SYNRGY

Halloween shot off prematurely Thursday at Alex’s, with Ashland’s own Synrgy throwing one hell of a costume party.

Brian Zach, Clay Baker and T.J. Eilers of Synrgy play at Alex's. Karla Huff/The Siskiyou

The band brought their own rowdy form of reggae to the packed bar, playing for a sea of caked-on make-up, cheap wigs and even cheaper costumes (though Ashlanders never fail to push the envelope of creativity with meager materials).

After Medium Troy warmed up the crowd, Synrgy took the stage and played an amped-up show to an amped-up crowd. The floor shook and sweat flew as Synrgy ran through a number of originals with a few covers thrown in for good measure.

The band played a number of crowd favorites, including “Live in Love,” “Dream On,” “California” and “Mr. Babylon.” Frontman Brian Zach’s voice stood firm all night long, sailing from low-down growls to smooth high registers. Lead guitarist Clay Baker stood beside Zach using his guitar to alternate between rhythm, lead and echo-and-response forms, and doing a tremendous job of it.

Bassist T.J. Eilers and drummer Aaron Reed proved to be the funkiest of rhythm sections, while Thomas Mackay used his keys

Thomas Mackay plays keys for Synrgy at Alex's. Karla Huff/The Siskiyou

to

accompany the rest of the band flawlessly.

True to form, Synrgy’s crowd did not let them leave the stage easily. The band responded to cries of “One more!” and kept the music going until the last possible moment, which is usually the sight of a cop walking up the stairs to bitch about the noise.

Synrgy never fail to please, and the costume bash at Alex’s was no exception. You can check out more from Synrgy at synrgyband.com - The Siskiyou

Halloween shot off prematurely Thursday at Alex’s, with Ashland’s own Synrgy throwing one hell of a costume party.

Brian Zach, Clay Baker and T.J. Eilers of Synrgy play at Alex's. Karla Huff/The Siskiyou

The band brought their own rowdy form of reggae to the packed bar, playing for a sea of caked-on make-up, cheap wigs and even cheaper costumes (though Ashlanders never fail to push the envelope of creativity with meager materials).

After Medium Troy warmed up the crowd, Synrgy took the stage and played an amped-up show to an amped-up crowd. The floor shook and sweat flew as Synrgy ran through a number of originals with a few covers thrown in for good measure.

The band played a number of crowd favorites, including “Live in Love,” “Dream On,” “California” and “Mr. Babylon.” Frontman Brian Zach’s voice stood firm all night long, sailing from low-down growls to smooth high registers. Lead guitarist Clay Baker stood beside Zach using his guitar to alternate between rhythm, lead and echo-and-response forms, and doing a tremendous job of it.

Bassist T.J. Eilers and drummer Aaron Reed proved to be the funkiest of rhythm sections, while Thomas Mackay used his keys

Thomas Mackay plays keys for Synrgy at Alex's. Karla Huff/The Siskiyou

to

accompany the rest of the band flawlessly.

True to form, Synrgy’s crowd did not let them leave the stage easily. The band responded to cries of “One more!” and kept the music going until the last possible moment, which is usually the sight of a cop walking up the stairs to bitch about the noise.

Synrgy never fail to please, and the costume bash at Alex’s was no exception. You can check out more from Synrgy at synrgyband.com - The Siskiyou

When people gather and work in cooperation, they produce a combined effect greater than they could on their own.

That is the message that Brian Zach, lead singer for the reggae band Synrgy, wants to spread with his music.

“Just positivity and righteousness and trying to remind people of the love that is everywhere.

“Don't be depressed or influenced so heavily by Babylon and all that craziness that is out there trying to drag us down. We are trying to be conscious with each other and spread the love.”

Synrgy, now based in California, was founded in Flagstaff in 2007. Two of the members are from Yuma, where the band will be performing Thursday.

Synrgy will take the stage at 9 p.m. Thursday at the Kress, 284 S. Main St. The San Diego act Tommy Dubs will open the show. Admission is free, but attendees must be at least 21.

Bass player TJ Eilers and guitarist Clay Baker, both graduates of Cibola High School, are coming home with their band to play the show as part of the Lost and Found Tour. The tour includes at least 20 different cities and will conclude on May 1.

“It is a blessing to be able to come home and play,” Eilers said.

Zach described the sound of his band as high-energy reggae with a bit of rock, ska and rock steady.

