Band leader Eager to Perform for Hometown Crowd

By Amy P. Lookingbill

Perry Hall resident Matthew Bogdan is excited to finally get a chance to do what he loves right in his hometown.

Bogdan is the lead singer of Bad Apples, an alternative rock band that formed in Baltimore in 2004. The band's success has led them to playing venues throughout the Baltimore area as well as other states along the east coast but never has Bogdan had the chance to play in Perry Hall until now. On May 30 Bad Apples will be performing at Smash Daddy's, a new tavern/restaurant located at the site of the former Perry Inn at 9654 Belair Rd.

"Before this the closest place we've played is Towson," explained Bogdan. "To get the chance to play right here in Perry Hall is really cool."

Bad Apples has performed at the Recher Theatre in Towson a number of times, opening for acts such as Jimmie's Chicken Shack and Cinder Road, a local band who were recently signed to EMI Music. Bad Apples also toured a portion of the east coast in 2006 playing in cities throughout South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey and New York. In addition to Bogdan, the band consists of drummer Mike Happle, a Catonsville native; bassist Steve Lebrun of Parkville and guitarist Brad Rickard from Columbia, Md. Lebrun joined the band in 2006 and Rickard joined in 2007 after Bogdan and Happle started the band in 2004.

Bogdan credits his father with getting him interested in a music career.

"When I was a kid my dad would sit around the house and play his guitar," remembered Bogdan. "He would play songs by the Moody Blues and the Beatles. He was probably my main inspiration."

Bogdan says he began playing the guitar to accompany his voice, as he really wanted to be a singer. He also took some vocal and music theory classes at the Essex campus of the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC). He credits the success the band has enjoyed so far to lots of practice.

"A lot of practice," said Bogdan when asked how the band has gotten to where they are. "Sometimes not enough practice."

Despite the band's success, Bogdan and the other members of the group still have to maintain "day jobs" to "pay the bills." After earning his Associate's degree in general studies, Bogdan returned to CCBC where he earned a certificate in Interactive Graphic Design. He now works days as a graphic designer for Holabird Sports on Pulaski Highway.

"The cool thing is I can contribute my graphic design skills to the band as well," said Bogdan who has helped design the band's web site. In addition to his skills as singer, guitarist and graphic designer, Bogdan also wrote all of the songs on Bad Apples' 2007 album "Left Standing."

Bogdan urges everyone in his hometown to come out for Bad Apples' performance at Smash Daddy's on May 30 at 9 p.m.

"I hope everybody in Perry Hall comes out," he said. "It will be a good time, they shouldn't miss it."