The High Strung

by MacKenzie WilsonMotor City boys Mark Owen, Chad Stocker, Josh Malerman, and Derek Berk comprise the exciting rock & roll of the High Strung. Formed in summer 2000, the modern rock foursome has a legacy that stretches back to elementary school. Once in college, the members of the High Strung played in and around the Midwest and concentrated on getting enough material ready for a proper album. A series of EPs and the self-released full-length As Is came and went, as did the High Strung's attachment to Detroit. They picked up and moved to Williamsburg, NY, just as they were supposed to make an album for Tee Pee. In 2001, the High Strung joined producer Jim Diamond (Electric Six, the Mooney Suzuki, the White Stripes) for These Are Good Times. The foxy retro-garage album appeared in summer 2003. In 2004, Owen left the band, which continued as a trio; early in 2005, they reunited with Diamond for their second album, Moxie Bravo. Park the Van Records reissued Moxie Bravo early in 2007 and released Get the Guests that spring.