Interview and Feature Article from:
MY HOMETOWN NEWS Indian River County, FL / Sept. 2007
By Tamara Dourney
Entertainment writer
While it might seem stereotypical to spend your Sunday afternoon sitting by the water, sipping a cool drink and listening to a fantastic reggae band, that's the order of the day for residents up and down the Treasure Coast.
If you're looking for a great escape in your own backyard this weekend, be sure to check out the live performance on Sunday, Sept. 23 by the six-member band Scholars Word at Captain Hiram's Resort.
Started 10 years ago by Bryce Creighton and Michael Stauch, Scholars Word has had quite an impressive run. The group has six CDs under its belt, recording their first demo in 1993 and most recently releasing the full-length disk, "How Long," in December of 2006 to the acclaim of both fans and experts alike.
"We started on our musical careers through our love of crafting music," said Mr. Creighton, whose talents provide not skillful guitar work, but the group's lead vocals and many of their lyrics as well. "Michael and I lived at the same house on Ninth South in Jacksonville Beach. That's where we started playing music together. From there, we started performing music in North Florida, Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, and Fernandina. The other musicians in the band we've met along the way, by performing and meeting them through the music," he said.
Their success isn't due to random luck, but to a lifelong dedication to music that runs through each member of the band.
"I started piano at a young age," Mr. Creighton said. "From there, I studied music theory and jazz theory at the University of North Florida, and I'm currently a music teacher."
Mr. Stauch, who handles bass and backing vocals, also started music when he was young, adding, "I started playing music in school and piano at home as a kid". The early musical inclination continues with saxophonist and keyboard player Chris Kearnes, who began his musical leanings at the tender age of nine.
"I started out playing clarinet in fourth grade and then switched to the saxophone shortly after," Mr. Kearnes said. "The saxophone is still my main instrument, but I started to pick up guitar, piano, and bass after that. My professional career started sometime during college when I started to freelance with various funk, soul, and reggae bands around town. I've been playing music for around 17 years now," he said.
After the years of individual exploration and experiences, the band has combined their talents into a sound that remains true to the roots of reggae while adding in touches of flavorful remixes in true dub style.
"I really believe our sound is our biggest success. I'm very proud of it," said Mr. Kearnes. "My first show when I joined Scholars Word was at the House of Blues in Orlando opening up for Steel Pulse last year. That was amazing, but the more we play together, the tighter the sound gets."
The band has just returned to Florida, fresh off a cross-country tour where they brought their music to crowds as far away as Venice Beach. Being on tour seems to have brought the group even closer together.
"Michael seems to cover being the joker and the extremely serious band member simultaneously," Mr. Creighton said. "I don't know how he does it. He'll have you laughing until you can't breathe one moment, and then next thing you know as serious as a heart attack. I think we all are like that though. We have our times on the road when we're acting funny, laughing, surfing; but when it comes time to enter a venue, to prepare for the show, and during show time, we are extremely serious," he said.
That serious nature can be found in the music they create.
"We play reggae, conscience reggae," said Jahson, who contributes to the vocals while adding in the group's percussion.
"Our sound is nothing to mess with," adds Mr. Kearnes. "Scholars Word plays the toughest reggae around, with a positive message."
Reggae with a conscience isn't a new concept, but Scholars Word brings its own style to the music and weaves a tapestry of awareness through their original lyrics. The title track from their latest release, "How Long," features a slow, sultry saxophone introduction that slides smoothly into steady rhythms and solid vocals that ask, "How long to be heard? Another day, another forest cut down...the wood is burning to the ground."
No subject appears taboo for this group, with its songs referencing the gamut of war and strife, yet the music remains light, which is the mark of true talent and the goal of the band.
"When all is said and done, we hope the audience comes away feeling uplifted, with a tune or two in their ear," said Mr. Kearnes.
Residents can drop by Captain Hiram's Resort, 1580 U.S. 1, Sebastian to hear Scholars Word live at 2 p.m. on September 23, or catch them on stage at the Sebastian Beach Inn on September 30.
For more information on Scholars Word, to view a full listing of their upcoming shows, listen to their songs or purchase their album, be sure to visit them online at www.scholarsword.com or at www.myspace.com/scholarsword.
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