Band has new RV, big plans for 2008

Photo Courtesy of artist

RETURN TO T-TOWN. Ian McFeron Band plays Jazzbones at 9:30 p.m. Jan. 12.

Ian McFeron Band has built up a reputation over the last few years with their blend of folk, rock, country and blues.

KMTT 103.7 FM, The Mountain, has been a strong supporter. Songs from the debut album in 2003 up to the latest, “Let It Ride,” which was released last year, have gotten airplay on the radio station. They got another boost in 2006 when their version of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” was included on the compilation album “Christmas In The Northwest 9.”

The band consists of Ian McFeron on vocals and guitar, Paul Fischer on guitar, John Markel on bass, Mark Bateman on drums and Alisa Milner on fiddle.

Singer and guitarist McFeron grew up in Shoreline. His parents owned a piano, which he often played while growing up. He composed instrumental songs, and as a teenager began writing poetry. “It was more of a personal means of self-reflection, and less of a public form of expression for me,” he remarked.

He attended the University of Washington (UW). During his junior year he took a trip to Northern Ireland and South Africa, two nations that had endured long periods of religious and ethnic strife. Visiting these societies that had suffered through much violence had a profound effect on McFeron. When he returned to Seattle he felt a bit burned out on academics, and rethought his plans to enter graduate school.

A relationship he was in fizzled out. It led to him writing some songs. Soon friends encouraged him to play some gigs, and McFeron began performing at pubs and cafes.

He and Milner had attended the same high school, although they never had any classes together. He remembers hearing her play violin at an awards ceremony in high school. “I liked her soulful approach to the instrument,” he recalled.

During his senior year at UW he got in touch with her and soon they were playing the coffee shop circuit in Seattle.

They found a drummer and bass player and recorded their debut album, which was released in 2003. Bateman replaced the original drummer in 2004.

As the band’s touring schedule began taking them down the West Coast and as far as Texas, the bass player found the musician lifestyle conflicting with spending time with his wife and children so he left the group. He was replaced by Markel, who used to play with blues/rock guitarist Jude Bowerman.

The group recently decided to add a second guitarist, and brought Fischer on board. He will make his debut at a gig at Tractor Tavern later this month. Rod Cook will play with the band at their next show at Jazzbones.

McFeron said he is achieving his goal of assembling musicians that fit artistically and are willing to travel. They recently purchased a recreational vehicle (RV) for touring and plan to enter a recording studio next month to work on their next album. “It is shaping up to be a good year, an exciting year,” he observed.

On prior tours they hauled a travel trailer around. Sleeping in the cramped quarters on six-week runs up and down the West Coast twice a year began to get old after awhile. They plan to do a nationwide tour in 2008, and McFeron looks forward to traveling in the RV. “This will make it a little more doable,” he noted.

The RV runs on diesel. The band is spending $5,000 to $7,000 to install a hybrid fuel system. Once installed, diesel will be used to start the vehicle, then a computer will switch things to a tank of used vegetable oil. This is partly a statement of environmental consciousness, as well as a practical measure to cut down touring expenses by using vegetable oil, which is considerably cheaper than diesel fuel. The band spent $1,000 on diesel their last tour.

“It seems a lot of us touring bands burn more than our fair share of fossil fuels,” McFeron noted. Regardless of whether people cut back on contributing to global warming on a small or large scale, “decreasing your emissions is not a bad thing.”

Fischer and Markel, who are cousins, moved to Seattle from Philadelphia. They and Bateman all have degrees in jazz composition. “They are very musical and very melodically minded,” McFeron said. While they have jazz backgrounds, McFeron said they can all lock into a groove that goes well with his roots-rock compositions. “They are very in tune to the genre that I like. We have established a good rapport.”

Milner is the band’s primary soloist. During her solos, Fischer’s role is to add melodic touches on guitar. On songs that are more rock or blues oriented, Fischer does solos while Milner moves into a rhythm role.

“There is a lot of give and take and mutual respect in the group,” McFeron said. “People are not stomping on each other’s toes musically. Over the years this has been an evolving entity. We have very good chemistry in the band.”

McFeron looks forward to the upcoming gig at Jazzbones. They have played the club six or seven times, but it has been some time since they took the stage in Tacoma. “I really like the room. Sixth Avenue is a great part of town.” He expects the band to play Tacoma more in 2008. “We have been cultivating an audience down there over the years.”

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