Hot, Cool, but never Warm, the MSB is here
to stay
Ever since we discovered our ability to shapeshift
and poof into Real,
Mela and I have been
visiting different
places to check out
new
bands (well new to
us). With the Angel Kiss "Global Domination
Tour" over and plans being made for
our next world concert tour, we are always
on the hunt for new talent to jam with. When
I discovered Melanie Susuras in Denver this Summer, I fell in love with
her voice and stage presence. So when Mela and I received an invitation
and two tickets to
their CD release
party
at Hermans Hideaway
in downtown Denver,
we
made plans to attend. One of the things we have found out about
poofing into Real, is that there are vortex's
in different places that make poofing not
as painful as it usually is. One of these vortex's is at the Four Corners
in the Southwest part of the United States.
The Four Corners is the only place in the
United States where four states come together
at one place. Arizona, New Mexico, Utah,
and Colorado meet at the Four Corners. Here
a person can put each of their hands and
feet in four states at the same time. This
unique landmark is on Navajo Nation land
and only a short four hour drive to Aspen
where Mela has a vacation home. After poofing to the Four Corners, we hopped
on our Rasta Harley Davidson and zipped up
to Aspen where we spent the night at Mela's
vacation home. The following evening, under
twinkling skies, we headed down I -70 to
Denver. The second best part about riding motorbikes
(the first one is
a secret..lol) is
finding
parking and we were
able to pull right
up
to Hermans Hideaway
in downtown Denver. Herman's has been rocking Denver for more
than 25 years and has hosted more than 25,000
bands. Herman's can seat 500 people and has helped
launch the careers of groups such as Big
Head Todd and the Monsters and Opie Gone
Bad as well as Faith No More, 311, The Fray,
Dave Matthews Band, Widespread Panic, Phish,
Brett Dennen, Tab Benoit, Doug Kershaw and
thousands more. We were escorted to our table while the casual
crowd and friendly, family-feeling made us
relaxed and comfortable - even though we
were the only Avatars at the show. When the Melanie Susuras Band took the stage
I thought the crowd
would never stop clapping
and hooting and hollering.
Evenutally MSB
got to play and I
was simply blown away.
I kept trying to
make notes so I could do
this article, but
between the Jack Daniels
and unbelievable
jamz, well...let's just
say that I took the
night off to party. LOL. So thank God that MSB has a killer web site
with tons of information. Now if I could
just find those aspirin. With brilliant words, carried by a phenomenal
voice that delivers
arguably more music
than
her guitar, Melanie
Susuras is a singer/songwriter
that is capable of
creating and delivering
lyrical masterpieces.
Melanie writes with
such infallible clarity,
it’s difficult to
determine whether
her words are painstakingly
and brilliantly crafted,
or uttered effortlessly---
as if storytelling
were as simple as
blinking
or breathing. Her
writing demonstrates
an
understanding of
our deepest self
that is
formed not only by
wisdom, but also
acceptance.
Through her instincts
and experience, her
writing openly allows
for an examination
of the odyssey and
development we call
life.
Melanie, fronting the self-titled Melanie
Susuras Band (MSB),
first graced the Denver
music scene in 1999
with the release of her
very intimate debut
CD, “Barefoot Again”.
Her arrival was so
well received, she was
immediately welcomed
to play at all of Denver’s
musical hot spots,
including staples like
Herman’s Hideaway,
Evergreen’s famed Little
Bear, and The Soiled
Dove, where she won
the coveted Denver
Lilith Fair talent Search
and earned the honor
of sharing the stage
with Sarah McLachlan,
Sheryl Crow, The Dixie
Chicks and the Indigo
Girls. Flash-forward
to our current time
and the ever-unfolding
and evolving group
has emerged collectively
as one of Denver’s
most established icons.
