smash in 1966 and even topped radio charts in parts of Florida and Alabama. Following the widespread buzz, the group road-tripped down south for shows and a television appearance. A visit to New York saw them performing on “The Lloyd Thaxton Show,” an appearance in support of a never-to-be released LP. After a deal with Atco Records went sour (the major label re-issued “Think Twice”), the band fell apart and was totally dismantled by the end of the ’60s.

The Chentelles “Be My Queen” — 1967

The first rock ‘n’ roll band to ever form out of Fennville High School, The Chentelles recorded one lone Fenton single, 1967’s punky party-starter “Be My Queen.” This highly collectible slab of local wax (only 400 pressed) has fetched in the neighborhood of $1,200 on eBay. The band comprised William Dalton (keys/vocals), Dennis Smiertka (accordion/vocals), Bruce Smiertka (guitar), John Willerton (guitar), Mark Adams (bass) and drummer Gary Adkins. The original Chentelles drummer, Barb Overhiser, left early on and didn’t play on the record. In its heyday, the group gigged at West Michigan teen clubs like The Warehouse, Noah’s Ark, The Morgue, and Holland’s Edgar Allan Poe teen-dance club. After the band dissolved, a couple of the Chentelles members formed The Embryonic Marshmallow, a band fronted by Pam Busscher.