Today we’d like to introduce you to The Ice Cream Militia.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The members of The Ice Cream Militia met during our time in the Rocket Marching Band at the University of Toledo. Jamming outside of school and marching band led to us forming the group in the Spring of 2015. We got our start by performing at basement/house parties around UT’s campus for the first year.
In Spring 2016, we transitioned to performing in clubs around Toledo and Bowling Green including Frankie’s Inner-City, Headliners, The Ottawa Tavern, and Howard’s Club H. Since then, we’ve performed in and around Detroit, Ann Arbor, Akron, and Columbus with aspirations of playing in additional cities/markets.
We attribute our accomplishments thus far to the work ethic we inherited from the marching band, our ability to connect with fans on multiple levels, and our staying true to who we are as a group and individually.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Every band has its ups and downs. Like any band, managing work and school schedules can make it tricky (especially as a nine-piece band). That’s why we all found a day and time that works for everyone and we stick to it each week.
Like everyone, 2020 proved to be a challenging year. We had shows booked through June that ultimately got cancelled. We used that time to focus on ourselves individually and to navigate how to make a comeback after a year of nothing. 2021 was our way of getting our feet back on the ground, with 2022 being one of our best years to date. In 2022, we played more shows than we ever had in a year while breaking into different cities.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The Ice Cream Militia is a group of dudes from Toledo, Ohio bringing you the most lively, legit, lickable, and lactose-tolerant music. Our musical influences range from alternative, funk, reggae, rock, and more with two EPs and one full-length album available for streaming. During live performances, we have numerous cover songs weaving through the setlist featuring songs by Stevie Wonder, Alice In Chains, The Beach Boys, Kool & The Gang, and more.
Unlike a lot of our peers, we’re a nine-piece band that features a horn section that makes live shows come alive. We are proud of the fact that after 7+ years of being together, we’ve been able to grow and mature as a group while not losing our sense of who we are.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
To be honest, there isn’t much about us that people either don’t know or would be surprised to find out. If anything, we’re nine band geeks with nine varying personalities and music tastes who can come together for a common goal of writing and performing the best music we can.
Contact Info:
- Website: linktr.ee/icecreammilitia
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icecreammilitia/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IceCreamMilitia
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/IceCreamMilitia
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyvlz5yWaaM8OFxHRsMA53g
- Other: https://littlestarpr.com/release-announcement/the-ice-cream-militia/
Image Credits
Dave Ludwig and Avery McDonald
