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I once heard that mean old talk-show host Dr. Laura
say, “Hope is not a good strategy.” I’ve never given much
credence to anything that crotchety giver of advice had to say, though, and
neither should you. Hope is a fine thing, especially when we’re
talking about the band 56 Hope Road.
The group is a marvel to behold. They are constantly on the road,
playing festivals, bars, and clubs and delighting audiences with their
snappy tunes and catchy cadences. The band name comes from Bob
Marley’s home address in Jamaica, and the members of the band draw
inspiration from the positive influence of the Rastafarian’s songs,
calling for a better world through music and movement, action, and belief.
Our local connection to 56 Hope Road is Greg Fundis,
Springfield native and drummer extraordinaire. Fundis now lives in Chicago
but spends most of his time on the road with the band, laying down the most
fabulous grooves imaginable. He seems to get your body going before the
mind has a chance to understand the lyrical message the group is conveying,
but that’s OK: It’s nice to be dancing along to the beat and
then start listening and going, “Wow! This makes me feel good!”
The wonderful recipe that the band has created incorporates a dose of
strong, heartfelt music and a positive, uplifting message that sends
goodness straight to the soul, adding a sparkle to life and surely bound to
increase your happiness quotient by a big bunch. If you don’t believe
me, go the band’s MySpace page and read the comments of others. One
after another they praise the good feelings the band inspires. What better
gift to the world is there?
The group, founded in 1999, consists of Fundis,
vocalist/guitarist Dave Hamilton, vocalist/pianist Tim Reid Jr., upright
bassist Chad Sanders, and saxophonist Casey Fitzpatrick. They are often
joined by vocalist Anne Katzfey and percussionist Matt Katzfey, as well as
various soloists.
At the beginning of the year the acoustic-rocking
quintet released Law of Attraction, their fourth full-length studio effort. Self-produced,
with co-production by Rick Barnes (Smashing Pumpkins, Liquid Soul), the
recording explodes with grooves and melody, offering lyrical journeys and
musical interludes to entertain, engulf, and enliven. The signature
pulsating energy of the funk-acoustic blend remains, but extra
instrumentation and maturity of songwriting add a new depth to the
band’s work. Hamilton, the founding father of the group, is also the
principal songwriter, but all members contribute on the record.
This is the third consecutive calendar year in which
56 Hope Road has played more than 200 live shows, and the band comes
through town fairly frequently. If you’ve seen one of those shows,
you know what I’m talking about and you’ll be there for the
next one. If not, it’s high time you got some 56 Hope Road in your
life.
56 Hope Road takes the stage at Marly’s Pub (9
W. Old State Capitol Plaza, 217-522-2280) around 10 p.m. Saturday, March 8.
Contact Tom Irwin at [email protected].
Hope is on the way
Popular funk-acoustic band plays Marly’s on Saturday
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