Relaxed in a large, black vinyl booth, I couldn't help from wanting to get up and dance.
The rhythmic funk of Fred Green was filling every corner of the smoky Hollywood Alley, a west-Mesa bar known for its musical acts.
As I thumbed through the menu that was constructed of an old Donna Summer LP, the band started its fourth tune: "Off the Ground." These guys were on time rhythmically. Drummer Chris Peeler steadily pounded out beat after beat, helping keep the somewhat tipsy dance floor in rhythm.
The group - Todd Minux on guitar, Benjamin Gilley on bass and Peeler on drums - first got its start under the hot Arizona sun in 1996. Since some of its first shows at the Electric Ballroom - now turned into the New School for the Arts - the group has been serving the Valley with an eclectic mix of hard rock, funk and reggae.
The band's unique sound has been recognized by numerous Valley music magazines. The Phoenix New Times felt so strongly about the funk of Fred Green that it voted them "The Best Funked-Up Band in Arizona."
I was most impressed by the versatility of the group; not one of the eight songs it performed sounded the same. Local music reviews have compared Fred Green's sound to the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Primus, with vocals that resemble Alice in Chains. This is true, but Fred Green's sound is also unlike any in the Valley.
These guys are the definition of independent - so independent that the band didn't want me to write this article. No, it's not because it's that bad - but Fred Green handles everything on its own: producing, promoting, booking and management.
The band's music isn't exactly "radio-friendly," and the group claims that might have hindered its ability to blow up. In keeping with the independent spirit, the group does not plan to change its style just to get airplay.
Fred Green has played more than 1,000 shows in the Southwest as well as other parts of the country, opening for such national acts as Sugar Ray, Alice in Chains and Fishbone.
Fred has cranked out three successful albums: "Grover," "DillyWagon" and "Fred Green." Sales of all three now total more than 13,000 copies.
Much of the impressive sales are because of word-of-mouth and the clever use of the Internet. These guys welcome listeners to download music and scoff at the measures taken by large music corporations to prevent piracy.
Minux said he encourages file sharing.
"Burn it, burn them all - burn our stuff, and give it to people; we don't care. The more people we can reach the better," he said.
Fred Green has been speaking with different record companies to possibly work out a possible record deal. It faces the common dilemma of many rising musicians: trying to sell more records without selling out.
In the meantime, the band plans to keep playing as many gigs as it can get its hands on.
"We plan on jammin' some more, and we'll have to see what the future holds," Minux said.
The group has not gone corporate yet, so you can see it perform locally for a relatively small amount of coin.
Fred can be found at the Hollywood Alley, Nita's Hideaway and many other bars in Tempe and Mesa. Its next scheduled show is at the Hollywood Alley on Nov. 22. For more info on the band check out www.Fred-Green.com for lyrics, CDs and other cool stuff.
Ian Schwartz produces Concert Canvas for SDTV Channel 2. Reach him at ian.schwartz@asu.edu.
