Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW UPDATED: Oregon House approves landmark minimum wage proposal ... Massive boulders blocking Douglas County road blasted with TNT ... New wolf makes its way to Southern Oregon ... UPDATED: Oregon House approves landmark minimum wage proposal ... Massive boulders blocking Douglas County road blasted with TNT ... New wolf makes its way to Southern Oregon ... MUSIC Sol Seed kicks off new tour at Howiee's Comment By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 17, 2016 at 3:28 PM Updated Feb 17, 2016 at 5:38 PM By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 17, 2016 at 3:28 PM Updated Feb 17, 2016 at 5:38 PM » Social News The synergy that is reggae fusion and hip-hop band Sol Seed formed in 2009 when fledgling musicians Ben Pezzano, Michael Lennon and Michael Sorensen met at an all-ages open mic at Jackson Creek Pizza in downtown Medford. The now-defunct sessions were once led by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Frankie Hernandez. "Frankie is integral to a lot of music that has come out of Southern Oregon in the past decade," Pezzano says during a telephone interview. "He was at the heart of it when a lot of us were discovering ourselves as musicians. The fact that the open mics were open to all ages gave us some place to go, get on stage and have our voices and instruments heard. "He took us under his wing and gave us the love, patience and nurturing that we needed as budding musicians to develop into our own independent entity. We were his backing band for awhile. He showed us the ropes of professional musicianship and life on the road. Once we had created a body of our own originals, we would open for him at his headlining shows." In 2010, Sol Seed transplanted itself in Eugene. "There's a lot of progressive energy in Eugene, but surprisingly, there were few bands with well-known presence that played what we play," Pezzano says. "We actually filled a niche. We swept in and had a go-to for awhile." After breaking onto Eugene's music scene, readers of Eugene Weekly's alternative newspaper voted Sol Seed Best Band in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. The original members of Sol Seed — Pezzano on bass, Lennon on vocals and rhythm guitar, Sorenson on drums, Kenny Lewis on lead guitar and Sky Guasco on didgeridoo, keys and vocals — will perform at 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, at Howiee's on Front, 16 N. Front St., Medford. Sol Seed's "Grown Deep," released in 2012, was its first full-length debut album. It was recorded in a home studio and featured sax player Graeme Pletscher. Pletscher also was one of the players in a three-piece horn section on Sol Seed's second album, "Family Tree." The sophomore album was recorded at Telos Studios in Eugene and released in 2014. The band's songwriting is more or less done in the moment, Pezzano says. "We'll take a melody that came to one of us, we'll practice it and jam it, and if something really cool comes out of it, we'll try to record it, try to remember it, and that will usually turn into a song," he says. "We have a democratic songwriting process. Each member has an equal part in the band's creative process." In 2013, the band members took a leap of faith, quit their day jobs and branched out to perform around the Northwest. While Pletscher doesn't tour with Sol Seed, he can be heard sitting in with the band at regional shows, New Year's Eve parties, reunion bashes and the like. "We've had 15 official tours to date," Pezzano says. "Our first nationwide tour was last year. It took us down to San Diego, across the country to Miami, up to New York and back west through Chicago and Montana. "We do all the booking and manage the tours ourselves," he says. "It's the most amazing thing I can imagine doing to pay the bills. It's a passion, a dream, a movement, a brotherhood and a family. We're a lucky bunch to have each other and the following of fans that we have. We couldn't really do anything without the incredible people who believe in us and in our movement." That movement would include "an infectious enthusiasm for life and an unequivocal knack to communicate its beauty through uplifting music rooted in the soul," according to the band's website. "It's a pretty humbling thing to be a part of," Pezzano says. The new tour — kicking off Feb. 19 at Howiee's — promises to be a doozy as well, Pezzano says. "We're going back to Florida, playing Jupiter, Palm Beach, downtown Miami, Tampa, St. Petersburg and Orlando. We'll go through California, Arizona, Texas, back through the South to Colorado. It will be seven weeks, 11 states and 27 shows." Then its back into the studio — Track Town Records in Eugene — to record a third album to be released later this year. "We have to keep hitting the pavement and continue that grassroots following," Pezzano says. "In this day and age, that's the only way an independent band can eventually blossom into a viable movement. "Unless you're Bieber and you can explode overnight on YouTube," he laughs. "All of us have beards, so it's a little harder to sell." By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 17, 2016 at 3:28 PM Updated Feb 17, 2016 at 5:38 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501