Print
Email Story
For many musicians, making music feeds the artistic soul. That couldn't be more true for a trio of rock musicians who call themselves IV.
Dean McDaniels, Bill Burke and Rob Ivey make up the band. The maturity of their sound could have something to do with their eight years of playing together.
"Though we play cover songs now and then, that gets old after a while," Burke says. "We really prefer to write and perform our own music."
IV released its second CD recently and the album, Second Wind, is the band's first one that includes all their own songs.
Ivey and McDaniels wrote the lyrics and music.
"You want your own voice after a while," Ivey says. "Musicians have to make a choice eventually as to whether they want to be an artist or a copycat.
"Though we'll always play those favorites our audiences like, that deep, dark place in our souls wants to be artists."
The band's name was gleaned from Ivey's paternal grandfather, who took the family name and shortened it, using the "IV" logo to brand his cattle.
Ivey, 44, is a graduate of Kamiakin High in Kennewick. He plays guitar and provides vocals. McDaniels, 45, grew up in Outlook. He handles the bass and vocals. Burke, 36, is from Ellensburg. He plays drums.
McDaniels and Burke ended up working in Tri-Cities and the three met through music channels and have been playing together ever since.
When they aren't performing in a nightclub, music festival or other venue around the Northwest, their day jobs are miles apart.
Ivey is a wireless representative for Kelleys TeleCom. Burke is the manager of Ted Brown Music near Columbia Center. McDaniels is an electrician.
"Music is an art, a passion really," Ivey says. "It's been my life and is as important, or perhaps more important, now more than ever."
As a trio, IV sports a big sound, Burke says.
"It's important to have fun," he said. "We produce a big sound with just three guys and we have fun doing it. That's what people like about us."
Burke says he and his bandmates might have matured musically during their time together, but they haven't moved beyond their youth when it comes to performance.
"We haven't grown up yet," Burke admits. "We want a song to take you someplace. And you can't do that if you're too serious a musician all the time."
Though the boys would have liked to try their hand at a record contract, none was willing to sacrifice time with their families to achieve that goal.
"We do this because we love it," Ivey said. "We all blend well, we're always thinking about new sounds, we don't overanalyze ourselves. Our chemistry just clicks."
None of them is shy when describing their sound and their entertainment style.
"Take a little bit of every rock style from the last 40 years, mix it with more than 75 years of professional playing experience, add a touch of in-your-face attitude, an ability to laugh at anyone including ourselves (while playing) great music and you've only scratched the surface of the band IV."
Well, there you have it. IV provides an intravenous feeding that just about any rock 'n' roll soul might find fulfilling.
* Dori O'Neal: 582-1514; doneal@tricityherald.com
