Photo: Chris Brennon, ProllyStudios
36
May 14, 2009
Photo: The Times
“The Stars” Are “Aligned” For Local Band Magnolia Sons By Cassondra Guilbeau The world of music could use more bands like Magnolia Sons. Not content to stay in their comfort zone, this foursome has broken through the boundaries of Southwest Louisiana and is conquering the music scene one gig—and one download—at a time. As their name would suggest, Magnolia Sons is Louisiana bred, but their music transcends what one might expect. Counting Matchbox Twenty among their biggest influences, the band has a rock foundation with an intimate touch that one usually feels with today’s country music. This is definitely a band that has steadied itself on its songwriting sensibilities. According to Will Ferguson, lead singer, guitar player and founding member, the band’s current recipe is definitely a mixture of the right people, with the right vision, coming together at the right time. “The stars aligned,” Ferguson said of the current crew—Austin Aguirre on drums, Darrell Miller on bass and Kevin Lambert on guitar and keyboard. Ferguson and Aguirre came together in 2005 and began developing their sound. Over the years, a few other members have “come and gone” but when Miller and Lambert came on board, the band was set. “This is the group that’s going to be the long haul,” Ferguson said of the group that has settled nicely into a vibe that seems to be working. All four members are from Southwest Louisiana. Since their early days, Magnolia Sons knew they couldn’t sit at home and wait for a music career to happen. So, they set out to make things happen. The band hit the road in 2006, playing an exhausting 200 shows all over the country. The schedule was grueling, but served to really tighten the band both off and on stage. “We know what each other is thinking,” Ferguson said. “We all get along well, they are my best friends.” After spending the majority of a year on stage, the band pulled back on its touring schedule to narrow the focus a bit. In 2008, they spent three weeks—10-hour days—in a studio recording their latest EP “Jails Everywhere.” Then in November, they hit the road again, this time traveling a route from Austin to the Carolinas playing shows on Wednesdays through Saturdays. And they don’t travel in some big, luxurious tour bus. This is old school, duespaying touring. The guys take turns driving their van for hours at a time, pulling a trailer with their equipment. It’s this “do it yourself ” mentality that makes this band special. As the group was coming together, if there was a hole to fill, one of the guys would step forward to fill it. Ferguson, a self-taught guitar player, became lead singer by default. “I never sang, never wanted to sing,” he confessed. But, it is a role that fits him well. Miller was originally a guitar player, but needed to pick up the bass, well, because someone had to do it. Aguirre became the glue for the musical sound by hitting the drums for hours at a time to make sure their musical timing was impeccable.
In today’s world of downloadable music, breaking into the industry isn’t as formulaic anymore. People don’t have to go out to a record store and buy music anymore. That, coupled with a poor economy, makes record labels a little less willing to invest in a new band. A strong work ethic keeps the guys going, but they are very aware of how tough it is to get that “big break.” “At times we look at it on paper and say ‘This is going to be really hard,’ ” Ferguson said. “Playing music is a rollercoaster ride I never thought I would deal with. There are high highs and low lows.” That break feels so close, yet so far. Major record labels have been in touch with the band, but just to check in with them. While they haven’t been signed yet, Magnolia Sons continues to focus on creating music and building a fan base through their touring schedule. “There’s always someone who hasn’t heard it,” Ferguson said of their music. And getting their sound out to the masses doesn’t just happen on stage. Magnolia Sons is a part of the digital music world. Their songs can be found on iTunes and Amazon.com. They can also be heard on their myspace page, myspace.com/magnoliasons. Of course, the guys are still being heard the old fashioned way as well. They are being played on radio stations in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. They also have their first music video under their belt. This was an experience the band wasn’t completely sure it should have just yet, but it went for it anyway. Shot right here in Lake Charles and directed by Houston Jones III and Alex Wheeler, they decided it should be strictly a performance piece. Ultimately, they were happy with the final product, and it is a piece that is featured online (on the group’s myspace page and on youtube). Of course, waiting for that big break doesn’t always pay the bills. When they aren’t on the road playing gigs, the musicians are hard at work here in the Lake Area. The band’s front man teaches labs at McNeese and works part time at the Pathology Lab. A Biology major in college, Ferguson once weighed his options: medical school or music. MCAT scores that weren’t quite high enough for medical school made the decision for him—music it was. This direction is something his parents have grown to accept, according to Ferguson. Perhaps it is his science background that inspires Ferguson’s analytical approach to his music career. He not only has big dreams and aspirations, he also has the step-by-step plan to make them happen. The singer describes Lake Charles as a great place with an amazing music scene, but he knows his band has to get into the markets where “music people” are and set the group’s touring schedule to make that happen. Ferguson’s immediate plans are to continue touring through May, and then take a break from the road in June and July to write new songs before heading out on tour again in the fall. In early 2010, he hopes to be back in the studio to record the next Magnolia Sons EP. Ferguson writes most of the group’s lyrics. He comes to the band with the structure of the song, and places it in the hands of his fellow musicians to make it great. It is truly a collaborative effort that is built on mutual trust. It is their songwriting that Ferguson really hopes reaches the band’s audience. When someone sees Magnolia Sons in concert, he hopes they walk away saying, “Man, that band has some great songs. They are a great band, a solid band.” He also wants people to know that they aren’t just some garage band who plays together as a hobby. This is the real deal. “Not too many bands in this area are plugging away this hard,” he said. “We have no timeline; we are doing this as long as it feels right. And it still feels right.” Ferguson modestly invites audiences out to see the band live (their schedule can be found on their myspace page). “If you like rock music, come check us out, I think you’ll like it.”
May 14, 2009
37