The band finished recording a five-song CD titled “Lost and Found” at Union Sound Studios of Portland, Ore., in late March.

“Two weeks before we left on tour, we recorded it,” Zach said. “We just picked it up a few days ago. We have 1,000 CDs, and we are just releasing them to the public while we are on tour, which has never happened before for us, so we are pretty stoked.”

Zach is happy with the way the album sounds. “We are really impressed with it and we invested the money to produce the demo, which is again something we'd never done.”

Copies of the CD, as well as other band merchandise, will be available at the show.

Clay's father, Bart Baker, exposed him to music at an early age.

“I started playing music when I was 12 years old with my dad and I have been playing ever since,” Clay said.

“I used to perform with his band (Dogs in Heat) when they played local shows around Yuma. It was definitely a big influence — just the fact he always had guitars around the house and always played. That made it readily available.”

At about the age of 14, Clay and Eilers began playing in a punk band known as Quatro.

Eilers picked up the bass out of necessity.

“There weren't enough bass players in the area. Everyone was looking for bass players. I knew guitar, but no one needed a guitar player.”

Eilers joined Synrgy in March, just in time to record the CD and head out on tour.

“This is the best experience I've ever had in my life. This is the first time I've actually heard myself on my own CD, which was a feeling I can't even explain. It's been the most epic time of my life without a doubt.”

Eilers is ready to get back to Yuma and rock out his fellow man.

“Yeah, I'm excited to see all the old homies, the whole reggae family in Yuma and my family. It's nice to come back home and see familiar faces.”

For more information about the band, log on to synrgyband.com. - Yuma Sun

When people gather and work in cooperation, they produce a combined effect greater than they could on their own.

That is the message that Brian Zach, lead singer for the reggae band Synrgy, wants to spread with his music.

“Just positivity and righteousness and trying to remind people of the love that is everywhere.

“Don't be depressed or influenced so heavily by Babylon and all that craziness that is out there trying to drag us down. We are trying to be conscious with each other and spread the love.”

Synrgy, now based in California, was founded in Flagstaff in 2007. Two of the members are from Yuma, where the band will be performing Thursday.

Synrgy will take the stage at 9 p.m. Thursday at the Kress, 284 S. Main St. The San Diego act Tommy Dubs will open the show. Admission is free, but attendees must be at least 21.

Bass player TJ Eilers and guitarist Clay Baker, both graduates of Cibola High School, are coming home with their band to play the show as part of the Lost and Found Tour. The tour includes at least 20 different cities and will conclude on May 1.

“It is a blessing to be able to come home and play,” Eilers said.

Zach described the sound of his band as high-energy reggae with a bit of rock, ska and rock steady.

The band finished recording a five-song CD titled “Lost and Found” at Union Sound Studios of Portland, Ore., in late March.

“Two weeks before we left on tour, we recorded it,” Zach said. “We just picked it up a few days ago. We have 1,000 CDs, and we are just releasing them to the public while we are on tour, which has never happened before for us, so we are pretty stoked.”

Zach is happy with the way the album sounds. “We are really impressed with it and we invested the money to produce the demo, which is again something we'd never done.”

Copies of the CD, as well as other band merchandise, will be available at the show.

Clay's father, Bart Baker, exposed him to music at an early age.

“I started playing music when I was 12 years old with my dad and I have been playing ever since,” Clay said.

“I used to perform with his band (Dogs in Heat) when they played local shows around Yuma. It was definitely a big influence — just the fact he always had guitars around the house and always played. That made it readily available.”

At about the age of 14, Clay and Eilers began playing in a punk band known as Quatro.

Eilers picked up the bass out of necessity.

“There weren't enough bass players in the area. Everyone was looking for bass players. I knew guitar, but no one needed a guitar player.”

Eilers joined Synrgy in March, just in time to record the CD and head out on tour.

“This is the best experience I've ever had in my life. This is the first time I've actually heard myself on my own CD, which was a feeling I can't even explain. It's been the most epic time of my life without a doubt.”

Eilers is ready to get back to Yuma and rock out his fellow man.

“Yeah, I'm excited to see all the old homies, the whole reggae family in Yuma and my family. It's nice to come back home and see familiar faces.”

For more information about the band, log on to synrgyband.com. - Yuma Sun

When people gather and work in cooperation, they produce a combined effect greater than they could on their own.

That is the message that Brian Zach, lead singer for the reggae band Synrgy, wants to spread with his music.

