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Top 5 Feature: Surrender The Ghost


About 


After walking away from music in 2017, Matthew Ellis had the fire reignited during the fall of 2020 after a few drinks and spinning his favorite records. The simple idea of writing an EP with old friends quickly grew into A REAL BAND (insert Blues Brothers quote). 


From there the choice was simple, longtime friend and guitarist Tony Chaffin who’s only good at two things: 1) A timely joke 2) Shredding guitars. Armed with two guitars and a handful of demos it was now time to find a drummer. 


Who better than Mark Johnston? Besides the facts that he hadn’t played drums in 20 years, lived an hour away and is a stay at home dad with “more asses in the house than seats to sit on” (his words), what could stop this trio now? 


Well, not having a bass player or singer…but those are easy fixes, right? After working together for years and many heated discussions about the greatness of John Stockton’s NBA career, Ellis and Brandon Eldridge (Bass) reached an agreement: NO NBA talk, and let’s take Surrender The Ghost as far as possible. 


Now was time to find a singer. Enter Ricky Gonzalez. Thanks to a chance encounter at a bar, some alcohol and a little convincing from Ricky’s girlfriend (they are forever indebted to you, Megan), Ricky made the decision to bring his incredible voice and lyrics to Surrender the Ghost. 


With a newly finished EP, Don’t Mind Me, the crew is ready to step on stage. Vocals: Ricky Gonzalez Guitar: Matthew Ellis Guitar: Tony Chaffin Bass: Brandon Eldridge Drums: Mark Johnston


Updates


Debut EP Don’t Mind Me was released July 9


Next show just announced: Saturday, Aug. 17 at The Basement as direct support for Rematch and Good Terms


Plans to start recording an LP at Amish Electric Chair studios this fall


Music Video debut coming this fall via TikTok 


Follow Surrender The Ghost 


https://m.facebook.com/SurrenderTheGhost/

 

https://linktr.ee/surrender_the_ghost


https://open.spotify.com/artist/1OIBmVeBRLcFaICshuss2s



The Top 5 


Ricky (Singer)

Top 5 Columbus’ craft beers

Elvis Juice - Brewdog 

Stick - North High 

Daybreak - Wolfs Ridge 

Skol Crusher - Gemut 

Thunderkiss Morning Froth French Toast - Derive


Tony (Guitar, stage left)

Favorite Books

The Dark Tower series Stephen King 

Don Quixote Miguel De Cervantes Saavedra

To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee Hitch 

Hikers Guide to the Galaxy Douglas Adams 

The Art of War Sun Tzu

Honorable Mention

Hitless Wonders The Watershed story


Brandon Bass (it’s just bass)

Favorite Movies

1. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou 

2. Shawshank Redemption 

3. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory(thanks Pops)

4. Batman Returns 

5. Forgetting Sarah Marshall


Mark (Drums)

Favorite Musicians 

1. Bill Ward- Black Sabbath 

2. Jerry Cantrell- AIC

3. Abe Cunningham- Deftones

4. Joe Perry - Aerosmith

5. Josh Homme- QOTSA


Ellis (Guitar, stage right)

Favorite Bands

1. Taking Back Sunday

2. Anberlin

3. The Wonder Years

4. The Smashing Pumpkins (Gish-Melon Collie)

5. Foo Fighters






 

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