Ice Cutters

The Cutters formed in the mid-'90s when four college-age Midwesterners (guitarist/vocalist Tommy Berry, drummer Pete Wilhoit, bass player Rob Calder, and keyboard player Bill Maki) got together to share their affinity for technically strong, but evocative rock music. After an early version of the group ditched their cover tunes and the lineup was solidified, the Cutters started working up some songs of their own, finding out that their local audience was surprisingly hip to the new selections. Eventually, CMC International became interested in the group and after a brief courtship, the Cutters were signed to the label. This particular signing was actually quite notable as the Cutters were the first new artists to join the CMC roster. Up until that point, CMC specialized only in former platinum hard rock acts at the tail-end of their career. For this reason, the Cutters debut was given a little extra publicity, which was needed considering the marginal marketing position and experience of their record label. Artistically, the group's 1999 debut, Sonic Wave Love, was a success. The disc clearly demonstrated the Cutters' pure musicianship and confident songwriting. Aside from an appearance the following year on MTV's Undressed, and some touring in support of Sonic Wave Love, not much happened following the record's release except for the group's issuance of an open challenge to every rock band in the world to a game of basketball. the Cutters released their follow-up, Flypaper Highway, in late 2000, to a similarly cool commercial and critical response. Talented, but more than a little faceless, the Cutters were given a decent shot at national recognition. But with an inexperienced label and a tuneful but bland presentation, the challenge of generating any real interest in the group proved to be too great.