Spring Break
Local Univ. student brings 'law-rock'
CHRISTIE PATTERSON
Issue date: 4/27/07 Section: Variety
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It's a typical Wednesday night at the 40 Watt. A light crowd of mostly University students guzzle 16-ounce Pabst Blue Ribbons and cheer on the local bands participating in a talent show.
The band that takes the stage last stands out. They look nothing like the typical band playing a weeknight gig at the 40 Watt. In fact, they could pass for shy prep school boys rather than wannabe rockers.
That's because the members of Mikey Mel and the JD's are dressed in plaid shorts, rumpled white Oxfords and loosely hanging ties. Their cheeky schoolboy attire and song titles like "Forbidden Lawyer Love" and "The Law Library Stacks" are what make them, in the words of the band's MySpace page, "the nation's premier law rock band."
Second-year law student and lead singer Mike Melon-akos of East Lansing, Mich. said he started the band in the summer of 2005 just before beginning law school.
Who: Mikey Mel and the JD's
More Information: For more information, visit the band at www.myspace.com/mikeymelandthejds
"My friend said I should write a song about being a lawyer, and I said, 'Screw that! I'm going to start a band,'" he said.
Melonakos played everything but drums on the CD "Rock1n Rol - From Beyond the Stacks," which he produced and released last year.
The entire band, which now includes Adam Hebbard (bass), Dan Feltz (guitar) and George Campbell (drums), performed about five times and hopes to record with the full band and possibly play at a law school function at the University of South Carolina next year.
"I think there's a niche market that we could really appeal to," Melonakos said. "Rock is suffering because most rock songs are about drugs. Most people can't relate because they are professionals."
Expect "law rock" to burst onto the scene in September - after law school finals. After all, juggling law school and a law band is hard work, as Melonakos can attest to.
"The songs are about law, but really they are about work and life balance," he said.
If given the choice, would they rather be lawyers or rock stars?
Both Melonakos and Heb-bard swiftly said, "rock star."
"If I had a salary like that, I would buy my friends," Melonakos said. "I'd pay them the same salary as a law firm."
The band that takes the stage last stands out. They look nothing like the typical band playing a weeknight gig at the 40 Watt. In fact, they could pass for shy prep school boys rather than wannabe rockers.
That's because the members of Mikey Mel and the JD's are dressed in plaid shorts, rumpled white Oxfords and loosely hanging ties. Their cheeky schoolboy attire and song titles like "Forbidden Lawyer Love" and "The Law Library Stacks" are what make them, in the words of the band's MySpace page, "the nation's premier law rock band."
Second-year law student and lead singer Mike Melon-akos of East Lansing, Mich. said he started the band in the summer of 2005 just before beginning law school.
LAW ROCK
Who: Mikey Mel and the JD's
More Information: For more information, visit the band at www.myspace.com/mikeymelandthejds
"My friend said I should write a song about being a lawyer, and I said, 'Screw that! I'm going to start a band,'" he said.
Melonakos played everything but drums on the CD "Rock1n Rol - From Beyond the Stacks," which he produced and released last year.
The entire band, which now includes Adam Hebbard (bass), Dan Feltz (guitar) and George Campbell (drums), performed about five times and hopes to record with the full band and possibly play at a law school function at the University of South Carolina next year.
"I think there's a niche market that we could really appeal to," Melonakos said. "Rock is suffering because most rock songs are about drugs. Most people can't relate because they are professionals."
Expect "law rock" to burst onto the scene in September - after law school finals. After all, juggling law school and a law band is hard work, as Melonakos can attest to.
"The songs are about law, but really they are about work and life balance," he said.
If given the choice, would they rather be lawyers or rock stars?
Both Melonakos and Heb-bard swiftly said, "rock star."
"If I had a salary like that, I would buy my friends," Melonakos said. "I'd pay them the same salary as a law firm."
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