If someone mentioned a local band whose members credit The Dresden Dolls and Neon Blonde as their top influences, I wouldn’t believe it because people rarely mention them.

However, three Lynchburg teenagers (Chris Baker, keyboard/ synth; Brandon Burneson, drums; and Michael Kountz, bass) have a slew of inspiration behind their project, better known as Guilty by Design.

Whether Baker’s throwing himself around the stage during a solo, or they are tossing out free cheeseburgers to the crowd, the guys tend to conjure up enough original antics to keep people guessing.

“We want to do something different that people will remember,” Baker says. “A live show should always be memorable.”

The unpredictability doesn’t stop there. GBD’s sound is almost chaotic, with several different riffs and beats compiled to generate a single song. It stands out in the Lynchburg scene because of its distinct opposition of metal and mainstream rock.

“We want to change the way people look at music by trying to create something that hasn’t been done here before,” Baker says.

“We want to eliminate mediocrity,” Burneson adds. “We don’t want to be associated with dilettante musicians.”

GBD was invited to this summer’s Cornerstone Festival, a concert held annually in Bushnell, Ill. This year’s line-up includes larger acts Anberlin and As I Lay Dying. GBD says the band was invited by another band to play at the festival, which has DIY stages.

By Nanci Dodson, The Burg
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