|
This year marks the 10th anniversary for SpiTune and the release of their first studio album. Appropriately entitled "About Time," the record has been a long time coming. But then again, it took a long time for the band to become what it is today.
What started off as what rhythm guitarist and singer Fred Moore describes as "a bluegrass band with a rock ‘n' roll edge" has evolved over the years into a fully realized rock group with bluegrass influences. "It certainly wasn't what I had in mind when I started," he admits, "but it's gone further than I ever thought it would."
Moore formed the band in 2000 after only playing the guitar for a year. "After my divorce, I needed something positive in my life," he explains. Not used to coming home to an empty house, he "blew the dust off" a guitar he bought five years earlier but never learned to play. "I would come home and practice until my fingers bled," he remembers.
The crash course paid off quickly when he and his friend, a banjo player, began playing both traditional bluegrass tunes and Moore's own compositions. "I was a songwriter just waiting to write, and picking up the guitar was the catalyst I needed to get the songs out of my head," he says. "Apparently, I write decent songs because all these musicians wanted to play with us. It was encouraging. It kept me going."
The band grew from an informal combo that played Tuesday nights at the Tohickon Tavern in Ottsville to a seven-piece group featuring two guitars, a banjo, harmonica, lap steel guitar, bass and a percussionist playing only a snare drum.
After gaining a small following, SpiTune got a break when they were invited by a friend of Moore's to play the Sterling Stage, a large music festival held in upstate New York, early in their career.
"It was definitely a starting point for us" Moore recalls. "It's funny. We were there this past summer with Max Creek and Gordon Stone. That's three bands from Doylestown all five hours from home."
The gig opened the doors to more festivals, and soon, SpiTune was making treks as far as New England and the South. However, the band was also experiencing growing pains for the first time. "Our banjo player wanted to stick to traditional bluegrass as we were leaning toward more of a rock vibe," Moore remembers, "and our harmonica player didn't want to travel as much."
Amid the turnover - players came and went, all on good terms - the band struggled to find its identity. Their lineup finally fell into place with the addition of Bill Fowler six years ago. Best known for his work with the Sound of Urchin and the Moistboyz, a Ween side project, Fowler was a bona fide rock guitarist and a friend of the band.
"He as a big fan, and when we'd play John and Peters in New Hope, he'd hint about sitting in with us," says Moore. "I thought, ‘Wow, you want to sit in with us?'"
With the band's core established, Moore, Fowler, bassist Mike Krimm and drummer Dave Haviland found their sound. "That's when we turned into a high-energy rock band with a country and bluegrass feel," says Moore. "This is the true SpiTune."
And "the true SpiTune" has been building its audience since while retaining those who originally came out to see a more traditional act. "We still have people that used to see us at the Tohickon come out to shows," Moore laughs. "We tell them they have passes for life."
Now, the band is happy to finally be offering its first proper album. "We've always recorded our shows, but that's not the same as a studio record," says Moore. The band plans to release "About Time" around Valentine's Day and will be pushing for radio play at the likes of WXPN and Sirius satellite radio along with more local shows and festival slots. "We're excited," says Moore. "Everyone in the band is on the same page when it comes to what we want to do."
Go Online at www.myspace.com/spitune