All About Me:

Billy Lockman, a junior studying economics, is also the lead singer of one of Bloomington's local rock 'n' roll bands, The Red Label. Other members of the band include Ty Schrock on guitar, Wyatt Legrand on guitar, Chris Seleski on bass and Joey Shepard on drums. \nWhile the band prides itself on its original songs, written primarily by Lockman and Schrock, it will throw an occasional cover into the mix from bands such as The Rolling Stones, Velvet Underground or The Strokes.\n"I just don't see why you would want to be in a cover band and not make your own music," Lockman says. "If you wanted to be an actor, would you want to be an Elvis impersonator?"\nLockman was in Chicago at a Kings of Leon concert one night, and on the drive home decided he wanted to fulfill his dream of starting a band. The very next day he showered Bloomington with nearly 70 "band members wanted" fliers.\n"I didn't have any experience singing. I've loved music forever."\nThe first to answer Lockman's fliers was Schrock and the two clicked right away. Although it took nearly five months to fill the rest of the spots, Lockman says they saw an overwhelming range of talent.\n"We just wanted everything to feel right. We met a lot of really great people. If we were going to do it, we wanted to do it right."\nThe band practices about four times a week for three hours at a time in Shepard's basement. \nLockman says he enjoys singing for The Red Label for a variety of reasons.\n"I enjoy being the center of attention. It's so much fun when you take something you're a part of and something that you have worked on so hard and make it happen. Then when you get a reaction from a crowd, that's the best."\nThe band takes what it does very seriously, because Lockman says the fans are important and they wouldn't have it any other way.\n"The crowd really gets me going. You do a couple of shots and get up there on stage. When people are cheering and dancing to the music you're making, it's like a natural high." \nSpringfest, an event hosted by the McNutt Quad and Foster Quad student government will feature an array of local bands for the entire day. The event will take place on Saturday. The Red Label will close out the show, starting at 8 p.m.\n"We just want to put on a good show and we want people to come out and see us. We're a rock band, and no matter what kind of genre of music you listen to, I think we are palatable to anyone."\nThe Red Label will also perform 7 p.m., Friday at Second Story, 201 S. College Ave.\nFor more information, check out the band at www.myspace.com/redlabelband. Anyone interested in booking the band for any type of event can contact Lockman at wlockman@indiana.edu.