Between the eclectic mix of musical styles and outrageous costume changes, students should be in for a lively show when Fish Out of Water performs at Bear’s Grill and Spirits on Saturday.Fish Out of Water, a three-piece band from San Luis Obispo, Calif., weaves through rock, funk, reggae and hip-hop at its live shows, said lead singer and guitarist Kyle Moon.”I’d describe it as Jimi Hendrix meets Tupac, Outkast, Mos Def, Bob Marley and [George Clinton and the] Parliament Funkadelic,” said Moon, 31. “We describe the sound as ‘RoPhunk RaeHop.'”Moon said he was eager to bring some variety to Fish Out of Water after playing in several bands with a more straight-ahead styles of music.”We like reggae, but we don’t want to play it for three hours,” Moon said. “We have songs that have multiple styles in them.”Because the the band has such a diverse repertoire of material, Moon said he and his bandmates like to read the crowd and select songs for the particular mood.”We definitely feel the crowd out at each show,” Moon said.Bassist Brandon Moon, 30, is Kyle Moon’s cousin and has been writing music with him since the band’s formation 10 years ago.”My cousin will come up with an idea, and we’ll structure the idea together,” Brandon Moon said. “As a three-piece band we have to fill out a lot of sound, so it’s important for everyone to be involved in the writing process.”Despite running through various musical styles during the live shows, Brandon Moon said he’s grown comfortable with it and has developed a more cohesive playing style.”I’ve been doing it for so many years that I’m comfortable with it,” Brandon Moon said. “Everything I play is influenced by everything I hear, whether it’s reggae, rock or hip-hop.”Russell Lundgren, 26, rounds out Fish Out of Water. He’s a new addition to the band, but Lundgren said he’s on board with the band’s diverse sound.”My drumming is really jazz-influenced, so naturally I could hear a rock song and think of a reggae or hip-hop beat,” Lundgren said. The band travels around the country to play in cities like New York and Atlanta, but Kyle Moon said he is excited to come back to Louisiana. And with the band’s stage outfits of Mardi Gras beads and bright garments, Kyle Moon said the musicians are familiar with the liveliness of a Louisiana crowd.”We’re from California, but every time we come to Louisiana, we know they work hard and party hard,” Kyle Moon said. “I really enjoy the atmosphere — we’re going to rock Bear’s Grill.”The show starts at Bear’s Grill on Lee Drive at 10 p.m. and admits patrons 21 and older. Admission is free.
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Contact Ben Bourgeois at [email protected]
California band Fish Out of Water to perform at Bear’s Grill
March 3, 2010