“Just positivity and righteousness and trying to remind people of the love that is everywhere.

“Don't be depressed or influenced so heavily by Babylon and all that craziness that is out there trying to drag us down. We are trying to be conscious with each other and spread the love.”

Synrgy, now based in California, was founded in Flagstaff in 2007. Two of the members are from Yuma, where the band will be performing Thursday.

Synrgy will take the stage at 9 p.m. Thursday at the Kress, 284 S. Main St. The San Diego act Tommy Dubs will open the show. Admission is free, but attendees must be at least 21.

Bass player TJ Eilers and guitarist Clay Baker, both graduates of Cibola High School, are coming home with their band to play the show as part of the Lost and Found Tour. The tour includes at least 20 different cities and will conclude on May 1.

“It is a blessing to be able to come home and play,” Eilers said.

Zach described the sound of his band as high-energy reggae with a bit of rock, ska and rock steady.

The band finished recording a five-song CD titled “Lost and Found” at Union Sound Studios of Portland, Ore., in late March.

“Two weeks before we left on tour, we recorded it,” Zach said. “We just picked it up a few days ago. We have 1,000 CDs, and we are just releasing them to the public while we are on tour, which has never happened before for us, so we are pretty stoked.”

Zach is happy with the way the album sounds. “We are really impressed with it and we invested the money to produce the demo, which is again something we'd never done.”

Copies of the CD, as well as other band merchandise, will be available at the show.

Clay's father, Bart Baker, exposed him to music at an early age.

“I started playing music when I was 12 years old with my dad and I have been playing ever since,” Clay said.

“I used to perform with his band (Dogs in Heat) when they played local shows around Yuma. It was definitely a big influence — just the fact he always had guitars around the house and always played. That made it readily available.”

At about the age of 14, Clay and Eilers began playing in a punk band known as Quatro.

Eilers picked up the bass out of necessity.

“There weren't enough bass players in the area. Everyone was looking for bass players. I knew guitar, but no one needed a guitar player.”

Eilers joined Synrgy in March, just in time to record the CD and head out on tour.

“This is the best experience I've ever had in my life. This is the first time I've actually heard myself on my own CD, which was a feeling I can't even explain. It's been the most epic time of my life without a doubt.”

Eilers is ready to get back to Yuma and rock out his fellow man.

“Yeah, I'm excited to see all the old homies, the whole reggae family in Yuma and my family. It's nice to come back home and see familiar faces.”

For more information about the band, log on to synrgyband.com. - Yuma Sun

When people gather and work in cooperation, they produce a combined effect greater than they could on their own.

That is the message that Brian Zach, lead singer for the reggae band Synrgy, wants to spread with his music.

“Just positivity and righteousness and trying to remind people of the love that is everywhere.

“Don't be depressed or influenced so heavily by Babylon and all that craziness that is out there trying to drag us down. We are trying to be conscious with each other and spread the love.”

Synrgy, now based in California, was founded in Flagstaff in 2007. Two of the members are from Yuma, where the band will be performing Thursday.

Synrgy will take the stage at 9 p.m. Thursday at the Kress, 284 S. Main St. The San Diego act Tommy Dubs will open the show. Admission is free, but attendees must be at least 21.

Bass player TJ Eilers and guitarist Clay Baker, both graduates of Cibola High School, are coming home with their band to play the show as part of the Lost and Found Tour. The tour includes at least 20 different cities and will conclude on May 1.

“It is a blessing to be able to come home and play,” Eilers said.

Zach described the sound of his band as high-energy reggae with a bit of rock, ska and rock steady.

The band finished recording a five-song CD titled “Lost and Found” at Union Sound Studios of Portland, Ore., in late March.

“Two weeks before we left on tour, we recorded it,” Zach said. “We just picked it up a few days ago. We have 1,000 CDs, and we are just releasing them to the public while we are on tour, which has never happened before for us, so we are pretty stoked.”

Zach is happy with the way the album sounds. “We are really impressed with it and we invested the money to produce the demo, which is again something we'd never done.”

Copies of the CD, as well as other band merchandise, will be available at the show.

Clay's father, Bart Baker, exposed him to music at an early age.

“I started playing music when I was 12 years old with my dad and I have been playing ever since,” Clay said.

“I used to perform with his band (Dogs in Heat) when they played local shows around Yuma. It was definitely a big influence — just the fact he always had guitars around the house and always played. That made it readily available.”

