From blues to classic rock to ballads, Sugarbush has a little bit of everything.
"We kind of decided from the beginning that we wanted to have a different sound than most of the bands around town," said Paul Carter, lead singer and bass guitarist.
"We want to have hard-driving, high energy shows where people can dance to and enjoy songs that they normally don't get to hear. We want to be versatile and want to have different styles. That's what's going to set up apart from other rock bands."
Originally from the Tri-Cities, Carter moved to Spokane and performed in several bands. After moving back six years ago, Carter and lead guitarist Mark Zilar toyed with the idea of starting a local group.
"We've known each other for years and always wanted to start a band together, and it just never happened," Carter said. "So the rest of the gang, just by luck, found them. We slowly brought piece by piece in."
The group will perform at the July 4th Annual Summer Bash at 9 p.m. at Ray's Golden Lion in Richland.
"The main thing is we want to have fun every time we hit the stage," Carter said. "We want our fans to have fun with us. As long as that happens, everything's good."
Keeping it in the family, Mark's sister Jenny Zilar joined the band on keyboard and backup vocals.
"Before coming into this band, I did a lot more jazz, so I have a lot more of a jazz-oriented background," Jenny said. "(I like) Bonnie Raitt, Ella Fitzgerald. But I'm into heavier rock now, so it's interesting."
Similarly, drummer Joel Cabrales started out playing jazz, then transitioned to a harder style. Rhythm guitarist Jesse Loveland was always a fan of hard-hitting metal, such as Deep Purple to Megadeth.
"It was a weird combination meeting Paul and Mark with jazz and blues," Loveland said. "A lot of different ideas of style, but I think it's all coming together pretty good."
Currently band members are focusing on their debut and getting the word out about themselves. The band sings various cover songs, but assures listeners that originals are in the mix.
The band's covers include Audioslave's I Am The Highway, Foo Fighters' Times Like These, Velvet Revolver's Slither, Train's Free and more.
"We want to play different kinds of covers, songs they'll recognize but what other band's aren't playing," Carter said. "With a female vocalist, we're able to do a lot more stuff than other bands obviously can."
To learn more about Sugarbush, go to http://sugarbushrocks.com.
Similar stories:
Great White making its first stop in Tri-Cities
Great White making its first stop in Tri-Cities
Great White leads the pack of rockers scheduled to appear at this year's Rocktoberfest, which is Oct. 1 at the TRAC in Pasco.
And even though these vintage musicians from the 1970s aren't as young as they used to be, they've still got the brawn of the Energizer bunny.
"We're like sharks who never stop moving," joked Great White's keyboardist Michael Lardie in a telephone interview with the Herald. "So, yeah, I guess we could be called the Energizer bunny of bands."
Yakima venue grows into a hot spot
Yakima venue grows into a hot spot
YAKIMA -- It was a scene from a bigger city. People arrived at the venue en masse, groups of 20-something hipsters huddled on the cold sidewalk smoking cigarettes while a vital contemporary rock band prepared to take the stage.
It was early December, and The Seasons Performance Hall, which started six years ago as a jazz and classical venue, had completed its transformation from esteemed but financially dependent niche music hall into an all-purpose music venue with financial prospects to match its cultural cachet. The critically lauded Seattle band The Cave Singers was playing, and hundreds of people paid $15 to get in. It was a stark contrast from a year ago.
"This whole year was very transitional," said Ellie Strosahl, the venue's director of operations. "In the beginning of January, I really didn't know if we were still going to be a viable organization."
New music on the way from late Waylon Jennings
New music on the way from late Waylon Jennings
The family of Waylon Jennings will soon release songs the country music icon recorded shortly before his death 10 years ago.
Chicago bringing its rockin' brass to Tri-Cities
Chicago bringing its rockin' brass to Tri-Cities
Chicago is not the first band to add horns to rock music but it's one of the most renowned for it and the first to put all those brass instruments right up front with the vocals.
That's what trumpeter Lee Loughnane told the Herald about the band's brassy sound during a recent telephone interview.
Four of the group's original members still rock with Chicago, which formed in late 1960s -- Loughnane, keyboardist Robert Lamm, trombonist James Pankow and sax man Walter Parazaider.
Will Adele be the belle of the Grammy ball?
Will Adele be the belle of the Grammy ball?
Adele is the rare star who doesn't need multiple magazine covers, a cosmetics contract or a clothing line to sell albums. She does it all based on the strength of that sumptuous voice and those stirring songs.
Print
Email Story
