The Standard

Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: Features

Media Credit: Matt Moore

These guys may look young, but they aren't the average boys next door. From middle school buddies to musicians who rock, Springfield venues have welcomed with open arms this fresh new band called Apia. With an older classic rock, blues combination sound that is far more advanced then their age, Apia has to be one of the best new original bands hidden in the grind, and fans need to catch up.

"If you took Tool, Pink Floyd, Miles Davis and John Mayer on four trains, and they collided, what would fly out of that poorly designed railroad yard would be the smoke cloud of Apia," said Rhett Roberson, lead vocalist and guitar player of Apia.

Roberson, along with Josh Reece and Joshua Chandler, got together musically almost two years ago. Although they played in jazz band together when they were younger, the three say they developed their musical talents independently of each other.

"I think that's what makes us special," said Chandler, Apia's bass player. "When we get together, we have this unique synergy because we haven't influenced each other."

Roberson elaborates.

"If you put us all into separate rooms, we will all play something different," he said. "Together, we bring all of those elements to the table and that's what makes Apia."

Apia began playing shows around Springfield in July of 2006 after making their first demo together. The band frequents Springfield Brewing Company, but also plays at The Outland and The Outland Ballroom, and hope to spread their music to more venues in the future. The members of Apia say they had a set back fan-wise after Springfield set the bar ban that changed the minimum age allowed into music venues.

"The bar ban set us back because the people who normally came to see us couldn't get in," said Reece, the drummer who will just turn 21 himself in a couple weeks.

Chandler agreed. He said their immediate fan base wasn't around anymore for their shows, and a lot of Springfield music fans don't gravitate toward the music they play.

"We take old, folksy blues and tinge it with the intensity of modern music and the technicality of modern jazz," Chandler said.

Apia once played a show with two punk bands, and although the band is quite the opposite of punk, Reece said it turned out really well with the fans.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools