If the band Blue Merle was a geometric shape, it would have more angles than a star.
"All five of us have so many different backgrounds in music," lead singer/guitarist Luke Reynolds said by phone from his girlfriend's house in Virginia. "So when we approach arranging a song, we look at it from a number of different angles."
The band — which includes stand-up bassist Jason Oettel, drummer William Ellis and mandolinist Beau Stapleton — finds inspiration through various styles. "We listen to everything from Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Woody Guthrie, Muddy Waters, Jimmie Rogers, Sting and Paul Simon. There's something about the interaction of musicians in those bands. And that's what we are aspiring to do."
From the beginning Blue Merle wanted to stand out from the crowd and be a band that transcends styles and lasts through time, said Reynolds. The band's name comes from a Led Zeppelin song, "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp." "When you look at the history of pop music, there are those trends that some artists catch onto and then fade away. But there are those bands that seem to keep above those traps and continue throughout the ages."
Although the band is fairly new (its debut album "Burning the Sun" was released in February), Reynolds said it has felt the pressures of other, more-established bands. "One of the hardest parts of being in the band is experiencing growing pains. We are getting more popular and more people expect more from us."
Of course, the band has put a certain amount of pressure on itself. "We are on the road quite a bit and take what we do very seriously. We give it our all each night we are on the stage. And it doesn't matter if we're playing for people who love us or hate us. And it doesn't matter if it's a packed club or just a few people attending the shows, we give it our all. We expect no less from ourselves."
Going into the studio last year to record the album was a great experience, said Reynolds. "We worked with Steve Harris (who has produced U2 and the Dave Matthews Band). And he created a place where all we did was make music. He showed us that sometimes the subtleties in music can speak louder than any solo.
"If I got anything out of my being in the band, the experience working with Steve and being part of this group is what means the most to me."
Reynolds said another highlight was touring with the Dave Matthews Band. "We are taking our music to places we never thought we would. We played the Save the Music concert with Dave Matthews and violinist Boyd Tinsley, and were part of the Farm Aid concerts. It's amazing to me that we're doing what we're doing on the level we're doing it."
If you go . . .
What: Blue Merle, Kyle Riabko
Where: Club Sound, 219 S. 600 West
When: tonight, 8 p.m.
How much: $10
Phone: 467-8499 or
800-888-8499
Web: www.smithstix.com
E-mail: scott@desnews.com