The band, unified as one solid unit, includes
the sultry backing
vocals and keys of newest member, Amanda Ray, skilled guitar leads
by Eddie Garcia,
solid low-end from Jon Burquest
on bass guitar and
driving force David “D2”
Derby on drums and
percussion. In addition
to playing the hottest
venues across Colorado,
including Coors Amphitheater
and the esteemed
Red Rocks, the group
continuously adds to
a distinguished list
of artists they’ve appeared
with, including Tab
Benoit, Darden Smith,
Patrice Pike, Lowen
and Navarro, Colin Hay,
Styx and Peter Frampton. MSB’s stylistic range of music may be rooted
solidly in acoustic
folk, rock and funk,
but they have an
amazing ability to not only
flirt with, but attain
and possess nearly
all forms of music.
With the bands 2008 release,
“Stop to Stand”,
MSB audiences will again
enjoy the beauty
and irony Melanie so capably
points out. The band’s
dedication is shown
through their tight
arrangements and obvious
fellowship. The music
plays as much a part
as the songs words
in delivering an incredible,
illustrative show
of life’s simple complexities.
Once more, Melanie
shows the strong hold
she has in delivering
her (sometimes) brutal
and always honest
perspective. Her insight often seems to tap into that
sacred part of us
that is, and continuously
becomes, our universal
mind. “Stop to Stand”
shows a transformation
of sorts, but it demonstrates
less of a departure
from her previous CDs
and more of an endless
unfolding. Throughout
this incredible line-up
of songs, you will
surely find them
purposefully (and perfectly)
whimsical, as well
as inspirational.
MSB Band Bios
Melanie Susuras, Lead Vox & Acoustic
Guitar
Melanie Susuras has been playing guitar since
she was 9 years old. Her mother forced her
to attend lessons despite her pleas to the
contrary. Once she discovered that she truly
had a love and talent for music, it was embraced
with all of the passion and enthusiasm she
could muster. A year later, she went solo
by teaching herself to play and began writing
her own music.
Today, Melanie dreams of being able to follow
her two passions, music and mountain biking
to wherever they may take her. Both bring
her inspiration. Her professional highlight
has definitely been performing at the 1999
Lilith Fair with women who are not only amazing
female musicians, but who are also Melanie's
idols. Amanda Ray, Backing Vox & Keyboards
Originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Amanda
now calls the Rocky Mountains of Denver her
home. She began performing professionally
at age 11. A veteran of the musical theater
circuit, she has toured nationally with the
children's educational group "Up With
Youth", and performed locally with the
Town Hall Theater company in Littleton, Main
Street Players, and regional touring Caravan
Players. Amanda has had the honor of singing
the National Anthem for several professional
sports teams, such as the Colorado Avalanche,
Colorado Rockies, Colorado Mammoth, and the
Colorado Rapids. In addition to playing with
the Melanie Susuras Band, she sings lead
vocals and plays keyboards for the local
Denver band, Quillion.
David Derby, Drums
and Percussion
David has been in and around music his entire
life and has been a driving force behind
the Melanie Susuras Band for 7 years. While
he considers MSB to be his first priority,
he stays extremely busy as a session musician
and fill-in drummer/percussionist, recording
and performing live with many artists around
the front range.
Jon Burquest, Bass
Guitar & Backing
Vocals
Jon began playing guitar at age 14 and switched
to Bass 3 years later. "By the time
I was writing songs on guitar, my musician
friends were already way better than me.
I saw the Bass as an opportunity to grow
with them." 24 years later he can't
imagine being anything but a Bassist. "All
my other projects led me to this. I'm proud
to be part of MSB"
Eddie Garcia, Lead
Guitar
Ever since we discovered our ability to shapeshift
and poof into Real,
Mela and I have been
visiting different
places to check out
new
bands (well new to
us).
those aspirin.
member, Amanda Ray, skilled guitar leads
by Eddie Garcia,
solid low-end from Jon Burquest
on bass guitar and
driving force David “D2”
Derby on drums and
percussion. In addition
to playing the hottest
venues across Colorado,
including Coors Amphitheater
and the esteemed
Red Rocks, the group
continuously adds to
a distinguished list
of artists they’ve appeared
with, including Tab
Benoit, Darden Smith,
Patrice Pike, Lowen
and Navarro, Colin Hay,
Styx and Peter Frampton.
