Vanguard

Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: Entertainment

Alabama is no stranger to good local music. However, sometimes the local music scene seems to lack strong and dedicated local bands. It seems like talent and passion have been replaced with the number of breakdowns one song can have by different arttists. It is a fact that Alabama has good local musicians, but they seem to be overshadowed by the bands that lack the talent and drive necessary to make it big in the music business.

Syadica, a band out of Foley, Ala., is made up of musicians with some evident raw talent. The band started about five years ago and consists of Travis Mulloy, drums; Ricky Williams, guitar; and Michael Fortune, bass. When asked why they began playing, Williams simply said, "It's because we have a love for the music."

The style of this band defies the usual description. It is only accurate to say their music is experimental, groovy, funky. Bassist Michael Fortune explains their sound as a mix between 70s rock and 90s grunge.

Their music is quite different than anything else I have heard locally. When Syadica plays their music, it is evident that they let loose and block out everything around them.

"There is just a point where you get into the music so much that you just feel it," Fortune said.

The ambition that these three guys have makes their music that much more enjoyable. I appreciated their music the first time I heard it, because it was so different and actually required talent, but after sitting down with the band, I appreciate them on a new level. These guys are putting everything they can into this band. In their eyes, music is not just a random mix of melodic, harmonious sounds; it is pure art.

All it takes is one listen to their songs, which include "Powerplant," "Furious Society" and "Top of the Top," to make a listener realize this band is striving to break out of the pop or general rock band mold. They achieve a sound that has just as much influence from Southern blues as it does from 70s disco and 80s-style synthesizers.

Syadica has many different influences for their sound. So many, in fact, the band has an almost endless list of favorite bands. They seem to latch on to every unique sound that comes their way and integrate it into their own songs.

Each member of the band attempts to bring something different to the mix. Mulloy looks to more classic rock bands such as Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. Williams looks more to metal bands like Megadeath and Iron Madden. And Fortune gets a lot of his ideas from bands such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Miles Davis.

There is no doubt that Syadica has the talent and drive to succeed. These guys are doing all they can to make things happen, and with the undeniable talent they possess, they deserve your ear. For more information on the band, visit their Web site at http://www.myspace.com/syadica.

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