Personnel: Jeff Hundreiser, vocals; Victor Vasquez, guitar; Bob Sanetra, bass; Scott Couch, drums.
Formed: 1987, when North Siders Sanetra and Couch, who had played together since grammar school, enlisted Vasquez and a singer.
Current lineup together since: 1988, when Hundreiser joined.
Sound: ”Hard rock with a heavy blues edge,” says Couch.
Influences: Couch cites Led Zeppelin, Badlands, Whitesnake and Dokken.
Songwriting: ”It`s basically a four-part program,” Couch says. ”Victor or Bob will usually come up with a melody, and then we all get together and we add to it.”
Live approach: The band mixes a straight electric attack with a short
”unplugged” set ”to show the band`s versatility and lighter side,”
Couch says. ”We don`t feel we have to pound everyone with the amps just to get our point across.”
Onstage cover versions: Guns N` Roses` ”Paradise City” and
”Patience,” Lynch Mob`s ”Wicked Sensation” and Whitesnake`s ”Cryin` in the Rain.”
Memorable concert experiences: ”Playing Mabel`s (in Champaign) and having Jeff give out our room number to the whole crowd and getting back to find a whole line of people coming out the door,” Couch says. ”It was a party that would never end-the party from hell.”
Accolades: The band just won Circus magazine`s National Talent Hunt. The prize was a demo deal with Caroline Records plus lots of free gear.
Namesake: ”Victor thought of it,” Couch says. ”The way it`s spelled in the dictionary, it`s a sword with a short, curved blade.” He adds with a laugh, ”The music is sharp and to the point.”
Recordings: The band has released three EPs on cassette: ”On the Edge”
(1987), ”Hard Times” (1989) and this summer`s ”Kiss Your Sass Goodbye.”
The band plans to return to Studio 53 in Palatine to record four songs for Caroline in January.
Philosophy: ”Play safe, play hard and have fun,” Couch says.
Goals: ”To have a gold album, a No. 1 single, stay loyal to our fans and never forget where we came from,” Couch says.
Next appearances: Dec. 13 at Aftershock; Dec. 28 at All Stars in Park City.