At about the age of 14, Clay and Eilers began playing in a punk band known as Quatro.

Eilers picked up the bass out of necessity.

“There weren't enough bass players in the area. Everyone was looking for bass players. I knew guitar, but no one needed a guitar player.”

Eilers joined Synrgy in March, just in time to record the CD and head out on tour.

“This is the best experience I've ever had in my life. This is the first time I've actually heard myself on my own CD, which was a feeling I can't even explain. It's been the most epic time of my life without a doubt.”

Eilers is ready to get back to Yuma and rock out his fellow man.

“Yeah, I'm excited to see all the old homies, the whole reggae family in Yuma and my family. It's nice to come back home and see familiar faces.”

For more information about the band, log on to synrgyband.com. - Yuma Sun

"The members of local band Synrgy spread good vibes through Humboldt and beyond. Brian Zach, TJ Eilers, Clay Baker, Thomas Mackay and Aaron Reed know how to capture the reggae spirit. With two albums out and another one on the way, Synrgy is climbing the music industry's ladder. "
- Stephanie Giles, The Lumberjack (Mar 01, 2011)

The members of local band Synrgy spread good vibes through Humboldt and beyond. Brian Zach, TJ Eilers, Clay Baker, Thomas Mackay and Aaron Reed know how to capture the reggae spirit. With two albums out and another one on the way, Synrgy is climbing the music industry's ladder. "There's therapeutic value in writing music and being able to confidently perform that music is unreal," vocalist and guitar player Brian Zach said. The band overcame struggles with band member changes and conflicts with Border Control, (being pulled over just for their "reggae look)," while touring, but never ceased to spread the good vibrations. "They continue to send a conscious message to make people realize," manager and photographer Wild Bill said. The Lumberjack asked Synrgy some questions.



Lumberjack: How long has the band been performing together?



Zach: We've been performing since Spring of 2007 in Flagstaff, where we're originally from.



LJ: How did you decide on your band name?



Zach: I think I came across it on a fortune cookie and I looked up the definition, "to work together to become greater than the separate parts." I thought it was a perfect name for a band.



LJ: Where do you find your inspiration for your music?



Eilers: Everyday life. A lot of other Reggae music too.

Zach: The good, the bad. Politics, Environmental and Global issues. Philosophical and moral issues. Anything that we want to bring to other peoples' attention.



LJ: What's your favorite part about performing?



Zach: Seeing people dance at our shows and sing our lyrics. I love being able to travel and do what I love every day.

Eilers: We really work our asses off to get our music to sound right and to confidently go on stage is unreal.

LJ: How do you feel when you hear people sing your songs?



Zach: There's no other feeling like knowing people are listening and you can potentially have an effect on people. We were in a store in Yuma and our acoustic album came on and a man told me his 7-year-old son listened to that album while playing video games. I was in to the fact that a youth was listening to positive reggae music while playing crazy violent video games. It's awesome to think he is growing up to our vibes.



LJ: What's your most memorable song?



Zach: "Live in Love," which is also the name of our first album. A girl told me that her friend had passed away and that song really helped her through her struggle.



LJ: Where do you guys typically perform?



Eilers: Well we just finished our West Coast tour and we want to keep doing that, going on tours.

Zach: For the past year we have been really serious about touring but we're ready to play in town more. We have a show at Blondie's on March 12, for FREE!



LJ: What's one of your pet peeves when performing?



Zach: I don't drink, and the majority of our gigs that provide us income are bar shows. When people get too drunk, it really makes me wonder if they are listening to the words of our music. when people start fights at our reggae shows, it makes me wonder if they've heard any of the words I sang. These situations underline the frustrations of being a songwriter for me.



LJ: What are some of your future goals?



Zach: To spread our music and love everywhere we can.

LJ: What was your most memorable show?



Zach: We threw a huge party at my house in Flagstaff and we performed. I spent a night in jail that night for "disturbing the peace." I thought it was ironic that I was accused of disturbing the peace with peace. We wrote a song about it. It's called "Officer Jackson."



LJ: Have you had any embarrassing moments while on tour?



Eilers: Well first of all, We always bring our dog Spoons with us on all our tours. Before one show we had we were eating dinner with Norma Fraser, a huge ‘60s reggae artist. We were trying to keep our cool and be professional. After dinner, we were behind the bar before our show when Norma was talking about how much she enjoyed Spoons. When I went to pet her, I found out she rolled in shit and it got all over me. I looked totally helpless with shit all over my hands, but Norma got a bucket of warm soapy water and a rag and helped us clean everything up. We still don't know what kind of shit it was.



