What does one get when No Doubt, 311 and Sublime are combined into one musical act on stage? The answer is Fenster, the self-proclaimed horn driven rock band that has recently been creating a buzz around Columbus.
The band, which started in 1996, played the Northberg Tavern Saturday night to promote its most recent release, “Causing Problems.”
From the second the music began, the audience was hooked. The band’s most obvious strength is in its performance. Members Paul Robinson, Brian Yarbrough, Ed D’Angleo, Dave Newman and Roman Kravac emulate a strong sense of camaraderie. The band members not only play off each other’s music but off each other’s energy.
“We make sure we write high energy music,” said Roman Kravec, bass player for Fenster. “We want everyone to hear us and remember us.”
The band has recently expanded its touring circuit, and is playing in four states while shopping for a label. Kravac said the band is focusing on heavy distribution, heavy promotion and expanding its audience.
“We’d like to attract people of all ages, from 2 to 57,” Kravac said. “Our new album is something different from what we’ve done before, and it combines a lot of different sounds.”
The first set of the show was a good indication of the melting pot of genres that make up Fenster’s original sound. The music was hard rock at times, funk a lot of the time, yet balanced with jazz and Latin undertones provided by trumpet player Yarbrough.
The band has clearly put time into its music, showcasing some of the best instrumental talent in the city. Robinson’s vocals were solid and on the mark, despite the occasional technical problem that assisted the music in slightly drowning out his voice.
Fenster played most of the tracks off of “Causing Problems,” its sophomore effort that features five new songs and two live tracks. “Causing Problems” was produced by Tom Boyer and introduces a funk sound that was absent on the previous album.
“Our band started out being associated with Ska and we decided to expand,” Kravac said. “We wanted more funk, not to mention shorter songs.”
“Meltdown” is a track that defines the band’s goals of incorporating funk into its music, while “Green” combines funk and small bursts of techno. Two surprising covers were added as tracks to the album. The Beatles ever popular “Help!” as well as Lionel Ritchie’s smooth 1980s hit, “Hello.”
Mid-set, Fenster performed Ritchie’s song with energy and enthusiasm, speeding things up then abruptly slowing them down. This is another sign of the versatility of the band, which helps to separate it from the average act.
Bottom line: Versatility and musical talent make Fenster a band that should not be missed.
Fenster will participate in the Greater Columbus Music Awards Nov. 10 at Little Brother’s.
