Jonathan Risen describes Set The Controls music as a Marriage of Classic and Alternative Rock. To the listener, Jon may have hit the nail on the head. Most of his influence came from Classic and Alternative Rock bands such as Boston, J Mascis/Dinosaur Jr, Pink Floyd, Todd Rundgren/Utopia, Rush, Soundgarden and The Who among countless others. The idea for what would become Set The Controls began in the spring of 2001. Having set up a demo studio in his basement, Jon began looking for band members to form the yet unnamed band. After searching throughout the summer and fall without luck, Jon wanted his songs to be heard. He quickly re-recorded his demos and set about finding a way to distribute them himself. In the winter of 2002 Jon distributed 100 4 track samplers of his CD to local independent music stores as well as the internet, after receiving positive responses to the sampler, Jon decided to release the full length CD in June via online CD stores and local music stores. Still not able to find band members, Jon decided to promote the CD via radio. To his fortune there were 2 independent radio stations that were willing to give the single a spin. 88.3 WAIF in Cincinnati, and 97.7 WOXY in Oxford, Ohio(Better known to “Rainman” fans as “97 X…….BAM… The Future Of Rock and Roll”) WOXY’s popularity as well as having internet broadcasting gave the single the extra push to get other independent stations to ask for the single, even as far away as Germany! Jon achieved the promotion he wanted but he still had the problem of not having a band. This soon came to an end….. In July Jon was contacted by Drummer Kevin Brown. Kevin was tired of the cover band scene and was looking to join a band that had similar goals and ideas to his. Kevin and Jon jammed and after discussing their lives soon found a common bond. Jon was to say the least impressed by Kevin’s mastery of the Drums and gave Kevin the freedom to express his own unique style to the music which gave the songs a fuller, edgier sound. Jon and Kevin were so excited about the sound they were creating that they started aggressively looking for a bassist. After a month of searching, Bassist Lorin Mclain contacted Jon to see what he had to offer. Lorin’s aggressive bass playing fit in perfectly with the sound Jon and Kevin created. After rehearsing for a month together they were finally happy with the sound.The band Set The Controls was finally formed. Set The Controls starts their live debut this spring as well as starting the recording of their sophomore effort this summer and are looking very much forward to letting the public hear what they as a band have to offer.