The Grand Rapids rock band boasts three paramedics and has featured various emergency responders over the years. Read the back story about this unusual band that’s often on-call after gigs.
THE BAND: Signal PointTHE MUSIC: Era-spanning, diverse rock
WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE BAND: 8:30 p.m. Saturday at The Vestal Inn, Belmont
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For members of the Grand Rapids band Signal Point, whether they’re on stage making music or in an ambulance saving lives, it’s all about bringing themselves “into the moment.”
“There’s joy, laughter and pain,” says Chris Elmore, Signal Point’s lead guitarist who’s spent 35 working as a EMS paramedic. “You can deliver a baby in one moment and pronounce someone dead the next. It’s all life.”
Elmore, singer Pat Hatch and guitarist Tim Dickman each has spent decades on the road as paramedics. The band is rounded out by bassist Bill Lamphiere and drummer Stacie Pulcifer.
Signal Point formed in 2012 and has grown from the acoustic duo of Hatch and Dickman to a full-fledged rock band which has featured several emergency responders over the years including medics, police officers and firefighters.
When it’s not a matter of life and death in an ambulance, you might hear the band cover Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive,” or dozens of tunes spanning as many decades as the guys have worked with EMS, including hits by Prince, Bob Seger, The Beatles and Queen. The band is also preparing original material to potentially record in the near future.
There are curveballs, too, such as Lit’s “My Own Worst Enemy” and Pulcifer’s incredible rendition of 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up,” which she sings while drumming.
ROCKING HARD AND WORKING HARDER
At any given gig, it’s not uncommon for members of the band to play until 2 a.m. and be posted up in an ambulance, in the ready-to-act position medics refer to as “signal point,” just a few hours later.
Yet, while working as a critical care paramedic seems like physically and mentally taxing work, Hatch contends he doesn’t think much about work when he plays music.
“We just love to play. When you have a passion for something, it really doesn’t matter too much what else you do, When you put your heart into it, the other things just seem to fall into place and you don’t need to worry. Everyone in the band feels that,” Hatch said.
Signal Point plays with confidence and energy. And those vibes seem to resonate with crowds, as the band has developed quite the fan base of police officers, firefighters and medical professionals.
Elmore said keeping the mindset he has on the job gives him “resilience” during tough gigs.
“There are good gigs and bad gigs and sometimes you kind of have to bring yourself into the moment. Very much like being in EMS, there are days where your head hurts and your stomach is sour, but you still have to be confident,” Elmore said.
The rest of the Signal Point family seems to share that optimism.
Signal Point is set to perform next at 8:30 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 27) at The Vestal Inn, 6255 West River Dr NE in Belmont. Details online here.
More information and videos are available on the band’s website.
VIDEO: Signal Point at Festival of the Arts
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