LJ: What advice do you have to other bands and musicians starting out?



Eilers: Have the passion to get up there and mean what you say.

Zach: I'll say what every musician bigger than me that I've spoken to said: don't stop. - The LumberJack Newspaper

"The members of local band Synrgy spread good vibes through Humboldt and beyond. Brian Zach, TJ Eilers, Clay Baker, Thomas Mackay and Aaron Reed know how to capture the reggae spirit. With two albums out and another one on the way, Synrgy is climbing the music industry's ladder. "
- Stephanie Giles, The Lumberjack (Mar 01, 2011)

The members of local band Synrgy spread good vibes through Humboldt and beyond. Brian Zach, TJ Eilers, Clay Baker, Thomas Mackay and Aaron Reed know how to capture the reggae spirit. With two albums out and another one on the way, Synrgy is climbing the music industry's ladder. "There's therapeutic value in writing music and being able to confidently perform that music is unreal," vocalist and guitar player Brian Zach said. The band overcame struggles with band member changes and conflicts with Border Control, (being pulled over just for their "reggae look)," while touring, but never ceased to spread the good vibrations. "They continue to send a conscious message to make people realize," manager and photographer Wild Bill said. The Lumberjack asked Synrgy some questions.



Lumberjack: How long has the band been performing together?



Zach: We've been performing since Spring of 2007 in Flagstaff, where we're originally from.



LJ: How did you decide on your band name?



Zach: I think I came across it on a fortune cookie and I looked up the definition, "to work together to become greater than the separate parts." I thought it was a perfect name for a band.



LJ: Where do you find your inspiration for your music?



Eilers: Everyday life. A lot of other Reggae music too.

Zach: The good, the bad. Politics, Environmental and Global issues. Philosophical and moral issues. Anything that we want to bring to other peoples' attention.



LJ: What's your favorite part about performing?



Zach: Seeing people dance at our shows and sing our lyrics. I love being able to travel and do what I love every day.

Eilers: We really work our asses off to get our music to sound right and to confidently go on stage is unreal.

LJ: How do you feel when you hear people sing your songs?



Zach: There's no other feeling like knowing people are listening and you can potentially have an effect on people. We were in a store in Yuma and our acoustic album came on and a man told me his 7-year-old son listened to that album while playing video games. I was in to the fact that a youth was listening to positive reggae music while playing crazy violent video games. It's awesome to think he is growing up to our vibes.



LJ: What's your most memorable song?



Zach: "Live in Love," which is also the name of our first album. A girl told me that her friend had passed away and that song really helped her through her struggle.



LJ: Where do you guys typically perform?



Eilers: Well we just finished our West Coast tour and we want to keep doing that, going on tours.

Zach: For the past year we have been really serious about touring but we're ready to play in town more. We have a show at Blondie's on March 12, for FREE!



LJ: What's one of your pet peeves when performing?



Zach: I don't drink, and the majority of our gigs that provide us income are bar shows. When people get too drunk, it really makes me wonder if they are listening to the words of our music. when people start fights at our reggae shows, it makes me wonder if they've heard any of the words I sang. These situations underline the frustrations of being a songwriter for me.



LJ: What are some of your future goals?



Zach: To spread our music and love everywhere we can.

LJ: What was your most memorable show?



Zach: We threw a huge party at my house in Flagstaff and we performed. I spent a night in jail that night for "disturbing the peace." I thought it was ironic that I was accused of disturbing the peace with peace. We wrote a song about it. It's called "Officer Jackson."



LJ: Have you had any embarrassing moments while on tour?



Eilers: Well first of all, We always bring our dog Spoons with us on all our tours. Before one show we had we were eating dinner with Norma Fraser, a huge ‘60s reggae artist. We were trying to keep our cool and be professional. After dinner, we were behind the bar before our show when Norma was talking about how much she enjoyed Spoons. When I went to pet her, I found out she rolled in shit and it got all over me. I looked totally helpless with shit all over my hands, but Norma got a bucket of warm soapy water and a rag and helped us clean everything up. We still don't know what kind of shit it was.



LJ: What advice do you have to other bands and musicians starting out?



Eilers: Have the passion to get up there and mean what you say.

Zach: I'll say what every musician bigger than me that I've spoken to said: don't stop. - The LumberJack Newspaper