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Reminder Assistant Editor WEST SPRINGFIELD Last week, one local band was inching its way toward the opportunity of a lifetime: to open for Coldplay in front of a capacity crowd at the TD Banknorth Garden on Aug. 4. On the final day of competition last Thursday, Fendline had totaled 3,465 votes for a fifth place finish, just two spots shy of the final round. Online voters had the opportunity to vote for their favorite band's music video at Coldplay's tour Web site, www.coldplayontour.com/wfnx. Fendline's video, "Break Me Slowly," was one of 15 competing. The top three bands who received the most votes moved to the final round and one will be chosen by Coldplay prior to the concert. "It's almost beyond words," Dan Barkyoumb, bass guitarist and backup vocalist, said of the opportunity in an interview with Reminder Publications. "Right now it [music] is everything to us and every waking moment when we're not working [our nine to five jobs] our priority is to this." Fendline, formally known as Carpe Diem, was formed in 2002 by three friends and graduates of West Springfield High School: guitarist and lead singer Chris Lomma, Barkyoumb and drummer Kevin Lang. Kevin Douthwright joined the band two years later, lending his talents on lead guitar and vocals. They categorize their music as "roots rock," which according to Lomma is a genre that incorporates a variety of musical influences, including alternative rock, reggae and classic rock. "It's the mutt of music," he explained. "We get all these [musical] styles in our heads and try to put together something new. It's not that every song has many different styles combined into one song, it's that every song sounds different." Since 2004, the group has played the local bar circuit and even rocked parties and family picnics. Douthwright noted that the group recently released their live album, "Live from Lasell College." He added that the largest crowd the band has ever played for was about 200 people, tiny in comparison to the Garden, he joked. Despite their fifth place finish, Lang said Fendline will contine to move forward with their dream to make it big and sign with a major record label. "We'll focus on all the positives that have come out of it [the competition]," he said. "The past week or two have been unbelieveable as far as exposure goes. Hopefully the contest alone will open up some doors for us." Lang explained that he started banging on pots and pans at age two until his father bought him a drum set when he was five years old and he's not about to stop now. Lomma said he is grateful for the opportunity to have made it to the Top 15. He added that whether playing in front of a capacity crowd in Boston or sitting at home watching the number of votes increase on the Web, he feels as if his passion and commitment for the music has been rewarded. Each of the band members noted their overwhelming desire to play music full-time and are hoping that this competition will move them one step closer to "being paid for their passion," Lomma said. Each also echoed their appreciation for the outpouring of support for their video throughout the competition. For more information about Fendline, view upcoming gigs or to view "Break Me Slowly" visit their Myspace page, www.myspace.com/fendline. Fendline's next gigs include Boston Billiards in West Springfield on Aug. 9 at 9 p.m. and the Basketball Hall of Fame on Nov. 28 at 6 p.m. | ||||||
