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Local band has early success
SIKESTON - After being together for only a year and three months, Fusion Blue, self-described as a southern psychedelic rock, southern blues-based jam band, have the chemistry that it takes some bands years to embrace.
The six members of Fusion Blue - Branston Keefer, Nathan Beck, Drew Dollar, Trey Presson, Tim Morrison and Josh Monroe - agreed the music part has never been hard for them.
"We know what each other are going to do, which is good for improv," Keefer said. "It's almost like it's not improv anymore."
The band attributes much of their success to most of the members being in a band prior to forming Fusion Blue. "We pretty much sat down with the mind-
set that we we are going to do it," Keefer said.
Their earlier band days gave them more than just the inspiration to succeed, too. "When you are in a band before, you know how it's supposed to work," Morrison said. "You learn from experience."
The six-member group started out as four- Beck and Dollar were just added late last year. But they added quite a bit to the group.
Morrison said Beck's percussion on the bongos is a nice compliment to his drum playing. And Dollar became the band's keyboard player, although he didn't really know how to play. "He's pretty good - a natural," Keefer said. "He instantly caught up."
The band has played in Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Missouri. Eventually, they would like to travel further, but that can be expensive, Morrison said. Instead, they are waiting for the right opportunity to present itself.
"Success comes," he said. "It can't be forced."
Their music influences come from other bands such as the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers and Alice in Chains.
But southern rock and jam bands aren't their only influences. Presson draws some inspiration from country music. "I especially like the older, outlaw country," he said.
Their music is a way to "keep the jams alive," said Beck. "I don't like the way the pop world is now," he added. "Today's music just seems so fake."
Presson agreed, saying that while they cover some songs, they mix it up and do their own thing, so as not to rip off someone else's style. "I like music that seems honest," he said. "Like they meant what they were playing and singing about."
And their audience recognizes where their sound comes from. "People in St. Louis who have listened to our music say it makes perfect sense that sound comes from Southeast Missouri," Morrison said. "Everyone says our music sounds fresh."
Their name also reflects that sound. Before the band even formed, Keefer joked about forming a band and naming it Blues Fusion. "Its a fusion of blues and other stuff," he said. After playing a couple of gigs without a name, the group inverted his idea, and the band had a name.
And the members admit that when they play, it's not just about pleasing their audience. "I'd say it's about an 80 to 20 ratio - 80 for them and 20 for us," Morrison said. "There has gotta be some fun in it for us, too."
Presson added, however, Fusion Blue feeds off of what reaction the audience gives them. "It's fun for us when they're having fun, screaming and dancing," he noted.
Keefer recalled their best show was at The Cave in Illinois, with an audience of over 12,000, their biggest. He credits this feeling to the large, excited crowd.
Fans can expect Fusion Blue to be around for quite some time. "Even though we're a bar band now, that's not what we always want to play for," Keefer said.
And Presson added gaining more success is something each of the members wants, if it works out that way. "Not everyone gets to do something they enjoy for a career," he said.
They are planning to go into the studio late this summer, and release a CD late this fall. The CD is a joint effort of the group. "Everyone has input on everything," Morrison said.
Fusion Blue credits a lot of their success to their manager, Ronnie Sells, who they said is doing an exceptional job.
Sells, who offered to help the band, gets all of their gigs for them. "He's a businessman," Morrison said. "He knows how to talk to people on the phone." And although there are several other bands in the Sikeston area, that has benefits as well. They link up with other bands and do gig swaps, trading their usual venues, so more people can hear their sound.
"Around here, it's considered a friendly competition," Morrison said. "There's no bitterness between us."
On July 1 and 2 the band will be playing at the Rude Dog Pub in Cape Girardeau.
For more information about Fusion Blue, including upcoming shows, visit their web site at www.myspace.com/fusionblue.