The funk, jam-rock band Sonar was formed earlier this year in Boulder, Colo., but not in typical garage-band fashion.
According to its biography, the band came together when "four shimmering clouds" of spirits from the planet Aquatari found themselves stranded on Earth after being exiled through an inter-dimensional vortex. That same instant four Boulder musicians, whose names weren't given to protect their innocence, saw these clouds racing toward them. And while they gaped, the clouds shot down their throats and took over their bodies.
Sound like a low-budget B-horror movie?
Perhaps, but the resulting band Sonar is ready to take on Salt Lake City during First Night celebrations Monday night.
Sonar — drummer Captain Star 69, guitarist Commodore 64, bassist Commander Colt 44 and keyboardist Doctor NC17— will hit the Gallivan Center Stage at 10:30 p.m.
During a telephone interview, Captain Star 69 talked with the Deseret News about his band and its mission:
Deseret News: When did the band officially form here on Earth?
Captain Star 69: In Earth years it was 2001, but on Aquatari we measure years by multiples of 9.667. So we actually formed around the Aquatari year 19,000.
Deseret News: What are your goals as a band?
CS69: We want to play music to as many people as possible, hopefully creating another inter-dimensional vortex that will transport us back to our home planet. Once we return to where we were born, we want to cast out the evil Black Manta who overtook our beautiful Sea Goddess and our world. Right now our music can be transmitted through the positive vibrations from our shows to our home planet, and that vibe sustains the Sea Goddess in this rough time.
Deseret News: ???
CS69: In other words, we want to play our music and create a huge following who, we hope, will buy our music and continue to come to our shows. In other words, we want to start a chain reaction that will make us famous.
Deseret News: Are there any plans to release a full-length album of your "positive vibrations"?
CS69: (After citing Glen Campbell and George Clinton's P-Funk as his main musical influences): We have been listening to what you Earth beings call music. And we have been writing our own music that emulates what is being heard around the world. We hope our creation, called "Pop Song," will help kick-start the vortex.
Deseret News: What is the biggest challenge so far in reaching your goal to return to Aquatari?
CS69: I don't think this is as much a challenge as it is an honor, but some Earth beings have been coming to our live shows dressed up in robot garb. In fact there have been so many who attend our concerts in this fashion that it is getting difficult to decipher which of the audience members are human and which of them are Aquatarians.
Deseret News: What has been the most offensive thing you've experienced on Earth?
CS69: Nothing.
Deseret News: What has been the most interesting?
CS69: The positive reactions to our positive vibrations, and Red Bull vodka.
E-mail: scott@desnews.com