Starkville will get hit by The Ugli Stick tomorrow night at Rick’s CafZ. The guys from Mobile, Ala., will put on a live, rock-felt show at 10 p.m. “We have wanted to play in Starkville for a while, and hopefully we will have a good turnout. We just let the songs dictate where we are going,” frontman Eric Erdman said.
Well, the guys definitely seem to be going somewhere. They have performed at festivals and concerts where big bands such as Stroke 9, Live, 3 Doors Down and Tonic have wooed audiences. At a club in Mobile recently, they opened for Afroman. His CD player broke, and the guys ended up being his back-up band for the rest of the night.
“The Ugli Stick is one of those bands that can take a small crowd and make it bigger,” program director Scot Fox of WCPR in Biloxi said.
The Ugli Stick has earned a wide respect with radio DJ’s throughout the South, all the way to Florida. Funk-rock, hip-hop bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against the Machine influence a lot of the band’s music. The Ugli Stick twists modern and classic rock with a melodic drive and a hip-hop drum lick. Their variety of sounds comes from the different influences each member brings to the band.
Erdman believes Incubus to be the best band on earth and takes a lot of his influence from Sublime. Erdman also says drummer Tim Stanton is a “metal head.” Bassist Brian Graves brings in an ’80s Rush sound, while guitarist Dale Drinkard grooves Otis Redding and Ray Charles with a hint of country and gospel.
Infusing the variety of music with the lyrical bliss of Erdman and Graves, The Ugli Stick proves they have what it takes to be successful in the music industry, but do not expect them to be like any other stereotypical rock band. None of these guys drink or smoke.
“Some of us used to do those things. We kind of make fun of ourselves now. We get the chance to hang out with some big bands, and we are not into the same lifestyle,” Erdman said.
The Ugli Stick should not make fun of themselves too much. With one CD already out and another in the works, this band is on the road to success. The Ugli Stick’s “DIP Song” was chosen as the “Best Song About Mobile” by Mobile Bay Monthly magazine this past February.
A few of the guys have gigs outside of the band. Erdman plays a few acoustic shows, Stanton works at Kinko’s and Graves is married and has his own studio.
“I like to produce a lot of hip-hop and rap stuff,” Graves said.
The multi-talented foursome continues a vigorous work schedule playing in as many places as possible. The band got its name because the members claim they are not fashion models and they know they are lucky to be doing what they get to do.
“Getting to play my own music and sharing with others is great. I love my job. It is definitely the best job in world,” Erdman said.
For more information on The Ugli Stick, go to their Web site at www.theuglistick.com. Tickets are $5 at the door and T-shirts, CDs and other merchandise can be purchased at Rick’s as well.