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The Band "IS"
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The Band "IS"Raw, Refined, Revolutionary
2005-06-27
Article Written by: Benjamin Cameron
If you haven't gone to see IS yet, heed my advice...prepare yourself. Prepare yourself for powerful musical expression. Prepare yourself for a professional performance of a high caliber.
IS doesn't kid around. Skilled in a variety of musical styles, this IS a band that never stagnates. This group of musicians often regales, through their music, many stories and adventures. They also converse with one another as though each musical phrase was a sentence. The band has been together for about three years after meeting at Stetson University in Deland, Florida, where each of them chose music as their primary course of study.
"Life's a bowl of punch...go ahead and spike it..." - A favorite 311 quote of lead singer Stephen Montgomery (A.K.A. Estaban), who delivers flowing melodic lines with a smooth intervallic relational progression. Having been a singer all of his life, coupled with his nine years of experience with a guitar, IS has an impressive, solid front man. Adding to the strong personality of the band's performance is the humor, confidence, and moxie Stephen brings to the stage. A graduate of Stetson University, Stephen IS also known for being a percussion major; an avenue of expression he has pursued for the last sixteen years. A few of his more prominent influences are Oasis...or perhaps more apropos - Noel Gallagher of Oasis, 311, and quite a bit of classical - especially from the "Romantic" era such as Chopin or Dvorak.
"Return to Nature"
Guitar for ten years, vocals for fifteen years...There is no stopping lead guitarist Ish Rios from expressing himself to the fullest capacity...there is no stopping him from making his presence felt. Engulfed and entranced in the world created by their music, Ish demonstrates mastery of his craft from colorful, complex chords to soaring melodic leads that do their part in taking IS into the stratosphere and beyond. Ish finds influence from such talents as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, The Mars Volta, Mario Del Monica, and of course, his band mates.
"Wherever you go, there you are"
Bass player, Scott Queen, has been laying down his low-end groove for the last seven years, but you'd think he's been doing it for the last seven life times. Through his relatively calm and collected demeanor emerges an articulate and precise bass line that is more than a bass line...it is his contribution to the musical conversation...his own set of melodic miracle. As charismatic as his bass playing is, however, it is his secondary instrument. Scott has been focusing on guitar for the last seventeen years. Overall musical influences are Joe Pass and George Benson; a few influential bass players are Dave LaRue (his bass teacher), Victor Wooten, and, of course, Paul McCartney.
"Turn off your TV and stop thinking you're so important"
Did someone say Armageddon? The drumming of Billy Dean answers. Did someone say placid stream? The drumming of Billy Dean will answer! Whatever the cause, whatever the reason, whatever the feel...Billy's got it. Primal and destructive, or calm and soothing, his style is never nonchalant with the feel of IS... never out of place. After an eighteen-year journey of drumming, Billy has, like his band mates, played with other great musicians and had many great experiences, simultaneously; he has been a great experience for other musicians to jam with. He has been a percussion instructor for several years and marched with the Magic of Orlando and Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps. Influenced by John Bonham, Billy Cobham, Jack DeJohnette, Danny Carey, Stewart Copeland, and Mitch Mitchell, Billy's drumming is well rounded and covers many spectrums of musical possibilities.
This band is certainly competent in the ways of bringing you a great performance. Demonstrating maturity and balance, they often draw out their love of classical composition to have it manifest in a raw, primal way.
"We want to really give something to our audience", says lead singer Stephen Montgomery, "that isn't some prefabricated nonsense. We want to open some doors for people, to bring to them some culture and something honest."
"When others come to see us play and hear our CDs", says Ish Rios, "we want them to be able to step out of the norm for a bit and get lost in the music just like we do. Our audience should have a sense of satisfaction that lasts beyond our show."
If you let the music take effect, you will have that sense of satisfaction. IS can throw down a simple groove or layer odd meters over clever ostinatic patterns...or both at the same time. IS deserves massive world tours and large shows at arenas. They are already on their way to "global domination" as they spread their music across the globe. Be sure to visit http://www.myspace.com/isrocks for tour dates outside of Volusia County, and don't forget to tune in to 95.7 the HOG at 8pm every Sunday night to hear IS featured.
IS has already begun to redefine the music of our era. Many styles...one band…raw, refined, and revolutionary.
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