## Three Local Acts to Keep Your Eyes On
# THE BURNING PEPPERMINTS*Claiming hard rock influences like Zeppelin and The White Stripes, The Peppermints inject just a bit of West Coast Surf into their music. The band consists of Jake Wittig, the band’s founder and songwriter, on vocals and lead guitar. Ahmad Farzad backs Wittig’s guitar and vocals while covering bass and baritone. Ryan Colebeck, the group’s percussionist, seals the deal on the drums. “We place a premium on unity. We strive, sometimes painfully and often joyously, to be on the same page, and work toward our common goals,” Farzad said in an interview. “That keeps us growing in the right direction. And in a place like Birmingham, especially considering where the city is in its current stage of growth, there is enough to do and with good people to keep busy when we’re not working but there aren’t so many distractions and difficulty getting from one part of the city to another to detract from our constant work flow and attention to growing our craft and the band.”*
# THE GREEN SEED*This hip/hop group began its formation in early 2009 when the group’s founder and Producer, R-Tist (bottom left), met DJ FX (top left) and the two began to collab together on creating quality beats by recording individually played instruments. R-Tist eventually joined with fellow MC, C.O.M.P.L.E.T. (bottom right), through a mutual desire to compose complex lyrics over authentic beats. With DJ Jeff C (top right) joining in at the later end of 2009, the four individuals began to work together exclusively. Signed with local label Communicating Vessels. Each member of The Green Seed brings their own set of skills to the table when performing. From a knowledge of instruments such as guitar, piano, and drums to poetic lyrics and intricate rhythmic mixing, The Green Seed is a force to be reckoned with. For The Green Seed, the concept of growth is a key aspect of who they are as a group, and it also played a large part in the creation of their name.*
# THE DIRTY LUNGS*Perhaps you’ve seen their stickers around town. (Always in random spots like the light post in the WalMart, and on the back of boat sitting on a trailer in Avondale) Anyway, their catchy name is tough to forget. Throughout their 12 year history, The Dirty Lungs have had their ups and downs, but the group has proven time and time again that Birmingham is where they belong. In terms of genre, it would be difficult to describe The Dirty Lungs as possessing only one sound. The group is not shy when it comes to experimenting with new musical methods and it seems as though each year the group is adding a new sound to its repertoire of sounds. Being a Birmingham based group, The Dirty Lungs have performed at some of the Magic City’s events such as Secret Stages. The group has also played shows at many of the venues around the city including: The Syndicate Lounge, Avondale Brewery, Saturn, and Workplay.*
