By Chyrisse Tabone, Rock At Night Tampa
Interview: Chris Scott and Mike Hennel of The Summit-Performed January 12, 2023
Rock At Night first heard about musician/songwriting team Chris Scott and Mike Hennel in 2021 while reviewing their singles “Sweet Molasses” and “Time.” At the time, the song-writing team was working with a side-project band, The Quilts. So you cannot imagine how thrilled we were to hear the single “Hit Me Up” in Fall 2022 by their mainstay, The Summit. The band deems itself as “Vintage Rock & Roll” on its website–and we agree. Their music appears to be in the vein of all the “new” classic rock, blues-rock, and southern rock bands emerging in recent years. Think–Blackberry Smoke, Rival Sons, Dirty Honey, Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown (and not to mention supergroup band The Dead Daisies).
Rock At Night spoke with Scott and Hennel to learn more about the band, who have toured and supported legendary bands such as ZZ Top, Collective Soul, REO Speedwagon, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
In this interview, Scott and Hennel discuss the following: how The Summit came to fruition in 2015 (“it stemmed from a conversation we had in Gatlinburg”); their special friendship with ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons and the late Dusty Hill; heart-warming moments while performing in Paducah, Kentucky (“just the culture of the town, the honor of being there, and the brotherhood we felt”); their “natural and organic” musical recording experience with Will Turpin of Collective Soul; writing songs on serious and topical subjects such as drug addiction and mass shootings (“this is not a political statement…I feel for the parents who have lost children”); and the band’s plans, including recording and touring. The podcast interview also includes the song “Hit Me Up.”
Listen to the podcast interview below:
Rock At Night’s Podcast Channel– Apple Podcasts or Spotify or Google Podcast
The Summit is Chris Scott (Vocals), Mike Hennel (drums, vocals), Coty Hicks (guitar), Michael Walker (bass) and Brian Arkkelin (guitar, vocals). SOCIAL MEDIA
Rock At Night’s theme song is “Get On Down If You Feel Up To It” by Billy “Bass” Alford
I grew up in a household full of rock music, studied journalism in college, and then became a scientist.Although my science career has served me well, music has always played a major role in my life. I grew up reading "Creem" magazine; I play several musical instruments as a "hobby";and it seems a camera has always been in my hand. Now, I am combining what I love the most--music and photography--serving as editor of Rock At Night. I travel between the US and UK seeking my dream! My motto: life is short...no regrets. Chyrisse
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