At this early stage of their career, Airkraft’s sound combined the likes of REO Speedwagon and Adrenalin. That is: earthy melodic rock with multiple harmonies and integrated use of guitars and keyboards.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Airkraft
ALBUM: Let’s Take Off
LABEL: Ark
SERIAL: 5675
YEAR: 1983
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Dave Saindon – vocals, guitars * Mitch Viegut – guitars, vocals * Peter Phippen – bass, vocals * Dave Roll – keyboards * Michael Wood – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Alien Probe * 02 You’re My Girl * 03 Tearing Me Apart * 04 You Can’t Run Away From Love * 05 Gimme Your Number * 06 Lets Take Off * 07 Thought * 08 It’s Not So Easy * 09 How Does It Feel * 10 She’s Rock
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Airkraft Background
The origins of Wisconsin based band Airkraft go way back to 1982. The formative members were singer Dave Saindon and guitarist Mitch Viegut.
However, the band came together as a union of members from Wausau based Alien Probe (Saindon, Viegut). Plus Eau Claire based Open Fire (Phippen and Rolls).
Drummer Michael Wood had just emigrated from San Francisco and completed the line-up.
Though the two towns are about 150km apart, the regional West-Central Wisconsin connection is very strong.
As a result, these guys achieved regional success. Comparable to Lynn Allen in Iowa, Michael Stanley in Cleveland and Shooting Star in Kansas City.
Initially playing bars, Airkraft entered one of their songs (‘Alien Probe’) as a 45′ single into a local radio competition. They duly won it, and worked toward an initial debut record. But not without playing a ton of gigs all around the midwest beforehand.
At this early stage of their career, Airkraft’s sound combined the likes of REO Speedwagon and Adrenalin. That is: earthy melodic rock with multiple harmonies and integrated use of guitars and keyboards.
The Songs
The lead off track ‘Alien Probe’ is the best remembered track from their early days. The crazy Alien sound effects from keyboardist Dave Roll are amusing and add to the overall effect.
However, some of these tracks, even on a tight budget and less than ideal production facilities sound damn good. If anything it gives you an idea as to how far advanced these guys were for their time.
The bands second single ‘You Can’t Run Away From Love’ was another popular tune. It has a stabbing piano for a theme and emotive vocals from Saindon.
‘You’re My Girl’ was another track earmarked for local commercial airplay. This one has more pop qualities rather than rock – particularly that power-pop like chorus.
‘Gimme Your Number’ is an infectious upbeat ditty. Meanwhile the title track ‘Let’s Take Off’ is an early indicator of their intended direction for later albums.
‘Thought’ is the odd-man in the pack, an atmosphere drenched number which speaks to me in progressive tones. A change-up yes, but good nonetheless.
‘It’s Not So Easy’ was the B-side of that initial ‘Alien Probe’ single. The album finishes up with the pairing of ‘How Does It Feel’, and ‘She’s Rock’. The latter track sounding like a cross between Face Dancer and that fabulous one-off Russia album!
In Summary
The band would continue a heavy schedule of gigs right through until their 1985 album ‘Proximity’. Eventually it would lead on to a major label deal with Curb Records a few years on from that.
For starters though, this is where it all began for Airkraft. To this day, they are still recognised as a leading light of melodic rock coming out of Central Wisconsin.
The band dissolved in 1995, though there are many people still interested in their discography and history. See the website link above for more detail.
Airkraft on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
