Unlike some musicians, Fair to Midland bassist Jon Dicken didn't play an instrument until he was asked to join a band.
"I did, however, go through all the phases of music appreciation," Dicken said with a laugh during an interview from the band's van near Portland, Ore. "I went through the metal, the progressive and the nerd years."
Dicken joined Fair to Midland — featuring vocalist Darroh Sudderth, drummer Brett Stowers, guitarist Cliff Campbell and keyboardist/sampler Matt Langley — a little more than three years ago. The band, however, has been in existence for nearly a decade.
"The band's philosophy hasn't changed much since it began," Dicken said. "They, or, I should say, we want to do music we like to play. We want to make CDs and tour."
The band is on tour with Serj Tankian, the vocalist for System of a Down and the owner of Fair to Midland's record label, Serjical Strike.
The track listing on "Fables From a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True" is comprised of two projects, Dicken said. "We were in the studio doing some post production when Serj called us and said he wanted to hear more music. So we recorded a bunch of new songs and put them on. So half of this album is old stuff that we had been working on for years. And half of the album is new songs."
With in the past three years, Dicken has learned to play in front of small, smoky clubs to 20,000-plus people at festivals.
"We were able to play a bunch of those festivals here and in Europe," Dicken said. "And it was a little overwhelming. We're up there, and I'm thinking to myself, 'Whoa, I'm playing bass in a band — and I'm in Europe."'
After the American leg of the tour, the band will return to Europe for dates with Japanese emo/metal outfit Dir en Grey and headlining the Kerrang! Awards Week.
"One of the nice things about the band is that we are actually making music," Dicken said. "We are touring and recording CDs and releasing CDs. Whether or not someone wants to buy them is up to them."
If you go . . .
What: Serj Tankian, Fair to Midland
Where: In the Venue, 219 S. 600 West
When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
How much: $24
Phone: 467-8499, 800-888-8499
Web: www.smithstix.com
E-mail: scott@desnews.com