Four Finger Five

When one imagines Midwestern cities that produce rock bands, Muskegon is not the first place that comes to mind, but the funky trio Four Finger Five has broken the mould in the lakeshore's music community. With three ambitious albums, shows at both installments of the Rothbury Music Festival, and a feature article in the Aug. 22 issue of Billboard magazine, the group has established themselves as serious musicians with national appeal.

Their newest album, 222, will be released at Founder's Brewing Company on Feb. 13, and it is a tribute to a decade of experience playing together and an impressive history of high-quality recording that can also be found in former albums Enormous Pocket and ff5. After capturing the attention of audio engineer Bill Chrysler of Grand Haven, who has done recording with the likes of Mariah Carey, Four Finger Five has thrown itself into laying down tracks that capture the energetic sound of their live performances. Drummer Steve Harris and bass guitarist Mike Phillips started collaborating musically during high school, where they focused on jazz, a sound that greatly influences the group's unique rock fusion. Self-taught guitarist and singer Joe Sturgill joined to form Four Finger Five in 1999, bringing with him a set of eclectic musical influences such as Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Otis Redding. Armed with these diverse tastes, the group exudes a sound that is at the same time funky and ambient, bumping, twangy and smooth, while never sacrificing cohesion and an overall vibe of soulful energy.

A strong effort is put forth to produce a recording sound that reflects the quality of the band's live performances, which are always aimed at creating a party atmosphere. The poetic and thoughtful lyrics and smooth vocals form the backbone for hard-hitting drum beats and gritty bass riffs that create musical movement and an upbeat vibe that inspire the crowd to follow suit. This eclectic sound draws an equally diverse crowd, with fans of strikingly varying ages and musical tastes who can all find something to identify with.

Four Finger Five has carried their sound on tour, touching down everywhere from Portland to Colorado, New Orleans and New York, just to name a few. Their history reflects an ambitious commitment to embarking on all of the journeys, both literally and figuratively, that their music can take them on, and they show no signs of stopping. Be sure to attend the CD Release Party at Founder's on Feb. 13 for great music, great people and great brews, and if you're still not sold, catch them at Billy's Lounge Feb. 3 to see for yourself.