Soulfish

Los Angeles. The land of pretty people, celebrity-worship, environmental advocacy, political activism, earthquakes, smog, traffic, crime, obscene housing prices, and the incessant bombardment of pop culture we face nearly every moment of every day.

That being said, we Angelenos live in a remarkably culturally-diverse area characterized by the faces, dress, and languages we encounter everywhere we go in this grand city. This is a good thing, to be sure. Especially when it comes to art, music, and all things creative.

Out of this hodge-podge of cultural diversity, sprouts some of the best that the creative world has to offer - especially with regard to music. You can hear classical music, jazz, blues, rock, metal, reggae, country & western - you name it, we've got it.

So it should be no surprise to hear a band like Soulfish. Formed in 2006, Soulfish is an amalgam of LA culture - they're a rock band, to be sure, but there is an authentic blues influence you hear in their music. Oh yeah, and then there's the soul and groove of Motown that courses through the veins of this funky music machine as well as the Latin-tinged bent provided by the percussive elements of the band's arrangements. Adding to this already rich musical stew, you have soaring Beatle-esque harmonies, outstanding musicianship, and unique interpretations of songs that you know and love - providing the listener with a sonic feast fit for a king or queen. Or at least an ardent music-lover.

Covering such artists as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Stevie Wonder, Maroon 5, John Mayer, and U2, the band's live show never fails to provide more than a few surprises - with a surplus of electrifying musical moments.

"When Pete Wade (drummer) and I talked about putting this band together", states guitarist John McLellan, "we decided that we weren't going to try to be unique, we just wanted to play cool music that grooved". Originally known as "The Regulars", they were a 3-piece band comprised of McLellan, Wade, and Matt Kendall (originally on bass, he has since switched over to guitar in the current lineup), until they recruited a local hotshot singer, Chris Aleshin. That iteration of the band played a number of private and corporate gigs in their first year, earning scores of accolades.

"We thought there was something missing," McLellan continues. In an effort to expand their sound, the band decided that they needed a more solid foundation for their rhythm section. Enter Elias Deleault, a local bass player who had a knack for laying down deep grooves, culled from his experience gigging with reggae and ska bands. This allowed Matt to get back on the guitar, in an effort to "fill out the sound".

2007 brought a new focus and set of goals for the band. For one, "The Regulars" changed their name and are now (officially) "Soulfish". The band also enlisted Moses Edralin on percussion and keyboards, further refining the band's sound and their ability to tackle a diverse range of songs. Soulfish is also eschewing the lucrative world of corporate events for the sake of the local club scene, in an effort to solidify their fan base in anticipation of the band's first CD of original material, which they will start recording sometime in the fall of 2007.

Yeah, this city has its issues; but all in all, LA's a great place to live. For now, that's the only place you're going to get to experience a Soulfish show. Hopefully, that won't be for long!